Micah.

Michael needed Micah. In that he needed information. Thankfully, the lycan had already been moving towards him through the crowd of students. Yet, Michael couldn’t just ask questions like ‘just what is this place’ in ear shot of others. Sure, he had a good cover of being from a distant settlement, out of contact with most of the world and that cover was supplemented by the fact that he had been the target of ‘mind wiping whatevers’ from the upper floors, but still.

Better safe than sorry.

When he caught Micah’s eye, he jerked his head to the side, pointing at the tables set just outside the ‘wings’ he had noticed earlier. Older students were acting as helpers, asking questions and filling cups and plates. Only when he reached them did Michael quietly ask his questions, while getting something to eat as well.

Breakfast seemed so long ago.

“Sorry again if what I ask seems obvious. It’s just that I’d rather be sure than make a fool out of myself.”

“No worries. Ask away.” Micah said, while filling his plate with as much meat as it could carry.

“So, this is a magical academy, right? Which teaches magic?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And Gnosis is…”

“Its name.”

“Right, yeah. And the name of that old elf?”

Micah turned to him, wide eyed.

“Wow, whatever happened up there really did a number on you. Uhm… maybe we should ask for help with…” he said, pointing at his head.

“I will, just later. I’d rather keep my head in the game for now.”

“Head in the game. That’s a new one. Anyway, the old elf is Regitris. He’s like the chief around here, though I don’t know his actual Class. His kin, the elves, are the ones who started this academy. So one of them has always been in charge.”

Micah must have seen Michael turn his head to the podium dubiously, because he quickly completed his statement.

“They have other races teaching or making decisions. They’re not that elitist. But yeah, elves made Gnosis, elves rule Gnosis.”

“Then… why aren’t there that many elven students?” Michael asked.

It was true, he didn’t spot more than two or three in the few hundreds that composed the freshman body. Not many more among the older students either.

“I mean… I’m not sure, but I guess it’s because there’s not that many of them in the first place. And besides, they’re already good at magic. How much more could they learn?”

Michael didn’t have an answer to that so he just pressed on. He had heard one very interesting tidbit of information and he wanted details.

“You said you didn’t know Regitris’ Class. Uhm, do you have a Class?”

“No. I could have had one, but I didn’t want to be a |Hunter|. Why come here in the first place if I was content hunting game all day, right? No, I’m going to become a |Mage|. Or… at least a magically derived Class, like |Magical Ranger| or something. Why, do you have one?”

“Nope. Just curious.”

Ok, fact check. What do I know? I know this world is magical. I know it has more races, like a tabletop game. I know the world also has Classes and those powers the student councilors used sounded like Skills, since in a normal RPG a Class comes with Skills attached.

Guess I’m lucky I’m in a magical academy. Could have landed in a worse place.

…but how did I land here?

“There’s… another question I wanted to ask. It’s kind of embarrassing, but I just don’t remember. How… did any of us get here?”

“You mean physically?”

“That too.” Michael grinned.

Micah laughed and answered.

“Physically, we got here via teleportation Spells. That and a few portals, translocation Spells, gateways and so on. On a larger scale, every one of us got selected. My village received a visit from a Gnosis Mage a few years ago. They have like this… continuous Spell, which tracks magic in the world. In places and individuals. If you have the potential for it, you receive an invitation. You still have to pay an admittance fee though, which is pretty steep. My Clan had to send a couple years’ worth of fur to get me in.”

“…fur?”

“We grow magical species of animals, renowned for their fur. Why?”

“Oh, nothing. Like I said, a lot of things seem strange to me.”

The funny thing is that wasn’t even a lie.

“Well, that’s basically it. This way, Gnosis gets to teach and most importantly, influence all of the best mages in each generation. Assuming that mage can pay the fee. And pass the test of course. Speaking of…”

A lot of students had suddenly started to move forwards. Micah dashed ahead, making his way through the crowd.

“Come on! I want a clear view of the others!”

“Wait! What’s the test?” Michael shouted, struggling to shove his way forward.

“Get to the front and see for yourself!”

It took a lot of pushing and Michael could swear at one point somebody tried to hex him, but he finally managed to get to Micah in the front row. There, he had a magnificent view of ‘the test’. Which seemed to consist of a basketball-sized fireball chasing one of the students around.

