The Brothers of Nexus

 The worried shopkeeper wanted more time for the kids to get control of their magic before they took the exam. He knew how difficult the exam was, and he thought of his time in the exam. Gideon heard that every year, the exams are in a different order. Still, there are always three parts to the test, and the year he took it, the first part of the test was a one-on-one double elimination tournament, where the top 6 from each test site got to move on to the next exam location where a different test would take place, but Gideon had lost in his first round. Gideon started sweating, thinking of the two crushing defeats in the tournament as he never adapted his magic to the point of combat, which caused him to lose his one chance to join the Tower. Those defeats ran through his mind; you only get one chance to get into the tower, and he missed his opportunity as he stood there staring in thought.

Ms. Nez asked, "Are you responsible for all three of the kids, magical abilities?" He snapped out of thought as he answered shakily, "I'm only responsible for the girl, as she is my daughter. On the other hand, the boys are not mine, but I will take full responsibility for them awakening themselves in the woods."

Ms. Nez, in disbelief, said, "The boy is an infernal, that's not something that just happens in the woods, and space affinity at that." Kael said, "It's true I made my brother and myself eat a mushroom we found in the woods, and it triggered our awakening. Gideon warned us not to be reckless as he was the one who identified them" Professor Slims added, "Who cares how the boy is an infernal, why can't we just be glad we found him?" Ms. Nez elbowed the professor harder than before, " We need to know this boy's background. The council will not accept that I one of the 6 last space users happen to find a self-awakened infernal with the same affinity for this year's exam and not think it's something I did! Professor Slims sighed "We wouldn't be in that position if you were not constantly complaining about the council's decisions."

The two professors weren't friends, they were the only teachers who did not have a partner for the exam due to the nature of the two being hard to work with. Ms. Nez is stubborn and lacks communication skills, and Mr. Slims is quick to judge because of his short temper. Slims expressed "It doesn't matter anyways we are running out of time and these three are perfect. We haven't even tested them, and we know they are all high-ranking magicians." Ms. Nez sighed saying "Unfortunately Professor Skeleton is right we need to be going, no later than tomorrow. We only have a few weeks till the exam is set to begin." All three kids looked at each other right as she finished those words. They all had the same thought, "The exam is in a few weeks!" 

 Gideon quickly said, "These kids are not ready for the exam. They only just awakened and none of them know any kind of control."

 Kael knew he was not ready for any exam, he could not even produce anything from his magic except manifesting it in his hands, but it was useless. That did not stop Kael from saying what he said next, "I am going with them no matter what, this is the only path I see to learning anything about my magic. Gideon you can help Jera and even my brother learn his magical abilities but I haven't got anywhere with my magic and there is a space professor right in front of me. I have to go!" Ms. Nez cut him short " Well I will stop this show right now as I don't enjoy what I'm about to say but I will be taking all three kids tomorrow no matter what as the skeleton is right, we have run out of time, and this will be my team for the exam." Gideon began to say something but as he did, he looked over to Jera and saw she wasn't scared for even a second and he knew Kael was right, I'm not fit to teach him let alone anyone, and the best thing right now for them is this opportunity. Jera saw the struggle on her dad's face and told him everything would be okay "Dad don't worry, with these two knuckleheads with me I'll be okay."

 Draven through all of it was quite sad to leave Embermire as he was just now emotionally getting settled into life in town with Gideon and Jera Draven knew he and his brother had a promise and he was getting determined to get as strong as possible. Draven that evening strengthened his resolve to follow after his brave older brother, whom he looked up to more every day. Little did Draven Know his brother was just as sad to leave Their home of Embermire The resting place for their parents.

 That night, the boys returned to the inn where they explained to Ms. Baker that they were leaving Embermire for a long time and thanked her for everything. Draven and Kael both ran up to the towering older woman and gave her the biggest hug with tears filling their eyes. She gripped the two boys with tears of her own in her eyes, she knelt to the boys and told them just one thing, " Now don't you go forgetting about this old woman when y'all become rich and famous." The boys lay on their cots that night talking to each other about everything they were about to experience until they fell silently asleep. 

 The morning came, and the meeting spot for the departure was the town gate. The boys were the first to arrive and shortly after they arrived so did Gideon and Jera. Draven noticed Jera had cut her hair to shoulder length and wore a new necklace that looked a lot like an ice sickle. Gideon then told the three kids about his time in the exam, and he expressed how it was not going to be easy for them and that if anything happened to any three of them, he wouldn't know what to do. Kael and Draven thank Gideon for everything he has done for them and just as they finished their goodbyes Ms. Nez and Professor Slims arrived. Professor Slims asked, "Are we all ready?" before anyone had time to answer he said, "Good let's get out of this backwater village." Ms. Nez rolled her eyes and as she did they began to glow with the power of space, her hands emitted the same glow as she waved them in a large circular motion and there it was the Portal to an unknown place, but it was the first location for the three young magicians' new journey on their own, all their eyes glowed with awe as they all walked through that mystery portal to an unknown world.