"Alright let's begin with the first exam", the examiner told them. "For this one, just simply strike the target over there with your magic. This will help us assess your overall basic magic skills. The ones after are more oriented towards your type of element".

One of the examinees walked over near the target. It was the one who told Allen off when he had walked over. Allen saw the examiner and two others watch as he was about to make his move. He looked over at Allen.

"Watch closely peasant. This is the true power behind us distinguished mages!", he shouted before casting his spell.

He extended his hand outwards, summoning a magic circle from his hand. From there, the air magic flowed out of the circle, creating a strong wind of air magic soaring towards the target. It flew very fast, finally hitting the target very hard, making it soar off into the distance.

All of the other air examinees looked at him pleasantly. The examiners all looked in surprise, then writing down his scores. He just stood there with a smirk on his face, before walking away.

"Now let's see how you do, peasant", he walked past Allen with his smirk still on his face.

Well, it was now or later anyways. Allen looked around at the other examinees, all of them smirking at Allen just knowing how bad this will go. And, they were about right. Allen knew exactly how this would go. They probably didn't care they didn't go next since this would be easy for them and seeing someone else fail would be mildly interesting for them. Well, whatever Allen thought. It didn't really matter what they thought. What really matters is getting past this exam and trying his best.

He stepped towards the target, after being set up again after the previous guy made it fly away. Allen prepared himself for this very moment. He knew exactly what was going to happen. Each of the examiners watched him closely, ready to grade him on his performance. He took a deep breath, raising his left hand. He concentrated with all of his might, trying to get out some of his magical power.

Just then, a small gust of wind sprayed out from his hand, heading towards the target. It could barely be seen. Once it touched the target, it just simply dispersed.

For a second, the examiners and the other examinees just sat there, stunned. Then most of the other examinees began to break out in laughter.

"You're kidding? That's all you've got?"

"Are you sure you're even an air mage?"

"This is what you get for being a peasant, don't even act like you're on our level!"

All sorts of different degrading comments came out of their mouths. They laughed like this was the funniest thing they've seen today. A few of the examiners even looked like they were trying to hold back laughter. The examiners then  just simply looked at him with concern, and then hastily wrote down his score. Must've been pretty low, sadly.

"Well, next person then", the main examiner exclaimed.

From then on, Allen and the other examinees performed several different tasks. In each and every one, Allen was sure he failed them. Even the most basic of tasks he most likely failed. Once they reached the end, they reconvened back to the beginning area.

"Well, we are finished with the main part of the exam. Up next is the duel event, the one recently added. All I can really say is most of you did well, and I expect you will get a good starting rank", the main examiner looked at all of the examinees, except Allen of course.

"While we wait for the others to finish, think about who you will duel for the mock duel. My word of advice is to put yourself up against an opponent on or slightly above your level. The better you do the better you'll be graded. Also if you win, there's an added bonus on your performance so far, more points for the stronger opponent you had. Good luck all of you, although most of you may not even need it", he finally finished as he and the other two reconvened, probably to report and record the current scores so far.

Allen had never felt more nervous in his entire life. He knew he did horrible in the tasks. The only thing going for him right now is the mock duel. If he can do well on the mock duel, perhaps they can let him in, even with weak magical powers. After all, he must prove that he is worth being accepted into the school. He looked down at his sword, attached to his hip. A small grin appeared on his face, like he now felt more ready than ever even though he had failed miserably so far.

The sounds of footsteps could be heard as someone approached him. Allen looked up at the person. It was one of the air examinees that was with him. He was one of the only ones who didn't laugh at him or make comments about how he didn't belong here. He put an arm on Allen's shoulder.

"Hey, don't let it bother you, ok? They are just so wrapped up in their own power to care about those weaker than them", he told him.

"Uh yeah thanks", he responded.

The boy had a familiar look about him. Like Allen had seen him or someone like him before, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint where he might've seen him. He seemed to have gray eyes, like the wind. But he wasn't able to get a full good look at him beacuse he had already walked away.

Finally it seemed like the first part of the exam was finished for everyone. His area had finished first since it had the least amount of examinees. Everyone seemed to reconvene towards the center. One of the examiners spoke up again once more.

"Now that we have finished the main part of the exam, we will now begin the dueling part. Please find a suitable partner for your duel. You will be graded on how well you fight against the other and you will score better if you win. Each duel team will be called and then you will duel in the middle of the arena where everyone including the directors will be able to watch. Fight well to make a good first impression. That is all", she announced.

Just right after she told everyone what to do, everyone started making pairs. Some challenging others, friends wanting to fight each other, etc. As Allen looked around for someone to duel, it seemed like everyone already had a dueling partner. Perhaps he could find the boy from earlier and ask him to duel, Allen thought. But before he could find him, someone had approached him.

It was a boy about the same height as Allen. He had blue eyes with blonde hair. His blue eyes seemed to glow almost like water.

"Hey mind if we pair up?", he asked Allen. "I don't exactly have a partner and it looked like you needed one too".

"Yeah sure", Allen responded. "My names Allen Fleming, how about you?", he asked.

The boy reached out his hands and they shook hands.

"Names Charles Rivertide", he responded with a rather interesting look in his eyes. Similar to Thomas', where it seemed like he was waiting for some sort of response.

