The Magi Trials (84)

Akasan suddenly woke up. He found himself in a bedroom somewhere he didn't recognize.

The walls were wooden, and so were the floors.

It was extremely elegant really.

He knew it wasn't a hospital. But this wasn't just some house. He looked around some more.

His bed was huge. And comfortable too.

Akasan got up and looked in the mirror. He had scars on his body from Jack's onslaught of attacks.

Usually he would have been wrapped up in bandages, but he's been healed. He was wearing a fresh pair of pants, but no shirt.

He looked around one more time.

His face grew serious. ''"Was I captured? Is this some Freedom facility or something?" ''

Akasan walked to the door and slowly grabbed the handle. He twisted it. "It's open."

He opened the door and peeked his head out.

It was a hallway.

Just like his room, the hall was also wooden from top to bottom.

There were tables with plants on top of them every so often going down both ways, with some decorative lights on the wall over each one.

Akasan frowned. "So even bad guys know how to decorate I guess..."

Akasan left the room. He looked down both ways. To the left was a dead end, and to the right was another hall. He went right.

At the end of the hall Akasan put his back against the wall and peered around the left corner. He saw a man in a red robe walk past.

Akasan quickly got out of sight.

After a few seconds he looked again. The man was gone.

Akasan ran down that way. He again checked the corner, this time on both sides. No one was around.

He ran left, the way he saw the robed man come from. He stopped at a staircase that went down both sides into what seemed like a massive library.

It was an open space, with bookshelves lining the walls from the floor to the ceiling.

There were circle desks arranged with chairs as well.

"I see you're up and about." A young silver haired man in a blue robe stood behind him smiling.

"What- !!" Akasan yelled as he fell over the banister and hit the floor.

Everyone looked at what was going on.

"Akasan?" a familiar voice said.

Akasan rubbed his back where he hit it and looked over at who the voice belonged to. "Huh? Narumi?"

Akasan quickly sat up.

The silver haired man walked down the stairs.

Akasan was visibly confused. "Narumi, what's goin' on? Is this the afterlife?"

Narumi laughed. "No silly. We retreated from Arbok City for the meantime to get you ready for the next time you face The Ripper."

Akasan jumped up. "Wait, we LEFT?! What about Kagami?! Kuro?! Agaki?!"

Narumi answered. "Well I saw no other way, I'm sure the others will escape too. We shouldn't be away for too long."

Akasan's face darkened for a moment, but he decided not to ruin the mood. "Well, where are we then?"

The silver haired man introduced himself. He placed his hand over his chest. "My name is Shiro. I'm one of the Magi here in the Magic Kingdom of Titania."

Akasan's eyes jumped out of his head. "T-Titania?!!"

Narumi nodded. "My sister was always good friends with the Magi, so I called in for a favor and they accepted!"

Akasan was in wonder. "Oh, thank you." he said to Shiro. "So what are Magi, anyway?"

"Magi is a title given to the most proficient wizards and magicians in the country."

The man who was wearing the red robe came down the stairs. "I see our guest is as energetic as can be."

The man had spiked black hair and goatee, along with some thick eyebrows. He seemed middle-aged.

Shiro introduced him. "Oh, this is Montaro, another Magi. He's the one who taught me everything I know."

Montaro nodded earnestly.

Akasan gave him a dumbfounded nod.

Montaro stroked his beard. "So. I heard that you're here to become stronger. Well I'll tell you that there's nothing more dangerous than a talented magic user. I will give you a lesson. You first one starts now. Come with me."

Akasan got up and followed Montaro to the back of the library.

Shiro and Narumi followed as well.

Montaro signaled for Akasan to sit down at a desk. It was positioned in front of a large chalkboard.

Montaro waved his hand over the board. Pink magic particles sparkled for a moment.

Montaro looked at Akasan. "This chalkboard doesn't actually use chalk. It draws itself based on what I am teaching."

Akasan was amazed. His eyes sparkled with wonder. "Woahhh..."

Montaro snorted a silent laugh. He began. "Alright, where should I begin? Ah. Let's start with what magic actually is. Magic consists of two things. Mana and Magicules. Magicules are the building blocks of magic. They consist of particles so tiny that we cannot see them on their own. We can only perceive these particles when they are bunched up into large groups. When this happens, they create larger particles called mana. Mana is what we, as humans, or any other being, uses to utilize and execute magic spells. A magic user's potential is decided by how loved he or she is by the magicules in the air. We don't know much about them, all we know is that the magicules choose who they like. This can have a positive or negative effect. A person's aptitude for magic is decided at birth. Your maximum potential for using magic can never change. This is set in stone. You could train for millions of years, and you will never be able to use magic above your maximum potential. Is that clear?"

Akasan nodded.

Montaro continued. "Good. Magic spells are ranked and identified in what we call tiers. Tiers one and two are basic, low-level spells. These spells are relatively harmless, and takes little to no effort to perform. Ninety percent of the world's population consists of magic aptitudes in the first and second tier."

Akasan almost couldn't believe that. "Ninety percent? Is that for real?"

Narumi nodded in agreement with Akasan. "I had no idea either."

