“Did you get any sleep?” Emmy asked.

“No, was too busy compiling the information I got from that kids. What’s his name snail?”

“Grail,” Trent corrected.

“Yeah, Grail told me that every year the order of the exams are randomized and participants won't know until the event even starts. If I can figure out how they are randomized maybe it will give us a slight advantage”

“Ok, sure, how does that help?” Emmy replied.

“Unlike us, you were allowed to register for all four exams. Inbetween each exam is a thirty-minute preparation window. You're a tier one mage, so if the first exam drains you of all your mana or is too taxing, you might want to sit out the second exam if it's one that’s just as draining.”

“Yeah I see where you're going with this,” Trent said. “I wonder what type of exam Chrome will have? They did have a requirement of tier one healing or buff magic. I’m guessing some type of escort mission?”

“I more surprised they let you register with tier one water magic,” Break said.

“I can heal with it, so I guess that was good enough for them,” Emmy replied.

“Well Greb said something about fortitude, I’m guessing they're going to make you run to different healing target for as long as possible. I’m more worried about the Arcanum test. They did not have any requirements so were going to be up against a lot of people. Since Arcanum is known for secondary magic, my best bet is that the exam has something to do with crafting.”

“We can speculate all day, but if we don't make it for check in it won't matter,” Emmy said, stepping into the Pendragon office. Logging into the game, the three were greeted by rattling knocks. Break stepped towards the door, and slowly hinged it open.

“Yes.”

“Sir, we need to go, we have about twenty minutes before checking is closed,” Grail said jumping from side to side.

“Alright, no need to get your pants in a knot.” Break said as the three walked out into the dining room.

“This is for you,” Grail said, handing Emmy a well decorated box.

“What is it?”

“I’m not sure, Krane said it would come in handy for the exams.”

Opening the box, Emmy was amazed at the intricate wand lay snuggled in between two satin sheets. Picking up the wand Emmy felt a twinge of mana course through her fingers like an icy chill.

“Whoa,” Trent said, his eyes glued to a frozen crystal sitting at the tip of the wand.

Quickly flipping her wrist a large info boxed popped up on her UI.

Name: Vectra Claw

Type: Wand

Rarity: Elite

Magic Bonus: +18

Skills: Hailstorm - Send a flurry of twenty icicles towards a target destination [Cooldown 60 minutes] [damage scaled with casting tier and user’s intelligence ]

Passive: Cold Cast - Cold projectiles have a 2% chance to freeze [does not stack with other chance to freeze effects]

System: Congratulation, you are the first user to acquire [Vectra’s Claw]

System: You have obtained the title Elite Seeker

System: You have level up total level 15

.

.

.

System: You have level up total level 23

“Did you just gain eight levels?” Break asked, his eye glazed over the pixelated UI screen sitting in front of Emmy.

“Umm… Yeah, I just got an achievement for being the first player to obtain this wand,” Emmy said, turning on her UI share screen.

“Holy shit,” Break exclaimed. “C-c-c-ccc-c can I hold it?”

“Sure,” Emmy said in a confused tone. Holding up the wand, Break glared at the radiating spectrum of light coming from the tip of the wand. “I can’t believe we have an original item.”

“A what?” Trent asked.

Turning the UI screen towards Trent, Break toggled the share setting letting Trent see the wand’s stats. “Do you see the small red circle at the bottom right of the stat screen.” Scanning the UI, Trent gave a subtle nod. “That little small circle indicates that this is the very first item obtained by a player, that little mark skyrockets the price of any items.”

“By how much?” Emmy asked in a twinge of intrigue.

“It varies drastically, but from all the information I gather your looking at between a few hundred thousand to a couple hundred million.”

“I’m not selling it, so just get that idea out of your head,” Emmy said, placing her hands out towards Break.

“Guuuuuys, we're going to be late,” Grail said, attempting to push Break heavy frame towards the door.

“Alright, no need to get angsty,” Break said, handing Emmy back the wand.

Walking towards the large registration building stationed near the middle of town, the three made their way towards the registration desk. “Check in,” Break said, looking at the lady dressed in a formal white and blue mage robe.

“Gate three,” the woman said, pointing towards a red portal housed on an archway towards the back of the building. Shuffling towards the portal, the three notice a procession of people making their way towards a gleaming white portal, this one wide enough to fit a whole cart. Making their way through, the three stood at the precipice of a sky-piercing coliseum. Wrenching his neck at an almost ninety-degree angle Break could barely make out the rim of the large structure.

