“This is it, we finally get to show our skills and prove that we are worthy of the academy.” Tristen said with a sneer. Markus looked at his cousin in law and honestly had no clue why the guy was such an ass.

“Yes,” Markus said easily. He was honestly a bit perturbed by the whole ogre thing. Why didn’t one of the psychic instructors render assistance. Couldn’t they have ripped the ogres to shreds, crushed their joints, or pulverized organs. Were their instructors cowards?

“My Markus, they are merely food, you can’t expect food to be exceptional. Though there is exceptional tasting food, hmm, what was I talking about?” Markus chuckled. “No, I’m really hungry now and all this food is here that I can’t eat.” Markus rubbed Trixie’s tentacles. They squirmed around his fingers and she began gnawing on his fingers. It felt ticklish to his tough skin.

“My lord, that looks painful!” Markus looked up to see a man dressed in red silk with a phoenix emblem on his breast Margarette and Tristen were further looked back. “Why is there a mind flayer here, are you insane? It’s already trying to eat you.” The man said.

Markus took his fingers out of Trixie’s mouth. Besides the drool they were fine. He waved them at the man. “She’s just nervous, so I let her gnaw on my fingers. Why are you making such a commotion out of it?” He gave the boy a look over. Obviously psychic, red hair with blonde tips, an earring, and the royal signet ring for the phoenix. Top that off with a girlish frame that the royal family is known for and you get the prince.

“What is the prince of the kingdom doing in Redgate? Doesn’t the crowned heir receive a formal invitation to the academy.” The prince blushed heavily.

“I may be the prince, but I fear it is my sister, the lady Serenity Phoenix is who holds the title of heir. Her psychic powers are greater than mine at an earlier age. Much to my shame.” The Prince said. Then focused back on Trixie. “That does not excuse the presence of such a dark creature. With a demon lord to the north the creature could turn at any time.”

“I am a monster tamer and she is my monster. Even a prince doesn’t have the right to execute another’s property. Take it up with the local magistrate. But know this the law is on my side.” Markus said.

“The laws can be bent. My sister is the heir after all, that should be proof even if ancient laws forbid it.” The prince said.

“Markus stop arguing with the royalty, we have to register come on.” Markus ignored the prince’s next outburst and they continued. He knew somewhere deep down that this wasn’t over.

Inside the registration building there were several applications for various abilities. Some Markus didn’t know about. Life magic was a thing. He had almost no knowledge on alchemy or enchanting. He signed up for psychic, ice, monster taming, and hand to hand combat. He didn’t have the skill, but he was confident in his abilities.

“You have an impressive display of abilities. You do know that skills aren’t everything. It isn’t abnormal for a boy your age to have 1k willpower or more. How you use your power is very important.”

There were 80 psychic applicants and it just so happened to be the first tests of the day. He was taken to a waiting room and names were called. Crowds were gathered around an arena. Tickets were sold, and many wanted to watch the applicants. Markus remembered Tiberius asking Pa if they could watch his tests. He didn’t think they would come. Evacuation and the war came first.

“Markus of Might your psychic test will begin now.” He stepped out to see a prisoner and an inquisitor standing at the ready. A rock that reeked of dark mana was set with a circle painted on the ground. Then there was a boulder.

“To pass you must complete two of the three tests. You will be judged upon speed of completion, efficiency, and strategy.” Markus nodded. “Begin.” Markus went to the boulder. The second he was a meter from it his will lifted it up and he chunked it hard. Sand shot up as the boulder rolled around the arena.

Markus went to the smaller boulder. It radiated with darkness, so psychic power couldn’t directly touch it. The farther it was moved out of the circle the better. The green line a few meters away marked completion. Markus wrapped sand around the boulder and shot it across the arena.

He ran to the prisoner. Markus glared at the stunned prisoner. “What did you do?” He bellowed, and the prisoner’s mind went blank. That was the point. He had no surface thoughts to distract Markus from digging. The prisoner tried to put thoughts in the way, but it was too late. Markus found what he was looking for. “This man cut the throat of a leather worker for 50points. To buy bread for his family.” Markus said.

