Neither Ellie nor Arix were very good at meditating. Not that Kal minded. He wasn’t sure if ten-year-olds running around with magic was a great idea anyway.

By the end of their sixth year in school, they were heading into senior classes—which was essentially high school—and graduated into lead classmates, a term used for senior classmates.

Standing on the main street of Ebenshire, the kids waited for their principal to address them.

Stumbling up to the podium, Principal Dore fumbled with his glasses and cleared his throat. “Welcome, lead classmates of year 433,” he said. “Prepare yourselves because your final five years of schooling won’t just get harder, but you’ll be expected to show what makes you special. With that being said, many students find that this is the time in which they blossom into themselves because we allow you to adventure beyond and try new things. School isn’t just about memorizing facts. It’s about figuring out where you belong in our society's grand puzzle. To help you achieve this, we provide many extracurricular activities and clubs for you to join. All students will be expected to choose two clubs or activities to participate in and, by their second year, have developed a plan for the future. Before you graduate, you should be well aware of where you plan to go, whether that be gaining a valuable apprenticeship, getting to work, or moving onto higher education.”

Like I’m sticking around here for another five years.

Kal had pushed through primary education, and his pact with Daedrik had been fulfilled. He was finally able to use magic publicly. This meant that he had every intention of applying when examinations for the magic academies rolled around again.

The mage examinations only happened once every four years across Lyssia. There was no strict minimum age to participate, only a maximum age of nineteen. Unfortunately, Kal wouldn’t have the chance to become one of the youngest mages ever to join at age eleven since they had just held examinations last year. However, he knew that this might be for the best. Taking the exam and passing it so young would have made him a household name across all of Lyssia and probably even the expected heir to the Archmage. He didn’t need that noise right now.

 

“Aww, why do they have to make it sound like that,” Arix groaned.

“Not feeling confident about your future?” Ellie teased.

Neither of them had awoken their cores, but Ellie had, in recent months, begun to attune herself to her mana.

Ellie’s considerable mana potential made it much easier for her than Arix. It made the hum and pressure produced by her core stronger and easier to attune to.

“No,” Arix gritted his teeth and shook his head. “I never said that. I’ll show you. I’ll be the best mage out of us all.”

Poor kid. He’ll be lucky to awaken his core at all.

“Haha, yeah, right,” Ellie chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye. “You, the best?”

“I will be. I promise.”

“Have you two decided on the clubs you plan on joining yet?” Kal said, ignoring their little spat.

“Think so,” Ellie said, tapping her chin. “Caligraphy seems like it would be a good fit for a mage. Maybe I can even catch up to your glyph binding if I–”

“Shhh,” Kal hissed. “Secret, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, but I thought—”

“Not yet. And besides, I will still keep most of what I can do to myself.”

And unfortunately, with you two nosy kids.

“Fencing,” Arix boomed proudly. “So I can become a great warrior mage that saves people.”

“Right, I was thinking the same,” Kal said.

“Wait, you’re both joining the fencing club?” Ellie exclaimed. “No way I’m being left out.”

“Hey, you’re copying us!”

“It’s fine,” Kal groaned, tired of their bickering. “We can all do fencing together.”

“And what about our second club?” Ellie asked. “You want to do calligraphy with me, Kal?”

“Hey, what about me?” Arix said.

“What about you?”

“No,” Kal interrupted. “I think I’ll do orienteering.”

“Orienteering?” Ellie turned to Kal with a confused expression.

“Yeah. Demon hunting is an essential part of the world of magic and can greatly help ascending ranks. Being able to reliably navigate the wilderness while on a hunt seems like a vitally important skill.”

“Yeah,” Ellie nodded, though her blank expression said she hadn’t followed his train of thought.

“Alright, I guess we’re all doing orienteering.”

“Who’s copying now?” Ellie swung around to glare at Arix.

“Hey, wait, Kal!” Arix called out as Kal walked toward the school where the clubs had set up temporary student recruitment stalls. “Wait for us!”

 

The school was two main three-story buildings separated by a courtyard of perfectly kept green grass, bordered by stone walls of the same dark green brick as the main buildings.

