1278 AC
Jonburg, capital of Corrysboug kingdom
*Pitter-patter*
A heavy rain was sweeping through the busy capital of Corrysboug today. Normally, young kids rarely go out in this weather unless out of emergency.
However today was no ordinary day. Young boys and girls around the age of 10 to 15 were standing in a long line waiting to get into the castle gate today. The heavy rain can't dismiss their determination to get into the castle.
Inside this castle was going on a test to select mage apprentice. They all wished to be selected and don't miss this once in a life opportunity.
Among them was Raen, 14 years old , dark hair , ordinary white teenager with haggard looks with torn clothes. He looked malnutritious and was shaking in cold. But his eyes were focused on the castle in front of him.
Raen was not from this world. Since he was a very little he would always dream of a strange world . There were no magic or any kingdom. He was an ordinary men who works at an artificial intelligence development farm there.
When he was around 7 years old he finally remembered that he was a transmigrator. His hazy memories of his past life was clear from then on. Also there was a surprise too.
He had a system! But it was not great . It can store data and help analyze. That's it. Nothing like issuing mission or anything super strong. Although Raen was disappointed but he knew it's better than nothing.
He was a bastard son of a baron in mountainous castor region of this kingdom. His mother was a concubine who died when he was 4 years old by getting beaten to death for a false accusation of the baron's legal wife.
Since that incident, he was kicked out of the manor and was assigned by his cruel stepmother to work on a stable. Even then she and her son's would bully him everytime they had the mood. Of course the baron would say nothing even if they make fun of him in front of him. In this world, your birth determine ordinary people's fate.
When he was 7 years old, he was kicked in his head by the barons youngest son who intentionally used his horse to kick his head.
Thanks to that kick, he regained his past life memories and also discovered his not so unique system. Although he was unconscious for 3 days but it was worth it.
He decided to keep a low profile and wait to grow up to plan his future. However it all changed when he heard a gossip of 2 maids. They were talking about barons eldest son kagor Domar.
Raen was not interested in hearing their gossip and was about to go elsewhere but he paused when he heard the word,'aptitude'. He tried to listen but failed. But his heart was beating violently. He felt something that he thought he would not think about until he is mature enough. Hope.
The maids at first didn't wanted to talk about it when he tried to get the information about it but when he bribed them some money they revealed it. News came from the capital that a mage is heading towards Corrysboug kingdom to select apprentice! Only those who have magic aptitude will be selected to study magic ! Baron Johen Domar had high hopes for his eldest son but was disappointed. Kagor fell in love with a merchant's wife and didn't wanted to leave. That's why the maids were giggling about the Baron Johens eldest son.
Raen didn't care about kagors love interest, he tried to get more information about this selection but they said they don't know but kagor will leave for the capital next month.
Raen then stole a horse from the stable next night and started his journey towards the capital. In his way, he faced a lot of troubles. He lost the horse to the bandit's just 1 week later. Was whipped 10 times for fare dodging in a caravan and worked his way to the capital. Because of his small size he did small chores and was given only 2 meals a day.
It took him 7 months to reach the capital from his birthplace. Another 9 month he worked on a small tavern stable to earn some money to survive in the capital while he waited for the mage's arrival. The taverns owner took advantage of his horse raising experience but didn't paid him enough. He still didn't received 2 months salary yet.
While he was reminiscing his life experience till now he noticed that he was close to reaching the grand castle's gate. His shaking eased a little by the sudden realization.
He's been waiting in this line since yesterday night. A lot of kids already standing there before him. Of course those who has status and money didn't need to stay to this line.
He heard that the test was already going on for 2 days now. For these days the nobels and rich people's kids participate in the test it is just today for ' common folks '. He looked back to see how far the line is now. Unsurprisingly he can't see the end of this line. Instead people are rushing the rain with their children's to get in the lines.
There were a lot of soldiers surrounding the square. Thanks to them no one causing any trouble of cutting the line's. From time to time some knights are also seen patrolling on their horseback.
Soon, he entered inside the castle. Inside it was beautifully decorated with dazzling ornaments and intrinsic arts. A maid with disdainful face gave him a towel to wipe his clothes. After he just wiped his clothes a few times she took it away and throw it to the kid behind.
Raen didn't took it to his heart and watched ahead.
Raen's PoV:
'Hey system, what do you think? Can I pass ? Imagine our future if we can pass today's test!'
Rael smiled and talked to the system in his mind
[ Master , the success rate is said to be very rare. It is esteemated that 1 in a 100,000 has chance of mage path if their ancestors are not mage's ]
Raen shook his head and smirked. He said ij his mind, 'I know but your master is not simple, right ? Tell me, how many in 1 in whatever can transmigrate !'