The Inquisitor nodded. “Time, the instructor called. 3minutes 20seconds, impressive.” Markus left to wait for the next round.

Ice was next, and it was the hottest time of the day. Markus walked out on the arena field to a raging inferno. He was one of 12 ice type users. Their only test was to step through the fires and freeze a phoenix feather.

At go Markus stepped slowly extending his freeze with psychic, window after window appeared as he walked through the swirling flames. His hands extended around the feather and cold poured out challenging the swirling fire storm directly. Yet no matter how much he fought the flames the feather never froze. He increased the freeze devoting more willpower to the task. “Enough, an announcer yelled. Put the feather down and leave.” Markus narrowed his eyes but did as told.

The next part of the challenge was all about monster tamers. There were hundreds of monster tamers and he walked out with Trixie. The instructor gasped. “You really have a mind flayer as a partner. Are you nuts?” The instructor said.

“What is the challenge?” The instructor narrowed his eyes.

“This test is to determine how well you tamed your monster. A show of trust would do nicely. Put your head in her mouth. If you live, then we can assume she is a loyal monster. If not, well monsters are monsters.” Markus shrugged and put up the umbrella. Trixie pulled down her hood and hopped on his back. She opened her mouth and he felt her tongue lick over his scalp.

“Is this good? Markus your head tastes like ammonia, when was the last time you washed it?” Trixie asked.

“Are you still intact?” The instructor asked. Markus nodded shaking Trixie’s head as well. She got off of him and took the umbrella. “Huh, a tame mind flayer. Well ok, you passed this exam as far as I’m concerned. Not sure if you will get in, there are a lot of passes for this one. We only ever accept 100 monster tamers. But I’ll put in a good word for you.” Markus nodded.

“So, my head tastes like ammonia.” Markus said.

“Yea, if we are going to keep role playing, then please, wash your head. Its in my nose.” Trixie said. He rubbed her head and went on waiting for hand to hand.

Over 10,000 hopefuls come to Redgate just for hand to hand. Markus didn’t even have the skill or the ability qi. It was 100kpoints far out of his reach, but he was confident his stats alone would see him through the fights.

Stepping out in the arena another 100 boys his age stood ready for a fight. Qi users often joined battle monasteries, when they graduated from the academy. There they trained and gathered resistances to every conceivable force. There were three monasteries in haven valley. Markus had no plans to join them but hand to hand was an interesting skill.

A free for all was announced and he turned away a blow to his head by a kid half his size. He took the boy by the hand and slammed him to the ground. Qi flowed around the boy’s body protecting him from most of the damage. Markus took the boy and used him as a club for the next one.

Markus continued his strategy. His weight was so great that the other boys were like willow wands to his hands. Grappling shot up as his new hand to hand style. He loved it. This was what he was waiting for. Powers were great but using his hands made him feel powerful.

When he was down to three opponents he tossed aside his two weapons. The boys tumbled and let go of their qi defense. The three boys surrounded him in a three-way pincer position. They were fast and careful to avoid his hands. If he grabbed one of them it would be over, and they knew it. Markus would use the boy as a club and beat the other two down. Grappling had already reached the initiate stage. Hand to hand was just now one of his skills and deflection also appeared. This was more fun than Markus hoped for. A grin covered his face, as he went up against the three boys who managed to last till now.

His breathing was as steady as ever. One breath every thirty seconds, his heart beat at a slow pace, and one boy had already given up. Markus was sure to win by endurance alone. But that felt cheap.

Taking risks, he began throwing punches and taking blows to his elbow joints and one to his throat. The blows were powerful possibly deadly to a normal human. The attacks felt light to the touch and his elbow was only slightly irritated. “Stop,” The instructor yelled. Markus stopped confused.

“Shelden Lee is the winner. Markus of Might is disqualified for using illegal buffs.” Markus turned to the instructor. The instructor turned to him. “Call me a liar boy.”

“I call you a liar. I have no buffs.” Markus yelled.