The club stalls made a maze of the school’s courtyard, and dozens of people were already walking about as they entered.

Stalls advertised their services on wooden signs, including baking, tailoring, cartography, calligraphy, treasure hunting, fencing, boxing, origami, and dozens more.

After a short peruse, Kal stopped by the fencing stall.

“Thinking of taking up the sword?” A squeaky-voiced kid with a broad smile beside the stall said.

“Yeah,” Kal said, eyeing the swords on display without turning to look at the kid.

“Well, it’s your lucky day,” the boy said, shooting a hand toward Kal. “The name’s Zander. And I’m somewhat of a hotshot within fencing circles.”

Kal turned with a raised brow as he saw the grinning, lanky boy. Zander stood a good foot or so taller than him, his head of tightly packed, blonde curls and unnaturally white teeth.

“Oh, hey,” Kal said, ignoring the hand an inch from his chest. “So, you’re the one who runs the lessons?”

“Yes,” Zander hissed through gritted teeth as his brow twitched. “I am, kid. I’m only the three-time underage regional champion. Nothing to go get yourself excited over.”

“Oh, that’s cool. I suppose.”

“Hey Kal,” Ellie waved as she and Arix rushed over. “So, this is where you got to.”

“Swords,” Arixs’ eyes widened. “Soooo cool!”

“Get in line, kids,” Zander growled. “I can only register you one at a time.”

“What crawled up his…”

“Dunno,” Kal shrugged and stepped toward the sign-up forms. “These are the forms for us?”

“What does it look like, kid? Don’t tell me I’m going to have to hold your hand every step of the way.”

A little full of himself, isn’t he? I’m guessing he’s only two or three years older than us.

“I’ll be fine,” Kal said, filling out the form.

“So, what are you two looking at?” Zander snapped at Ellie and Arix. “Gonna fill a form or what?”

“B-but–you said.”

“Did I stutter?” Zander interrupted. “Fill the forms already, or I won’t let you join.”

“Yes, sir!” Arix barked and jumped toward the forms.

“Suck up,” Ellie mumbled her breath and rolled her eyes.

“Three brats, great,” Zander growled as they finished filling the club joining forms. “Well, if you listen to my instructions, you might not turn out to be completely hopeless.”

“Can I join?” Squeaked another kid from behind Zander, causing the boy to jump.

“Hey, don’t sneak up on me,” Zander huffed, his cheeks flushing red.

“I sign here?” The kid said, fluttering long lashes as he took one of the forms.
“You do, but stop interrupting me!”

“Okay, are we done here?” Kal asked.

“What?” Zander swung around. “Do none of you kids know how to respect your seniors?

“Hey, fencing is like sword fighting, right? Like what adventurers do,” another kid interrupted as he walked up to the stall.

“Yeah, like pirates!” A kid beside him said.

“Pirates? Really? That’s sooooo cool! I always wanted to be a pirate.”

Cupping his ears, Zander yelled, “Just sign the freaking forms if you want to join! And we’re not learning to be pirates.”

“No pirates? Lame.”

“Yeah, let’s find another club to join.”

The kid’s totally having a meltdown—poor guy. This must be his first time taking on an instructor role.

 

A dozen kids signed up for fencing, and Zander went through the forms when they were done. “Arix?” He remarked, reading from the forms. “Odd name.”

“It’s from Caleden. My family moved here when I was a baby.”

“Really? That’s like, really far away, isn’t it?” Zander said.

“It is,” Arix nodded.

Why did I never ask Arix about where he’s from? I’m pretty sure I read about Caleden. It’s a different kingdom, with a large population of cyclopeans from memory. You’re an idiot, Kal. That’s a good source of knowledge you’ve completely missed.

Kal cursed himself internally. He had been stuck with these two kids glued to him for years and hadn’t even bothered to learn the basics about them. It was arrogant hubris. Even if Arix didn’t remember himself, his parent no doubt remembered plenty about Caleden, and he could likely draw out interesting data from him. Who knows what other interesting tidbits of knowledge his two little friends might have?

