He was sweating from every pore, his memory was a blur, he almost wanted to give up, but he knew that wasn't going to happen. He wouldn't go back unless there were absolutely zero options left for him. Just the shame of having to go back home after everything that had happened would be enough to kill him.

They were all so happy for him. Like it was a foregone conclusion that he'd become a mage. The gifts, the goodbyes, even the random people that cheered his name. Deep down he knew that if he went back they’d accept him as though nothing ever happened, but it just didn't feel right.

So, Barlor pushed onwards. Whatever Mr. Allenbury threw at them he’d do his utmost to do it as quickly as possible, and to the absolute best of his ability. While they were attempting the practice forms Mr. Allenbury or one of his three assistants would come around and offer tips on how to better control their spells and conserve mana as best as possible. But if you ran out of mana or were caught slacking, Mr. Allenbury would have you running laps around the gym or doing push-ups, generally while throwing beams of mana that would sting anyone who was lagging too far behind.

Under normal circumstances Barlor wouldn't have had any problems with the actual exercises themselves. The issue was the fact that generating mana required energy of some sort, and always refilled itself if it wasn't completely full. The more a mage used their supply of mana, the more hungry and exhausted they’d become. This paired with the constant and lengthy exercise between the complete refill of mana turned simple tasks into works of herculean effort. It was hard enough to walk sometimes, let alone jog. Some of them fainted out of sheer exhaustion, others out of hunger

When they were finally allowed to take a break and eat; even more of them fainted. When their adrenaline rush collapsed, so did they. Given his past Barlor was already somewhat used to the feeling of starvation, though he hadn't experienced it in quite some time. It was almost nostalgic, in a sick, twisted way. Some the servants in black robes picked up the fallen students. If he had to guess; they were taken to the infirmary, but he didn't know for sure.

Slowly the students that had been allowed to get lunch walked back into the gym. Namar parted ways with a tall girl with blonde hair and walked up to him.

“You… don't look good.”

Barlor chuckled and finished his soup. “Hey I know I'm not the best looking guy out there, but I wouldn't call myself ugly.”

“I… probably could’ve phrased that better, couldn't I?” His tone was apologetic, though he didn't seem at all concerned.

“Mmhm.” Barlor nodded.

Namar looked around; noticing the class was sizably smaller than before. “What happened here? Actually, I can guess-” He shook his head. “What did he have you do?”

“That sadist had us exercise between practice forms. No breaks, no food. All torture.”

Namar shivered. “I don't know how you managed. I barely made it through that first part of class.”

“You get used to it eventually. If it keeps happening you get better at dealing with it, eventually you don't notice.”

“Really?” Namar raised an eyebrow. He didn't seem entirely convinced.

“Yes? It just kinda… happens. It's a little hard to explain, but sometimes you just don't notice the hunger until you stop to take a break, and you just sorta fall apart. So… don't take breaks, I guess. ”

“I'm not sure that’s the best advice.”

Barlor shrugged. “It's what I got.”

At that point Mr. Allenbury walked into the center of the room and sent a beam of light shooting upwards. Everybody looked to him.

“Hey that worked.” Mr. Allenbury rubbed his hands. “Alright now that I've got your attention I’d like to congratulate all of you for making it this far. Especially those of you who managed to stick it out through my little remedial training session. So I’ve got a reward for all of you.”

No one said a word.

“Hey don't be like that, it'll be fun! Plus, there’s an opportunity for extra credit. How’s that sound eh? A little head start against the rest of your classmates.”

One of the students raised their hand. “Is that really fair to the other students?”

A few of the students around him gave him looks of death. To which he shrugged sheepishly.

“Good question! Long story short, us teachers are allowed to distribute an equal amount of extra credit each year, and we can assign them however we please. Also no, it's not exactly fair, but it'll be pretty obvious who the favorite is.”

“Thanks.” He put his hand down.

“Anymore questions?”

Someone else raised their hand.

“Yes what is it?”

“What are we doing?” He yelled.

“I was getting to that part. So here, let me explain-”

He raised his hand again.

“What. What is it?”

“What if we still have more questions?” He yelled again.

