“Who’s he?”

“Is he naked under that? I think I saw him appear butt naked.”

“Ugh, he looks like a commoner. They all look… dirty.”

The situation was new and scary and Michael had all the reasons to be very, very nervous about himself now being part of this new, big and frightening world, but… he was getting distracted from his worries.

You acne-filled little shits, I look like a what?

This is why I hated high school. Judgmental asshats… no, my bad. Magical judgmental asshats.

Even in a fantasy setting, the world can’t be rid of you pricks.

Truth be told, Michael did alright in high-school. Sure, he wasn’t the most popular of his peers and the girls weren’t all fawning over him and he didn’t party that much… ok, so maybe he did less than alright. But still, he had his friends, he ignored the insufferable judgy pricks that roamed the hallways of any high-school everywhere and he even had a few relationships.

Which was alright with him. After all, he had been a socially aware, thank you very much, nerd with an interest in medieval fantasy games. Fire, swords… add an elf and a m’lord in there and he was all up for that. How popular could he get?

Now, he was studying medieval history at college… and was still into fantasy games set into medieval settings. Or… he was. It really seemed like was less playing and more living the game in question. If that’s what it was.

He was still unsure of the entire game versus book thing.

“Hey! New kid!” a nearby voice called out.

“Huh?”

The one who seemed to have called out for him… wasn’t human. Great. That must have registered on Michael’s face, for the other person instantly furrowed his brows.

“What? You one of those humans who thinks other races are below them?”

“What? No. Noooo, no no. I just… uh, never met one of… your kind. Before.”

“Oh. Then that’s a better reaction than most.” He laughed. “What d’ya think I am?”

Oh, geez, well let’s see. Prolonged canines, quite a lot of hair on the face and arms for a teenager… if he even is that old. Normal eyes, but with huge ass pupils. Huffy voice. And you know, a FUCKING tail!

How could you not be a werewolf?

“Uhm, a… wolf-person?”

“…you were thinking ‘werewolf’, didn’t you?”

“No. Of course not!”

“I can smell lies.”

“Bullshit.” Michael said.

Maybe he could smell fear, but lies? Unless the werewolves of this world were furry lie detectors.

“Fine, maybe I can’t smell lies in general, but I can smell one on you. Admit it!”

“Fine, fine. Yes, I thought you were a werewolf. Is that… offensive?”

He gave Michael a funny look, before responding.

“You from one of those far off villages? That don’t have much contact with the world?”

Thank you!

“Yes. I am, actually. That obvious, huh? Yes, I’m afraid I’m not accustomed with many of the modern traditions.”

“Oh… in that case, that’s alright, I guess. I’m not a werewolf. Obviously.”

Obviously.

“And… I mean, it’s insulting, but I wouldn’t do much outside swearing at you about it. Maybe a punch. But don’t say that to some of my kin. A few of them take it really harsh and might beat you up good for it. Since… well. You know.”

“Of course.”

Note to self: find out just what the fuck that meant.

“Name’s Micah. Of the Ghostfur Clan, if that means anything to you. And I’m a Lycan."

“It doesn’t, but I promise to remember it. I am Michael. Human. So, what did you want to ask me?”

“What? Oh, yeah, I forgot. I wanted to ask what the upper floors were like. I heard that centaur talking about it. Good hearing.” He grinned.

That was when Michael noticed the ears, hidden under his shaggy mop of a haircut. They weren’t… wolf’s ears. Not exactly. But they were slightly elongated and unlike an elf’s… more than slightly hairy. It should go without saying that Michael had to find a book or something about this world’s races.

Then again… this might be my lucky break!

He told Micah about the small chamber, the suits of armor running after him, the hallways and stairs and the sudden teleportation. Which is when he let loose his ‘sales persona’.

“But, you see, Micah, I think something up there messed with my memory. I mean, I remember some things, like you know… the problem.”

Micah nodded understandably.

Jackpot!

“But a lot of other things… I forget some races. I was surprised, at first, of Brither. Not because he is older than most here or that he appears to be working inside the castle, but because he was a centaur. I fear I have forgotten quite a few races. Places. Knowledge in itself. I confess I now know very little of this place itself. Until my memory returns, if indeed it ever does…”

For a few seconds, Michael feared he had laid it on too thick. Maybe he shouldn’t have lapsed into that 1700’s British ponce way of talking, but he got carried away. He chanced a look at Micah and found his expression to be… pensive.

“So that’s why you had no issue talking with me. I was guessing you were more evolved in your village. Look, in the spirit of openness, some people have a problem with me, because of stories about my race. Not everybody… mostly humans, actually. But there’s a lot of humans here.”

Michael did notice that there was something of a clear area around Micah, but nobody was looking at him with distrust or anything.

“I can be your guide. I mean, you seem nice and in need of help and I’ve been sent here especially to learn how to be of more help to my Clan. I can show you around, help you out, no problem. But you should know that some people might pick on you while trying to pick on me.”

