The Runesmith

‘I want to go home... how long have I been here...’

Roland wanted to sigh as he looked at the time displayed inside his helmet. Not even an hour had passed since he had arrived at the Institute, yet he already wanted to pack everything up and leave. There were people everywhere. He had never realized the Institute had this many students, but now all of them had gathered to wave goodbye to the departing participants.

He stood beside Robert, who had managed to blend in with the logistics personnel by wearing a customized suit. His helmet looked more like a motorcycle helmet than one worn by a knight. A large visor covered the front, and once he entered the MRA, it would display a wealth of useful information while also allowing the two brothers to communicate.

“Know that she is there, but it would be unwise to stare at her for too long, especially once we reach the location.”

“I know...”

Robert replied while looking away. Lucienne was not far from them and had been clearly glancing in their direction as she slowly moved closer to the gate. Roland made sure they did not act suspiciously now, and that they would continue to avoid drawing attention later.

“Also remember that once we are inside, we might run into other members of the Arden estate, so be careful. Even though the voice changer in your helmet will alter your speech, if you talk to your mother, she might recognize you.”

“She probably would...”

Robert nodded again as they continued forward. Even though the convocation was being held at a location that had been kept secret, that did not mean the families of the nobles and other important guests would not be attending.

This was not only an event for mages, but also for the wealthy patrons who supported the academies through generous donations. They would be allowed to watch the competitions in person and would even have the opportunity to meet with the students who were participating.

Because of that, they needed to be careful. If Francine showed up, Roland knew she would make a scene. Robert was still being searched for by Graham De Vere, Lucille’s father, as well as Wentworth Arden. If their cover was blown, even living within Valerian territory would probably not be enough to keep them safe. The Duke himself would likely have to intervene. After all, they had kidnapped a count’s daughter, and the fact that she had gone willingly would not matter to men like Graham or their father. Both of them would demand an explanation.

“Just focus on the task.”

Roland said quietly as they moved forward.

“Just focus on winning your first competition. If you lose, all of this will have been a massive waste of time and resources.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to lose. Besides, I’m not sure you should be the one worrying. Could the dwarves’ golems really be capable of more than what you created?”

“You would be surprised. They will send their very best to show off, so do not get cocky.”

Roland looked at the display inside his helmet and brought up a live diagnostic feed from the heavy transport carrying his golem.

“The Dwarven Craftmasters have had centuries to refine their constructs. My designs incorporate superior runic efficiency and modern engineering, but brute force and overwhelming magical output can still break through even the best crafted machine.”

“I see... Don't worry, brother. I won't fail.”

Robert replied in a solemn tone after Roland explained that he needed to take things seriously. He did not really know what they would be up against, and even though his golem was unique, that did not mean it could outperform something built with dwarven technology that was refined over centuries.

The queue moved steadily. Up ahead, the massive archway of the teleportation gate pulsed with raw energy. Magical runes etched deep into the surrounding stone pillars glowed with a brilliant azure light, casting flickering shadows across the assembled students and staff. It was finally time to move, and soon the first groups began vanishing into the swirling portal.

When it was their turn, the logistics team from the runic department pushed the large container through the threshold with the help of several humanoid golems. Roland stepped through alongside Robert, keeping his attention fixed on the path ahead. The familiar disorienting pull of spatial transit washed over them, lasting only a fraction of a second before the blinding light receded.

The air on the other side struck them immediately. It was much cooler and heavy with moisture, and the reason quickly became obvious. Before he saw any structures, Roland heard the sound of what resembled a waterfall. They had arrived at the Grand Sanctum of Arch Magus Eldoria, a small floating island with water cascading endlessly from its edges.

‘So this is the Grand Sanctum of an Arch Magus. Even after all this time, the amount of mana here is staggering. It's far greater than at the institute.’

Although it was called a sanctum, this was far from a secluded holy place. In reality, it was a massive mountain saturated with magic that had been transformed into a fully functioning city. Even now, he could see swirling arcane energies surrounding it, forming a colossal barrier that kept monsters and other intruders at bay.

The entire landmass hung suspended roughly a hundred meters above a vast lake. Massive chains anchored it to the ground below, supposedly holding the floating mountain in place. Water poured continuously over the island's edges, creating the illusion of a shimmering curtain surrounding the city. It fed the lake beneath while producing a veil of mist that sparkled in the light.

‘I read about this place, but where is all of this water coming from, and why isn't the lake overflowing?’

