Chapter 1 - The Wielder of Death Element

*Huff, puff.* My only chance to become a sorcerer is right in front of me, but I still can't find the strength to move, the pain is too much. I knew from the start that I wasn't talented. If only I could defeat him, my way of earning decent money would be assured. This academy is my only shot, I need to do something damn it.

*Briing, Briiing.* Only a few hours had passed since the entrance exams began, the sheer number of applicants was mind-blowing.

"Mister Staxius Haggard, we've received your scores, if you may, please follow me."

"My scores, the last hurdle before I achieve my dream of becoming a top-notch sorcerer. My heart is racing like crazy, is this nervousness humanly possible?" Staxius wondered as he made his way down the long corridor that seemed to go on forever.

"Welcome Mr. Haggard, your test scores have arrived. Please take a seat and we shall discuss what to do from here." A young lady wearing glasses and crimson-colored lipstick spoke out once he entered the room. Her presence was intimidating, holding the key to a bountiful future was bound to make her strict.

"Thank you for having me," Staxius replied politely as he sat down.

"Mr. Staxius Haggard, aged twenty and hailing from Krigi, which is in the province of Dorchester if I'm correct?"

"Yes, I was born and raised in the village of Krigi which is due north from here."

"Let me get right to the point, you've done miserably at the practical exams. Your physical aptitudes barely made D-rank. You don't seem to have any particular traits; nothing stands out except for your intellect. Scoring a perfect score in one of the hardest magical theoretical exams is a feat no one has ever accomplished, even the greatest mages around the world have only scored an A at best. Sadly, brainpower alone can only take you so far. In comparison to talented battle mages, your strength is lacking. So let me ask you this, why did you try an enroll here, I guess you knew full well that you'd fail?"

"I understand ma'am, I truly do, I know that my physical prowess isn't the norm required to enroll here, but I had to try, even if there was a 0.1% that I'd be admitted, I had to take the chance."

"Why such a risk, people have died trying to become a student here, what is your purpose."

"Well, there is nothing special about my convictions, all I ever wanted since I first saw the inter-magical tournament on TV was to become a sorcerer."

"You're not here for the money and promising future, you truly want to become a mage, alright fine, normally people who've only scored D-rank aren't allowed to awaken their elements but, in your case, I'll make an exception."

"Thank you very much, ma'am, it truly means a lot to me," Staxius replied as happiness oozed from his eyes.

"Follow me, we are headed to the arena to awaken your magical element. This is the only thing that is able to save you. "

While following the young lady towards the arena, Staxius had a smug look on his face, he lied about wanting to become a true mage. In reality, he hated everything related to sorcerers, but this was the only way he could make a decent living. The part about seeing the inter-magical tournament was partly correct as his father took part in it.

Claireville Academy, each year, thousands of students from all over the world come to test their might here. They range from young teenagers to middle-aged men, this academy only puts emphasis on being the best, age doesn't really matter. Luckily, specific age groups had different exams to partake in, and everything was neatly separated throughout the country. For example, the East Claireville Academy was reserved for people above the age of thirty, West Claireville Academy was for prodigies or kids below the age of thirteen. North Claireville Academy was for people from the nobility, and the Central Claireville Academy, the main building was for people who managed to pass the entrance exam.

Now back to the reason why people are so envious of being enrolled into the Central Claireville Academy was that from out of the thousands of students, only a few were hand-picked. Students with lighting element which is said to be the rarest aren't even allowed to join. You need to at least awaken two to three elements or score an S-rank in the combat exams. Scoring S-rank isn't even a guaranty that you will be admitted, only instructors are allowed to choose whoever deserves the right to stand amidst the elite.

"This is insanity, I'm standing in the middle of such greatness I can't fathom to compare myself to them. Even though I hate mages, mainly due to their obnoxious personalities, I like the prospect of how magic works in our world. Time to see if I have an element I can awaken, please work."

"Alright, put your hand onto the crystal ball, it will detect and bring out any elements to which you have an affinity for."

Five minutes went by since Staxius came into contact with the orb, nothing happened. The ball remained completely neutral, no reaction, it seemed that he didn't have any magical affinity after all.

"Enough, time to get off, you're being a nuisance now."

Despite her warning, Staxius didn't hear her, he was deep inside his subconscious searching for answers about who he was. The further he sank, the heavier his body got, all his memories scrolled past him as if it were a slideshow, a tough upbringing, betrayal, pain, and suffering, everything was bombarding him. The sheer amount of emotions was overwhelming, his desperate attempt to look for anything magic-related ended in naught. Staxius's spirit was at the breaking point, he could no longer go any deeper, it was probably time to give up. As the anger of failing began to overthrow his conscience a deep voice asked,

"Do you wish to break the seal?"

