Ch30.The Tests start.

It is time for the tests to start, in the last couple of weeks I have been experimenting with magic on Birdhead almost every day. It was a slow start but after about a week, we finally came up with a solution, using a mixture of a few magical beast blood mixed together with bird heads blood and some 'Rune Ink'. Rune Ink is something I read about in one of the general information books I have and it is used to inscribe runes into artifacts, for instance a variation of it was used on my Bike.

After creating the mixture we tried to tattoo the 'Energy Gathering' Rune onto Birdhead, unfortunately this didn't work as he didn't have any magical energy to actually activate it, therebby binding the Rune into the correct spot. This led me to try my last and most drastic idea, I knocked Birdhead out and performed an operation on him. I first cut open the back of his neck and then I used certain tools to input the ink into his spine. I created the rune in the exact location where it naturally forms. After finishing this operation, I noticed that there was a very significant change that took place in Birdheads body. While he was out cold, energy started rushing towards his body and then traveling to the various parts of his body before stabilizing within him, thus causing the 'Energy Gathering' Rune to permanently activate.

After he recovered he was absolutely ecstatic at having Magical Energy, allowing him to learn Magic. In fact he even started crying and tried to hug me. When he tried that I just knocked him out, cold and left, 'If he wants to overreact like that he can do it when I am not around hahaha.'

After he gained Magical energy, we started some other experiments, I first had him try to form a Rune using his Magical Energy. What I have confirmed with this test is that, by using an external means to activate someone's Magic is overall detrimental to them and will lead to them being unable to externalizing Runes.

Since he could only learn magic the same way as me, I made him learn the 'Tough Skin' Rune that I found in a book that I found in a hidden compartment of my room. I believe it was the rune the gangs old boss used that made his defenses so strong. After he eventually internally formed that Rune I had him learn a variation of my 'Permanent Growth' Rune, what this does is, when activated, allows him to expand certain parts of his body. For instance when he goes in for a punch he can increase the size of his arm to cause way more destruction. That is all I have taught him, If he wants anything else he will have to work for it.

I did say that I would give him the old bosses book if he becomes my sparring partner, therefore every morning, afternoon and night for the last week I have been having a sparring match with Birdhead. He hasn't won even once, but he is becoming much better at controlling his Runes and his tough defense makes him a great test dummy to practice my moves on. Life passed by and the time of the tests has finally arrived. It is time for me to go to the site of my three main choices, and take the test to get in.

I first went to the tent of Beast Academy and waited in a long line with hundreds of others who were waiting to take the test. After waiting in line for a couple hours, it was eventually my turn and I entered the tent. Inside the tent there were a few people standing next to about five Circular Runic platforms and some other equipment scattered over the room, each person had a red robe with the Beast Academy symbol on their shoulder. I walked up to the first platform where I was called to by one of the examiners.

He was looking at me with obvious discontent and disdain, he then said, "I don't know why you are here, there is an age restriction to the tests and if you are older than 10 you will be kicked out! I hope you are aware of the consequences of wasting my time, now stand on the Rune Circle."

I just smiled lightly and stepped onto the Rune circle as it shone in a deep blue light before turning Green. The examiner had a face full of shock and said, "You are actually not over 10! Wow, do you have Giants blood or something? Well never mind, stop just standing around and quickly go to the next platform!"

'This guy has something wrong with his head ...' I then made my way to the next platform where another Examiner was standing, he then said "Before I activate the Circle, I will show you a list of Runes, you will then get 30 seconds to look at each Rune. Your task is to memorize as many Runes as you can and then you will need to correctly pick and arrange the runes that show up in the Rune Circle, you must arrange them as fast and accurate as you possible can."

He didn't explain any more before activating a device in his hand, which then showed a holographic image of a Rune that was constantly rotating, displaying it from every angle. Every 30 seconds the Rune would change and display another Rune, this repeated for about 15 minutes before the display stopped and the Circle under my feet lit up.

Within the light I could see various Runes floating before me, a platform then appeared in front of me where I could grab a rune and place them in a specific order. The order wasn't too difficult for me as there were only 30 Runes, the hard part was that there were a lot of runes floating around me, at least 100, and there were duplicates along with Runes that looked almost identical but had minute differences. I took my time on this test in order to aim for accuracy instead of speed. I wish I could activate my 'Greater Comprehension' Rune, although they didn't say I wasn't allowed to use magic, the opposite was also true and I didn't want to be disqualified.

After completing the task to the best of my ability I stopped and put my arms to my side, looking at the examiner and notifying him I was done. He then stopped the timer on his watch and looked at the platform before saying "21 out of 30 not bad at all! Well done young man, you can make your way to the next platform over there." He then pointed to where I had to go.

I made my way to the next platform while thinking 'That went rather well, I hope the next tests aren't much worse'. As I arrived at the next platform, the examiner nodded and then said, "Don't worry little big boy, this test is more of a formality, as long as you pass, the results aren't too important." He then brought up a hologram of the 'Energy Gathering' Rune and said, "All you need to do is form this symbol as fast as possible, the faster you do it the better, but as long as you eventually form it, you will move on to the next test."

As soon as he said that my hopes at getting into this academy were crushed, I quickly said "Uuuhm I can't actually externalize Magic Runes, I have already formed that rune within me but for some reason I can't bring it out . . ."