Return of the Legendary Runesmith

It was after school, and Allen, as usual, was in the gymnasium.

With the final terms approaching, most teachers had shifted their focus to revision, so the students weren't weighed down with heavy homework. That gave Allen more time to dedicate to training.

He wasn't too bothered by the upcoming assessment that had been added to the finals—not nearly as anxious as Olivia was.

"You need to stop shaking and start moving," he said, halting his practice as he glanced at Olivia. She stood off to the side, clutching a thick book, her nerves plain as day.

"I've compiled all the martial art forms that could help a beginner like me," she muttered defensively.

Allen sighed, shaking his head. "And yet you still managed to become Student Council President just by brains alone?"

Olivia huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "With my armament, I can be dangerous, you know?"

A chuckle escaped Allen. "As dangerous as a hamster, maybe."

Olivia groaned. "You're mean, Allen. Anyway, I'm going back to my dorm to get changed."

Allen blinked. "Change? You can train in your uniform too, you know."

A wry smile curved her lips. "Not in this skirt. One wrong move, and I'll be flashing everyone."

Allen gave a small shrug. "Fair point. That would be uncomfortable. Alright then, I'll wait here."

She smiled faintly before heading out of the gymnasium, leaving Allen alone with his sword.

He exhaled deeply as he picked it up. This blade was special—tuned for him personally by Professor Adrian. A first-grade weapon, enhanced for a Light user. Not for flame, his natural element.

That meant if he wanted to use the armament properly, he had to call on the light within him.

"Haa… let's do this." Closing his eyes, he steadied himself. Mana flowed into the blade, igniting the runes etched along its surface.

In the past, he could only trigger his light attribute by accident. Now, he had gained enough control to call on it deliberately, though weaving spells through the armament was still far from easy. But slowly, he could feel it—a fragile connection being built.

"Alright… stage two." His voice was quiet but firm.

The spell he attempted was one of the simplest, yet most useful, available to Light users.

Detection.

Pressing the tip of the blade to the ground, he traced a small circle around himself.

With his eyes closed, darkness filled his vision, but he could still sense the glowing outline of the circle he had drawn. It expanded slowly, widening to encompass the gymnasium floor, then the entire arena.

Yes. He could feel them now. The faint echoes of presence, the subtle signatures of life scattered around the building.

The circle reached further, brushing against the stands—and then…

He froze.

Darkness.

Not the harmless kind that lingered in shadows, but something untamed. Coiling. Hungry. It lurked in the corner of the gymnasium, heavy and suffocating.

Allen's chest tightened as though the air had been knocked from his lungs. That darkness… it was staring back at him.

His eyes snapped open.

And there it was.

A boy. His classmate. Standing there, confusion on his face. Several girls were with him, trying to engage him in conversation, but he wasn't listening. His eyes darted restlessly, searching for something—no, someone.

Allen's breath caught as the boy's gaze finally locked on him. A slow grin spread across his lips.

Allen's grip tightened on his sword. Without a word, he turned and strode out of the gym, his steps carrying him straight toward the Headmistress's office.

....

Ariana and Adrian sat in silence as Allen finished recounting the situation.

After a pause, Allen added quietly, "I felt it back then as well… during the ambush. When I was in the gym with the others, with the transfer students… Kaylie gave off the same sensation. But compared to what I felt today—" he shook his head, "—that was nothing."

Kaylie. The very same mole who had helped Juggler infiltrate the academy, betraying Elizabeth and the other transfers by feeding the enemy their information.

Adrian leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "Did he notice you had uncovered his identity?"

Allen exhaled slowly. "I can't be certain… but he looked right at me."

Ariana's brow furrowed. "If he's truly a strong Acolyte, then it's possible. Someone like him could easily sense if he was being watched." Her voice hardened as she clenched her teeth. "But to think… they've started corrupting our students again."

The words carried a heavy weight, for they all remembered what happened last time. When Kaylie's betrayal had been exposed, the academy had run a thorough investigation. Every student had been subjected to the church's oath.

It wasn't the kind of casual vow spoken without thought. No, this was different—sacred and absolute. During the ritual, a Light Magic user would bind the words with spellcraft, ensuring that any who carried the taint of darkness would collapse to their knees, writhing in agony.

Back then, every student had passed. Every single one had proven their loyalty under the sanctity of the light, and the fear of hidden traitors had finally lifted.

But now…

That certainty was gone.

"What should we do now?" Allen asked, his voice trembling with unease.

It was still hard for him to accept—that among the very classmates he trained and sparred with, one of them had already fallen to corruption. Someone who laughed with them, acted so ordinary, and never once reached out for help… such a person could only have chosen to join the cult willingly.

Ariana's eyes hardened as she turned to Adrian. "My gut tells me to drag the spy out and beat him until he coughs up every filthy secret he's hiding—things he wouldn't even confess before God."

Adrian shook his head slowly, his expression grim. "That won't work. If he's bound by a Vow or an Oath, the moment we try to force anything out of him… he'll die. And we'll be left with nothing."

Allen grimaced…those inhumane might even do that. They value humans as nothing but playthings and pawns.

Ariana also agreed that capturing the mole would lead them to nothing but only ensure that the other students remain safe.

Adrian remained silent for a moment, thinking what he could do to uncover what they were planning.

Just then, he turned to look at Ariana and asked with a grin, "Aria…you have the firecrackers you collected from the students last year, right?"

Ariana blinked in confusion but nodded, "Yeah…there are a lot."

Adrian chuckled, "Then leave everything to me."

He knew exactly how to spy on the spy.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.