He felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling him out of his trance-like state. “Mate, it’s almost time to get dinner. Let’s go,” Alex said, his voice containing a bit more energy than before.

“Yeah, give me one moment,” Daniel replied.

He glanced down at the small stack of papers, which all had runes drawn on them in confusion. He realised he had been wholly absorbed in copying them from his book, losing track of time.

“You spend the whole afternoon on those,” Alex said, peering over Daniel’s shoulder. “If you only spend half as much on sword training, you would actually be a challenge for once during our sparring sessions.”

Daniel chuckled, “Yeah, I guess I would. Runes are fascinating, though. They require so much precision.”

“Well, just don’t forget to eat,” Alex said with a grin. “Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

Daniel nodded and began to gather his things. He carefully stacked the papers and closed the book, placing them into his bag. Feeling the stiffness in his muscles from sitting too long, he began to stretch.

“Give me a moment, Lex. I’m going to wash my face,” Daniel said as he headed to the bathroom.

Alex nodded, leaning against the doorframe. “Don’t take too long. I’m starving. And if all the good dishes are gone because of you, I’m stealing your dessert for the next week.”

Daniel splashed his face with cold water, feeling the refreshing shock wake him up. “You wish, buddy,” he called back with a grin. “I’m not letting you anywhere near my dessert.”

Alex chuckled, “We’ll see about that. Just hurry up before I eat yours out of spite.”

Returning to the room, Daniel grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Alright, let’s go,” he said, feeling more refreshed.

Alex grinned. “Finally. Let’s hope the food’s decent tonight.”

….

Daniel sat down at the table with a steaming bowl of blue-tailed ox soup in front of him. He took a deep breath, savouring the rich aroma. Alex, already halfway through a beef rib, glanced up. “So, where’s this guy you invited?” he asked between bites. “You said he’d join us.”

“I don’t know, maybe he’s a bit late,” Daniel replied, scanning the crowded dining hall. His eyes landed on Torin, standing with a tray in his hand, looking around uncertainly. “There he is,” Daniel said, standing up and waving. Torin spotted them and began making his way over.

The skinny boy approached, his dark blonde hair slightly tousled and his skin a shade darker than most students at the academy. “Hey, I’m Torin,” he introduced himself as he sat down.

“I’m Alex,” the burly boy replied, waving a beef rib in greeting before tossing the bone onto his plate. “Our friend Lucia will join us any moment. She’s... tardy sometimes.”

Torin chuckled, setting his tray down. “Nice to meet you, Alex. Thanks for letting me join you guys.”

“No problem,” Daniel said, digging into his soup. “So, how was your first day, Torin?”

“It was alright,” Torin replied, taking a bite of his bread. “A bit overwhelming, though. Everything’s so different from back home.”

“Yeah, I can imagine,” Alex said. “It took me a while to get used to it during the pre-awakening school. What did you do back home?”

“Well, I grew up poorer than most of the students here,” Torin began, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of nostalgia. “Although we weren’t poor for where we were from. I used to work in a bookstore from when I was twelve since I was one of the few kids whose parents taught them how to read.”

“That seems nice,” Daniel said. “What was it like working there?”

Just then, Lucia arrived, sliding into the seat next to Daniel. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, slightly out of breath. “Got held up in the library.”

“Better late than never,” Alex teased. “Torin, this is Lucia. Lucia, meet Torin.”

“Nice to meet you, Torin,” Lucia said with a warm smile.

Alex spoke up, “Please continue. Tell us how your life was before coming here.”

Torin leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips as he recalled his past. “The bookstore was in a slightly better area, away from the worst parts of the slums. It was owned by an old man, Mr. Harkin. My dad knew him from his work, and he was kind enough to let me help around. He even gave me some books to read during my breaks. It was a small place, but it had a lot of character. We got a few regular customers who appreciated the rare finds Mr. Harkin stocked.”

“The gangs were always at war. Muggings were common if you didn’t watch out or weren’t connected. There were constant shortages of essentials. Sometimes, food was hard to come by, but luckily, my dad had a decent job as a carpenter, so we never went to bed hungry. Clean water was a luxury. The bookstore was like a safe haven for me, a place where I could escape the harsh realities, even if just for a little while.”

Lucia nodded sympathetically. “It must have been hard, but it sounds like you made the best of it.”

“Yeah,” Torin agreed. “I learned a lot from those books. They were my escape and my education. But it wasn’t easy. Every day was a struggle to stay safe and out of trouble. My parents did their best, but there were times when I had to fend for myself. A friend of mine lost a few fingers when he got mugged once.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “That’s rough, man.”

