Blue Crown Camp and the Mage

= "So you mean to make me choose a weapon?" =

= "That is right, you better pick quickly, the test is not going to end unless we start first, and we can't start until the last kid picks up a weapon." =

= "Alright then, but let me ask if the reason why you are doing this is to see if any of the children you saved is worth keeping alive and have the possibilities of awakening as a Mana Manipulator? Or is it just for fun, Miss Blue Crown agent?" =

The lady raised a brow and smiled, = "For a kid, you are quite bright. For catching up on the thing we want to do I'll answer that question in honor of your bravery. Yes, I am here to see if the lot of you have the ability to survive and kill. You even know that I am of Blue Crown, how did you know that?" =

= "I saw the tattoo of Mister Reiss and some other key hints here and there." =

= "And you still walked into my tent like it is nothing? What an amazing feat for someone your size. I never knew a cripple like yourself would be bright enough that you will actually have the sensibility to look around. I want to continue this talk but, alas, I wish to end this now and make you choose a weapon." =

Taking in a deep breath, I spoke, = "I want a wand or any medium that will let me cast a spell." =

The woman abruptly stood up from her chair as if she had heard something that made her ears twitch. The woman looked at me dead in the eyes with seriousness and asked me, = "You're a Mana Manipulator? For you to demand a wand, are you a Mage? Do you already know how to cast a spell?" =

I remained unperturbed, but in my heart, I was smiling. I have her in the hook, I merely needed to slowly make her loosen up and she will eventually be brought ashore. With a nod, I began to explain…

= "I know how to utilize mana, and yes I am a Mage. But I have a [Essence Root] that conceals my mana from other people. It also hides my Mage Channels. You must be confused, after all, my information about me you may have in your possession speaks nothing of any Mage Channels. It is exactly because of that Essence Root." =

The Blue Crown is an underground organization whose roots had spread all over the world. At least that's what I got from piecing together numerous news articles surrounding their activities. The basic information of an orphan like myself should be in their hands already.

And just like what I had thought, the woman nodded her head confirming my thoughts, = "Indeed, the information regarding your abilities is not listed in your UIR, and your records speak nothing of having awakened." =

She looked at me straight in the eye and I felt something surrounding me. It appeared for a second and disappeared right after. But as it did, the lady creased her brows for the first time; as she waved her hand and tossed me a black wand made from some wood and a blue gem.

It was beautifully crafted. Intersecting lines provided the wand a beautiful pattern.

I picked up the wand and heard her speak from the side.

= "Perform a spell, if you are a true mage then you must have the ability to cast a spell. Now, child, go and show me if what you have said is true or not." =

With that said I did not waste my time and began forming the spell in my Mana Core. But I did not do it fast and had the spell form at the one-second mark, a testament of a Nine Mage Channels youth. I need not worry about the rank of my mana because the silver rank mana had already been detected.

A second passed and the mana began to congeal and form a spell at the tip of the wand where the gem was located and after a few seconds a ball of flame was created and as he uttered the incantation, = "Igni" =, the ball of flame was fired out.

It was directed at the woman, it was a rather big Igni, but it merely dissipated with the wave of her hand.

= "An instantaneous spell, huh, it is not bad. And from your casting time and the spell's strength, you must be a Silver-rank grade-3 nine channeled Mage. That is simply interesting… you passed. Now, head out and pass this to one of the guards outside." =

I left but before I went out I saw the woman calling someone with the UIR. I head out and gave one of the guards the piece of paper from the woman which made them act frantic and led me to a comfortable tent where they asked me to stay and rest.

Accepting their generous offer I began to rest, thinking will come for later and before I knew it I was asleep. I slept and ate, trained my ability to comprehend mana and cast spells inside that tent.

Eight days later the children went back. But from the more than dozen children who left, only two remained and these two had blood all over their bodies and faces.

The test of the Blue Crown are finished, the test of blood, a test where they put dozens children into one big hunt until two or three remains. I would have joined them if not for me revealing my abilities, but with my current state, I would surely die if I went to take the test.

Overall, the decision to let out the secret ended up saving my life.