I wake up and yawn. Mmm, today is the start of the testing week. I get up and dress myself, waking up Shiva and Asura in the process. They came in sometime after I fell asleep. They know how to open doors. When I'm done getting ready we head out for town. We get breakfast at the various food stands. Food and equipment are what I mainly spend the money I earn on.

The school gates will open two hour, so we have plenty of time to get there. I head toward the orphanage next. Everyone has planned on going together. Nine kids from the orphanage have the ability needed to join the academy. Of them, Clover and Lavender are the strongest. Lavender is even a C ranked adventurer. She hasn't been able to go very far from the city, so it's very impressive she got to that rank.

Everyone, but Clover, is openly excited about the start of testing. He's excited too, he's just not open about it.

"I've heard that some of the classes are ranked, and that you need a certain level of strength before you can take them."

"Really? What are the ranks?"

"Oh, I know this one. The ranks are just like those of an adventurer. There are different categories that the rankings are applied to. To even join the school you have to be at least C ranked in one of them. At other schools that would be among the talented, but if that's the best you've got you'll be part of the weakest people at this school."

"What are the categories?"

"Ah, the old man taught me that. Mages are judged by four things: mana capacity, their control of spells, the level of magic they can use, and their ingenuity. Mana capacity has its own ranking system, the color from touching a judgement stone divides them. Ingenuity doesn't actually get ranked though. It can only be observed.

Your rank as a Mage is the average between the other three. Apparently every student will receive an ID card that will show their ranks as mage. If you already have an adventurer's card then they will add the ranks to that."

"What rank are you Chaise?"

"As a mage? I don't know. We'll all find out our ranks after we pass."

"Can we find out what rank your wolves are at as mages? I know that there's another set of rankings for magic beasts, but they act a lot like people."

"Shiva, and Asura are both as smart as you are. In fact, sometimes I think they have a better grasp on human culture than I do..."

"Even Asura..."

"Especially him. He's actually smarter than Shiva."

We all look at the wolves, except for Lavender and Clover who are having their own conversation. Shiva shrugs a swaggers ahead of us. Asura unsteadily stands on his hind legs and pats the stupefied kid on the shoulder. Then he falls back down and catches up to his sister while snickering.

"I feel like I lost by asking about it..."

.....

There's a huge crowd at the gate when we arrive. Once the gate is opened we split into two groups. Clover and I go together to the right, while Lavender and the rest of the kids head to the left. The reason being the sign posted on the gate.

It says: competent go left, geniuses go right. The old man set up a nice trap here. If someone gets too arrogant, which nobles often will, they will be driven off to the competent line. Also, this way, the monsters get some rest before being on display. We reach the area where some adults are sitting at a table next to a barrier. Shela is in the group and she gets up to meet us. We both greet her.

"Hey Shela! You're one of the examiners?"

"Miss Shela."

"Hmm, I thought you two would come this way.

Lavender is too modest, she could pass if she came this way. She wouldn't be part of the SS class group, but she'll still pass as an A class. She's going to be sent this way once she tries to take the normal test.

Ah, yes Chaise, I am one of the examiners. I'm familiar with what Neil considers to be genius level. Neil has already given you two the okay, but the other teachers still want to see what you can do. Not because they don't trust his judgment though; they just want to see a good show. Are you willing to perform?"

"I'm in. It'll give me a chance to show my unique style of magic. What about you Clover?"

"Who's my target?"

"Hmhmhm, Chaise how about you go first. Afterwards Clover can choose his victim."

"Sure, but what did you mean about SS class?"

"Students are grouped by class in the school. Your class is what ranking we think you'll achieve. We don't tell anyone their actual rank until they graduate."

We walk over to the group of judges. They seem impressed just by looking at us. They are also interested in Shiva and Asura, who are behind me, but no one says anything about them.

"The headmaster has informed us about you two. Chaise are you going to display your different style of magic? It's been in debate whether or not it should be one of the official types of magic, but since only Shela, Garet, and the headmaster have seen it we've been at an impasse."

"Hahaha, I have to use it. The old man refused to teach me advance level spells outside of the academy. I had to make some of my own."

I move inside the barrier. It always leaves a bigger impression when it's personal, so I know that Clover will most likely show me up. That means I just have to make this memorable.

