“Keegan, do you like magic?”
Those were the words my uncle Leonard had spoken to me when I was young. He had caught me holed up in the barn, hiding from farm chores to lose myself in a grimoire.
Back then, I had been terrified of him. He was a man of few words, and I had never once seen him speak to my father or mother. At the time, I was certain I was about to be scolded—which was why his question came as such a surprise.
“Yeah, I love it.”
When I answered, he simply turned and walked away without another word. Shortly after that, Uncle Leonard fell ill and passed away... so that brief exchange was just about all I remembered of our conversations.
What had he been thinking back then? Was he happy that I was learning magic? Or did he fear I would walk the exact same tragic path as him?
There was no way to know the answer now. Even so, the memory of that day remained carved into my chest. Yes, forever tied to the scent of soil—so much like the air in this forest.
“—Welcome, everyone, to Hawbard Forest.”
Standing before the twenty of us, Wittmann’s voice snapped me back to reality. We were in a dense, overgrown forest on the outskirts of Ulm. Gathered in a small clearing, we waited for his instructions. The day of the fourth exam had finally arrived.
“I am Edel Wittmann, and I will continue to serve as your examiner. A pleasure.”
Nineteen examinees wearing preparatory school gowns and one who was not straightened their postures in unison. Since this man was running the fourth stage, it seemed we wouldn't have to worry about church interference—at least when it came to the scoring.
“In the fourth exam, ten candidates will be chosen to advance to the final exam. I expect each of you to demonstrate your full capabilities.”
In the end, only five candidates at most would secure positions as court mages. Half of us would be eliminated here, and more than half of the survivors would be cut in the final exam. But none of that mattered now. The only path left for me was to keep winning until the very end.
“Before I explain the contents of the exam, I will divide you into two squads. Those whose numbers I call will be Squad One; the rest will be Squad Two.”
Dividing us in two? Did that mean the exam would take place across different areas?
“First, Number 1. Next, Number 5, Number 9, Number 13...”
Following his instructions, we split into two lines. Hermann and I ended up in Squad One, while Elena went to Squad Two. I tried to decipher the logic behind the assignments, but he was simply alternating down the roster.
“Right, you're divided. Next, I have items to distribute. Receive them from the front of the line.”
Wittmann pulled a stone-like object from a box at his feet. Stepping to the front, I accepted one. It was roughly the size of a fist, fashioned into a neat teardrop shape. Hmm... I could feel mana radiating from within. What kind of stone was this?
Before I could figure it out, the stones had been passed all the way down the line. Once everyone had one in hand, Wittmann resumed his explanation.
“These are magic stones used by mages in mock combat. For today's trial, using your own mana is strictly prohibited.”
A low murmur rippled through the examinees. Relying on magic stones meant... magic would indeed play a central role in today's trial.
“Every stone is charged with the exact same amount of mana. As you have likely deduced, today's exam requires the use of magic... but your magical prowess is not the only thing being tested.”
Natural mana capacity varied wildly from mage to mage, so he was placing us all on equal footing to test our practical application. In other words, raw individual talent alone wouldn't decide the outcome.
He had mentioned these stones were used for mock combat. And dividing us into two squads meant... Was he planning to make us—
“Now, allow me to explain today's exam. You have been split into two squads... but to put it simply, you will be playing a game of capture the flag.”
“...?”
The announcement caught me completely off guard. I had braced myself for an all-out battle between the two squads... What did he mean by that?
“Take a look. It is this flag.”
Wittmann reached back into the box and pulled out a small flag. A red triangular cloth was tied to a wooden stick, devoid of any magical aura. It was an entirely ordinary, toy-like flag.
“A duplicate of this flag has been hidden somewhere within the forest. It is quite simple: whichever squad finds it first wins.”
“Examiner Wittmann, may I ask a question?”
“Granted.”
Raising her hand to my right was Elena, standing at the head of Squad Two.
“My first question: since we have been provided with magic stones, does that mean we are permitted to use magic to hinder the opposing squad?”
“Naturally. However, any examinee who is incapacitated or exhausts their mana must immediately withdraw from the field.”
He called it capture the flag as if it were child's play... but in truth, it was a tactical mock battle between mages. Should we whittle down enemy numbers, or focus entirely on tracking down the flag? We were going to be forced to choose between the two.
“As I stated, the stones provided are strictly for training. Even if you are struck by fire magic, you will not suffer actual injury... but just as in real combat, do not neglect your defense magic.”
In other words, taking hits without bothering to defend just because it was a drill was strictly forbidden. That would defeat the purpose of the exam, and the examiners would deduct marks accordingly.
...No, wait. The grading criteria hadn't actually been revealed yet. What he just laid out was the "victory condition," not the "passing standard."
“My second question: how will passing or failing the fourth exam be determined?”
At that moment, every eye shifted toward Elena. The others had likely been wondering the exact same thing. Not what it took to win the game... but what it took to pass the exam.
“For administrative reasons, I cannot disclose the exact breakdown. However, there are two key points.”
“What are they, specifically?”
“First, let me make one thing clear... passing will not be as simple as granting entry to everyone on the winning squad.”
“Meaning...?”
“Each of you will be evaluated on your devotion to your squad and your ability to cooperate with your peers. Do not forget that your objective is the squad's victory, not your own personal glory.”
In short, whether you fulfilled your role within the squad was the true grading criterion. Even if you ended up on the losing side, you still stood a chance of passing as long as you contributed meaningfully. That was what he meant.
“Thank you very much. And what is the other point?”
“As I just said, self-serving actions will not be looked upon favorably. You are expected to dedicate yourselves entirely to your respective squads.”
“Understood.”
“However, there is an exception.”
“An exception?”
As Elena furrowed her brow in confusion, Wittmann thrust the flag forward....The flag? But wasn't that just an ordinary prop? What did he mean...?
“—Whosoever actually locates this flag will pass unconditionally. No matter how selfishly they behave, and no matter how thoroughly they betray their comrades.”
The instant those words left his mouth, a wave of commotion swept through the examinees. If your only goal was the squad's victory, it didn't matter which member secured the flag. But if you prioritized your own survival above all else... you would have to race ahead and find it before anyone else could.
The squad's victory, or your own guaranteed pass? Standing in Hawbard Forest, the twenty examinees were about to face a grueling choice.