Thank you all so much for the support. I am extremely appreciative that you all enjoy this story. It is giving me the drive to continue writing as I tend to start a story and never finish it. I want to finish this one day, so continue giving me your support and any feedback. Thank you again. Enjoy Chapter 2.

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It has been a few weeks since my first day at Whitehall. The professors have been quite kind and helpful towards me, as I am quite behind the other students who have been attending some magic school since they were toddlers. Despite being far behind, I have been getting better at understanding the flow of magic inside my body and how spells work. My favorite class is Bonding and Releasing as it explains how the magic holder is actually the stronger one out of the pair. Plus, the professor is very attractive and soft spoken, so she is definitely my favorite.

At the moment, the Testing was being prepared. It was to be held in the Forest gym (the one where physical training is held). The Testing was to show what class or type we are and there were at least a thousand students to get through, so I knew it would be a long morning.

I haven’t really spoken to Blaze these past few weeks. We see each other some mornings or evenings, but he is always exhausted or rushing to another class. Another freshman from the biology class explained that the senior class is constantly being trained on their magic, they have no normal courses like biology or math, only magic. It sounds absolutely exhausting. And it is a lot harder for someone who isn’t bonded with another person, which Blaze has no bond with a holder yet.

“Alright, students, settle down. We will be heading towards the physical training gym now. Please maintain some manners while we head over there.” Professor Rendoll spoke as he slipped on his suit jacket.

As soon he opened the doors, the students began filling the hallway and heading towards the gym. I made my way slowly through the halls, following the gaggle of students that seem to grow as each class lets out. The forest gym still gives me terrors, as I am still not used to the coaches yelling at me, but the coaches have slowly realized that yelling and saying negative comments does not encourage me to try harder. Now, the coaches train me one on one, as crowds don’t help me either. I know the students in my physical training class are definitely envious of me and they do say rude things towards me every day, but it’s nothing I am not used to.

“Welcome, students, to the Testing!” Coach Wright shouted from a staging area that was an area surrounding the edges of the gym, allowing anyone in the staging area to look down and watch whoever was conducting their test.

“Everyone, head to the locker rooms and prepare for your test. You will be paired up and tested on your teamwork skills and how well you treat your holder or wielder respectively. The first two up are Arthur Abeforth and Lily Viktor. Go change and put your bags up then meet Coach Wright on the field. Everyone else, head upstairs and stay quiet.” Coach Zinke explained as the students slowly filled into the eight locker rooms surrounding the gym.

After I set my items in my locker, I headed up the stairs and found a secluded corner on the staging area floor. I easily blanked out as I closed my eyes, every noise around me disappearing as I placed the black headphones on.

Some time passed before I felt someone tap my foot with their shoe. I opened my eyes slightly before taking in long legs with thick thighs, easily defined in the black skin tight suit. My eyes then moved up, passed loose red short, across an expanse of muscles and abs, before resting on a soft face with a warm smile and matching golden eyes.

Blaze Royal.

The tall male spoke before shaking his head with a smile and sitting beside me. He gently lifted one side of the headphones and whispered close to my ear, “Hello, Nova.”

I could feel my eyes widen and my cheeks heat up, undoubtedly becoming pink in color. I slipped the headphones off before staring at my lap. “Hello, Blaze.”

“Sorry I haven’t been around to hang out. School has been a bit of a bitch. Have you been doing okay in class?” Blaze was leaning against the wall, still sitting close enough to where I could feel his body heat.

I shrugged, knowing I had some difficulty in my classes but not with the actual courses, mostly with other people.

“Alright! Another Class B holder. Good job Miss. Cree. And a perfect Type B wielder, Mr. Jones.” I heard Coach Wright’s voice echoing the gym. “Next up, Logan Crest and Wiliam Luke.”

“Has anyone had any complications with the testing?” I glanced at Blaze.

He shrugged, “I just got here. Apparently Coach is complaining about how many students have to go through the test still.”

“Oh…” I glanced at the railing, only hearing people chattering nearby. Whatever was happening on the field was either too quiet to hear up here or there was a sound barrier in place.

“I’m only interested in seeing you test. I’m curious as to who will be your wielder for the Test.” Blaze chuckled lightly as he stretched his legs.

“Nova White!”

I heard Coach Zinke’s voice echo the gym floor before I appeared on the field, staring at both coaches and another male student. My face paled as the student sneered at me.

James Ryker. He hates me.

Ryker was a tall and built male. He definitely looked like he would hold me down and choke me to death. Especially since he is always sneering at me as if I got the last cookie in the cookie jar or something.

“Are you ready, Nova?” Coach Zinke had a soft smile and worry in his eyes. Coach knew the hatred Ryker had towards me.

I nodded, swallowing my fears, and Coach Wright gestured at the evil male. “Create a bond and maintain it. Mr. Ryker will use your magic respectively as you both go through the Test. There will be a series of monsters you will have to attack in order to pass. The Test will begin when you create a solid bond.”

I placed the headphones around my neck before walking up to Ryker. I stared up at his acid green eyes.

“Vinculum.”

Inhaling softly, I could feel warmth spread across my chest before a tug solidified, a sign the bond was connected and strong. Almost immediately I felt wrong, gross, dirty. My magic didn’t like being connected to his seal. Somehow, I felt like this test was going to end badly.

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“Begin!” Coach Zinke’s voice echoed throughout the gym.

“Don’t mess this up for me, Twinkle.” Ryker sneered as we both started walking across the field towards the forest.

Twinkle was his nickname for me. I assumed it was because my name is related to stars in a way.

The forest was dense as always. Shadows moving and shifting as if there were people or creatures moving all around us. I hate the forest.

“Lycan straight ahead.” Ryker whispered, shifting into combat mode easily.

I followed behind him as he silently made his way behind trees and bushes towards the werewolf who was pacing in a small clearing. It wasn’t unusual to see a lycan, but this one was massive compared to the werewolves used in training class.

“Just continue to give me magic and stay quiet.” Ryker muttered lowly before stepping out into the clearing.

The werewolf immediately set eyes on Ryker and got into a defensive pose. Ryker didn’t hesitate.

“Ignis pila.”

A large ball of fire filled his hands before he threw it towards the lycan. The fireball moved fast, yet the werewolf moved quickly, only the rear leg got singed. The fireball caused the forest to catch fire behind the lycan.

“Fuck. Argentum gladio.” A sharp silver sword grew into Ryker’s hands, perfect weight for his body.

The lycan ran and attacked. It was hard to watch as Ryker and the lycan threw each other around. The cuts in the werewolf were growing as the werewolf became weaker and Ryker was able to land more strikes before plunging the sword deep into the heart of the lycan. The werewolf fell to the side and Ryker stood up, drenched in blood - his own and the werewolf.

“Stop staring, idiot. Let’s go. Abstergo.” The blood disappeared in a second. I could feel my magic barely gone, which is strange. A few spells in and I should have maybe a little more than half of my magic left.

We continued to move through the forest, hearing footsteps and growls, but seeing no human or creature. Soon, light filtered more and more through the trees as we made our way out on the other side of the forest. In front of us was a shocking sight.