Fragarach

A familiar aura

After a gallant display of his perseverance, the others are touched by his actions and lit the flame of competitiveness sleeping deep within their hearts.

[You bastard, you really had to steal the spotlight from me.] Thomas thought as he stare with a smile at the student who is being carried away to the station.

[With all that pressure piled up, it was only a matter of time when someone will have to hold his ground and prove every one wrong and that person really did it at the perfect moment where all seems lost.]

Nyx thought as he look at the demi-humans who felt uneasy of the unexpected development.

[See? Humans are much more complex than what you demis think they are. And the next persons that will take the test will never drop the quality of determination that the first person showed, that’s the kind of monsters you have made.]

He added as he flash a smirk with the regrets that the demi-humans made when they tried to taunt the humans into doing their bidding.

[Let me show you punks what you just awaken from my deep slumber.] Thomas smiles as he started to shake in excitement.

*Step* *Step* *Step*

[Those eyes, the eyes that will not allow to be outshine by others. A competitive spirit.] the instructor who created the rune formation thought as he saw the eyes of the next student full of vigor. [Like a beast ready to take on another beast in a death battle.]

The instructor thought but his eyes widen when he moved his eyes to the students behind Thomas.

[No- it’s not just him, the other students also have the same eyes that he is showing right now.]

The instructor who created the rune formation started to break some sweat as he saw the burning spirit in their eyes.

“P-please start whenever you are ready.” He stuttered as he felt the sleeping dominance of humans have finally awakened.

[I don’t like this feeling. It’s suffocating me.] Cassiopeia thought as she look around and saw every human student had determined eyes to compete with demi-humans.

“Then let’s not keep our guest waiting.” Thomas said with a smirk in his face as he stare at the illusion that is waiting for his first move.

[This is how you properly execute a strong earth spike.] “Earth spike!” he said as he swing his arms towards the illusion.

The ground vibrate lightly as the ground below his arms opened.

*Rumble*

Thomas grit his teeth as he swing his arms with every bit of strength he can muster.

[I know this is going to hurt a bit but screw that, this is for every damn demis that ever look down on us humans!] the nerves in his forehead bulge as he screamed internally. *FWOOOOSH!*

*BANG!*

A large spike made of earth follow his arms and struck the illusion followed by a loud bang and shook the ground that everyone felt.

[That one is a lot louder than the other student’s earth spike and it was a lot stronger without a doubt.] Kate thought as she smiled.

[That kid-] the instructor’s thought stopped when his eyes landed on something.

The students were surprised when they saw Thomas walking out of the circle with a huge smile on his face and without any worries that the illusion might attack him back.

[That hurt like hell, why do I have a mana type that greatly affects the body of the user? It makes no sense I’m not a freaking masochist!] he told himself as he slowly walk back in his place. [ I hope that bastard saw what I just did so that he would know the difference in our strength.] he thought as he flash an idiotic smug on his face.

[He pulled it off. The last student gave him a push to give it with everything he got.] he instructor who made the rune formation continued as he stare at Thomas’ back.

The crowd were silent for a moment. Then one of Thomas’ friends shouted his lungs out that encourage the others to the same as well.

*YEAAAH!*

The smile on the human students’ faces are epic as one of their heroes at the moment return without any problems.

[The first one to pull it off successfully. Not bad, Thomas. But we all know that earth mana based always tends to affect the body of the user in so many ways. Earth mana type is hands down one of the strongest mana types but that strength comes with a great price. And that payment is even greater if you do not practice it frequently. A double-edged sword.]

Raven thought as he saw Thomas flashing him an arrogant smile.

[Yeah, he saw it alright. I can’t even imagine how he sees me now.] Thomas thought as he can’t erase the smile on his face.

“That was amazing Tom, you really nailed the spell that the other guy used.” One of his friends said as they flock around Thomas.

“They won’t be looking down on us from now on.” His other friend said.

“Thomas is amazing isn’t he?” Kate’s friend said as she wave to congratulate Thomas.

“Yeah, but the demi-humans are still yet to be tested so we can’t really say that everything is alright.”

