Dysnomia Academy [ONC 2021]

Chapter One

I climbed over the chain link fence to an abandoned warehouse and splashed in a puddle on the other side, messily reflecting my bright red hair. Symbols drawn in the mud hid the building from those who were not invited. Inside, white-masked people in dark cloaks pointed us to the registry table, where we picked up our entrance exam number. 

My paper had the number 53 written on it. I shoved the slip into my pocket and stood in the group of students that were waiting for their turn to come. Some of them were fidgeting and walking in small circles. But some were the opposite. Calm and composed. Their blank faces were hard to read. I was a bit nervous, but I didn't dare to express it. The weak would easily be picked off in a place like this. There was no mercy for those who couldn't make it.

One by one, the numbers were called and an examinee went into the building. I could hear screams and yelling coming from inside the closed room every now and then. The next number would be called, but no one came back out. The longer we waited, the more apparent their nerves were.

My observations were interrupted by the monotonous voice over the speakers.

"Number 53."

I walked over to the open double doors with my hands in my pockets and watched all the different faces stare as I entered the unknown before us.

The doors shut behind, leaving me in the complete darkness. 

The voice echoed in the dark.

"Welcome to the exam, Kenzo Langston. Your test will now begin."

A blue circle lit up on the floor. In the middle, a small bird pecked at the ground. It's black eyes stared at me. A rack of weapons appeared in a green circle next to me.

"Your first task is to kill it. You can use either your abilities or the weapons."

I sent a bolt of red lightning from my fingertips towards the bird, frying it in an instant. The blue circle dimmed. It was dark for a minute before the light returned. Instead of a bird, a sleek, black dog sat patiently. 

"Your next task is to kill it. Same conditions apply."

I cast a stronger bolt to the dog. The blue circle dimmed again. It was dark for a few minutes. Something scraped on the floor in the darkness along with sounds of a struggle. When the circle lit up again, I saw my best friend was tied to a metal chair. Her arms were covered in bruises and cuts. Her hair clung to her sweaty face. She recognized me instantly when she saw me.

"Kenzo! Please help me. These people kidnapped me and-"

I drove a spear of lightning through her chest. I didn't want to hear her pathetic cry for help. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke with a weak voice.

"Why would you..."

The circle dimmed for the last time. A door opened on the other side of the room, blinding me with a bright light. The voice spoke again.

"Proceed to the exit."

I shook the final images out of my head before leaving the room. When my eyes were well adjusted, I was in a room with 17 other people. Most of them stood along the grey walls. A girl hopped over to me with her intense blue hair bouncing behind her.

"What did you see?"

The random question had taken me aback.

"Uh...what?"

"In the dark room, what did you see?"

Her eager eyes were hard to ignore.

"A bird, dog, and my best friend."

"I see..."

She walked off into a corner without saying anymore. I took a seat in an open spot along the walls. We waited as a few more people came in. The girl asked all the new arrivals about what they saw in the room. From what I could collect, everyone saw a small animal, pet, and person they're close to.

After about an hour, the familiar voice came from the speakers.

"Congratulations. You've all passed the entrance exam. Welcome to Dysnomia Academy. Proceed to the teleportation circle."

An orange magic circle appeared in the center of the room. It wasn't surprising to any of us. Magic and special abilities were relatively common in the world we lived in but not everyone had them. Only fifteen percent of the population possessed them.

We all took turns vaporizing into the circle. When it was my turn, I stepped into the light. I arrived at the front gates to the academy in seconds and was greeted by the outlines of skeletal trees in the moonlight. Cobblestone paths cut through the grass, leading to the open front doors of an enormous, Victorian mansion. A warm light poured out onto the steps outside. I followed the group of students to the entrance.

I felt a sneaking suspicion crawl up my spine. The exam was way too easy.