4 years later
Ren was 13 years old and all the hard work he had put into his training for the past 4 years had almost paid off.His physique was better developed and more refined and in terms of strengh he was now in the mid range of his group.He had even learnt some martial arts from some training manuals that was provided to the group.
The training had gotten harder over the years but Ren was used to it by now.The other children were also not treating him as badly as they seemed to believe that he had undergone a change in mindset.Even Kasper was more quiet and reserved when mocking Ren.
However it didn't mean that Ren had caught up to the top tiers of his group or any of the high tiers for that matter.The difference in strengh between some members of the group had become more exaggerated as time went on.Friendships had been made and abandoned.
"Now then as you all know today is the day where we test to see if you have magical affinity or not.We'll have you enter the room one by one and those with magical affinity will have additional training to master magic." Fred then began to lead people one by one into the next room.
It was then that it was Rens turn to enter the room and test his affinity for magic.This was the moment.The moment when Rens life would change for the better.
As Ren walked through that door his body tensed up and he began shaking.Ren forced his body to relax and took a deep breath.It was then that Ren took in the next room in all its splendour.
There was a 1 metre dark orb and one of the village mages next to it.There were also 2 groups of children with one sitting down on the ground on one end of the room and one far smaller group standing up at the other end of the room.
"Now place your hand on the orb." ordered the old mage.He was wearing stereotypical mage gear and wielded a long staff.He had a receding grey hairline and a long grey beard.
Ren did as he was told and placed his right hand on the dark orb.It was then that he felt some sort of energy being drained from his body.Once the draining was done Ren was remarkably tired but could still stand somehow.A number had appeared on the black orb.
"Hmmm 800 mana that's about enough for 8 to 16 spells depending on the amount of mana you use.You also have the magical affinity.You have the qualities to become a mage.Go stand with the group to the left." this news was incredible for Ren who felt proud of himself.He actually had the qualities to become a mage who wouldn't be happy.
As he looked to the group to the right he saw that Kasper was among them.Ren grinned knowing that a top tier among the group like Kasper couldn't become a mage.
As Ren joined the left group he saw that the next person to come into the room was his best friend Raphael.The only one who gave encouragement and advice to Ren throughout all of his training.
Raphael did the same thing that Ren did but something slightly different happened.
"25000 mana you have the qualities to become a powerful mage.Thats even more mana then I was born with.You also have a high affinity for magic.Stand proud kid you are strong." the mage grinned and gave a thumbs up to Raphael.
Raphael looked around in amazement and pride.He was grinning from ear to ear as the people around him cheered and complimented him.He then looked over at Ren who didn't know what to think at that moment.
Ren had wanted to catch up to Raphael for a while now but it seemed as if the distance between them was simply going to get wider now.Ren forced himself to grin at Raphael.Perhaps if Ren had worked his hardest since the start he could actually bear to face Raphael as an equal.
For the rest of the affinity tests no one got as good results as Raphael got.Some got better then Ren but most were around Rens level except for one.That one was a girl by the name of Ruth who was friends with Raphael and Ren.She had 10000 mana and a high affinity for mana.Ren knew that both of her parents were mages so it made sense for her to have a lot of mana.Raphael didn't have any parents who were mages as far as Ren knew so it was confusing for him.Why did Raphael have so much mana then?He was the same as Ren who didn't have any mages as parents.