[Runeflame Scribe - Fire] [Daylight Archivist - Light] [Inglorious Trickster - Wind] [Flamboyant Wordsmith - Fire] [Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark] [Frostscriptor - Water] [Snap Scribe Brawler - Water] [Mana Engineer - Arcane] [Carved Spark of Intent - Lightning] [Advanced Scholar - Light] [Gambler of Dirty - Earth]

"Time is ticking." I say that, but I'd rather be scolded by Melena for being late than get an ungodly earful from Marthe for rushing a Class advancement.

My door is locked, Valka is not big enough of an idiot to disturb me now, and the rest… I'll let that be future Elyssia's problem.

[Runeflame Scribe - Fire]

Requirements: Deep bond with the essence of fire. 900 Focus, 900 Mana

The Runes of Mother Aelion-

"Okay, we've been through this before." I sigh. "Runes are convenient, but I refuse to limit myself to a single language!" Although focusing on one aspect instead of spreading my abilities thin for once wouldn't hurt.

[Daylight Archivist - Light]

Requirements: Wield proudly the words of magic and bear witness to anomalies of outstanding significance. 1200 Intelligence, 900 Focus, 1200 Mana. Canals of Mana lvl 32, Perfect Strokes lvl 30, Merciless Scrutiny lvl 32.

Much more promising. Shiny and bright, and almost golden plate with gentle slivers of light running under its surface.

The world hides countless wonders worth putting onto paper for history to remember. These marvels, however, are rarely beacons of peace and serenity, calling on the faint-hearted. You've come across the symbols of magic throughout your travels, fought them off, and called upon them to aid your search. They are both an ally and a potential foe, depending solely on your wisdom. So search and travel, and grow through each discovery, fueling your power through curiosity.

[+4 Free Points, +6 Dexterity, +7 Intelligence, +9 Mana, +7 Willpower, +7 Focus, +2 Fortitude per level]

"FUCK!" I stare at the plate aggressively. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK! Why now? Why couldn't you wait until I finished my studies!?!"

I want this one. Hell, even as a mercenary, my life would be full of traveling and possibly exploring ancient places. And getting stronger through exploring??? This is such a treasure.

"Should I ditch the Academy…" I contemplate for a moment. There's little to explore here, and I doubt existing knowledge in books requires too much archiving. "Next! Just give me the next one!"

I can't bear to look at this disgrace any longer.

[Inglorious Trickster - Wind]

Requirements: Use inscriptions to deceive and humiliate your opponents. 900 Intelligence, 900 Mana. Canals of Mana lvl 30, Mistakes Be Gone lvl 32.

"Yvonne?" I try to think of the victim. "Ah, and the bullies. And the idiots back in the Fort…"

As it turns out, this one isn't entirely baseless after all. Not that I'm averse to playing a little with my prey.

Being unable to read the rules does not absolve anyone from obeying them. That is common sense. So why would it be your fault if some illiterate fools walked into the inscriptions left on the ground, even if they're thoroughly obscured? Rewrite the rules, rewrite the battlefield, but only for you to see. Leave the clash of swords and blazing compassion for the foolish.

This sounds oddly spiteful and narcissistic.

[+2 Free Points, +4 Speed, +6 Dexterity, +4 Intelligence, +8 Mana, +5 Willpower, +7 Focus, +2 Fortitude per level]

Not bad, though. Not bad at all…

[Flamboyant Wordsmith - Fire]

"Let's see. Are you another basic… No, this one is a blacksmith variant." I skipped the plate for its boorish appearance and odd name.

Requirements: Respect the material as much as you hold the words filling it with life dear. 900 Intelligence, 900 Mana. Canals of Mana lvl 30, The Urge to Create lvl 30.

Powerful inscriptions are worth little without the proper vessel to hold them and give them purpose. You've come to realize that to create something outstanding means broadening your perspective and learning even more…

"Or just ask a smith much better than me to do the dirty work." I mutter.

It's easy to imagine where this is going. It's decent, I guess, but once again, further diluting my abilities is something I'd like to avoid just as much as cutting off potential paths.

[Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark]

Requirements: Consider the symbols of your intentions as a part of you, like a second shadow. 900 Intelligence, 900 Mana. Canals of Mana lvl 32, Perfect Strokes lvl 32, The Urge to Create lvl 30.

Dark, murky, obscure, and maybe the most badass plate I've seen in my life. This has to be because of that Shadow Carving I stared at for days like a maniac. I don't regret a single second wasted on it anymore.

When you begin to view your craft as more than a means for achieving an end, that's when it turns into art. Creation and the artisan are one. The beauty lives in the artist's heart and in each stroke of the final work exists a piece of the artist. Now, it is time for the symbols to live in your shadows and keep you company wherever fate guides you.

