At the end of the day, Ember successfully cut down ten large trees and when he was done, he fell to the ground, extremely exhausted.
His breathings were heavy as he gazed at the red sky.
"Finally!" He said, catching his breath. "I feel my muscles already tensed, hahaha! Soon, I am going to become the mage king, hahaha," he said and laughed happily.
He laid in the middle of cut-down trees for about an hour and when he felt like he had gathered enough strength to walk, he got up, picked his axe and headed to the village instead of his home. The house he and his grandma was living in was situated at the entrance of the woods, they couldn't afford to pay for houses in the village but they were lucky to have found that small hut so they occupied it.
Entering the village, the people saw how sweaty he looked and began to whisper.
"Just what is he up to this time?"
"I bet he's been chopping down those trees in the forest, what a waste of time and energy because we ain't going to buy them from him."
"Yeah, nothing good comes out of him."
Ember ignored all their empty words and continued walking toward a particular place. He called their words empty because they were not able to bring him down, they couldn't even penetrate his hard skin so he did not bother to answer them back. Meanwhile, on his way, he overhead people talking about a certain entrance examination into the Elite Academy of magic so he stopped and went over to where the conversation was taking place.
"I heard that the Elite Academy will be having their entrance examination in a month's time," the first person said.
"The examination is said to be a tough one. I'd like to partake in it and if I pass, I'm going to become a student of the Elite Academy, hahaha!" The second person said, looking excited.
"Isn't it too early for you to be excited? We all know that it is not easy getting passed those five squad captains," another person said but the second person waved his hand and said.
"Forget about that. Once I impress them with my amazing magic spells, they will be happy to have me with them."
"Well, that's if you are lucky," the first person said to the second one. "By the way, the magic awakening day is tomorrow. Those who weren't lucky last year will have to try again and if lucky, will be able to use magic."
"I wonder if that kid will manage to awaken his magic this time around," the third person said.
"Are you talking about the kid who lives with that old woman?" The first person asked and scoffed. "I doubt he will."
Hearing this, Ember knew he was the one they were talking about. Not wanting to be seen by them, he turned and left immediately. Instead of going to the place he intented to, he decided to head back home.
Getting home, he saw his grandma sewing some clothes outside.
"Grandma, what are you doing?" He asked her.
"I'm making a pair of trouser and shirt for you, you will put them on the day you go to take your exams at the Academy," she replied.
Ember never told her that he was going to take the entrance exams so he was surprised that she knew.
"Grandma, how did you know?" He asked her.
"The news about the entrance examination is everywhere, it's just that you didn't really pay attention to it before," she replied with a smile on her face. She trailed her eyes to his body and at once, she knew that he had been practicing. "How is you ur practice going?" She asked him.
"Very good! I was able to cut down ten trees today," he replied.
"That's really awesome," his grandma said in surprise. "I am really happy for you," she added and he beamed.
Getting praised by his grandma was what he loved so much. "Grandma, I'm glad you are happy for me. I'll go take my bath and rest, tomorrow is the magic awakening day, I am going to try my luck again," he told her.
"That's fine. Your food is covered, just eat and then rest," she said and he nodded and went inside.
It was going to be a great day the next day so he wanted to eat and rest early.
-----The next day------
People gathered inside a large hall, waiting for the event to begin. Soon after, Ember walked in and everyone turned to him, their attention soley on him.
"Look! The failure is here again!" They said.
"I wonder why he is here."
"To try again, I guess."
"He's going to leave empty handed again!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Ignoring all the mean words thrown at him, he walked to the front and stood. He had no friends so he stood alone.
After they had waited for a while, an old man with white beard appeared before them and stood at the stage, he was holding a long staff with a green diamond stone on it.
"The old wizard is here!" They exclaimed and waited in anticipation for the awakening to begin.
Unlike others, Ember was more eager for it to begin. "Oh, I can't wait! This is my only chance!" He said to himself.
"I know you all are in great expectations for what is about to happen but let me tell you something, not all of you will have your magics awakened. I just hope that you are among the lucky ones!" The old wizard said to them. After he had finished his speech, he stomped his staff to the ground and the diamond stone emitted a bright green light that illuminated the whole place, giving the once dimly-lit hall a radiant glow. "Magic awakening, reborn!" He yelled and multiple colors of stars appeared and began to descend. Some were orange, some white, some blue, and many other beautiful colors and each one floated down and stopped in the front of each person there.
"Wow! I have the flame magic!"
"Likewise me!"
"Mine is the light magic!"
Everyone in the hall talked about their magics happily except one person.
"Wh-where is mine?" Ember stammered and upon hearing him, everyone turned their attention to him.
"He didn't get his again? Pffft!" They said and bursted out. They laughed while pointing their fingers at him.
"Well, what do you think? Once a failure, forever a failure!"
"He's better off dead!"
"You are a failure! A complete one at that! Hahahahah!"
Angry, Ember clenched his fists and turned to them. "Look you all, I don't care what you call me, say to my face or even behind me because guess what, I am going to become the next magic king and no one will be able to stop me! And when I become the magic king, I'll come back and make every one of you here bow down to me!" He said to them and stormed out of the hall. As he left, the people began to make jest of him.
"What does he mean by becoming the magic king? Hahahahah, he doesn't even have magic so start with so how is that possible? Hahahahah!"
"What a jok!"
By the end of the hall, in a dark corner, someone was standing there in the shadows — No one knew he was there. His face was covered with a mask and he was putting on a long black cloak. He had witnessed everything that happened and so when Ember left, he gazed at the exit and sighed.
"What an interesting young man. Might as well pay him a visit," he mumbled and began to chuckle inaudibly. Soon after that, he vanished.