jamie and eric-14-test one begins

* * *

Master Brown continued to drag Eric along despite his clear willingness to keep pace with her. He stumbled over the threshold of the door because of the odd angle his body was forced to walk at through the narrow space.

“Ah good, you’re here John. This is Eric.” Master Brown signaled towards Eric. Handing him the lunch sack as a afterthought. “I really appreciate you doing this John.”

“Non-sense, Joan, we both know that I’m the only Master capable of administering all of the magical exams. In fact it will be fun for me. It has been a long time since someone required me to solve such a categorical problem.” Master Damien turned his attention to Eric, and gestured to the nearby desk as he said, “Have a seat, Eric.”

Master Brown gave a nervous little laugh. “Just don’t spend too much of your time on this categorical problem.”

“Of course not.” Master Damien said distractedly. He had already moved back to a main desk covered in papers and was shuffling through the layers. Master Brown looked somewhat concerned, but left nevertheless mumbling something about her own work.

“Ah, yes.” Master Damien retrieved a booklet from the pile after several minutes. Eric had been about to open his sack lunch. “I used to do this quite a lot,” Master Damien turned to Eric, sliding the booklet in front of him on the student desk. The title read, Preliminary Student Assessment of Magically Competence. “before they came up with those standardized tests. Actually I wrote the book that defined the underlying structure of those tests. So really,” Master Damien smiled, “I put myself out of a job. Now please open your booklet to the first page. As per Master Brown’s request we will begin with the beginning.”

The spiral binding of the book cracked as he opened it. The page was titled, Section One: Stabilizing Energy. Questions followed.

“Although I’ve found that almost without exception people intuitively stabilize their energy. Master Brown did mention a traumatic incident in your recent past though.” It wasn’t a question. Eric found himself exceedingly grateful, surprisingly. “Each section is split into two parts: theory and practice. For theory we will work though these questions and you will answer verbally. As needed I will bring out objects for practice and will evaluate your performance with aid of these fine glasses,” Master Damien patted his breast pocket. “which allow me to see the form you magic takes. Fine invention. Now, what is energy?” Master Damien, sitting across the desk him Eric, ask calmly.