WHOOP!
The siren blared loudly throughout the village, speakers mounted at every intersection to make it easier to relay information. Sam, who lived with his parents on the hill, could hear the siren faintly.
"Did you hear that, Sam?"
"Yeah. It's the siren from the village. What is the date today?" Sam asked.
"15th of April."
Sam gasped as he stopped what he was doing - chopping firewood. He stuck the sharp axe on a log with his eyes focused ahead, looking at the village from a height.
Armored cars could be seen driving into the village, ten in total. Sam's mother, Liliana, stepped closer to her son. She patted Sam's shoulder, which looked worried.
"It's Mage Recruitment time," Liliana said, Sam nodded knowingly.
"I know. I've participated four times since I was 10. For some reason, my talent doesn't show up."
"Maybe this time your talent will, Sam. Don't give up."
"Thanks, Mom. That calms me down, even though I know the results."
While Sam was talking to Liliana, a girl with shoulder-length red hair ran up the hill. She was Mira, Sam's childhood friend.
Although she had been friends, the age difference between the two was three years. This year, it was Mira's first time participating in Mage Recruitment. The previous year, she didn't participate due to illness.
"Sam. Did you know? Mage Recruitment will be held at the village hall," Mira said enthusiastically.
"You're very excited, Mira. It's only natural since it's your first participation in Mage Recruitment."
"Let's get in the queue early."
Sam exhaled, then responded by nodding. Without much preparation, the two left after saying goodbye to Liliana. Liliana smiled and waved goodbye, wishing Sam and Mira all the best.
During the walk, Mira couldn't hide the excitement in her heart. She had imagined many things when she obtained her talent and became a mage.
Sam smiled slightly. He had been like that when he first joined the Mage Recruitment; it was a common thing.
"Are you as excited as I am, Sam?" asked Mira.
"Not really. Still, I'm curious as to what the results will be."
Mage Recruitment was carried out by a guild of the Osnia Nation's Peace Keepers; they called themselves the Mage Warden.
Within the Mage Warden, there was a small group called Yusticia. Yusticia is a group of Mage members selected based on their power. Their signature is the number behind their name when they are chosen.
Their expertise in magic was able to hypnotize many people and make them dream of becoming them; Mira was one of them.
She wants to be one of the Yusticia members. Yet, she realized to be like them, she had to be able to show off her talent.
"You came again. Aren't you bored?!" complained a boy, Morgan.
Morgan stopped and looked at Sam, the lousy person who had failed four times at Mage Recruitment. No one could match his record. How pathetic!
Mira looked sullen, staring ahead, filled with upset. She wanted to punch Morgan in the face for insulting Sam. Still, Sam asked Mira to calm down. Their insults were something Sam was used to.
"I've invited a magic instructor to provoke my talent out. This time, I'm sure I managed to get my talent. Unlike you."
"If that's the case, then prove it during recruitment," Sam challenged.
Morgan didn't feel annoyed but laughed out loud at Sam's blatant challenge. Sam and Mira walked away, leaving Morgan with his two friends.
"Tch! He'll be embarrassed himself later."
From afar, many teenagers in the village had gathered at the village hall. Sam arrived and got his number for testing, 36. Mira got 40.
A person appeared on a wooden stage, wearing a fancy uniform full of badges adorned with a navy blue furry coat. Two people stood wearing the same uniform. Mira knew they were Yusticia.
"My name is Julia Yusticia Thirty-Four, Eastern Border Guard," explained Julia, a 20-year-old woman with beautiful long blonde hair.
"I'm Leon Yusticia Twenty-Five. Clovis City Warden," chimed in Leon, Julia's partner at the same age as Julia.
As before, they explained what a Mage Warden was and their main duties to all the potential Mage recruits.
158 people signed up to participate in the recruitment; 95 were new, and the rest were those who had failed in previous years.
They also displayed a video projection of the duties, rights, and authority of the Mage Warden. However, most prospective recruits were only interested in the perks they would get, such as a good life and wealth.
"We provide five testing booths to identify your talents. This is your first test," Julia explained.
She pointed to the five tents that had been set up. The committee will call participants according to their numbers. Participants will enter the tent and place their hands on the blue sphere of the talent detector.
A system panel will appear on the blue crystal sphere if the participant has talent. But, if not, the color of the crystal sphere will turn red. That was the first test.
"After you pass the first test, you will face the second one to determine your talent type," Leon said.
"Don't worry. Once you pass the first test, you're already a member of the Mage Warden."
'The first test is always a scary thing,' Sam said.