[+1 Free Points, +3 Speed, +3 Endurance, +5 Dexterity, +6 Intelligence, +8 Mana, +8 Willpower, +6 Focus, +2 Fortitude per level]

"Damn, big. Love it." I rub my hands. "Some speed, trickery, and an even closer bond to the whole inscription shabang."

There's little more to say. A strong contender, and although perhaps not as potent as the archivist, this one I could practice and improve while the other one would need to sit on the bench for the next couple of years.

I might live as long as a half-elf, but wasting years still sounds like an utter waste all the same.

"More!"

[Frostscriptor - Water]

"Okay, not you. This looks like a downgrade." I wave the plate away. "Shoo!"

[Snap Scribe Brawler - Water]

"A melee one…" I conclude with disdain.

Likely the result of my tussle with Yvonne, but ideally, a fight should never, ever, boil down to me using my fists. Heck, with just a touch, I can transfer the power of the storms or melt even stone…

[Mana Engineer - Arcane]

Green… Numbers and markings all over the simple, plain plate.

Requirements: You see a thorough plan as the heart of every process. 900 Mana. Canals of Mana lvl 32, Perfect Strokes lvl 30.

See what is to be created and perfect it before giving it shape and form. Precision and wisdom guide your hands in carving the grace of mana into whatever results your mind has conjured, as it is standardised.

[+4 Free Points, +4 Dexterity, +8 Intelligence, +8 Mana, +6 Willpower, +6 Focus per level]

"Ugh, I don't like this." And I'm referring to the word standardised more specifically. "Not a bad one, though." My eyes are already, however, over to a large opaque circle with glimmering words dancing under its surface.

[Carved Spark of Intent - Lightning]

Requirements: Carry mana upon your heart and shape it into your strength with each inspiring thought. 900 Intelligence, 1200 Focus, 1200 Mana, 90 Fortitude. Perfect Strokes lvl 32, The Urge to Create lvl 32.

It all began with a spark of creativity that you nurtured into a fullfledged idea and was given life through your effort. The work was fulfilling, electrifying, but time didn't allow the moment to last for an eternity. Quick and devastating – that's the mark of your intent.

[+2 Free Points, +4 Dexterity, +10 Intelligence, +12 Mana, +6 Willpower, +6 Focus, +2 Fortitude per level]

"Ah, not exactly what I've expected." I sigh, staring at the plate with complicated thoughts. "Still, really damn solid. I just hoped from some sentient inscriptions and stuff… Okay, let's speed this up. I'm probably already late."

[Advanced Scholar - Light]

"Eloquent, shiny, basic." I judge the Class by its cover. "Studying is precisely what I'm doing and will keep on doing for the next couple of years, but I think I'll pass."

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I'm not quite the fan of cramming, nor is it anywhere close to a hobby or life saver.

[Gambler of Dirty - Earth]

"... No, obviously." Still, I keep staring at the unassuming plate for a few seconds longer. "Does make me wonder, though… Would this help me earn more or place safer bets?"

Money is power, sort of, and it is the middleman to a bunch of cool stuff, as I've learned to exploit in the past weeks. Gambling is a very lucrative job.

"Time, Eli! Stop messing around!" I remind myself once more. "So, valid candidates…"

[Daylight Archivist - Light] [Inglorious Trickster - Wind] [Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark] [Carved Spark of Intent - Lightning] and maybe even the [Snap Scribe Brawler - Water]. However, it stands little chance in the face of all the other options, superior in every aspect.

Logically speaking, this isn't as great a dilemma as it seems. Daylight Archivist is great, the best, and I'd take it in the blink of an eye if I was a few years older, and the Fist sent me across the continent to do my thing. Inscriptions, exploring, and learning new stuff… It's almost perfect.

Inglorious Trickster is quite the funny little Class, focusing slightly more on the combat aspect, working with traps through incorporating inscriptions and deception. It's fine, except my fighting style isn't exactly deceptive. Or silent, or passive…

"A little ominous if I'm honest." I examine the plate of the Shadowbrand Artisan once more. "The idea of something messing with my shadow is a bit off-putting." That aside, I'm curious as hell as to what it means if inscriptions are a part of me.

Carved Spark of Intent is once again a different breed. Its purpose is to do the bothersome bit at the snap of a finger, as swift as a thought. With that said, there should be an aspect to it that influences the outcome based on what I desire and how I envision the outcome.

The main issue with both of the main candidates is that neither lighting nor darkness has too much physical depth to it. The potency of an inscription depends on how much mana is able to flow through the lines. One is as thick as a piece of paper, while the other… It's basically just energy.

