The test starts

As Aren continued listening Roderick talk, even he had to admit that the speech was motivating.

The headmaster Roderick had clearly pointed out how mages couldn't have more patience, perseverance and were swayed by the luxurious life they were having, due to which their progress was halted. He even gave several examples of professors here, who actually only had yellow or green ring aptitudes but still managed to reach rank 4.

After half an hour, the headmaster finished his speech and took his leave. Quite a number of apprentices gave admiring and yearning gazes towards him when he left. Aren even saw some clenching their fists and looking upwards.

'Hmm... the effect was good. I give five stars!' Aren derisively said inwardly. Only he knew that this man was a far cry from being a gentle headmaster who would ''guide his students in the pursuit of truth.''

With Roderick gone, a Professor took some steps forward and started explaining the rules and other things the participants should take note of in this test.

"I believe most of you have already learned this from your seniors but listen to me carefully. In this test, all participants would make teams of six with in each team being students of six different subjects.

But before I say other things, let me remind you that in this test you might lose your life. Those who are not confident in your abilities back down now, there will be no chance for you to surrender when you are teleported to Moonlight forest."

After the Professor said this, a short silence followed. After a while, a small group of apprentices left the hall. The Professor then turned his head and continued speaking, "As for who your team mates are, look at the apprentices in your rows"

As he said that, all students of their corresponding rows, looked at eachother. Aren also did the same. The apprentice on the column for spiritual and mind magical subject beside him was a fat guy wearing grey cloak.

Beside him was a ...well-endowed girl in yellow clothes. She was a student for summoning magic. On the column for Illusion magic was another girl. She had this ''protect me'' aura around her which he believed was caused by her illusory abilities.

The next student though gave him quite a shock. The same guy which he saw during divination earlier. He was apparently a student for forbidden magic. The last one was well...

'Miss Monica sure is capable!' thought Aren as he saw katty in her blue clothes. She was also looking at the members of their team curiously. Then seeing the guy with that mole on his face, she actually... pinched her nose and even distanced herself from him?

Aren's face twitched when seeing the little girl's antics. He was worried and at the same time relieved that she was taking him seriously.

As turned his gaze, he saw the fat boy boy extend his right hand towards him and say, "Hello there mate, I'm Warren, a spirit magic apprentice. It's nice too meet you."

Aren took the hand extended towards him and gently shook it. Then, from under the hood, his low voice sounded,

"My name is Syden. I'm a divination apprentice."

He then leaned forward and said to Warren in his ears, "I saw in today's divination that someone from our team will not pass this test."

Aren could see that the fat boy's expression had visibly changed. He immediately grabbed Aren's shoulders and asked in an extremely low voice, though he couldn't hide the anxiousness behind it. "Who is it?"

'This guy doesn't have any confidence?'Aren deemed as he answered in an uncertain way.

"I can't give an answer to that because fate won't allow me."

"But I only need a clue, After tha-"

"Hush, the Professor is about to speak again." Aren said as he looked forward, towards the stage.

At a glance, the Professor looked a little familiar too. He gazed at the man who was speaking in a loud and clear manner and finally recognized him. It was Professor Mark, father of Rina Fagulon.

'Is Rina also taking the test?' Aren was a little concerned about his dormmate. She was a good girl. It would be a pity if she died in Moonlight forest.

However, Aren started listening keenly the next moment as the Professor seemed to be telling important things now.

"In the Moonlight forest, there are many moonsprings scattered around. There are big and small moonsprings. The small ones has one moonstone while big ones usually have more than ten. Your task is to find the moonstones on the springs and collect them. However, the moonsprings are guarded by magical beasts. You have to first defeat it to collect a moonstone. Beware that the bigger a moonspring, the stronger a magical beast guarding it. The test will last for a month.

"Other than that, you all will also be given a token during this test. It will be your identity as a participant and a team member of a certain team. This token's function is to count the number of moonstones you and your team have collected. It will also give a general direction of your teammates when you all will be teleported separately. After the test is over, whoever has an individual count of less than 10 moonstones fails."

"This is not the only way to collect the moonstones though. You can also defeat a participant of another team and transfer the moonstones into your token. Killing a participant is also allowed but the consequences will be beared by you and you alone. The academy will not be held accountable for it."

"To return to the academy, you just have to break the token but breaking it before the test is over will not open the one-time teleportation portal, so I suggest keeping your token safe until then."

With that said, the Professor seemed to have finished saying everthing as he took out his spellbook, turned its pages and said to them.

"Alright, that's all you need to know. I'll be activating the teleportation arrays which would send you in different areas of moonlight forest separately. You'll find your token there."

He chanted a spell in an extremely fast and tongue-twisting manner and activated the array.

"Mass Teleportation Array activate: Xoronqenyaa Talescata!"

As he swiped the page of his spellbook, small black teleportation portals appeared beneath everyone's feet. The next moment, all apprentices inside the hall were sucked by the portals simultaneously.

Before being teleported, however, they all heard Professor Mark's voice for the last time.

"An advice from me, find your teammates quickly if you want to pass this test without much difficulties."