Julia and Leon looked at each other and then nodded together. They decided to start this year's Mage Recruitment in Noor Village.
Participants began to be called according to the numbers they received. Those who hadn't been called yet had to wait around the village hall area.
Half an hour passed, the number called had reached 30. Sam prepared, his hands and feet trembling even though this was his fifth participation.
Mira noticed Sam's uneasy attitude; the girl kept trying to comfort Sam.
"Number 36, Sam Alderwald."
His name was called. Sam hurriedly went to booth number one. Mira nodded, praying for the best for Sam.
The tent curtain opened. Sam met the female instructor, who looked grumpy, visibly exhausted by the whole thing.
She ordered Sam to sit before her, stretching both hands forward and pointing at the blue crystal sphere.
"Hold on. Let the crystal sphere do its work."
[Talent scan begins]
[Host Name: Sam Alderwald]
[Age: 14]
Blue, glowing magic particles began to fill the entire area of the tent. Sam wasn't surprised, as it was part of their talent scanning sequence.
The female instructor seemed to be doing something on her system panel, which Sam couldn't figure out.
"This is the fifth time you've participated in this recruitment. Am I right, Sam?"
"That's right, Ms."
About five minutes later, the blue crystal sphere in front of Sam lit up bright white. The female instructor gasped; she had never seen it happen before. Sam was as surprised as the female instructor.
"What's happening?"
"It's—"
BURST!
The towering light from the crystal sphere was white and pierced through the tent roof. People were stunned, focusing their attention on the first tent where Sam was conducting talent testing.
Mira came out from inside the tent as her scan was successful. She obtained a talent and joined the Mage Warden.
She turned her head to the side, looking with a shocked face at the white pillar of light in the first tent.
'Sam? What happened?' asked Mira, curious.
Julia and Leon felt the energy fluctuations. Those who were chilling in the chief's room instantly noticed the power. With swift steps, they left the room and arrived at the first test area.
"What's happening?" Julia asked Leon.
"These energy fluctuations are unusual. The participant who awakens the talent in the first tent may get a talent with a high rank at first."
"That never happened. The high rank of a talent at the initial testing is rank A. Is it possible he has a higher rank?"
"There's only one way to find out."
The two decided to enter the first tent, they saw Sam sitting with his hand still out. The female instructor was firm, standing up while saluting Julia and Leon.
"How was the scan?" Julia asked.
"The process went well. But, this white pillar of light appeared for no reason."
Slowly, the white pillar of light dimmed and disappeared. It was replaced by a notification panel on top of a blue crystal sphere.
Sam was overjoyed, his prayers and hopes had been rewarded with a favorable result.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[Host Name: Sam Alderwald]
[Age: 14]
[Host gains magic talent]
[Talent Name: Evolve]
[Talent rank: ?]
[Host is eligible to take the second stage of the test, determining the type of magic talent]
"Evolve? What kind of talent is that? Can you evolve?" asked the female instructor before Sam.
"There are hundreds of unique talents throughout Osnia. He is one of them."
Julia congratulated Sam as she led her out of the first tent. The screening continued as usual, Julia and Leon returned to the chief's room at lightning speed, they needed to report this odd incident to David.
Mira met Sam and hugged the young man. She said she had gotten a magic talent and had successfully joined the Mage Warden.
Sam said so, both of them officially became members of the Mage Warden.
Just as Sam focused his eyes forward, looking at Mira, a panel appeared in his eyes that Mira couldn't see.
[Evolve Talent Activated]
[Sub Talent Activated]
[View Other Evolve]
[Name: Mira Rosewood]
[Age: 11]
[Bloodline: Human]
[Talent: Ice Sword]
[Evolve Path!]
[Mage Warden -> Captain of 12th squad Mage Warden -> Joined Warden Yusticia-> Mira Yusticia Forty-two -> Squad Leader of 12th Osnia Invasion]
[Evolve talent can only read five progression paths from the current period]
[Progression path could potentially change if Host intervenes]
[Host can only read the same person's evolve three times]
[Mira's Evolve View Count: 2]
"Akh!" groaned Sam, feeling his headache after taking an evolution reading from someone, Mira.
Mira panicked, trying to bring Sam to calm down outside the area. The second testing phase will be conducted when the first phase is complete. It would be done about three hours from now.
"A-Are you alright, Sam?"
The girl was shocked. She looked at Sam's eyes and realized his pupils had turned maroon.
"Your eye... it turned maroon."
Sam held one of his eyes, then smiled widely, realizing that his ability was really useful. Mira was confused at Sam's strange behavior.
'This ... is really an interesting magic talent.'