"Alexander Cain, proceed to be tested."
"Cain? You know a Lilia Cain?" Miss Elizabeth looks excited.
"Of course, I know my mother. How do you know of her?"
"Know her? Yeah, you could say that she saved my life a few times," She laughs, "One time in-"
"Miss Elizabeth," Half-moon reprimands.
"Alright, let's start," She rolls her eyes as I sit down. Her hand touches my back and I feel energy entering my body, causing a few ripples to occur. After a few moments the energy withdraws, and she removes her hand.
"You definitely have potential," She gives me a wink, "Your Mid-tier should have a good future ahead of you." I give her a smile and go over to the others that have been tested. Last life even though I had potential I steered clear of the first sword training, because of how strenuous it was. I won't make the same mistake this time.
"Maria Cain." I look over to see Maria boldly stride over to Miss Elizabeth.
"Twins?" Miss Elizabeth asks amazed.
"Yes, and what of it?" Maria spoke trying to cover her nerves.
"It explains a lot. Anyway sit." The superstition behind twins is benevolent. Having twins meant prosperity and great luck. It is also thought that twins have higher potential than others. This caused lots of illegal capture and enslavement of twins. A point in the war where it was at its darkest.
"Holy Hell!" Miss Elizabeth's exclamation drew my attention. "How can a kid have so much talent? Twins must be really blessed!" Maria stood up and beams at me. I smile proudly, same as last time overwhelming talent.
"Miss Elizabeth, please compose yourself and report her score," Half-moon spoke with slight irritation.
"High-tier." His eyes widen slightly before he composes himself and writes it down taking longer than usual. After that he called more names and the first sword test continued without any big events. After the last examinee was tested Half-moon stepped in front of us.
"The next test will be conducted by Mr. Jol," he motions to the assassin, "This test can be taking as a group so it should be quick." He then stepped back letting Mr. Jol stand in front.
"My test is simply I will slowly release mental energy to see what tier talent you have." His low voice barely a whisper clearly resonated in my ears. "Let us begin." As the words left his mouth, I felt pressure on my mind and see examinees passing out. Unfortunately, one of them was Maria. I catch her as she fell. Then the pressure intensified causing more to pass out, leaving three standing, the smart mouth Orion, Isaac if I remember right, and me. Orion looks to be struggling meanwhile Isaac seems unaffected. Honestly, I was surprised I could still move freely, as this thought entered mind the pressure increased again. I hear a thud, without looking I know its Orion. Out of nowhere the pressure disappears and I straighten up. Mr. Jol snaps his fingers and the fainted examinees bolt straight up. Which unfortunately included Maria, who head butted my chin.
"Isaac and Alexander are High-tier, Orion is Mid-tier, the rest are Low-tier. Congrats." Mr. Jol spoke his covered eyes seemed to be looking in my direction.
"Alright last test," Half-moon announces, "This test is special, because it will be administered by the Dean of Sylph Academy himself, Dean Oliver Shin." He gestures to the man in the Fish cloaked guy.
"Thanks for the intro, though I'd prefer to not be known. Alright everyone lines up just touch the mirror and your aptitude will be revealed." He gives a reassuring grin. Orion steps up first placing his dark hand on the shiny metal and confidently looks back.
"I'm pretty good right?" the mirror glows with symbols shining different colors.
"You have mid-tier talent in certain schools, not the best not the worst. Who's next?" A few more people go then I arrive at the mirror. My eyes close and I reach my hand out and place it against the cool metal. A familiar sensation of ether flows into my body and soul. I see the light glow through my eyelids, and I hear a clipboard drop.
"El was right, seems like I owe him big time." I open my eyes and stare in disbelief. It changed. It really changed. My talent wasn't bad last time but this result is astronomically different. "You could even be an Arch Mage in the future."
The other children's whispers echo through the arena. I catch my sister's eye and she gave a look of complete shock and joy. I remove my hand and the mirror returns to normal.
"So, I guess I pass right?"
The Dean finally removes his eyes from the testing apparatus, "If you don't pass no one will. You're the highest talent I've seen since El." His response brought a question to mind.
