Return of the Legendary Runesmith

"Alright, stage two," Adrian muttered as he sat inside the Time Chamber.

He was studying the requirements of the second stage—and this time, it was to reach the Gate of a being.

Just like when he had entered the mindscape of his subjects while studying the third thread, he now had to resonate his mana with another person again. The difference was that this path was far more complicated, and the destination had no face.

A Gate had no fixed color or shape—it existed in the space between the conscious and subconscious mind, where mana remained raw and most potent. Naturally, there would be heavy resistance.

"Hmm… it says here I can use my mana to create a barrier while traveling through the mana stream," Adrian muttered, glancing at the notes he had written before.

Whenever Adrian entered someone's mind, he sent a large part of his consciousness as the source to explore what lay within. If that part of him was disturbed by the turbulent flow of mana, the backlash would be severe—dizziness, nausea, or even unconsciousness.

So yes, creating a protective barrier did sound tempting.

But there was one issue.

"I still don't know how to control my mana properly."

Raven: [Dear, the manuals I gave you didn't work?]

Adrian let out a sigh. "They were helpful, but not for precise techniques. I need something that lets me bend mana to my will."

Dark Knight: [Sounds difficult… something that takes hours of training.]

Adrian hummed. "You think? Well, I don't usually spend much time on anything other than runesmithing."

Forgelet: [Why not try the ways of the ancients?]

Adrian raised his brows. "What do you mean?"

Forgelet: [I can't prove it, but I've heard that back when independent magic wasn't restricted, people trained in isolation—places where nothing could distract them, so their focus stayed entirely on their bodies.]

Adrian hummed again. That actually sounded convincing. He had never tried something like that.

Dark Knight: [I usually recalibrate my body under a waterfall. You should try it sometime too.]

Adrian nodded to himself. "Yeah, I'll give it a shot."

He was about to switch off the dimensional chat when another message popped up.

Raven: [Dear, you haven't forgotten that you owe me for saving that girl, right?]

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "So… you want me to pay up? What's your request?"

Raven: [Fufu~ I'm sending you a dress I'll be wearing the day you arrive. Can you give me a review of it?]

That was quite a strange request but since anything goes, Adrian agreed, "Yeah, sure."

Not so long after, something he had gotten used to, there was a slight illumination, and then it appeared.

There was only a single living being in that Time Chamber yet no one was breathing.

Adrian's eyes parted wide when he saw the…lingerie resting there.

Thin straps, lace edges, and sheer fabric give it a bold and tempting look.

Forgelet: [I feel she sent something vulgar to Avirin now.]

[Dark Knight went offline]

Raven: [Fufu~how does it look, Dear? I would be wearing this when you appear before me. It is a little tight around my chest area but the strap would probably hold them.]

[Forgelet went offline]

Adrian finally regained his bearing…his cheeks hot. Somehow he imagined a goth woman wearing that lingerie and his old passion reigniting.

In a frustrated tone, he responded, "Take this back before I burn it."

Raven: [Don't tell me, you imagined me wearing it.]

"I am burning it-"

[No, wait. At least, give me a review of how it looks? This is my request after all.]

Adrian could tell that she was still teasing him, but since this was the way she chose, he had no other way.

"This…looks severely revealing and something you shouldn't be wearing for someone you haven't met until now."

[But I love you. It's not the face that attracts me to someone, but their brilliance and their personality. And you have everything I could have ever asked for. I can't tell how long I have been waiting for you.]

Things appeared to be turning serious now.

Adrian was left speechless for a few moments.

The absence of her usual mischief in the voice took him by surprise.

Raven: [Fufu~thank you for fulfilling my request.]

He didn't know what happened, but she returned to her usual self, and the lingerie disappeared. Not so long after, Adrian was the only one on the server.

'Raven huh…I wonder what kind of person she actually is.' He would be meeting her once he finishes the two stages of the fifth thread.

Yes, he was excited to go to her world, but not because he wanted to meet her.

Adrian has a feeling that he will attain something great once he gets to know a few friendly Acolytes.

'Haah…back to studying.'

…

It had been a while since Adrian last stepped into a classroom to teach.

Early that morning, the students had gathered, each trying to mask the restless night behind them. Yesterday's announcement had robbed many of their sleep, but in the end, nothing could be done to change the Headmistress' decision.

The choices were simple—leave the academy, which for most wasn't an option, or stay and somehow survive the upcoming combat test.

Some had already started training at dawn, throwing themselves into practice with whatever strength or guidance they could find. The less experienced ones turned to classmates who had always been physically active, hoping even a little borrowed skill might tip the scales in their favor.

At the very front, as always, sat Elana. Beside her was Aries, the black-haired girl busily peeling something off her hand.

Elana frowned. "What is that?" It looked disturbingly like she was shedding skin.

Aries grinned. "Adhesive."

"An accident?"

"Intentional."

Elana sighed, rolling her eyes. "Childish."

Before Aries could answer, the classroom doors opened.

Silence fell immediately as Adrian entered.

Elana's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. No matter how many times she laid eyes on that figure walking toward the stage, her heart never seemed to grow used to it. A quiet sigh slipped past her lips.

Dressed in dark grey trousers, and a neat white shirt, he extruded a very elegant charm. His short hair was neatly combed towards the back and the person was as majestic as ever.

It wasn't just Elana, there were many female students in the class who couldn't help but admire the man who had severely influenced their taste in men.

Adrian stood at the front, calm yet commanding. The students rose and greeted him in unison.

"Good morning, everyone," he said as he removed his glasses and tucked them neatly into his breast pocket.

His gaze sharpened, carrying a weight that drew every eye to him. "Before we begin, I want to talk about something that happened this morning."

A hush spread through the room.

"Three students were sent to the infirmary because they pushed themselves too far. They weren't from this class, so some of you may not have heard."

Many students shifted uncomfortably—they had heard. Only a few, like Elana, who rarely entertained gossip, looked surprised.

Adrian sighed softly. "Listen carefully. Train with caution. Your time is precious, yes—but so is your body. Make a routine. Stick to it. Discipline will carry you further than reckless desperation. There is no need to push yourself until you break."

From the back, a voice broke the stillness. "But sir…we only have two months. If we don't push ourselves, how are we supposed to graduate?"

The air tightened. Everyone knew the truth of those words.

The final exams are not held at the same time for every class. The third-years would be tested first, while the first-years would face their trials in the third month. That left little time to prepare.

And far too much to lose.

Adrian let out a slow sigh. He could see the nervousness written across their faces. Many of these students came from commoner families. For them, graduating wasn't just about prestige—it was the hope of lifting their families out of hardship. Behind every worried gaze was a parent, a sibling, or a home waiting for them to succeed.

After a thoughtful pause, Adrian spoke, his tone steady but reassuring.

"While I cannot change the Headmistress's decision to remove the third examination, I can petition for the requirements to be eased."

A ripple of relief spread through the room. Shoulders slumped, breaths were quietly released, and a few faces even softened into faint smiles. At the very least, their Professor was willing to stand on their side.

"Boo~ That's boring," Aries suddenly pouted, crossing her arms. "I wanted to fight a Professor to graduate."

Her words earned her a chorus of groans and glares.

"Shut it, musclehead."

"Not everyone thinks brawling is a fun pastime."

"That person does not speak for us, Professor."

Adrian chuckled lightly, easing some of the tension. "Alright, alright. Quiet down now. We still need to cover a few important topics before we move into revision."

The chatter settled quickly, and the air shifted into a calmer focus. For the first time since the announcement, the classroom didn't feel heavy with dread—but with determination.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.