MEMORA, academy of magic

The Gym Test Hall

The pen erupted with a profusion of azure pigment, cascading from its nadir in an uncontrolled deluge. Desperately, he attempted to stanch the flow, applying pressure with his digit to the apparent source of the leak. Yet, this proved futile as the ink was propelled with greater intensity, splattering indiscriminately and indiscriminately, and smearing against the posterior of the chair situated before him. The blonde youth, perceiving the impending assault of the inky tempest, took evasive action and swiftly ducked, evading the trajectory of the mess. To the onlookers' amazement, a quantity of ink surpassing the pen's apparent capacity was discharged in all directions, eliciting disapproving glares from the surrounding onlookers.

Fin's pen clattered to the ground, abruptly halting its inky emission. The resulting mess was substantial - his hands and workspace, exam booklet, and hair were stained with the blue pigment. Despite his efforts to remove the ink from his digits, he only managed to leave indelible marks on his garment.

He anxiously wondered if the ink was toxic and if he had ingested any during the chaos. The entire class was gawking at him, including Master Orion, who appeared astounded at the level of destruction Fin had achieved with a single writing instrument. The only sounds in the room were the muffled whispers of a lanky student conversing with Samantha. The sly smirk on the boy's face and the haughty gleam in Samantha's eyes indicated that they were mocking Fin, causing his cheeks to flush with embarrassment.

"Finnick Black," Master Orion exclaimed in disbelief. "Please leave the room, attend to your appearance, and wait in the hallway until the rest of the class reassembles."

Fin hoisted himself up, barely conscious of the fair-haired lad who'd narrowly escaped being splattered with ink, cast him a seemingly compassionate grin. Despite still hearing some snickering as he stormed out the door, the vision of Samantha's disdainful expression lingered. He dismissed the opinions of his peers, whether benevolent, hostile or indifferent, for they were insignificant, having no place in his life.

As he stood in the lavatory, attempting to eradicate the stubborn ink with abrasive soap and paper towels, he pondered if the ink was enchanted. The blue hue had permeated his brown locks and left indelible prints on his white garment, even after his efforts.

Upon leaving the restroom, he encountered the other hopefuls in the corridor, some whispering amongst themselves about "the eccentric with the ink." The well-dressed black-haired boy sneered, "Fantastic choice with the attire. Let's hope the next trial does not involve detonations. Oh, wait, perhaps it should."

Fin muttered a retort, cognizant that it lacked the potency of an effective comeback. He leaned against the wall until Master Orion summoned them, instilling quiet as she divided the individuals into groups of five and assigned each a corridor to traverse, instructing them to await further instruction at the opposite end. The expansive dimensions of the airplane hangar were perplexing to Fin, leading him to ponder the obscure intricacies his father advised him to avoid.

"Finnick Black!" Master Orion's voice rang out, prompting Fin to join his assigned group, which included the disdainful Leif Frost and the hapless Lance Sterling, whom he had inadvertently splattered with ink. To Fin's chagrin, Frost ostentatiously embraced Samantha before sauntering over to ignorantly engage in conversation with Lance, effectively excluding Fin from the interaction.

The remaining members of the group comprised Sophia Williams and a timid Lirien with disheveled dirty blond hair, who had adorned herself with a blue flower behind her bangs.

"Hey, Sophia," Fin approached Sophia with a sense of trepidation, intending to impart a crucial piece of information regarding Master Orion's depiction of the Memora. It was his understanding that the true manifestation of the caves was fraught with barren tunnels and sightless aquatic species. Regrettably, Sophia appeared regretful as she requested Fin's silence. "Would you mind...not communicating with me?" she asked.

Fin was taken aback by her request, and retorted in disbelief, "Seriously?"

Sophia nonchalantly shrugged, explaining that she was striving to present herself in a favorable light, and that speaking with Fin would hinder her efforts. She then hastened ahead to join Frost and Lance, leaving Fin staring after her with a mixture of frustration and anger.

"May the blind, aquatic creatures partake in your sustenance!" he vociferously proclaimed as she feigned ignorance.

Leading them towards their final destination, Master Orion guided the cohort into a vast chamber, meticulously designed as an athletic arena. A towering ceiling loomed overhead, with a massive, scarlet orb hanging from its center, suspended at a great height above their heads. Beside the ball hung a lengthy rope ladder, its wooden rungs extending from the roof to just barely graze the floor.

This was absurd. The state of his leg prohibited him from scaling the ladder, and he was supposed to be sabotaging these trials, not performing so inadequately as to be deemed unworthy for admission into the magic academy.

"I shall now transfer your supervision to Master Eldritch," Master Orion stated after the final quintet had arrived, gesturing towards a diminutive magician, sporting a livid beard and a florid nose, who was clutching a clipboard and wearing a whistle around his neck, reminiscent of a physical education instructor, despite donning the traditional all-black attire of the other magicians.

"This assessment is cunningly simplistic," Master Eldritch remarked, his beard stroked in a manner that appeared intentionally intimidating. "The objective is straightforward - ascend the rope ladder and retrieve the ball. Who wishes to volunteer as the first participant?"

Several students eagerly raised their hands.

Master Eldritch gestured towards Frost, who eagerly bounded towards the rope as if his selection as first was a testament to his superiority, rather than just a reflection of his enthusiastic gesture. Instead of promptly ascending the apparatus, he circumscribed it, analyzing the ball overhead with contemplative taps upon his perfunctory lip.

"Are you fully prepared?" Master Eldritch inquired, his eyebrows slightly elevated, eliciting snickers from a handful of his students.