That has been an effort and a half.

She knew the test was supposed to take the form of something adequate for he. A fair, but harsh test. She knew it from watching the tests of all the would-be students before her. Some fought magical apparitions, others simply had to dodge conjured |Fireballs| and a middle-aged adventurer even had to fight a simulacrum of an old warrior.

But did she have to fight a nature Elemental? She loved them!

That stupid, shiny, magical ‘egg’.

Yes, the hulking figure, covered in moss, was only a shadow of the real thing, not truly dangerous. Else the test wouldn’t have been fair for someone who couldn’t even be called a First Year yet. But it pained her to hurt it. It even shuddered like the real thing. And it was because she loved the humble giants so much that she knew enough about them to also know how to hurt them.

Maybe that was the real test. Overcoming her personal feelings.

Ravena stepped back from the arena, to the cheers of her fellow students. The elf who had supervised the fight… Regitris? He had been slightly miffed when he first saw her opponent, but looked as if he had taken great pleasure in seeing her taking it down.

He gave her a warm smile as she departed and for all her self-imposed social distancing, her face betrayed her.

No! He’s like… so much older. …then again, I am an adult.

Ravena was sixteen, so a woman by her people’s standards. A little older than most for entering Gnosis, but she didn’t get the offer until recently. Not many of her people did. Something about allegiances.

But he’s still my teacher. And old! He’s probably five times my age, easy. And I’m here to learn!

She never could get a handle on her feelings. But she had to. Both for herself and for her people, she had to be exemplary. Which meant not doing stupid things like fallings for the first smile she saw.

To distract herself, she turned to watch the next would-be student enter the arena. And it proved to be a greater distraction than she initially thought.

The orc… boy? Young man? She couldn’t tell. But the orc stepped into the ring, hushed whispers all around him. Few of them kind. Orcs had a reputation and the one before her was afforded no respite.

It couldn’t help that the orc was bare-chested and carrying a war-axe.

Nice set of muscles, though… He’s probably got a lot of stam- NO! Not thinking about that.

The ‘egg’ flared to life and a great monstered materialized before the orc. It looked to be a mix between a griffin and a manticore. Didn’t matter much, since the thing pounded forwards with a roar.

The orc raised his weapon and stood his ground. The crowd was almost amused. Was he going to tank it? He had muscles, sure, but he didn’t look like a seasoned warrior with Skills. And Gnosis would frown on him for using warrior Skills instead of magic anyway. They’d still probably let him in, but-

“|Enchanted Blow|. |Wind Slash|!” the orc screamed.

He swung his axe and a glowing after image remained in the air. Before the image propelled itself forward, cresting open the monster’s head, laying it down for the count.

A Skill, followed by a Spell. And he already knows Elemental Spells?

“Very good!” Regitris applauded. “Might at arms, combined with magic. Your people’s strength, turned to good use.”

Ravena saw some of the would be mockers instantly hold their tongues. None gainsaid the elf, huh? And his praise couldn’t be without reason.

“What is your name, student?” the elf asked.

“Kelunad, sir.”

“Kelunad. I’ll remember your name.”

The orc walked off the stage and his performance combined with the elf’s words already made some give him a more nuanced look.

Guess I’m not the only one with talent. Well, a little competition never heart anyone.

***

I hate competition!

The class Raena was currently in was supposed to be some sort of physical activity one. The teacher left them on their own, in a simulated desert environment. And because the past few weeks have turned her in something of a teacher favorite – favorite, not pet – the other students decided to take her down a few notches.

Idiots.

“|Grip Vine|. |Thorn Punch|!”

The other student swayed with the shock of the hit, but didn’t do down directly. But Ravena had more than her magic. She followed her Spell enhanced blow with a real first to the jaw and downed the boy.

But two more mages were on her, one from the front and the other from the back.

“Fucking forest freak.” The one in front mocked her. “This is Gnosis. We don’t do nature here.”

“That’s not what I saw.” He said, calmer than she felt.

