profile and attribute,’ explained the green-haired boy with round features calmly. He addressed the group of six consecutive examinees, discussing what was going to happen. ‘Then you must draw five spells from the thought category and two from the word category. After each card is drawn, you must read the name of the spell aloud. The exam is simple; to pass, you must correctly cast four thought spells and one word spell. Correctness is assessed, not power or accuracy, so there are no targets in the arena.’ The instructor's assistant glanced at the next examinees and, without waiting for a response, pointed to the barrier.
On the outside of the shield, Instructor Hine was writing out documents for those who had already completed the exam. He was accompanied by several other teachers and two Guards in purple, gold-embroidered uniforms. The latter watched each examinee very closely.
‘I'm nervous,’ Aiden whispered as they stood by a break in the small wall surrounding the arena. ‘Even after the potion.’
‘It'll be better than you think.’ Draco didn't know if he should answer him at all, so he said the first thing that came to mind.
‘Next!’ The instructor had just dismissed the last person from the previous group.
Draco, Aiden and four other students entered the arena. Next to the instructor stood a small table with two boxes on it. The dragon swallowed hard, not sure if his stomach was churning because of the stress of the exam itself or because he could feel the eyes of the other teachers and Guards on his back.
‘One at a time, please.’ The instructor pointed his pen at Draco.
The reptile managed to take a deep breath before approaching.
‘Draco Ignis, third year, military profile, light magic,’ he blurted out in one breath. The man in front of him looked through the documents he was holding and shuffled a few pages.
‘Light magic...’ he muttered, writing something down, then gestured towards the boxes, which lit up with a yellowish light. ‘Five from the right container and two from the left.’ The instructor's tone was
