Porter waited until all the students have finished their exam, all but a handful had woken from it definitely worse for wear, just like the first time.


    “OK students. I thank you for your time, that concludes the entrance examination. Will the following people stay back as the other students gather their onboard passes and such just outside the entrance to the hall thank you!”


    “Paul Maynard!” Sam grinned as she remembered the feeling of despair she had as she went through this the first time, now she could hardly hold back her glee.


    “Edward fielders!” Sam looked at his face, it was one of disbelief and loss


    “Rachel Gromwin!”


    Sam looked up and saw for the first time her best friend. She beamed at seeing her and fist pumped as Porter called out her name, the other three gawked at her and she flashed a huge grin and gave them a thumbs up. She saw a look of relief on Edward''s face and a look of confusion from Paul and Rae''s, it was fine they would soon know and all would be well. She turned her attentions on Porter as he looked at her with a wry grin.


    Sam watched the rest of the students head towards the exit. She noted that unlike last time they didn''t attempt to ignore her, rather they looked at her and the other three quizzically, she realised that unlike last time when she had been the pariah, the crazy biker chic who had lashed out at one of the students like a maniac, this time she was the mysterious biker chic who had taken down two aggressive lunatics with barely any effort and who was also “in” with porter the chief assistant to the top guy in the academy. she remembered the despair and hopelessness she felt previously and took a deep breath and tried to focus on what was coming.


    She looked at the other three Students and saw the look on they''re faces, Edward looked bemused, but not concerned whilst both Rae and Paul looked utterly confused. Rae in particular looked more than a bit worried. Sam remembered she had yet to have been introduced to her and so would be a little more unsure.


    Porter suddenly clapped his hands.


    Boom!


    “Agh! Jeez! I knew you were going to do that and you still caught me out!”


    The sound that came from his hands equaled that of a thunderclap. Sam''s hands shot to her ears automatically, she looked up at the man, angry at such a dick move, but it had the desired effect of getting the 4 distracted students attention.


    “Come along! indeed time is short. Ah but time is always short alas.”


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    The four followed Porter to an alcove in which the large lift was fitted and the five stepped in.


    Sam looked up at the effete man, she was pretty sure this could be a point of divergence and clenched her hands tightly together whilst trying to plaster a calm expression on her features.


    “Right! As you might have gathered you four have been set aside from the rest of this years crop of students to form an advanced study group, you have shown a great aptitude for potential, each and every one of you have higher than average essence, with miss Holden here having several degrees above anyone else.


    "We the council of Magi and the academy board have put a great deal of effort into making sure that we can assist your growth in what ever way we can, for it is essential that you succeed.”


    He looked at each of them individually and continued gravely.


    “There is a storm brewing ladies and gentlemen. The next generation of Magi will face untold difficulties, but will have the power and potential to overcome what ever assails them. We have a shift in power, the lay lines that power the Magi have begun at last to grow in strength, we believe the terrible atrocities we suffered during the era of the witch trials have finally started to heal, your generation in particular has seen a massive growth in magical essence.


    "indeed, not in my life time have I seen such a gathering of power in one generation, but we are not the only wielders of the torch of magic, there are dark forces out there willing to corrupt the young and use them to there own ends.


    "We have fought them for centuries, but they as us have used all they''re resources, all their power, all of their contacts to attempt to over come us. We cannot let them succeed, indeed, our Miss Holden has already taken mighty steps to thwart our foe, but it wasn''t their first attack nor will it be their last, so you must remain vigilant, Whilst striving to learn to control your newly found powers.


    "For you four will be the focal point of our fight for supremacy. You will be the leaders of the next generation of the fight against the swords of light. only when we have utterly vanquished them can we rest, knowing our future is safe.”


    “No pressure then!”


    Quipped Paul, eliciting a snort from Edward and a nervous giggle from Rae.


    Sam nodded.


    “He''s right, I mean he''s also a dick but that''s a lot of shit to put on the shoulders of a handful of untrained teenagers.”


    Porter nodded and frowned.


    “Indeed, we had hoped to keep it quiet and give you and your friends an accelerated study program in the hopes it would suffice, but recent developments have shown us the folly of such a course and so it has been decided to make you fully aware of the situation and hope the pressure will help you cope with, rather than cripple your growth. At least when you look at your schedule you will understand why you are being pushed so much harder than the rest of your year.”


    The door to the giant lift opened and the group stepped out into the storm haven defence forces base.


    Edward whistled as he looked upon the military vehicles arrayed before them.


    “Jesus!”


    Exclaimed Paul.


    “It looks, like we are preparing to go to war!”


    Porter shook his head.


    “Not preparing Mr Maynard, we are already at war and have been for centuries, this!”


    He gestured at the dozen or so trucks and armoured vehicles.


    “Is just the tip of the iceberg. After all we are a academy not a military force, but we have to take every potential outcome into mind and so we have these and the force with which to use them, with that in mind I will take you to sergeant Tull and let you get acquainted.”