The body Zade had transmigrated into was fourteen years old, and he wasn't sure he liked that. In his past life, he was twenty five, a grown adult. Now, he'd have to get used to being treated like a child all over again.
This body was also insanely weak. It had little energy and almost felt like it's lagging.
Zade had never felt this weak before.
If this side character had magic like everyone else, this body definitely won't be this weak.
In this novel, magic was the core of existence here, and everyone was born with one… well, except this side character.
At a young age of two, every kid is expected to have manifested their magic.
The magic is divided between four types.
Earth, fire, wind and water, and everyone is blessed with the ability to manipulate just one of the four elements.
No one can manipulate more than one type of magic, and no one can change the magic type they're born with.
At birth, the magic in each child is at the lowest grade.
There are four grades of magic in this world.
Grade 0: infinity grade: when the welder's magic abilities are limitless.
Grade 1: first grade: when the welder's magic abilities have fully evolved.
Grade 2: middle grade: when the welder has successfully started to evolve their magic abilities.
Grade 3: lowest grade: when the welder can only perform cute little tricks and nothing more.
Each child would be able to develop their grade 3 magic and expand their magic capabilities after they clock fourteen years of age. That is the point when they'd be able to partake in the annual exam that's gonna reveal the path each child is destined to walk in for the rest of their life.
Not everyone ends up passing the exam.
Anyone who fails is allowed to come back two more times, then that's the end. Some end up failing their three chances, and whenever that happens, the child ends up killing themselves from too much shame.
In the novel, Zade remembers the annual exam taking place two days after this side character dies, and the family's biological son, Cyrus, awoke a very impressive beast on the revealing night, and his family was on top of the world with pride.
Since everything that took place in the novel seemed to be happening presently, Zade was fully certain the annual exam would take place in two days.
In the novel, this side character wasn't able to participate because he was killed. But this time, Zade was undoubtedly gonna be participating in it.
The exam might sound easy, but it's extremely difficult.
That was one of his favorite arcs of the novel, but now that he was in the story, in the magicless body of such a weak character, he wasn't so thrilled.
The paths which the annual exam is to help determine, consist of five classifications.
Hunters' Path.
Mages' Path.
Beast Tames' Path.
Martial Arts' Path.
Illusionists' Path.
It's a single exam, but it caters to all five paths at once. The exam takes place at the top of the mountain. Anyone too weak to climb it isn't regarded as worthy enough to take the exam.
After getting to the top of the mountain, they'd all walk into a particular cave, and follow their hearts in there till they come across objects that their hearts led them to.
For destined hunters, their heart would lead them to rare, enhanced rocks that their swords would get carved from.
For destined mages, their hearts would lead them to ancient staffs, wands and the likes.
For destined beast tamers, their hearts would lead them to different eggs where they'll select from.
The same system applies to the remaining two paths.
But that was only the beginning, because after a child's heart leads the child to a specific rock for example, the child has to prove to the enhanced rock that he's deserving of it, else it would disappear and move to a different person. The same applies to the other paths. For 'beast tamers' the child has to prove to the egg that he/she is deserving of it, else it would disappear as well.
Zade's favorite path was the beast tamers'.
He loved everything about the concept.
Apart from it looking so cool, he had always loved animals since he was little. When homeless, he'd rather give his food to animals.
Zade let out a sigh as he laid on the bed.
He would really like to participate in that exam, and walk the beast tamer's path. If he is successful, he'd be able to completely turn this side character's life around.
However, unfortunately for him, his new body had no magic. This character wasn't born like other kids were.
He was found underneath some waves, so Zade assumed it was why this character had no magic.
Which is why he's a bit unsure, because without magic, it might be impossible to walk the path of beast taming, or any other path.
At birth, it is said that the path each child is meant to walk has already been mapped out by the fates, so the magic ability the child gets gifted is usually one that works hand in hand with the path they'd end up walking.
Zade abruptly sat up and sighed, feeling dejected to his bones. He really isn't happy with his fate in this novel. Why couldn't he transmigrate into a body that has magic at least?
Without the help of magic, his chance of passing the exam has reduced from fifty percent to thirty percent.
But he didn't care though. He was still gonna try, and he'd do his very best and give it everything he had.
Sure, he's the only character in this story without magic, but surely it wasn't the end of the world, was it?
He'd be fine. He believes so.
He continued to reassure himself, because he knew staying positive in situations one can't change tends to help a lot.
After the exam, those that successfully pass it, would all enroll in Jinx academy, where they'd all hope to come to their full potential in three years. Not everyone ends up succeeding in the academy, and those ones are subjected to a life of suffering till whenever they die.
But those who succeed? They'd get to work high paying careers which would completely change their life.
Zade was determined to be a part of the few who'd succeed.
There was a problem though.
This side character's family believed he was already dead after feeding him that poison, and they'd undoubtably be here soon to confirm that.
How would he explain him being alive to them?
They'd undoubtedly never let him participate in the exam, and would just try to kill him again should they discover he's still alive.
Trying to run away is out of the question, because he'd need a guardian's signature before he can be allowed to participate in the exam. There were also a lot of guards parading because this family was quite well off, and Zade was certain he'd be caught. His body was too weak to fight or run, so he won't be able to save himself should his family try to kill him again.
He scrubbed a hand across his face, at a complete loss of what to do.
Even if he pretends to be dead in this bed, he'd be discovered in no time because he definitely won't allow himself to be burned or burnt.
What the heck was he supposed to do and how was he supposed to protect himself now?
As he kept thinking, he ended up coming to one realization.
For him to be able to protect himself, he needs an ally, someone that would be willing to keep him safe and also hide him away from his family for the next two days.
But where would he find this ally? Especially when he couldn't even leave this room, lest his secret gets discovered that he's still alive.
Once again, Zade audibly admitted that he was fucked.