Space spell

With all the students present on the stage and raring to go. The host Mr Ben invited both masters of each hold to the stage.

"I would like to request the presence of the masters of these students and esteemed heads of the respective holds to please join us on the stage."

With that Berg and Rodbar proceed to the center platform, both of them dressed in the same getup as their students, with just some subtle differences to signify a difference in rank.

The host, Mr Benson looked at Berg, then said with a requesting tone.

"Master Berg, if you may."

Giving a nod of approval, Berg requested everyone on the stage to give space, to which they obliged quietly, then he stretched his frail-looking hands that also seemed to hold unimaginable strength within them out across his body, closing his eyes, Berg's fingers folded and unfolded as he took a deep breath.

As Berg was doing all this, there was a subtle shift in the atmosphere on the stage.

Berg's actions caught everyone's attention, especially one of the ambassadors of the other holds, Great mage Leonardo Otto, who leaned off his seat as if to take a closer look at the spectacle, his eyes alight with an amused grin.

When Berg's preparations were done. He brought his hands together and formed a series of seals in a slow measured fashion. He then chanted a quick spell, the words not sounding like they had come from the mouth of a human to the observers. The runes on the bracelets on both his hands flared to life with a light blue glow.

'There it is, Berg's fabled space manipulation spell.' Great Mage Otto thought to himself in silence, his grin even wider, with what seemed to be like stars in his eyes.

Great Mage Leonardo Otto was a man of lean build, with vibrant green hair that matched the intensity of his eyes. His appearance was striking, with an air of excitement that seemed to radiate from him. Despite his excitement, Otto carried himself with an air of authority befitting his position as a Great Mage.

As he leaned forward in his seat, his eyes alight with amusement, Otto's grin widened, revealing a row of perfectly aligned teeth. His excitement was palpable, and he couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he watched Berg's demonstration unfold on the stage.

His antics caused his peers, and the other Hold's ambassadors to look at him with weird gazes.

"Calm down Otto, we know you're excited, but you have an image to maintain." Lady Sasha Maria from the sanctum of healers said with a playful smile.

Looking to the source of the voice, seated beside him, he was met with the sight of an extremely beautiful woman with flowing white hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall, fair unblemished skin that seemed to cast a glow, her red lips were curved up in a playful smile that also shone in her gaze.

Calming down, Otto looked at her and said, his excitement evident. "I understand Lady Maria, but I just can't seem to get enough of it, this is arcane, you know? And not just arcane, it's 'major arcana,' it's quite rare."

"Surely you've seen better arcane masters now, haven't you Otto?" Maria asked.

"Well of course I have, but all of them are either proper mages or experienced arcanists and have had extensive training in the field. But Berg, he remains the only one I've seen to achieve this level of proficiency without putting much effort or training into it," Otto said, his voice still carrying a tinge of amusement.

"I can understand you, it is indeed quite surprising," Maria replied as her gaze shifted to the stage.

***

As the space around Berg seemed to shift and churn, the audience watched in awe as two rows of seats and chairs suddenly appeared on opposite sides of the center stage, eliciting excited reactions from those present.

Among the audience, murmurs of amazement and wonder rippled through the auditorium as spectators marveled at the display before them.

"So that's it, that's space magic, incredible! It's truly incredible," one audience member exclaimed to their companion, eyes wide with astonishment.

"I never thought I'd see space magic in my life. I'm truly blessed," another whispered, their voice trembling with emotion as they made prayer gestures in reverence.

"But is it really magic? I hear it falls under the arcane branch." Another responded to the last speaker with a bit of confusion in his voice.

"Bah, whatever." The person responded back dismissively.

""It's even better witnessing it than hearing about it. Good thing I made the time to be here. A very good thing, really," remarked another, nodding in agreement.

Conversations like these were rampant throughout the auditorium, as the audience exchanged excited reactions to Berg's spell, an incredibly rare and awe-inspiring feat.

Meanwhile, Great Mage Otto couldn't contain his excitement, his laughter filling the air as he watched Berg's display with satisfaction.

"Incredible, truly incredible." Otto exclaimed, his grin widening with each passing moment.

"But he took too long to prepare. That goes to show how much training he lacks. It's a pity he didn't choose the Mage Tower as his hold. Imagine what he could have achieved if he had dedicated his life to the art. He could have become an Archmage, heck, even a Magus would not be too much of a stretch," Otto mused, his disappointment evident at Berg's choice to become a Seeker instead of focusing solely on magic.

