Chapter 4: License

I would like to say that I was a good and diligent student. But in the first few days, with Miko's books at home, I literally passed out from stomach pain. It was only when Miko herself came over and literally hammered the knowledge into my head that I remembered how I had made it through school - with anxiety and tears.

The topics for the license exam are anything but complicated. It's actually mindless memorization, which makes it worse for me personally. Even Miko's absolutely cute notes don't really make it any better.

In the end, Eliza also joined in and wrote me a study sheet. It took a few weeks, but the day came when I felt ready, and we officially signed me up for the exam.

◆

"There's a free parking space."

"The car won't fit in there."

"You're just scared because it's so narrow."

"Miko... why don't you just drive yourself?"

"I don't have a driver's license."

"And that's why you should shut up."

During those agonizing weeks of learning, Miko was a real asshole. Yes, she tried to let her sweet side hang out from time to time and be nice to me, but her true self increasingly came to light.

I understand that she felt an inevitable frustration. After all, I had no idea about the world of magic. But all the studying put aside and back to the present, she has absolutely no idea about driving! So, I'm a teeny tiny bit annoyed with the way she keeps babbling at me all the time!

"Sorry..." but I still can't just bitch at her like that.

"Don't apologize, you're right."

"Please keep letting me know if you see a parking lot, I'm a little distracted."

"Are you afraid of the exam?"

"Not afraid, but I'm definitely nervous."

"Relax, the theory is easy, and you have your healing magic for the practical part."

"Easier said than done."

"Do you want a reward if you pass?"

Huh? A reward? My brain immediately starts suggesting all sorts of things.

"Can you please look at the road?"

"Sorry, uh, how about we eat something yummy? I would love some crêpes."

"Yummy?" she suppresses a laugh. "All right, let's do that."

◆

"Are you accompanying me?"

"If I have to."

"Yes, please," we had to walk about ten minutes from our secured parking space before we arrived in front of the ministry building where I take my exams today.

The pompous stone building makes quite an impression. It's not as if it doesn't fit in with the rest of the city, but it does have a certain aura, but that may be my excitement after all. The old-fashioned architecture continues inside the building, but the furnishings add a certain modern flair to everything.

A woman in a glass box, probably the receptionist, sits to the right of the entrance. But instead of approaching her, Miko heads purposefully for a few display walls with lists hanging on them.

"Your name."

"Huh?"

"It's written on here. We need to go to room 2/13."

There are still around twenty minutes until the theory test begins. But even if we go there now, we certainly won't be the first.

"The stairs are back there," Miko nods in their direction.

"You're coming with me, right?"

She groans, annoyed, "Sure."

When we arrive on the second floor, we meet several groups waiting outside the many doors. As we walk past them, we earn a few skeptical glances. I'm not sure whether it's because of Miko or me.

Eliza already warned me that I might stand out a little. Mainly because the average age of mages getting their license is between 12 and 15, and I might be a little out of the norm at 20 years old.

Miko and I stand against the wall next to the door when she briefly brushes my shoulder. I avert my eyes, not wanting her to see that I'm blushing a little just because she bumped into me.

"If this isn't our problem, child," says a friendly-sounding voice coming from a guy who is approaching from the opposite direction to where we came from.

"You haven't lost your license, have you?"

"Of course not. I'm here with her," Miko puts her head aside to point at me.

"Well then, since you're here. Do you want to help us with the practical tests for the rank promotions? We need someone to knock people off their high horses."

"No thanks. We'll get out of here as soon as she's done with the exam."

"Wow, I didn't expect you to let such an opportunity slip through your fingers."

"Or do you want to increase your rank? Punching you sounds pretty tempting.."

"You don't want to beat up an old man, do you?"

Judging by his appearance, he's not older than 40 but rather a little younger. But compared to Miko and me, he's definitely on the elderly side.

While the two of them continue their banter, I look around at the other participants. Eleven other people are standing in front of the room. I estimate there are a little over one hundred people in the entire corridor. I have no idea how many of them will get their license in the end. I don't know if it's particularly busy today or not, but you can take the theory test once a month. However, if I assume that all of them pass, there are only about a thousand new mages on the market every year.

There is no official mortality rate for mages. Still, Lilith has assured me that our country will have too few mages to fight the dungeons effectively in the next ten years if things stay the same. I don't want to know how many simply resign or actually die in battle. Lilith and Miko have reassured me that I don't need to worry too much, but even in other professions with a certain level of risk, you should keep in mind what might happen to you.

"Well then, let's get started," says the man who spoke to Miko. Walks past me and opens the door in front of us, making all the participants follow him. Apart from Miko, a handful of other people remain outside.

"Good luck, I'll see you later," Miko raises her hand and waves me goodbye.

In front of me, I see something that looks far too much like a classroom. The several rows of single desks give me an unpleasant feeling of nostalgia. The participants quickly occupy all the tables. I let the younger ones go first and end up in the front row.

"Nice that you have all found your way here. I know that not many of you are interested in theory. Don't forget some guilds will pay very close attention to your scores. The time frame for the exam is one hour. No talking, no questions. When you have finished, turn over your papers and leave them on the table. By leaving your seat, your test is over, and you cannot return to it."

After a brief explanation, the papers are handed out. As Miko had previously told me, it is a pure multiple-choice test. I grab the pen that was already on the table and start going through the questions.

About twenty minutes later, I turn over the test and leave my seat. I am the fourth person to finish. Outside the door, I spot Miko scrolling on her phone. Her gaze turns away from the display for a second.

"How was it?"

"Good, I guess."

"Fine, shall we see if there's a free place for the practical exam?"

"Yup."

Unlike the theoretical part, there is no fixed time for the practical one. There's a gym a few minutes walk from here where test stations are set up throughout the day.

Once outside, I finally have to address it. "Problem child, huh? How do you know this guy?"

"He used to be something like my advisor at the ministry. If you pass, he'll be yours too. And I may have caused a few problems and had to visit him more often than I intended to."

"Do you want to talk about it? Or should I stop asking?"

"It's okay, but where do I start? I got my license when I was thirteen. Normally, witches at that age are slowly trained. Despite my A-rank, he recommended that I join a guild that clears C-rank dungeons. I did so, but my guild leader immediately put me in a very high position. I was suddenly in charge of a group of experienced, mostly adult mages and witches. Needless to say, I lacked any sensitivity in leading. So, I was often called to the ministry because of complaints from my colleagues and guilds we worked with."

"Woah, so how did you end up with Lilith?"

"That's actually something I don't want to talk about."

"All right," I respect that, but I'm burning with curiosity.

"You're going in there alone now."

"Why? Afraid of meeting another old acquaintance?"

"None of your business."

That is answer enough for me.

"Well, I'll see you later. You wait here?"

"Where else should I wait?"

I wave to Miko and step through the double glass doors into the large building right next to a college. A young man with an ID card around his neck stops me before I get out of the entrance area.