Chapter 16 Book 1 The Exam
A low murmur of conversation and the shuffling of hundreds of feet filled the air as the first-graders of Minx Jinx Magii School made their way toward the grand dining hall. The path they took was lined with towering, ancient-looking trees whose leaves glowed with a soft, ethereal light, casting a serene and almost magical hue upon the cobblestone ground. To one side, a small stream gurgled, its water shimmering like liquid silver as it flowed over polished stones. The scene was breathtaking, a stark contrast to the small, humble orphanage Xu Mei had called home.
Chu Xinxin, with her large, innocent eyes, gazed around in silent awe. She was so engrossed that she didn't realize she had stopped walking until Xu Mei gently tugged on her sleeve. "Come on, we don't want to get lost," Xu Mei said, her voice a low whisper.
Chu Xinxin blinked, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "Oh, right. It's just… so beautiful here, isn't it?"
"It is," Xu Mei agreed, though she was more focused on the sheer number of students surrounding them. She noticed how some of the older students, in their deep blue robes, gave the first-graders a quick, appraising glance before turning back to their own conversations.
They soon arrived at a massive building made of smooth, gray stone, its arched entrance framed by intricately carved ivy. The doors were wide open, revealing a cavernous hall bustling with people. A chorus of voices, the clinking of silverware, and the scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread washed over them. The first-graders were not led directly into the main hall, but rather guided to a smaller, more secluded room off to the side.
"Wait here, please. We'll be starting the first-grade assessment shortly," a tall, slender woman with a severe bun and a monocle announced before closing the door behind her.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the hushed voices of the students grew louder.
"I heard the assessment determines our class placement," a boy with fiery red hair and a smattering of freckles whispered to his friend.
"Yeah, my older brother is in Dragon Scale. He said the exam tests your core magical affinity. It's the only way to figure out where you'll do best," his friend replied, his voice filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement.
"Dragon Scale is the combat class, right?" a girl with long, dark braids chimed in. "I want to be in Fairy Bliss. My mom says I have a natural talent for healing spells."
Xu Mei glanced at Chu Xinxin, who was nervously twisting a lock of her hair. "What do you think they'll ask us to do?" Chu Xinxin whispered, her voice barely audible.
Xu Mei shrugged. "I'm not sure. But don't worry, we'll get through it." She was a little nervous herself. She and Xinxin weren't like the other Magii who had families or backgrounds related to magii. Although she could see the flow of mana and feel the magic in the air, she still did not feel confident in her skills. But the thought of her status window, hidden from everyone else, gave her a strange sense of comfort.
Suddenly, a series of low hums echoed through the room. A large, ornate wooden door at the far end of the room swung open. A man with a warm smile and kind eyes beckoned them inside. "One by one, please. Don't be nervous. This is just a simple assessment to help us understand you better."
The line of students slowly began to move. Xu Mei and Chu Xinxin were near the back. As they waited, the murmurs of the students grew quieter, a nervous tension settling in the air. Finally, it was Chu Xinxin's turn. She squeezed Xu Mei's hand, her palm a little sweaty, and disappeared through the door. Xu Mei waited, her heart thumping in her chest. A few minutes later, Chu Xinxin emerged, her eyes wide.
"Are you okay?" Xu Mei asked, her voice low.
"Yeah," Chu Xinxin said, her voice a little shaky. "It was just... strange. They had me hold this crystal, and it started glowing."
Soon, it was Xu Mei's turn. She took a deep breath and walked through the door. The room was small, with a single chair in the middle and a table in front of it. An older man with a long, gray beard sat behind the table, a gentle smile on his face. He gestured toward the chair. "Please, have a seat."
Xu Mei sat down. The man placed a small, polished stone on the table. "Just touch this stone and tell me what you feel," he said.
Xu Mei placed her hand on the stone. It felt smooth and cool, but nothing more. She didn't feel the humming of mana or the thrum of energy that the others talked about. She just felt a simple, inert stone.
"I don't... feel anything," she admitted, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
The man's brow furrowed slightly. He took the stone away and replaced it with a small, unadorned wooden staff. "What about this?"
Xu Mei's fingers wrapped around the staff. Still nothing. The man's face remained neutral, but a flicker of concern passed through his eyes. He then produced a strange-looking contraption made of gears and metal. "Can you tell me how this works?" he asked.
Xu Mei's mind immediately went to the books her teacher, Elara, had given her. 'The Principles of Alchemy: Science over Sorcery' and 'The Unspoken Truths of Science: A Guide to Unlocking a Magii-Free Future'. She had devoured them, fascinated by the non-magical principles of the world. She saw the gears, the levers, the intricate mechanisms. She could almost feel the kinetic energy, the way the parts would move in perfect harmony to produce a certain outcome.
"It looks like a type of loom, but for magical threads," she said, her voice growing more confident. "The gears turn to create a specific weave, and the metal coils must be the conductors. It's meant to create an item with a fixed magical property, maybe a simple shield or a healing amulet."
The man's eyes widened in surprise. "That's... quite an observation. And you're absolutely right. It's a prototype for a new type of crafting loom." He then held up a small, translucent vial filled with a clear liquid. "What do you think this is?"
Xu Mei leaned in closer, her senses on high alert. It smelled faintly of lavender and something she couldn't quite place, but it was familiar. She thought back to 'The Principles of Alchemy' and the chapter on potions. "The smell of lavender and... something metallic, like iron. It's a potion, but it's not finished. It's a base that needs to be infused with a catalyst to become a healing potion."
The man's smile returned, this time a little wider. "You have a sharp mind, young one. Thank you for your time."
Xu Mei left the room, feeling a strange mix of relief and confusion. She didn't know how she would fare in a magic school with her lack of magical senses, but she felt a strange sense of hope that her other talents might be useful.
…
After the assessment, the first-grade students were once again led into the main dining hall. The sheer scale of the room was even more impressive from the inside. Banners with different symbols—a roaring dragon, a rock-solid shield, a gentle fairy, a smoking cauldron, and a hammer and an anvil—hung from the high ceiling, swaying gently in the unseen currents. The hall was filled with long wooden tables, packed with students of all ages.
They found two empty seats at a long table. As they sat down, a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed white goatee and a pair of spectacles perched on his nose stood at a podium at the front of the hall. He tapped a small, wooden wand against a crystal ball, and a gentle chime echoed throughout the room, silencing the clamor.
"Welcome, all students of Minx Jinx Magii School!" he boomed, his voice carrying effortlessly to every corner of the hall. "I am Headmaster Qing Lumean, and I am honored to welcome you all, especially our newest members, to the beginning of a new school year!"
A ripple of polite applause and cheers went through the room.
"Tonight, we celebrate our community and the journey we are about to embark on together," the Headmaster continued. "The feast is ready. Please, enjoy the food and the company of your fellow students. You've earned it."
With that, students began to stand up and form lines at the various food stations that could be seen along the walls. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted chicken, spiced potatoes, and a variety of other delicious dishes.
Xu Mei and Chu Xinxin joined the line, their eyes wide with wonder at the sheer amount and variety of food. They piled their plates high with an assortment of dishes and went back to their seats, eating with gusto.
"This is the best food I've ever had," Chu Xinxin said, her mouth full.
"It's amazing," Xu Mei agreed, savoring a bite of tender beef. She was just about to take another bite when she heard a familiar voice.
"Mei Mei! Xinxin! Over here!"