Ascendancy The Arena by Bradford Bates

Sometimes being born with magic isn’t so much of a blessing as it is a curse.

Jackson didn’t know who to turn to when he started to see things. When he could no longer trust himself, he pushed all of his friends away except for one. In the end, magic ruined that for him too.
Follow Jackson as he discovers just what it means to join the ranks of the Gifted. When every day becomes a fight to survive against the things that go bump in the night, you must become a warrior. His training will begin with a tournament against his fellow students. A centuries-old tradition that will be used to separate the cream from the crop. Will Jackson be able to survive long enough to claim his place in history?

Not everything is as it seems in the world of magic. Jackson will soon discover just what it takes to become one of the Gifted.