[I can do it! Even that i***t Thomas passed the destructive level requirement when all that he did is skip class and wander around the city with his friends.] the student thought as he walk towards the rune formation.

Kate answer as she look at the next student who is walking towards the rune formation for the test.

[Yes, humans do have their spirit of competitiveness awakened but the demi-humans are still on the lead as far as mana manipulation goes. If they can’t see another human as an inspiration to go higher as strong as Nash, then the new found light would eventually die out and leave them out in the dark of the pressure of the demi-humans.]

Nyx thought as he glance at Nash who had his arms crossed while watching the result of the next student.

“Hey Nash, you think this one can pass too?” Fritz ask as he pointed at the student inside the rune formation.

“I don’t think so, his body doesn’t look like he had been working on his mana manipulation nor his physical abilities, to tell you the truth I won’t even hope that he can pull something flashy as the last one did.” He said with a cold tone.

“Wow you don’t really like hiding your disappointment huh?” Fritz was surprised about Nash’s reply to his question.

Nyx heard Nash’s evaluation of the next student when he glanced at Nash who met his eyes as he also glanced at Nyx then he flash an awkward smile.

[Oops, but it’s just as the guy said, that student doesn’t look that he is practicing his mana manipulation frequently let alone his physical abilities with that body of his.] he thought as he look at the student.

[That ever evaluating eyes, they may be blindfolded but that doesn’t erase the fact that he can identify every bit of information with just a glance using their family technique.] Nash told himself as Fritz keep pestering him.

Raven thought the same thing as the others did while the other students cheer up for the students due to the influence of the recently achievement of the others before him that made them blindly believe in everyone.

*Go!* *Go!* *Go!* *Go!* *Go!* *Go!* *Go!*

“You can do it too!”

“Just believe in yourself!”

[They might be happy right now, but reality hits really hard when you see the person that you planted your faith in fall in despair due to believing blindly to yourself just because someone successfully pulled it off.] Raven told himself as he glanced at the students cheering on the student.

[This is vexing, just because one guy successfully did it, they all think they can do it as well. humans are really simple creatures.] a demi-human thought as the irritation shows in his face.

“They think their hotshots now huh?” a demi-humans said.

“What does that fatso think he can do? Bump that illusion to death?” another demi-human mocked.

“Hahahahah!”

The other demi-humans laughed when someone from the demi-humans mocked the human student inside the rune formation.

“Water spears.” [Yeah just laugh at me right because you are going to regret it later you damned demi-humans.] he told himself as he cast a spell.

[A water based mana type huh? Water type mana does not really have a high destructive power in the hands of an unexperienced person but if it’s used correctly by the hands of an expert then it can be a game changer.] Raven told himself as he stare at the student inside the rune circle.

*c***k!* *c***k!* c***k!* c***k!* *c***k!*

*FSSSSSSH!*

Five cracks appeared below the illusion as water made of spears pieced the body of the illusion.

*CRRRK!*

The nerves one the student’s forehead swell when the illusion started to move.

[This is impossible, why can’t I do it when that loser can?!] he cried internally.

“This is so unfai- ACK!“

*FWWOOOOM!*

The illusion extended its arms and released a blinding beam of light that sent the student out of the rune formation unconscious.

*BOOOOO!*

The demi-humans started to get rowdy after seeing that the student got blown away by the illusion.

[This student failed.] the instructor thought as he shake his head.

[And sadly he is the latter, I guess it is an eye opener huh?]

Raven told himself while glancing at the students staring at the guy with their mouths wide open in shock.

“Did that bastard he can do what I just did? He must be dreaming.” Thomas said proudly as he puffs his chest. [My arm still stings, f**k this is annoying as s**t!] he told himself as he bit his mouth in pain.

“That piggy got owned by the illusion. Hahahaha!”

“I told you didn’t I?” Nash said while looking at Fritz with a stone cold expression.

“Yes, yes you did your highness.” He replied as he bowed down.

[That was to be expected already.] Nyx told himself as he shake his head.