“There are other freaks like you. They’ll get theirs too.”

“And are going to be the one to give it to me?”

Phrasing, Ravena!

“No. We are. Now! |Quick Bolt|” he screamed, at the same time as she heard a voice from behind her.

“|Fire Bolt|”

She dodged the first Spell and let the other one hit her. She couldn’t afford to turn around. Ravena was out of mana, but she wasn’t down yet. So she did it like they fought in the woods. Savagely!

She stepped forward, into the younger boy’s safe zone and headbutted him. They fell down, in a heap and she punched and elbowed and trashed until she was sure her opponent wouldn’t be getting up. Belatedly she remembered the other one and got up hurriedly.

But… I didn’t feel any flames on me.

She stood, panting and watched the other mage on the ground, one arms clearly broken. Above him, stepping on him really, was the orc. The orc, since the other mage had made a name for himself as much as she did.

“Rough day?” he smiled, tusks showing.

And once again, Ravena’s face betrayed her.

They sat in a mess hall later that day, a table all for themselves. They had finally made introductions and learned that they had both been treated as outsiders for their short time at Gnosis. One was nature incarnate and the other nature affiliated. Which meant that for all their talent, they were both at least slightly despised in an academy that had for so long sought to emulate its founders.

“But then… why did Regitris speak up for us? I mean, he treats us nice. Nicer than everyone. Isn’t he supposed to be the… you know. Head of ‘fuck nature’ in particular.”

“I believe it is because he sees us as more than ourselves. Me, as someone who seeks to learn magic, though my nature is more… martially inclined. And you as someone who seeks to complement her nature by that which Gnosis imparts.”

“Right. You ever… talk less funny? It’s sometimes hard to follow.”

Kelunad laughed.

“I am seen as a savage. I find that a good vocabulary can help amend first impressions.”

“Yeah, guess that makes sense.” She said, suddenly feeling bad for the day she had torn into her food. “Have they come at you with an offer yet?”

“The Ascentionalists did. And… others. But I feel they only sought me out to gain Regitris’s favor. I do not wish to be a …token. So I wait, until I can pick my faction.”

“At least you got offers. I only got one and that was from some dodgy looking fucker. And I got the feeling he only asked because he wanted to get information out of me, about my people. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” She sighed.

“Perhaps less swearing?” the orc joked.

“Oh, fuck y- …alright, maybe you’re right. Still, I don’t think that’s the root of it.”

“No.” he said, turning serious. “Me neither.”

“Then what?”

“You and I… we represent that which Gnosis or at least its founders fought. What they despise. We will not gain recognition easily, not with talent and grades. Not without, I think, abandoning what makes us us. And becoming sycophants to the greater trends.”

“So…”

He sighed, but smiled.

“If I were to abandon skill at arms and you were to abandon your love of nature, I believe we would be more easily accepted. Especially if we would start to learn more normal magic. Like good little mages.” He said, a note an anger entering his tone.

Ravena thought about that. It would be easier and it would get her what she wanted faster. Maybe even at all. But she was… she was one of her people. She wouldn’t turn her back to them. And she wouldn’t spit on the same green that had helped her grow.

“Yeah, no. Fuck that. And I’m not apologizing for swearing right now. That’s not me. Not doing it.”

“Nor I.” he smiled. “It seems then, that we have chosen a hard path ahead of us.”

“Yeah.” She sagged, moment of defiance past.

“Hmm. Then, I propose a pact. I know you only briefly, Ravena, but I watched you from our first day.” He said, not knowing the reaction it provoked in her. “You are skilled. And not afraid to fight. Both things I respect. So let us form… an alliance of sorts. I will look after you. And you after me. And we will grow here at Gnosis, at least until the point where we get to decide which faction would have the honor of having us.”

She blinked, a grin spreading on her face.

“My dear, Kelunad. That thing you just said? Those were exactly the words I was about to use.”

They shook on it and drank deep of their glasses.