“Those blows should have destroyed your elbow, explain why you felt nothing?” Markus held his arms out.

“See for yourself.” Markus said.

The man walked up and grabbed his arm. Then the other. Each time his eyebrows rose. “This isn’t possible. Some rare ability perhaps you should have entered as a tank instead of hand to hand. You both pass.” The instructor yelled.

Markus nodded his head and walked to the inn where Margarette and Tristen were already eating a fine supper. He joined them ordering the special.

A massive grilled bug was placed in front of him varnished with all kinds of candied yams and butter. He dug in while Trixie ate a brain she found somewhere. Markus wasn’t in the mood to ask questions.

“Their talking about you. The boy who can’t be damaged. A tank with no armor.” Margarette said. Markus nodded. “We should know, if we will be admitted by morning. Want to do some shopping while we have a chance.” Markus stuffed a mouthful of bug meat in his mouth. It was tender and a little flakey. Dipping it in butter helped.

“Yea, I need to make an order. Pa’s axe is great, but I need something with some heft to it.” She blinked at the way he said heft.

“Most like lighter weapons the speed helps more often than weight does, even with plate mail. Often there is a part that aren’t armored well were a sword can cut.” Tristen muttered in a tone of voice Markus was getting used to.

“If a weapon doesn’t have any weight to it, then I won’t notice it. I would settle for a blade that’s about a quarter ton in weight. That should feel like a normal sword to me.” Markus said.

“I’ll handle this one sis. You go with Trixie and collect you’re romance novels. This is going to take a while.” Tristen said. Margarette smiled happily and even hugged Tristen.

“When did you two start, bonding?” Markus asked.

“When you weren’t looking. Let’s go before we lose daylight.” Markus nodded.

The sounds of singing of hammers was beautiful. They came upon a massive forge that swallowed up most of the smith section. An old man hammered away at a forge when they opened the door. Weapons of all shapes and sizes sat on racks. Markus could feel several types and one rare duel type. But that didn’t concern him. He walked over to the black smith’s counter and rang a bell.

The old man sighed and quenched his work. He put on a smiled and walked over to them. “Hello there, chaps, you most likely passed your exams and are looking for custom swords, axes, spears, and the like. I’m going to tell you right now, no. I have plenty of weapons on the rack. Pick through them and buy something or get out. I have no time for young foolishness.” The old man said. Markus saw his by his name tag he was named Smit.

“Smit, I need a heavy sword. I have my own materials.” Markus took out a chunk ok ironcite and placed it on the counter ruining everything and crushing the bell.

The old man’s face went red then he looked over the rock and took on a curious expression. He started looking over the raw ore. Rubbing his chin, the man looked at Markus then back at the ore. “That is some damn good ore. You can tell by the color. Ironcite is normally black, this is silver. That means it must have been covered by sap from a dru tree and got refined over time. It’s a good fine pricy even maybe 10k points and you want a heavy sword you said.” Markus nodded. Tristen looked back and forth like he was seeing something insane.

“Right,” Smit said, and tossed the sword he was working on in a barrel. “You bought the top of the queue with that rock there. Your big for a thirteen-year-old nearly seven feet. I can sense quite a bit of fooling around with psychic power in your steps. What typing do you want?” Smit said.

Markus shook his head. “I don’t want any typing. What I want is a nice durable sword with a handle I can put both hands on. I need it to be strong enough, so when I swing my hips it doesn’t dent.” Smit nodded.

“Come to the back. I’m going to need the big forge for this one.” He did a few measurements and calculated how tall Markus would be as an adult. In the end they stuck with a simple cross guard and a long blade instead of weighing a quarter ton, it would weight about fifty pounds. It would be done in a week. Smit promised to send it to him.

Markus fell asleep dreaming of mighty swords and swinging them. He fell asleep with Trixie cradled in his arms. Her tentacles wrapped around his face and her drool flowing down his neck. She looked too comfortable for him to move.

That morning, he went to administration and received a letter of acceptance. They mounted up and begin traveling to Haven the capital that morning.