Return of the Legendary Runesmith

"Student Vincent wins!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, waving banners and shouting in excitement as Aegis Academy secured their third victory out of five matches.

Ruby smiled warmly, clapping for the academy she had once proudly been a part of.

Up in the stands, Adrian sat with the other professors, still taken aback by the match's outcome. He had expected Carter and Elizabeth to win—those two were well-known talents. But Vincent? He had never even heard of the boy before.

Yet the grey-haired student had dominated from start to finish—crushing his opponent in both combat and magic.

Down in the arena, Vincent's sharp eyes fixed on his defeated opponent. His voice was calm, almost bored, as he muttered, "The gap between our skills is ridiculous… how were you even allowed to compete?"

The other student clenched his jaw, glaring back, but in the face of defeat, no words came.

Vincent gave a short scoff, slid his hands into his pockets, and walked off without another glance.

In the preparation room, his team manager met him with a subtle nod. "You did well."

Vincent returned the nod and sank into his seat, expression unreadable.

Outside, the commentator's voice rang through the arena, brimming with energy.

"And that wraps up the first round of the tournament!"

"Thank you all for joining us!"

Adrian let out a quiet sigh as he rose from his seat and made his way toward Ariana.

She was seated among the other Headmasters, their eyes briefly flicking toward him before they looked away without a word.

Ignoring them, Adrian stopped in front of her. "I'm taking the students to the eatery where we had lunch yesterday. Want to come along?"

Ariana had already heard about the small trial Adrian had conducted that morning. She knew this was his way of rewarding the students.

She did want to join… but, "No, you go. They might feel uncomfortable if I'm there."

Adrian paused, giving her a faint blink of surprise. She had a point—but still… "They won't mind, though."

Ariana shook her head lightly. "Nah, I'm good. I'll finish some work while you're gone. Just bring me something nice to eat."

Adrian exhaled, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. He gave a short nod.

Then, leaning closer, he took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Wait for me."

Ariana's lips curved ever so slightly. She nodded.

Adrian left the stands and made his way toward the quarters assigned to him.

A bath and a change of clothes were at the top of his mind. He was still in formal attire, and walking around in it for long would be… inconvenient.

As his footsteps echoed softly down the corridor, his thoughts drifted back to the morning's training.

He was pleased with his students' progress—but, if he was being honest, he was just as impressed with his own.

Normally, tracking Elana's movements would have been impossible. She was, after all, the strongest student of the Runebound. Every step she took was measured, every motion sharp and without waste.

But during their spar, Adrian had done something new—he had amplified his senses with mana.

It was a technique he'd only recently begun to explore, after trading for a manual of basic magical amplification techniques with Raven.

She had told him that until he could travel to her world, he should use the manual to train. The book itself was written by one of her subordinates—someone capable of wielding independent magic.

And so far… it was working.

He was still spilling more mana than necessary—but at least he wasn't draining himself dry anymore.

That reminds me… what are my stats?

[Name: Adrian]

[Age: 23]

[Race: Human]

[Str: 50]

[Spd: 48]

[End: 62]

[MP: 3000/3000] (Avg: 100)

[HP: 200/200]

His magic points had skyrocketed.

If he wanted, he could now maintain body strengthening for a full three minutes. Senses amplification could last a solid ten—longer if he dipped into his emergency reserve.

It was a leap forward, no doubt about it.

Adrian let the numbers sink in, a faint spark of pride stirring within him.

But then the thought crept in—cold and unwelcome.

Was it enough?

The foes Adrian was destined to face… they weren't just strong. They were seasoned users of independent magic—veterans who had likely been weaving their power into long-laid plans, just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

And Adrian? He couldn't even share his own knowledge with anyone.

For a brief moment, the thought crossed his mind—Maybe I could tell Annabelle. She knew him better than anyone.

But that path was dangerous. To explain his knowledge, he'd have to tell her about his previous life. And then… There was the very real risk she would see him as nothing more than an impostor wearing her Darling's face.

Then what about Ariana?

That would be disastrous.

She cared for the Adrian she had grown up with—not the man he had become, a fusion of the original Adrian's soul and Lex's.

If she rejected him, he could lose her… and perhaps others he held dear.

No. His knowledge would remain his alone. He would plan in silence, and act when the time was right.

His priority was clear—keep Ariana and his students safe. Of course, he wouldn't abandon others, but these people came first.

"Ah—"

Adrian stopped abruptly as he turned a corner and collided with someone.

A familiar girl.

"Professor…" Sylvie's voice trembled. Her face was pale.

Adrian's brow furrowed. "Sylvie… what's the matter?"

The Princess looked as if she had been running for some time, her breath uneven. Her gaze darted around nervously before she asked, voice low, "C-Can we talk?"

Adrian gave a short nod. "Yes, we can. But first—what happened? Did someone hurt you?"

Sylvie shook her head, then hesitated. "No… but soon… they might. And not just me—everyone."

Adrian's gaze sharpened instantly.

The cafeteria would be crowded right now—too many ears, too many eyes. "Alright," he said, lowering his voice, "let's go to my room and talk."

Sylvie blinked, startled. "But, sir… the warden—"

"Don't worry about that," Adrian cut in. "Just come with me."

Without another word, he led her toward the building where his quarters were located.

Once hidden behind a pillar, he drew his revolver and slid a single bullet—marked with a Light-attribute spell—into the chamber.

"Don't move," he instructed, attaching the silencer to the barrel. With a muffled click, he fired.

Sylvie flinched, eyes squeezing shut—only to feel a gentle warmth wash over her. When she opened her eyes, the air around her shimmered faintly.

The spell bent light off her body, cloaking her perfectly into the surroundings.

"Third floor. Wait for me there—sprint."

"Understood." Trusting his magic, she bolted through the reception area and up the stairs.

"Good evening, Professor Adrian," the warden greeted as Adrian passed.

"Evening," Adrian replied with a curt nod, not slowing his pace.

Moments later, he reached the third floor—where Sylvie stood, waiting, the familiar flicker of urgency still etched across her face.

Adrian had a bad feeling about this.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.