"Mana is the main source of life. "
The title Grand Magister is given to the strongest mages of that region. Each region differs in the number of members, but in Cassadora, there are eight. These mages are all Aeon Rank, meaning they have a full understanding and mastery in their magic. There are no definitive leaders within the Grand Magisters, although among the members, they have their own ranking.
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"The Ardian Magic Academy Entrance Exam," the mysterious man suddenly appears in the front. He's a fair-skinned man with short black hair, tiny streaks of white hair, bangs hanging over his eyebrows, and brown eyes. He wears a unique half-black half-white shirt with flipped colors for his pants.
"I am Sean Basal, one of the Eight Grand Magisters at Ardian Magic Academy—the Aeon Magic User of Illusions. I shall be the Exam Instructor for today" he smiles.
"Grand Magister?" Axelle says softly.
"Yes, I am." Sean suddenly appears behind Axelle.
"Ahh," Axelle jumps back.
Sean walks among the group of mages. "If you don't know what Grand Magister is, let me inform you. I am one of the strongest mages in Cassadora." Sean points to himself. "I also work as a professor at Ardian Magic Academy. So, if you were to make it through here today, I might see you again later this week," he says in an upbeat tone.
"Might?" Ambrose says softly.
"Yes, there may be a chance some may not pass this examination and a few have "lost their way" within this forest," Sean says in a serious tone appearing next to Axelle's group "But lighten up that shall not happen this time" Sean teleports by Roxanne who keeps a straight face.
"What a preppy guy," Vince says to himself, still far away from the group in the trees.
"Yes I am." Sean appears right beside Vince.
"Shit!" Vince jumps off the tree branch and joins Axelle and the others. "That magic is kinda annoying," he says.
"Annoying is not the way to put it, but misleading. This magic allows me to make perfect identical duplicates of myself that can be at different places at the same time. My other self is talking to the mages at the forest's East Entrance. Furthermore, whatever you see here may be real or just-"
SNAP
Sean Basal snaps his fingers with both of his hands. Changing and removing everyone from the forest into a blank slate.
An endless field of white.
"An illusion," Ambrose says.
The group of mages stands in shock. Many looked around, and a couple touched the ground.
"Would you like a hot environment?"
The group gets transported into a desert sandland with intense heat enough to give you sunburn by staying there too long.
"What the hell? We were just at the entrance." Axelle begins to freak out.
"This is the extent of his illusions? So this is the power of an Aeon Rank Mage," Ambrose questions.
Vince wipes at his forehead and neck, "Dammit, I'm already sweating."
Roxanne shows a face of discomfort as a tiny drop of sweat breaks from her forehead.
SNAP
Sean brings them all back to the entrance of the forest by snapping his fingers. He then counts the number of mages within the crowd "Now let's see there are around 75 of you here you all should know to make a group of four or five. Make it to the center of the forest under the giant Oak Tree." Sean points towards the forest as the Oak Tree stands out from the rest of the trees around it due to its size and color.
"However, it's not going to be that easy as I am the illusion master. You may get stuck in a loop, you may be walking in circles and you don't even know it, whatever you thought was there may have not been there at all. Remember to use your senses and use nature. With all this being said another last-minute rule has been added. There are four guardian beasts that I will replicate into this forest, defeat one of them and automatically pass. Dont worry their powers will be but a fraction of their original powers. Now that am done you may now find your teams and once everyone has found a team the entrance exams begin"
"We already have our four already here" Axelle speaks.
"We should all just wait until the others have found them," Ambrose adds.
"Shouldn't take that long," Vince says.
"What are those Guardian beasts he was mentioning?" Axelle asks.
"Gu-"
Roxanne interrupts Ambrose, "Guardian beasts are creatures usually linked to the six elemental magics: Fire, Water, Terra, Ventus, Ice, and Thunder. However, Professor Basal said there'd only be four."
"The question is which four?"
"That is a good question, Axelle."
