515-SPRING-80
It was the day that decided if his product was up to scratch, and Aedi gulped in nervousness as he waited. He was one of the few crowded about a clearing in the room, watching the Judgement occurring for the other wannabes while he waited for his turn. The judges were on raised steps cowled in darkness, and it was impossible for him to be able to try to recognize any of the faces.
"Timothy Randall Relius of Syliras," A scratchy, monotonous voice came from one of the hooded judges, and a red-haired boy stood up and let himself into the center of the clearing.
"A human..." Came the murmuring from the crowd, and Aedi could swear he saw a semblance of a smirk coming from the judges' table.
"What do you wish to show Sahova, Mister Relius?" The same tired voice recited, as if reading from a script.
"Uh... p-projection!" The boy stammered. One of the other judges threw an object forward, and it bounced and clanged as it rolled and made its way to the boy's feet. It was a metallic gear of some sort.
"Lift this," Came the simple command.
The boy stared at the gears as his face turned red with concentration, and it began to wobble. There was more wobbling as it showed more signs of activity, and as it rose there was a sudden crack. As if from some strange invisible force, the gear crumpled as it seemed to be smashed downwards on the ground, the concrete floor cracking slightly as fault lines appeared.
"But I- I don't understand!" The boy wailed as he shook his head in disbelief. He continued to stare at the gear as he tried to make it levitate, but to no avail.
The crowd snickered as the murmurings became louder.
Privy to all of this, Aedi had watched with a growing feeling of dread. So far, none of the candidates had passed Judgement, and it was likely that this one would not pass as well. To make things worst, the ones that he had watched so far were all displays of personal magic, and from the list that he was given, he would be the first on the day to demonstrate world magic.
Biting his lip nervously, he looked around for any comforting glances, but could only find the stony expressions of the living dead as he sneered at the failure of the living whom they despised so much. Aedi could only glance around wildly as he sought any comforting images as he waited for his own turn. The time ticked by.
It was the day that decided if his product was up to scratch, and Aedi gulped in nervousness as he waited. He was one of the few crowded about a clearing in the room, watching the Judgement occurring for the other wannabes while he waited for his turn. The judges were on raised steps cowled in darkness, and it was impossible for him to be able to try to recognize any of the faces.
"Timothy Randall Relius of Syliras," A scratchy, monotonous voice came from one of the hooded judges, and a red-haired boy stood up and let himself into the center of the clearing.
"A human..." Came the murmuring from the crowd, and Aedi could swear he saw a semblance of a smirk coming from the judges' table.
"What do you wish to show Sahova, Mister Relius?" The same tired voice recited, as if reading from a script.
"Uh... p-projection!" The boy stammered. One of the other judges threw an object forward, and it bounced and clanged as it rolled and made its way to the boy's feet. It was a metallic gear of some sort.
"Lift this," Came the simple command.
The boy stared at the gears as his face turned red with concentration, and it began to wobble. There was more wobbling as it showed more signs of activity, and as it rose there was a sudden crack. As if from some strange invisible force, the gear crumpled as it seemed to be smashed downwards on the ground, the concrete floor cracking slightly as fault lines appeared.
"But I- I don't understand!" The boy wailed as he shook his head in disbelief. He continued to stare at the gear as he tried to make it levitate, but to no avail.
The crowd snickered as the murmurings became louder.
Privy to all of this, Aedi had watched with a growing feeling of dread. So far, none of the candidates had passed Judgement, and it was likely that this one would not pass as well. To make things worst, the ones that he had watched so far were all displays of personal magic, and from the list that he was given, he would be the first on the day to demonstrate world magic.
Biting his lip nervously, he looked around for any comforting glances, but could only find the stony expressions of the living dead as he sneered at the failure of the living whom they despised so much. Aedi could only glance around wildly as he sought any comforting images as he waited for his own turn. The time ticked by.