"El? As in Elliott Axton?" my mind fills with questions. But if this is what I'm given I'll use every advantage I can to prevent the future. At this the man with the clipboard straightens up and cuts off any further questions.
"We need to move on," as he flips to the appropriate page, "Maria Cleargrey, step up." Awakening from her astonishment she steps forward to be tested. After a moment The Dean determines her to be mid-tier just like last time. The tests continue after the last examinee is finished the dean steps forward from the other examiners.
"Now that you have been tested, your scores will be reported to the school, and you are to report here to be transported to the academy when instructed to by the receptionist." As he finished the older gentlemen came on stage and guided us back to the entrance. As we departed, I heard whispers from the examiners discussing my score.
As we make it to the end of the hall, I see parents standing behind the desk anxious for their kids. I caught a glimpse of mom and hasten my speed.
"Mom," I call out in glee, "We passed with flying colors." When I get close, I wrap my arms around her, eyes glistening. Her hand rubs my back and I feel the tension leave her shoulders. Since I'm given this chance, I won't squander it. Another pair of arms wrap around the two of us and I hear my sister's excited squeals. We finally break apart and retell what happened on the exam. When we get to the third exam Maria chimes in excitedly.
"MOM, you'll never believe it. Zan has talent comparable to Elliott Axton. Like The Elliott Axton, can you believe it?" mom's eyes widen at her statement and turns towards me for confirmation. I simply nod grinning. Her jaw drops. She stares for a few seconds then composes herself.
"Well if that's the case we better find out when you both need to be here to go to the academy," her voice obviously a pitch higher. She then walks to the receptionist and exchanges a few words receiving two pieces of parchment.
"The travel is dated for two weeks. We'll discuss more at home, but how about first we grab a celebratory dinner?"
Since returning almost two weeks ago, I've researched the journal left to me and worked on training. I also started keeping my own journal and research diary so that I won't forget the regrets I need to prevent. Elliott's Journal contains so much information it could take me decades to understand all of it. The journal entries were interesting in the way it gave me a view of Elliott that almost no one knows. Mom took pride in Maria's talent in the first sword that she is teaching her the basics, I also took part even though mom said I should focus on being a sorcerer. I plan on using every power at my disposal, I even found something to help me later from Elliott's journal for my mage sense I'm still gathering the ingredients for it though. Tomorrow morning is when we are supposed to go to the academy. Mom even threw a going away party for the two of us. What I thought was going to be just painful memories I'm now reliving them reminding me of what I got back and what I could lose.
"Don't start any fights," Mom chides Maria tucking a strand maria's hair. "And don't get involved with any boys your brother doesn't approve of." Maria's ears flush red at the statement. We are standing in front of the portal gate saying goodbye to family members before leaving for the academy. Evidence of this is shown by the thirty some kids getting fawned over by parents. The previous Examiners stood off to the side starting the gate.
"Alright mom," I grab Maria's arm breaking up the rant mom was going on, "We will be fine we really got to go I'll send you letters." I give her a hug and bring sis over to the group that had gathered before the gate. I meet eyes with The Dean, and he prances towards me. Maria takes this as an opportunity to break free from my grip.
"Alexander," his tone cheery, "Have you prepared everything appropriately for the first semester?" His statement makes me clench my bag that held Elliott's notebook subconsciously. I manage to return his cheerful look.
"Yes sir, everything prepared."
"I hope so, because it looks like you are going to have a busy schedule. I personally love talented students myself. Since not everyone can study all three swords."
"If I can do it, I should learn it you know." My simple answer only made his eyes burn with more curiosity.
"Well, we can talk more later, it looks like the portal is ready." A flash of dark light draws my attention to the gate. A thin sheet of black silky material shifted with the wind inside the gate frame.
"Everyone can enter." A voice resonated through the plaza. People start to step through the frame and disappear. I see the back of maria's head as she enters the portal. I look back as I get to the gate and look at mom standing at the edge of the plaza. I mouth I'll see you soon and give her a small smile. Then I step forward letting the black curtains envelope me in darkness.