"I want to use Rune Magecraft as my primary magecraft system."
"Rune Magecraft?"
It was an unexpected choice. Waver drummed his fingers on the desk, pondering for a moment. "Why would you want to study Rune Magecraft?"
"I read about Rune Magecraft and found it interesting. It can be used directly or inscribed onto a medium to amplify its power, much like Jewel Magecraft. I think my conversion attribute could be well-suited to Rune Magecraft."
Waver nodded. He wasn't one to discourage a student's interest. After all, the El-Melloi Classroom housed its fair share of unusual individuals.
Flat Escardos lacked a typical magus mindset, often acting impulsively, leading to an inability to replicate the same spell twice. Svin Glascheit, on the other hand, appeared calm but harbored strange and at times, unsettling behavior, using beast magecraft that could eventually transform him into a full-fledged beast.
Compared to them, studying Rune Magecraft seemed rather normal.
"After Aozaki Touko reconstructed Rune Magecraft, she sold the complete theory to the Clock Tower. Aside from a few restricted spells, you can study the rest. Since you've chosen your magecraft path, focus on it and refine your craft. But remember, even if you have a talent for quickly mastering magecraft, ultimately, your magical energy circuits will dictate everything."
Waver finished speaking and opened a drawer, pulling out a small note. With a few quick strokes of his pen, he wrote down some instructions.
"This is a note of permission. You can use it to borrow Modern Rune Magecraft Basics from the library's fourth floor."
"Thank you, Professor!"
Li Xiang accepted the note, bowing earnestly. At the Clock Tower, instructors who provided such personalized guidance were rare. Most instructors preferred to dangle enticing bait to attract prodigious students, then take them under their wing.
This was why Waver was frequently invited to lecture in other departments and had garnered immense popularity among students.
Leaving the study room with a mix of thoughts, Li Xiang bid farewell to Gray at the door and headed straight to the library to borrow the book Modern Rune Magecraft Basics.
This book, while provided by Aozaki Touko, was authored by the Department of Policies and Regulations. Flipping through it, Li Xiang noted how Aozaki Touko had reconstructed modern Rune Magecraft, with numerous examples of Level 1 and Level 2 Rune spells detailed inside.
Like the Primordial Rune Magecraft, modern Rune Magecraft also revolved around the twenty-four runic letters, with various extensions.
"Good thing I studied under Waver. Without his help, it would've taken me a year or two to even access this book."
Li Xiang closed the book, deciding not to dive too deeply into new spells just yet. He thought for a moment and asked, 'Irigal, when will I be able to advance to the next rank?'
[Hmm, soon. Based on your magical energy and the number of spells you've mastered, you're nearly at the rank of a Prodigy according to the Clock Tower's standards.]
Then, Irigal added playfully, [You're just one step away. Can you guess what it is?]
"One step? What is it?" Li Xiang ignored Irigal's teasing tone.
[A quest,] Irigal replied with a mischievous hum.
"A quest?" Li Xiang felt like he was being played with and clenched his teeth. "Then give me the quest!"
[Cute Irigal needs to sleep and recharge now. You should head to the streets tomorrow to find the quest yourself.]
"Irigal!"
No response.
Li Xiang was furious. "Stupid system! Come out! Don't hide in there silently! If you've got the guts to mess with me, have the guts to come out!"
No matter how much he shouted, Irigal didn't respond. Frustrated and angry, Li Xiang decided to vent his anger by heading to the Land of Shadow for more training.
The more he fought, the worse he got beaten, and the angrier he became.
And so, Li Xiang spent the night in frustration.
Friday arrived.
The atmosphere around the Clock Tower's magecraft societies grew even more lively. Decorations were everywhere, and a massive protective barrier was being constructed.
Li Xiang learned that this barrier would cover the entire Clock Tower to prevent any magecraft used during the upcoming society exhibitions from being detected by ordinary people.
Normally, there were already various magecraft-based wards around each department's district, but a few years ago, a serious incident occurred. One magecraft society used a spell that exceeded the barrier's limits, causing a massive leak of magical energy.
To manage the fallout, the Department of Policies and Regulations convinced the London government to announce it as a rare, dense fog. At the same time, several Color-class magi worked together to cast a weather spell, shrouding the streets in a thick mist for days.
Since that incident, the protective barrier had been reinforced for every society exhibition.
As Li Xiang surveyed the surroundings, Irigal's words from yesterday played in his mind. 'A quest on the streets… Where could it be?'
Suddenly, something caught his eye. The emblem of the Department of Policies and Regulations.
Something was wrong.
Not far from him, in a nearby alley, the Department of Policies and Regulations had cordoned off an area with their distinctive caution tape.
"Louis?"
Li Xiang approached, recognizing the familiar figure.
Louis was on the phone, but upon hearing Li Xiang's voice, he turned around.
"Li Xiang, you're here too?"
"Is someone dead?"
Li Xiang peered past him, spotting a body on the ground. Ducking under the tape, he was surprised. "Flynn Eley?"
"You know him?"
Li Xiang frowned at the sight. Flynn's face was marred with deep, horrifying gashes. "Flynn was a student in the General Fundamentals course. We've attended classes together. What happened to him?"
"A magical outburst," Louis sighed. "Ordinary magi always try to punch above their weight, and when they mess up, this happens."
"Mind if I take a closer look?"
Though he wasn't close to Flynn, Li Xiang wasn't indifferent to the situation.
"There's nothing much to check. It's clearly a magical outburst. Every year, there's always someone who overestimates their abilities," Louis said dismissively. "But go ahead if you want. The cleanup team hasn't arrived yet."
Li Xiang glanced at him but said nothing. It was typical magus behavior. To them, death was commonplace, whether by suicide or homicide—it didn't really matter.
He knelt down to examine the body.
Flynn's arms were marred with ruptured skin, similar to his face. It was the result of attempting a spell beyond his capability, leading to a loss of control where magical energy rampaged through his circuits like a flood.
If Li Xiang wasn't mistaken, the rest of Flynn's body would bear similar scars.
That Flynn was left with an intact corpse was only because of his low rank.
"See? I told you, nothing much to check."
As Louis commented again, Li Xiang's gaze sharpened.
"Magical Perception!"
In the multicolored elemental cloud, a large amount of fiery red gathered around Flynn's body.
No, something was wrong!
Flynn's elemental affinity was wind!
Li Xiang recalled the first time he met Flynn when Irigal assessed him. Flynn's affinity was clearly wind, though wind-aligned magi could use fire-aligned spells.
But no sane magus would try to exceed their limits with a spell of an element that wasn't their own—it defied logic.
Would you prefer a spell with a 10% success rate or one with a 50% success rate?
Flynn wasn't stupid.
[Ding!]
The system's notification suddenly chimed.