The endless waterfalls defied common sense. There was no visible river or spring feeding the island, yet the water never stopped flowing. The only reasonable explanation was an immensely powerful water spell that continuously drew water from the lake below and transported it back to the ring of waterfalls encircling the floating sanctum.

The interior of the sanctum resembled a thriving city. Buildings of white stone and polished marble stood in orderly rows. Tall towers reached toward the sky, their spires crowned with large crystals that glowed with a faint violet light. The architecture was ancient, yet everything appeared impeccably preserved, as though time itself had stood still within the boundaries of the floating island.

The teleportation gate they stepped out of was situated on a wide plaza near the outer edge of the city. As Roland glanced around, he noticed they were far from the first group to arrive. Banners representing various magical institutions had already been planted around the square, swaying in the damp breeze. Hundreds of students, professors, and workers moved about, filling the plaza with constant activity.

There was no one to greet them or guide them through the area. Mages were not nobility, so everyone was expected to figure things out for themselves after arriving. Ordinary visitors would only be allowed in after all the schools had assembled. The events themselves would begin the following day after an opening address from the organisers, a council of mages with no affiliation to any academy.

‘They seem like the smaller schools. Are they doing the same thing?’

Roland studied the banners. He recognized every one of them, having researched the competing academies beforehand. Stephen, his recent assistant, had also helped him gather information on their rivals. Among the banners was one name he remembered from his early years, Lustile Academy. It had once been the school he planned to attend before ultimately deciding to run away instead. It was a school with various magical facilities, ones also for magical craftsmen, who would be competing in several of the same events as his own school.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Their banner depicted a pair of crossed hammers wrapped in silver ivy against a dark blue background, with the silhouette of a grand academy building behind them. Beside it stood the banner of another lesser-known institution, the Willow Academy of Spells, which was best known for producing powerful offensive spellcasters.

‘So if we are here now, the higher-tier academies should be arriving soon.’

This was not the only teleportation gate within the Sanctum. They stood in a vast open plaza surrounded by five identical gates. A massive pentagram covered the ground beneath them, its surface etched with glowing runes that formed an enormous spell formation. At its center was a designated area where each academy could present its banner, marking its arrival at the Sanctum.

One of their attendants stepped forward, carrying the large academy banner. When he reached the marked spot, he raised the standard bearing the phoenix emblem of Xandar's Institute of Wizardry. There was no pole or stand waiting for it. Instead, the moment he held it out, the banner was enveloped in light. It rose into the air on its own before drifting into position beside the other academy flags.

As this was happening and the golem container was being pushed forward by the labor golems, another large delegation emerged from one of the remaining gates. Their robes were woven from expensive magical silk embroidered with azure thread, and every student marched in perfect unison. Leading the procession was a man who seemed familiar. The moment Roland caught sight of the academy banner, he immediately recognized him.

‘Sapphire Flame Academy?’

It was Master Anzeneus, the mage who had been involved with Tybalt Valerian and had assisted him during the cult attack at the Duke's estate. His robes were more ceremonial this time, deep blue and adorned with sapphire-like gemstones. His beard was just as long and white as Roland remembered. As he advanced across the plaza, his gaze shifted toward Roland, clearly recognizing him as well.

Fortunately, the old mage did not approach. Instead, he simply inclined his head in greeting. Roland returned the gesture with a subtle nod before turning his attention back to the logistics team.

"Keep moving."

Roland instructed the people under his command to keep moving. They needed to make room for those coming through the gate behind them, as collisions would be inevitable if everyone remained where they were.

"We need to secure our designated storage area and prepare our golem for the first event, so let's move."

The others nodded and followed. As more students emerged from the gate and looked around in awe, Roland and his group had already left the teleportation area behind.

The logistics crew maneuvered the large container along a wide street paved with white stone. The rumble of heavy metal wheels and the steady footsteps of mechanical golems echoed between the nearby buildings, drawing curious glances from passersby. Students from other institutions had already spread throughout the plaza, taking in the sights of the ancient floating city.

Beyond the teleportation gate lay a city unto itself. The buildings were far from empty. Instead, they housed all manner of magical creatures peddling enchanted wares. Merchants filled the streets as well, eager to profit from the gathering of mages, who were known to have deep pockets.

Roland continued monitoring the magical readings while keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. He could not deploy his floating golems to scout the area as he normally would. The city was protected by ancient wards that would immediately alert the resident mages to the presence of his devices. Doing so would only attract unwanted attention and could even get him expelled through the gate before the golem match had even begun.