"Nice to meet you. Let's have a good battle", Allen told him.

The boy was surprised for a second and then continued on like normal.

"Sure, look forward to it", he finally told him before trailing off. Now it was just a matter of when their battle would begin.

Several battles took place before Allen was called up. As Allen watched them, all of them were all exciting to watch. Lots of different ways many people used their magic. Most of the examinees who had a better control and better magical power tended to have some sort of magical circle appear in front of them. The larger the circle, the more powerful they tended to be. It seemed like the circle may indicate someone's magical power level.

Finally, Allen and Charles were called.

"Number 97 and 12, please come forward for your duel", one of the examinees announced. It was time for Allen's duel against Charles.

Allen started to walk towards the middle, being on the right of the directors. Charles walked up to the left. Both were standing there waiting for further instructions. Allen had looked up at the directors to see if he could get a better look at them. One of them stood out the most, the one in the middle. It was a middle aged man with what seemed like dark gray hair. He had a familiar look about him, but before he could exactly tell who he was, someone from the audience spoke up.

"Hey look! It's that weak air mage!", someone called out.

Turned out it was one of the mages from Allen's exam area earlier. The powerful distinguished kids who all looked down on him for having weak magical powers. Now it seemed like they wanted to egg him on.

The audience around started to look confused as he had made that statement. Why would he just speak up like that all of a sudden? That must've been on their minds.

"Yeah, his magic was so weak, he couldn't even do any damage to the target!", another one of them called out.

At this point the audience started to be interested in what they were saying. For the fact that these distinguished kids were calling him out like this must mean something at least.

"Yeah, he barely has any sort of magical power, yet he has the audacity to call himself an air mage!", another one of them cried out.

Allen started to continuesly look around at the audiences reactions. The examiners didn't seem to try to speak up. Perhaps these kids have more weight in their words than he imagined.

At this point the audience looked at Allen, expecting him to say something. Maybe prove them wrong? Or maybe confirm their previous statements? He couldn't tell. But before he could even say anything, Charles looked over at him and asked something.

"Hey, is what they're saying true? That you're an air mage with like no power whatsoever?", he had a sort of interested look on his face, like he knew exactly what was going on and this was planned from the start.

"Well, I uh…", Allen had started to say. He wasn't exactly sure what to say. It was true his magic was weak, but it didn't seem like whatever he said would make a difference.

"Cmon Allen", Charles started to egg on Allen, "I want to see some of your magic. Why don't you try to prove us wrong, huh?".

Allen started to look around again. The audience was more curious than ever. The examiners didn't seem to want to say anything either. They either had concerned looks on their faces or the same type of curiocity as the audience. The directors just simply sat there, waiting to see what would happen. Perhaps they're seeing how Allen would react to such comments?

"Fine, very well", Allen responded with a sigh. He decided to show them.

He lifted his left arm, starting to concentrate as usual. After a few seemingly long seconds of concentrating, he was able to let out his magic. Just like earlier and the other numerous attempts, barely any air magic came out, just visible enough to be seen by the surrounding audience of examinees and examiners.

The audience sat still for a few seconds, and then started roaring in laughter. They started to make comments at Allen.

"How is his magic so weak?"

"Even my weak magic isn't as bad as that."

"Wow, why is he even trying to become a magical knight anyways? Pathetic."

"He calls himself an air mage? Air mages are supposed to be strong!"

"That's what he gets for being a filthy peasant!"

All the comments definitely hurt Allen, but he didn't want it to stop him now. He is going to continue with this duel. He is going to win, and he is going to become a Magical Knight.

"It doesn't how much magic you possess or even how powerful your magic is, I will become a magical knight and I will beat you Charles!", Allen shouted at him.

The audience had heard what he said and began to quiet down. They were ready to see this battle and most of them expecting him to lose. Charles looked over at Allen intensely.

"Alright then, prove it. And when you can't, you can just go home to your parents and tell them how pathetic weakling you are and how you are a disgrace to air magic as a whole!"

"I will prove it and I will beat you", Allen told him.

"Do you even know who I am? I am part of the Rivertide family, one of the three great elemental families gifted with great magic and you still consider to fight me?", he scoffed at him.

The audience again started to laugh at Allen.

"He was challenged by a Rivertide and still accepted? How stupid can he be?"

"He doesn't even know about the elemental familes? He should just go home"

At this point Allen started to grow rather furious. He didn't let this anger control him. Instead, he will release it into his fight, beat Charles, and prove to everyone including himself he can become a magical knight.

Allen looked around once more. It seemed like the examineers were now rather curious how this duel will go, but still did nothing. The directors now even seemed somewhat interested, with the man in the middle looking the most curious.

Finally, one of the examineers stepped forwards.

"Remember, any sort of magical attacks that will do serious harm to your opponent are strictly forbidden. The duel will end when either your opponent gives up, steps out of the boundary zone, or becomes unconcious. Are we ready to begin?", she asked.

"I supppose let's get this over with", Charles responded with his distinguished sort of voice similar to the other "noble like" kids were.

"Absolutely", Allen added, with full strive towards beating his opponent on his mind.

The audience is watching and waiting in anticipation for what will happen when it begins, while the other examiners and directors curious how this will turn out as the examiner walked out of the arena area, and began to observe.

"Very well, begin your duel!".