Chapter 9: Chapter 9: The Test

Grandmaster Zhou Tai walked into the testing room that was merely a giant circular room with small observation pavilions on the second floor of the chamber. The room had been used since the foundation of the academy to focus the magical energies of the world and concentrate on them like a sauna. He could feel the almost heavy quality to the air like a hot humid day.

 

Looking down on the parchment that was stained with tea marks and slight worn edges from the long travels that was made he examined the list of names of the children Captain Takeda had given him from his latest excursion.

 

The good captain was clearly dedicated to finding his golden goose egg. Zhou Tai thought to himself.

 

Sighing by the amount of children brought, it had already been a long day of assessments and he didn’t want it to continue into the night. We will just have to weed them out quickly then he chuckled inwardly.

 

“Alright! I will call you up by tens and you will attempt to do as we tell you. If you pass a glowing light will be shined down on you and you will proceed to the doors on the right if you do not go to the left and meet back with Captain Takeda. Is that understood?” Grandmaster Zhou said sternly as he looked at the large group of children before him. Even if there were a lot of them he sincerely loved the anticipation of finding gems in the rough.

 

“Yes sir!” they all cried out at once. He called the first group whup which consisted of the oldest of the children that could be admitted into the academy. Ten to eight year olds were a stretch to start so late, but some talents could still rise out of them. The sooner one could indoctrinate and mold their daily lives the more loyal and frankly potential they had. It was particularly important to emphasize the Imperial pantheon of deities since this was the capital city academy it was essential to create good citizens particularly those who had the potential of becoming extremely powerful and influential.

 

“Alright I want each of you to put your hands out like you're holding a ball between them” he paused waiting for them to follow his direction before continuing. “Now. Focus all your will and energy on forming a ball between your hands” it was the all too familiar moment where the confusion sprouted upon the numerous students as they looked around trying to see if the others understood what to do, meanwhile others were sweating profusely trying to do as they were told.

 

Being intentional obtuse was part of the test. If these students couldn’t grasp an instinctual concept of magical Ki that infiltrated all aspects of the world without an in depth lecture, they wouldn’t have the natural affinity for cultivating magic in the first place and even if they received a blessing from a deity it would at best passively benefit them throughout their life.

 

Grandmaster Zhou looked down at them, frowning. Not one could even do the first part of the test properly, he sighed, taking in the usual disappointment. “None of you passed, please exit. Guards! Call the next ten in please” a mix of dismay and relief passed through the ten children.

 

The test was simply really only focusing on three things initially. First, they could conceptualize something that wasn’t visible and in a way intangible to the average person. The second, was if they understood the idea of letting their spiritual energy flow thru their bodies naturally, and the final test was to see if they could actually conjure some of the spiritual energy before them…that was the true test ultimately, because simply having the ability to manifest the Ki around and in you didn’t mean it was enough to gain entrance into this prestigious academy. They needed to be exceptional.

 

A person who could use a low level of magic would excel with a mixture of training in the martial way and could supplement the weaknesses, but low level Ki users rarely were blessed by deities and if they were they would be very minor gods or goddesses who wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny next to the Imperial pantheon.

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The Imperial pantheon was the primary gods that were commonly worshiped or recognized throughout the Sato empire. Though there were untold numbers of deities many did not have a single follower or were patrons of a single clan or family. The imperial pantheon consisted of about one hundred and fifty major deities and thousands of minor deities if not more that were not well known.

 

Grandmaster Zhou sighed as the second group didn’t reveal any talents “next!”

 

…

 

After a bit of time and consistent disappointment the final and often the most promising group arrived the youngest children. While a few in the third group had some talent it was not enough to actually be granted admission. What determined how naturally they could conjure the ball of light was how luminous it was and so far the two that could conjure were barely enough to see in the dark let alone read anything a small candle flame gave off more light.

Grandmaster Zhou’s eyes skimmed over the last batch of children, eventually his eyes fell heavily on the last young girl who stood quietly furthest to the right. There was a brief moment of shock that left his face as fast as it came to outside observers; it would have looked like he raised his bushy eyebrow to get a better look, but inward he was truly surprised. Those eyes. That was all he could think of as looked at them. Truly haunting; he had never seen such piercing blue eyes in his life. Though blue eyes were considered cursed the academy had never allowed someone with off colored eyes to enter the academy. This would be most interesting, he thought with a hint of excitement.

 

He explained what to do as he did with all the children. “Proceed” he commanded, keeping his eyes on the girl without letting it appear obvious.

The girl held out her hands, her arms at her side came to a ninety degree angle and her hands held out in front of her as if she were delicately holding a fragile ball in her hands. Grandmaster Zhou nodded inwardly she had perfectly conceptualized that she was holding a ball something that wouldn’t take much effort in real life there ought not be any muscle strain not at all like any of the other children “good” he muttered to himself a smile grew on his face concealed by his beard. As the spiritual energy in the room began to flow he could sense some of it being absorbed and used by the blue eyed girl. It was a modest amount of Ki, nothing to go shouting down the streets over, but he could sense hers was slightly different in feeling. The light that formed was enough to put a candle to shame which was exactly the type of child they looked for in the academy.

 

We finally got one today. He thought slightly relieved even if the talent wasn’t extraordinary; it was good that they caught her at a young age. Talent was only one part of a series of equations. Hard work would matter all the more.

 

“Good!” he cried out “everyone, but the young blue eyed girl may leave.” he turned his head directing his attention to Rize “Young one you are going the opposite way. I will be there in a moment along with some of the other elders…be mindful when speaking to them understood?”

 

Grandmaster Zhou turned to leave a smile on his face. It was so nice to have something unique come through the entrance exam this month. He wanted to see what the so-called cursed eyed folk were capable of.

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