“That’s why creating runes will be a lot easier for the metal mages among you,” Professor Horanda told the class as she finished up the lesson, “But don’t be too discouraged. Runesmithing is a profession available for every kind of mage. For those of you who have a fire, water, or earth core, there have been plenty of mages paving the way before you. I’ll write down some books available for you in the library. You should read through the one corresponding to your element in preparation for our next class.”

Professor Horanda saw that a few of the around 200 students had their hands raised. She pointed to a girl and asked, “Yes?”

“Professor, I have the light element. Are there any books with that in focus?” the first-year girl asked.

Professor Horanda smiled comfortingly at the girl, “I’m afraid the light element will be a bit of a struggle when it comes to creating runes yourself. But don’t be too discouraged. You just have to make it up by comprehending the right concepts. As for a book on the topic, Sage Ufelios wrote one a couple of decades ago that goes through every known element and its application in runes. It doesn’t go very deep in any direction, but it covers a lot. You should give that a read. I’ll write it down with the others.”

Light has to be pretty difficult to work with without a lot of concepts. I can’t imagine doing the same with shadow. Adion thought, looking at the girl a couple of rows below him. He was in his ‘Introduction to Runes’ class, sitting by himself as he didn’t know any else taking it.

It’s a good thing space seems to work very well. I’ll just have to practice it a lot.

Professor Horanda finished the class and Adion along with the other students got up from their seats and bowed respectfully to the professor. Adion picked up the papers on his desk and put them in his bag. Even if this was the third class, they hadn’t started making runes yet. Most of the time was spent on drawing runes and memorizing patterns and their effects.

“Adion,” Someone called out as Adion turned to leave. He turned around and spotted a silver-haired elf his age approaching him.

“Sorry, we never met, I’m Qelso. I just joined the Scrolls a few weeks ago and spotted you over there recently. I heard you also joined?” Qelso asked.

“That’s right,” Adion nodded, “Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Qelso smiled as he shook Adion’s hand. The two started walking out of the classroom together.

“So why did you join the Scrolls?” Adion asked. He was slightly curious as he never really thought he would join the House himself.

“It just seemed like the perfect House for me,” Qelso answered, “I don’t come from a family clan, so I don’t really have an education to speak of. But I’m really eager to learn. That’s why I’m in this class, by the way, I heard we might not have many runesmiths going forward, so I thought I should make an effort to carry that load for the House. I didn’t expect to see you here, though.”

“I’ve just been interested in runes for a while,” Adion said with a shrug, “But I never got the chance to learn much about it. Now that I’m here at the Academy, I thought I shouldn’t let the opportunity slip me by.”

“I see,” Qelso nodded happily, “Seems like we’ll have some reliable help with runes in the House then.”

“I’m not sure I can help a whole lot,” Adion said with an awkward smile, “But I’ll try. I’ll at least promise to win the fights for the House.”

“Oh, of course,” Qelso said, smacking himself on the forehead, “I’m sorry, I forgot that’s, like, your thing. Don’t worry, Adion, I’ll make sure we beat even the Runesmiths in the House Clash.”

“Now that would be something,” Adion said with a smile.

“It won’t be easy,” Qelso nodded, “But I’ll be sure to give it my all. By the way, do you want to grab something to eat?”

“Sorry,” Adion said, “I have to meet up with the Headmaster.”

“Of course,” Qelso once again smacked himself on the forehead, “I forgot that you are the Headmaster’s disciple.”

“It’s fine,” Adion said with a smile, finding Qelso quite amusing.

They soon split up, however, and Adion headed to the Tower of Cyalis. By this point, almost everyone recognized him, so he had no trouble making his way inside and up the tower to the Headmaster’s office.

“Hello, Headmaster,” Adion said with a bow as he stepped inside the office.

The Headmaster was standing by the window, looking out over the Melorian Bay. He turned to look at Adion and asked, “How are your studies in runes going?”