Oh, the crystalline egg was there too, glowing the same bright orange-red as the fireball itself. It was flanked by the same two members of the personnel that brought it down. Behind it, a distance away stood Regitris, stroking his beard and watching with interest. The rest of the… teachers? Well, the rest of them were watching too, some with more interest than others. A few weren’t even glancing, preferring instead to focus on the food they were eating.

“That’s the test?! A huge fireball?”

“Please, I’ve seen bigger. And not exactly, no. See the egg?”

“Yeah.”

“See how it’s glowing the same-“

Micah got interrupted by a wave of exclamation coming from the crowd. Which got excited as it saw the girl who had been chased around trip and fall. And be subsequently blasted by the flaming spell. Michael winced, closing his eyes from the flash and when he opened them again, he saw the girl lying on the ground, having landed ten feet away. Her foot was a charred, blackened mess. He didn’t know why anyone wasn’t screaming in protest when he noticed the two mages guarding the egg pointing sticks at the girl.

Wands?

“|Remove Pain|”

“|Stop Bleeding|”

After which, a glowing circle appeared all around the girl and in the next second she vanished.

“…what just happened? Where is she?”

“To the infirmary, probably, gulping down Healing Potions. Don’t worry, they get you all well and patched up before sending you back home.”

“So… she failed? That’s a test? Getting blasted by a giant fireball?”

“I told you that it could hardly be called ‘gigantic’. And… maybe? I heard that they judge you based on your actions and effects. Maybe she won’t get rejected. That fireball should have evaporated her ankle, instead it just gave her a really nasty burn.That’s proof of strong magical potential right there.”

“…”

“Then again, she did just run around. She could have tried dodging or running behind those two mages. Maybe they wouldn’t have allowed it, but at least it would have won her points.”

“Right. Alright. That’s what I’ll probably do. What are you going to do? I’m guessing fur and flame don’t mix well.”

“Flame? You mean…? Ha! Oh, wow, I forgot you forgot how this works. No, I won’t be getting a fireball chasing me. I think. C’mon, let’s watch the next testing and I’ll explain.”

Michael watched as a scrawny young… hog walked forwards. Or was it a boar-man? Pig-person?

He was wearing a robe like everyone there, but his face looked like that of an anthropomorphized boar. A long snout, tusks… even a gold ring connecting his nostrils. He wasn’t very tall, but he had wide shoulders. A powerful build.

“Right, see that Kapror over there?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Now, his people usually spawn |Shamans|. Or |Elementalists|. So, he probably has a magical affinity somewhere around those areas.”

“Ok.” Michael said, trying to understand.

“What?”

“I mean, alright.”

“Right. So, the magical challenge, the artifact will place before him, will somehow be connected to his magical inclination. That way, those watching will better judge his character.”

“Oh.” Michael said, a metaphorical light bulb appearing above his head. “The ‘test’ is customized for each of us.”

“Yup. It can be summoned creatures, spectral warriors, direct Spells like the fireball or a number of other things. Now be quiet, it’s starting.”

The Kapror boy walked forwards, clearly nervous. Once he got near enough to the artifact, it flickered to life, changing colors and settling on a pale green. A cloud of greenish mist appeared around it and started to spread towards the boy.

“Oh, it’s acid mist.” Micah exclaimed, in a much too loud whisper. “It can eat through anything given time, but it’s weak at first. Not really what I expected. What do you think he’ll do?”

“Though you told me to be quiet.” Michael sarcastically added.

“I didn’t mean like forever.”

“Well. If it’s slow to dissolve, then I’m guessing he can use wade through it. His robe would protect him. But how do you know when the test is over?” he mused.

“Oh, you touch the artifact. Or someone lets you know.”

Michael turned a sour gaze upon his new, distracted friend.

“What? Didn’t I tell you that?”

“No. You didn’t.”

“Whoops.” He laughed.

It turned out boar boy actually did what Michael suggested. He just walked through it and laid his hand on the egg. At once, the magical mist dissipated and one of the two helpers took him to through one of the open gateways at the back.

“So. What did you think?”

“It… was pretty boring actually. And easy, much too easy. Is the discrepancy between tests that high?”

“Discrepancy. You could have said difference you know.”

I’m a History Major, they drill fancy words into our brains.

“Difference, whatever. Doesn’t that seem odd to you?”

“Yeah, sure.” Micah shrugged. “He was probably something like a nephew to one of the teachers. Or his family made a really nice present to the academy. It happens.”

