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28 years after the death of Himmel the Hero, at the Northern Plateau Border Checkpoint, located in the Nachricht Region
When Senken returned to the courtyard, holding another flatbread stuffed with kebab meat and drizzled in sauce, Genau was in the barrier with another tester, this one working far harder to keep up with the first-class mage.
As he wandered back in, the others waiting their turn kept their distance from him, until he made his way to the far wall of the courtyard, leaned against it, and began to eat.
The tests throughout the day were engaging, if rather one note. Within the first minute of the test, it was obvious whether Genau would pass or fail them, at least to Senken's critical gaze. Some simply did not have the strategic acumen to deal with an enemy that was versatile at different ranges of combat. Those had been given cuts just deep enough to let their blood flow, and then were promptly healed by Spitz, something she did not offer to him.
Some of the failures simply didn't have good enough spells for close range, and in trying to force Genau away, made openings for themselves. A few of these knew the futility of the task and had simply stepped back out, a pragmatic if unfortunately, boring move.
Of the roughly two dozen test takers, only three passed, Senken included.
The first was the broccoli haired man, who had been able to score four points against the golem. That same red beam had haphazardly cut through the air within the barrier, following Genau as he soared and attempted to get a bead on the tester.
In crossing the path of the spell, Genau's wing made to cut through the path, possibly to interrupt the spell, only to have his wing cut through instead. This slowed him down just enough for the beam to hit him in the back and send him outside of the barrier.
This mage's name was Bericht.
The other mage to pass was a small woman, chestnut hair in these long, loose curls, she was about as tall as Senken's lower shoulders. She won in a completely different way.
When Genau called for the test to begin, and his wings spread out to begin moving, she sent lightning from her staff. Genau was fast enough to use defensive magic, but the blow was redirected to the ground. Having been through multiple testers today, Genau had been conservative with his defensive magic, thinking the blow would be going to his chest from the angle of attack.
Instead, with the lightning firing into the ground in front of him, dirt saturated with the ashes of the grass from the test with himself, with the resulting impact clouding Genau.
When the dust settled, he was standing there, looking down at his shins, which were pockmarked with small, sliver-like shards of fulgurite, a line of blood rolling down his ruined boots to touch the ground.
This mage, Winzig, was the first and only person to discover that drawing blood was a means of passing.
Now the three of them were inside the estate that held the courtyard where their tests were performed, waiting in a lavish hall for what was next.
Senken could see them both, the three of them deciding to stand at a distance just far enough to make idle conversation awkward. While Winzig looked almost anxious, gaze drifting from him to Bericht and back again, Bericht kept his gaze leveled at Senken the entire time.
Despite never matching the gaze with his own, Senken could remember that look from a time long ago.
The gaze of one seeking a challenge, a whetstone to sharpen their technique against, was very similar.
The first to break the silence was, however, Winzig, whose voice sounded strained, as if she had lost it recently.
"I thought there would be more…" She said, and when the six eyes of the other mages in the room drifted to her, she seemed to realize she had spoken aloud and made to clarify her choice of words.
"People who passed. I thought there would be more for a second-class mage exam."
Bericht ran a hand through his thick curls letting out a sigh. "Yeah, Genau didn't take it easy on anyone."
"It would have been an insult." Senken added.
The three of them went quiet again. The second test was limited, both in scope and actual allowable means of passing, but that was the point. Close range was the failings of many mages, believing themselves able to keep distance from a threat.
If Genau had wanted, he could have hired a warrior to take his place, and the battle would have been pitched even more into the extreme.
Genau had given them hidden loopholes and equal footing with a mage, because this was meant to be a test. Too difficult or too easy would have been an insult, in two distinctly different ways.
"Winzig." Senken said, and the smaller girl jumped a little at the timber in his voice. "You did well with how you won. I wish I had been able to discover it first."
It was wooden as it could be, but it was a compliment, and a genuine one.
The far door of the hall, a pair of heavy oak doors, opened with a click, and stepping in was that very first class mage. He had changed his pants and boots, or had mended the holes made by Winzig.
Senken watched as Genau walked towards them, giving each of them a look in the eyes that could have been respect, but he felt was more acknowledgement. Like a teacher looking upon students who had passed a test.
Which, ultimately, they had.
"Here is the paperwork declaring you second-class mages." Genau explained, handing each of them a scroll of parchment. "You are also registered, so while it won't be the end of the world if your papers are destroyed, try to keep them safe. It's a pain in the ass to get them redone."
The three newly classed mages each opened their scrolls to look upon their newly minted titles.
"This document certifies that Senken has successfully fulfilled the requirements of the Mage Examination Board and is hereby recognized as a Second-Class Mage, with all rights, privileges, and responsibilities bestowed by the Continental Magic Association."
It was signed with Genau and Spitz names, as well as dated and marked with a wax seal at the bottom.
There was a moment of silence as they all read the pieces of paper, before Senken rolled his up and tucked into his shirt, his shadow swallowing the parchment.
"What is your plan now, that you have been deemed second class mages?" Genau asked.
Bericht spoke first, rolling his parchment up. "I'll probably stay in the tutelage of mistress Spitz, she still has much to teach me."
"I was thinking about the Southern Lands." Winzig said, still looking over the document. "There are a few festivals that still happen down there, I would like to experience a few of them."
The lull in the conversation, as well as Genau taking the time to look up at Senken let him know it was expected to share as well.
"Äußerst." he said plainly. Genau gave a smaller look, like one of suspicion, but it was Bericht who spoke first.
"Äußerst?" he asked. "Why? You got family there or something?"
"That is where the first class mage exam is being held in a few months."
Bericht and Winzig looked at him as if he had a second head, but Genau let a small smile crack his visage, turning away from the trio.
"Makes sense, he did break the record for youngest second grade mage." He said, walking away.
Winzig seemed to bristle at that statement. "How…How old are you, Senken?"
"I turned 18 a bit ago." Senken said, causing the small woman to stiffen, and woodenly turn to look at Bericht, who lifted his hands in surrender.
"Hey, don't be mad at me, I'm almost 28!"
As if a great bit of pressure was let loose, Winzig relaxed, slumping, her face towards the floor as she groaned. "How am I the oldest here?"
"How old are you?" Senken asked
"YOU DON'T ASK A WOMAN HER AGE YOU TALL BASTARD!"