"This place... are all places with magic... this strange? It's very different from Albrook."

Robert looked around as they continued walking. Having never visited a place with such a high concentration of magical beings, everything felt foreign to him. He was not used to summoned creatures wandering the streets, floating objects drifting overhead, or enchanted brooms sweeping the roads on their own. Albrook was far more modern thanks to runic technology, and it felt much less chaotic than what he was seeing here.

"It depends on the location. Academies that focus on exotic summoning rituals are known for being quite unique. A lot depends on the headmaster and how much freedom they give their mages."

Mages were an odd bunch. Some were highly intelligent and wise, while others relied almost entirely on the game-like world system to cast their spells. That often led to strange incidents and accidents, especially in places with little oversight. Some academies even permitted inhumane experiments involving not only monsters but people as well. Such institutions were commonly known as Dark Academies. They were barred from events like this because of their ties to black magic, curses, and even necromancy.

"I see... I think Lucille would enjoy this place. I think we passed a shop selling runic scrolls."

"She probably would. I've got the gate coordinates, so maybe once we're done here, I could arrange something."

"You could? But won't we be found?"

"Here? I don't think so. The people living here don't share the nobility's sensibilities. Many of them openly despise nobles. If you told them you were being hunted by one, they might even hand you a free magical item."

Roland and Robert chatted as they made their way down the wide street. If his brother was being pursued, he could come here. There were masks that concealed faces and magical spells that obscured identities. In a place like this, no one would even bother verifying who anyone really was as long as someone vouched for their identity, which he could. It was relatively safe, but at the same time, many things could still go wrong if magic spun out of control.

The logistics team turned onto a quieter avenue away from the main commercial district. The crowd thinned out, replaced by rows of identical white stone barracks reserved for the visiting delegations. Xandar's Institute had been assigned a midsized compound near the eastern edge, offering a clear view of the surrounding barrier and the flowing waters beyond it.

Two assistant teachers from the Runic Department were already waiting outside the heavy iron gates of the compound. Upon seeing Roland and the transport container, they motioned for the golems to proceed into the inner courtyard.

"D-Deputy Professor, over here!"

"I can see you, Stephen. You can relax and go see the sights."

"T-thank you, sir!"

Stephen had become something of a linchpin during the event. He had received the layout of the area beforehand and made sure everyone knew where to unload the container carrying the golem. His work ethic was similar to Roland's, and with each passing day he seemed to be building up his Sleep Resistance skill.

"Is he okay? He looks like he hasn't slept for a week..."

Robert commented as he watched the disheveled Stephen shuffle past him.

"I'm not sure, but he's earned the chance to explore the area."

Roland replied as he watched the golems place the container in the middle of the large storage building. It was quite heavy, but with the help of his magic and a dozen or so golem assistants, they lowered it from the transport platform.

"Good, set it down. Lock all the doors and don't let anyone who isn't affiliated with the institute inside. Now let's go through the students' support equipment. We need to inspect every piece. Report to me if you find any damage or inconsistencies."

“Aye!”

Some of the dwarven craftsmen from the institute were here as well. They helped set up the midsized compound by bringing out workbenches and placing various support items on them that looked like ordinary accessories. There were bracelets, pendants, rings, and even pieces that resembled belts or shoes. They came in all kinds of designs, each tailored to perfectly suit the needs of every student.

'They should be fine here without me...'

Roland mumbled to himself as he stepped off to the side. Leaning against the wall, he made it look as though he was keeping an eye on the runic department staff. In reality, he was focused on the display inside his helmet.

"Oh, Roland, calling back already?"

"Yeah, I just arrived. Things are peaceful here. I think I should be able to get back home within a week."

"That's great!"

Elodia's face appeared on the small screen, which did not rely on his runic network but instead used crystal ball communication magic. For now, they were too far apart for his own technology to work, but fortunately the older method was still reliable and could be used by altering runes.

"So, what have you been up to? Grading the kids' papers? How are they doing?"

"Kids? Oh, yeah. They are improving every day, though some still need help with writing and reading."

For a brief moment, he noticed her flinch when he mentioned her students. She seemed nervous for some reason, probably because of her growing workload.

"Well, if you ever need anything, just call. It might take me a while to respond, but is there anything important I should know?"

"Important... um, not really. If anything comes up that we can't handle here, I'll be sure to send you some R-mail."

"Great."

Roland chatted with his wife for a little while longer, but soon he had to return to work. The golem needed one final inspection before the competition began, and he wanted to make sure everything was in perfect working order.

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