"But he decided to become a Seeker. Seriously, what is he seeking for? Magic is the truth of all," Otto added, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Otto, you've said enough," Lord Alex Doggen interjected, his voice deep and commanding as he addressed the Great Mage with a firm tone.

Doggen was a man of great stature, with a rugged appearance befitting his role as a leading figure in the Forge of Smiths. His short brown hair complemented his bushy but well-trimmed beard, and his muscular physique spoke volumes of his expertise in the art of forging.

With a stern gaze, Doggen turned his attention back to the stage, where Berg's demonstration of space magic continued to captivate the audience.

"Let's not forget the purpose of this exchange," Doggen continued, his voice carrying a sense of authority. "It's a celebration of knowledge and togetherness, where students from different holds come together to showcase their talents and skills."

"As ambassadors of our respective holds, we must support and encourage them, regardless of their chosen paths," Doggen reminded Otto, his words a gentle admonition.

Turning his attention back to the stage, Doggen watched with a sense of pride as Berg's mastery of space unfolded before them, even though little, he himself was impressed with Berg's feat.

"Let's focus on the event at hand and show our support for the students," Doggen urged, his tone resolute as he gestured towards the stage.

With a nod of agreement, Otto composed himself, his excitement tempered by Doggen's gentle but firm reminder of their responsibilities as ambassadors.

As the demonstration reached its climax, the audience erupted into applause.The ambassadors returned their attention to the stage, ready to witness the rest of the exchange unfold.

After the excitement had died down, the host, Mr. Ben, resumed his address.

"What an incredible display by Master Berg! It was an honor to witness space manipulation in action, and I believe we can all agree." The audience echoed their agreement with resounding applause.

Berg raised his hand in acknowledgment of the applause, a humble smile gracing his lips as he received appreciation from the audience.

"Without wasting much time, let us proceed with the exchange." Mr Ben continued.

Berg and Rodbar then led their respective students to the seats that Berg had magically prepared for each team.

After each team was seated, the host went on with the proceedings.

The host then spoke, his voice resounding throughout the auditorium as he addressed the eager audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, it is my pleasure to present to you the topic of the debate, our first event of the exchange, magical regulation."

A hush fell over the crowd, their eyes alight with anticipation. With authority, the host continued, "In a world where magic is both a gift and a potential danger, the question of regulation has long been a subject of heated debate. Today, our students will delve into this complex issue, exploring the merits and drawbacks of regulating magical practices."

Gesturing to the two teams of students waiting eagerly on the platform, their faces a mix of determination and anticipation, the host introduced, "On one side, we have the advocates of magical regulation," indicating the students clad fully in robe attire, 'The Librarians. "These students will argue in favor of government oversight and control, advocating for measures to ensure the responsible use of magic and safeguard public safety."

As the host introduced the Librarians and their stance, jeers of disapproval erupted in the auditorium.

"Boo boo."

"Regulate magic? For what? If magic were regulated, what would we commoners face?" A dissatisfied voice rang out from within the audience.

"Do they want to regulate magic so the nobles can have even more of an advantage than they already have? Well, that wouldn't be fair." Another voice amidst the crowd also voiced his dissatisfaction.

A wave of discontent spread throughout the arena, with the majority of those present against magic regulation. Despite the disapproval, the Librarians remained serious and unbothered, ready to proceed without falter.

"Say, what do you think, Otto?" Maria asked Otto with an amused tone.

"Hmm," Otto furrowed his brow before responding, "Well, I can't say much to be honest. On one hand, it could be advisable to regulate magic for there to be order and to ensure only those who merit it hold it. However, as we can see, that would cause massive dissatisfaction as many feel magic is a gift of nature and there shouldn't be any restriction to its use." Otto said.

"But hey, that's why it's a debate, both parties now have the responsibility of convincing us why they feel we should support either motion." Otto's voice remained even, his steady gaze focused on the arena.

When the jeers had subsided, the host proceeded to introduce the other team.

"On the other side, we have the opposing voices, who believe in the inherent right of individuals to practice magic freely, without interference or restraint from governmental authorities." Turning to the opposing team, dressed in elegant white attire indicating purity, individual freedom, and independence, he introduced, 'The Seekers'.

Following this announcement, the Seekers received a heavy round of applause and cheers, with the majority of those present showing support.

"Show those book-loving fools who the bosses are!" An energetic voice resonated with the rest of the audience.

"Let them know magic is for all!" Another person shouted.

The Seekers looked on with focused and relaxed gazes, showing no hint of smugness despite having the majority of the audience on their side. All that occupied their minds was the determination to win.