Chapter 17 The Muscle Brain

Evernya stopped just inside the gym to take in her surroundings. She found the testees organized into five lines of around a hundred based on the color of their wristband. Hung at the end of each line was a large screen displaying both the results of each test and a camera view of the testing orbs placed on podiums lifted into view by a stage. Bleachers packed with spectators lined the left and right side of the gym. After a moment of searching, she spotted Meira and an unknown middle-aged man fitting Meira’s description in the bleachers on the right.

Scared to draw attention to herself standing on her own, she hurried to take her place at the end of the red line on the far left side of the gym. A few seconds later, Alex entered the gym, giving Evernya an encouraging smile before taking his place at the end of the green line three lines over.

A few minutes later, a tall and muscular teenage boy tried to jump ahead of Evernya in line. Evernya refused to budge while she watched the screens displaying results. “How dare you, a filthy animal, be ahead of me in line!” Barked the tall and muscular boy.

Like before, the commotion drew attention toward Evernya. The teenagers nearby hurled insults at Evernya worse than before.

“What is a beast doing in a mage’s only area? Doesn’t she know she’s not welcome here?” Commented a short and fat brown-haired teenage boy in the line next to her. Nods of agreement from those nearby backed up his statement.

The tall and muscular boy tried to push Evernya away to take her place in line only for Evernya’s mana cocoon to spring to life. The tall and muscular boy bounced off the shield, falling on his ass, causing some nearby teenagers to snicker. Fueled by embarrassment, he became enraged, causing a fireball to form in his hand. As he wound up to throw it at Evernya, security arrived. One of the security officers extinguished the feeble fireball with water magic as the other one, a graying muscular middle-aged man, questioned the parties involved.

“What’s going on here? Don’t dare lie. If you do, we’ll have no choice but to fail you from the mage’s test.” The muscular middle-aged man boomed, wearing a dark blue shirt labeled security in bold white lettering.

Before Evernya could open her mouth to speak, the muscular teenager went on a tirade. “This filthy animal snuck into the mage’s test! When I tried to take my place in line, the animal blocked me. She then assaulted me! I want this filthy animal thrown out! She doesn’t belong here. This test is for humans only!”

The security guy turned his attention to Evernya before inquiring politely, “What is your side, miss?”

While trying her best to keep her anger bottled up, Evernya explained in a calm, even voice, “I was waiting in line for my turn when this guy rudely tried to take my spot in line. When he tried to push me out of the way physically, I defend myself.”

After a glance at Evernya’s glowing red wristband, the security guy returned his attention to the muscular teen. The security guy questioned the muscular teen in a tone, implying he didn’t think highly of him. “Did you even bother to check if she had a wristband?”

While sneering at Evernya, the teenage boy responded in a disrespectful tone, “Why would I? Everyone knows animals can’t be mages if she has one, it’s obviously fake.”

The security guy turned his attention to Evernya before he ordered in a polite tone, “Miss, please show us your wristband.”

Evernya lifted her right arm, presenting her activated red wristband encircling her wrist, causing murmurs to run through the nearby teenagers.

The security guy surveyed the nearby teens with disdain as he spoke in a loud voice. “See how the wristband is glowing, that means it’s activated. If she snuck in here without passing the first stage, her wristband wouldn’t be glowing. So, as unusual as it sounds, she is qualified to be here. I’ve never heard of a shifter being a mage before, but the wristband doesn’t lie. Why would she sneak in here just to put up with your abuse?”

The security guy paused for a moment before chastising the surrounding teenagers. “I won’t bother asking any of you what happened, as it is clear none of you will be honest with me. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Everyone is here for the same thing. Even if she had snuck in, it doesn’t matter.”

After his speech, the security guy returned his attention to the fuming, muscular teen. “Now, what do you have to say for yourself, boy?”

Either blind or too stupid to see the shift, the muscular teenager spouted, “An animal can’t be a mage. Her wristband must be fake. All I did was try to take my rightful place in line, but she assaulted me!”

The security guy released a disappointed sigh before speaking. “Truthfully, we both knew what happened the second we arrived. The young lady was standing in line, shielding herself while you were about to throw fire at her. Without knowing any other details, it was obvious she was defending herself. We gave you a chance to redeem yourself, but you failed to do so. You forfeit your right to complete this mage’s test.” The middle-aged security guy announced to the muscular teenager as he pressed the screen on his watch, deactivating the teenage boy’s wristband.

Upon finding his wristband was no longer glowing, the teenage boy flew into a rage. He tried desperately to attack Evernya, blaming her as the source of his predicament. “It’s all your fault! If you knew your place, none of this would’ve happened!” screamed the tall and muscular teenage boy as he wound up to throw another fireball at Evernya.

Before he could throw the fireball, security jumped into action. The middle-aged security guy used earth magic to throw sand into the teenage boy’s face, blinding him. Before he could recover, the other security guy was behind the teenage boy, locking his wrists in mana suppression shackles. Even restrained, the teenage boy refused to give in as he continued to yell and struggle while security dragged him away.

After security dragged the teenage boy away, the area around Evernya became quiet. No one wanted to risk failing the mage’s test. The silence finally allowed Evernya some peace from all the insults. I really hope I don’t have to deal with idiots like him everywhere I go. I can’t blame everyone who insulted me. They are just following herd mentality egged on by a few instigators, but the instigators like him could die for all I care.

