Chapter 557 – Transmute.

Lucille’s lip quivered as she realized the trial had officially begun. The massive hourglass in the distance trickled fine grains of luminous sand, each one marking the precious seconds she had left to complete this intricate puzzle. She had no doubt that failing to finish before the last grain fell would result in her rejection from the ascension. And that was not an option.

She hurriedly reached for another floating rune, analyzing its shape and structure. It was another part of the puzzle and needed to be combined with two others to form the correct runic structure. It seemed that at least this part of the ascension trial was focused on testing her knowledge of runic components and how they interacted with each other. She was unsure if there would be a later stage where she would need to apply this in battle, as tier three trials usually consisted of multiple tasks.

To make things even more interesting, the rune that she previously created started floating towards the obelisk in the middle. It slowly merged with the runic writing there and combined with the first rune. It was now clear to her what she was to do and before the sands on that hourglass ran out, she had to finish the whole runic passage.

Lucille’s pulse quickened as she gathered more floating runes, her mind racing to piece them together in the correct sequences. Each rune had a unique shape, glowing with distinct hues, and she quickly discerned their functions. Some were foundational, serving as the base for larger constructs, while others were modifiers, altering or amplifying effects. If she made a mistake in assembly, the unstable magic crackled and forced the components apart.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm despite the pressing time limit. As she carefully selected and merged the next sequence of runes, she realized that this was more than a simple memorization test as it was also about intuition, adaptation, and mastery over the very nature of runes. This trial was tailored for someone willing to push the boundaries of rune magic itself, something she always wished to achieve.

The obelisk in the center pulsed with growing intensity, absorbing each successfully crafted rune cluster. With every addition, the runic script filled out and glowed with increasing brilliance, indicating that she was nearing completion. The more runes she combined, the clearer the pattern became. Yet time was running out, and only a few minutes remained.

Her eyes darted between the floating runes and the obelisk, assessing the patterns as she worked. Each completed sequence resounded with a strange chime before being absorbed. Sweat formed on her brow as she struggled to recall her past lessons under Professor Arion. She had fallen in love with runes the moment she discovered the vast possibilities of their applications. Many dismissed them as mere enchantments and favored elemental magic instead, but she was determined to prove that runes were the most superior form of magic this world had to offer.

“Runes can adapt to anything. They can be anything you wish them to be. That is their strength. They are only limited by one’s imagination and knowledge!”

Just as the last grain of sand fell from the hourglass Lucille brought the final sequence of runes together, her hands steady despite the pressure weighing on her. The moment they fused, a blinding pulse of energy erupted from the obelisk, sending a wave of power cascading through the space. The completed runic inscription glowed brilliantly, the shifting symbols settling into a final, perfected form.

For a breathless moment, silence reigned. Then, the obelisk trembled, the runes upon its surface unraveling and began spiraling through the air like celestial constellations. The platform beneath her feet rumbled, and the entire trial space quivered as if acknowledging her success. Lucille shielded her eyes as the luminous script formed something resembling steps, each one consisting of a rune that she had just assembled.

“Not over yet…”

Lucille hesitated for a moment, staring at the floating stairs before her. Each step was made of radiant runes, glowing with an energy that felt both ancient and new, as if they were alive. The moment she stepped onto the first one, it hummed beneath her feet, as if her presence was awakening the magic within it. The instant her foot left the step, it froze over, activating a freezing spell.

“How magnificent. The spell has some kind of delayed frost effect… it’s so beautiful.”

She couldn’t help but marvel at the frost particles swirling through the air as she ascended. With each step she took, more frost appeared behind her, erasing the stairs she had already climbed. It was clear that this was a one-way journey, and she wondered what awaited her ahead.

As she climbed higher, she arrived at another platform, where a much larger obelisk stood, adorned with an even more intricate network of runes. The runes pulsed with a crimson glow, indicating the type of runic spell she was about to work with.

“Fascinating… this time, it’s some kind of flame spell.”

Lucille stepped onto the second platform, her eyes darting around. The frost-covered stairs behind her had dissolved completely, leaving only the path forward. The obelisk before her pulsed with a deep crimson glow, and as she approached, the runes along its surface became clearer. It was obvious that the complexity had increased but the hourglass in the distance was of the same size.

“This won’t be easy… but…”

Even though the intensity of the challenge increased, this test brought her immense joy. She loved identifying the correct components and bringing them together. In the previous test, she had needed to combine three runic parts, but now some required four. The more she worked, the more she became consumed by the intricate symbols, each one more complex than the last.

Yet, as time passed, her knowledge began to waver. The rune structures grew strange and unrecognizable, and before she knew it, her first ascension trial had come to an end.

“Ah… N… No!”

“It’s okay, you’re safe.”

A soothing voice called out to her but she had different things on her mind.

“No, let me study more runes. I wasn’t finished!”

“Huh?”

Lucille opened her eyes and found Robert standing before her. His confused gaze made it clear that her outburst was unexpected, especially for someone who had just failed their first tier-3 ascension trial.

“Did you enjoy yourself that much? First, focus on the trial. Recall what happened”

Roland called out, his gauntlet hovering over her head, glowing with a golden hue as he cast the same spell he had used on Robert. As the memories of what had transpired returned, Lucille quickly began talking, describing every detail of her experience with excitement, to the point that Roland seemed almost uncomfortable.

“Ah, I see… interesting. Shifting runes and the power to transform them?”

“Yes!”

Lucille’s chest still heaved from the excitement of the trial, her eyes glowing with the lingering energy of the runic forces she had worked with. Failing should have devastated her, but instead, exhilaration coursed through her veins. She knew she could eventually return to the same trial with more knowledge and attempt to solve even more runic puzzles—a dream come true.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it’s taken without the author’s consent. Report it.

“I must return… I should be able to soon, right?”

“Hah…”

As she stood up, she heard Roland chuckling strangely. Robert, meanwhile, watched her with a concerned expression, glancing at Roland as if to confirm that everything was truly fine.

“She is fine, I suppose. It was an interesting trial, but you won’t be able to retake it for at least the next twelve hours. How about you rest for now, and we’ll talk about it tomorrow?”

They had started the trial late at night, intending for her to rest if it proved too taxing on her mind. But she wasn’t tired at all. Instead, her thoughts raced with new ideas, fragments of runes and structures swirling in her mind. She had no intention of resting. What she needed to do now was research the runes and write down everything she remembered before the details faded.

“Yes, I need some paper!”