Just water, though. They were only first years.

***

The year passed and the grew. Not unchallenged, not at first. But as time wore on and they proved themselves time and time again, the challenges grew rarer, if more difficult. Ravena grew to be a menace among first years. She learned easy Spells, true, but many. Where she went, vines grew and plants snared. Thorns slit skit and earth enveloped her foes. She fought, bringing as much of the forest with her as she could and she was not afraid of involving herself directly in the fights.

But where she was a menace, Kelunad was a straight danger. Not even a full year had passes, but the orc had already grown slightly taller and bulkier both. And that figure was only the lesser part of the danger. His Spells augmented his physique and his sword could now cut opponents even at distance. He had learned enough Spells that opponents couldn’t simply flee, but above all, his close quarters casting was superior to all of his year.

They had received no more faction invitations than the few at the start, but the academy grew to respect them, if grudgingly. Regitris certainly did, praising the young orc for mastering his innate nature and Ravena for her splendid growth.

And if Kelunad accepted it stoically, Revena still fought from blushing every time the old elf looked at her.

Stupid growth spurts.

But they still had enemies. And that never clearer than right now. The end of their first year had come and with it the final test. The one where it was decided if they got to move on to their Second Year. Other students might get second chances. Not them.

“I think you might have punched one too many mages.” She said, looking at their test.

“Or you cursed one too many.”

“I got that under control, you know.”

“I am aware.” The orc generously lied.

Students were allowed to take their test in pairs or groups, as long as they understood that the severity of the test would magnify in turn. For them, it looked like the magnitude of it developed several times more than it was supposed to. But they had already passed the theoretical exams. What could they do? Turn back?

Never!

So the two walked in a specially prepared room and beheld what lay before them.

A desert. Like the one upon which sands the two had first fought together. But it was different. Ravena could feel magic being pulled off of her even at the edge of it.

“A mana depletion field. There’ll be no free mana to pull from.”

“And the sands try to consume even our own internal magic. We afford no lapse in concentration.”

And at the center of it, a great golem stood, made of sand so fine as to be called dust. It glittered gold and turned to face them as they entered.

“Wanna bet that thing’s a counter for your fighting style?”

“As the sands are for you, most definitely.” Kelunad frowned. “It seems the odds are stacked against us.”

“Like that’s a change.” She said and he laughed.

“Shall we demonstrate our might?” Ravena smilingly asked.

Kelunad only had a second to laugh, before responding.

“Let’s fuck them up.”

They walked forward, slowly at first, feeling the artificial heat scorching their skin, before breaking into a run. The magic was faint, almost nonexistent. Always depleting what was above the shifting, golden field. But Ravena was no beginner at forcing her Spells in an unfriendly environment.

“|Vine Lash|. |Grip Vine|.” She shouted when they were close.

The plants blast upwards from the sands, trying to pin the golem down. But they simply passed through it, not even slowing it down.

“It’s enchanted!” she warned.

“Noted.”

The orc reached the golem, axe held up high, before bellowing.

“|Enhanced Strike|, |Wind Slash|!”

A blade of air shot out and blasted the golem, one hand falling away. Ravena wasted no time and switched tactics.

“|Ensnaring Roots|, |Ensnaring Roots|, |Moss Cover|.”

“Save your mana!” Kelunad shouted.

“It’s worth it!” she shouted back.

Only it wasn’t. The magical arm of sand that Ravena tried to lock down didn’t pass through her conjured greenery barrier. Instead, it simply dissolved, back in the sand below. Before it, the golem regrew its lost arm and promptly tried to swipe her.

She dodged back and shouted at the orc.

“It can regenerate.”

“Noted.”

He walked forwards despite that and grabbed his axe in a two-handed grip.

“|Enchanted Blow|, |Blastin-“

He didn’t get to cast his Spell, as a massive sand hand appeared from bellow him and gripped him tightly. Belatedly, Ravena noticed that one of the golem’s arms was touching the ‘ground’.