“Cool, cool, whatever,” Zander said. “I’m gonna let your transgressions slide today because you’re all dumb kids still learning. However, I’m gonna be expecting a lot more respect when you come for classes, understood?”

“You’re a kid, too,” Ellie said.

“I’m a teenager, you little brat. Furthermore, I will be your master if you want to learn fencing.”

“Master,” Ellie repeated sarcastically.

“Hey, little kid,” Zander pointed. “You’d be lucky to get a master like me. I’m brave, glorious, and dashing. Not to mention the best fencer under seventeen in this corner of the kingdom.”

He had better be good at fencing if I’m going to put up with this.

“Nuh-uh, you’re big, lanky and stinky.”

“Who you are calling stinky, little girl,” Zander gritted his teeth and inched forward.

“You’re not just stinky; you’re a big, curly mop-head!”

“Are you making fun of my hair?” Zander’s nostrils flared. “This glorious mane is a sign of Silvershield lineage. Do you even know what that means?”

“Nope,” Ellie said.

“Why you,” Zander balled a fist. “I’m a Silvershield. My family are known across the Kingdom of Lynnis as the greatest paladins and are by far the most prestigious family residing in this little town.”

“More famous than the Jakari?” Ellie crooked her head.

“Who are the Jakari?” Zander shook.

“Kal’s family,” Ellie pointed. “They’re mages.”

“Jakari?” Zander echoed to himself with a raised brow. “I've heard that name. Wait, this pipsqueak is the son of that mage adept who lives in Ebenshire?”

Kal nodded.

“Yeah, that’s Kal’s dad.”

“Kal Jakari? A pleasure to meet you,” Zander said, grabbing Kal’s right hand with both hands and shaking.

“Didn’t you read his form where he signed his name?” Arix questioned.

“Shut up, kid.”

“It’s fine,” Kal pulled his hand free. “I’m just looking forward to learning how to fence.

“Yeah, cool. Not a problem,” Zander straightened. “You sure came to the right place for that. If you're lucky, I might even show you some secret Silvershield techniques. You know what? We should stick together, Kal. We’re pure breeds, unlike this riffraff.”

 

Kal and Arix waved their goodbyes while Ellie rolled her eyes. The trio turned away and made for the orienteering stand.

There was far less excitement surrounding the orienteering stand, which had a few maps and compasses sprawled across a table and a nerdy-looking kid with large glasses standing beside it.

“Hey there! Do I see you steering toward the grand game of orienteering? Is that a passion for cross-country dashing, I see? A thrill for striking a rhythm while partaking in an adventurous hike to the top of a prism?”

My goodness, I hate this kid already.

“We want to do orienteering. Where do we sign up,” Kal said, fighting back animosity for the rhyming bobbled head who grinned back at him.

“Ahhh, a curious kid looking to expand his studious stunts? A boy on a mission for admission. A bub looking for entry into a welcoming club.”

“Just point me toward the forms,” Kal gritted his teeth as Arix and Ellie caught up. The flashy stands had constantly diverted their attention, causing them to stop and stare.

“Orienteering? Are you sure about this, Kal?” Ellie asked, trying to pull her eyes away from the tailoring stand—where beautiful gowns were displayed on mannequins.

“If the paper is what you favor. Take a quill and get ready to fill, and don’t forget to sign on the dotted line.”

“Wait, on second thoughts, I think I’m going to do tailoring,” Ellie said, backing away from the stand. “It’s not like we all need to be good at reading maps, right?”

“Yeah,” Arix scratched at the back of his head. “I didn’t know there was an archery club.”

“Where are you going?” Kal turned.

“I know we’re all trying to become mages, but archery could still be useful, you know?” Arix said, backing away.

No, no, no, don’t leave me alone with this kid.

“Hey there, buddy,” the kid behind the stand said, rounding it to wrap an arm around Kal’s shoulder. “It’s a little nutty, but it looks like we’ll be up to study. Orienteering together, just you and me, persevering forever. My name’s Liam. Now, please, put me in frame. What does thee claim to go by via name?”

“Kal Jakari,” he groaned.