Master Zoltar emerged from one of the doors with a commanding presence, causing the assemblage to fall into a hushed silence without uttering a single word. His piercing gaze scanned the room, eliciting palpable anxiety among some of the familiar faces in the crowd, including Sophia, Lance, Frost, and Samantha. The latter appeared composed, seated between an opulently dressed couple of dark-haired individuals with brown skin, elegantly attired in cream-colored attire."Aspirants of the year," Master Zoltar addressed the crowd, "I extend my gratitude for your attendance and tireless efforts during the Trial. The Memora extends its appreciation to the families who have supported and waited for the outcome." He paused, surveying the bleachers. "Nine mages are present and authorized to select up to six applicants each, who will serve as their apprentices for the duration of their five-year tenure at the Memora. This decision should not be taken lightly, as there will be more applicants th

Fin was plagued by a deep-seated aversion towards the school bus. His social awkwardness and perceived oddities had rendered him friendless, and even among the cohort of aspiring mages during the Trial, he stood out as peculiar. Yet, the bus offered him a modicum of solace, affording him a row of seats to himself, likely due to the unpleasant odor of burning tires he emitted. At this moment, all he yearned for was solitude to reflect on the recent traumatic events and the loss of his father. He felt a pang of regret for not having a phone to hear his father's voice one last time, and to seek guidance on his next course of action.As the bus embarked on its journey, Master Eldritch rose to address the students, detailing the structure of the Arcanum Year program. The students were to remain at the school for the winter, as it was deemed unsafe for them to return home with only partial training. The curriculum entailed working with their respective Masters throughout the week, attending

FIN STOOD resolutely before a towering mountain facade, with verdant forests flanking his position on either side. Yet, directly before him loomed a pair of immense double doors, exhibiting a pallid, weather-worn appearance. Their iron hinges were twisted into ornate spirals that curled inward upon each other, and Fin envisaged that in the absence of the luminosity cast by the bus headlights, these doors would have been nearly imperceptible. Etched into the rock above the portals was a symbol that was alien to him, and below it were inscribed the words: "The flame yearns to ignite, the currents aspire to flow, the winds crave to soar, the earth yearns to anchor, and dark hungers to consume." The word "consume" sent a chill down his spine, and he contemplated his last opportunity to flee. However, he realized that he was not fleet-footed and that there was nowhere for him to escape to.The cohort of aspiring mages had obtained their apparatus and were now congregating, mirroring the st

"It transforms the symbols into a quincunx," declared Master Zoltar as he raised three wristbands from a stone table that appeared to be carved from a single piece of rock. The wristbands, which were wide leather cuffs with a strip of iron riveted into the cuffs and secured with a matching metal buckle, elicited awe from Samantha as she picked up her own wristband."Wow," she breathed.Fin, however, remained skeptical. "Are they magic?" he asked."These wristbands symbolize your advancement in the Memora. If you successfully pass your end-of-year examination, you will receive a higher rank," Master Zoltar explained. "The first rank, Arcanum, is represented by iron, followed by Aureum, then Obsidian, Platinum, and finally, Diamond. Once you have completed your Diamond Year, you will be considered a journeyman mage, eligible for admission to the Collegium. "In answer to your question, Fin, yes, these wristbands are magic," he added. "They have been crafted by a metal shaper and serve a