Today was Maximus' sixth birthday. He was born during the period of solstice, when the sunlight is at its strongest, which was acknowledged by his mother as a sign that Max is meant for greatness, or that he will be as regular as the rest of commoners who were born during this period.
In this world, children aged six awaken their magic and knight talents. Only about 1 in 10,000 people are found to possess a talent to become a mage, knight, and rarer for both. Those who are found to possess one, are allowed to attend a junior magic academy for the next four years of their lives in a nearby kingdom to train to become strong mages and knights. If they graduate with good results, they are then recommended to join the true Magic Academy, which teaches students of best talents for the next 8 years. Despite there being only 1 in 10,000 able to have a magic talent, this number is still high, since the population of this world is about hundreds of billions of people, along with other sub-human species, such as elves, dwarves, orcs, goblins.
Magic is composed of an intricate tapestry of elements: the fundamental four of earth, water, fire, and wind, as well as the radiant forces of light and darkness. There also exist myriad derivative branches, resulting from unique combinations of these primary elements or from the manifestation of extraordinary innate talents.
Those with the faintest spark of magical aptitude usually exhibit an affinity with only one element, often to a limited extent. However, individuals possessing the most potent magical prowess - those destined to attain the zenith of power in this world - typically command a strong affinity with one or more of the four core elements. They may also harness the energy from a range of derivative elemental branches, each generated through fusion or exceptional talent.
Beyond these, there exist four elements of an even higher order: space, time, light, and darkness. Their rarity is only surpassed by the difficulty in mastering them. Indeed, even those rare individuals born with these elemental affinities must reach the third stage of magical development before they can wield such forces.
Upon reaching the age of six, children transition to young adulthood in our society. Each child's destiny is seeded at birth, but it is only during the magic talent test that this potential begins to blossom. This rite of passage discerns whether a child is destined to tread the path of the mage or the knight.
Children who are found to possess talent to be a mage or a knight are sent to the academy free of charge to learn, while those who fail are forced to stay in their villages and stop dreaming about becoming a mage as the results of the magic talent test are absolute.
Magic Talents are ranked by the realm that people can reach with them. For example, a novice talent will let an individual reach a novice rank at most in this person's life, unless said person encounters an enormous lucky chance to defy the talent and advance a step further. Unfortunately, most of the commoners do not possess magic, and those who do usually end up only having a novice talent.
Yet, to fully develop a talent or to even step on a path of becoming a mage or a knight is a significant challenge that some do not overcome in their lifetimes even with the possession of a talent. Those who can become a novice, no matter rank, will have a significant chance to become a village chief, as strong reign supreme in this world, allowing them to protect the village and act as deterrent to wild animals in the woods.
Maximus' father, Leofrik, was an accomplished mage at the pinnacle of the Novice rank. His status offered the family the opportunity to relocate to a bustling town and reside in a comfortable dwelling. However, before making this transition, Leofrik ventured into the depths of the forest. Driven by his aspiration to advance beyond the novice rank and become an apprentice mage, he sought a fortuitous opportunity in the wilderness but, regrettably, has yet to return.
Maximus, though never having met his father personally, has grown familiar with him through the tales of the villagers. Leofrik was portrayed as a robust, stoic figure, with powerful muscles sculpting his broad shoulders. A beloved figure in the community, he was known for his benevolence and dependability.
The village where Maximus resides is nestled far away from the bustling activity of any kingdom or major territory. Because of this isolation, a magic talent test is conducted only once annually during the solstice period, when a delegate from the nearest city makes the arduous journey to the village. Given the village's location within the realm of the Kingdom of Valtoria, this delegate would be dispatched from the closest city under the governance of Baron Roderick.
"Maxy, I hope that you do not forget about your great, beautiful, and loving mother when you become a strong mage" said Aeliana while hugging Max and pulling him by his ears. "I know that you will have a talent. How could you not. Look at me and your father. We are both mages, therefore there is a high chance that you will be one too.
You have also been extremely smart since birth and have been the best baby any mother could wish, so I can be sure that you will grow up to be handsome and strong man who will marry a beautiful lady that will give birth to many and many grandkids for me to play with and look after."
"Mom, I have asked you many times to stop calling me Maxy. I am six already. I will undergo a talent test in a few days, after which I will go into the academy to study to become a mage." exclaimed Maximus, as he was annoyed last his mother of this life. In his previous life, no one called him any of such names and he was not sued to it. Although he was simple in his previous life, focusing only on billiards, but he still did not like to be called such names, as he thought it was beneath him with his status of a superstar.
( A few days later )
These days, the entire village has been preparing for the delegate's arrival by cleaning the streets, making food, and hanging ornaments to bring prosperity and luck to the village. Each year, the arrival of the delegate is the most significant event, as there is a chance that there is a potential future mage in the village. Additionally, if a child is found to have an apprentice level talent, the family will be rewarded generously for giving birth to a child with such a talent, while the village will gain recognition, more resources, and tax cutoffs.
Meeting delegates and paying their utmost respect is an unbreakable custom, as delegates are at least at the peak of a Novice Mage and must be recommended by many mages to become one, as they are testing children who would potentially join magic academies, and work for kingdoms and royal families if they ever reached the needed strength.
Today, the village was astir long before dawn's first light. The villagers, young and old, formed a procession along the Main Street at the village entrance, each brimming with anticipation for the delegate's arrival. The adults, donning their everyday attire albeit with an extra touch of grooming, presented a picture of orderly calm. Meanwhile, the children were a splash of color and excitement, arrayed in ceremonial garb tailored for this significant occasion.