Torin nodded, his expression serious. “Yeah, it was a refuge. Mr. Harkin, the owner, was like a second father to me. He taught me a lot, not just about books but about life. He showed me that there was more to the world than the slums. He even managed to help me awaken when I turned fifteen. All my friends were jealous, and some even cut me off completely. Luckily, the academy offered to sponsor me after Mr. Harkin put a good word for me.”

Daniel clapped a hand on Torin’s shoulder. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters. And if you ever need help with anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Torin smiled, feeling a sense of belonging he hadn’t felt in a long time. “Thanks, guys. That means a lot.”

“What class did you manage to awaken?” Lucia asked. “And have you thought about your second first-tier class?”

Torin took a sip of water. “I managed to awaken as a Mana Scribe. As for my second class, I haven’t really thought about it yet. I don’t even know how I’ll get one if I’m being honest…”

Lucia chuckled. “No worries, that will be addressed toward the end of the school year anyway. You get your second-tier one class after reaching the max level of your first class. So, after hitting level twenty-five, you’ll either have to use an awakening stone or, if you’re lucky, you don’t need one, and the unseen will give you a dream. Some people find themselves in a library, others in a forest. For each person, it’s different. Unlike your initial awakening, you can select your second class. If you need help exploring your options, you can always ask me or Daniel. Unlike this big oaf here, we like to research stuff.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Alex pretended to be offended, placing a hand on his chest. “Hey, I do research… occasionally.”

Daniel laughed. “Don’t worry, Torin. When the time is there, we will help each other.”

Torin nodded, feeling reassured. “Thanks, I appreciate that. It’s a lot to take in.”

As they ate, the dining hall filled with the sounds of clinking cutlery and lively conversation. The friends chatted, sharing their experiences from their first day. Torin told them about his classes and how he struggled to keep up with the pace. Daniel reassured him that it was normal to feel that way at first.

“Just try to keep up,” Daniel said. “It gets easier with time. And don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.”

“Yeah,” Alex added. “And watch out for the professors. Some of them can be pretty tough.”

The group continued their meal, and the conversation flowed easily. They joked about their classes, shared tips for surviving the academy, and laughed at Alex’s exaggerated stories of his knight training.

“Hey, Daniel,” Alex said with a mischievous grin, “how’s it feel being Shadewood’s favourite student?”

Daniel rolled his eyes. “I’m not his favourite. He helps me so I can attend the academy.”

“Right,” Alex said, winking at Torin.

Lucia laughed. “Don’t listen to that oaf, Torin. Daniel really does deserve to be his representative. Last year, Professor Shadewood gave us a mock exam that was supposed to be for second-year runic students, and Daniel was the only one who not only finished it but also passed it without a single mistake.”

Torin’s eyes widened in amazement. “Oh, wow. So, I can ask you if I need help with runic homework?”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, sure… I’m not as great as she makes me sound, but I’ll gladly help you.”

“Thanks, man,” Torin said, smiling.

They continued to chat, sharing stories and laughter, until it was time to part ways.

….

As Daniel walked down the hallways, he decided to check if the system had given him a new quest. To his surprise, a new and unusual quest appeared.

[Kill 10 beasts using Abyssal Spells]

[Rewards: 50 credits, Abyssal Mana Manipulation Guide]

“What the... How am I supposed to complete this?” Daniel murmured to himself, frowning at the screen.

He continued walking toward Shadewood’s office, lost in thought. The corridor was dimly lit, with flickering torches casting long shadows on the stone walls...

Finally, he reached Shadewood’s office. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the heavy wooden door.

“Enter,” came the professor’s voice from inside.

Daniel pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Shadewood was seated behind his large desk, which was covered in papers and magical artefacts. Shadewood himself was sitting behind it, his eyes scanning a parchment.

“Good evening, Professor,” Daniel greeted.

“Good evening, Daniel. Have a seat,” Shadewood said, gesturing to a chair beside the desk. “Let’s see the runes you’ve been working on.”

Daniel handed over the stack of papers he had been copying runes onto. Shadewood took them and began scrutinising each one, his keen eyes catching every detail.

“I can see you made the first few pages in a rush, but the rest of the papers have clear and precise lines,” Shadewood noted, nodding appreciatively. “You’ve made significant progress. However, your control still needs some refinement.”

Daniel nodded, listening intently. “I’ve been practising, but it’s just... there’s so much to learn.”

