My choice was simple really. I chose all of them. Yes, that is right of all of them. Limiting myself would simply be stupid and this is a good chance to prove myself as an asset to the Empire. And with enough showing of that they will have no choice but to acquiesce to my every demand soon. With the plan slowly forming in my head I felt a slight grin place itself on my face. As for painting a target on my back, that is still a major concern. I have finally found a way to cement myself as an asset of the Empire and from what little I know of them. They always protect their assets. It seems my Magical talents have brought me far more than I could have ever hoped for.
The sagely looking man quickly dismissed us all as I was sent back to the 21st squadron's barracks while the rest of the prospective mages were taken elsewhere probably for accommodation.
Must be the work of the Colonel. He probably wants me to be within arms reach at all times.
Finally arriving back at the barracks I met a familiar face upon my entry. Cadet 1306 Andre min.
Looking at him staring at me was a weird feeling and another thing I seemed to notice with the people of this world is that they all seemed to be a level above those of my old world in terms of appearance. As I stared at the boy in front of me his hazel brown eyes seemed to carry the essence of a deep rooted tree coupled with his short brunette hair currently forming bangs that covered a large part of his forehead served as a sort of picturesque scene that would have captivated a lot of women in his old world.
"Hello Mahald." The boy said with a contagious smile on his face seeing as Istill had some time to kill before Iactually needed to sleep, I decided to engage in some small talk with the boy.
"Hello Andre, it feels like it has been a long time since we first met but it has only been three days." I said, trying to start up the conversation.
"I know. It has been quite hectic these past few days from the Lieutenant's challenge to the presence of that man. Me and the other cadets are trying to get any day by day."
"I see, I didn't see you as a part of the prospective Mage group."
"That? Turns out I do not have the talent for being a Mage, I could have told them that without the machine."
"Haha" Laughing at that poor excuse of a joke seemed to be the right thing to do at the moment.
"We are currently in the process of trying to learn another Art that isn't magic."
"Hope you are successful on that front" I said as I released an awkward sigh. It seems my inability to converse with people carries over to this world too.
After talking to him a bit more about non personal topics, I decided to go to the barracks and call it a night. The conversation with him had honestly been a good refresher as I felt myself forming a sort of bond with the guy.
-{Next Day}-
I was once again on the field with the Gandalf knockoff standing on the podium again. Half of me wanted to see him cast a spell just to see how similar it was to the real thing.
"Welcome back young mages! Today is the day you choose the path you wish to follow as a mage in front of you are the 10 expert's of each field you may want to go into." The white bearded man said as everyone began to separate and spread into the ones they wanted to pursue while some seemed hesitant at first they soon made up their minds and went to the one that best suited their talents and aptitudes.
Meanwhile I stared at the rest of the experts of each school of magic. 8 of them were men and the remaining two women well at least appeared to seem so with the existence of magic who knows what kind of shenanigans people were able to do.
The entire courtyard had been cleared out as all the other cadets had picked their desired school while I just stood there not showing any signs of decision.
As the longer I stood there the longer I garnered more eyes on me and more attention as it finally came to the Gandalf wannabe's attention as he looked at me with intrigue. I swear I saw a smile forming at the corner of his lips as if expecting this.
"The youth over there, are having trouble deciding which school you should go to?" The man I had finally accepted as Gandalf questioned.
"No, I have already made up my mind." I replied back with a smile on my face and it seemed Gandalf also caught onto that as at first his eyes widened in disbelief before he smiled and decided to play dumb.
"Hoh, and what have you decided on?"
Taking an unnecessarily long pause before answering the question as I maintained eye contact with him as he seemed to be on edge waiting for my answer.
"Well I chose all of them!" I said with a dramatic tone while spreading my arms out for more of an effect.
And upon my declaration I heard murmuring not just among the scouts but among the so-called experts too.
"Young one you do know each school of magic comes with its own difficulty, Even I as a Wizard master 4 schools of magic can attest to the difficulty of not just one school of magic but all of them." Genadalf said, seemingly trying to persuade me from picking this option.
When I first came to this empire all I cared about was laying low and keeping my head down especially after finding out the harsh nature of this world where power reigns above all and if what I have gathered from the Emperor or the Empire in general is that they value strength and potential.