Out of nowhere, on the way out, a big pentagram, darker than the deepest abyss made its presence known. It was burning with a white and black flame, ancient text all around, and in the middle a scythe. Perplexed, Staxius asked,

"What seal, who are you?"

Ignoring his question, the voice asked once again,

"Do you wish to break the seal?"

*Brrrrr.* The sound of gears shifting and moving could be heard all around the arena, it was the automatic system kicking in, and shifting the configuration to battle testing. The last exam was about to start, the one dreaded by everyone, so far it had death counts which exceeded the hundreds. Oblivious to what was happening around him, Staxius stood in the middle as if he were a statue.

From the spectator booth, which was situated above the battleground in such a way that it could overlook the whole field, the young instructor was going mad.

"WHAT IS THAT FOOL DOING."

*Click.* The door opened, it was the director himself, each year he had a habit that turned into a tradition about him overlooking the last battle.

"Thank god you're here director, please stop this, that kid does not have any magical affinity." The instructor pleaded for the boy's life.

"Sofie, I'm so sorry, but interrupting the AI once it began testing is beyond my ability, let's hope that the detection system kicks in and stops the whole process. In case that the boy dies, no need to worry, every student has been required to sign a consent form which states that we are not responsible for any deaths that may occur during the examination process. "

"That is so cruel, but I guess you're right. I'm sorry Staxius Haggard, this may well be the last time we see you."

*Cough, Cough.* "Did you say Haggard, as in the Tempest Haggard?" The director spoke out in complete astonishment.

"You don't think it's the exiled mage, do you?" Sophie added in awe.

"Let's not discuss this any further, his name only sullies our reputati.."

Before the director could complete his sentence, a loud sound completely shook them off guard. It was the combat robot being release, current battle level is SSS.

"DIRECTOR, is the system faulty? SSS for an entrance exam, it's never been done before, I mean even trained sorcerers can't hope to defeat such a foe."

*Bam.* A bone-breaking sound echoed throughout the emptied arena, it was the robot punching the unsuspecting hero. The sheer velocity at which the punch made contact with his jaw was enough to send his whole body flying across and onto the wall. The force at which he collided with the wall sent ripples inside his body, the internal organs nearly broke. It would have been an instant death in normal circ.u.mstances.

As the seemingly lifeless body made its way onto the ground, it left a trail of blood on the wall. This was hard to watch, even for the instructor. Staxius's eyes were barely open, *Huff, Puff.* He was gasping for air, the sudden attack was too hard to bear, his body was about to shut down. "My chance to clear my father's name, is gone just like this, the fruitful future I promised him is going to end? Never, I will prove that my old man was a hero among heroes. BREAK THE SEAL."

"Time to awaken chosen one, my sole prodigy and heir, we shall finally meet."

The moment the seal was broken, the calm and emotionless brown eyes turned into one of a dark red color. Inside, a bloody red pentagram which symbolized death vividly burnt as he stared the test robot in the face. A black and white flame began to write something across his chest, it was in an ancient language, on his palm, a scythe appeared as well.

Both the director and the instructor were completely stupefied by his change in aura. It was as if staring death itself. Unconsciously the director decided to check Staxius's magical level, the rank slowly went from E to SSS then it broke, the computer could no longer keep track of his power.

From the arena, Staxius spoke in a devilishly deep voice,

"Foolish humans, how dare you hurt my heir. This act of indiscretion will result in your deaths."

*From the deepest part of hell to the highest peak in heaven, neither god nor demon can oppose me, as I am the sole ruler of death. Thou shall feel my wrath as nothing is immortal, I call upon the power bestowed upon me by creation itself, I order thy to return to dust, Decay Touch.*

The instant Staxius's incantation was complete, as the robot came in closer to deliver the final punch. Its fists, given that this was an SSS-rank combat robot, no normal human could see it coming much less block it. This idea was turned upside down, as our hero stopped the robot with a single finger. After that, it turned to dust and the most feared robot in the Claireville Academy was defeated by a mere student.

Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Shadow, Light and Lightning. Those are the primary element with which anyone can be born with, people usually have a tendency to have more affinity to one element as opposed to another. Here in Claireville Academy, they search for people who have an affinity for more than two elements. These people are rare to come by, the truly unique ones are people who hold three or more elements. There has only been a few recorded throughout history.

With those primaries, sometimes rare and unique variations are born. For example, if a parent has a strong affinity to water and the other has an affinity towards wind, there is a chance that the child will awaken with an ice element. These types of sorcerers are called hybrids and are very sought-after. Since ancient times, there have been legends about heroes who've inherited powers from the god's themselves. Counting among them we had Midas, with his power to turn anything to gold. He was given the affinity to metal, which later on it proved to be a curse only because he didn't know how to control his immense power.

Staxius Haggard is one of those chosen heroes, however, he doesn't know that fact. The magical affinity he holds is the Death element otherwise known as the power of the death reaper. The most powerful entity since creation itself.