Chapter 7: Better Knowledge
"I am supposed to go to Stadium 4."
"Which one?!"
With utter contrast to the situation during the the introductions just the previous day, the place was as noisy as it could possibly get. One could imagine the intensity through the fact that earplug shops just outside the gates got sold out instantly.
The examinations every year were held in The Colosseum. It was huge, as big as a town. Within the tall and tenacious walls were a cluster of around 40 large stadiums. It was undoubtedly one of the finest pieces of architecture to have ever existed. The layout was extremely well planned; the stadiums were equally spread out throughout the area. The stadiums served as the training grounds for mage mercenaries who were to be deployed at the border or at sites of constant conflicts. The structure was very old, that is what they had studied in their history books. A good look at it would never lead one to believe the same.
"The fourth stadium!" screamed Riko at the top of his lungs.
Everyone had received a stadium number at the time they had registered for the examinations. They were instructed to head to the corresponding stadium to pick up their schedule for the tests. At most four tests for each candidate were to be held in a span of 3 weeks. The exact date and time of tests was to be mentioned in that schedule.
"I CAN NOT HEAR YOU." Rin replied while trying to explain herself via lip movement.
"LET US ALL MEET AT ELEVEN OUTSIDE THE NORTHERN COLOSSEUM GATE." Zen copied her technique.
"What?" screamed Teo. Clearly audible despite the insane noise and earplugs on.
With a few pinches and foot stamps from Oromi and some intervention from others, they sorted out the problem, which was Teo, and went their respective directions.
Counters were set up on the peripheral of the stadiums. They were divided on basis of roll numbers. The counter numbers with respective roll number range was displayed on all four screens outside the stadium.
'Counter 15'
As expected, there was a long queue at every counter despite the line moving fast. after waiting for a while, he got his schedule and it read similar to as follows.
***
Candidate Riko (SS70D0265789),
This is the final schedule of your tests.
Magical Power Rating Test : 1100 hours, 18th June, 18th Stadium
Written Test: 1400 hours, 20th June, 37th Stadium
Pill Formation Test: 1100 hours, 24th June, 14th Stadium
Battle Simulation Test (1st round): 0945 hours, 26th June, 20th Stadium
The details of each test is attached with the letter.
The reporting time at the respective stadium is 30 minutes prior to the time of the event. Any case of delay will be strictly not entertained.
All The Best!
*
**
'The first test is day after tomorrow.'
As decided earlier, the five meet outside the Colosseum main gate roughly around the established time. They decide to have lunch at a restaurant, sharing the bill equally.
They walk through many restaurants, denying each of them, may it be because it is too shabby, too costly, not to the preferred taste and such more excuses. Finally, they all agree on one.
The restaurant was lavish; their offer exclusive to candidates participating for the examinations made the place affordable and in very high demand. They barely got a table to themselves without having to wait in a line for it.
"Uahh, my first test is tomorrow itself, and probably the earliest batch too, at 9." Rin started
"I have tomorrow at 9 too." Oromi added.
"I would have liked to see all others' scores first." said Rin
"I think it is better that way." Zen commented.
"Hmm, different perspectives, I guess. What I find amusing is that why do they need to hold so many different tests? Wouldn't the Magic power rating test suffice in itself?"
"Magic isn't the only ingredient to a renowned mage. There are so many aspects of a war, one cannot fathom to specialize in them all. We all have different roles to play; firepower is not the most important if I have a say in this." Riko commented in a rather confident tone.
Continuing, he added, "Ah and there is that too nobody has reached their capacity at the age of 10 to 12. If anything, the magic power rating test might be the most insufficient category to judge our capabilities."
There was nothing to be corrected in his statements. He had given a perfect well-rounded answer to the candid question.
Meanwhile, Teo, not knowing what Magical Power Rating Test exactly was, he flipped the schedule card around and saw 4 notes written on it, each describing one of the tests.
The first note read:
***
Magical Power Rating Test
The test requires the candidate to head onto the indicated platform and hold the transparent crystal ball placed on a bracket with both hands. The crystal ball will show the colour of the element having affinity towards the holder.
The colour code for corresponding elements is calibrated as follows:
Fire: Orange
Water: Cerulean Blue
Wind: Grey
Earth: Brown
Lightning: Azure Blue
Ice: Dazzling White
Dark: Black
Light: Gold
If the mage is possessor of dual affinities, the element colours will blend together in a spiral.
The supervisors are highly trained professionals and will actively guide through the processes.
The supervisor will switch the mode after this.
The next step requires the candidate to try to concentrate his element particulates onto the crystal ball, which will then display a score. The candidate will get a total of 3 chances except the first trial, in which the supervisor will explain the procedure with example.
The best score of the three will be taken into consideration.
The test ends here.
***
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Alphonse10
Alphonse10 ***More about Human Realm***
The science in this world hasn't progressed as much as our current world. This may be credited to the fact that a lot of focus is paid on development of magic techniques rather than scientific developments. As a result, there is no means of sending a message to a selected mass of people. Messages can be sent either to an individual directly or to the entire crowd.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone