Chapter 101: First Circle ceremony (2)
"The procedure takes place in the Sanctum of Binding, a special room designed to contain and control the magical energies involved," Darius explained. "You will be positioned inside a formation circle while teachers guide energy flow around your heart using controlled magical fields."
Darius moved to a wall diagram that showed a human figure surrounded by complex patterns. The drawing looked complicated, with lots of lines and symbols that hurt to look at for too long. "The process usually takes six to eight hours of continuous magical work. During this time, you must keep perfect mental focus while your body adapts to the new energy pathways being created."
Renard studied the diagram with growing worry. The magical formations shown were incredibly complex, involving multiple layers of energy work that would put enormous stress on the person’s entire spiritual system. For someone with his dual blood crests, the extra strain could be deadly.
"What are the success rates?" another student asked, her voice shaky.
"Historically, about seventy percent of students successfully complete their First Circle on the first try," Elder Miriam replied. "Of the remaining thirty percent, about half succeed on a second attempt after more preparation. The others usually pursue non-magical careers."
The numbers sounded okay until you did the math. Seventy percent success meant thirty percent failure. Half of the failures got second chances, which meant fifteen percent were eliminated entirely on the first attempt. And "pursuing non-magical careers" clearly meant being sent away, if they survived.
But the real worry was what those numbers didn’t include. How many of the "successful" formations resulted in damaged students who could never advance beyond basic levels? How many suffered permanent health problems from the procedure?
Renard looked around the room at the other students. Ian sat several rows away, his scarred face showing no emotion as he listened. But Renard could see the tension in his posture, the way his hands gripped his preparation bag. The boy was probably already planning how to maximize his chances of success.
"The ceremony will begin at dawn ten days from today," Darius concluded. "Use your time wisely. Your future advancement depends entirely on successful completion of this stage."
As the meeting ended, students gathered in small groups to compare their preparation materials and discuss the upcoming challenge. Renard joined his fire magic group, participating in their nervous chatter while his mind worked through what he’d learned.