“Wait, what? That’s a thing? You can bribe your way in?”

“Eh…” he said, wiggling his hand in a so and so motion. “With enough coin or goods, sure. But the price is really steep. Most times, it’s just a favor from one mage to another, favored pupils and so on. But there is one silver lining. That artifact can be influenced to lower the bar in terms of difficulty. It was made that way, everybody knows it. But it can’t be made to hand out a harsher test.”

“Yeah, great, real load off my chest.”

“You weren’t who I had in mind.”

Michael gave him an inquisitive glance, one that Micah refused to meet. Well, they all had their secrets. They continued to watch as more and more students had their tests. Some had it easy, some had really bad luck and some just had tests that were… weird. As the young woman who had to sing for five minutes non-stop could attest.

Michael did notice that not everyone who came to Gnosis knew nothing about magic. A few of the older freshman looked scarred and grizzled. Those were the ones who could actually cast a |Wind Barrier| or |Dust Arrow|. Even a few of the younger ones could, though they had simpler Spells. Those that knew magic had harder tests, with summoned opponents, spectral or otherwise.

A couple of hours they spent like this, watching and commentating, until a globe of light appeared before Micah.

“Well. Wish me luck.”

“Uh, good luck. I hope you make it!”

The lycan just looked at him and nodded, smiling. His face was apprehensive. Stressed. Like he was about to jump in a pit full of scorpions. Rigidly, he walked ahead, until he stood not even five feet away from the crystal egg. That was when it activated. Its color changed again, this time to a ghostly blue and a shape grew out from it. It grew and grew, taking on animal features, until it settled on a final shape.

Its size was huge and translucent, being composed of a material not unlike dense fog. It looked like… a werewolf. The figure looked at Micah, before rearing its head back and howling. The lycan himself.

The lycan burst out laughing.

“Wait, that’s my test? It’s not even real? Hahaha. Hou much of a stereotypical- No. You know what? This is fine. I request a Spell of |Silence|. For the mental safety of my fellow students, of course.”

One was granted to the grinning lycan, while the spectral werewolf just… stood there. It swiped its claws around and howled, but it wasn’t real. It couldn’t do anything. Micah instead could.

The young lycan screamed and howled. It was evident by the way his mouth moved and his body trembled. He did it for minutes on end, face contorted, until finally he stopped, shuddering. Then, he walked forwards, through the illusion of a werewolf and touched the egg.

The illusion vanished and Micah turned around, showing Michael a thumbs-up sign, before being escorted the same way the boar boy had been, to one of the back rooms.

Show off.

More students followed, but nothing as spectacular as Micah’s test unveiled itself. All that lasted until Etruriel stepped forward and the murmurs stopped.

“We have time for just one more test. Those who have not been tested may avail themselves of our amenities. The testing for them will continue tomorrow and the days after. And now, today’s final test.”

The possibilities that this was a book just skyrocketed in Michael’s mind after seeing a glowing orb of light appear a foot in front of his chest. That was… what where the odds of that?

He moved in ahead, stepping lightly.

I got pulled from my world and ended up here. That must mean I need to be here and learn magic. Why else would I be transported to Gnosis of all places?

Still, that didn’t exactly reassure him. Maybe he’d pass the test. Maybe he wouldn’t.

Privately, he didn’t really know what the test itself had to do with ‘magical ability’. Sure, maybe that artifact picked them because of some innate magical talent, but the tests themselves didn’t look like they measured that at all. If anything, it looked like it measured their decision-making process.

Then again, if the candidates already have magical potential, wouldn’t it be better to test it they deserve to handle magic too?

Finally, he reached the final step and the crystal egg lit up. Only, it was brighter than it had been for the others.

“Prepare yourselves for a special testing session!” the elf commanded. “|Dome of Blocking Light|. Cast barrier spells and bring forth healing Scrolls and Potions. Be ready!”

A dome of light appeared over them, separating Michael and the egg from everyone around them. More barriers spung to life, protecting the students and the academy members alike. Even the artifacts two handlers were removed from the situation.

The crystal egg itself was shining like never before, being impossible to look at directly. Waves of magical pressure were emanating from it, faster and faster, bringing Michel to his knees.

They sped up, until a final one burst out, crashing into him and sending him flying.

His last though was that if this thing measured magical potential, he should have been an Archmage already.