Chapter 65 – The First Day of Tests – Part 2
**Second Test: Physical**
The group left the knowledge hall with discreet smiles and holding hands, the air still heavy with the scent of magical ink and burnt parchment. Lysithea stopped at the entrance to the outer courtyard, hugging each child before letting them go: "Go out there and show who you are. I'll stay here cheering for you — a mother doesn't take the test, but her heart stays with you." She sat down in the stands reserved for companions, alongside other parents and guardians, her violet eyes shining with pride and a slight tightness in her chest.
The outer courtyard was packed: hundreds of candidates gathered around running tracks, floating obstacles, enchanted weights that changed size, and simulated combat rings protected by invisible barriers. The sun beat down hard, reflecting off the evaluators' training armor and the candidates' temporary uniforms — some sweating from anxiety, others stretching their muscles, voices mixing in nervous whispers.
The evaluator in charge was Gorr, a tall and muscular orc with scars crossing his face like maps of ancient battles, his deep voice echoing like low thunder: "No magical powers in this test. Only body, strength, speed, and endurance. Show what you've got. Whoever falls… tries again next year."
The tracks were brutal: a 400-meter obstacle course (stone walls, hanging ropes, enchanted mud pits that sucked people in), lifting magical weights (from 50 to 500 kg), simulated fights against enchanted dummies that fought back, and a final endurance test — standing under increasing magical pressure for 5 minutes.
Ordinary candidates went first. A skinny human named Kael tripped into the enchanted mud and was sucked in up to his chest, screaming as he tried to get out — he failed and walked away limping, eyes full of frustration. An agile elf named Elowen climbed the wall with ease, but fell from the rope and twisted her ankle — she passed the physical test, but with a low score. A young orc named Borak lifted 300 kg with effort, grunting loudly, but collapsed during the endurance test, panting — eliminated. A wolf beastkin named Jax ran fast on the track, mane swaying, but grew tired during the fight against the dummies and took hits until he fell — he passed by a narrow margin. A green-scaled dragonewt named Lira swam in the test tank with impressive speed, but failed at lifting weights, her scaly body trembling — eliminated. Some passed with difficulty, others left with their heads down, muttering "I'll try again next year."
Then it was the turn of the eight children.
Joker and Harley went together. Joker ran without apparent hurry, dodging obstacles with fluid and almost lazy movements, as if his body already knew where to step before he even thought about it. Harley jumped over walls with acrobatic leaps, laughing loudly as she kicked training balls back toward the evaluators. During the weight lifting, Joker picked up 200 kg with one hand, smiling crookedly: "Light." Harley lifted 250 kg with both arms, spinning the weight like it was a toy: "Want more?" During the endurance test, the two remained still under increasing pressure, laughing quietly while the other candidates collapsed around them.
Sylvara and Lirien showed elven agility: precise jumps, perfect balance, climbing ropes as if they were tree branches. Rina ran faster than any beastkin on the track, her tail swaying like a whip. Kuroe endured the magical pressure without blinking, runes pulsing slowly on her back. Astrid lifted 500 kg with a grunt, laughing: "This is nothing!" Marina swam in the test tank (without using vapor) with the speed of a fish, finishing first among all aquatic candidates.
Gorr stood there with his mouth open, his deep voice trembling slightly: "Ordinary children don't do this… you're… different. Very different." He wrote everything down on his parchment, muttering: "This is going to cause a stir in the director's office. You pass. Next test: magical."
The group gathered in the corner of the courtyard, holding hands, wide smiles on their faces. Lysithea ran up to them, giving them a quick group hug. Elara joined in, whispering: "You were incredible." Mirella: "Perfect discipline." Graciela: "Now let's celebrate with real food!"
The day ended with the sun setting, painting the academy in shades of pink and gold. The family returned to the dormitory, exhausted but laughing. Lysithea looked at each of them: "Second part done. The circus is warming up." Joker whispered to Harley: "There's more tomorrow." Harley smiled: "And we're going to steal the show."
What would come next? No one knew exactly.
But everyone could feel it: the stage was being prepared.
(continues…)