Chapter 2

Cassy's Point of View

WE ARE twenty-six in total and Mary divided us into two. The first half will have to take the written exam and the other half has to perform the practical exam. And unfortunately, I have to take first the written exam.

"Follow me," George, Mary's colleague, instructed.

Lumabas na kami ng building at lumipat sa isa pang building. At pansin ko lang, ako lang ang walang kausap, pero the hell I care? I'm used to this. I have been alone for my entire life, well I cannot disregard the fact that I have my mother, but still, she's not always around.

Pagkapasok namin ay bumungad sa amin ang isang theater-type room na may mga mahahabang seats. And as an initiative, umupo kami roon. As soos as we all sat down, George gave us the test papers.

Pagkatingin ko ay napangisi ako. Just what as my mother taught me. Basic questions that will test your knowledge in logic, algorithm, creatures, and history. This will be a piece of cake.

LUMABAS akong nakataas ang noo. I'm sure that I'll get perfect. If I remembered correctly what my mother taught me, then, there's no doubt. I'll be in the top class.

Bumalik kami sa building kung saan kasalukuyang nag-co-conduct ng practical exam. Naabutan namin ang isang lalaking nakasuot ng opened button blue blazer at white puffy pants.

He went on the center of the colorless magic circle. He opened his hand in the midair and a staff made of wood with red round gem on its tip appeared. Seconds passed, we saw red luminous lights coloring the magic circle.

"O ignis atque flammarum ex natura calorem tuo terram..." he chanted as red smoke gathered on the tip of the staff, and later turned into sparks. "Draco Ignis!" The sparks immediately transformed into a red fire, creating a fireball. He swayed his staff in the air and aimed it to the dummies. A minor explosive sound was heard before a hologram containing the evaluation result appeared. 'Congratulations! You ranked D!'

Just as what I expected. What he just chanted is a basic chant that casters do. Casters are those who possess mana but still need a medium to be able to use it. Examples of mediums are staffs and wands. And this man uses staff to use his element. He got a strong element, tho. If he will continue to train and learn from this academy, he could possibly become stronger.

"Okay, that ends your practical exam! You may now go with George to begin your written exam," Mary announced. "Do your best!"

Nang makalabas ang lahat ng nag-take ng practical exam ay pinapunta na kami ni Mary malapit sa magic circle. Isa-isa niya kaming tiningnan bago ngumiti.

"Good morning," bati niya. "Before we will begin the practical exam, I will first explain to you how does it works." Naglakad siya sa harap namin at lumitaw sa tabi niya ang isang hologram kung saan nakalagay ang imahe ng colorless magic circle. "This magic circle will determine the element you possess. It will emit color in accordance to your element." The hologram changed the image it projects. Ngayon ay ang mga puting dummies naman. "And these dummies are implanted with lacrimas that will measure the strength and power of your attacks. Later, a hologram will appear and show you your evaluation result." Nang maglaho ang hologram ay muli na namang ngumiti sa amin si Mary. "Now, let's start!"

Nagsimula nang magtawag si Mary ng pangalan, basing on the list she have on the hologram. At base sa napansin ko kanina, ako ang pang-huli dahil ako ang huling dumating.

Umupo ako sa bench, iyong malayo sa kinauupuan ng mga kasabay ko. Masyado silang maingay. Baka sila pa ang magawa kong dummy at ma-sample-an ng kapangyarihan ko.

Mabilis na natapos ang mga kasama ko. So far, Alchemists and Casters pa lang ang nakikita ko. Most of them ranked D, too. Well, it's normal for Alchemists to have that rank since they are more inclined to laboratory-related stuffs.

Dalawa na lang kaming natira ng babaeng nakaupo rin sa kabilang dulo malayo sa mga maiingay na kasabay namin. Isang babaeng may mahabang itim na buhok at napakaputlang balat ang. Itim na itim din ang mga mata nito. Hindi ko alam pero may naramdaman akong kakaiba sa kaniya. I just don't like her. Well, I don't like everyon either.

"Lovelace Brenthar," tawag ni Mary sa babae.

Tumayo ito at kaagad na pumwesto sa gitna ng magic circle. Maya-maya pa ay may inilabas siyang isang wooden wand na may nakapulupot na ahas na gawa sa metal. Sa bibig ng ahas ay isang crimson gem.

Mabilis na nagkulay pula ang magic circle. I even saw it spark before crimson smoke came out from the tip of her wand. It circled her body until it became a blazing crimson fire. I heard some gasps as they felt the intensity of Lovelace's fire. She swayed her wand and the fire moved upwards and turned into gigantic spikes. She moved her wand downwards and the fire spikes swiftly hit the dummies, creating loud explosions that caused the place to shake and be covered with dust and smoke.

I can't help but to grin. She's quite strong. Too strong for a Midde. Midde are those who use medium to use the mana they possess, but no longer need to chant incantations and spells. She'll be a good match in the future.

Someone from the group chanted a spell. "Ventus ex caelo, mitte te visus onwante-Vortex!" In a snap, a strong wind moving in a circular motion appeared in the air gathering the dusts and smoke. "Abstergo," someone uttered, and the whirlwind vanished together with the dusts and smoke.

"Woah, that was great!" Mary exclaimed. "Now let's see you result, Lovelace." The lacrima appeared and everyone applauded. "You ranked S, Lovelace!"

Dahil doon ay nagbulungan ang lahat, saying how good and strong Lovelace was. Dahil doon ay nawala ang ngisi sa labi ko. They really think that's good enough?I can even tell that she did not use her full power. She's holding herself.

Who exactly are you, Lovelace?

"Now, let's call on Cassy Aguilar!"

As I walked and passed through them, they started whispering, telling each other that I might only look pathetic if ever I will try to surpass what Lovelace did. Tss. Stupid idiots.

Nakasalubong ko si Lovelace at ewan ko ba, nang magtagpo ang aming mga mata ay bigla akong nakaramdam ng sense of familiarity, which I find weird. At nang ngumisi siya sa akin ay naikuyom ko ang kamay ko sa iritasyon. "Good luck. Do your best to surpass me," she said. And when she was about to pass through me she whispered, mocking me, "If you can."

Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko pero huminga ako nang malalim. I should save this later. I can use this irritation as a motivation to unleash my power. Pumunta ako sa gitna ng magic circle at pinalabas ang aking mana. I don't need to use any medium since I am a weilder. Weilders are those who can use their mana with their bare hands.

Luminous purple light started to fill the colorless magic circle as purple mist gathered and surrounded my body. Itinaas ko ang aking kanang kamay sa ere at ibinuka ito. The mist gathered on top of my palm and turned into a small ball of compressed mana. Black lightning started coming out as it moved in a circular motion.

"Destroy," I whispered as the ball of mana moved swiftly on its own towards the dummies.

There was a two-second moment of silence before a loud explosion happened, shaking the whole place and filling it with debris and parts of the dummies that were destroyed.

At nang mawala ang usok at alikabok ay nakita ko ang nakalagay sa hologram. 'Congratulations! You ranked S!' I smirked before I faced everyone and saw their wide-open eyes and mouth.

"Don't tell everyone what you just witnessed. Speak and you'll die," babala ko bago mabilis na nilisan ang lugar.

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