The Runic Alchemist

"What's the point of such a life? Shackles on every desire? Is that the life you want for yourself? The Lucian I knew had the courage to face men and beasts far above her level. She didn't bow to weaklings for schemes.."

"For strength! Damn you!" Her voice cracked with frustration. "That's the point. This is the only way I can make myself strong enough. Strong enough to never let anyone fight for me again. You, the unparalleled genius, wouldn't understand the desperate struggle for even a trickle of power. That's what life is for us—for me!"

They stared at each other in silence until Lucian exhaled heavily, her anger fading. Without another word, she turned and walked back inside to rejoin her charade.

Toph made a noise but Damian ignored him.

Damian, finding unexplained rage bubbling inside him, hurled his glass into the ocean with full force. Then he stormed away, heading directly back to his room.

****

Damian woke up with a terrible headache, which was a given after last night. Even after casting a healing spell, the pain persisted. A warm bath helped a little, but as he began recalling everything he'd said the previous night, his mood plummeted.

'Guess I should never touch suspicious drinks again, no matter how pretty looking' he thought bitterly.

He had known the drink contained alcohol but hadn't expected it to be strong enough to get him drunk. The things he'd said to Lucian… Not everything was false, but not all of it needed to be voiced. Who was he to question her life choices? His own were far worse by comparison.

Toph, his soul bound companion, tried to cheer him up for a few seconds before becoming too engrossed in splashing around in the warm water. Damian sighed. What a carefree guy.

He dressed in his uniform and prepared to attend the morning assembly. Before leaving, he stopped by Reize's room to apologize for ditching her last night, but she wasn't there. What a crazy girl, he thought with a faint smile. Already back in her lab?

As expected, the academy song was tedious and only worsened his headache. His first class of the day was Spellcrafting. On the way there, he was joined by Sam and the others. The atmosphere among them felt odd—Sam and Grace were awkward around each other, Einar remained completely oblivious, and the princess was growing visibly uncomfortable by the second mixed between them.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Damian gave Evrin's shoulder a quick pat in an attempt to console her, but his headache soon demanded his attention, and he let her be.

"What the hell did you do to rile up the younger students?" Einar asked out of the blue once they settled into their usual seats.

Damian raised his head groggily from the desk. "Huh? Oh… I put up some challenges for students interested in applying to become my squires," he admitted.

The posters he'd put up yesterday had apparently caused quite a stir. Some were whispering about it in the hallways and in class too.

"You did what?" Evrin asked, eyes wide.

"You're letting anyone who qualifies join?" Einar asked in disbelief.

"Oh, no one will qualify," Damian replied with a grin. "I made sure of that."

"You're one evil moth—" Sam began but abruptly cut himself off when the professor entered the room. Silence fell over the class.

Damian stole a glance at Lucian. She appeared fine in her usual seat, but he felt he should say something. Where to begin though? Admitting he was entirely wrong wouldn't be truthful, but saying nothing would feel worse.

He found an opportunity after class.

"Lucian," he called, drawing curious glances from nearby students. Sensing the need for privacy, they drifted away, though Damian noticed the prince watching him with a peculiar expression. He ignored it.

"I apologize for last night," Damian said directly. "I spoke a bit too much.."

"It's fine," Lucian replied coolly. Then jabbed at him, "It's nothing I didn't already know. Nice to see your opinions haven't changed, no matter how many years go by."

"Well, anyway… I was out of line, so, sorry."

"It's fine," she said again, her tone softening slightly. Then, abruptly changing the subject, she asked, "What are you doing this evening?"

"Working on a new runic project in my lab," he replied as they walked to their next class.

"You'll never master the aura blade if you spend all your time on projects," she pointed out.

"I know," Damian admitted. "But the lab is the only place where I can try out my ideas. And I just got it.."

"I saw your friend practicing with her blade the other day," Lucian said, her tone curious. "It was… interesting."

"If you want, I can help you practice," she offered. "The pressure during sparring is the best way to reach for the aura from my experience at least—sparring without relying on mana, of course. Especially with you.."

"After dinner?" he suggested. "You can use your evening freely that way.."

"After dinner, outside?"

"They gave me two rooms for testing my squire recruits," Damian replied. "We can use one."

"You really hold the title, huh?" she asked, surprised. "I thought that was a rumor."

"Yeah, no one is dueling me so I am stuck with it.. You wanna try..? Two free slaves.."

"Squires aren't slaves, Damian."

"Same thing," he muttered.

After classes, Damian made time to visit Reize in her lab and apologized. She pouted briefly before he mentioned the library and the golem for accessing the secret section, which promptly distracted her from her annoyance and she beamed excitedly. She really is an odd one, he thought fondly.

The second ranker mages and scholars in charge almost fainted when he presented his mini iron golem dance in front of them. Soon his application for permission and the info for golem making reached Worldscribe's office, summoning both Damian and Reize there yet again. Well again, for Damian, though Reize had mentioned she had been also summoned for a few of her weird creations in the past as well.