Chapter 5

The tests included three different parts. One tested a student's strength with a weapon, one tested for archery skills, and the final test was for an affinity with the magic arts. Four of the children had reached an age when they were able to take the tests, and one of them was Marissa.

The day's session was led by a group of three clerics: each one of them tasked with one portion of the tests. An additional two teachers, whom trained Protectorate warriors, were also on hand for the children's safety. They were also there to help study the students' progress and make recommendations.

For the first test, cleric Algrin had led the four students into a makeshift arena out in the Church courtyard. A crude circle had been erected using hay bales lined up end to end. The diameter was about fifty feet wide, but it was enough space for the four of them to be able to move around freely. Each student was handed a wooden short sword that had been slightly weighted around the hilt. In their other hand they carried basic round shields made of wood. A final bit of protection was a heavy linen coat that each wore. Any blows would be absorbed by the coat, and it also added a significant amount of weight. All these tools and how they used them would help determine whether they were fighters or not.

Marissa was not looking forward to any of the tests on this day, but especially not this one. She struggled to even stay upright with all the strange gear in hand. Her tiny fingers struggled to grasp the practice sword, and she wasn't strong enough to keep the shield fully upright. The coat was also very heavy and encumbered her walk. Reluctantly she entered into the testing arena along with her classmates.

One of the Protectorate teachers spoke, "The goal for this test is to land as many clean hits as you can. The aim is not to harm your opponents, and we are only watching to see how well you innately handle your weapons. Aim for the shields and no portion of the body. Don't be discouraged if you find it difficult to wield your weapons. This is a very important step, and it is required."

"Begin!" shouted Algrin.

Immediately, the largest of the four orphans leapt at Marissa. With a forceful blow he slammed his sword directly onto her shield. The blow reverberated through her shield and into her hand. Her fingers went numb and she lost her grasp. The wooden shield dropped to the ground.

The aggressive boy attacked again. This time he struck Marissa upon her back with the flat edge of his blade. The coat cushioned most of the blow, but she was still thrown down to the ground. As she fell, she slid into the dirt.

"Stop! You idiot, what are you doing?!?" screamed one of the guards. He leapt into the arena and forcibly grabbed the boy. "Clean hits I said! Don't aim for the body you moron!"

Algrin also entered the arena to aid Marissa. He helped her get to her feet, and the both of them removed themselves from the action. Obviously the young girl was not destined to become a warrior as she had not even gotten a chance to swing her weapon. The remaining children, including the aggressive young boy, continued to finish out the test for the next thirty minutes. They attacked one another until each was battered and bruised. Marissa was glad she did not have to stay in the arena for all that time.

The second test of the day was to see how well each of them could handle a bow. In addition it would help show how well they could pay attention to their senses. The entire group had moved to the Protectorate archery range within the Church compound. There were two different locations within the range, and each dealt with a portion of this particular test.

First off, each student was handed a short bow and given simple instructions in how to use them. In front of the four orphans were targets only a few steps away. One by one they were instructed to nock an arrow into position and aim at a target in front of them.

"On my count…" the cleric named Roland paused, "Fire!"

Three arrows flew into the air, and two hit their targets.

One of the boys whom had been fighting aggressively earlier had lost control of the bow string right before he released it. The arrow fell out of position and down onto the ground. Apparently, he had trouble keeping his aim due to a large bruise that scored his right forearm. The young boy was then excused from the remaining archery tests.

The aggressive boy from earlier had fired his arrow correctly, but it had landed no where near any of the targets. He threw the short bow down to the ground in frustration. Its wooden frame bounced back up at him. He refused to continue with any of the tests in anger.

The two children that had hit the targets included a young boy named Picollo as well as young Marissa. The young girl was surprised that she had even been able to use the bow correctly, let alone successfully hit the target. The two would-be archers continued to take a few more test shots. Some of them landed on or near the targets, and some of them did not.

"Good job you two," spoke Roland. "On to the next step."

The two remaining children moved to the second part of the range. Just like the arena before, a circle of hay bales had been set up. However, this time the radius was larger and the bales had been positioned vertically to make taller walls. At four points within the circle, targets had been fastened onto the center of the walls. Each target had been spread out along the circle so that they each covered a direction. In the middle of the circular arena, stood a quiver fastened into a fixed position. The quiver contained a number of standard arrows. A single doorway had been created within the circle, and Marissa was sent into the archery arena first. She carried the same short bow she had used before.

Roland's head peeked up above one side of the wall. He made eye contact with Marissa and spoke to her. "As you can see, there are four targets placed around you. On the opposite side of the wall behind each target is a bell. When you hear a ring coming from a particular bell, turn yourself and fire at that corresponding target. Try to keep an arrow loaded into place before each ring. You will only have a few moments between bell rings to aim and fire. Good luck."

One of the guards shouted, "Ready..."

Marissa gathered a single arrow from the quiver and placed it within the bow. She aimed her weapon at the northernmost target. She squinted and focused on her target. The pulled bow string within her fingers vibrated as she held it.

"Go!"

The bell behind the northern target rang.

Marissa let the arrow fly. The shaft promptly fastened itself into the middle of the target. She smiled in glee at her luck and apparent skill. She quickly grabbed another arrow and awaited the sound of another bell. This time she aimed for the western target.

Another ring was heard and she let the arrow go. The arrow landed a few feet to the right of the target. However, the bell had rung along the eastern wall. She cursed under her breath. The little girl then again got ready to fire another arrow.

