chapter 12: First bi-weekly test
Two weeks had passed now, he sat at the desk, the last book snapped shut. He moved slowly to the shelf and returned the book. His legs moved towards the front desk. "Thanks." He muttered. She nodded her head and flashed a smile at him. Quinn moved to the mana management class. The hall brewed with talents. His face flushed as soon as he entered. Tremors streamed in the air. The scent of honey and energy filled his nostrils. Sweats dampened his head. Slowly he approached. The class was scanty except few students practicing the mana subversion. He sat at the back, his legs spread underneath the table. He turned at the boy by his side. His hands clenched tightly on the orb before him. Purple energy crackled into the orb,the sound of breaking glass echoed in the class. He groaned once more. "Not again!" Quinn's gaze flickered to his watch, the letter F glistened proudly. Quinn nodded. He glanced at the orb before him, cold and blank. He reached, his fingers gliced through the orb, a smudge of black curled into the orb.
Quinn retracted his fingers instantly. He clenched his palm. The boy by him erupted Into laughter. "You think magic will happen?" He laughed. Quinn's palm tightened. His teeth gritted within. "You have no magic." The boy laughed once more. Only few daring ones followed. Others that knew Quinn's history kept quiet. "Dude! He's the murderer." Someone whispered into his ears. The boy recoiled, his face drained off colour, before he could mouth sorry the door swung open. The teacher sprinted in, sweat creased her forehead.
"Today you will be having a test." She mouthed. The class gasped in shock. Everyone was surprised at the mention of a test. "It's already two weeks meaning that you must have learnt a thing or two. It's time to put it in practice." The teacher smiled. Someone raised an arm. "Does it involve using our talent?" He asked. The teacher, Layla Ferrin nodded. Excitement rippled through the air. "What of those without talent?" Another question popped. The air stilled as all eyes shifted to Quinn and Evan. "Well it's a test for every one." Layla smiled. Deep down she pitied the two. She moved around, placing the orbs before her. "Now you will learn a new skill today." She said and wrote on the board.
Mana shifting. Quinn's mind returned to one of the books he'd read a week ago.
"instead of explaining, I will demonstrate." Layla said. She raised her palm for all to see. Immediately, the atmosphere tensed,chairs rattled under pressure. Sweat creased most students forehead. Quinn's breathing tensed, his breath quaked. The walls began to crack as the students panicked. Quinn's breathing quickened. He wasn't the only one, most were already at the verge of unconsciousness. Suddenly, the atmosphere raised. All pressure vanished as her hands glowed. Quinn's eyes locked at her palm, it shone the brightest white. Mana accumulated at her palm. She proceeded to holding the orb. As she did, white mists flooded the orb, a beam shot out of the orb. Quinn docked instinctively, the beam narrowed his left ear and burned the wall. It faded instantly. Awe struck the entire students.
Layla smiled satisfied at the demonstration. "That is mana shifting. Moving mana into various parts of your body. I used an orb since you are not yet good at focusing mana to your body alone." She explained. They nodded. Layla ushered them all towards the training hall beside her hall. The student chatted happily, knowing they would start using their talents in combat. Quinn exhaled and moved to the door, Evan trailed behind him. "Oh! Quinn and Evan, you two won't be partaking in the class today." Layla insulted. She patted them sarcastically before leaving.
Quinn turned, picked two orbs from the class and made his way out. Evan watched him and did likewise, his steps directed at a lonely training center.
***
The air smelled stale, dusts filtered the air. He pushed the door opened a d walked in. The cracked floor steadied his steps. He finally stood in the center of the hall. He inhaled and cocked his head at the door. "Pfft...Who wanted to partake in the first place?!" He scowled. His fingers trailed the orb. Grey mist filtered into the orb, swirled slowly till it reached the center. Sweat creased at Evan's forehead. His skin charred as mana rushed underneath his skin. He gripped the orb tightly with his two hands. The orb cracked and he slowly let the mana return back to his body. A satisfied smile raised his lips. He dropped the orb and stood. Heat scalded the air. Tremors quaked past his eyes. Evan stood. The warm heat washed over his body and trailed down his arms. His feets sunk Into the ground as a small crater formed.
