The day finally came. The sky looked different like even the sun was watching. The streets was full with noise. Parents holding their kids close and whispering good luck into their ears. Students rushing around with excited face and nervous legs. Everyone wearing their best cloths. The flags of magic powers was flying high all over the town. Red for fire, blue for water, white for wind, brown for earth, yellow for light. Coker walked slowly among the crowd like he was walking to a graveyard, not an exam. He didn't wear anything special, just his normal shirt and pants that was already a bit too small. He didn't even eat breakfast. Lira ran up to him with a small bread in her hand. "You didn't eat right?" she said, pushing it into his hand. He look at her face and smile a little. "You gonna feed me forever?" he ask. She roll her eyes. "Only until you become a strong magic boy and start buying me breakfast instead." He took a bite and said, "Then I'll eat slow forever." She laughed and they walk together.
They reach the main exam gate, a big shiny circle on the ground with symbols written all around it. Some guards with long spears stood there and was checking every student. Lira hold Coker's hand tight like he would run away. "You ready?" she asked. He wanted to say no. But he just nodded. They was taken to the waiting place, a big round field with stone seats for people to watch. The Captains was already sitting at the top tower where they will see all the exam. Everyone was whispering about who's the strongest Captain. Some people was pointing at the fire Captain. "He burn a whole demon squad last time," a boy said. Another one said, "The wind Captain is fastest. No demon can catch him." Some even say the light Captain once fought the Demon King face to face before the barrier was made. Coker looked up at them all and wonder if any of them remember him from the demon field. That day still feels like dream. He still didn't tell Lira what happen. Even now, his shadow feel... strange. Like it was waiting. Sleeping. Or watching.
Then came Kaien. Fireboy himself. Walking like he already passed the exam. "Hope you ready to run back home," he say to Coker. "Today, the world gonna know who's real hero." Coker didn't answer. He just stood still. Lira looked angry but said nothing. The announcer walked to the center of the stone field. He was an old man with golden stick and a strong voice. "Welcome to the 198th Magic Awakening Exam!" he shouted. Everyone clapped. The Captains didn't move much, just watched. The announcer said the rules. Each student will show their magic by entering the ring alone. The magic ball will rise. Their power will be seen. The Captains will decide who to take. If a student is powerful enough, they can walk up and choose their own Captain. Everyone wants that. Only one or two does it every year. Then the announcer began to call names. One by one, students went up. The magic ball rise from the floor. Some shined bright with fire. Some glowed smooth with water. Some floated and spin with wind. Some shake the ground with earth. Light ones was rare, but there was one girl who shined like small sun. People clap and shout when that happen. Lira was called. She squeezed Coker's hand then went up. The ball came out and slowly turned blue. Then changed and got sharp and cold. Ice. People was surprised. The announcer said, "Water turned Ice! Like her mother. Strong girl." Coker clapped. He was proud. Lira smiled at him from far. Then his name was called. His legs felt like wood. His heart was running. People begin to whisper again. "Why is he even here?" "He got no magic." "Waste of time." He walk into the ring slowly. The ball rise up. Nothing happen. It stayed dark. Just like before. People started laughing already. Kaien was smiling wide. The announcer was about to say "Failed" when something changed. The ball shake a little. Just a little. It turn gray for one second. Then black smoke rise around it. People gasped. The announcer step back. "What is this?" he said. Then it stop. The smoke disappear. The ball turn dark again. Like nothing happen. The announcer looked confused. "No magic detected," he said. People boo. Some shouted, "Get him off!" Others laughed. Coker just stand there, frozen. Lira looked scared. He turned and walk out. The shadow under him moved… just a little.
As he walk back to the waiting area, the Captains was whispering among themselves. One of them, the Fire Captain, leaned back in his seat and smirked. Another Captain, with long white cloak, just stared at Coker. Not blinking. The exam continue. More students show their power. Coker sat alone now. Lira tried to talk but he didn't speak. His head was full. What was that smoke? Was it real? Did they see it? Was the shadow inside him trying to come out?
That night, back home, he stood in front of the mirror. He stare at his shadow on the wall. "Who are you?" he asked. The shadow didn't speak. But then, just before he turned away, it moved. Not with him. On its own. Just a little wave. Like it nodded. Coker jumped back. His heart almost fall out. But something inside him… was smiling.