Shadewood looked up, his expression softening slightly. “Learning runes is a lifetime endeavour. Even I have to continue to refine my skills. You have a natural talent, Daniel, but remember that persistence and dedication are just as important.”

Daniel felt a sense of pride at the professor’s words. “Thank you, sir. I’ll keep working hard.”

“Good,” Shadewood said, setting the papers aside. “Now, let’s discuss the runes we’ll cover tonight. We’ll start with the Elysian Circle for now.”

Daniel’s curiosity piqued. “What’s an Elysian Circle, Professor? I’ve seen it mentioned in the book you gave me, but I haven’t reached that part yet.”

Shadewood leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. “The Elysian Circle is an advanced rune configuration. When activated, it creates a powerful protective barrier that can repel both physical and magical attacks. The barrier is exceptionally resilient and can be tailored to allow certain types of energy through while blocking others.”

Daniel’s eyes widened with interest. “That sounds incredible. How is it used in practice?”

“In practice, advanced mages often use the Elysian Circle as the foundation for the defensive arrays in their labs and towers,” he explained. “But it can also be inscribed on the ground to protect an area or even on an object to create a portable shield. The key to its effectiveness lies in the quality of the runes and the materials used.”

Daniel nodded, absorbing the information. “So this will be the core of the defensive formations for my lab?”

“Exactly,” Shadewood said, his eyes gleaming with approval. “Creating a proper Elysian Circle is a true test of a rune mage’s skill. Tonight, we’ll start with the basic structure of the Elysian Circle. Once you’re comfortable with that, we’ll move on to the more intricate details.”

As Shadewood began to explain the initial steps, Daniel’s focus sharpened. The worries about the quest faded to the back of his mind, replaced by the immediate challenge of mastering the advanced rune and the evening stretched on as the professor’s deep voice guided him through the steps, each one more complex than the last.

After Daniel finished inscribing the runes, they moved to the comfortable couches in Shadewood’s office and began enjoying a cup of tea. Shadewood activated a small music box, filling the room with slow, soothing melodies.

Daniel took a sip of his tea before speaking up. “When I killed the attacker, I instinctively used an Abyssal Bolt. It was more powerful than my firebolt, but during the attack, I realised how inexperienced I am in dealing with stressful situations like that.”

Shadewood set his cup down and looked at Daniel thoughtfully. “That isn’t strange, considering you’ve just awakened, Daniel.”

“I know, Professor, but… I feel like I need more experience. I want to see if I can maybe go to the forest and hunt some beasts to improve my nerves and practice my Abyssal Bolt more.”

He decided not to tell the professor about the system just yet. Being able to read a strange language is one thing, but if the world knew he had a system that gave him powerful items, there was no way to predict what might happen.

Shadewood raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Coincidentally, I was planning to go to the forest myself this Saturday to test a few new runes and spells I’ve discovered recently. How about we go together? I can ensure your safety and guide you as you practice your spell.”

Daniel’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Really? That would be amazing, Professor! Thank you.”

“It’s settled then,” Shadewood said, nodding. “We’ll meet at the academy gates next Saturday morning. Until then, focus on refining your spells and preparing yourself for the hunt.”

“I will, Professor. Thank you again,” Daniel replied.

Shadewood smiled warmly. “You’re welcome, Daniel. Now, let’s finish our tea and review some more runes before you head back.”

“Oh, professor, there has been a development” Daniel spoke up while Shadewood already got up from the couch and made his way towards the desk. Hearing Daniels’s words, he turned around with a curious look.

“What is it, Daniel?” he asked.

“Well, it’s better to show you,” Daniel said, pointing towards the centre of the room. “Gnarl, come out.” A portal opened, and the small imp emerged from it.

….

“So, how is the boy doing?” Valery asked while Shadewood looked over the papers Daniel had finished before leaving.

“He’s quite remarkable, actually. He doesn’t realise the extent of his own talent yet.” Shadewood pointed towards a rune on a paper. “This rune took you a week to master, Valery. But Daniel mastered it in just one day after I gave him a few pointers.”

Valery’s eyes widened with surprise and admiration as she listened to Shadewood’s words. “Is he truly that exceptional? I haven’t heard you praise a student so highly before, not even Pethra, whom many considered to be the next Rune Master to emerge.”

Shadewood nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, Pethra is undeniably talented. However, there’s something unique about Daniel’s approach to runes. It’s as if he instinctively grasps the underlying logic and nature behind them. Something even most rune masters lack.”