Chapter 28: The Beginner's Wall
Rune Language and the Familiar Match
The classroom buzzed with chatter.
Most of the students were talking about one thing—
The upcoming Familiar Match.
"Hey, who do you think will win later?"
"Don't forget, it's today!"
"I bet the winners are going to be—"
The noise was cut short the moment Professor Al entered the room.
The door clicked shut.
Professor Al clapped her hands once.
"Good morning, everyone. I hope you all had a pleasant weekend."
The class quieted immediately.
She turned toward the board and began writing with smooth, elegant strokes.
Without looking back, she spoke.
"Today, we will be discussing the Language of the Gods… the Rune Language."
The words alone made several students sit straighter.
Professor Al continued.
"Runes are not merely letters. They are laws of existence."
She wrote a glowing rune symbol on the board.
"When gods speak in runes, they are not communicating."
She paused.
"They are rewriting reality."
The classroom fell silent.
"Mortals cannot fully comprehend true divine runes because the human mind cannot grasp pure conceptual existence."
Fate wrote everything down carefully.
Professor Al adjusted her monocle.
"There are four types of Rune Language."
She wrote them clearly:
«Primordial Runes – Used by Creator Gods.
Divine Runes – Used by Gods and Angels.
Arcane Runes – Simplified adaptations used by mortals.
Broken Runes – Corrupted symbols used by demons.»
A student raised his hand.
"Professor Al."
She turned slightly.
"Yes, dear?"
The student hesitated before asking—
"What about the Outer Gods? Do they have their own language?"
For a brief second…
Professor Al's expression stiffened.
"That," she said slowly, "is unknown."
She folded her hands behind her back.
"The Outer Gods are not from this world. They originate from somewhere beyond our dimensional structure."
Her gaze darkened slightly.
"Because of that… we cannot determine what language they use."
Fate paused in his writing.
In his mind, countless knowledge are being engraved in him.
(Four rune languages…)
(Outer Gods — undetermined language…)
(Impossible for mortals to understand…)
He underlined those part twice.
Across the room—
Chloe was also taking notes.
But unlike others, she wasn't simply writing.
She was connecting concepts.
Arrows.
Circles.
Linked terms.
Her pen moved quickly.
"Language of the Gods… Rune Language…" she murmured softly.
"Arcane Runes are simplified Divine Runes adapted for mortal cognition…"
She was building patterns.
Lisa and Isabelle, however, were not as focused.
Lisa seemed distracted.
Isabelle was twirling her pen.
Kyle, on the other hand, was listening intently.
For someone from a sword-worshipping clan—
He was surprisingly academic.
After finishing the theory discussion, Professor Al reached into her desk and pulled out an ancient-looking book inscribed with glowing Arcane Runes.
She adjusted her monocle.
"For your first Practical Assessment, I will introduce the Three Magic Rune Formulas."
The class became alert.
Professor Al drew three large magic circles on the board, each filled with Arcane Runes.
When she finished, she turned back to the class.
"These three formulas will be used for your assessment."
She pointed to the first circle.
"The first Magic Rune Formula is Destruction."
"It breaks down the data structure of a designated skill."
Several students widened their eyes.
She pointed to the second.
"This one is Creation."
"It uses the data from a skill dismantled by the Destruction Formula and reconstructs it into a new skill with similar properties."
Murmurs filled the classroom.
Then she pointed to the third.
"And finally—Amplification."
"It enhances an existing skill."
She raised a finger.
"But take note."
"It cannot amplify the same skill more than once."
Students hurriedly wrote everything down.
Professor Al closed the book.
"For your Practical Assessment…"
"You will apply these three formulas to one of your existing skills."
A wave of tension spread.
"You will perform this in the Training Grounds."
She continued calmly.
"You will be evaluated by three fourth-year students."
The weight of that statement settled heavily.
"So make sure you understand the Three Arcane Rune Magic Formulas thoroughly."
The bell rang, signaling the end of second period.
Professor Al gathered her things.
"That is all for today."
She smiled faintly.
"Goodbye, class."
In the Cafeteria
The students poured into the cafeteria, buzzing with excitement.
Fate and his group grabbed their food and sat together.
While eating, Fate spoke first.
"So… you two remember the plan later, right?"
Kyle nodded while holding a tray of food.
"Yeah. Of course."
Isabelle sipped his juice.
