Timothy took in a deep breath and muttered something to himself that was inaudible to Ermand.

"You'll do good," Ermand encouraged, placing a hand on Timothy's shoulder.

Timothy returned a nod.

"Oh, and don't forget to tell me how it's like," Ermand commented.

"Good luck.".

Timothy let out a heavy sigh.

"Alright, alright. Just don't exaggerate anymore," he said, scurrying off to the interviewer.

He caught a glimpse of his parents trying to catch his attention, but he didn't bother to look at them. He knew they must be as nervous as he was, maybe more than him. He was their only son, and he wanted to make them proud. Joining Agledon was always a part of the prestige of the high clans because it was the best university in the whole magical dimension.

Ermand eagerly waited for Timothy's return.

What will the interview be like?

After waiting for twenty minutes, Timothy walked toward him with a wide grin plastered on his handsome face.

"You passed?"

"Yup," Timothy smiled.

Ermand paused for a moment and took a glance around the hall.

"How was it?" He asked, facing Timothy.

"Not so nice, actually, but I think I've done well. The Professors there asked me about my achievements, a few questions, my point of view about the society, and asked me to demonstrate a spell against a charm casted by one of them."

"About society?" Ermand's eyebrows furrowed.

"Well, I just said that the society was diverse. That's all I knew," Timothy laughed.

Ermand didn't join him in the laugh. It was not a joke for him. The diversity, in a sense, was humiliation. The diversity that was created long before it made the lives of the suppressed worse, but he knew that was not what Timothy meant.

"I hope I'll make it," Ermand mumbled to himself.

As hours passed many students were called.

"Ermand Chisel. Fingercut street, One-hundred-two. Tawarn."

The moment had finally come round. He had to face it, or lose it. No, he can't lose. After all this time, he found company in Timothy, the fabulous college, his expectant parents and most importantly, Jack.

His parents were comforting at the same time. They can never be his biological parents, but they were the best parents ever. Ermand watched them rushing toward him.

"Don't worry Ermie. We've got it," Mrs. Chisel held his arm.

Ermand quietly followed his parents after he gave a wave to Timothy. He noticed a puzzled look on Timothy as his parents joined him toward the instructor who called his name.

If I don't pass, that's alright, he told himself.

"This is a very serious and exceptional case Mr. Rauffin. Ermand here..." Mr. Chisel's voice faded into thin air. The two men whisper something to each other.

After Mr. Chisel's explanation, the man eyed Ermand in an eerie manner and in a friendly sort of way. Did something make him change his mood? Only the man, and the Chisels knew.

"Sure," the man nodded. He had a hoarse voice.

Ermand and his parents followed the man into a brightly lit narrow hallway where huge paintings hung on the wall. When Ermand took each step forward, he was nervous about how he would do all of what Timothy had told him.

How should I bring the Chisel in me?

"Are parents allowed? I've noticed that other students went inside here alone," he whispered to Mr. Chisel.

Mr. Chisel shook his head. With a confused look, Ermand tilted his head and bent his eyebrows at Mr. Chisel. But all Ermand received as a response was a nod with his eyes shut from Mr. Chisel.

"Mr. and Mrs. Chisel, Ermand... Chisel. Your judges await inside. All the best." The man said, breaking his gaze from the scroll. Ermand noticed the man bow at them from the corner of his eyes.

Ermand gulped before he opened the colossal and well polished wooden door slowly. The room smelled of sweet burning candles.

"Please come in," an old, but remarkably clear and sturdy voice greeted them.

Ermand turned at the source to find a man with greying hair and small gray eyes, sitting in a wooden armchair at the end of a long table. He wore a black suit, and was accompanied by twenty people. Ten men sat to his right and ten women to his left. Ermand's mouth opened partially when his eyes grazed the hall with Professors staring, observing each and every single movement of him. Ermand gulped and exhaled through his mouth.

He glanced at the empty chair opposite to the prestigious looking Professor.

"Please, take a seat," the man said. He had a touch of authority in his voice.

Ermand nodded, but before he could move, the Chisel couples entered the room.

"Pardon sir. We need to talk with you before the interview starts," Mr. Chisel spoke.

"Is it relevant?" he asked.

"Very relevant sir," Mr. Chisel replied.

The Professor nodded and Mr. Chisel walked toward him. He whispered something to the man, who listened to him patiently. The other men in the hall were murmuring something with each other.

"I am Professor Zaugustus Lewcent. The High Professor of Agledon, who has full control of this institution," he introduced himself to Ermand after listening to Mr. Chisel.

Immediately, Mrs. Chisel nudged Ermand, who gazed at the tall man listlessly.

"Uh... I'm Ermand. Pleased to meet you Professor Zaugustus Lewcent," Ermand replied.

All the Professors stared at him, leaning in their chairs.

"Ermie, the clan name first," Mrs. Chisel whispered behind him.

"Take a seat, Ermand," Mr. Lewcent gestured to the empty chair.

Ermand sat. His mind was elsewhere. He was confused about how to surpass the interview. He even felt a bit angry toward the Chisels.

They didn't even tell me anything about what I should answer to the questions these people will shoot at me.

He caught a glance all over the room before his eyes settled on the man opposite to him whose eyes were affixed on Ermand.

The judges adjusted their glasses to glare at him. Ermand shifted in his chair uncomfortably while Mrs. Chisel joined her husband and exited the room.

"The Professors here will ask you a few questions to which you should answer clearly and honestly," Mr. Lewcent stated. A comforting smile appeared on his face, easing Ermand's tension.

"Okay, sir."

"What is the alternative to the traditional potion of Germer's infusion?" One of the Professors asked.

"P-pardon sir?" Ermand gulped.

The man repeated the question again. Ermand slowly turned his head in the direction of his parents standing at the other side of the door.

How the hell am I supposed to answer these!

"Mr. Chisel, please pay attention here," another Professor said in a stern tone.

Professor Lewcent cleared his throat, grabbing everybody's attention.

"Gentleman, I have a few questions to ask him," he said.

The pace of Ermand's heart quickened.

"Ermand, tell me what spell would you use to separate a mixture of salt and sugar in water?"

"A troll with half a brain can answer a question as simple as that," one of the Professors interjected.

"Let's see if he could answer it, Professor Qorder," Zaugustus replied, keeping a steady gaze on the boy. Ermand sighed with relief

I think I remember this, mum asked me to do this when she accidentally mixed salt in a sugar solution.

"Use the Segregation spell," his voice low, doubting if he was wrong.

"What is the consequence of it?"

"The sugar will crystallize immediately without dissolving in water."

The High Professor scribbled some notes on a page in front of him.

"Can you perform spells?"

"Uh, yes."

"How will your magic react to this?"

The High Professor produced a ball of blue flame in his palms before hurling it in Ermand's direction. Ermand gasped, tucking his head down. The blue sphere hit the wall behind him and bounced toward Ermand. He bent his head again as the flame soared toward the High Professor. Before the flaming sphere could hit him, the Professor opened a small portal before him, engulfing the incoming ball of flame.

"Ermand, I asked how your magic would react to this, not how you'd react," he said, chuckling to himself.

"Quick question, are you proud to be a Chisel?"

Ermand's heart slammed against his chest as the words hit him.

What's so honourable about being a part of a clan considered so low? He wondered that himself.

**********

Editing credits ~ sticklady2015