A second before the fire sphere exploded in Theo's hand, he looked for a way to get rid of it. Realizing that the resonance between the two elements was collapsing, he created an air current in the path between himself and Jackl and finally threw the fire sphere to the ground.
The flames spread across the ground, spreading the space between the two combatants and creating a veritable flaming barrier.
'It's still a lot of energy for a simple hybrid… Maybe because of the resonance with the wind, but the destructive power of that attack cost me two Velcros…' Jackl pondered, running away from the fire barrier.
The two Velcro straps on his left arm were incinerated.
Beating the coals, Jackl returned to the fight.
'He's three blue Velcros and one red one away from winning…' Looking out at the audience, Jackl noticed the scouts' restlessness. 'You've seen enough, haven't you?'
An examiner's job was to remain in defensive mode until the challenger demonstrated a certain desired level of performance. This way, even if the challenger was already enrolled at another academy, scouts from rival academies could submit scholarship offers.
"So, boy…"
Theo was rising from the smoke of his own attack, coughing up the impurities in the air.
"Can we finish?"
Jackl suddenly appeared in front of Theo, causing the boy to be inconvenienced. That speed of movement was unreal. Reacting quickly, Theo attacked the air with a clean cut.
However, the examiner appeared behind Theo, ready to counterattack on the red Velcro. Noticing the risky move, Theo created a vortex of wind in his right hand and, bending his arm above the elbow, he fired at Jackl.
An explosion from Theo's back sent the boy flying forward, while pushing Jackl backward. Sliding and catching himself on the ground, he turned back toward his examiner.
Jackl had recovered faster…
'Exam over,' Etrbak announced. 'Theo Caesar, please proceed to the exit.'
Paralyzed and trying to understand, Theo looked at the examiner, who had ripped off the Velcro on the boy's chest.
'When did he…' Theo analyzed, trying to understand his opponent's speed.
"It was a good performance," said Jackl, showing his hand ready for a shake. "Look for me when you need to do a reassessment, so we can have a rematch!"
Theo shook Jackl's hand.
"Great! I'm looking forward to it!"
After greeting his examiner, Theo walked to a barred gate. He knew that Jackl offered a rematch to all his challengers, so nothing really surprised him. Except…
'How did he… hit me?' Theo thought as he threw his bracelets into a box nearby.
Removing the other pieces of armor, Theo continued to rethink how that fight escalated.
"Hmm…"
Sitting down on a wooden bench, Theo began to remove the lower part of his armor.
"OK, I understand."
It took him six minutes to understand what had happened.
While Theo was still sliding and worried about how he would stand out in that scenario, in ways to attack and defend himself, Jackl had already acted and ended the fight.
You think too much before you act, son. This will become a headache… It was Ethan's most common phrase during the ten years of training.
Leaning his head against the wall, he sighed as he looked up at the ceiling. Only the boot on his right foot had been removed.
'Although it doesn't really matter now… What matters is that I'll probably do well on the practical test too. If not, my grades on the theory test will be enough to get me into at least one of the best classes in Wispells…'
Returning to take off his armor, Theo only worried about waiting for the results and taking the carriage so he could go directly to the Order of Vagus.
☽✪☾
In an office outside the coliseum, the examiners gathered to review the challengers. Etrbak, sitting at the head table, pulled out the day's files to deliver his verdict on their scores.
"Jason… an assigner from the Wispells Academy… He wasn't great at the theory test, but he was a genius in combat. He almost defeated the examiner…" Etrbak read aloud. "What rank do you give him?"
"Grade one, and more," replied Jamir, the examiner of the assignors.
Etrbak signed Jason's sheet.
"Theo Augustus De Lawrence… I see. He used the surname Caesar to get priority in the queue…"
"Yeah. Augustus is just an alternative surname for the Emperor's collateral family, right? They can use Caesar whenever they want…" Jackl commented.
"Yes. Well; a hybrid, he was already called by the Wispells academy… He did well in both tests, huh…"
"Grade one too," Jackl said, crossing his arms and throwing himself into an armchair.
"In truth…"
Etrbak said and stopped, analyzing Theo's condition. He left a little drama and tension in the atmosphere.
"Emperor Caesar sent a letter indicating the boy as grade two," he informed.
"Ah… Yeah, he deserves it too."
Grade two is a classification that can only be achieved in two ways; by being indicated by a tutor from the academies, and by a head of a noble or royal family.
Being a class that could only be reached by recommendation, the examiners do not mind when this occurs in the first selection.
'Duke Lawrence's son, huh? Am I witnessing the birth of a new calamity?' Etrbak dipped his pen in the tip. 'Of course. Every royal has the perfect genetics for this…'
Finally, he signed at the bottom of the page: Approved. Designation: Grade Two.
☽✪☾
Resting on a bench in the square outside the coliseum, Theo waited for his carriage at the starting point. Other challengers celebrated in groups at specific points, gathered to show off their achievements. While many were saddened at not being approved.
Theo crossed his fingers and rested his arms on his legs, looking at the groups in the distance.
He reflected on his state…
Being alone at that moment was… Depressing. He would have loved for Agnes and Thays to be there, but they had both been approved into the Order of Fulmenbour before him. Agnes had only been approved a few months ago.
'She must have been like that too… Or maybe she managed to socialize?'
Theo's reasoning was broken by the neighing of a horse. Looking down the street, he saw a white carriage stop in front of him.
Automatically, everyone started looking at him. The white carriages could only symbolize one academy; Wispells, the most renowned of them all.
"Hello, Young Master Lawrence. My name is Rikard, one of the administrators of Wispells. I'm here to take you," he introduced himself after getting out of the carriage.
Theo stood up and looked Rikard in the eye. Bowing slightly, he entered the carriage.
It looked like a luxurious place. The burgundy cushions with white and gold accents, creating little vines on the walls that formed the base for the chandelier on the ceiling.
Sitting down on the cushions, Rikard ordered the coachman to continue on his journey.
"Okay…" Rikard said, crossing his legs and looking at Theo. "You have been sent to the north wing of Wispells. I can tell you that you will have to share a room with another student who will be evaluated in this same session…"
"Uh-huh. I don't really care who it is. From Junior to Veteran…" Theo interrupted. "I'm entitled to my adaptation days, right?"
Rikard adjusted his sunglasses on his face and respected Theo's haste.
"Yes… You will have a week to prepare. You will spend a week in the lower classes, before the practical class with Professor Beatrice. Until then, you will only have one day off, where you will be able to leave the academy without a superior…"
'Beatrice? Did she manage to graduate from Wispells' elementary and high school?'
Theo's former teacher had been transferred and recognized in the Order of Vagus only six years ago. Knowing that she would have someone she knew calmed her anxiety.
A smile spread across his face.
"Not to intrude, but… How will you spend your adaptation week?" Rikard asked.
"If I may, I would like to challenge other agents to gain some experience…"
"Won't you want to take advantage of our resources to study?" Rikard frowned.
Arms crossed, Theo looked up at the celestial blue of the sky.
"No…" he replied calmly. "I've already studied too much, and I'm going to study even more in the coming years. I intend to spice things up a bit…"
Theo wanted to finally understand what his father wanted to teach him when he said that only academies could help him evolve. To do so, he threw himself at the mercy of fate…