Evan sat on the edge of his makeshift bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the rough wooden floor. The cabin was silent, save for the wind slipping through the cracks and the distant sounds of apprentices in the background. The few remaining coins in his pouch felt far lighter than the weight of his worries.
"What if I start selling rune-inscribed items?" he murmured. The idea was tempting. Rune-crafting missions were highly valued, with veterans and mages willing to pay fortunes. But there was a problem: exposing the Origin Rune. Within the Arcane Field, a revealed secret could quickly become an exploited weakness.
"I have no way to protect myself…" His chest tightened. Unlike other apprentices, whose cores could provide protection or strength in combat, the Rune of Origin was subtle, reliant on strategy and precision. Exposing its power would be akin to painting a target on his back.
Sighing, Evan looked at his hands and clenched them into fists. "I have something they don't," he murmured. "My ability to simulate… maybe that's enough."
Determined to explore more about his core, Evan stood and straightened his posture. The small cabin was a simple space, but it served as an improvised testing ground. Closing his eyes, he activated "simulate." Immediately, the familiar wave of energy radiated from the core in his chest, creating a projection in his mind.
The mental image appeared like an abstract puzzle, formed by floating runic lines in a void. At first, the connections seemed chaotic, but over time, he had learned to interpret the shapes and patterns. Slowly, the details of his surroundings began to take form: the edges of his bed, the makeshift table in the corner, and even the cracks in the cabin walls.
"Fifteen meters in all directions…" he murmured, observing the ability's range. Then, kneeling down, he focused his attention on the ground. "And thirty centimeters deep," he concluded, as the runes mapped the terrain beneath his feet. Small patterns began to emerge, revealing hidden stones between the wooden planks and tiny cavities in the soil.
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After an hour of tests, Evan decided to take his training outside. The fresh night air filled his lungs as he walked to an open area between the cabins. Closing his eyes again, he activated his ability. The projection expanded, capturing the outlines of nearby trees, bushes, and even the distant ground.
He started running, repeating the process in motion. With each activation, the projection adjusted itself, creating a sort of dynamic radar. Over time, he realized he could use it to map hidden objects while moving. It was as if the world revealed its secrets with every step.
"This could work," he said, smiling. "If I can find buried rune fragments like this, no one will stand a chance against me."
At dawn, Evan grabbed a bucket of warm water and headed to the communal bath. The space was simple, with makeshift cubicles offering minimal privacy. He chose an isolated corner, removed his clothes, and began washing off the medicinal ointment still covering his skin. The warm water soothed his muscles, taking away the sticky residue.
Despite the lingering discomfort in his leg, he was able to put his weight on it steadily. "Running all day won't be easy," he thought, massaging the area around the wound. "But it's manageable." After bathing, he dressed in clean clothes, feeling refreshed. The sun was already shining brightly in the sky as he returned to his cabin to grab his bag.
With his core pulsing softly in his chest, he felt ready to put his plan into action.
The central square of the Arcane Field was always bustling. Apprentices of different levels moved between tents and makeshift stalls, while the stone structure in the center displayed the mission board. Evan walked over, noticing that Jonas, the advanced apprentice in charge of missions, wasn't there. In his place stood Alric, an intermediate known for his arrogance.
"Tharann!" Alric called out, his tone dripping with disdain. He tossed a scroll in Evan's direction without even looking up. "See if you can actually complete it this time. We're short on research materials."
Evan suppressed the urge to respond and picked up the scroll. Opening it, he confirmed it was the same mission as always: collect five rune fragments. These pieces, remnants of failures in ancient magical forges, were considered trash by many but still had utility in research.
"Fifteen coins," he thought, analyzing the reward. It wasn't much, but he knew how to turn this simple task into something much greater.
Scroll in hand, he turned and began walking toward the eastern forest, where fragments were typically found. The first phase of his plan was about to begin.
Evan stopped in a small, silent clearing. The area seemed untouched, as though no one had passed through recently. He crouched, touching the ground lightly with his fingertips, closed his eyes, and activated "simulate." Immediately, the mental projection began to form, with rune lines connecting to reveal the environment around him.