The group around him started laughing. Mr. Allenbury pointed at his forehead and loosed a beam of jagged white light. It struck him instantaneously. The idiot yelped in pain.

“Anymore questions?” A point of light manifested at his fingertips.

No one said a word.

“Good. Now, let me explain the rules of the game.” The light disappeared. “You will be paired into groups of around ten to fifteen, and pitted against one of my apprentices. To make things more even they’ll be be bound by these handcuffs which will get continually warmer until they start to burn at the skin, furthermore they’re only allowed to use raw mana, no fire, no ice, nothing.”

He paced back and forth. “On the other hand you students aren't allowed to throw attacks of your own, not because I'm worried for the safety of my apprentices, but because I'm worried you might accidentally start hitting each other. If you get struck once, you’re out. That is, if the mana hits your skin specifically, you’re out. Every minute you last beyond the first is worth ten points of extra credit. Getting one of my apprentices to surrender is worth fifty.”

He stopped and raised his finger as if he had a new idea. “Also, you advanced students will all be paired up together, and unlike the basic students, you’re free to do whatever. I trust you enough to be certain that you won't start shooting each other in the back. Also, my apprentice won't be using those handcuffs. Got it? Good.”

The idiot raised his hand again.

“Ok fine, but It better be a real question this time!”

“Could you go over that again? Just… a little slower this time?”

Mr. Allenbury sighed. “Alright I guess that’s my fault. I did go over that a bit quickly… Here let me try and break it down for you…

Beyond another set of double doors was a long corridor that eventually opened up to a wide, circular space. It was a kind of arena. Sets of stairs doubling as seats led downwards to a large pit with stone at the bottom. There was a small pathway, between where the stairs ended and a railing that kept the students from falling into the arena, and two doors on the left and right sides of the room that led into the pit itself.

“Alright, advanced students first. They’ll show you how it's done.” Mr. Allenbury pointed at the doorway to the right. “Advance students go that way, apprentices with me, everyone else can feel free to take a seat and watch.”

They filed in through the doorway down another flight of stairs and yet another long corridor leading to an open space. The room held a few stone benches and a large iron gate at the end, but other than there wasn't much else.

“So we just wait around for the gate to open?” One student said.

“Supposedly.” Said another.

They started to talk amongst themselves, a few trying to calm themselves down, others laying out plans of attack and strategies. Some, like Barlor just didn't care and took a seat in the corner. Unlike some of these advanced students he didn't actually have any advanced knowledge, trying to help out would just be getting in the way. His plan for the match was to stick to the walls and hope that would get him to the second minute.

He couldn't help but eavesdrop on some of the conversations. He was a little bored, and Namar wasn't the best conversationalist. One conversation in particular caught his interest.

A tall, skinny man with midnight hair and and even darker eyes sat on a bench surrounded by his friends. He had a mark on his face, a dark ring along the bridge of his nose. “Look, I'm telling you. That pompous prick has no idea what he’s doing. I refuse to obey any more of his stupid fucking orders unless he shows us that he’s worth listening to”

“I’m not so sure that's a good idea Mr. Talan.” The people around him looked uncertain.

“I thought I told you to call me Derek.”

Another tried to voice his concern. “Sorry Mr. Talan, but wasn't he chosen specifically by the government?”

Derek looked around at all of them. “The government isn’t infallible. Trust me I know. Those assholes? They’re dumber than we are.” He stood up. “Look, you’re either with me or against me, but I'm doing this regardless of what you think I should or shouldn't do.”

A girl at the front with raised her hands in their defense. “We have your back alright? We just wanted to make sure you weren't doing anything stupid.”

“I know what I'm doing.” He placed a hand on her shoulder.

She looked around at her companions. They all nodded. “Alright then.”

The people around him nodded

“We follow you wherever you go.”

“Aye.”

“Let's do it.”

At that moment the gate before them opened. They stepped out into the light. The arena was massive, with plenty of space for all twenty of them to move around freely and dodge about. A woman walked out from the other gate. She held herself with confidence, walking straight backed and looking directly forward. A large falcon with slate grey feathers, a white underside, and a hooked beak rested on her shoulder.

