Rise of the Sciencemancer

Ch. 3 Entrance Exams Begin

On campus, George came out of a washroom, fresher and a little less nervous about what was to come. After all, he’d already overcome one of the worst things he had ever heard could happen at the Mage College of Praxis. He wondered what James would have thought of him this morning both during the walk to school and of the consequences afterward. George hoped that James would get an adequate education from his local master there in Sutter’s Village. Of course, it would never be as broad or deep an education as George would receive here at the College of Praxis, but some things could not be changed, and one’s born station in life was one of them.

George thought about the evil scientists who had spread the corrupting scientific knowledge that had eventually ensnared a nice lady like Mabel the washerwoman. Why couldn’t these science-mongers just accept the natural order of things, that in this life, people were either born with the Gift of Magic or they weren’t. This was simply the way of things, the way of the world. Those born with the Gift of Magic should lead because they were more fit to lead. It wasn’t anybody’s fault that some were born with magic and some weren’t. Of course it was true that those with strong magic gifts sought out others who also had strong magic gifts to produce children with the greatest chance to also have strong magic gifts. But why wouldn’t they? Why shouldn’t they? By producing sorcerer bloodline dynastic families, the Society of Sorcerers born had brought stability and advancement to the world.

The Society had made a better world for all. All children in Sutter’s Village had been taught in school that before the Society of Sorcerers Born had been founded, the world of Zorethea had been a chaotic place, filled with famines, wars, pestilences, and other suffering for the masses. Now, peace and harmony reigned, thanks to the Society’s wise and powerful leadership. No, George thought, these scientists were not the freedom fighters they claimed to be. Science, if followed as a philosophy and a way of life, would lead humanity back to the Dark Ages.

George took in the campus’s sights and sounds. Upperclassmen with flying steeds were landing at rooftop stables that, while their riders were in classes for the day, would house everything from pegasi to griffons, keeping predators like griffons separate from their natural prey, the pegasi. The campus was decorated with magical tree species, though none of them had in-season fruit at the moment. The colors of these trees varied from delicate mauves to stunning silvers, the silver ones sparkling in the morning sun.

All of the upperclassmen seemed to know where to go and were filtering away from the quad in the middle of the campus into the various classroom and lab study buildings. There were about five adult mage instructors herding freshmen candidates into the center of the campus around the quad. George hurried over to join them. He could hear their voices giving information and instructions, amplified by spells that projected their voices to every ear in the crowd.

“This year’s pool of candidates is the largest our college has ever had,” a tall instructor with jet black hair, beard and mustache, this year’s Entrance Exam Day Proctor proudly proclaimed. “By our calculations, it will take two and half days to sort out who will attending the college this year, who will not, and at what ranking those who are attending will start. At the end of the school day today, if you have not been informed that there’s been a final decision that you won’t be attending the college this year, then you are free to return tomorrow. For those who return tomorrow, there will be no hazing. None. The Testing of the Hopeful Candidates is to happen once a year only, no more. All upperclassmen will be informed of this. Any upperclassmen who attempt any Testing of the Hopeful Candidates tomorrow will be dealt with harshly.

“The Entrance Exam will now begin. Each of you, unless your turn doesn’t come up today, will be paired off with an opponent. You are to defeat your opponent by any nonlethal means necessary that doesn’t leave permanent harm. Our judge’s panel is observing to settle any potential disputes that may arise today.” The Entrance Exam Day Proctor gestured to the tops of nearby campus buildings where instructors in dark robes and masks could see the entirety of the quad below. Students were to never know exactly who the judges were.

Next, the Proctor bade the students to all sit in a giant ring around the quad. Because of the voice amplification magic he used, everyone could hear him perfectly. “Let the testing begin. We have many candidates who must prove themselves. Ligas of Sutter’s Village step forth. Mylerna of Renalja, step forth.”

George knew Ligas as another boy from Sutter’s Village about his age. George and Ligas had never been close friends, but they’d never hated each other either. George and Ligas had always invited each other to birthday parties when they had been younger.

George knew that Renalja was a region on the far side of the Kh’shon Hills. He’d seen it on maps in his studies, but never been there. Renalja was known in history for holding out against takeover by the Society of Sorcerers Born for a long time since their population had a much higher than normal percentage of people born with the Gift of Magic than other lands. Renaljans had been able to resist and keep their independence well into recent history. A series of politically advantageous marriages, however, had eventually enmeshed the Renaljans with the Society of Sorcerers Born enough that the Renaljans had finally joined the Society.

Mylerna was a tiny, petite girl, yet she looked dangerous. There was something in her eyes that looked wrong. The expression on her face reminded George of a much older woman, though she was clearly a teenager. The way the Renaljan walked and moved with an air of pure confidence also seemed too adult for a teenager. She reminded George of a predator stalking prey.

A boy George didn’t know whispered next to him, “She looks small and weak, but my old teachers from elementary school always taught that magic is the great equalizer. When one can summon fire and lightning from one’s hands, muscles and size and bulk don’t matter.”

George whispered back. “Not everyone has magic though. The science terrorists call science the real great equalizer. Science works for everyone, they say.”

The other boy scoffed. “Well, I don’t see any of them here today, do you? Magic rules the world no matter what the science freaks say.”

Their conversation was cut off as the Entrance Exam Day Proctor shouted to the two candidates who were to duel first, “Begin!”