Just a day left before the long-waited Examination. Classes has been dismissed all week, to prepare the students for the big event. The rules just have been distributed all over again. Most are the same with the announcement previous months, with an additional rule: students are allowed to wear their enchanted equipment, if they happened to make it. Since we have not practically learned in classes how to enchant equipment, it is suggested that we're back to books, or conducting independent research. Autodidact learning.
It is said that the best ones within the Examination will be introduced to the higher caste of this school; the special operatives, students who have shown a degree of excellence in both swordsmanship and magecrafts. Some rumors said that the special operatives will be meeting with the nobles in Brighthollow's government and possibly tasked with some important duties or missions, which is a good step towards becoming a person with high social status in Brighhollow and guaranteed will enjoy its luxury in the future. Sounds like tha's what everyone expect these days, since most of the wizards control the current government.
If one would take a look at the cafeteria these days, most of the students wear bandages and plasters all over their bodies from the harsh training. But on the bright side, everyone are now ready for the Examination, even finding tricks and spells that never being taught in classes during the sparring.
In the morning just one day left before the Examination, me and Farris are busy with our final sparring in the forest zone. These two months really improve us for good: enhanced stamina and better reflexes. We're both busy charging at each other, fending off with each other rushing attacks, and looking for openings between each blow for an hour, then we sit on the grass, discussing and deciding the plans for tomorrow, while wiping our sweats.
"It is settled then. You'll be facing your opponent first, and I second. Total, three is on you and two is on me," Farris reminds me. He is referring to the order of fighter for the five battles starting on tomorrow.
"And one of us will be supporting from behind, giving suggestions and insights for battle where necessary, right?"
"So it is fixed then.. By the way, about your injury.." he says solemnly, "It hasn't been fully healed yet. Can you really do this?"
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt much lately. In fact, mentioning it only won't make it better, since we have already submitted our order yesterday."
Between both of us, the one who has the most injuries is me. Mainly because of the fractured rib during our first spar. He also has got some bruises, but they much better that I do.
"Mind if we get some lunch? It's almost noon already," I ask him, "We can discuss more later tonight."
"Sure, let's go then," he proceed to help me stand up, although I don't really need it.
During our way to the canteen, we make our time to visit the alchemy lab and its gardens. Farris wants to brew some salves and potions in case they are needed. I also help him a little and I learned much just by helping him.
"I hope we won't have to use this for tomorrow.. They said that it will be safe, unlike our sparrings where blood can be spilled and bones can be broken, whether accidentally or not," he says to me, "What do you think?"
"I hope so... I don't know what to say of this. Best bet is to see and experience it directly tomorrow," I reply with a slight snide.
"Well, if tomorrow happens to be taking too much, surrendering is allowed. But, giving in without a fight is prohibited, or so they say. Do you considered to give in if that occurred?" he asks me while brewing his potion.
"I can't say for sure about that," I reply while preparing his ingredients.
"To me, I would, though I don't know at what level that surrendering is needed,"
"When your magic is very low that you can't cast another spell, or no stamina left that even standing up is impossible? Or just a moment before the usual killing hit?" I tell him any scenarios where giving in is the only option left.
"Perhaps, that'll do," he finishes, "I'm done here. Canteen?"
And there goes the final day for preparation. I almost forget about this Examination being the opportunity to prove if we really have this red-eyed potential, where mastery control of one self is possible. Master Mode, as Lady Senna told us, is first invoked by a sudden burst of emotion. To be truth, I'm not sure myself if I can truly activate it. Wonder what the others' opinion about this.
The next morning, all of the students gather in the front of stadium in the classes district. Each has paired up with each partner, in total there are sixty pairs has gathered here. We are instructed to enter the stadium, each guided by an instructor into a private room, for what it seems like a changing room. This stadium is looking even bigger on the inside, given numerous rooms inside it but mostly empty except of seatings and tables.
Me and Farris are guided into a room numbered 18. Once on the inside, the instructor starts to inform us, reminding us of the rules, and so on. By the time he finishes, he asks us for any questions.
"Now you just wait here for the call. Any questions before you start?" he asks both us, which is quickly followed by Farris's question.
"Aren't we're going to fight on the field outside?" he asks the instructor who is now standing by the door,
"Who said you're going to fight outside?" the instructor smirk.
"What do you mean by that?" I proceed to ask him.
"Oh, look like I've received the call from the jury," he says, as if he receive some telepathy from someone else, "Now then both of you, stand before me. I'm going to cast a cloak magic on both of you. I think you're already know about this; you're not going to have any blood spilled or broken bones, although the pain sensation will still going to be experienced by your body. Both of you can also communicate with each other using telepathy while on this spell."
After put a spell on us, he then continues, "Jason Gregg, you are the first fighter from Team 18, and Faris Leroy is on the support. You'll be facing Dane Fleetfang with Jemmy Flintrun as the support. from Team 36," He proceed to cast a portal, "Once you're ready, enter the portal. I'm going to follow you from behind."
Seeing no other options, we proceed to go through the portal. The portal leads us to a grassy plain with a very clear sky. The instructor then come along creating a square of barrier for he and Farris to watch my battle. The opponents' instructor across us also does the same.
"Good luck Jason," Farris says as he pats my shoulder before entering the barrier.
My first, real battle is going to start. An idea crosses on my mind, wondering if my red-eyes would be finally invoked at this round. There's only one way to find out that.
