Damien fumed at Master Chen inwardly as he was not satisfied with the way Mater Chen was taking sides with Ashton. But what Master Chen said next totally made his resolve falter a bit.
"Once you have successfully passed the last of the tests that are waiting for you with full points,'' Master Chen began turning at Ashton as he spoke. "You will be punished accordingly."
Ashton smiled at Master Chen's final verdict. One thing was sure as Marcus had postulated; 'He really has found favor in the eyes of Master Chen.' Ashton raised his eyebrows playfully and he nodded at his decision.
"I will gladly accept your punishment." He said with great enthusiasm as he failed to hide the smile that was smearing on his face.
And with that, Master Chen dismissed the petty crowd that had formed around the corners just to hear the gossip that was happening before their eyes. One thing that was sure was that the 'tea' was about Ashton and the fact that Master Chen has got his back will only gain him more enemies in the academy as that one sole act had planted the seed of jealousy in their hearts.
***~°~***
THE NEXT DAY
The test papers were shared round the hall to every participant and Ashton was not really feeling the need to write a test when they will be going against mutants rather through magical whims and skillful battle tactics. He did not see the need to battle with the mutants through ink and sheets. He sighed as his eyes continued to watch the disciples who were sharing each test papers to the sitted pre-mages.
Finally, it reached his turn and he grumbled as he collected his sheet. All what was in his mind was how to quickly finish the test in one go and go continue his physical strength test as he knew the written test was going to be a simple test that might be conveying what they had learnt the last time– everything about how the mutants invaded their world or a test about how the world got her language.
He grabbed the pen that was already provided for the test and flipped open the sheet that contained his question. His eyes scanned through the paper and to his surprise, there was only one single question on the sheet.
"What is this?" Ashton asked himself moronically.
He shrugged then read the test question out first.
"What are the eight types of magic?" He read and then for a moment, he stared into thin air dauntlessly.
"I have heard this before, somewhere…somewhere really close…sometime really close to now." Ashton said to himself again as he tried to recall when he had heard this certain question from.
The announcement a disciple made jolted him out of his thoughts.
"You have to finish up in just a few minutes as the questions given to you all are basic." The disciple said, folding his hands before him as he carefully watched all of the students who had come to take the examination. He continued, "Though the questions may seem basic but they can be tricky as well…the purpose for this test is for you to master the art of taking clues from simple happenings."
He explained further; "You might be thinking about why you should take this examination…let me tell you why. You do not need the physical strength test alone to take down a mutant with an advanced level but, you also need to understand every single thing about it. These test questions may not seem important to how to take one down but, it is one of the principles of this great academy for all of you to take them if you want to become a mage."
"Now, the examination shall begin."
A loud gong was banged as it was meant to indicate that everyone of them should start writing their answers down. Ashton's eyes darted about in the hall and he could see everyone scribbling something down and it seemed it was only him who knew nothing.
His eyes caught Jamil also working on his sheet with great enthusiasm as if he was going to write everything that existed in the world down in his sheet if it were possible.
He tried his possible best to recall where and when and who had said the answers to the question he had received but the more he tried to remember the more it seemed to him that phase never happened in his life.
He sniffed a couple of times as he finally bounced on a resolve that he would make an extraordinary pass with his last physical strength test since he wasn't sure of what to write down.
Finally, the last call for submission came in and some fresh disciples came into the hall and started to collect their papers from them. Then suddenly, Ashton recalled who had told him the answers to that question where and when he had heard them too.
"MARCUS!" He exclaimed. "The eight types of magic! Yes! Marcus had told me the answers to this question." Ashton said to himself as he was delighted to have remembered the answers at a close call to submission.
He grabbed his pen and as he was about to scribble his answers down, a disciple mage snatched his empty sheet from him and started to walk away from him.
"Wait! I'm not done yet!" Ashton hollered as he stood up from his seat abruptly, his brows narrowing in protest.
"You had five minutes Ashton." The disciple spat.
"And how do you even know my name?" Ashton asked, his voice becoming low and dangerous.
The disciple rolled his eyes at Ashton in disgust and he finally gave him a reply so he could go away from him. "Pass all of your tests first and then you will finally find out the reason why I know your name."
"Well, I had flunked my first test so I need to pass this one now so I can at least get to know hey every single person I meet knows my name. Give me my sheet…I will be done real quick." Ashton said dropping his arrogant tone with a stupid smile so he could at least give a good impression to the disciple.
"How is that my problem?" The disciple asked rhetorically as then he turned to walk away from Ashton again but the boy stopped him with his next words.
"Hey! We are not done yet!" He sneered.
"You had better start going to the arena now if you do not want to miss your final test." The disciple announced and with that he turned away collecting the test sheets from the others.
Ashton fumed as he was left with no other choices as his name could be called at the arena anytime from them. He stomped his feet on the ground as a means of protesting his anger but that didn't help his situation one bit. He finally walked out of the hall and off to the arena.
When he had gotten to the arena, the announcement for the next fight was being made and the announcer tagged the test as *A test for test*. Ashton made his way towards where other participants were waiting patiently for their turns. He looked around the arena to see if Marcus and Alden were watching but he didn't find them in the crowd.
"Hey you flop!" Someone called from behind as they suddenly grabbed Ashton's shoulder. Ashton turned to his side and when he had finally seen who had called at him, he shrugged off his touch.
"We are not friends, Ulysses!" He sneered, taking a step away from him.
"What were you thinking?" Ulysses laughed. "Anyway, your fate depends on this last test and I hope you flunk at it– again!"
"Get away from me!" Ashton mumbled. "I hope your words come back and bite you hard."
"They won't!"
The announcer finally called the next contestants.
"And for the contestants who will be opening the last tests for today, let's give it up for…Jamil! Our new junior administrative mage!!!" The announcer appraised and the whole crowd gagged as they all chanted Jamil's name as he walked into the arena.
Ashton smiled and said to himself. "I wish you great luck Jamil."
The announcer continued by shushing the crowd that were still chanting Jamil's name happily. "His opponent in today's match…" he paused as he examined the faces he could pick from the crowd after he was satisfied with what he was seeing, he continued; "His opponent is none other than...Ashton!"
"What? Me?!" Ashton exclaimed as soon as his name rang through the arena.