After a full month of classes, the first midterm exam in Simon's academy's life will take place this week with the main focus being on the basics of different fields. But his mind right now is not on the subjects he should be studying but rather on the book about runic engraving using metal-metal contact. He has been trying for the last two weeks in his spare time away from the missions and the exercises regime to engrave a durability-enhancement rune correctly by hand.
'I am getting the grip of directing my mana through the chisel but the dimensions ... I cannot get the proportionality right. At least this is still on a test piece of metal I can waste. This is a third one.'
He is struggling with another attempt next to tens or hundreds he has failed before but at least his control over mana has been getting more and more finely tuned. With the final hit of the mallet into the blunt end of the chisel, the tenth stroke finishes itself, a squarely looking rune appears and Simon feels the mana.
'Another kaput. The mana is dissipating away so fast. Let's get on with another attempt.'
His perspective has returned to the him in the present, preparing to do the final touch. His ability to gasp moments into the future is doing nothing but casting doubt onto his prospect. But even with doubt, he still wants to learn it fully. The scene takes place again and again and Simon only stops when he notices sunlight hitting the floor. He has kept himself awake through a night once more. Even if there is a spell that allows its user to be able to mold metal by will, knowing how to get to the needed rune without the clutch will be much better for learning.
'Welp, time for the exam.'
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"Hey Simon, how was your basic magic test? Good? I am buying you something since I'm feeling generous today."
Janus asks seeing his friend slumping on a bench somewhere less crowded compared to the doors of exam rooms flocking with students arguing whose answers are superior. With the majority of them now starting to return to their dorm for evening examination, only the backside of the Knight Department is considered somewhere a bit private. But then the sound of snoring tells Janus what to do. He punches Simon's shoulder.
"Ouch! Oh you are here. So are you aiming for the scholarship? I heard how your classmates keep discussing you having private lessons about holy power with your teacher. I guess you did really well."
"And you?"
"Haha... I can kinda see myself getting a good score."
"What is your extent of good?"
"Half the total? I mean I was sleepy so I just breeze through everything with some level of rechecking. I'm actually more curious in how you pass your examination with flying colors. And about her, how is her result? I believe you two are getting the first and second place."
"About who?"
A voice interrupts the pair.
It's Emilia. The three of them has been getting more familiar with one another the past month. What started with small talk has reached a level of normal friendship, not to the point of absolute trust but that is fine to Simon.
'At least she still joins us for lunch.', He thinks.
"About you. I was talking about how you two will definitely get a good score in the mid term evaluation since you two are much more practiced with your martial arts."
"So how is your result?"
"Good. But I don't think I am going to get as high of a score as you two."
The basic chattering takes place and the time for the evening examination is coming up, the magical engineering exam.
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With only dimensional analysis, basic calculus, and real analysis of a physical product written into a report form covering the purpose, duration, prediction, and production, the exam takes three hours to be completed and Simon is drained after all that thinking. But with the information provided by the test paper on page 10, he has finally been enlightened on why his attempt of engraving has failed at the final step: the innate story.
'The story of ritual being the foundation for rune and enhancement, or a story conveyed through that ritual. In the past, the need for warfare imparted the importance of durability. I need to capture that essences'
Think Simon as he makes another lap around the training area. A month of proper exercising helps tons in improving durability and concentration.
"On your left."
"This is the third time. You can stop with the joke at how slow I'm jogging."
"On your right. It's a kind of fun I have never had. Entertain me."
"Also third. Can you two focus more on your aura manipulation than making fun of me?"
"Of course not."
Both Emilia and Janus answer.
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Later that night, before midnight strikes.
'YES!'
Simon gives the air an uppercut of joy. After his successful attempt, the rune is now stably radiating a yellow sheen and Simon tests the durability by folding the piece repeatedly. The edge breaks off cleanly after a long time, proving the improved durability of the material. With the initial step up from 0 to 1, Simon's eagerness makes him do from a 1 to a 100.
'Hundred durability runes! Here we go!'
As morning comes, Simon is making his way out of his room after putting up his uniform when he picks up his leather wallet and find something distrusting: it is empty.
'Ah, my spare money is all in buying the testing metal plate!'
Never has his finance been so dire.
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In a shoddy bar where only the criminals flock to, it is past midnight when a drunk woman is interrupted by a circus clown. He is holding the glass of beer the woman is about to add to the glass carpet below her seat. With a glance of the clown, the bartender nods his head and gives a room key to the pair. The woman struggles to make her way up to the meeting room.
"Hic!"
"Have this. I need a sane thinker, not a drunk failure."
"Fucking clown. I have heard of your movement around here. You are looking for a way into the Rhea Academy? Only a mad man would think of diving into that place. How can he even get past the watching eyes of that Archmage?"
"Personally speaking, I am indeed someone fitting to that description of yours. Beside, the Archmage is not able to move UNLESS if it is something that can affect her. That's the verdict of His Majesty, how can she betray him again after what she has done years ago?"
"...I am not helping. What is in it for me?"
"I am not asking you to. I am only informing. Because you will help me. The kid who has stolen that seer eye of you is inside that place."
"...That rascal..."
Any form of laxness is replaced by anger. Her brain is throbbing so hard as the phantom pain in her eye socket sets in place. Her remaining eye bloodshot due to both the alcohol and the anger.
"How wonderful. To witness with my own two eyes the blazing figure from the past."
"Zip it clown. Your plan. I want my possession."
"Oh so eager of you. It's very simple. The Elves are not that united as their outward diplomacy. And the service they are asking from this poor clown somehow align with your hatred."
"Superfluous."
"I have the distraction. The corruption of the Remia Forest via a little piece of green emerald."
"Something that puny! How-"
"From those beyond the bound of mortals."
That phrase shuts the woman up. She is about to grab her blade to cut the insolent fool before her but it is too late as the clown punch the gem down her throat, her teeth falling alongside.
"Yo-!?"
The clown kicks upward, her lower jaw bit her tongue.
"You are perfect bait because she is someone who know you from years before. You have a special place in her heart ... and her barrier."
Throwing the woman into the sack, the clown goes back to his safehouse with a neat little gift for the Archmage in his possession.