"That comes down to which one do I prefer." I glance between the two in my hands. "Well, I do want my doodles to be more active in combat. And depth matters little when I have much more surface…" I groan as my mind settles on the final answer. "Abyss damn it, I can only take one!" I throw the shiny one away.

***

My eyes snap open, keen to skim through the plethora of messages awaiting me as I return from my soulscape. But what catches my eye first is a robust figure sitting in the corner of my room, a judgmental face, and a pair of cold, threatening eyes.

"We're late, you dumbass." Valka says, her tone even, her voice colder than the heart of winter. "Get changing before I tear your clothes off and drag you to the Colosseum naked!"

She's clearly not in the mood for jest, so I do as told and strip at the speed of thought. A spark of aether settles into my shirt to unbutton itself and flee while it can, same for the skirt and necklace.

My practice uniform is already folded at the foot of my bed – most likely Valka's doing – so I repeat the magical blasphemy of using ancient, secret magic to change as fast as possible, coupled with all my attributes and elven agility.

I'm ready to leave in less than a minute, but clearly, the angered dragon is far from placated.

"Start running!" She commands, rising from her spot and looking especially intimidating on this fine day.

"Can I fly?" I push my luck. "It's faster…"

"Run!"

"Fine, fine!" I bolt out of my room, to the common area and onto the corridor with Valka fast in tow.

At least this way I can look through the new stuff without… Nah, this would be so much easier in the air. There's nothing to bump into up there.

Still, Divided Attention does pull its weight, even if my mana is already paying the consequences and my mind is feeling the burden of all the witchcraft I did.

[Congratulations, you've changed your Class to [Shadowbrand Artisan - Dark] lvl 33 -> 46, +1 Free Points, +3 Speed, +3 Endurance, +5 Dexterity, +6 Intelligence, +8 Mana, +8 Willpower, +6 Focus, +2 Fortitude]

As expected of an entire month's worth of rigorous… work, yeah, work.

[Your Class Skill [Canals of Mana lvl 32] has changed into the skill [Umbral Script lvl 32].]

Umbral Script: What dwells within your shadows now bows in recognition and offers its service. Mold the dark to serve as a link between you and the forces you wish to call upon. Let the shadows carry your word.

[Your Class Skill [Umbral Script] has reached lvl 33 ->43.]

"Sick- Whoa!" I swerve to avoid a living obstacle wandering the dorm's corridors. "Watch where-" The quip remains unfinished, as when I turn my head, it is Valka's unimpressed visage instead.

Why is she even acting like this is my fault? Could I have postponed the trip to my soulscape until after dinner? Sure, but after sitting on my thumb for weeks, that was quite unlikely.

[Your Class Skill [The Urge to Create lvl 32] has changed into the skill [Art of the Heart lvl 32].]

[Your Class Skill [Art of the Heart] has reached lvl 33 ->45.]

Art of the Heart: Listen to the whispers from your chest, unveiling a world for your eyes alone. What the mind and instincts cannot comprehend, the heights unreachable through mere effort, are but the gentle breath of artistic reverie now yours to explore.

What does this even mean? Think less, do more kind of stuff? I mean, I'm all for doing things my own way, to be fair…

[Your Class Skills [Perfect Strokes lvl 32], [Mistakes Be Gone lvl 32] have merged into the Skill [Shapeless Lines lvl 32].]

[Your Class Skill [Shapeless Lines] has reached lvl 33 ->41.]

Shapeless Lines: Mould the darkness at your beck and call to perfection.

Simple and sweet. Wait, no… Holy shit this is the best! No more erasing and rewriting every line until it works as intended. No more wasted hours untangling the faulty part… I feel like it's my birthday!

[Your Class Skill [Merciless Scrutiny] has reached lvl 33 ->42.]

[Congratulations, you've unlocked the Skill [Shaded Embrace lvl 1]. Would you like to assign the skill to an empty slot?]

Yep, I have plenty of space.

[Congratulations, you've acquired the skill [Shaded Embrace lvl 1].]

Shaded Embrace: Shadows always find their home in the embrace of their master. Reclaim and be reunited with the umbral shards of your, wear them on your skin. Let the lines of darkness lend you their strength.

"Oh, nah…" I grind to a halt, caring little about Val and her current hissy-fit.

"Why did you stop!? We're late already so-"

"Just… Wait a sec!" I raise my voice slightly to show I'm serious. "Now how do you work…"

Almost identically to my prior Skill, I feel the mana thickening at my command. However, instead of infused water akin to mana ink, my shadow crawls out to my finger and lends itself as a pen.