“Hey move it,” a man in a chilly blue robe said, pushing aside the three as he made himself towards a large arching entrance. Looking behind them, they all saw a semicircle of fourteen red portals. Stepping to the side, Trent asked: “What do all the other red portals lead too?”

“Each one is the check-in gate for all the other Cities,” Grail answered pointing at a set of magical writing sitting above each gate but was unintelligible by the group.

“Other cities?” Trent said in a confused tone.

“Yeah, during the Spell Progression, each gate ferries competitors who wish to participate, this gives the guild masters a larger pool of prospects to choose from.”

“This makes me feel a bit more uneasy about winning,” Break said, looking at the large horde of people waiting to at the check indoor. Trent glared at the set of large statues that was as big and as tall as a skyscraper. Each statue was in an image of a mage holding their respective guild symbol. “Wow, these statues are huge,” Trent mindlessly said.

“That is Grandmaster Moure, he was the first master for Chrome. And that person over there is Grandmaster Melinda, she was the first master for Eluthum, and one of the greatest mages to ever live. Stay in a bar long enough, and you will eventually hear a bardic tail having to do with Melinda. Out of all the tales, My favorite has to be the one with the Dragon.”

“Was she able to single handedly take down a dragon?” Break asked.

“No, after a night of drinking, she challenged a dragon to a who can breathe fire the longest. Needless to say, after two hours of spewing out fire, the dragon wavered and fell asleep, she, on the other hand, went back to drinking.”

“She sounds lovely,” Break said, making a new tab in his notes.

Following the crowd, the group made their way towards a large archway spanning twenty meters across and was fifty meters tall. Walking through the group was greeted by a succession of mages, each one behind a large magical panel. Waking up towards one of the mages the four gave them their names. Looking for any illicit contraband the man cast a spell hovering over the group. “You’re registered and good to go,” the man said, handing them each a coin. After a ten minute walk, the group found themselves in a large amphitheater under the colosseum. Taking a seat in the many-tiered rows flowing upwards, Break analyzed all the other participant. Focusing his gaze at a group of six players sitting near the front, Break gave Trent a quick nudge. “Don’t go fanboy on me, but twelve-o'clock, fourth row from the front near the middle.”

“Holy shit, do you think I can get an autograph?” Trent said, edging up from his seat.

“What?” Emmy asked.

“Down near the middle,” Break pointed, “that’s Serena Hawkins, host of Inside Airium, and Trent’s celebrity crush.”

“I don’t have a crush on her.” Trent rebute. “Look at all the other people sitting with her, they are all from different news site. I think that’s Li Chen from Economica Air, and next to him is Vorn Keph. What show does he do again?”

“Wait go back to the girl,” Emmy said. “Do you have a crush on her?”

“What, why does that matter?” Avoiding eye contact with Emmy.

“Psst,” Break said, poking at Emmy. “He has a poster of her in his room.”

“You hush,” Emmy barked at Break.

“It’s not a poster of her, its a poster of the Texas Tanks, she was giving them an interview when the shot was taken. Why does it even matter?”

“It doesn't,” Emmy said, leaning back on her chair.

“Welcome,” a booming voice said, echoing across the room. A man dressed in a black and white robe walked onto the state as a large magical screen hovered overhead. “My name is Ven and I’m glad to see so many perspective mages here today. I will be going through the rules of today's event as well as some of the procedure we have. Any question you may have please save them for the end. Rule one, and this is fairly obvious, no outside help. You may summon elementals and familiars, but any summons that involves another person is strictly off limits. Rule two, no use of healing or mana potions during the exam unless stated by the exam’s guild master. Rule three, you will be eliminated if your health is fully depleted, or if step out of the arena boundaries. Note that this rule is the default and a guild master may change it during the exam.” Stepping towards the edge of the stage, Ven put out his hands in a welcoming gesture. “Anyone who wishes to ask a question may do so now. “You in the green and yellow.”

“How long is each exam?”

“That’s all depends on the guild masters. I can tell you that Xerum usually takes less than ten minutes, and Chrome can go on for about two hours, but take this will a grain of arcana.”

The crowd began to audible whisper. “Two hours, that a bit much,” Trent said.

“That’s normal,” Grail said. “Support mages are usually the first to be targeted during a fight, being able to out think and out maneuver your opponent is what the guild teaches you.”

“Pretty perspective,” Break said.

“Thank you,” Grail nodded.

“You in the front.”

“You said no potion during the exam, are we able to use them during the thirty-minute intermission?” a woman in her mid-thirties asked wearing a full set of heavy chainmail.

“Yes, the intermission is for people who are taking multiple exams to recharge or rearm themselves. Thirty minutes is a not a lot, so remember to manage your resources.”

