Kazin's Quest: Book I of The Dragon Mage Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

this special occasion,” he began. “After two years of teaching and training, you have all managed to come a long way with your spell casting abilities. Although we started out with nearly five hundred applicants, more than two hundred of you showed promise as mages. With our apprenticeship program, we were able to teach you magic and trade skills and how they could be combined. Those who did not have the inherent skills to cast spells were directed to other career options. Now you will each have one chance to become a full-fledged mage, or even a master mage, as determined by your aptitude in the upcoming test. This will stabilize and improve your future, as well as increase your responsibilities. There are four possible outcomes in the test. I will give you a brief description of each.
    “First of all, for those apprentices who fail; and I personally hope that none of you fail; you will NOT be abandoned. You will have the support of the tower in finding work that is suitable to your abilities. Unfortunately, you will never get the chance to redo the test. So be careful!
    “A second possible outcome of the test is to reach the level of a full-fledged mage. Most of you will fall into that category. This indicates that you have passed the initial requirements of the test and are ready to serve the tower or be sent to assist the armies. Either way, you will embark on a positive career change, doing some much more important work than what you were doing thus far.
    “Another possibility is to reach the level of master mage. Very few of you will reach this level but if you do, you will serve the tower in a myriad of ways. For example, you may become teachers not unlike the master mages who have trained you. Or you can be involved in the making of magical artifacts, which requires a greater command of magic. Reaching this level allows the study and use of existing magical artifacts, which are very powerful indeed! Master Mages are also sent on important and dangerous quests. As I said, your responsibilities increase with your station.
    “Finally, there is likely to be one mage among you who will ‘perfect’ the test. Every year, one apprentice succeeds in perfecting the test. We don’t know why or how, but it has worked out that way for hundreds of years. I myself am one of those.”
    The hall, silent until now, suddenly rose in a chorus of murmurs. The arch mage rapped his staff on the desk again and continued. “This successful mage will still only achieve the rank of master mage, but will be one of several mages who have the opportunity to be elected to the governing body of twelve arch mages, of which I am one. To be elected there must first be a vacancy. When that occurs, those master mages who have perfected the test are entered into the election. The remaining master mages then vote for the candidate they think has contributed most to the tower and its operation. It could take years to be elected; maybe never. So don’t assume you will be a leader on your first day.”
    At this there were a few chuckles.
    The arch mage cleared his throat. “Enough of politics. Now I must tell you about the test itself. As many of you have probably noticed, the test takes place during full moon which is today.”
    There was a surprised groan from those who hadn’t noticed this fact until now.
    “The reason for this,” continued the arch mage, “is to see if you can cast spells when the black energy of the moon is at its weakest. This will show us how well you can draw the energy from within yourself.”
    Kazin felt an elbow nudge his side. “You were right,” whispered Max.
    “You all may have been wondering why your instructors have been making you create simple flames in the palm of your hand during the last week or so,” said the arch mage. “This was to prepare you for the test. You see, to pass the test you must create a flame in your palm and never allow it to go out. To do so will end the test