Chapter 15: Episode 14: A Honor & A Duty
Thirty minutes had passed by since Professor Telas started her lecturer.
The lecture hall was very calm with only the voice of professor Telas sounding in the hall.
The lecture were making some students very sleepy. A few heads were already dropping.
Reynold kept his eyes open throughout the class while taking notes. Having successfully entered the academy, his next goal was to master every war strategy. He was determined to know the truth behind the war a year ago that led to his parents’ death.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Professor Telas tap the lectern with a piece of chalk.
"That," she announced, her voice snapping everyone sleeping back to earth, "concludes the theory for today. The six signals are your language of survival in a battlefield. Learn them. Drill them. They are your homework."
The students let out a relieved sound. But professor Telas wasn not done. She picked up her parchment.
"Before you leave, there is an announcement." She returned her gaze to the students.
"Every year, we choose ten first-year cadets, five Mages, five Riders to represent Wyrmwood at the Quadrant Tournament."
The hall immediately erupted in excitement.
The Quadrant Tournament was a big yearly event against the other three great academies. Winning the tournament was a huge deal. Wyrmwood had not won the tournament in a while now.
"Our last victory," Professor Telas continued, as a proud smile showed on her lips, "was four years ago, led by a brilliant first-year cadet. Since then, we have not won the Scepter trophy."
She paused and then continued.
"Being a Representative is a high honor. It boosts your rank immediately and gives you access to special training. It is a duty, and also an opportunity."
Everyone in the hall suddenly held their breath, ready to hear the names.
Representing the academy in the Quadrant Tournament will be a big boost to their names.
Professor Telas unfolded the parchment and was about to call the names when the door opened.
A girl in a white robe of the academy magic user was standing at the door. Her white uniform was a high rank above the common blue robe for magic users.
Professor Telas looked slightly annoyed at the interruption but walked over immediately.
The girl whisper something into the professor ear quietly. The professor’s eyebrows furrowed, then she gave a quick nod.
She returned to the stage, looking rushed.
"Cadets," she stated. "An urgent matter has come up. I must leave. The list is complete, and I will have cadet Nymeria Xylaria, a cadet who understands this tournament’s importance, read the names."
She handed the parchment to the Nymeria, then hurried out.
The name Nymeria Xylaria caused the hall to explode in to excitement.
Nymeria Xylaria was the Academy’s star. Everyone knew her. She was a role model for most girls. Even the boy were usually captivated and attracted to her. Was it for her beauty, power or perhaps both?
Right now, every student in the hall was attracted to her.
Even Reynold was attracted to her right now with his mouth half opened as he stared at her.
The scrawny Magic user sitting next to him noticed. He folded a small piece of paper into a tight ball and throw it at Reynold’s head.
"Hey, dude, you might want to close your mouth," the boy murmured, grinning. "She’s not going to notice you up there, not even if your mouth catch flies."
Reynold turned and gave the boy a cold glare.
The boy immediately raised his hands in a fake surrender. "My bad. Sorry, man, just kidding."
Reynold turned back to the stage, forcing himself to focus.
Nymeria cleared her throat gently, making the hall to be calm.
"Good morning, Cadets," she said, her voice clear. "I am Nymeria Xylaria. I will read the Representatives for the first-year class. We start with the Mages. The Cadets will step forward and wait on the stage as their names are called."
"First on the list is Torian Vane. Ice-Tier Magic user."
A thick-set boy in a blue uniform stood up, his face breaking into a wide, smile. A few students near him clapped.
Nymeria continued. "Second: Elara Sun-Hand. Light-Tier Magic user."
"Third: Zion Vargos. Earth-Tier Magic user."
"Fourth: Kaelen Moir. Wind-Tier Magic user."
Hearing the first four names, murmurs of disagreement sounded through the hall. Some students feel they were more deserving to be on the list but they quickly died out when Nymeria eyes turn cold.
Nymeria took here eyes back to the list for the last Magic user name.
"And the fifth Mage Representative is... Gwyn Kaidaron."
Reynold’s eyes shot up. Gwyn? He scanned the hall, finding the familiar figure. The one from the cafeteria yesterday. She was wearing the standard blue Mage uniform. She looked shocked but got up and started walking toward the stage.
Just as she was about to step into the aisle, a furious yell sounded in the hall.
"You’ve got to be kidding me."
It was Silas, the Fire Mage who had caused trouble for Gwyn yesterday. His face was red with anger. He was wearing the same blue Mage uniform as the boy next to Reynold.
Before anyone could react, Silas flung his hand out toward Gwyn. A sharp, white-hot spear made with fire, like a Pyre-Bolt—shot from his palm, aimed right at Gwyn.
Gwyn froze in terror. The entire hall gasped.
Nymeria was fast. Her hand, which held the parchment, moved quickly as invisible spiral in the air.
The Pyre-Bolt, just feet from Gwyn, suddenly buckled and shattered. The fire was instantly crushed and turned into a gray ash that fell to the floor.
Magic users were classified into different categories: fire magic users, whose spells took fire form, like Silas’s fire Pyre-Bolt. They can also conjure flames from their bodies or surroundings and manipulate the element, changing the properties and form. They can shape fire into gas or solid elements and alter the color.
Ice magic users, magic manifested as ice. They can create or manipulat ice, freezing anything around them. They can also freeze molecules of moisture in the air or absorb heat from the atmosphere to create ice .
Earth Magic Users manipulate earth and stone, creating barriers, summoning golems, or causing tremors.
Water Magic Users are the Masters of water in all forms, they can conjure waves, control currents, and even manipulate ice.
Air Magic Users command the winds, summoning gusts, creating shields of air, or even controlling the weather.
Light Magic Users are Wielders of light, they can create illusions, heal wounds, and banish shadows.
Shadow Magic Users are the manipulators of darkness, they can conceal, create illusions, and drain life force.
Nature Magic Users are mages that draw power from the natural world, controlling plants, communicating with animals, and healing the land.
Metal Magic Users can shape and control metal, forging weapons, creating armor, or manipulating metallic structures.
Time Magic Users are rare and powerful, these mages can manipulate the flow of time, slowing, hastening, or even reversing it within limited areas.
Space Magic Users are another rare category, they can manipulate space, teleporting, creating portals, or warping distances.
Blood Magic Users are very dangerous category, they draw power from blood, sacrificing life force for potent spells.
Mind Magic Users are the Masters of the mind, they can read thoughts, control emotions, and even manipulate memories.
Energy Magic Usersr are mages who manipulate raw energy, creating blasts, shields.
Sound Magic Users can manipulate sound waves, creating sonic blasts, illusions, or even healing vibrations.
Some magic users can possess two to three categories of magic but Nymeria possessed four. Mind, Earth, Shadow and Blood magic. Sometimes she blend all together.
Nymeria eyes snapped to Silas as she made a gesture with a closing of her fingers.
Silas immediately grabbed his neck, letting out a choked scream as an unseen force clamped down on his throat.
His face turn pale immediately.
His legs began to move on their own. He tried to stop, but his he could not. He groaned in pain, struggling as his legs dragged him forward, shuffling and stumbling toward the stage.
The students were paralyzed with fear.
Silas was forced all the way to the edge of the stage, few steps away from Nymeria.
Then, the force holding his legs slammed him down. He fell, his knees hitting the floor hard, forcing him into kneeling before Nymeria.
Silas was still choking and desperately trying to free his neck from the invisible grip.