Nadia stepped back in line, her eyes glimming with satisfaction, the room was still reeling from her demonstration.
It was both unnerving and fascinating at the same time.if it wasn't for the fact she did so well to wow everyone, they would have disqualified her for taking a life. But no one bat an eyelash at her daunting performance.
Octavius took a deep breath, trying to ward off the nervousness that lurked within. He was the last person to display his talent, and the bird he wanted to use to make that possible, had just been killed.
Stepping forward, Octavius smiled confidently, trying to project an air of calm. Just as he was about to introduce himself as his fake name Edwin, the healer's mage stopped him with his words.
"He doesn't have a mark, why is he here?"
"Shit," Octavius muttered under his breath, his heart sinking with a growing sense of unease. He had been hoping that his lack of a mark wouldn't become an issue, but now it seemed like it was going to be a major problem.
The passage rites were a sacred tradition that marked the beginning of every young teenager's journey. To stand a chance of getting into the academy, one must participate in the rites, one had to receive a mark - a symbol of the Faction's recognition and acceptance.
Octavius knew that he was taking a huge risk by trying to participate without a mark. It wasn't just a matter of not having a talent - everyone who underwent the passage rites received a mark, regardless of their abilities. Those who didn't possess any magical talents were still given a mark, albeit a different one that signified their role as supporters or assistants within the Faction.
Now, as Octavius stood before the gathering, he realized that his lack of a mark could lead to his disqualification. His chances of success were already slim, and this setback could prove to be insurmountable.
As Octavius waited to be discarded by the Mages, Marilyn suddenly spoke up. "I know we're not supposed to advocate for anyone until we're asked to cast our votes," she said, "but I think he deserves a chance."
The Conjurer cut her off with a question, his tone stern. "Then why do you still speak, Child?"
Marilyn swallowed hard, her words trailing off as the Conjurer's mage turned to the Healer's Mage and said, "Like father, like daughter - always giving opinions when not asked."
The other mage snorted out a laugh. "Typical," He commented.
Seeing they paid her no attention, she quickly blurted out. "He helped us find the Aetherstones."
The unmistakable look of surprises watched over the Mages features, including that of Emery.
[I'm guessing this was your bIG strategy for giving out the stones?] Void asked Octavius with sarcasm lacing his words.
"It's utterly astonishing to hear that he's the chap responsible for leading you to the stones," the Healer's Mage started, "but, I'm afraid, that doesn't alter the fact that he doesn't qualify. He won't properly belong to any of our factions."
Marilyn pressed on, "He's got good potential, if I do say so myself," she urged. "Please, do give him a spot of chance to show us what he's capable of. It would be a shame to dismiss him without knowing of his attributes."
[She definitely wants to get you laid, ] Void whispered to Octavius, with a sly grin spreading across his face.
Octavius, however, was too distracted to notice Void's insinuation. He was utterly fascinated by Marilyn's unwavering determination to persuade the Mages to give him a chance.
Her persistence was admirable, and Octavius found himself wondering what drove her to risk her own standing in the competition. After all, interfering on his behalf could result in her own disqualification.
"Well, are you just going to stand there and let a woman speak for you, or will you attempt to show us something? Or are you already displaying your talent, and we've simply failed to take note of it?" The Healer's mage asked Octvaius making a few of the Contestants laugh.
Octavius's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed heavily, his throat constricting with nervous tension. He took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto the Mages seated in front of him as he declared, "My name is Edwin. Edwin Blackwood." He paused, his voice slightly wavering as he added, "And my talent is taming creatures."
"And I planned to," Octavius continued, but his words trailed off as the Healer's Mage suddenly clapped his arm, dislodging a tiny insect that had been biting him.
Octavius's eyes narrowed as he watched the small ant fall to the ground, its tiny body twitching momentarily before it regained its composure. He watched on as the ant marched back into line, joining its companions in a perfectly formed procession, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
He had noticed a few of them migrating earlier.
'What if I can use them?' he thought to himself, seeing as he was short with options. He began to scheme, his idea taking shape, but before he could fully form his thoughts, The Healer's Mage interrupted him.
"Well, you planned what?"
"I planned to use the mohit bird I had strived to find to show forth my talent, but my fellow contestant made use of it, and killed it."
"So what? You are left with no alternative? Great… we can call it a d—"
"I have one more thing," Octavius, or Edwin, spoke up, intercepting the Mage's next words.
[You do?] Void whispered in his mind, his tone laced with intrigue.
"Yes... the ants," Octavius muttered back, his thoughts flowing seamlessly to Void. "Can you spot their Queen?"
With a single glance, Void spotted the queen ant perched on a nearby wall, her tiny body orchestrating the colony's movements with precision.
[And what do you want to do with her?] Void pressed on, his mental voice tinged with curiosity.
"She's the central hub of their communication network," Octavius explained. "If you can establish a symbiotic link with her, I'm certain we can synchronize the ants' movements, converging them into a unified, cohesive entity. Essentially, we can create a collective, with the queen ant as the nexus, allowing us to manipulate their behavior en masse."
[I have no idea what that is, but I'm in.]
With a swift mental command, Octavius cast Void into the queen ant's body. The queen ant descended from the wall, her tiny legs clicking on the floor as she positioned herself in the center of the room.
"I'm going to show you all my talent with the help of this ant," Octavius declared, his voice steady and confident. He ignored the snort of derision from one of the contestants, focusing instead on the task at hand.
He began to whisper softly, the words unnecessary, but an accompaniment to his forged talent.
The ants in the room responded, streaming out of the corners and shadows to converge upon the queen. They formed a living, breathing sculpture, their bodies piling together to create feet, a torso, and finally, a body identical to Octavius's own.
His eyes fixed intently on the ants, Octavius avoided the gaze of the spectators, fearful that their reactions might distract him. When the sculpture was complete, he offered a slight bow, and the ants, still maintaining their formation, bowed in unison.
The room erupted into applause, but not from the contestants behind him or the Mages, who wore stunned expressions that were seated in front of him.
Instead, the applause resonated from above him, coming from someone seated on the staircase.
The person in question is Eriol, the Leviathan Mage, and Thorne's father.
Octvaius felt his heartbeat quickening.