And if that's what they value the most I am going to become someone they cannot afford to lose no matter the cost. I will make them wage wars for me, Slay dragons just to possess me I will become so indispensable to this empire the very thought of losing me should shake it to its core.
As I monologue an indescribable smile crept its way onto my face as I struggled to keep my composure.
'Oh Eastern Empire, you are about to be rocked.'
"Gan-....Sir you do not need to worry about that I trust that I would be able to keep up and even excel and all the schools of magic I have chosen to pursue." I said trying to make myself sound as convincing as possible I needed this chance to prove my worth while there are definitely safer ways they would be too time consuming requiring years maybe decades to show any real gain. I will climb up the ladder using magic and my brains.
My entire plan hinged on the choice he would make at this moment whether to allow me to participate in all of them or to reject my offer. I hoped he would lean my way.
"It has been years since we had a cadet so brazen as to declare something like this, Especially a new recruit such as yourself. You have a year. One year to show me make at least the same progress other cadets are making in their chosen schools or else." As he finished that statement a bit of lightning crackled from his hand and from his staff. An action which I took as a threat but part of me felt relieved that he had leaned towards this. But now I had a deadline and a time bomb in my head for 1 year to make enough progress to prove I can truly learn all the schools at once. Part of me held doubt and thought I was overestimating my capabilities while another part of me took up the challenge hoping to prove the gandalf wannabe wrong.
"Yessir I understand."
"I will have to talk to the other masters of the schools on how it will work, But other than that you are dismissed. For those who have chosen their desired school you will be told by your head the assigned meeting place. May you all grow to become fine mages."
Soon the once crowded meeting place was now empty leaving only the Ten head's of the various schools and the white bearded wizard.
"You really think he can do it Arian, That is virtually impossible. There has been only one person who has managed to learn all the schools of magic and that is none other than Emperor Rudra. Do you really think that boy is on the same level as he is?" Said a raven haired woman with a look of skepticism on her face as she crossed her arms against her chest which seemed to accentuate her provocative figure.
"Diane I have said no such thing, That is why I gave the 1 year deadline I believe he won't be able to do it and according to the legends Emperor Rudra did it before hitting age 24, Do you really believe such an absurd thing could be once again replicated." replied Arian with a laidback tone.
"That is true the youth doesn't look to be a day past 18 it is blasphemous to even imply that a random boy is comparable to the Emperor." Said a purple haired man with a smirk on his face.
"While it is true that talent comparable to Emperor Rudra may never once again appear, that doesn't mean we should put down other talents that appear. Who knows? He may have something to offer too. Let us not punish him if he fails to meet the 1 year deadline that is simply impossible even for one that has practiced magic for the majority of their lifetime and from his uncontrolled magicules it is clear he has not come into contact with even the most basic forms of magic." replied a woman with blonde hair that went way past her shoulders nearly reaching the lower portions of her back.
"I do not care for some fool who does not value his life. We have had people like him show up before making outrageous claims about being some sort of Magical talent and they were all liars. And we dispose of them when this one eventually fails we will dispose of him like all the others." said a man with a gruff voice as he looked around before eventually leaving.
And following his actions the others then proceed to make their exits too soon after a minute it was only Arian the Wizard a man who had mastered 3 schools of magic. He stood there silently and sagely and he stroked his white beard and grinned.
'Hoh.How interesting? That boy, Aloin, told me to watch after him and that bastard Vorth was recently complaining about two youths who seemed to display talent and power way beyond their ages. I can sense that boy will be a Harbinger of Change. How long has it been since I have been this invested in a person, especially one who has not even blossomed yet. I wonder what kind of winds he will bring to the Empire.'
Meanwhile within the mind of a daring youth who had just declared his attempt to accomplish an impossible feat.
"Wait, how will it even work? I can't split myself into 9 copies and attend all of the other schools at once. How exactly will I accomplish it then? Arghhh. Damn Gandalf he set me up!! Just wait until I get a hold of you. I will rip your beard out of your face." Lamented the youth as he imagined the smiling old sage mocking him with his little smirk.
A/N: My bad everyone I made a mistake I uploaded a chapter I had already uploaded earlier a commenter brought it to my attention thanks to the person who commented and made me aware of my error. This is a new chapter the one I meant to put out I would have fixed it sooner but I usually just upload in the mornings and kind of forget about it till the next chapter upload. It wont happen again thanks for your understanding