[ No data about transmigration, master, so i can't give any opinions about it. Please read relevant books to enrich my database. ]
Raen shook his head with a sigh. ' others come with such godlike system but mines just a stupid chatting bot. Well at least it can store data and analyze. But at least I have something useful.'
He saw 3 people are seated ahead in a desk. They are covered in dark cloaks with a sinister aura . Right side cloaked figure was a women around 30 years old . She had amber hair and dark eyes. But her face was covered with a white mask. She was holding a tennis ball seized orb and was examining it.
A kid around 10 was stiffly waiting for the cloaked woman to finish observing his fate.
The woman's dark eyes were releasing a faint glow while she was focusing on the orb. Soon she shook her head and shouted, "next".
The kid started to cry and asked to examine again but was dragged away by a knight.
"What's with this orb ?" Raen mused.
Now it was Raens turn. Reached in front of the women and knelt. She didn't seemed particularly interested and said," hold this orb and try to focus inside it."
She gave me the orb and started to sip something from a goblet Infront of her.
It was surprisingly hot to touch! I tried to look inside but it seemed like a calm ocean vortex! The more I tried to look inside the vortex the more shadowy mist are there. Before I can look more deeper I heard her say, " okay give it to me."
Her sound was like a hammer that shattered the illusion I was entangled unknowingly. Once I get back to my senses I saw the women was already examining the orb. At first she seemed to be uninterested but soon I can see a spark in those dark eyes. Although she had no face exposed for any emotional expression but her eyes betrayed her thought's.
Real was still staring at her expectantly. 'Will I pass?' , he screamed internally. For over a year he was waiting for this moment.
" Good, water proficiency are highest. Shadow and dark proficiency are also not low."
If there were no mages , I would've started dancing on spot. Like a heavy weight falling from my heart , I was crying unknowingly.
The dark cloak figure in the middle seemed to be awakening from a short nap after the women spoke. Unlike the woman, the middle seated figure was taller and had face full of strange tattoos.
" Finally after 5 hour we got a decent candidate! Come here boya and sit in front of me." The tattoo guy said sarcastically.
I sat in front of the tattoo guy. He seems like a talkative guy and very approachable but I still didn't get cocky and bowed . He opened a book and showed me a strange picture.
The picture was very very weird. One moment it was a scenario of beautiful grassland where elves are seen walking around and next moment strange huge monster's are slaughtering them. Before I can see what happens next I came back to my senses.
I saw the tattoo guy closed the book. He smiled and said, " you watched the picture for full 10 seconds! You have great mental aptitude. Usually kids with normal mental aptitude feints around 5-8 second. Wondering why I closed it even though you were comfortable?"
I gulped my non existent saliva and shook my head.
"Vezen, stop talking nonsense! Send him to me !" The cloaked figure in the left got irritated and loudly spoke.
Vezen( tattoo guy ) didn't mind him and continued to stare at me ," I am from Axun academy. Here is the token. If you join Axun, use it to contact me. My mentor would definitely treat you well."
Vezen gave me a ring . A strange symbol was written on it. I didn't dare to linger any longer and moved to the left and last cloak figure.
This cloak men was completely in cloak with no way to see his face . He said, "My name is Mnygun Azimov. I am from Schalas academy. A third rank apprentice. What's your name boy?"
"Raen, my lord. I am from castor region of this kingdom."
" Raen ? No surname? Well forgot it. The fact that you're sitting here means you have good proficiency and mental aptitude. Now's the final test. It's called Magic aptitude test. Passing 2 out of 3 test is enough to qualify to join mage academy so a early congratulations.
Now drop some blood of yours in this paper. It's a magic aptitude test paper. Grade 1 is lowest and 5 is highest. It determines how much mana you can hold inside of you."
A maid gave him a needle respectfully. He careful cut his index finger and dropped his blood there. Soon the paper started to glow in white hue and a symbol was lit after that.
Raen saw a disappointed face in Mnyguns face . Earlier friendly tone was now gone,"Grade 3 only. Chances of becoming an official mage is very low! Anyway congratulations. We will start to leave next week.
But I didn't heed to it. With a system there's nothing impossible! I didn't dared to talk to the system during this whole testing time. Who knows if they can read mind !
A maid respectful bowed before me and careful said, " Milord, we have orders to help those selected individual to stay in Rose manor till the departure. Please allow me to lead you there."
I nodded but I scratched my head and said ,"Can I eat something? I am hungry. Also I can't go with these clothes."
"Of course milord."