The three passed the Science department to buy some snacks on their way to the military department. The Science building had several food dispensers located in front of their main building, and Dorin bought a lot of snacks from each. His satchel was near bursting when they finally went on their way to the shooting ranges.

“How come we don’t have food dispensers in our dorms?” Dorin asked, popping some candy inside his mouth.

[Magic students kept messing around with it, the food inside always disappear in the morning] wrote Sebastian with a wafer stick hanging out of his mouth.

“Really, you two, hurry up and finish your snacks,” Margarette said with a frown, “eating is prohibited in most areas in the Military department, particularly in the training fields.”

[Roger] Sebastian gulped his wafer. Dorin placed the rest of the candy in his mouth and chewed vigorously.

“We’ll be passing the Sky Gate.” Margarette pointed at a gatehouse with 2 guards standing in front.

The grounds of the Military Division were surrounded by a short wall with a gatehouse at particular locations. The nearest one was the North-East gatehouse called the Sky gate. “You can leave your things in the lockers here, Dorin,” instructed Margarette. “Sebastian, leave your coat. You’ll be in trouble if an officer finds out what your pockets contain,” she added vaguely.

Dorin surrendered his bag and was given a silver key card with a number on it. Sebastian was reluctant, but finally handed his coat over after carefully folding it. He watched suspiciously as the guard placed it inside the small locker and handed him the key.

“So, where are the shooting ranges?” asked Dorin after they left the gatehouse.

“Just past those barracks.” She faced the two, frowning. “Now, I want you to keep your mouth shut!” she said. “It’s not as strict since regular classes have not resumed yet. I’ll be telling the Drill Officer that you are interested in joining the Military division for the coming school year,” she explained, “hopefully they will let you observe the class.”

“Okay,” Dorin grined at Margarette, “thank you very much! I really appreciate this, Margarette!”

“Think nothing of it,” replied the girl beside him, “and while you’re at it, please also consider joining the Military Division,” she said, eyes burning. “Our country can always use powerful mages such as yourselves to further lead our Empire into the bright future it rightfully deserves! And what better way than to join the military in its campaign to protect people and country from - “

[Are we there yet?] Sebastian held the slate in front of Margarette.

“From...” Margarette, losing her momentum, glares at Sebastian and tries to grab the slate which was immediately snatched away by the silent boy.

“I hear some explosions...” Dorin said, “is that what you meant by black powder?”

“It’s just behind that building.” Margarette pointed out.

They went past a barn-like structure and saw a couple of student cadets in training under the afternoon sun. The cadets held long metal rods while kneeling behind bales of straw. Smoke rose from the tip of their weapons with every explosion, which sends small metal slugs to a target at the end of the field. The targets were propped against mounds of dirt, a hundred yards away from the firing area.

“So, this is a shooting range...” Dorin whispered low, the sound of the rifles drowning his voice. “It looks a lot like an archery range...”

“You two stay here, I’ll ask the Drill Sergeant if we can look around.”

Margarette approached a senior-looking officer at the side of the ranks and saluted to him. They talked for a while, looked at the direction of the two mages, and approached them.

“I am Drill Sergeant Robinson,” the senior officer said, facing the two, “1st Lieutenant Margarette Gunnar here informs me that you two mages are interested in joining a marksmanship drill?”

“Yes sir!” Dorin replied sharply. “If you would allow it, sir.”

Sebastian simply nodded at the officer.

“Do you have something to say, boy?” Drill Sergeant Robinson says to the silent Sebastian.

“This is Sebastian Revius, sir, he has been unable to speak following a childhood trauma,” explained Margarette. Dorin looked at Sebastian, surprised.

“Is that so? Then a salute will do,” said the drill sergeant, to which the two replied with a smart salute.

“If possible sir, could they look around while these cadets practice with their rifles?” Margarette suggested.

“I have something better in mind,” replied Drill Sergeant Robinson. He looked closely at the two mages. “What say you try using elemental rifles to gauge your ability for magical combat. It just so happened that we have one available.” He signaled to a young man by the barn door and called him by name. “Monroe, borrow an elemental rifle from inside and bring it here.”

Margarette looked at her two companions who stood in attention while the cadet went inside the barn.

“You seem pretty used to this?” she asked Dorin, but the officer arrived before the other could answer.