I start cycling my mana throughout my body. Then I pull out about half of my mana and make it forms streams flowing around me. I can hear my audience stirring, hushed voices murmuring about my lack of chants and attribute. The mana around me begins to take the shape of a giant cat crouching behind me, it's eyes become amber colored and it begins to pace around the barrier, tail swaying as it walks. It stops in front of my audience. I grin mischievously.

Shela and Clover recognize my expression and begin to back away. The other adults stare fascinated with the figure made of mana. The cat lazily raises a paw and playfully swipes at the barrier. The barrier shatters and disappears. Everyone is shocked. They shouldn't be though. The barrier wasn't being actively maintained. It was just a magic tool. Plenty of advanced level spells could break it, but I made it look easy.

"You don't disappoint. No chants and it doesn't fall into official types of magic. Is your spell a physical manifestation of mana? Oh, and you don't need to maintain it any more, we pretty much understand what it can do."

I nod and relax. The spell ends and the mana returns to me. This is the real benefit of my style.

"Did-did you just suck in the mana!?!"

"""That's impossible!"""

"Yup, that's what's so special about my style of magic. Once use the magic, as long as it is still under my control, I can reuse the mana. I actually lost about two thirds of the mana it took to make the manifestation, but the better control I have over my mana the less I will lose. Eventually my spells might become self perpetual."

"Th-the headmaster was right! You definitely will be at very least an SS ranked mage. You definitely pass."

"Thanks~"

I saunter over to the group. Clover moves in front of everybody. It's his turn to impress. This should be fun.

"If I may have your attention."

The adults, besides Shela, were still chatting about me. They quiet down when they notice he's ready to start.

"You are Haruki right? No last name?"

Clover is actually his nickname. Only Miss Ramount, Shela, Lavender, Jun, and I call him that. Some of the other kids from the orphanage use to call him that, but now they don't really feel close enough to call him by it. That and he glared at anyone, besides Miss Ramount- no one glares at her-, until either they stopped or he gave up.

"Yes. It is my turn now and I am most adept at mind magic. See if you can guess who is under my influence."

He looks down for a few seconds with his eyes closed. He is casting his spell soundlessly, not saying anything but mouthing the words. This way we won't know what kind of spell it is. His head snaps up, a smirk on his face.

"So it begins."

The adults and I look around confused. No one seems to be acting strangely. I look at Clover, but he's just standing there, confident and self assure. What is his game...

I look around again. That's it. I smile lazily at Clover to let him know I've figured it out. He nods and makes a small gesture of concession, but then makes a cocky expression asking what I can do about it. In response I cover myself in mana and use it to stop his from affecting me. The illusion for me stops and I'm free.

"Haruki, where did Chaise run of to. Is he the one you used mind magic on?"

"Yes and no."

Clover stops his spell and everyone else looks at him in shock. They can tell when a spell ends. Clover pushes up his glasses proudly.

""All of us were affected?""

"Was that the spell 'Mind Field'? That is an advanced ranked spell! Including Chaise, there are seven of us. That spell should only work on four people."

"Yes it was 'Mind Field'. Currently, I am able to use it on ten people at a time. Chaise, what was the give away? I want to make whatever it is less obvious."

"The sun was on the wrong side of the sky and I had no shadow."

"Thank you."

The teachers start talking to each other about how impressive it is that Clover could use the spell on seven people and that I could escape the spell.

"Haruki, you are definitely at least S class. Whether or not you are SS class depends on how much mana you have. As long as you have as you've reached even green you'll pass. Chaise with your style of magic we don't need to test the of size of your mana pool, but it is tradition."

One of the teacher pulls out a judgment stone and puts it on the table. I put a hand on it and smile.

"I don't mind."

I still find the stones disgusting, but I've gotten use to using them. The light fills the ball 3/4 full. Then the light changes to orange. The adults nod and sigh jealously. It seems I match up what they'd expect from a genius. I move aside, and Clover touches it next. The light fills the ball 1/5 and changes to the same color I got.

"You pass Haruki. That's more than enough mana to join the SS class. The prospects for you two's futures make me jealous. You are outstanding geniuses. We'll be lucky if anyone else this year comes anywhere close to your talent. Although with all the royals coming in there is hope for that."

Some nobles are starting to come this way for testing, so the teachers decide to send us to get our rooms in the dorms. We sign the papers that confirm that we are now SS class students. The ID cards will be received after the opening ceremony at the end of the week, but we can already move into the dorms. I wave goodbye, and Clover and I head towards the dorms. Shiva and Asura are still following me of course.