The bells rang another seven times. For four of those rings, she had correctly aimed and hit the targets. Other times she had fired into the wrong direction, or the arrow didn't fly far enough from the bow to reach the wall. Her arms and fingers were starting to hurt. Yet again she nocked another arrow into place.

A noise behind the southern target could be heard. She twisted her small frame a full ninety degrees in order to aim at the target. As she turned, she began to lose her footing. She had spun too fast and began to fall. As she fell she let the arrow fly. The loose straw covering the ground supported her as she fell. She landed without making a single noise.

"Time! The test is over, please put down the weapon," called out a voice.

Roland and one of the guards entered the arena to judge her score. They were surprised to see her getting up from the straw covered floor. Roland walked over to the girl and helped her up. The guard member went to examine the final target.

"Roland, take a look at this," the guard member said as he pointed at the wall.

The cleric looked amazed, "Why… she hit it even though she fired while falling? Quite an achievement.

"Congratulations my dear, excellent work. Not perfect, but still quite good. Especially with that last shot of yours."

Marissa was pleased with herself. She really didn't think she had it in her.

The third and final test was going to be a test of magical acuity. The sun was going down after this long day, and dusk was quickly approaching. Marissa had no idea what this test would involve. She had figured out what the other two tests were about, but this one was a mystery. "How am I supposed to know magic?"

The four tired children were looking forward to when the day was going to be over. They hoped that this final test would be easy, and not as challenging as the previous.

The entire group made their way towards the base of one of the great spires. Its white stone exterior reflected the setting sun with dazzling auburn colors. Stationed outside the tower was a simple wooden box.

The box looked to be about the size of a single person. The box was not ornate, nor did it look to be sturdy. Crudely nailed together boards had been used to construct it and only a single latch marked its sides.

The final cleric, Ulric, motioned for the first child to enter the box. He grabbed hold of the simple latch, opened one side of it, and led the child in. He then spoke of few inaudible words to the boy inside and waited. The boy stood in the box for several minutes and nothing appeared to happen. Ulric then let the boy out and told him to rejoin the group.

One by one, the other children followed this same procedure. "Get in the box, wait, have nothing happen, then get out. What is the cleric looking for?" Marissa thought.

Finally it was Marissa's turn to take this last and final test. Just like the others she was led into the box and the door was closed behind her. The box felt very old. Mold and mildew covered its interior. The boards from which it had been constructed were littered with visible cracks that let the outside light and air in. An odor of dust and decay permeated the ancient box.

Ulric spoke, "This test is simple. I want you to concentrate. Just try to think about what goes on inside you head. If you can, try to talk to yourself within silently. Simple enough, yes? Ok, begin."

Marissa closed her eyes. She started an impromptu internal monologue, "Simple? Is talking to yourself simple? I guess so.

"Hrmm," she continued to ponder, "So how does my mind work? I dunno… how… how should I know? I hate these tests…"

Unbeknownst to the girl inside, the exterior of the box started to glow. Very gradually a faint light emanated from the many cracks of the ancient container. The glow was a very dark violet and it seemed to pulse in waves of brightness, each wave leading downwards to the base. These traced edges soon started to form odd looking symbols and text.

The children outside looked at the glowing object with wonder, but as time passed they became fearful. They slowly started to walk further away from Marissa and the box. Inside, the girl had still kept her eyes shut and was talking to herself.

Ten minutes passed. The symbols transformed and changed with each passing moment.

"That is good my dear, you may stop."

The glowing edges began to fade into nothingness. However, before they completely disappeared she caught a quick glimpse of the dancing lights. "What is that? Did I do that?" The curious little girl stepped outside of the newly opened box.

Ulric began to speak towards the girl, "Very interesting Marissa, very interesting. None of your compatriots here have shown any sense of magic ability, and they were unable to react with the Box of Moddiad. It is quite strange, but fortunate, that you on the other hand have done so. Most fortunate indeed."

"Box of Moddiad, sir?" she asked inquisitively.

"Yes, the Box of Moddiad is a very important artifact that was found by the great sage Tulusha. He had come across it on one of his many journeys, and found that the wood it has been built from reacted to magical energies. We don't know who built the box, or when, but we do know that it was used to test individuals just like we have tested you. It must have been used for at least several centuries until Tulusha came to own it.

"The wood comes from the rare Sylaalian tree which used to grow on the lands to the far far east. We have tried to search for more of these magical plants, but it has unfortunately disappeared from our world. As a matter of fact, this is one of the very few pieces created from its bark left anywhere we know of.

"We find that the wood reacts when it comes into contact with the aura, or powers, of a magical empath. Hidden tendrils embedded within the wood glow when they encounter such forces. Often it looks like symbols or odd writings appear, but they are just illusions created by our own minds. It is just the natural structure of the timber drawing the images.

"But I've rambled on long enough while trying to answer your simple question," the cleric laughed. "Items like this box, and its ilk, are just some of the things that you will be researching as a mage."

"So am I to be a mage?" she asked.

"But of course, why wouldn't you? It is somewhat rare to show favor to the magical forces at an age as young as yours. It is also a great honor, and where else would you want to train than the great libraries of Ducann!

"It is most certainly something to be celebrated my dear. You are very special, and you will make a great addition to the long line of mages that have served the Holy Protectorate!"

Continue reading onto Chapter 6