100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 71 - Runes

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 - Runes

Lucien acted first.

He subtly condensed his Sovereign Aura, focusing it like a blade and directing it straight at Thornel.

No visible movement.

No sound.

But Thornel felt it.

The moment the pressure fell on him, his complexion drained.

He froze.

His breath was caught in his throat.

Lucien tilted his head slightly and asked in the most innocent tone,

"What’s wrong, brother? Is there something you’d like to say to me?"

To the untrained eye, nothing seemed amiss.

But Thornel was being crushed.

His shoulders trembled.

Sweat beaded at his temples.

His throat tightened as he struggled to form words.

"N-nothing..." he choked out, barely audible.

He couldn’t breathe properly under the weight of the aura.

He lowered himself back into his seat without another word. His eyes were casted downward in humiliation.

Lucien calmly withdrew his aura as if nothing had happened at all.

A few sharp students across the room narrowed their eyes.

They’d noticed.

Not all... but a handful of perceptive ones. Their eyes shimmered with interest, recognition... and silent calculation.

They aren’t just average nobles.

Lucien then smiled faintly.

’Good. That worked better than expected.’

He had learned this trick from Headmaster Ellenwen earlier.

How she had focused her aura on him with pinpoint control. It was then that Lucien wondered if he could do it too.

So he did.

And it was very effective.

Maelin stood at the front with amusement flickering in her eyes.

’The ever-so-arrogant young master of the Golddust family... silenced. And by someone younger, no less.’

She caught the subtle play in Lucien’s expression....

The practiced innocence.

The deliberate provocation.

It was clear as day to her.

’He’s playing them. How interesting.’

Maelin wanted to chuckle but she held it in. She had to maintain her poise as a professor. Still, she was thoroughly entertained.

’It seems the so-called benefactor is tougher than I thought.’

The atmosphere in the lecture hall had shifted.

The nobles no longer looked at Lucien with mere curiosity or caution. Now, they regarded him with wary respect... or jealousy.

After all, he had just humiliated Thornel Golddust publicly... and gotten away with it.

Lucien finally reached the topmost tier of the hall and took his seat. The Silvermine guards stood behind him like silent statues.

From below, Thornel shot him a glare filled with venom.

Lucien didn’t even need to hear his thoughts to know what they were.

"This isn’t over."

Lucien smirked lightly to himself. ’Of course it isn’t.’

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Vivian.

She was staring at him with wide eyes. Her gaze was filled with a swirl of surprise, curiosity and a dozen unspoken questions.

Lucien met her gaze.

And winked.

Vivian blinked in disbelief.

Lucien chuckled inwardly and turned his attention forward.

He leaned back in his seat with his arms crossed as he listened intently.

’Let’s see how this academy holds up... compared to my cheats.’

Once the tension settled and everyone had returned their gazes to the front, Professor Maelin picked up a piece of chalk.

"Where were we..." she mused, glancing at her notes then straightening with a smile. "Ah, yes. We were talking about runes."

The lecture hall hushed again.

"Runes," she began. Her voice was steady and confident, "are believed to be an ancient language. No one knows who created them but we do know this... Each rune carries power."

She turned and wrote a word on the board.

TALISMAN

"These characters," she continued, tapping the chalk against the board, "hold hidden forces. Used properly, they can channel those forces into something real. A spell, a curse, a shield, or even a trap."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed with interest.

Brief.

Concise.

Straight to the point.

’Good.’

"The most practical application of runes is in talisman-making," Maelin said, now pacing lightly at the front. "By using the right mana attribute and correct rune placement, anyone...regardless of their magic affinity... can activate a talisman’s effect."

She gestured to the word again.

"In essence, you’re embedding magic into an object and the runes are the instructions the mana follows."

Lucien absorbed every word.

Despite having MAGIC BOOK to teach him about runes, hearing it from someone well-versed... in a structured and practiced flow, felt... refreshing.

Maelin’s delivery was clean. Efficient.

’She’s a good teacher,’ Lucien noted.

Maelin continued.

She wrote a character on the board.

"Say for example, this fireball rune."

The character she drew was rushed and crude.

It was understandable. This wasn’t a talisman-making session, merely a visual aid for the lecture.

