Lilia's Tale

Chapter 60: Accommodation

The teacher created a rock through magic and placed the wooden board on it, before telling me to approach.

"Alright. The first thing to do is simple. Activate the magicule detector."

"By pouring magicules into it?"

He stayed silent and stared at me. I was a bit annoyed, but figured it was part of the examination. I tried the first thing that came through to me, pouring magicules into it. It was named 'magicule detector', after all.

I put my hand near the device and started pouring magicules into it. Very shortly after, it exploded. I clearly saw a shard fly onto my face, although I was too surprised to react. I barely felt it as it hit my forehead, though.

"May I know what just happened?" the teacher screamed.

"I don't know!"

"How did you... My apologies, I am to believe this means you overloaded the magicule detector. I did not think of it to be possible."

"I'm sorry."

I felt guilty that I forgot to keep myself in check, effectively creating problems.

"Let us move to the second part of the test. Each colored orb can only be activated by a specific type of magic being used onto it. Allow me to know what magic you are proficient in?"

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm proficient in anything, but I can use some summoning, some-"

"Summoning magic," he cut me. "Then, if you'd please attempt to activate the pink orb, without breaking it."

His comment only added to my guilt as I pushed myself to do as he asked. I put my hand above the designated object and started thinking about what "using a spell to activate the orb" exactly meant.

I figured I should try to summon a goblin or something else inside the orb, although I wasn't confident enough in my summoning that I'd be able to reduce the size so drastically. So, instead, I just tried to summon just about anything where the crystal was.

"That is indeed a success," the teacher said as I was focusing. "Is there any other magic that you'd like to attempt?"

"Oh. Hum, I use matter manipulation magic a l-"

"Matter manipulation magic?" he cut me again. "That is quite advanced. As such, it will not be adequate for testing purposes."

"Fair enough. What about fire magic? I use it to-"

"Fire magic, yes. That is-"

"Can you stop cutting me? This is getting obnoxious."

Surprisingly, he didn't apologise, even after an awkward silence.

"Anyways," I sighed. "Where's the orb to test fire magic?"

"You are looking out for the orange detector."

Still annoyed, I put my hand above the designated object and made sure to pour fire magicules into it. To my expectation, it lit up in a bright light matching its initial color.

"That is another flying success. Any other magic you'd like to attempt?"

"Wind magic? I've used that recently."

He waited a short moment to make sure I was done talking before explaining anything, which made me relieved in some way.

"The light-grey orb is what you'd like to find, then."

I quickly found it and did the same as with fire magic. The same events occurred.

"Three flying successes. You truly are as much a genius as one would think. Perhaps you'd like to attempt water magic now?"