A week had passed since that incident. In that time he had began training, he was so excited yet scared, his heart pounding everyday, yet he was determined, he would get magic even if it killed him.
"Citizens of the age 14 of this quaint town!" The announcer spoke, uncaring for the town's name
"Make your way to the capital by dusk for the Magic Leap Exam, immediately!"
Shirooka, Quon and 4 of their peers made their way with the provided horses (Quon got a depressed mule)
When the children reached, their jaws dropped, the city in all its glory, the towering imperial palace, the Magic Leap Examination Proctors, the civilians trading working, playing, the royal guard patrolling the city! Even Shirooka was slightly aghast.
when the 6 made their way to the educational district. They were met with a booming voice
"CHILDREN! SETTLE DOWN IMMEDIATELY!" the chattering and laughing ceased as immediately as it began, over 3,000 students were there alone, the students looked up, the proctor was a frail man, so frail he looked like if he sneezed the wrong way he could be blown miles away.
"As you know, you're all here to find out your proficiency in magical abilities, or for some, whether you have any at all, the truth is everyone has magic, and the more time it takes for you to control it, the more powerful you are likely to be" Quon smiled a bit thinking maybe he has a chance.
The proctor continued after a brief cough continued "After you get your proficiency, the latter of you will return to your homes and live a peaceful life farming" the students said words of agreement, before the professor continued "However, he paused, the civil war has escalated dramatically over the past year, and we need recruits, everyone who manages to pass will be put under draft for the military." the 6 didnt know what he was talking about, they thought the rebels were gone, thats what the elders told them anyway.
"What's wrong with this geezer, the civil war finished 6 years ago!" Shirooka Said quietly (or so he thought) , the rest of the students looked at him like he was the local drunk the professor said "That may be so in your backwater village! But here it's growing like a beast that cannot be tamed, by the day, hundreds of thousands of lives are lost or forsaken." The professor explained "Enough talk! You need to take your tests!"
The students were rushed into their own seperate rooms, Quon and the proctor's assistants gave each student the test. Quon and Shirooka were put in rooms next to eachother, when they each got the test, Quon was a bit confused with the magic ones, but aced in the intellectual and physical questions, Shirooka had passed magic and intellectual questions, but he needed help with the physical questions, Quon decided to go ask knowing if he was caught, his chance of ever becoming one of the 11 commanders would fail.
He climbed the walls, tiptoed carefully and luckily, one of the assistants forgot to lock Shirooka's door, they both swapped tests, answered the questions they were both stuck on for eachother, then switched back near the end. They both passed overwhelmingly, infact the two got one of the highest scores. The question now is, can Quon show he has magic?