While trying to smother her anger, Evernya focused her attention on the results screens. Interesting, the first orb displays the testee’s magic class while the second orb measures their mana grade. I wonder why they can’t combine the tests in one? Maybe they want to prolong it for the audience. At least I don’t have to wait in line between the two tests, as it appears test-takers take them back to back.

After watching the results for a half-hour, Evernya reflected, Meira was right about the most common magic types. So far, three-quarters of the results have been wizard or sorcerer of fire, air, water, or earth. I’ve only seen a dozen enchanters or healers, but there are still a ton of us waiting for the test. Multiple magic classes seem to be much rarer, with only two so far. One lucky guy is an earth and fire sorcerer, while a girl is a water sorceress and enchantress. Nothing so far that is similar to what I can do besides an air sorceress, but Meira said I’m not an air sorceress. Speaking of sorcerer, the teens seem to prefer sorcerer over wizard. One girl even did a happy dance after finding out she was an air sorcerer. On the flip side, most wizards seem almost disappointed. Sure, wizard isn’t as flashy as controlling the elements at will, but wizards seem quite versatile. Wizards are scarily overpowered if what Meira says is true about the near countless spells they can learn. I suppose I can understand though, as I would much rather have a lighting bolt at my fingertips than have to remember a ton of spells.

The average starting mana grade appears to be around Awakened grade 3. The highest I’ve seen so far is 4.72 from an arrogant-looking teenage boy with lightning sorcery class. He gave off the vibe of an entitled brat, but from the reaction of the crowd, he seems to have a right to think highly of himself. I’m still clueless about what they consider rare and powerful in this world. For all, I know lightning is the most powerful element, though he isn’t the only one with lightning just by far the most powerful. Lightning seems significantly rarer than the other elements shown so far. With the same drop-off as wizard and sorcerer to enchanter and healer. Thought Evernya as a sudden silence descended upon the gym, drawing Evernya’s attention to the purple line on the far right.

With an impassive expression, an elegant girl with long raven black hair similar to Evernya’s and pale skin glided past the line, skipping everyone on her way to the appraisal orb. The swooshes of the girl’s extravagant blood-red dress and clacking of her heels resonated through the deathly silent gym. The examiner scrambled out of the way as the girl placed her delicate, ashen hand on the appraisal orb.

‘Magic Class-2T Psion.’

She glided to the mana grade appraisal orb without pause, ignoring the sharp intake of breath from the spectators and testees alike. As before, the tester made way for her, terrified to be in her presence. After a ten-second delay, the result displayed on the screen.

‘Mana grade–Awakened stage 6.32.’

The girl continued without so much as a glance at the results. Or anyone, for that matter. On her way out of the gym, she raised her left arm above her head, blasting her glowing purple wristband to pieces before resuming her journey. Upon reaching the door opposite the entrance, she pushed it open with her magic, allowing her to glide through.

The gym remained silent for several minutes after the girl left before testing resumed. Even after testing continued, the noise level in the gym appeared subdued, as if scared to utter a word.

Evernya trained her curious ears on the whispers relayed. “Why would a noble attend the public mage’s test? Everyone knows they take theirs privately the moment they awaken.” Whispered a teen boy, five people ahead of her.

“To show off their superiority to us regular people.” Replied another teen boy near him.

“How can we compete with those kinds of results?” Whispered a teen girl hopelessly directly behind the first boy.

“It wouldn’t matter if she is talented or not. With her family backing, she would be stronger than any of us, even if she awakened at grade one.” Commented a girl behind the hopeless girl.

Over the next two hours, the atmosphere in the gym gradually returned to normal, with no other surprises. As Evernya’s turn approached, she noticed Alex walking toward the Green line’s appraisal orbs.

‘Magic type–Water sorcerer.’

‘Mana grade–Awakened stage 4.64.’

He is talented second highest so far if you exclude the noble girl. I’m not sure how elemental magic works, but if he can create water, that would be handy in the desert. I wonder how water created by magic tastes? Would it be better than MEL? I need to find out if the Internet exists here. I miss having a smartphone to look up random shit. Thought Evernya, drooling at the thought of water created by mana.

Now that Evernya was closer, she could observe what happened after the test. After they take the mana grade test, the testees sat on a separate set of bleachers from the spectators directly behind the testing stations, waiting for the result takers to call their number. After the result takers recorded their results, the result takers removed the tested’s wristband and ushered them toward another set of doors.

Ten minutes later, it was Evernya’s turn to take the test. Evernya ignored the sudden silence spreading throughout the gym as the spectators and testees noticed her presence as she strutted toward the stage, tail raised high. Upon arriving at the first orb, Evernya presented her activated wristband to the middle-aged man in charge of her line’s orb.

The middle-aged man paused for a moment, visually shocked to see a shifter, but as a professional, he immediately recovered. “Welcome to the second stage of the mage’s test, the magic class test. To take this test, press your wristbanded hand firmly on the appraisal orb. For the most accurate readings, you must push your mana into the appraisal orb until it turns green. Once green, your results will display on the screen above you.” Instructed the middle-aged examiner politely.

One could hear a pin drop as Evernya placed her hand on the orb. Thirty seconds later, the orb turned green. Eager to find out about her magic class, she immediately stared up at the screen.