That was somehow reassuring, in a way. That even in this type of a world, people had the same instincts to be petty. Pick on those who are strange and different.

Or maybe there’s something of a reason there?

…

Eh, it can’t be worse than high-school.

“I have no issue with that.” Michael smiled and Micah grinned. “Now, what’s with this entire magical castle?”

Micah laughed, probably thinking the question to be a joke, but opened his mouth to answer.

Which is when the doors opened. The closed doors. The ones Michael had forgotten about. As one, every student started walking forward, literally going into the light that came from behind the previously closed doors.

“What’s happening?” Michael asked, raising his voice.

“It’s starting. The opening ceremony!” Micah answered, having been carried by the crowd a few feet ahead. “Come on, I want to get a good view.”

“The what? Micah, what’s that?”

He didn’t get a chance to answer, because both Brither and Amnea spoke.

“|Directed Interest|”

“|Point Out Destination|”

Michael felt that. He felt it in his very mind. The knowledge that his destination was inside the hall. And the want to get there. He was so surprised he didn’t even fight it. Didn’t even question it. It was only after he passed the gates and entered the hall that he consciously thought about it.

Were those powers? Effects? Or like… abilities?

Am I in a game or not?!

However, even that matter quieted down once his eyes started to roam the hall itself. It was even more massive than the antechamber. And it was also completely disorganized. The center of it, perhaps a third of the entire chamber, was empty and that was where everybody was streaming in. The ‘wings’ however were full of other students. More importantly, older students. By the looks of it, it seemed that the batch Michael was part of were the youngest. Freshmen.

Oh, thank whatever deity rules in this world. I get to be among people my own age.

Though he might keep Micah around. The lycan had been friendly enough.

As he was walking in, he noticed more things about the room. The center was clear and relatively even, but the wings were… an exercise in creativity one could call them. People were sitting on chairs and dining at tables. Or sitting on pillows and dinning on rugs. Or sitting on mats and smoking hookahs. It seemed like the sky was the limit. All those older students had personalized their spaces to an extent that you could have a very Indian-like type of setting sitting right underneath a floating magical space-odyssey one.

There were windows on the upper part of the side walls and not every window seemed to show the outside area. Some showed a sky very much like the one Michael remembered with stars and a moon. Others showed desert areas or frozen tundras. One even looked pitch black until a glowing angler fish moved through its view.

Michael raised his eyes to the ceiling, expecting to see open sky.

I mean, why not? It’s a magical academy and I’m probably in a book. Where else could I be?

He didn’t however. The ceiling was simply composed of a giant mirror, though he did notice that the reflections of certain students were colored, as if auras were reflected as well. Other wisps of color were present too, but he didn’t get to study them in depth since in the far back of the grand hall, a person stood up.

The back of the hall, he finally saw, must have been a teacher’s lounge or something. It was raised, as if it was a large podium and those that filled it were older. A lot of grey beards and wrinkled skin. Michael guessed the medium age among them was at least forty years old.

Though, as far as old age goes, nothing beat the ancient figure that was currently furrowing his brows at the lack of attention from the new students.

“|Mass Spell: Silence| There, isn’t that better? I welcome you all, those who have paid their dues and braved uncertainty, only to stand on the steps of our academy, facing open doors. On behalf of Gnosis, I bid you welcome?”

Who’s Gnosis?

It should be said that the old man who had said this wasn’t a man. Even from this distance, Michael could see the tall, lean figure. The noble face with angular features. Like chiseled from a rock and gave just the softest, most perfect of wrinkles. And of course, the elongated pointed ears.

The man was an elf. An old elf, going by the braided beard going down his waist, as pure silver as was his hair. His robes were a darker type of silver, trimmed with gold and markings that glowed violet. Even from this distance, the man had an air of power around him.

“All that remains now is to see whether fate has chosen you as you have chosen this academy. Our helpers will direct you in coming forward. Have no fear, you will never be under direct threat. But please, if fate does not look kindly upon you today, bear your rejection with honor. We cherish magic and knowledge here and teach it to those with the ability to learn, but that is not the only way forward, thought at times it may seem like it is.”

The elf then clapped his hands and a barrier of light appeared, facing the front rank of students. He gestured and two others came down from the podium, carrying what seemed to be a large crystalline egg.

“It will not take long, I assure you.” The elf smiled kindly at them. “I will release the Spell of |Silence|, but I urge you to refrain from making a ruckus. Those of you under trial will thank you for it. And, should you feel the weight of nerves, feel free to help yourselves to the food and drinks at your disposal.”

Michael felt the power holding him silent vanish. He instantly turned to look for Micah, brimming with questions. However, the elf had one last thing to say.

“It is time. Let the testing commence!”

Michael’s head snapped back in shock.

Wait, what?

TEST?!