Montaro nodded. "Yes. Skilled magic users are extremely rare, so the ones that are special are usually treated better by society and live better lives. Moving on. The third and fourth tiers of magic are mid-level spells. These spells can be used to inflict harm on others, though not by much. Your average fireball spell would rank about here. Magicians that use these tiers can find good work here in Titania, as we often use magicians for soldiers. The mark for these tiers is within five percent of the population. Tiers five, six, and seven. High to expert-level spells. These spells can inflict serious damage, or they can be used for other difficult spells. A solid healing spell would be tier five at the lowest. Magicians who use tiers five and above are called wizards. The mark for having this aptitude would be three percent. Now. Tiers eight and nine. God-level spells. God-tier spells are sought after tremendously, as these wizards have the power to wipe out small nations on their own with proper training. God-tier spells can affect a wide area, or bend the laws of our universe. Say a spell that can re-grow a person's limbs. That would be a god-tier spell. The mark for these people is just under two percent. Now, last but not least, tier ten and beyond. World-tier spells. Those that have an aptitude of eight and above are required to take the Magi Trials in this country. Those who wield magic this strong can absolutely not be left alone. If they fall down the wrong path, they can take on a large nation all by themselves if they wanted to. One world-tier spell can take out an entire city, control the dead, and even deny the very laws of our universe completely. Incredibly powerful. The percentage of people with this aptitude is within 0.03% of the world's population."

Akasan raised his hand.

Montaro nodded towards him.

"How do you tell a person's aptitude for magic?"

Montaro moved to the side, revealing a crystal ball on the desk. "This measures magic potential. It is not the only one, there are many. It's made out of polished Amurite, a precious metal found worldwide. Amurite is very sensitive to mana, and glows different colors based on how much it receives. Tiers one and two, the ball glows red. Three and four, it will glow green. Five, six, and seven, it will glow blue. Eight and nine, will get you a violet color, and tier ten will make the ball glow bright white."

Akasan shivered. Narumi tapped him. "Why are you shaking?"

Akasan looked at her with a distraught expression. "I'm nervous! What if I touch it and it glows red?! Then we'd have come here for nothing!!"

Narumi gave him a comforting smile. "I'm sure a guy like you is higher than tier two Akasan."

Akasan was still shivering. "Yeah... you're right."

Shiro handed him a black tank top.

"Oh, thank you... forgot I didn't have a shirt." Akasan said. He put it on.

Montaro let out a hearty laugh. "Well you'll find out what you are sooner than later, so come on you two!"

Akasan stood up. "N-N-Narumi? I'd rather you went first."

Narumi chuckled. "Sure. I will." She walked up to the desk and placed her right hand on the ball.

It started glowing blue.

Narumi smiled. "That's good right?"

Montaro nodded. "Yes, really good!" he said as he stroked his beard. "Your maximum potential is tier seven. Lucky girl."

Narumi grinned as she stepped back.

Akasan executed a wimpy walk as he wobbled his way to the desk. He placed his right hand on the ball. His face turned serious. ''"Come on, come on! I know I've got some potential in there somewhere right?!" ''

Montaro stroked his beard as he watched the ball.

Five seconds passed.

The ball started to glow.

Akasan's face lit up. "I think it's working! I think it's working!!"

Red.

Akasan fell to the floor in shock as his soul left his body.

Narumi screamed. "Ah!! He's out!!" she said, waving her hand in Akasan's face.

Montaro laughed. He bent over looking at the hopeless Akasan. "Hey, get up. Those markings on your right arm, what do they do?"

Akasan got up feeling sick. "They react to my energy whenever I use it..."

Montaro laughed stroking his beard. "Ah, I should've told you, mana and spiritual essence don't mix! If your right arm is like a medium for your energy, then use your left hand on the crystal ball."

Akasan sulkily went back to the ball. "I don't really get the point, I mean, I'm already a failure at being a magician..." he said in a low voice. He placed his left hand on the ball.

Nothing happened for ten seconds.

Then the ball gave off an ultra bright white glow.

Akasan's face brimmed to the top with joy. He looked like a kid in a candy store. He looked at Narumi with shining eyes. "Narumi!! Narumi!! Did you see that?! I'm amazing right!! Right?!!"

Montaro's hand was frozen mid stroke of his goatee. "Well... that was surely unexpected. It actually glowed white..."

Shiro was just as excited as Akasan was.

Narumi looked at them with a disappointed expression as they held hands and jumped up and down like little girls.

Montaro cleared his throat. "Shiro."

Shiro and Akasan straightened up.

"My apologies." Shiro said.

Narumi looked at Montaro. "What's their deal?"

"Shiro is also a tier ten. He loves magic and all forms of it. Sometimes he can get a tad... overenthusiastic."

Shiro laughed nervously.

Montaro walked up to Akasan. "As I explained, you have no choice but to take the Magi Trials."

"What is that?"

Montaro starting stroking his beard. "The Magi Trials consists of a series of various challenges meant to test the limits of future Magi. It will test your strength, your courage, your mind, and most of all, your heart. You start tomorrow. Be ready."

Montaro walked off.

Akasan turned to Shiro. "Hey. What was it like for you?"

Shiro laughed nervously. "Ahh, I shouldn't say."

Akasan looked at him suspiciously. "Ehhhh..."

Narumi lightly slapped Akasan's back.

He turned around.

"You'll do great!" she said.

Akasan nodded. "Yeah. I'll try my hardest!"