“It’s a lot to remember,” Adion said with a sigh, “I’ve memorized a few basic patterns by now, at least. But I haven’t gotten even a simple heating rune to work like it should, even with the materials you sent me.”

The Headmaster had not only sent books and pills to Adion, but all types of resources that could ease his studies. Amongst them were metals and inscription tools, as well as some basic runic devices for Adion to study.

“You have only been studying runes for a few weeks, so that’s not very surprising,” The Headmaster said with a light smile, “It took me several decades of hard effort before I could be considered somewhat apt in runesmithing. And centuries before I felt I was at the forefront. Just take it slow and practice meticulously. The results will follow.”

“I know,” Adion nodded.

“Well, take a seat,” The Headmaster said, gesturing to the carpet where they usually sat together during their private lessons. “Let me see where your current skills are at.”

Adion nodded and took a seat. He picked up a steel plate, which was often used for cheaper and more common runic devices, and prepared to make a heating rune as the Headmaster watched.

He used a runic pen to engrave the pattern in the steel. It was basically a pen made out of a much harder metal than the one you were inscribing. The fancier version that Adion used was also a type of runic device that could get incredibly sharp by infusing mana into it.

Adion focused as he started inscribing. The pattern for a heating rune was one of the easiest there was, but it was still incredibly complex, and it took Adion’s full attention to get every detail right. He had studied the pattern for a long time in order to have it memorized.

“Well, it’s better than last week,” The Headmaster commented as Adion finished, “Give it a try.”

Adion manipulated some pure mana to flow through the pattern he had engraved. The steel plate heated up, but it could at most be called warm. Adion had no problem holding on to it.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Not very efficient,” Adion said.

“No,” The Headmaster agreed, “With a proper source, I would estimate an efficiency of around 10 percent. Still, it’s an improvement.”

Actual runic devices didn’t require the mage to guide mana themselves. There would be a rune doing that work, and usually, a beast core would be placed in it to power the device.

“And this is one of the easiest runes there are,” Adion muttered.

“Like I said, it’s something that will take you centuries to master,” The Headmaster said with a small chuckle.

“How long would it take until I master grade 1 runes?” Adion asked.

“That should probably be possible during your time at the Academy,” The Headmaster said, “It’s a completely different process when working with grade 2 runes, as you know. And that’s where you really sink most of your time. But perhaps your Authority can speed up that process.”

“That would be nice,” Adion said.

A grade 1 rune was the type of rune that Adion was currently working on, which could be created with the help of a runic pen and basically didn’t require anything from the runesmith but practice and knowledge of runes. But grade 2 runes were completely different. The patterns for those runes were so complex that they couldn’t just be inscribed on a flat surface, you had to create pathways in three dimensions, and you did that by using an incredibly finetuned manacontrol.

That is why metal mages were so much better at creating runic devices. Runes were almost always created using metals, after all. Other mages could create the pathways too, but it was harder and incredibly time-consuming.

Adion might not have it quite that difficult, though.

The Headmaster had suggested that with Adion’s Authority, he could create runes without ever having to contend against the Will of the world. If he just managed to fine-tune his control of space enough to create the delicate patterns, he could create runes at a ridiculous speed.

Unfortunately, my control of space is nowhere near fine-tuned enough yet. But I believe creating runes is a perfect way to practice getting there.

“Can I start practicing creating grade 2 runes with my Authority now?” Adion asked.

“You shouldn’t run before you can walk,” The Headmaster said, “I could see the use of practicing that skill in your particular case, but I’m sure you spend almost all your time when you’re not with me doing that. So for now, we’ll focus on grade 1 runes when we’re together.”

“Alright,” Adion sighed. He didn’t argue, though. The Headmaster was right that Adion never really practices inscribing grade 1 runes during his free time.

Adion continued inscribing runes while the Headmaster looked on and gave a word of advice once in a while. It didn’t take much mana or Will, so Adion could go on for hours if no one stopped him.

