"Markus, the grandest mage in the land watches over his land one day,
he shall deliver onto us salvation and victory.
He shall be the greatest of us,
the wisest,
the bravest."
...
Markus was shoved down against his desk, his face already bruised from earlier violence, held down now by a boy of the same age, Alexis Kremnos. Markus remained quiet as the boy laughed haughtily with his friends without paying mind to the boy they were abusing. Markus continued to try and focus on the day, to focus on his notes and the layout of the academy.
Kremnos Cadet school, an academy for young adults to thrust them towards greatness. It was "a miracle" that Markus managed to enter it from a commoner family, to this place with the founder's descendant as his bullying classmate - rather unfortunate to say the least. All Markus could possibly do was wait until he could put his studies to use, to show he was not like others and that he would be what he dreamed of being, unlike Alexis.
The time of coronation did come, as the school year came to a close in the slowly smoldering heat of spring breeze. The academy was in the heart of the continent with wast forests and towering lonely mountains in every direction. Such a place was ideal for people to gather and innovate within, a place where buildings could tower above hills and the streets gleamed with shine. In those streets a ceremony was to be held in-front of all who wished to witness the graduating students and what they could do as every year there was at least one showcase of skill and power among the students - a year-end challenge for the selected representative of the student body.
Despite all the talk of merit, Markus knew Alexis was to be chosen before all the rest as he was the legacy student of the academy. His speech was haughty and prideful, full of cliche talking points and outdated mindsets. Then Alexis did it, he called out for anyone to challenge him - of course he then began to quickly back away his comment in a show of shallow pride of his own skill.
"I challenge you, Alexis Kremnos!" Markus' arm jutted out, he was never as confident as he was now and yet never before as scared.
"C'mon, go back before you hurt yourself", Alexis tried to laugh off the challenge, slowly turning his gaze to the principal in search of reciprocation - he found none as Markus continued to walk up the stairs through the crowd of students. "Fine, you want to prove something, let's do it!"
The two graduates stood atop the stage, their challenge being aired before the principal flicked his wrist for Alexis and Markus to be sent into the air. There, high above the crowd yet not falling, they stood upside-down on an ethereal stage. Markus took slow breaths and Alexis quivered, shocked at the scale of magic being used on him. Markus, looking over at the bully with cold eyes "don't tell me this is enough to scare you?"
"Of course not."
"Good, then let's begin..."
A flash of light shined 'atop' them as lenses for the crowd to observe them formed into the air, clearly magical in nature. The principal looked up at the two students, "Alexis Kremnos, challenged by Markus, are you ready?"
Alexis shook in his place, his jaw unable to stop trembling, feeling as if his stomach would convulse if he spoke. Finally, he gathered what little resolve he had. "Yes, I'm ready... let's begin", Alexis whipped up his hand. "Burn to ash - Ha O Rob!"
Markus waved his arm, watching white flames trickling out from Alexis' hand began to form a bolt of fire. From the fluttering fingertips, Markus prepared to summon a plain of stark black glass that shot forward and ate away the bolt that had barely managed to fire off. "End of charge - Egratch O Nu." There was no anger in Markus' voice as he then lifted his other hand. "Begin of charge - Egratch O Nieb." Just as the flames had disappeared, they reappeared out from countless dark mirrors around Alexis, though at a diminished value. The boy guarded from the flames, screaming out in pathetic wails as the two students then slowly dropped down towards the ground.
Seeing solid ground, Alexis ran to the principal, "uncle" Alexis shouted. His hands clung to the clothes of the stern man, "he tried to kill me! That damned commoner tried to kill me!"
"No", the principal responded with no hint of empathy, only looking curiously over at Markus. "That young man did nothing of the sorts, unlike you. He showed restraint, something you are lacking among many things." The man then let Alexis be taken away by personal goons while approaching Markus. "You have showed great resolve in the face of adversity, let us now move forward towards your proper place."
Markus could only watch as he was guided by the stern man and over to the podium where Alexis had stood just moments before. His voice boomed over the air, "Markus, this young man, has showed great resolve and promise in the art of spellcasting! As such, I have decided to give him the once-in-a-decade sponsor for the Royal Academy of Mages, in the hopes that he will one day surpass all his teachers!"
...
The celeberation following the announcement was tremendous, though Markus could only find himself recessing over to the corners and away from the cheering students - they were more concerned for their own graduation, giving Markus small congratulations despite many of them allowing Alexis' bullying to occur. Markus, ever devout to his loving parents, rushed over to their graves with his uncle and aunt. Though it had only been a few years since their loss, Markus had felt what must have been nearly a decade go by. He placed flowers next to them, the next day his remaining family helped him take his small possessions from his home and onto a carriage directed to the distant Royal Academy of Mages that sat atop Mount Atlas in the far south-east.
It was a towering... tower, stretching through the mountains as if it was greater than them still. He would spend the next few years in that place, studying and honing his skills before entering the world again as a young adult.
The legend of Markus the King of Mages would begin as his skin that had not touched sunlight for years, finally returned to the capital. His hair was wild and unkempt, but his eyes shined like rubies. He greeted a now nearly unfamiliar face as Queen and prince of the empire greeted him, Markus met eyes once more with Alexis - who had not recognized the young mage, while the young mage had more than just a few words of pleasantries for the man who had not done anything to earn such a position.