The next student is a demi-human who walks toward the rune formation.

“I’m going to show you how you should do it.” He said with a smug on his face.

“Please proceed when you are ready.” The instructor said with a humble tone.

[Demi-humans are strong in terms of mana manipulation, seeing them passing is not even a surprise anymore.] he thought as he grip his hand.

The demi-human stood inside the rune formation like a celebrity adored by everyone, well except that its only everyone from his kind.

“Show them how to do it, show them!” one from his kind shouted.

“So that they will know that they have still a long way to go!” another one added.

By this time most of the human students remained even after being mocked by the demi-humans.

“Wind blade.” His eyes glowed as he cast the spell when he extended his hand.

*FWOOOOSH!*

*FSSSSSHK!*

The air got sucked in the direction of the illusion that it cut the illusion in half. The other half fell on the ground without any reactions from the illusion. The demi-human then turned his back on the illusion and walk away from the rune formation with an arrogant smile on his face.

“That’s how you do it properly you pathetic s**ts.” He said with an arrogant tone.

The moral of the humans were rock bottom when they saw how the demi-human passed the low destruction level requirement from the test.

[Demi-humans really are strong.] the instructor thought as he watch the demi-humans celebrate a win that is already decided from the beginning.

[Tsk! Those damned bastards are really strong as f**k!] Thomas thought as he tightly grip his arm.

[He did not even break any sweat.] Kate thought.

[Now the atmosphere return to what is was earlier but its more disturbing now.] Cassiopeia thought as her shoulders dropped.

“They are really strong huh?” one of Kate’s friends said with a sad voice.

The next human students failed to pass the low level destructive requirement in the test while the demi-humans destroy their morals with every one of them decimating the illusion with their spells.

[The gap between the demi-humans and humans is so vast that I can’t even think how did they manage to stay in the academy with this much discrimination?] Raven smiles to himself as he imagines the faces of the humans in the academy while being discriminated.

The humans went completely silent after seeing that there is no hope from the class C human students to shine. The last demi-human that took the test before Raven destroyed the illusion like the other ones before her. Now their eyes fixed on Raven, hoping that they might show something good.

[Raven is silent for a long time now but he is smiling, why is he smiling? Does he know that there are a lot of eyes fixed on him right now?] Cassiopeia thought as she glanced at Raven’s face.

[So it’s that’s bastard turn next huh? Let’s see what he’s got in store for us.] Thomas thought as he stare at Raven.

“So it’s his turn now huh?” Elder Nuu said as he touch his chin.

“Seems like it.” Elder Rigor agreed.

“It’s that new student’s turn huh?” Nyx said as he saw him at the last of the class C’s line.

[I know that it’s my turn now but why do you all have to stare at me that much?] he told himself as he slowly walks toward the rune formation.

“Hey isn’t that the new student from this morning?”

“The one who made a ruckus?”

The students whispered to each other.

“Hey Kai, you were the one who helped him earlier right? How do you evaluate him?”

Nash asked as he turns his head to Kai.

“I think he is fairly good since he withstood my mana aura earlier, but I can’t say for certain.” He replied in a flash.

“You are a new student right?” Raven nodded in answer to his question. “Please proceed when you are ready.” The instructor added.

“What tricks will that bastard show this time?” Thomas said with his arms crossed.

[Hmmm what was that again? Oh!] Raven extended his arm and pointed his finger at the illusion. “Was it like this?” Raven ask himself.

[S**T! I really had to be late in the test day huh?] Jared told himself as he rush towards the test grounds when he felt a sudden shockwave that sent chills in his spine.

His heart beats rapidly after feeling his body gone cold of the familiar aura.

[This feeling, it was the same feeling in the ruins.] his eyes widen as he remembered where he felt the chill.

Jared ran as fast as he could that even used a wind spell to make his travel a lot faster.

*FWOOOSH!*

*TAK!*

*Pant!* *Pant!* *Pant!*

He is catching his breath when he entered the test grounds and his eyes widened seeing a familiar hair color. “Isn’t that-“