"Well, I'm not trying to fight any Guardian Beasts today, I'm trying to find the way out so we can get this done easily."
"You may wanna do that, Vince, but you have to take into account the different creatures that live in that forest, either way you're going to have to fight," Ambrose says.
"All right, all right. What is the strategy?" Vince asks.
"Find the exit," Ambrose says. "Defeat one of the Guardian Beasts," Roxanne says.
"I thought you wanted to fight Ambrose," Roxanne says.
"I would, but I believe it would be a more efficient way just to find the tree."
Roxanne walks toward Ambrose. "But we're facing an Illusion expert here, it would be better to defeat the Guardian Beasts. Any of the trees or even the entire environment could be a part of his illusions."
"True, but I can see through it if we were to follow a certain part of the forest."
Roxanne scoffs as she crosses her arms.
"Roxanne, just trust me," Ambrose insists.
"Fine, we'll go with your plan, but if we stumble across one of the Guardian Beasts."
"Yes, we shall engage in battle and attempt to take it down should we encounter one." Ambrose and Roxanne exchange glares at each other.
"You've truly changed, Roxanne. When we were younger, you'd agree with everything I would say or even add too it"
"Yes, times changed, Ambrose. We were kids then. People Change. Things happen in their lives, and events change them. You should know" Roxanne says with a somber expression.
"This is starting to feel familiar. Is it possible that Bri could have changed?" Axelle thinks.
Vince bumps him, getting Axelle out of his head. "Hey, should we step away for a bit?"
"Just a few steps," Axelle smiles as the two take two small steps back and look in a different direction.
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East Entrance to Ardian Academy Forest
KAW KAW
Four mages stand grouped up in a corner, surveying the rest.
"Ezra, are you sure you want to copy her I mean it would be better if you were to copy the Heavenly Wind Candidate," a girl with above-average height, a slim physique, and long legs speaks. She has long, pale blue hair that falls to her waist and short jagged bangs. Her eyes are an emerald green, Diamond-shaped face. She has two buttons undone on her shirt and does not tuck them in. She doesn't always wear the blazer, and when she does, she leaves it unbuttoned. She wears long boots that reach her thighs, white pants, blue short-sleeved shirt.
{Novice Mage: Sienna Dellsol}
"Wouldn't you guys think it would be better?" Sienna asks the other two.
"I don't mind as long as he thinks it'll work for his plan, using this girl's one will be just fine."a tall and in shape young man responds putting both his hands behind his neck. His unruly blonde hair sticks out behind his head, and his bangs partially obscure his thin, tired-looking eyes. Dark bags under his light ocean-blue eyes. He is wearing a short-sleeved olive green jacket over a black shirt, black fingerless gloves, khaki trousers with a green belt, and black boots with belt straps.
{Novice Mage: Blamore Andrama}
"Am actually with Sienna here, look at her arm", a young girl with shoulder-length silver hair and blue eyes. Wearing a blue tank top with a single white strip that is placed right below her chest area, a white skirt, thigh-high white socks, and sandals.
{Novice Mage: Zyla Oletia }
"A scar?" Ezra says to himself.
"Ezra, I wouldn't think too much about it," Blamore adds. "Besides, who's going to care about a scar?"
"You're right."
"Hey, get together, almost everyone is rounded up," Sienna adds.
"Hmm," Zyla looks around at the tree lines.
"What's wrong, Zyla?" Ezra asks.
"Where did these crows suddenly come from?" she asks.
"They most likely inhabit this forest," Blamore comments.
"Though this many." Zyla says.
"Tch, there are just birds, Zyla, with our magic, we'll take them out in no time," Ezra says with confidence.
--------
"Hey you two wouldn't mind forming a group with us? " Shane asks.
Clara was too amazed to speak "O-of course"
"Clara!" Clarise snaps.
"Sister, these two saved us from the crowd."