"Same here."
Chloe crossed her arms slightly.
"You three should still be careful. Even with a plan."
Isabelle smiled.
"Don't worry. We'll be fine."
While they were talking—
Lisa suddenly murmured.
"…I'm sorry."
Everyone looked at her.
Chloe blinked.
"Why are you apologizing?"
Lisa lowered her head slightly.
"It's because of me… that you all got dragged into this."
Her voice softened.
"You could get demoted to B-rank Classroom…"
Kyle waved it off casually.
"It's not your fault."
He smirked.
"If anyone's responsible, it's Fate."
Fate nearly choked on his orange juice.
"W-What?! Why me?!"
Kyle and Isabelle burst into laughter.
Lisa and Chloe chuckled softly.
As the atmosphere around them became comforting.
The tension eased.
After lunch, they returned to the classroom.
Soon—
The bell rang again.
Professor Dylan entered.
"Good afternoon.
His voice carried authority.
"All students, proceed to the Academy Arena."
He looked toward the six chosen students.
"The participants, prepare yourselves."
Excited murmurs erupted.
In the following moments students are on the Academy Arena.
The arena seats filled quickly.
Whispers spread.
"Who do you think will win?"
"I've been waiting for this!"
"This is going to be good…"
Professor Dylan clapped once.
"Quiet down! The match is about to begin!
On one side of the arena—
Fate, Kyle, and Isabelle finalized their formation.
Isabelle spoke firmly.
"Remember the plan. Don't break formation."
Kyle grinned.
"We'll follow it."
Fate nodded.
"We just do what we practiced."
His eyes sharpened.
"And we'll win."
Kyle chuckled.
"Obviously."
Professor Dylan called out—
"All six of you, enter the field!"
On Fate's side:
Kyle stood at the front with his Shadow Tiger, Scar.
Behind him stood Fate and his familiar, the Aether Jellyfish, Soo-ah.
Beside them—
Isabelle and his Aurelyth, Heracles, guarding their flank.
On the opposing side:
Jake stood at the front with his Red-Eye Gecko.
Thomas and his Steel Ram took the left.
Andrew and his Wild Boar held the right.
A triangular formation.
In the stands—
Lisa and Chloe watched intently.
Kara Westhallow observed Kyle's movements carefully, arms crossed.
Princess Caelira Dawncrown sat elegantly, her gaze focused mostly on Isabelle.
Both teams took their stances.
Mana began to rise.
The air trembled slightly.
Professor Dylan said the rules
Before raising his hand to begin the countdown, Professor Dylan stepped forward into the center of the arena.
His voice echoed clearly across the field.
"Before we begin, I will now explain the official rules of the Familiar Match."
The arena quieted immediately.
Even the whispers from the stands faded.
Professor Dylan continued:
"This is a controlled academy-sanctioned combat assessment."
He raised one finger.
"Rule One: Victory Conditions."
"A team wins if either—
• All opposing familiars are rendered unable to continue,
• Or all opposing team surrender,
• Or a student is incapacitated."
He glanced at both teams.
"However, intentional lethal force is strictly prohibited."
He raised a second finger.
"Rule Two: Summoner Protection."
"Familiars are the primary combatants."
"You may not use any skill even if it's defensive nor supportive type of skills, only the familiars are allowed to use skills."
Several students in the stands murmured.
Professor Dylan's gaze sharpened.
"This is an academy. Not a battlefield."
He raised a third finger.
"Rule Three: No Outside Interference."
"No buffs, artifacts, or assistance from external sources beyond what is registered in your Status Window."
He looked directly at the six participants.
"If I detect external mana interference, the match will end immediately."
He lowered his hand.
His aura flared subtly—
A silent reminder that he was far beyond their level.
"Lastly—"
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"This match will be observed by upperclass evaluators."
"In addition to victory, you will be judged on—
• Formation discipline
• Familiar synchronization
• Mana control
• Tactical decision-making
• And adaptability under pressure."
The weight of those words settled heavily on both teams.
This wasn't just a fight.
It was an evaluation.
Professor Dylan stepped back.
"Take your stances."
Mana began to rise.
The air thickened.
Professor Dylan raised his hand.
"Ready…"
"3…"
"2…"
"1…"
"Fight!"
Mana erupted from both teams simultaneously.
Their objective was all the same.
Win.
Chapter 28 End