Chapter 519 – One More Lecture.

“Now then, please look at the table – Professor Wayland will demonstrate!”

A black cat – Professor Arion floated to the side while a large man wearing sparkling armor and a robe walked forward. His steps were slow and deliberate.

“Look, it’s the Deputy!”

“Do you think if we become rune mages, we’ll get to wear such impressive magic armor?”

“I don’t know. It looks heavy… wouldn’t it be too uncomfortable?”

“Maybe, but I’ve heard it’s possible to inscribe runes on robes too, using special cloth!”

“Get me one of those, then!”

“Hah! You think I can afford a fancy robe like that?”

“Quiet down, please! The presentation is about to start!”

A group of young mages whispered among themselves, their eyes fixed on one of the newest members of the Runic Department: Deputy Professor Wayland. A rune mage of unprecedented skill, Wayland had quickly made waves, causing many to reevaluate their views on this often-overlooked magical discipline. Today, he was giving a presentation featuring five metallic spheres, all seemingly identical.

“Can anyone tell me the known ranks and sub-ranks of runic artifacts?”

He asked, his voice calm yet somewhat commanding, causing the group of mages to pay close attention. His reputation as a formidable fighter preceded him, and no one dared step out of line against someone who had allegedly stood up to high nobles and emerged unscathed. Rumors swirled that he had been fending off hidden assassins with ease. The mysterious disappearance of Viola Castellane, who had yet to return to the institute, only added fuel to the already wild speculation.

“Oh!”

“I know!”

The question was relatively rudimentary, prompting many students to raise their hands. He selected a bespectacled student, who stood up hastily, her rushed tone betraying her nervousness.

“We divide artifacts into five groups: Lesser, Common, Greater, Grand, and Legendary. The sub-groups are categorized as Lowest, Low, Intermediate, High, and Highest?”

“Yes, that is correct. You may sit down.”

He replied with a slight nod, acknowledging her answer. Wayland surveyed the strangely attentive faces of the young mages, his gaze briefly resting on the five metallic spheres displayed on the table before him. Each sphere gleamed faintly under the ambient magical lighting of the lecture hall, their surfaces etched with runes that seemed identical at first glance.

“Today, we will explore not only the fundamental properties of runic artifacts but also how their potency evolves when used in tandem. These spheres – lesser-tier artifacts – are inscribed with identical runes. They generate the exact same flame orb spell. Observe.”

The first orb floated into the air, responding to his mana as he activated it. A small flame, roughly the size of a marble, flickered into existence above it. It burned steadily, its red hue radiating a soft warmth, but with power insufficient to cause significant harm.

“This one is inscribed with the lowest possible rune. Now, notice how the flame orb changes when we activate artifacts inscribed with runes of higher quality.”

Wayland gestured to the next orb, which hovered beside the first. The runes on this second sphere, though nearly identical to the untrained eye, were slightly more refined – indicative of the “Low” sub-group of lesser-tier artifacts. He activated it, and a larger flame orb formed, radiating stronger energy.

“You will usually observe a twenty percent increase in a spell’s potency as we ascend from ‘Lowest’ to ‘Low,’ and this trend holds true as we progress through the sub-ranks of artifacts.”

The demonstration continued as he activated the intermediate, high, and highest-tier orbs in succession. Each flame orb grew larger, with the final one twice the size of the first. The progression was methodical, and the students eagerly calculated the changes in size using their mathematical skills.

“Oh, it really is twice the size of the first one!”

One student whispered excitedly.

“Who would even bother with the lowest runes anyway?”

Another muttered.

“Well, do you think you’ll have the money to afford the highest-ranked artifacts?”

A third retorted, rolling their eyes.

The murmurs spread through the room as the students processed the implications. They assumed that the presentation was highlighting the clear advantages of high-quality artifacts as the same mana usage produced a spell with much greater potency. But Wayland wasn’t finished. He raised a hand, quieting the whispers.

“You might assume that this means higher-ranked artifacts will always be superior to lower-ranked ones. However, please observe again.”

With a wave of his hand, Professor Wayland brought the orb with the smallest flame beside the one producing the largest. To everyone’s shock, the flame on the smaller orb began to grow, swelling steadily until it eclipsed the size of the largest flame by a small margin. The room fell silent. The young mages’ eyes widened in astonishment as they watched the seemingly impossible.

“How… how is that even possible?”

One of them finally stammered, unable to contain their surprise and Wayland eventually revealed the secret.

“The true limiting factor in a runic spell’s potency is not the rank of the artifact, but the mage’s understanding of the runic elements within. A skilled rune mage can manipulate the internal rune structure that governs the spell system. While a Runesmith works on altering the outer components, it is the rune mage who can reshape the internal arrangement. With some practice, adjustments like this become relatively straightforward. However, there are drawbacks…”

Wayland proclaimed as the show continued. The flame continued to grow in size and suddenly a sizzling sound filled the room. The small orb that had been amplified beyond its capacity began to crack, fine lines forming on its metallic surface as the strain of the enhanced spell overwhelmed its structure. Within moments, a loud pop echoed through the hall, and the flame extinguished, leaving the orb, or what was left of it, to clatter lifelessly onto the table.

“As you can see, overloading a lower-tier artifact can lead to instability. It’s crucial to respect the limitations of the materials used in its construction, as well as the rank of the runes inscribed. Here, the runes were pushed beyond their designed capacity, causing the internal runic structures to collapse.”

It was an important lesson to teach the kids to think outside the box and challenge preconceived limitations. Even the simplest artifact could become a deadly weapon when wielded by a master. And now, there was one final lesson he decided to demonstrate.

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The four remaining orbs floated closer together, their glow intensifying as the spell was activated. However, instead of producing one flame orb each, they combined their energies to form a single orb at their center. This new orb was much larger and burned with a blue flame, radiating an even higher temperature.

“If you gather multiple artifacts with an identical rune, and synchronize their energy output correctly, you can amplify their collective potency exponentially. This is called ‘Runic Synergy’. It’s one of the core principles that you must learn if you ever hope to become a rune mage.”

Suddenly, the large flaming orb began to shift, morphing first into a rectangular shape, then into a triangle, and finally into a star. The children watched in awe, their fascination growing as they realized how easily most people underestimated the potential of rune magic, believing it to be limited by the artifact or the runesmith who created it.

“With enough knowledge, you can adapt a spell to suit your needs. There will always be some limitations, but they are not as rigid as many would have you believe. While runes provide the structure, it is the mage’s understanding of that structure that allows for true mastery.”

With this, the presentation was over and the flaming start dimmed. The orbs returned to their original positions on the table, their faint glow fading as they powered down. Roland, who was masquerading as Wayland the rune mage surveyed the silent, awestruck faces of his students and wondered if he perhaps overdid it with the lecture. From the back of the hall, Professor Arion floated forward. His paw flicked lazily as he spoke, his tone filled with admiration and glee.