It can manipulate the environment. Then… is everything part of it?

Her answer came when the golem’s other arm impacted the sands and she felt a tremor beneath her. For all that Kelunad was stronger, she was nimbler. She jumped away, just when a second massive hand shot upwards from the sands, trying to grasp her.

“Ravena.” The orc strained and she turned her eyes towards him. “My… magic. It’s locked. …draining.”

Oh. Of course. The golem is part of the sands, but the sand are also part of it. Same effects, shared.

She cast a moss cover under her feet and stood on it, feeling rage burn in her chest.

They couldn’t make it fair. We learn and strive and fight, but in the end, they get to kick us out because of a fixed test.

She thought back to her people. About the pride in their eyes when she got the offer. About her goals, her dreams. Her hope, which she saw reciprocated in Regitris’ eyes. But also about Kelunad.

About what he told her of his own dreams. Of his own problems, of his tosses and turns. Of pride forgotten and hope all but dashed. All resting on his stoic shoulders.

And those rotting bastards were about to fuck it up.

NO!

“All of you, if you are listening. Fuck you! I am Ravena of the forests, Ravena of the green and I say fuck you all, you motherless, magicless, soul-rotten bastards!”

The intensity of the insult seemed to shock even the golem to stillness. Good. She wouldn’t give it another chance to catch her. If she had to push her magic to the point of burning even her, she would do it. If she had to risk losing her magic… she would do it.

For other mages it was different. They had to pull. Not for her and Kelunad. Nature was vast and unyielding. And it was to nature that their magic was centered around. So she let loose all the floodgates. She heard the distant call, so much farther away from this room, from Gnosis itself. But she heard it and she screamed to match it.

“|Wild Mana|, |Haste|.” she cast, reaching Kelunad in seconds. “|Thorn Spray|, |Thorn Spray|, |Thorn Spray|, |Thorn Spray|, Thorn… Spray.”

She collapsed, the empowered Spell depleting her. But her purpose was achieved. The sand keeping Kelunad in place had been blasted away and a good portion of the sand around them. She hit the orc too, but he didn’t look like he noticed.

Because she thought her friend was aware if what she had done, partially, but she also saw him give in to his old sin. His muscles were bulging, veins standing out. His skin was turning red, burning. His face was a mask of rage and when the sands left him, he bounded forwards, screaming like an animal.

No… not force alone. You’ll… it’ll just come back.

Yet Kelunad looked out of his senses. Beyond words.

She should have known better.

The orc had been battling with his sins from day one. Even when lost in battle rage, he could still think. He was feet away from the golem, axe raise high over-head. He stammered, forcing words out. But his mind was fogged, and his magic addled. What Spell could he cast. What magic learned at Gnosis could he think of?

Not one. Yet… his will was there. His magic and might both. The |Mage| of the orcs.

“I… I… |I Cut|!”

The Spell, unheard by anyone before, even by the orc who cast it, blasted out of him as he slashed. It broke his axe in two, magic blasting everywhere, not just ahead. Ravena’s shoulder was cut. Kelunad himself had cuts crisscrossing all over his body.

But the golem? The golem was gone. What lay at the heart of it, if indeed it even had a heart, was nowhere to be seen.

The orc limped towards her, coming to kneel at her side, before helping her up.

“You’re a mess.” He faintly said, battle-rage spent.

“You’re kidding.”

“My people love scars. This only makes me more attractive.”

“Yeah, I won’t contest that.” She laughed.

And all around them, the sky disappeared, allowing them to see a wide circle of onlookers around the arena. All but a few clapping and cheering. Regitris himself was standing up and clapping loudly, smiling.

“They won’t stop, you know?” she asked. “This was just our First Year.”

“True. And I will wait for them. Will you wait with me?”

She smiled and answered him.

“Always.” She nodded.

He raised his hand in the air, her own grasped in his and all around them the academy howled.

For better or worse.

Together.