Madris was a prosperous city just like the rest of the country, sure they were going through a turbulent time with the war, but that would sort itself out. With a population of over 120,00 the city of Madrid had an average magic proficiency of tier 1, much better than the average proficiency of most countries and cities; them being tier 0. The reason? The mage academy, known as Stonewall Academy. The general level of education and the type of crowd the academy drew influenced the city. The most predideouse academy anware, mostly known for 140 years ago training the currently most powerful mage ever.

The storm mage.

He had been a prodigy, learning and creating high tiered magic long before his peers. He had been the inventor of the [Greater Thunder] spell. His first demonstration had blasted the academy's wall to rubble and temporarily deferred most of the audience. Mere minutes later it was officially classed as a tier 5 Spell. This was produced from a boy no more than 14.

This was what Broke wanted for himself, the fame and power. He was talented, enough to become a 4th or even 5th Tier mage if he trained hard, yet he was no prodigy. He applied his desire and will to magic and brought good results. He had at his entry into the mage school been able to cast 3rd Tier magic. He was what was called a talented individual. Everyone could cast magic, but only some of the population were ever good at it. For an uneducated peasant the chance of becoming powerful was basically zero.

For one to be powerful at magic they had to have the will to succeed was his opinion and he had proved it. Now he was going to the next stage of his education.

He was in the final testing stage to be accepted into the Stonewall academy. A mage battle.

Broke stood opposite a fellow applicant, about 45 feet separated them. Broke had a rather imposing figure, long dark hair, well past shoulder length surrounded a dark bronzed skin and lively blue eyes. He was nearly six feet at the age of 16 and he exercised regularly as part of his training regime. He was standing with a braced stance and his hands kept ready by his sides.

His opponent, a youth of the same age with platinum blonde hair and a pale face, stood nervously opposite him. They had both achieved similar rankings, Broke had been rated B+ for his control B+ For output and an A- for his capacity. His opponent was rated the same except for he had a flat A in capacity. The blonde mage may have had more mana, but the difference in their skill may not be the same. They both stood in a sand area 50 feet across inside a solidly built arena.

They each were shielded by a powerful mage with the skin tight all purpose shield, it was a T6 spell and would protect each other from anything either of the boys could throw at each other. The first boy to be hit with what was deemed a debilitating force on their backup shield would be deemed the loser.

The judges were looking for a display of versatility and power that would allow them to be admitted to the academy, you could still lose and be admitted, but winning would help. They were watching from the viewing wall somewhere hidden behind an illusion so as not to distract the participants.

Broke waited for the starting signal, his black battle robe flapping gently in the wind. His opponents' identical robes doing the same.

There was a flash of light and the duel began.

Broke reached for his mana and flooded what he estimated to be 70 units into the air surrounding him. He willed it to form a hard slippery surface that would stop offensive spells. It formed around him as a transparent shimmer with a slight blue glow. To make the spell firmer in his mind and therefore reality he spoke the chant.

“[Harden - Force Shield]” His voice was low and quiet as to not give away the spell to his opponent. Broke watched his opponents lips move but could not tell what spell he was casting.

There was a flash as heat and fire erupted from the blonde mages hand blasting towards Broke. He trusted his shield spell to keep him safe from this level of heat, but still decided to dodge. He leapt to the right and avoided the main blast of fire.

The fact that his foe cast an offensive spell right off the bat meant he didn't have shield up at the moment ‘Probably’.

Broke reached for his mana and pulled 20 units from his Nexus, he raised his hand and willed a blade of force to manifest in his hand. He then shot the thin mana blade forward, propelling it towards the figure of his target.

He saw a flaming globe of fire manifest around the blond mage and consume his spell before it could strike him. The flame shield was not meant to block force attacks, how it had managed it Broke had no idea. He felt a collection of mana being manipulated some distance to his right and then a more powerful bolt of fire blasted from his opponent in Brokes general direction. He deftly avoided what was obviously a distraction and decided to aso prepare a large spell.

Evidently his opponent specialised in fire magic while Broke specialised in force magic. They both had strengths and weaknesses. Borke willed a forth a hundred and fifty units, this was a significant portion of his 1000 starting capacity, give or take a bit.

He grasped some sand from the floor and pulled it into a spike that hovered over his shoulder and began to compact the material to create a dense sharp spear. He then began to rotate the spell and infuse it with magic reinforcing the strength and preparing to fire the spell forth. For this he would use a powerful chant. With his will and voice he desired the spike to fly straight and true, to tear asunder his target.

The blonde mage finished his spell at the same time Broke did and they both screamed their chants.

“[Summon Greater Firestorm]!!!”

“[Penetrating Earth Spear]!!!”

Their voices were strained and tense for the clash of magic to come. Brokes dirt spear was launched at the speed of an arrow quickly closing the distance, it only took a few seconds, yet they were tense seconds.

At the completion of the blond boys chant a huge pillars of fire erupted all around the dome of sand, reaching up and over in an arc to collide with Broke. It was a veritable serpent of fire, bathing the areas it passed with blistering heat. There were four of their fire beasts reaching for Broke, as they got closer the image resolved into four flaming snakes diving towards him. The sand melted and formed glass around the eruption point and the air shimmers for 10 meters around each serpent.

Broke knew that this spell would be the death of him, save for the protective spell cast on him. Yet he also reckoned his spell would find the boy fist. He had come up against a powerful fire mage, had his opponents defenses been better he would have definitely lost. His stone spear could penetrate most defenses but it would take more than one to break his own defense. The fire on the other hand was his shield's weak point.

It would block the blast and physical contact with fire, yet the heat always came through. He had tried to make his barrier cool the air but it always quickly heated back up again taking far too much mana.

The flame rushed over him and he felt his shield blocking the force and heat coming through. He felt his shield buckle and poured more power into it until he heard a bang and saw a flash, he immediately stopped all his magic and stood straight. The firestorm dispersed after a few seconds and the results of the match were announced.

“Match draw, both sustained fatal wounds from spells cast by their opponents. Primar Greyar, you were very impressive. Please come down to the evaluation centre to get your rank retested, you have been accepted into the Stonewall Academy. The fire spell you used at the end was at least T4 if my guess was correct, yet see to it that you correct your lack of defensive spells. As for you Initiate Broke, you have clearly not been assessed for rank at all so please get an evaluation done. You are also accepted into the Stonewall academy. Thank you both for attending.”

The mage spoke in a fast and well practiced manner he would have to give many such speeches to many candidates today.

“Thank you High Mage Darrow” They both entoned.

Lord Christopher, looked out of the window of the wagon. He felt weak. His desperation was beginning to show. He could see the village in the distance, as it had come over the horizon he had ordered Velona to go into the village and find a thief of some scum, or anyone if that failed and bring them out here alive.

He saw her cresting the horizon with a man suspended in the air behind her. She was coming in fast.

As he looked at the man, he felt something….fait hunger.