“If were registered for more than one event are we obligated to do them?”

“No, if you finish your first exam and know you're not going to be able to compete anymore, your allowed to enter the stadium arena using that portal,” Ven said pointing at a purple portal.

“Yes, you.”

Break nudge towards Trent as he saw Serene get up from her chair. “If were eliminated during the exam, are we able to stand at the outer bounds of the arena?”

“I’m going to say yes, but if a proctor or the guild master themselves ask you to leave then please do so.”

“Any more questions? No, then I hope all of you the best of luck,” Ven said, as the anticipation in the crowd swelled. “The opening ceremony will start in ten minutes, there will be a few speeches and then the first Exam will begin. I myself don't know the order, but if you're in the exam, please proceed to the yellow portal at each corner of the room.” Taking a coin from his pocket, he held it up towards the crowd. “These coins are what grants you access to the portals. If you take a good luck at my coin,” the large screen above the man zoomed towards his hands, “this coin is divided into four different colors, each one representing a guild. Some of you may notice that your coins only have one or two colors, this is because you have only registered to take that many exams. When entering the gate for said exam, a color on the coin will fade; if all colors on the coin fade, then the coin itself will disintegrate. This is also true if you leave for the stadiums, or leave the colosseum.” Giving a quick nod towards a mage on the side of the stage, Ven walked off towards the yellow portals. The screen hovering above them slowly faded out into a white mist. After a few minutes eight additional screen popped up each of different angles of the arena. In one of the screen, a man in a dark scraggly costume walked up to a set of five chairs, each one adorned with plush velvets and jewels. He stood over the middle chair which was raised a foot over the other four, he raised both his hands. A deafening cheer blasted throughout the crowd as the man slowly lowered his hands as the sounds of the crowd began to quite.

“I welcome everyone to today's Spell Progression. From what I have seen, this is looking to be one that will go down in bardic song and poetry,” the man said, as the crowd began to increase in volume again. “As you know, we do this every year not just to find the best and brightest, but to give mages something to strive for. We find mages that are not only strong but are smart, cunning, agile, and even a bit devious. Out of the many thousands of applicants today, we may only take in a handful, but worry not. In our crowds today we have many many nobleman looking for fine mages to be part of their army. We even have some kings and queens among us here today. While many of you may not make it to our ranks within the guild, know that prizes greater than what we can offer still lay within your grasp. Now without further adieu, let me introduce to you the other guild masters. To my far right, I give you master of guild Xerum, Grandmaster Avana. The chair began to slowly smolder as a puff of red and purple flame encased the area. A woman in an elegant a bright red and yellow dress materialized. Taking a quick bow she made a gesture towards the old man and took her seat. “Next to her, we have the master of guild Arcanum, Grandmaster Gindur.” A stout dwarven man of about five feet walked up behind the shaded balcony overlooking the arena. Gindur’s body was encased in plated armor in the shape of dragon scales. The armor was so well crafted no noise could be heard coming from the joins. To his back was a large warhammer, the head of which contain a glass sphere of highly concentrated magic. Gindur greeted the old man with a friendly shake as he strode towards his chair.

“Showoff,” Gindur whispered, taking a seat next to Avana.

“When was the last time you’ve taken that armor out for a spin,” Avana said, a big grin towards Gindur.

“To my far left we have the master of house Delphic, Grandmaster Kes’ven.” Before a hand of a clock could even tick, Kes’ven appeared in front of the chair like he was there all along. Giving the man a quick nod, he took a seat.”Not much of a talker as always. For our last master I give you Grandmaster Zevne of guild Chrome.”

A small woman of three feet walked out towards the balcony, gesturing for the man to bend down, she gave him a hug. “It’s been so long since I’ve last seen you Pen,” She said, letting him go. Turning around, she gave the audience a wave as she hopped up toward her chair.

“Who of us will go first,” Pen said, sitting down.

“If you don't mind, I feel like going first this year,” Gindur said. “Last year between you and Kes’ven over there, I only had about a couple hundred to choose from.”

“They were weak,” Avana replied, giving him a shrug.

Getting up from his chair, Gindur walked towards the edge of the balcony. Taking a huge leap, the man jumped down towards the middle of the arena. Without making the slightest sounds the man feet caressed the floor like a feather.

Every screen lit up with the symbol of Arcanum, a ten-minute timer began to countdown as many of the participants made their way towards the yellow portals.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Grail said, jumping out of his seats.

“He looks scary,” Trent said, plowing into other participants heading towards the portal.

“We got this,” Break said, pushing his way past the crowd.