"Wow." Val doesn't sound awed, but rather a bit unsettled.

"Shush, this isn't even what I wanted to try." I think of a simple reinforcing rune that enriches the mana in the material, thus strengthening it. "Two wavy lines, a half circle, sign of a stabilzer, and… maybe the size of a palm."

Sketching the idea onto the wall happens almost at the snap of a finger. My hands move as if possessed by the God Idon's craftwork, leaving thick, pitch-black lines in their wake. The result is more than satisfactory. Perfect almost…

"Now comes to fun part." I abandon all mana under my control and touch the mana under the guidance of Shaded Embrace.

I can hardly believe my eyes when the inscription peels itself off the wall, and the dark lines wrap themselves around my arms like an octopus. It's yucky and feels cold to the touch.

"What the hell was that?" Val almost tears my arm off my shoulder as she pulls me away and starts stretching at my skin.

Honestly, a completely valid reaction.

"Stop! It's a new Skill!" I try to pull away, however, the Might gap is as wide as ever. "I inscribed… myself basically."

She looks at me with a complicated gaze. "Does it work?"

"Obviously…" I say that, but feel no different, so I flick myself. It feels solid, almost like wood. "Not bad at all." I whistle and try to get a feel for the workings of my newest witchcraft with mana. That's when the drawback pops its head out. "Damn, it messes with the mana flow…"

Which is to be expected, considering what the runes itself is doing. It's all me, my mana, sure, but binding the free flow is kinda stupid in hindsight. Anything that messes with the mana that makes up my flesh carries the same drawbacks really.

"Happy now? Melena won't grow any more lenient the longer we mess around." Valka brings up a very valid point, so I start sprinting again.

Further experiments can wait. Every minute of delay means another extra lap around the area, and I think we're already in the dozens.

I already know we're gonna get an earful for dashing through the dorm about five times faster than the allowed top speed. It's a given and won't be the first time. The same goes for cutting through the park. With our speed and strength, the grass can do little to resist as we tear up the greenery in our wake.

We might be forgiven, might be mandated to pay, or worse, do some community work as punishment… Still, I fear Melena far more than any repercussion.

We're not even at the foot of the Colosseum, yet we hear and see the rumbles and flashes of a heated battle. The output is substantial, and the rate of activity is simply through the roof. Whoever is fighting might be the real ace of the Academy or something, because even I can't cause that much destruction.

We rush through the thick corridors of the gargantuan arena, empty besides the few members of staff maintaining the structure and inscriptions and throwing curious glances at the activity every now and then. The future of the Empire is being raised here; who wouldn't be curious?

We swiftly emerge on the viewing area and examine the situation.

Everyone's already gathered, but what truly catches my eye is the large swathe of nature taking up most of the massive ring. That wasn't there a few days ago. Trees, a tiny pond, lots of bushes… like a piece of any forest stolen and plopped down right here.

Since things are already in full swing, while most of the kids are simply standing around, I can't help but get my hopes up. "Maybe we're good."

"No, you're definitely not." Melena's witheringly cold voice shatters all hope. "I better hear the greatest excuse in history, audience with the Emperor or something… Because if not…"

Yeah, leave the end of that sentence open. That's the source of many childhood nightmares anyway.

"Uhm, Class advancement?" I turn around and shoot my shot, praying to any and all Gods for mercy.

Melena's eyes narrow even further, and her ears twitch slightly. "Your inscriptionist Class, right? Keep talking!"

This is my chance!

"Let's just say, setting up traps and using tools are no longer my only options." My confidence returns but I don't get cocky. The waters are still far from calm. "I'm more of a practical person so-"

"Oh, I'll give you all the opportunities to get practical." Our wolfish professor huffs and walks past us. "We've polished personal prowess plenty already." Lots of Ps. "So it's about time we turned up the heat for our darling teams so they can warm up to each other. Developing proper teamplay and reinforcing existing bonds will be the real work."

Yeah, it does sound like a hassle. Although, I can vouch for throwing them all out into the wilds and letting natural selection do its thing. Val and I hated each other's guts, and now here we are…

"The older brats are about to finish up any moment now." Melena led us off the stands. "Since you're confident enough to be late, I'll put you both into the mixed group against the near-unbeaten second-year team of ours. I expect a proper show!"

That means Kayla and the others…

"Uhm… is that a good idea?" I ask, not for my own sake. "I'm pretty sure the two of us could stand our ground against three of them so-"

"So you assume you'll easily dominate the battlefield." Melena reads my mind. "If you let that mindset guide you, then this afternoon is about the end, rather embarrassingly for you, Elyssia."

Is that so?

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