The Runic Alchemist

The day after the last test, everyone in the mess hall was either excited or nervous. Damian often ate in the Knowledge Keeper's hall, but occasionally joined the others for breakfast in The Spellborne Legion hall.

There were supposed to be tests for Rune Shapers and Scholars, or non-combat mages, for the Knowledge Keeper's entrance exam, but he hadn't seen much of them. The lab and crafting facility were far from his room, and he had been busy with his own things. He did, however, recognize a few familiar mana signatures and faces in his hallway, coming and going. There weren't many, and barely any tried to strike up conversations with each other in the Knowledge Keeper's section, although some groups had formed here and there. Experience tales with empire

The others, including Grace, were busy eating breakfast with no worries. Unlike most, they had scored well and were confident they'd make it into the fifth year. They had seen many tests, and most students' performances were similar to the first-day exams. There were a few exceptions, of course—like Evrin's and the Dawnstar prince's performances, Lucian's cold swordplay, and he had also seen Alex, the Faerunian prince, who demonstrated impressive aura control. He had stopped using his weird spell anymore for using aura.

It was hard to admit but the bastard had surpassed Damian in at least aura mastery. After seeing all these talented chipmunks, Damian felt like he should also pay some attention to his aura mastery and spend some time training, but it was just a thought - his mind was filled with thousands of those.

One of those thoughts was… what to choose? While others gobbled their breakfast, Damian stared at the paper in his hand, which listed the subjects he could choose from. He had to select 6 mandatory subjects and 3 electives. He could choose more, but no fewer. Toph, seizing the opportunity, took over Damian's full plate and began eating as he contemplated.

He had already selected the following: Magical Theory & Advanced Spellcraft, History of Magic, Basic Runes and Runesmithing Techniques, and Beast Studies. The second-rank knight who he had met the very first day, and had given his subject list to, was sweating seeing it. He pointed out that Damian was invited for his potions expertise, so he couldn't skip Potion Crafting—making that the fifth subject. Only one remained.

Damian was stuck between choosing Enchantment and Artifact Creation or Combat Arts as his sixth subject. He didn't want to take too many classes, as his plan was more to enjoy a vacation and focus on self-study during his Highsword library trip than to be an exemplary student.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Enchantment, though useful, was tedious to learn with all the chanting and peculiar hand gestures. He could replicate most of it with runic circles anyway. Combat Arts, on the other hand, might provide him the excuse to train continuously in weapon skills and aura control. That seemed fine. He decided on Combat Arts for his sixth subject.

As for electives, he had: Herbology and Flora Magic, Advanced Waygates, and Golem Crafting—another subject he was required to take based on his reputation.

Damian nodded to himself and finally put down the paper. The others, at last, saw it and immediately began commenting on his choices.

"Spells, Runes… and even Combat Arts? What class even are you?" Evrin asked, exasperated by the selection.

"There are so many options… Why weren't we offered this many?" Sam complained, as always.

"Herbs? And only one offensive arts subject? You really have settled into your researcher persona…" Einar remarked dryly from the side.

Damian ignored the other two and focused on Einar. "What are you talking about? I am a researcher… Pretty good one at it, too."

"Subject list? New fifth year... Wait a second, you said you were already a student here. The regular academy student exam results are released after ours… How are you already a confirmed student?" Grace asked, confused.

"He's with us, but he was invited by the academy," Evrin explained, as if it were no secret.

"Invited? By Highsword Academy? How? That hasn't happened in nearly…" Grace stared at Damian with wide eyes, forgetting her food.

"Decades," Evrin added, though Damian noticed a smug smile on her face, as though she enjoyed watching her new friend's shocked reaction. As women, the three had clicked together quite well, especially with Grace being more lady-like. They got along better than Einar, who had more in common with Damian and Sam, and lacked any obvious feminine qualities.

"They only invite the most famous talents.. What's your name?" Grace asked.

"Maximus," Damian replied.

Her eyebrows shot up in confusion. She clearly didn't recognize the name.

"Don't play with her," Evrin said, feeling pity for Grace. "You might've heard of 'The Morph Vialist'... That's what they call him."

Grace's mouth opened and closed like a fish trying to process advanced calculus. She pointed at him repeatedly, wanting to say something but stopped each time. After a moment, she composed herself.

"Those potions Evrin used... And wait a minute, you had green hair on the first day! Is this the reason? Do you have a potion that changes your hair color?" Her eyes sparkled, as if she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure at a roadside sale.

What weird priorities this girl had. Damian sighed and nodded. Einar, from the side, took the paper from the table as Toph was begining to nibble on it. The smell of the old paper was kind of funny.

After breakfast, they posted the entrance exam result list in large letters on a fancy notice board. Unsurprisingly, all the people Damian had been watching were on it. Even two of Lucian's followers had made it. To his surprise, even though he was given a third-year and his name was at the very bottom of the list, his younger sibling had somehow made it as well.

Afterward, they gathered in front of the academy, where all the staff and big shots gave speeches. Damian counted four third-rankers and several powerful second-rankers among them. These were the professors and faculty members.

When the event concluded a couple of hours later, those who were not selected were free to leave academy grounds.

As for those with SSS rankings, they were to have one final test—this one was for their own standings in the academy though, and not for the admission.