Mana Exam IV

"We might get a drop less or more. It doesn't matter." Ambrose spoke up trying to get her to start.

Seeing his answer Maria smiled and nodded, "Well, that is very mature of you. But now if one of you starts crying you will have to comfort the other, got it?"

Lily couldn't take it anymore and spoke exasperatedly, "Miss Maria. Please let us get this over with so we can get our trash talents and get out of here."

Maria who planned to talk a little more suddenly felt all her words stuck in her throat. Her motherly tone suddenly became strained as she spoke, "Ehm Alright, please step up and place your hand on the orb. *cough* Ahem.

Then all you have to do is think about calming your mind and channeling energy. Even if you don't understand it is fine. Your body should naturally know how to do it."

Lily only calmly nodded as she stepped up to the stepstool and placed her hand on the orb. Closing her eyes she soon felt what the lead meant.

*

As if something clicked, she felt a strange energy synergize with her mind. She didn't know what Maria meant by channeling her energy, but just as promised her body acted almost on instinct as she suddenly felt the right way to guide the energy in the orb.

Soon a comfortable feeling spread throughout her body as she suddenly felt what her elements should be. Ever so softly she mumbled, "Life... Water..."

*

Ambrose had a casual expression as he watched his sister place her hand on the floating orb. Both of them felt like they already knew what would happen way before coming here.

Looking at the orb he saw the orb react as the blue smoke started condensing. The drops fell quickly... Too quickly... Why is it getting faster?

All the blue smoke in the orb was rapidly condensing as it no longer fell a few drops like before. Instead, it became a storm as all the smoke condensed until it could no longer condense anymore.

Standing there, Ambrose looked on with his mouth wide open. His shock increased as he looked at the orb half without any more blue smoke... All he could think of was...

'What the hell! I thought we both said we were going to get trash talents so we could farm without worries! Why the hell did you have to condense all of it!'

He wasn't alone as everyone in the chapel looked at the orb in shock.

Soon all the liquid seemed to react with something as it swirled and changed colors.

Instead of the usual mostly solid one color from before it was a beautiful swirl of vibrant green and deep blue. Like someone had barely mixed two paint colors together, it had a clear separation while still being mixed thoroughly.

Lily seemed to wake up just as the children before her and looked up at the orb. Before the liquid would quickly disperse into blue smoke before the examinee could see how well they did.

Yet, this time the liquid lingered, although the liquid was quickly dispersing just as before, it was still taking a long time to completely disappear. 

This made Lily realize she passed the test even if she didn't want to. Quickly jumping off the step stool she stood back to get a better look. She could clearly see as the last of the liquid quickly disappeared.

With an expression of pure fear, Lily turned to her brother and asked, "How bad is it?"

Ambrose saw his sister's fear and simply went forward and hugged her. He knew her better than anyone else. He knew how much she didn't want to go to the Academy. How much they BOTH didn't want to go to the Academy.

So with a heavy heart, he whispered in her ear, "You condensed all the smoke."

Hearing it firsthand how bad it was Lily could only burst into tears as she cried loudly. Ambrose could only hug his sister tighter as she cried her heart out.

"WHY ME!" Between sobs, she screamed and questioned no one in particular.

Seeing how upset she was no one could say anything. Were they jealous? They couldn't even be sure anymore.

Everyone was desperately praying for a good talent. They had all seen how a higher level of drops equaled a better talent. Yet... Here was someone with clearly a great talent. Instead of jumping for joy, they were crying tears of sadness.

How were they supposed to feel now?

**

After half an hour Lily stopped crying and she slowly accepted the reality of what had happened. Still, that didn't stop her from softly questioning why.

Unsure of what to do Maria could only cautiously walk up to Lily with a book in hand. After all, she had a job to do. "Miss? Could you tell me your name?"

Seeing the lead walk over, Ambrose covered his sister more as if to better protect her. Yet Lily was still a strong person so she look up from her brother's embrace.

"Just tell me what you want." Her tone no longer the slightly friendly tone of before. Instead, it was like the harshest snow.

Maria could only sigh internally at the strangeness of the situation. "Well, I would first like your name. We need it to sign you up for the Academy."

Lily's already red eyes seemed to redden further as anger could be clearly seen. Unable to run fast enough all Lily could do is SCREAM, "NO!"

This time sighing aloud Maria could only ask again in her same gentle tone, "Even if you don't tell me now someone from the Academy will come here to pick you up soon. If I don't have your name they will find out somehow eventually. They will most definitely be a great mage."

Lily's anger seemed to subside slightly as she started thinking.

Seeing this Maria continued, "Your parents likely signed you up here using your name so I would find out eventually. Before even that I will likely ask your parents first so if you don't tell me now they likely will when I ask."

Hearing this Lily's anger completely defeated as her expression showed one of defeat. With a tired sigh, she spoke, "My name is Lily."

Maria smiled and spoke softly, "That is wonderful Miss Lily. Why don't you grab this book and bring it back tomorrow for your next test?"

Lily looked defeated as she let go of her brother for the first time since she started crying. With shaky arms, she reached out and grabbed the book.

Smiling happily Maria looked at Ambrose, "So why don't we start your test?"

Seeing her attention shift to himself Ambrose suddenly grabbed his sister's arm as he turned around looking straight at the exit, "Let's go now since the test is done."