“Your rifle, sir.” Monroe handed a long silver rifle to the drill Sergeant. There were intricate runes carved on its black wooden barrel, trailing to the tip of its metal muzzle.

“First lieutenant Gunnar, have you any experience in using elemental firearms?” he asked Margarette.

“No sir,” replied the lieutenant, “I am a Sword Master, Rapier Class, part of the non-magic corps.”

“I myself have very little aptitude for magic,” said the drill sergeant, “but that doesn’t matter with this weapon here.”

He led the small group to one of the bales of hay and gripped the pistol.

“This particular rifle is an older model, it makes use of elemental bullets that the marksman mage can fill with their elemental magic.”

The drillmaster took a silver bullet from a box in his pocket and placed it inside the rifle before cocking it. He then aimed at the target at the end of the field and concentrated. The carvings along the rifle’s body slowly glowed red. When the whole length was aglow, Drill Sergeant Robinson pulled the trigger and released a red beam of light that hit the target which burst into flames.

“Woah!” Dorin said in amazement, “That was quite a reaction coming from such a small amount of magic!”

Upon hearing this, Drill Sergeant Robinson looked at Dorin, an eyebrow raised.

Without noticing the sergeant’s reaction, Dorin went close and examined the rifle.

“I see...” he mused, “this instrument is capable of turning even small amounts of magic into a formidable weapon by compressing it into an enchanted case made of metal...”

“Yes, that is the whole idea of elemental weapons,” Drill Sergeant Robinson said flatly, an irritated frown on his face.

“Sir, may I have a turn, please?” Dorin asked, remembering his manners.

“You, mute boy, you go first,” Drill Sergeant Robinson called Sebastian.

“Call my magic ‘small’ huh? Little brat,” he thought, snubbing Dorin.

Sebastian stepped forward as the officer handed him the rifle and showed him how to hold it properly. He aimed at the target which was freshly replaced by some cadets in the field. The body and the barrel glowed blue and gave a soft humming sound.

“Relax boy, let it flow...” said Drill Sergeant Robinson. He helped Sebastian steady the heavy rifle with a hand. “Now, squeeze the trigger.”

Sebastian pulled the trigger. There was a flash of blue light as a faint trail led to the target that quickly froze and shattered to a million pieces. Even Sebastian himself looked surprised.

“Magnificent!” Gasped Margarette “I’ve seen high-ranked mages use that same level of magic in Military Exhibitions!” she exclaimed.

“Can I have my turn now, Sir?” Dorin asked, looking so excited that he couldn’t help but shift from one foot to another.”

“I don’t think we have any bullets left,” the drill sergeant said flatly. Dorin looked like a crestfallen little puppy.

Drill Sergeant Robinson sighed. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out another bullet from the box. “I guess there’s one more left.”

Drill Sergeant Robinson took the rifle from Sebastian, loaded the bullet, and secretly switched on a clasp at the bottom of the barrel.

“With the safety on, there’s no way he can use that rifle,“ he thought to himself, snickering. “Here you go, boy.”

He handed the rifle to Dorin with a smirk.

“Sir, thank you, sir!” said Dorin as he eagerly took the rifle from the drill sergeant.

Dorin raised the rifle, aligned the scope to his target, aimed, and tried to fill the barrel with his magic.

Nothing happened.

He tried again, concentrating his magic, but the rifle wouldn’t even glow.

Dorin frowned and looked down at the rifle in his hands.

‘Why isn’t it working?’ He thought to himself.

Beside him, the drill sergeant had a smug look in his face. Sebastian, on the other hand, stepped back, as he felt Dorin’s power collect around the rifle. He was about to stop Dorin when he felt the magic swell!

Dorin decided to apply his own knowledge on the riffle out of frustration.

‘The magic is channeled through the riffle, accumulates inside the bullet, and is then sent flying out of the muzzle!’

Dorin forced the bullet out.

Sebastian was suddenly by his side, grabbing hold of the rifle’s barrel.

All at once, the barrel exploded, sending a sonic boom around Dorin and flooding the shooting area with blinding light. A trail of black energy left the muzzle, narrowly missing the target that disintegrated upon its passage and embedded itself on the mound of earth in a spiral motion, leaving a smoldering crater upon its wake!

“Sebastian!” Cried Dorin as his friend dropped to the ground, clutching his arm.