I somewhat hoped to get proficient in runes quickly. Then I could start developing my own runes and see if my ideas for spatial runic devices could work. I still plan on it, but it looks like it will take me a while.

Still, I have to admit it is relaxing to just follow someone else’s instructions and see myself getting better slowly but surely.

Creating space magic for myself and trying to figure out concepts is exciting, but this isn’t so bad either.

After a few hours of making runes, Adion started getting tired of it. He looked up to the Headmaster and noticed he was flipping through a book.

“Don’t you have some rare artifacts or something?” Adion asked.

“I have very rare artifacts,” The Headmaster answered without looking up from his book.

“Can I see them? Maybe I’ll get inspired,” Adion said.

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” The Headmaster said with a light smile, “If it becomes relevant for your improvement, I can show you a few things.”

“What kind of artifacts do you have? What can they do?” Adion asked curiously.

“Hehe,” The Headmaster chuckled, “That’s a closely guarded secret.”

“Shouldn’t I be knowledgable as your disciple?” Adion questioned.

“I intend to make you knowledgeable,” The Headmaster answered, “But you need to build it from the ground up. You don’t need to know about artifacts before you can even inscribe a simple rune.”

“That sounds like an excuse not to reveal anything secret,” Adion argued.

“Perhaps,” The Headmaster said with a small grin.

“Shouldn’t you let on those secrets to your disciple?” Adion asked, “You need to leave them with someone, right? It’s okay, Headmaster. I am willing to share your burden.”

The Headmaster laughed and said, “I suppose I have been in the world of academia for centuries. I’m not used to revealing information for nothing, as it is the most valuable thing I have. But I suppose I should sate your curiosity somewhat, so you can get back to focusing. I’ll answer a single question. How about it?”

Really? I can ask anything?

What should I ask? What might he know? Should I ask about Heavenly Light? He must know a lot about them. Maybe who leads them? Or their situation on Shiora? Who they are involved with?

“Can you tell me about Heavenly Light?” Adion asked.

“I should have seen that coming,” The Headmaster said with a sigh, “I guess I know a few things about them. But it is no use telling you about it now. It will only distract you and make you think about things you can’t change.”

“Hmm,” Adion began pondering again.

“Just ask something,” The Headmaster sighed, “I’m not going to answer if I don’t feel it is appropriate. So there is no need to come up with the perfect question.”

I guess I will have plenty of time to ask him about things I’m curious about.

“How did the Age of Mysteries end?” Adion decided to ask.

“I didn’t expect that question,” The Headmaster looked at Adion with an intrigued smile. “What makes you think I know the answer to that?”

“Professor Tenami seemed hesitant to answer that question, but she never said that we don’t know how it ended,” Adion explained, “So I guessed that it is probably known, just secret.”

“I see,” The Headmaster nodded, “I’m afraid Professor Tenami actually doesn’t know, though I’m sure she has some theories. Not even I know for sure. I just know some of the circumstances.”

“What circumstances?” Adion asked.

“The end of the Age of Mysteries was probably not as destructive as the end of the Age of Wonder,” The Headmaster mused, looking up to the ceiling with empty eyes, “But I feel that it was still a lot more terrifying.”

Adion almost got chills from the Headmaster’s words. He could feel that the Headmaster truly felt fear.

“Why was it so terrifying?” Adion asked, leaning forward.

The Headmaster snapped back and turned to look at Adion with a gentle smile. “I’ll take you somewhere one day. As my disciple, I do think you should know. But not here, and not now.”

“But-” Adion wanted to protest.

“Don’t be in such a rush all the time,” The Headmaster scolded with a smile. “Get back to the runes. When you make a grade 2 rune, I might tell you more.”

Adion wasn’t very pleased with the answer he had gotten, but he didn’t push it any further. He focused on the steel plate in front of him and started making runes again.

I’ll just focus on this for now. I’m sure I’ll find out everything eventually.