Students watched from above and Mr. Allenbury leaned over a railing. “You can start when I say go.”

“Three...”

“Two…”

“One…”

“G-”

“Wait!” Derek walked up and looked at Mr. Allenbury with contempt in his eyes. “Why don't you come down here and fight us yourself? Or are you afraid of losing to a bunch of students?”

Mr. Allenbury scoffed. “It wouldn't be a fair fight.”

“Is that the truth? Why don't you come down here and prove it then! You swagger around acting like you’re so much better than us, but we haven't seen you do anything more than make pretty light shows and step on our toes! I’ll tell you what I think of you! I think you’re a damn fraud!”

To Barlor’s dismay other students started nodding along. Then they started to voice their opinions. Shouting at him to prove his worth. The majority of them joined in in the shouting. Oddly enough, Gamris wasn't one of those people. Upon closer inspection he even looked disdainfully at those who did. Looking around Barlor realized that there were a lot of mixed reactions, but those that started yelling were heard the loudest.

In front of them the woman’s falcon let out an ear piercing screech. She used the moment to walk forward. “Listen up you-”

“Wait!” Mr. Allenbury raised his hand.

She froze, momentarily stunned by Mr. Allenbury’s decision. “W- What? Are you actually considering-”

“Yes.” He jumped down from the arena walls. “They’ve got a point. So I'll do it.” He looked up at one of the other apprentices above the arena “Daimen! Give me the handcuffs!”

Derek rolled his eyes. “As if we need your help.”

Mr. Allenburys scoffed. “You asked for it.”

The apprentice with the hawk turned around and walked off shaking her head. The hawk beat its wings and a massive gust of air assaulted all of them. It took flight, carrying its master along with it, and landing them in one of the spectator seats.

Mr. Allenbury inhaled deeply. “Feel free to position yourselves however you’d like. Combat starts in three…”

“Two…” Students surrounded Mr. Allenbury and backed away at the same time.

“One…” Whether they were running from the fight or confronting it, people were desperately trying to ready themselves for what came next.

He exhaled deeply. “Go.”

No one was ready for what came next.

Derek let loose a savage smile. A writhing mass of flames forming near instantly in the palm of his hand. He sent it hurdling forwards at immense speeds. Mr. Allenbury leisurely jumped backwards; reaching impossible heights effortlessly, and casually avoiding an explosion that sent waves of heat radiating in every direction.

The girl next to Barlor started to glow a soft golden color. The soft glow became like flames, a cloak of golden flames trailing behind her as she took off at unnatural speeds. She raced upwards at Mr. Allenbury like a golden comet. Somewhere behind Mr. Allenbury another student shot outwards like an arrow in flight.

A burst of white light erupted from Mr. Allenbury’s back. It coalesced into a solid white, tail like appendage. In mid air he spun, slamming both students in the torso. That golden comet was sent crashing back into the ground. Only a flicker of light was left where a once beautiful radiance once shone. As for the other, he was sent flying into another student, who thankfully managed to catch him.

A disc of white light formed beneath Mr. Allenbury’s feet. He stood imperiously on the white disc, lazily blasting both students with a burst of light that stung them both and left their skin red.

“The two of you are out by the way.” Mr. Allenbury looked at Derek and tilted his head slightly. His voice was as innocent as could. “Oh, that’s all you’ve got?”

All that could be seen of Derek’s visage was pure, unbridled rage. “Just watch you bastard.”

A hailstorm of azure needles assaulted Mr. Allenbury from the side. His tail fanned outwards like a peacock and shrugged off each and every nail. “That’s it? That’s your big plan?”

The ground surrounding Mr. Allenbury erupted outwards into a wall of flames that reached the ceiling. It circled around him and rapidly began to shrink. Barlor could only stand and watch, he was awestruck, afraid. Seconds in and the battle had already escalated this quickly. If these were the kind of people he had to compete with, he might never stand a chance.

Derek’s sweat turned to blood as he struggled to pay the toll for his mana consumption. Suddenly the girl who just barely withstood Mr. Allenbury’s attack began to glow. It was a white glow, with a beam of light emanating from her chest.

Suddenly Barlor understood.

There was a reason she hadn't lost yet...