The ability seemed sharper now than in his earlier tests. The 15-meter range covered most of the clearing, while the 30-centimeter depth revealed roots, stones, and hidden depressions in the soil. Then, he saw them: three distinct patterns stood out in the projection. Two were buried under a thin layer of dirt, while the third was wedged into the bark of a nearby tree.
"This is incredible," he murmured, starting to unearth the fragments with his hands. The first two were slightly mossy, but their rune markings were visible on their surfaces. The third fragment required more effort, firmly lodged in a tree's crevice. Using a small blade he carried, Evan managed to extract it without damaging the piece.
He smiled as he stowed the fragments in his bag. "Three in just a few minutes," he thought. "This is really going to work."
Evan moved deeper into the forest, repeating the process. With each activation of "simulate," new fragments were revealed, hidden in places others would overlook. Some lay buried beneath fallen leaves, others in rock cracks or hollow branches. He moved quickly, using the projection to identify patterns and adjust his route accordingly.
Before long, he found two more fragments, completing the five required for the mission. Looking at the scroll, he murmured, "Mission complete... but why stop here?" Although he couldn't submit the same mission multiple times in a day, there was nothing stopping him from collecting additional fragments. The idea of profiting from them began to take shape.
With every new area explored, Evan repeated the simulation, optimizing his speed to cover as much ground as possible. Moving like a seasoned tracker, he found fragments in locations even veterans would miss. After two hours, his bag was heavy with a total of 68 rune fragments.
"This is going to work!" he exclaimed, his heart racing as he counted the pieces. He set aside five fragments for the mission and kept another five as a backup for the following day. The remaining 58 would fuel his plan.
Back at the Arcane Field, Evan began implementing his strategy. He knew many novice apprentices struggled to earn contribution points and lacked the patience for tedious missions like rune collection. These apprentices were the perfect target for his proposal.
Evan approached a group near the central square. Three young apprentices sat near an improvised campfire, looking exhausted and dejected.
"Hey," Evan started, trying to sound casual. "Interested in earning merit coins without much effort?"
The apprentices eyed him warily. "What are you talking about, Tharann?" one of them asked, frowning.
"I have enough rune fragments for you to complete the collection mission," Evan explained. "You take the mission, hand in the fragments, and we split the reward. You get seven coins, and I keep eight. Everyone wins."
The apprentices exchanged glances, weighing the offer. To them, it was an easy chance to earn points without spending hours searching the forest. "Seven coins... and we don't have to do anything?" one asked, still skeptical.
"Exactly," Evan replied with a confident smile. "I provide the fragments, and you just need to present the scroll and claim the reward."
After a few minutes of discussion, the three agreed. Evan handed over the required fragments and waited while they completed the mission. In no time, he received his share—eight coins per apprentice. The transaction was quick and smooth, and Evan realized his idea was even more effective than he'd imagined.
Throughout the day, Evan repeated the process with other novice apprentices. One by one, he negotiated with groups or individuals who lacked the time or energy to complete the missions themselves. Each deal followed the same pattern: Evan supplied the fragments, the apprentice completed the mission, and they split the reward.
By the end of the day, Evan had made deals with 11 different apprentices, including Cedric, whose optimistic demeanor often inspired others to trust him despite his modest magical abilities. Combined with the 15 coins Evan earned from his own mission, his total earnings reached an impressive 103 merit coins—a rare achievement for a novice apprentice in a single day
Back at his cabin, Evan poured the coins onto his makeshift table, watching them glint in the light. He counted the total again: 108 merit coins, adding the five he already had. It was more than he'd ever possessed during his entire time at the Arcane Field. The pile seemed surreal, almost too heavy for his worn leather pouch. He felt a growing satisfaction as he realized that, for the first time, he was in control of his situation.
Leaning back in his chair, a faint smile crossed his face. "This is just the beginning," he thought, as the Origin Rune pulsed softly in his chest, almost as if it approved of his bold strategy.