"You need to fill out a form and take the aptitude test! Then, you will have free time, and you can choose your academy of choice!"
"Because you arrived a few days late, you only have one full day left, and in this time, you must choose an academy where you will practice magic; otherwise, you'll have to wait until next year!" Doger was still speaking loudly in front of them.
"Now, all of you line up and come to me one by one, then enter for the test!"
Doger was sitting behind a white table, taking a pile of yellow scrolls and placing them on the table.
The line moved quickly, and when it was my turn, I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The duck was sitting behind a simple table, but his words carried a natural authority. He handed me a yellow form with basic details to fill out: Name, age, place of birth... all very straightforward. There were also runes engraved at the top of the scroll that caught my attention. They were beautifully intricate, almost like living art.
"Interesting," I thought, as I picked up the quill and began filling it out. My hands, accustomed to precision and calculation, quickly created flawless handwriting. I wrote carefully, almost as if each letter were a signature of my former self.
When I finished, Doger looked at my writing and made an unexpected comment: "Wow! Boy... You have almost perfect handwriting. It's on the level of some magicians."
I lifted my head, surprised by the compliment, but kept my composure. I slightly bowed my head in respect and responded humbly: "Thank you for your compliment, great mage. I was a great scholar in my homeland, always loved reading and writing. I even wrote a few books, but nothing that could interest someone with your wisdom."
The smile that appeared on the mage's face was unexpected, almost warm. He leaned forward and touched my forehead with a finger, as if trying to assess something in me. "That makes sense… And thankfully, you didn't lie."
I swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down my spine. "Of course not," I thought to myself. "My past life prepared me for this. Who would have thought that writing about robotics and artificial intelligence could get me out of some consequences, and maybe in this new world, I could create an automated lab to study magic."
The mage seemed to lose interest shortly afterward, gesturing for me to move on. "Next!" he shouted, and then I entered the white tent with the form in hand.
As soon as I entered, I was greeted by an ancient voice that seemed to echo throughout the space: "Come!"
The inside of the tent was surprisingly spacious, almost as if it were larger on the inside than it appeared on the outside. In the center, an old woman was sitting in a black chair. Her white hair flowed in long strands down to her shoulders, and she wore a black dress accompanied by a pointed hat that enhanced her aura of mystery. On the table before her rested a glowing crystal ball.
I approached, bowing like a noble: "Hello, noble mage."
She lifted her eyes to me, her expression cold and impatient. "Child, just bring the form here. Do you know how many children I still have to attend to today?"
Not wanting to irritate her further, I calmly handed her the scroll and sat in the chair before her. She took the form without ceremony and began reading it.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through the words, but at the same time, into something beyond them, as if she were trying to decipher more about me than what was written. Each second felt like an eternity.
"Fifteen years..." murmured the witch, as she looked at me with an analytical and distrustful gaze. Her eyes scanned every part of me, as if searching for answers the scroll hadn't provided. After a brief silence, she asked: "You seem to be a warrior. You must have trained since you were born, but... why is your handwriting so good?"
I gave a slight smile, respectful but still showing confidence. "Noble witch, besides training and cultivating the breathing technique of warriors, I also enjoy reading and writing. I've always believed in an old saying that goes: 'A healthy mind, a healthy body.' It's no use having an active mind in a weak body, just as it's no use having a strong body housing a weak mind."
She furrowed her brow and analyzed me for a few more seconds. Then, unexpectedly, she let out a hoarse and sincere laugh. "Hahaha... You speak as if you weren't just 15 years old. Very well, boy, but enough wasting time. Place your hands on the crystal ball and concentrate your mind."
I nodded without hesitation and did as she instructed. I placed both hands on the crystal ball. As soon as my fingers touched the surface, I was overwhelmed by a strange sensation: the sphere was simultaneously vibrant and cold, as if it were alive.
A wave of discomfort ran through my body. It felt as if something was trying to penetrate my mind. The tips of my fingers seemed to transmit electrical impulses, while a throbbing pain formed in my head, growing in intensity.
"Don't give up!" the witch commanded with her cold but firm voice.
The pain became almost unbearable, and the light in the crystal ball began to pulse. I felt my heart beat in sync with the glow of the sphere. Then, without warning, I was thrown into infinite darkness.
Suddenly, the void around me was filled with three stars that shone so brightly that they almost blinded me. The light seemed to penetrate my soul, analyzing me. My body floated, but to my surprise, I could still breathe.
"What is this place?" I thought, as I raised my arm to shield my eyes from the intense brightness. The stars seemed to be approaching, but before I could comprehend what was happening, a sharp pain struck my head, and I was pulled back.
I jolted back into the chair, breathing heavily. My body was sweaty, and warm liquid was dripping from my nose. I touched it and realized it was blood.
"Okay. So you are at this level," said the witch in a satisfied tone, as if she had already expected this. She picked up her quill and began scribbling something on the form.
"We have categorized the aptitude of acolytes into levels, with the first grade being the worst and the fifth grade the best. You are at the third grade, a 3-star rank."
With a deft gesture, the witch spun a ring on her hand and made a strange mark on the yellow scroll. The scroll glowed briefly, as if recognizing the ritual.
I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to question the mage. "Noble mage, could you explain in detail this star classification system?"
She sighed deeply, as if my question had been expected, but not particularly welcome. Her eyes, however, turned to me with a gleam of patience and knowledge.
"The aptitudes of acolytes are classified according to their chance of being promoted to suitable magicians," she began in a methodical tone. "They are categorized in five stars. The highest level, the fifth star, represents geniuses. These rare individuals have a 90% chance of becoming powerful magicians. They are known as 'Sols,' for their ability to shine above all, like the sun itself."
She paused briefly, adjusting her pointed hat before continuing. "The fourth star is a bit lower, but still impressive. They have a 50% chance of becoming magicians. They are called 'Moons,' for they reflect the light and potential of the 'Sols,' but are still essential in the sky."
She cast a brief and evaluative glance at me before proceeding. "The third star, where you stand, has a 10% chance of success. It's not brilliant, but it's not insignificant either. This level is like the common stars you see in the sky: there are many, but they're rarely noticed."
I felt a slight discomfort with the comparison, but remained attentive. She continued, now with a slightly more severe tone. "As for the second star, these have a slim chance of 2-3% of achieving magical mastery. And, finally, the first star... well, they have practically no chance, only 1% or even less, of becoming magicians. They are nothing but shadows wandering aimlessly in the magical field."
"Anyway," she concluded, "only those of the third star and above have a real opportunity. For those of the first and second stars, their lives will be confined to the role of mere acolytes. Nothing more."
Her words echoed in my mind as I tried to process everything. A small part of me felt relieved not to be in the lower levels. But that would only be the case if I didn't have my virtual lab in my head.
Now, with a virtual lab, I'm sure my knowledge absorption and anything else requiring concentration or absolute precision is far beyond the 5-star ranks... Maybe... I'm around 50 stars or more. After all, with sufficient information, I can solve any problem and create anything, just by emulating... Haha, like a true cheat.
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