"A few of you might already know this," Maelin said, "but the character for Fireball is actually a combination of two runes."

She drew a dividing line and split the symbol in two.

"Yes... It’s Fire and Ball. Now, why are we teaching you this? Understanding these components is significant because—"

Before she could finish her thought, a loud and mocking voice interrupted.

"Useless... Knowing them is useless."

It was Thornel Golddust.

Maelin fell silent. Her eyes narrowed, darkening with displeasure.

"Thornel... Care to elaborate?"

Thornel stood slowly. He crossed his arms and raised his chin... clearly relishing the attention.

The smug grin on his face returned as if his earlier humiliation had been erased by the sound of his own voice.

"Why should nobles waste time learning the scribbles of runes like some scribes or craftsmen?" he said with a scoff.

He continued after seeing the other’s reaction.

"We are born to command mana. With a thought, we conjure fire. With a word, we bend lightning. Why should I study how to draw some crooked lines just to throw a fireball?"

Murmurs rippled across the classroom.

A few students nodded hesitantly... either out of agreement or fear.

Others looked unsure, glancing between Maelin and Thornel.

"Thornel," Maelin said coldly. "Should I take that as an insult to the noble houses specializing in craftsmanship and enchanting?"

Thornel scoffed.

"Not just them," he said without hesitation. "Even the borderland houses are a joke. Just dead weight on the map."

He turned, locking eyes in Vivian’s group.

"They don’t contribute anything meaningful."

A sharp breath was drawn from several students.

Vivian’s hands clenched under her desk but she said nothing. Her calm mask didn’t quite hide the fire in her eyes.

Lucien raised a brow but didn’t speak. He was angry too.

But...

He simply leaned forward, interested to see how Maelin would respond.

"Thornel," she said, her voice calm but cold, "if I recall, last week, you failed the Rune Composition practicals. Miserably."

A few quiet snickers were heard.

Thornel’s expression twitched.

Maelin stepped away from the board. Her presence grew with every word.

"Magic isn’t always about brute force or flashy chants. Runes are foundations... building blocks of stable magic. Knowing how they work isn’t just academic. It allows you to enhance, optimize and safely store spells."

She gestured to the board.

"A fireball cast with raw mana is fine... until you’re in a place with thin mana density. Or when you’re surrounded by anti-casting fields. Or when your body is exhausted. Then... the humble talisman will save your life."

Her voice dropped, sharper than a blade.

"But I understand. Some students prefer to remain mediocre."

Oof.

Lucien couldn’t help but smirk. He saw Vivian covering her mouth again, trying not to laugh.

Maelin turned to the rest of the class.

"Magic is a tool. A weapon. And a science. Whether you cast with your hands or etch with ink, your understanding defines how far you can go."

Suddenly, Maelin showed a Talisman.

The runes lit up. On closer look, it was a magic circle made purely of rune characters. It hummed with condensed energy.

Thornel’s smirk faltered.

"This is an advanced magic circle created using runes," Maelin said, voice still calm. "Constructed without a chant, using only rune understanding and attunement. It’s ten times more stable than a free-cast spell and three times more efficient. Would you like to test its power with your ’natural command of mana’?"

The tension spiked.

Thornel’s lips twitched. "...Tch."

He sat down again, frustrated, defeated... but silent.

The glow faded as Maelin let the mana dissolve.

She turned back to the board as if nothing happened.

Lucien leaned back, satisfied.

’That... was a solid counter.’

But Lucien didn’t want to let it slide so easily.

Thornel had openly insulted the border nobles.

Even Coalheart, who was part of his group, didn’t know how to react... which Lucien found rather amusing.

"HAHAHA! That’s hilarious!"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

It was Lucien.

He leaned back casually in his seat, arms crossed, wearing a grin that danced with mischief.

"Professor," Lucien said, still chuckling, "do you always have to deal with idiots like this?"

Gasps filled the classroom.

Thornel’s face twisted in rage.

Lucien ignored him and went on.

"Oh, brother... You know, there really is no such thing as a ’truly useless’ thing in this world."

Lucien stood up.

Maxim and Edric had already guaranteed he could go wild.

He didn’t have to hold back... especially not for a Golddust.

Then he raised his hand and pointed at Thornel.