Raymond had followed Derek’s movement back to him standing next to Roselle once more.
It might had seemed like he teleported. But he didn’t. Fast movement magic? I’m not sure. But that isn’t a move an average mage could display. It is a move that can only be fulled off with constant raining or experience in battle.
Now dwelling on the matter for too long, Raymond shifted his gaze from Derek. We’ll see in the next stage.
Soon the time for the second stage had completed and Raymond stood up. "That will be all. If you’re selected you pass the second stage. Congratulations. However, if you did not. Please vacate the building."
The time to face on faith had arrived once more. The crowd was in panic as some lost faith in what they had produced. This as a result of the display made by Derek, Roselle and Owen.
In that moment, a bright light image out of magic appeared on top of the heads of several candidates. The light hovered on only a few as though it baffled everyone. But, some had already known what it meant.
"If you have a light on you. Then you have passed the second stage. However, if you don’t. As instructed, vacate immediately!" Francis, who again had been silent, quickly stood up and proclaimed.
"Will you stop taking my role, Francis?" Raymond pleaded in a joking manner.
"You are too soft, Raymond." Francis glanced at the captain in red robe. "You speak with a soft tone that wouldn’t push anyone anywhere. If you want people to be a good candidate and become a mage. You need to be tough."
Upon hearing his advice. Raymond frowned a little annoyed. Meanwhile, the other captains shook their heads in disbelief.
"You boys are always picking a fight. Don’t tell me you want to go at this moment. If you do, then these young stars will not give you the respect you deserve. Or do you want me to report you to him?" Captain Abigail uttered with her soft voice. She glanced at the completely grown men who were in their middle twenties but saw them as boys that were arguing over a simple matter.
Raymond shifted his gaze back to the reducing crowd, a smile plastered on his face. "What are you talking about, Abigail? No one is getting into a fight."
"You better don’t go spurring nonsense to the old man." Francis added.
And Raymond seconded. "I agree."
"Hmph."
..
Roselle was standing across Derek. They both weren’t moving out meaning they had passed.
"That display was grand." Roselle uttered. "I must admit. It was pretty cool. I was shocked at first when you suddenly vanished out of nowhere. But seeing you do it again cleared my worries. So you can teleport... is that your magic?"
"Hehe..." Magic? Hell no. I simply enhanced my physical ability. By increasing my speed I was able to move 8x faster than the average human. But you can say I teleported. I will allow it... The young man, of course, didn’t dare say any of this out loud. He simply smiled and replied, since he knew she was definitely expecting it.
"Well technically... You can call it that. It took me where I wanted to go and passed me for the next stage."
Hearing his words, Roselle nodded. She had no doubt that he was telling the truth and completely believed him. There again, Derek had made her conclude on her own without a straight affirmation from him.
Glancing around, Roselle uttered. "But this is crazy. Our number has reduced significantly. We were probably a little more than three hundred after the first stage. But now, we are not even up to two hundred. More than half have already gone. We should be about one hundred and fifty. No less."
It was impossible to know the actual correct number of those that remain and could only stay on assumption. However, the truth was that a significant number of candidates did not pass the second round and left. The royal academy was no joke. Even the smallest unimpressiveness could fail you. This wasn’t an exam to be taken lightly as the judges were not merciful when it comes to real business.
"If it continues like this. There might even be candidates remaining after the final stage." Derek added.
He glanced around and saw there were still a couple of commoners remaining. These are those that had given their best. Or better, had incredible talent and magical power irrespective of their status.
Of course, every single noble who had started the exam from the first stage was still standing strong. None of them had left the arena because their magical powers were immense, thus incredibly useful.
’Yeah. Now that I look closely the captains are definitely the ones accessing our abilities. I thought it was some sort of separate magic in the air and they were just here to observe. But it is coming from their side. Perhaps one of them has the ability of judgement and is being shared with the rest of them."
Derek glanced at the captains. Is she sensing something? I can’t sense anything. Is it because I don’t have any mana? His eye shifted to the captain at center... If what she says is true. Then as I noticed earlier ’he’ was definitely watching me. Since I passed the second round, does that mean he was impressed? I wonder if he also thinks that I have the ability to teleport.
Derek shifted his gaze away and glanced back down. His gaze moved past the few commoners around down and down to where the nobles were standing.
As expected. That guy also passed. They said he’s the brother of Mr. Strongest there. If I remember correctly he didn’t create or show anything impressive. The only thing he did was pour out his mana... and he passed. Is that the advantage of being of noble blood? Hmph.
The attention of the remaining mage was drawn by the captain with long blonde hair wearing a red robe.
"Now that the others have gone. The third and final stage will not commence." Raymond paused and glanced over at Francis, if he wanted to add anything. However, Francis slowly sat down with an uninterested expression.
He doesn’t wan to talk, I see. It looks like Abigail using the ’him’ as a threat stuck and made him behave... A slight smile played on Raymond’s face as he faced the crowd and continued.
"As I explained at the start of this exam. The third stage will be a dual. A battle between two individuals. Exhibit your full power in combat. You can go all out, don’t worry. We have mages with healing magic in standby. And with that said. Let the final stage begin.
"Hey there! I saw your magic earlier. And I thought it was great. Do you think we can duel?" A young man with a ridiculous smile, silver hair and grey eyes, walked up to Derek and Roselle and asked.
He wore a silver flashy dress, a noble.
"Me?" Derek pointed to himself.
"Not you. I was talking to the lady."