[Be] Week 194 : A Child's Promise

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Shadowthread

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An utterly unremarkable building that facilitated a school for the children living nearby stood right in front of Dante, just recently the age of ten, the sign next to the door reading ”Tests of aptitude.” Unsure of what exactly they were testing aptitude for but his teacher had encouraged every child to take part in them.

There were about twenty or so kids presently loitering outside the building, some chatting about the tests with their friends and others waited patiently for their turn, some nervous, some eager. The young athlete fell into the former camp as he did not know what they were testing and nobody wanted to tell him what it was.

Standing by the door was a bald laicar, who looked rather intimidating from Dante's point of view. Nobody could go in or out without his permission. Each child stayed in testing for a while, so the day was progressing slowly just sitting near the school building until it was finally his turn to head in.

The room where he was told to go was dimly lit, with just a single table and two accompanying chairs. In one of them sat a laicar who was dressed in an extravagant robe, typically of the Arcanum scholars. The boy was curious as to why there was a man of such stature at their insignificant school, but as the scholar beckoned him to take the other seat he obliged. The scholar presented him with a paper, asking if he could read and write, simply nodding in response, he was asked to write his name and living area.

Next on the paper, there were multiple depictions of different morals with stories such as ” the Son who cried Vistra” and similar. He was instructed by the scholar to read each story carefully and then to answer what was the lesson each story was trying to teach and how would he respond in a similar situation. It took the young athlete a while to go through all of the stories, five in total and to write his answer on the sheet of paper he had been given. He was instructed to leave the room and told that they would contact his family in a couple of days with the results.

As he exited the building most of the other kids had already left the premises, probably done with their tests as well. Still wondering exactly what these tests were exactly about the athlete began to head home getting back just before dusk.

- - -

As he got back home from school few days later, he checked on the mail as he always did, this time however there was an extra letter addressed directly to him, emblazoned with symbol of Arcanum. He stepped inside the house, leaving the rest of the mail on the kitchen table as usual, taking his letter with him to his room.

Dante opened the letter with care to not break the symbol. It was the results of the tests at the school.

Dear Dante,

We hereby of the Arcanum have reviewed the results of the aptitude tests

that you undertook, and will recommend you to begin studies of two schools of magic

which you grasped the major philosophies behind almost instinctively.

The Bellator and The Aquila.

In the case of accepting this recommendation, please visit the main Arcanum building in Terminus and show this letter of recommendation to the receptionist to be guided to the proper facilities within.

We wish you well.


As he finished reading, he was shocked. The response to the stories had been a test of magical principles behind each school? He could hardly believe it and he was anxiously awaiting for his parents to get home so that the young athlete could show the letter to them.

Few hours later, his mother arrived home. His mother had long straight blond hair, and her body was lean. She worked at a tavern and usually long days, but always still had energy for her son.

”Hey, mom?” Dante asked cautiously, ”This arrived in the mail today and I was thinking of going,” he finished and handed her the letter from Arcanum. She read it, looked at Dante, read it again, before letting a deep breath go.

”Has your father seen this?” She asked waving the letter, to which the boy simply shook his head, ”Good. And he will not, you know how he thinks of magic,” She commanded with a stern voice, ”But if you want to, I do not see any harm in it,” she finished calmly, his expression lighting up considerably.


”Thanks!” He exclaimed and hugged his mother in gratitude, who simply patted him on the head.


[WC:783]
 

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