A World Of Decree: And The Seven Laws

Followed by the announcer's closing remarks was yet again, another blinding light that Atlas was used to by now, but still needed to shield himself from the eye-blinding brightness. He opened his eyes to see a large, ordinary room with four others standing in it. The room wasn't anything special, only filled with a few beaten up benches and blackboards with no chalk on them. Large gates could be seen on the far side of the room that seemed to lead to a very large stadium, made of finely polished stone with wooden architecture crafting it's foundation.

Atlas got a good look at his surroundings before attempting to process the situation he was faced with. Next to Atlas was Rina, and the two other students that passed the last stage. Atlas instantly recognized that blonde haired boy from before, the same one that took his only point away during the previous stage.

The blonde haired kid turned to Atlas and reached out his hand with friendly intentions, "I can't believe you're actually standing here right now after what I did, how you managed to get those 100 points is beyond me, but I'm glad to be standing by your side, the name's Leo."

Struck with a surprise, Atlas was quite shocked to have such a pleasant remark greeted towards him, "Oh, uh, yeah I guess I just got lucky," He chuckled in an awkward way, "My name is Atlas, glad to be here as well," Atlas said with a small laugh.

"I hope we can be friends, even after they face us with the third stage, you seem very… well, I don't know, but you just have that vibe," Leo said with a friendly tone in his soft voice.

"Yeah, me too-" Atlas was interrupted by Rina as she came over from the side with a straight look on her face, "How did you get 100 points?"

Atlas was now a little worried about what she would do, he completely forgot she passed the stage. However, Rina spoke again in a more playful tone, "I'm glad you finally decided to play. It was pathetic how you were letting yourself get treated for years. I'm happy for you, and to be by your side this far once more."

Atlas looked at her with pure disbelief. There was no embarrassment, no humiliation, and no rude remarks. Rina Ambrose was comprehensively a different person to him at that moment. This wasn't the first time, once he stared into her colorful eyes his memories from early childhood came flooding back into his mind.

He remembered from many years ago, Rina always tried to play with Atlas and his friends, never fitting into any groups, always by herself, shunned from the world for having unevenly creepy colored eyes. Atlas was the only one to ever talk to her until getting pulled away to join the other kids. Looking at her eyes now, for just mere seconds, he could see they were absolutely beautiful. Her left, as blue as the ocean waves, reflecting the beaming rays of sun right off. Her right, as dark as the midnight sky in the depths of night, with a full moon shining to bring light to the darkness on the ground.

This was all in their youth when no one could truly grasp any magical abilities to set them aside. However, things changed when Rina became strong, and Atlas remained the same as they grew, everything changed, for both of them.

"Rina. I'm sorry about when we were kids, I know I'm like 10 years late to tell you, but-"

"It's fine Atlas, you know how many times I paid you back at school," Rina laughed. A smile formed on Atlas's face, until another girl came over and presented herself, "Sorry to break up this chat but it seems like Leo over here forgot to introduce me while making friends," she nudged him on the shoulder as Leo casually replied, "Ow, alright! I only just met Atlas over here, I was only getting out a word or two before Atlas's girlfriend interrupted."

Leo looked at Atlas and Rina with a witty smirk, winking overdramatically to set an unintentional vibe for the room.

"WHOAWHOAWHOA, it's nothing like that!" They both shouted before the silence was broken by an icy-platinum haired girl who was standing on the sides, "Well anyway, I'm Paris, nice to meet you, I hope you'll pass the next stage. You two seem like some kids I could work with." She was pretty, an attitude to hide behind and a small red hair ribbon tucked into the side of her precious hair.

Rina's face became confused and angry at the same time to dictate her next words of enlightenment, "Who you calling a kid you little-!"

Paris interrupted her with a devious grin, "Oh yeah. We're going to get along just fine."

The whole group started laughing except for Rina, but their laughter was broken by the man standing in front of them. "Sorry to interrupt but you guys still kind of have one more stage to complete," he said.

Paris looked at him with a smile, "Yeah yeah, drop the act, everyone knows the third stage is just for the show, once a student passes through the first two then you pass. My parents told me so."

The man looked at Paris with an epigrammatic look, "Yeah, except for this year sweetie. We've just had the largest application pool to date, and there are 804 of you in total that are the champions of stage two. So we have to eliminate about 500 more for a normal class."

Paris now seemed confused, "What? You can't just eliminate kids based on your d.e.s.i.r.e."

"It's not up to us though. If you pass this stage then you pass. It is the simplest stage we've ever had, but it is also the hardest. And for all of those who have made it this far due to dumb luck... Well, don't get your hopes up."

Atlas now seemed very worried, especially with the man was looking directly at him when he said that. "Now, for your final stage, you will be presented with an Alchemic-emitter. For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a device used to measure the magic essence of someone's magic output. Or in short terms; power level. All you have to do is hit it, with nothing holding you back. Pretend it's a tree and you're trying to knock it over or something. You may ask for any element as you see fit. Also, first year students have an average of magic essence ranging around 50. However, this year you must score 100 or above to pass. If you have supportive, or non-offensive magic, please raise your hand now."

With no hands raised, the man proceeded, "Good, now pass through the gates and tell me what element you will need.

Rina stepped forth and said, "Water," with a preemptive look on her face. Paris followed suite and said, "Just give me a blade."

Followed by Leo, "Fire, thanks."

Once Atlas stood up, everyone looked at him, anxious to find out his magic. Atlas didn't know what to say, but he mustered out, "I, I'll just go in with my hands I guess. To be honest, I have no idea what my magic is."

The man laughed, "And this is why we added the third stage. No offense kid, but you scoring more than 10 points with an ordinary punch is impossible." Atlas could see the man trying his hardest to hold back his laughter, "Well, if that's all, then please proceed to the arena, when your name is called, then you will proceed for your turn."

With no time to prepare, the gates behind the man opened, and the four students passed through the gate. They stepped onto a sandy textured floor, surrounded by hundreds of kids around them all waiting patiently. Some had worried and nervous looks on their faces, while others had looks of doom and destruction in theirs. All the students were surrounding a gigantic vase-like structure. This structure was made out of a mysterious blue-like color, with a large, black metal plate surrounding it on four sides.

Once the four settled in with the huge circle, a man, who seemed to be in his late 50's appeared out of nowhere next to the Alchemic-emitter. He had short, grey hair, and was wearing an abnormally large and expensive looking coat. He wore it like a sauveniere, it was just hanging onto his shoulders while his arms were crossed, but not in the sleeves of the coat.

The man began to speak, "Welcome! Young students. If you are standing here right now then you are one of the 604 students that have surpassed the other 99% that applied. Congratulate yourselves for making it this far, but don't get your hopes up just yet. My name is Theodore Selvis, and I am the Grandmaster of Princewood Academy. You may call me Grandmaster if you please."

Atlas looked up in excitement, he couldn't believe that he was actually in presence with the Grandmaster himself. He was practically jumping in his heels like a fan girl seeing her idol for the first time.

Selvis continued speaking, "Behind me is an Alchemic-emitter, it is used to test the magic essence of a mage, or for you, a magic user. You will all be called upon based on order of the exams, and your place in those rankings. You must score a total of 100 power level points to be accepted into this year's class. Now then, first up.."

The grandmaster began to list off the names of many students and the town's of which they are from. Atlas and the rest looked on the sidelines as they saw some students score all the way up to 150, even 200 points of power. There was even one who managed to score 400, with what seemed like no effort at all. His name was Griffin Blood, a name that suited him perfectly for his vicious l.u.s.t for power written on his face as he walked off.

Those who scored less than 100 were engulfed by a large, bright sphere that surrounded them and vanished along with the student. Atlas thought that this is how he has been taken between all these places. However, the ones who passed were led off the arena and into the gate on the other side, surprisingly seeming much more fancy than the one he entered from.

After countless hours of passing and failing students, there were only four left. Those four were Rina, Atlas, Leo, and Paris. Rina, who scored the most amount of points went first. As she stepped up to the structure, she was presented with a floating orb of water, which appeared on a small, thin table that students took their stance next too. Rina grabbed the ball, and expanded it up to 10 times its original size, flinging it with immense force at the metal plate that faced her.

The sphere of water flew through the air so smoothly, colliding with the emitter to create a shower of rain, and power level to be displayed. The number was displayed at the top of the structure, reading "782."

Atlas's mouth dropped, while the grandmaster managed to whisker an expression of delightfulness on his face. He thought to himself, "Yes, this will be an interesting year indeed."

Rina was told to go to the gate but refused, forcing her way to stay and watch the last three take their shot. No one had any objections, so the trial proceeded with Leo coming up next. A small match was given to him as he walked up to a safe distance away from the plate. Next, he expanded the small orange flame on the match, hurling a massive ball of fire at the plate and scoring 523 points of power. The ball of fire burst into flames, creating a show of fireworks and explosions in the air.

"A magnificent performance!" The Grandmaster shouted to Leo, getting a thank you in response from the boy.

Atlas had no idea what was going to happen, knowing he was up next. He stepped forward anxiously as his name was called upon by the Grandmaster, with all eyes on him. However, now was his chance to really show what he was capable of. With the little magic he had left, he took a running stance, focusing all his energy into his dominant right fist.

One step was taken by Atlas, and another, followed by him running with like a warrior sent to his death in battle. His attack had to be close range, and into the center of the metal plate like the others.

As he got closer and closer to the structure, his might was now shifted directly into his fist, ready to be consumed by the enemy. The metal target began to vanish from his sight, all he pictured was a tree, and his fist knocking it over. He s.u.c.k.e.d in the air he was running through, bracing his entire body with all the focus into his right fist.

Atlas leaped into the air, firing his gripped fist as hard as he possibly could into the smooth surface of the plate. With the momentum he carried, his fist swooshed through the air, throwing his entire body with the devastating blow. The impact caused a swirl of wind to fill the arena, causing dust and small specs of rubble to rise from the ground into the open air.

Atlas had no idea what his number displayed, because as soon as his fist was no longer in contact with the plating, his eyes slowly began to close, and the world around him began to sink into a cloud of darkness. The amount of magic power he used for the blow exceeded his normal capacity, causing him to fall unconscious in the field. The rest of the group rushed over to him, but were more focused on the number that never bothered to show. While looking up to see if a number displayed, they realized something unimaginable.

An hour later, Atlas woke up in a hospital room, with Leo, Paris, and Rina standing by him. Atlas, confused by his surroundings, softly said, "Where. Am I?"

The doctor came in, a young, short-haired gentleman wearing a white suit, which covered a red tie underneath. "Ah, you're awake, excellent. It seems like you completely overpowered yourself and fainted due to the magic deficiency caused by your attack. On the other hand, your friends stayed by your side the whole time, must be nice to know people care about you."

Atlas looked at everyone after the pleasant remark from the doctor, with a smile in response from the group.

The doctor interrupted their reunion and said, "However, I have good news, and bad news. The bad news is that there was no number displayed on the Alchemic-emitter after you hit it, which made it impossible to know what you got. The good news is you somehow managed to break the plate that determines the power points. So, as a result by the grandmaster, he decided to have you pass. Atlas Bright, I'm happy to inform you that you are officially, a Princewood Student."