Alex awoke with a sense of readiness, a new day beckoning him forward. He couldn't help but notice the improvement in his sleep since his arrival at the academy. Was it the mental and physical fatigue from the rigorous training, or had the awakening of his Rune altered something within him? He shrugged off the pondering thoughts, choosing instead to relish the rare comfort of restful slumber.
Swinging his legs off the bed, he caught snippets of conversation from Tom, Chloe, and Robert, who were already up and animatedly discussing the previous day's events. Robert had taken a leap into the Tech Department for specialized training, while Chloe was part of another squad engaged in basic exercises. Despite the divergence in their paths, the academy mandated basic training for all F-Ranks, ensuring a shared foundation for every recruit.
Today, however, their paths converged once more as they faced the challenge of learning Runespells. Alex's concern about his rune's lack of display lingered, but the tech department instructor's assurance that it was merely a system error provided a glimmer of hope for a resolution.
The group made their way to the canteen, the promise of breakfast fuelling their steps. Alex had not savoured a meal this satisfying in ages, and he could tell by the others' eager expressions that they shared his sentiment. The night before, he had listened to their stories, tales that painted a stark picture of hardship. For Alex, life's true struggle had begun with his parents' departure. Yet, as he reflected on his friends' experiences, he realized that even in the presence of family, their lives bore the heavy chains of servitude.
Alex and his companions arrived at their designated training hall, marked by a sign that read 'Runespell - F Rank'. The hall was a mirror image of the one they had been in the day before, save for the sign. Alex pondered whether they had simply switched the signs, but the route they had taken confirmed it was indeed a different room.
As they entered, they were met by the sight of the instructor at the front, with about a hundred F-Ranks lined up, backs straight, facing her. Recalling the previous day's lessons on military decorum, Alex quickly joined the line and snapped to attention. The memory of Lieutenant Smith's stern warning about etiquette sent a shiver down his spine.
"At ease! Good morning, everyone. I see Smith's training has had its effect. You're beginning to look almost professional," she observed, her gaze landing on a young man at the front whose knees were slightly bent. The boy, with hair as red as embers, flushed a deeper shade as he straightened up, avoiding eye contact.
A few snickers broke out among the ranks, swiftly silenced as the instructor's sharp gaze swept over them.
"Moving on, my name is Instructor Elara. Today, we will delve into the world of runespells," she announced, her smile radiant yet somehow unsettling to Alex. Despite its beauty, it reminded him of the previous day's harshness, and he could not shake the feeling that not all trainers would be as kind as they appeared. 'She looks like she could be a princess, not a taskmaster,' he mused, hoping his intuition was wrong.
Alex's initial impression of Instructor Elara's smile couldn't have been more off the mark. It wasn't the gentle curve of a princess's lips, but rather the sly grin of a devil. Runespells were proving to be a formidable challenge, especially since Alex was in the dark about his rune essence.
His solitary struggle didn't escape Elara's notice, who, upon learning that the academy's system was to blame for his predicament, tempered her approach, though the rigorous training persisted.
Runespells required the practitioner to absorb ambient essence, channel it through their rune, and then meticulously trace the rune lines to form the spell.
Take Tom, for instance, a Fire rune user. He had to convert the essence into fire before attempting to sketch the lines of the basic spell provided by the academy. His spell, 'Fire Bolt,' was supposed to conjure a fiery projectile aimed at a chosen target.
However, as mere F-Ranks with no stars to their runes, the result was less a bolt and more akin to a fire puff—barely manifesting before dissipating into the air. This was a common scene; spells would materialize only to crumble instantly. Instructor Elara reassured them that this was normal, attributing the failure to their imperfect line tracing.
Yet, even when Alex observed some successfully complete the spell, the impact was negligible, barely scuffing the training dummies. He was convinced that a higher star level would result in a far more explosive effect.
For Alex, the experience was torturous. Without knowing the nature of his essence, it emerged as a chaotic jumble, and the intense burning sensation he endured felt like his soul was ablaze.
Lieutenant Elara's gaze settled on Alex, who was seated, attempting to purify and attune the essence to his own. She noted the abnormal volume of ambient essence he was amassing—it was comparable to that of a two-star practitioner.
She couldn't help but think it would be quite the spectacle if he were to combust. A small smile played on her lips at the thought. Shaking off the notion, she reminded herself that as a first-time instructor at this academy, it was her duty to offer guidance, not amusement.
Elara's voice cut through the concentration, startling Alex. "What are you doing? Trying to die?" Her tone was sharp, tinged with genuine concern.
Alex's eyes snapped open, and he quickly shook his head. "No, I'm following your instructions, but the essence isn't refining. It remains a chaotic mess, just as it is in its ambient state," he explained, his initial shock fading into frustration.
Elara furrowed her brow, a look of perplexity washing over her face. "A chaotic mess? You should only be sensing the essence, nothing more…" Her voice trailed off, lost in contemplation.
After a moment, she refocused on Alex, her expression stern. "What's your name, Cadet?"
"Alex Stirling "he said thinking nothing of it.
Elara looked at him with a weird expression. "Your not related to that family who owns the Gibortian System are you"
Alex was taken aback. The notion of being connected to a family that owned an entire star system was foreign to him. As far as he was concerned, Sterling was simply the name passed down from his father, not a legacy tied to cosmic power.
"I'm not aware of any star system proprietors, ma'am. It's just my name, like my dad's," Alex replied, his voice devoid of any pride or recognition that might come with a renowned surname. The concept of a prestigious lineage held no sway over him, especially since his parents' departure had left him to fend for himself.
"They govern more than just one system," Elara mused, more to herself than to Alex. Shaking her head, she refocused on the present. "Forget I mentioned it. For today, observe the others and try to absorb what you can," she instructed before striding away, her expression etched with contemplation.
Throughout the remainder of the lesson, Elara's thoughts lingered on Alex's description of his rune essence as a 'chaotic mess.'
Driven by a surge of curiosity, she resolved to arrange an examination for him with a trusted colleague in the tech department. Perhaps there was more to Cadet Sterling than met the eye.
Alex returned to his dorm, the echoes of the Runespell class still resonating in his mind.
Though he hadn't cast any spells himself, he had gleaned valuable insights, eventually tuning into the subtle shifts of essence around his peers as they absorbed, refined, and traced their lines. He chose not to partake after his conversation with Elara, wary of the intense pain that seemed to flare within him.
The others were abuzz with excitement, their faces alight with the thrill of casting spells and the exhilarating rush of unleashing power. "Did you see me up there? I was a beast, casting fire bolts left, right, and centre!" Tom exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.
"If by 'beast' you mean flailing wildly and missing every shot, then yes, I saw you," Robert retorted from behind his glasses. He quickly lost himself in thought, muttering about the potential of his water rune and scribbling fervently in his notebook.
The rest paid him no mind, their conversation flowing into the night until sleep claimed them.
As Alex nestled into his bed, the day's exhaustion weighing heavily on his eyelids, his watch emitted a sharp chime, jolting him from the cusp of sleep. A notification glowed on the screen:
Notification: Cadet Alex Sterling
You are required at the tech department tomorrow. Your timetable has been updated accordingly. Please be prompt and presentable.
Starlight Military Academy
Blinking away his confusion, Alex quickly reviewed his timetable. True to the message, his schedule had shifted dramatically—'Basic Training' had been replaced with 'Exam – Lt Elara.' Deciding it was a problem for another day, he let out a weary sigh, closed his eyes, and surrendered to sleep. 'At least I'll be spared from Lt. Smith's gruelling drills,' he mused with a hint of relief, drifting off into a well-deserved rest.