Izaiah goes by Clarise "We won't disappoint you promise. We'll keep you two safe"
"Alright back off " Clarise responds as she drags Clara by her side. "The idea of you two protecting us. Get it out of your head. If anything, it's us two protecting you two" Clarise fires off with a commanding voice.
"Yes of course," Izaiah and Shane nod in unison.
"And if you are or even think about anything funny regarding my sister. I swear to the sun I shall burn both of you to ashes within seconds. Are we clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good"
Clarise grabs Clara.
"Sister"
"Clara, you are just so pure and kind-hearted. Dont let these guys take it for granted," Clarise gives Shane and Izaiah an intense stare.
The two get spooked out.
"Why did we save them?" Shane says with regret.
"You say it like it's a poison to you," Izaiah adds.
"It's a figure of speech," Shane says.
"What did you say?" Clarise asks.
"N-nothing" Shane and Izaiah say in unison.
"Never mind. Get ready, we're starting soon," Clarise says.
KAW KAW
SPLATTER
Izaiah moves "Ugh, what the hell this crow almost hit me with its-"
Shane looks around. "There's a crap ton of them."
FWOOSH
Clarise throws flames at a flock of them.
KAW KAW
A small flock flies away.
"Annoying little birds."
"S-sister was that necessary?" Clara asks.
"Clara do you wanna get pooped on like this guy almost did." Clarise points.
"Uh no that would be unsightly"
"I least theres less no-"
KAW KAW
SPLATTER
Izaiah looks at his shoulder. "DAMMIT!"
------
"Change be different act grown up show change," Bri reflects on what Kate told her on the train.
Something catches Bris's attention.
"Who are those guys staring at us?"Bri asks.
"Don't know. Maybe they have a crush on you."
"Stop Kate."
"That is Ezra Williams, one of the known families here in Cassadora," Sadie adds. "My parents often do business with him"
"Why aren't you with them?" Bri asks.
"I just don't like them. They always made fun of my hair color and why I would always read books and barely speak when I was younger. They might've changed since then"
"Maybe you should go talk to them again when this is done"
"You think so"
"Doesn't hurt to try and if they still mean to you I'll back you up" Bri puts her left hand on her right arm as she flexes a muscle.
"The real issue now is trying to find a partner almost everyone is taken"
"Excuse me, do you need another member?" a voice behind them asks.
A young tall girl has pale sea-blue eyes, and her skin is fair. She has knee-length light hair and a jewel neckband. She wears a white long sleeve shirt with khaki shorts black over-the-knee socks with white lines and a silver bracelet on her right wrist.
{Novice Mage: Elara Saint Claire}
"Am sorry for being nosy but you guys need another member correct?"
"Elara Saint Claire?!" Kate says with joy.
"Kate, you know this person?"
"She is a female archaeologist. Your dad talked about her that one time."
"Oh you're the girl who travels to the different regions to collect their stones and gems" Bri says.
"Aww thank you. I didn't know I would be noticed for my work."
"You're originally from Fallenburg, correct?" Kate asks.
"Yes that's where my family currently is"
"We're from Polaris," Kate says.
"I was just in Polaris before coming here, checking out the meteorite that landed there."
KAW KAW
A dozen crows are lined up along the tree lines.
"Hmm, why are there so many crows?" Kate asks.
"There were no crows at all earlier, " Sadie responds.
"They must belong to a mage at this exam. The number of crows in the area. Doesnt seem normal," Elara comments.
"You might be right," Bri says.
"I'll watch them, we'll just make way for the tree," Elara says.
"Mages, are you ready?! I forgot to add more last important thing: the first 8 teams to make it to the center or defeat one of the four Guardian Beasts will receive a special reward and be selected in this year's Royal Unit"
Everyone murmurs.
"Royal unit!? Axelle was surprised.
"Now with that out of the way Mages the stakes have now been set. Which eight teams shall make it to the final? For your information, you can eliminate other teams who stand in your way. I on the other hand will make sure that things won't go so far.
NOW EVERYONE GET READY
GET SET
GO!!