"Just a little more." He moaned. The environment slightly distorted as the ground tugged at his boots. Webs of golden liquid trailed under his boots. Evan stumbled. Sweats hit the ground in drops. He held his chest panting. His gaze dropped to the ground. It still tugged his boots. He rubbed his eyes slowly, the ground slowly returned to normal. "Woah...I never knew it affected me too." Evan smirked. He inhaled and glanced at his palms.
"Almost there... Maurice."
***
The black swirled inside the orb, no cracks formed. He watched it. The dark mist swam energetically in the orb. The shadow beneath his feets moved, his mind willed it up and it did. He shadows rose higher but stopped when it was at his knee length. He beamed, satisfied at this. He held the orb firmly, directing his shadow to another position. Quinn smiled as the shadow did so, he willed it behind him again and the shadow moved. "Aha! Finally." He clicked his tongue and drew his mana back in. The wash of energy invigorated him. He dropped the orb and zipped his bag. He checked his watch. It was nearly ten in the morning.
"Mana management class must be over by now." Quinn thought as he moved to the library door. He thanked the librarian once more and left. She nodded once more. Quinn moved slowly into the survival hall. Professor Rey wasn't in sight. The pressure he'd gotten accustomed to wasn't forthcoming. He glanced behind him, no sight of the dark frost girl. He nodded and moved inside slowly. He peered at the different books on the shelf. Books on the console's geography. He pulled one and gazed at the cover.
"Guide to topography" He read. He opened the book, he gazed at the words that unravelled before him. The topic wasn't knew to him. Sinking sand was virtually everywhere near a marshy desert, the danger wasn't the sand. But what is underneath. He returned the book.
"Aha! You are early today." Rey's voice jolted him. He snapped immediately facing Rey. "Yeah" he stuttered, sweat now formed in his head. Rey smiled he walked to the other end pulling out different leaves. "Noelle isn't here yet." Rey smirked. Quinn scowled, why was it his business? Wherever she was he wished she didn't even attend the same class with him. His mind zoned into the leaves, he recognised one.
"Callus flower." He reached to touch it but Rey smacked his palm. "Don't touch a callus flower!" He yelled. "Why? you are touching it." Quinn groaned in pain. "Because my palm is covered with mana highly concentrated." Rey shrugged. Quinn noticed the white light his palm beamed. He had heard of the callus flower. "This flower is for causing fake illusions." Professor Rey explained. "Touching one could make you hallucinate. It isn't deadly but the hallucinations have been rumoured to cause mental paralysis." Rey said. Quinn nodded and turned to the opening door. Noelle walked in, her blue hair bounced behind her. Tied in a pony tail. Her gaze was cold. She bowed to professor Rey and stood away from Quinn.
Rey smirked knowing their animosity. "Your first academic tests are coming up, tomorrow. Each class have it's own test which his coupled together to form a rank." Rey said. Quinn nodded, Noelle remained indifferent, her hands crossed at her chest. Rey turned to the both of them. "We've studied for two weeks now, it's time for your first real test." Rey smiled. "But I thought we had one when we first arrived?" Quinn sulked. "I was just testing you." Rey growled. He assumed his normal elderly disposition. "Now listen up, tomorrow. The list of halls will be displayed with everyone's ranking." Rey started. "The ranking you will see is based on the grade you are and your talent." Quinn nodded. He knew small academy hierarchy. He nevertheless expected nothing since he had lied of his talent. Being an F grade was even worse. His eyes turned to Noelle's power watch which displayed proudly on her wrist. E.
She seemed indifferent about the entire testing ceremony. Rey turned to them. "I will give you a sneak in the order of arrangement. You will start from the mana management hall, to the weapons hall, then support hall, then survival before combat." Quinn noted the arrangement. Even though he wasn't in the weapon and support class, he was to take their test. He nodded. His gaze turned to Noelle. She remained Quiet with a smug look. Rey noticed the both of them. "Alright then, today we will have a lesson free day." Rey smiled. Quinn gleamed at the sound of a lesson free day. "Now I can give check out some cool weapons." Quinn smiled. Rey turned to him with a mischievous grin. "After you both study the characteristics of the diamond shell crab." He grinned. Quinn's face contorted into a frown. Noelle flung her hair and moved to the shelf.
"Learn from Noelle, she really has a learning spirit." Rey mocked. Quinn growled and turned to the indi
fferent girl. "I wish." He muttered.