Rune

Alastor awoke early in the morning, and quickly stretched, before heading into the training room.

The training room itself could be classified as a house just form it's size.

A room for gravity training, a room for just weapon training with dummies, a room filled with weights, and a rack of mana inhibitors to stop usage of mana,

'The inhibitor would be useful.'

As Alastor put on the mana inhibitor, he felt his mana be locked away, but his demonic essence remained.

'This is definitely an object made by slave traders.'

Alastor refrained from using his demonic essence, and began trying to move his mana.

He got used to basic spear movements, simply repeating them over and over, as he fiddled with his sealed away mana.

'So, it seems to be using foreign mana to close off the pathways leading out of the core.'

'I could use demonic essence to esssentialy pierce through this, but how do I resolve this without it?'

He knew from watching the other students that his control over mana was a bit superior to other humans, perhaps due to originally being a demonic entity.

He agitated his mana, but all that caused was a slight discomfort in his body.

He was not going to try the same vibration method he used to subdue A either.

He continued experimentation as his body moved on autopilot.

Just as he was on the verge of a breakthrough, a large chime was heard near his bed.

He paused and headed out the training room to see a golden bell swaying and chiming.

It was written on the bell, "One time service only!"

It then dissipated into nothingness.

'An alarm?'

He decided to freshen up, since lack of hygiene would be a pathetic way to die.

Alastor headed out of his room, spear strapped to his back.

He turned, and locked eyes with Karna down the hall.

After Axel somehow found and joined them, they followed the arrows that were appearing on the walls and floors with soft chimes, each inscribed with the sentence, "First time service only!"

They arrived in the cafeteria for breakfast.

'They truly spoil their champions.'

Alastor thought, as he eyed the mounds of food.

While this was more convenient for him, he would personally have gotten the students to hunt and gather their own food.

They sat on a table not far from the exit, as Axel looked at Karna's and Alastor's plates in awe.

"Are you guys really going to eat all this?"

Axel exclaimed as the shadow made by the mountain of food eclipsed him.

"Is the secret to becoming a top ranker actually just pigging out!?"

Alastor and Karna couldn't answer, since they were too busy stuffing themselves.

Suddenly, A sat on the same table as Alastor, the entire structure creaking as he slammed his massive body down on it, his mountain of food towering over Alastor and Karna's.

"This, is how you truly enjoy!"

He began ravenously devouring his food, as if all of it went into a black hole.

Assured by Alastor's presence, Axel boldly asked, "Why are you here?"

A looked puzzled as he gazed down upon Axel.

"Why shouldn't I be?"

Axel looked confused by that.

"But didn't you challenge Alastor and lose to him yesterday?"

A laughed and said, "Yes! And it was a great battle as well!"

"I still don't see why I can't sit here!"

Alastor decided to take over from the exasperated Axel,

"He's asking if you do not bear me any ill will."

A looked puzzled, dumbfounded, and shocked.

"Why would I? I asked for the challenge, and you showed why you were Rank 1! And I even got stronger from it!"

"Benefits all around! In fact, I'll challenge you everyday!"

'Hahaha, no.' 

.......................

As everybody moved into different groups and social circles, some beings remained aloof.

One such case, was Amber Rose, who was still trying to find Alastor's story.

"He's definitely not an automaton or golem....."

She whispered to herself as she kept trying to manifest a Story above his head.

'The only other Story I can't see is mine. Even the Gods have their own, but I can't open them.'

"Just what are you, Alastor Stele?"

.......................

The demonstration classes began with Runes, the one Alastor was looking forward to the most.

He simply took the first seat he found.

As they awaited the teacher, Alastor observed the social standings.

'Only some of the stronger students aren't in any clique.'

Just then, the teacher for Runes teleported in.

'How is it possible for one to be late even with teleportation?'

The teacher looked old, extremely so.

If someone told Alastor that he keeled over and died tomorrow, he would believe them.

The old man spoke in a surprisingly powerful voice,

"I am Arthur Vanadial Dreyas Bones. You may call me Professor Bones."

He paced around the classroom, and as he passed by, Alastor noticed something.

'I can't feel his presence at all!'

'His mana, his sounds, his scent, none of them are present!'

'Even instinct does not warn me of his existence!'

Professor Bones returned to the front of the class and asked a simple question, one that would form the basis of the entire subject.

"What are Runes?"

Alastor had some idea, but refrained from answering.

A brave soul did raise his hand, and Professor Bones gestured him to continue.

"Ah. Runes are mystical symbols that manifest some powers?"

Professor Bones answered, "A moronic answer. You may sit.....outside the class."

He asked again, a devilish gleam in his eyes.

"What are Runes?"

Nobody answered this time, opting to stay quiet rather than suffer under the Professor's sadistic side.

He frowned and grumbled something about the newer generation lacking spirit, and turned to one side.

He raised his hand, and coated his finger in mana, as he begn drawing mid-air.

He drew the same symbol twice, but the second one caused a small sphere of light to be formed within it.

He asked, "Does anybody know what was different between these two?"

The person who answered was a surprising one.

A spoke up,

"Intent. You knew what the Rune would do the second time around, though I do not know why the first one did not activate since you clearly know it's meaning."

'Look at that, the brute knows something.'

Professor Bones seemed surprised to receive the right answer, and nodded vigorously.

"Yes. Intent. Understanding. Visualization. Manifestation."

"These are the core steps of Rune Formation."

"A Rune, is a direct gateway into the will of the universe."

"The Will of the Universe is like a blank canvas, simply working according to it's nature."

"We express our intent to this canvas, then shape it, and paint our manifestation upon it, through Runes."

"It is not wrong to call them the Language of the Universe."

"The more you master a Rune, the more it detaches from the rules of the Universe, granting more and more Authority to you."

"Your mastery over a Rune, is symbolized by how far you can bend it's rules without backlash."

"A skilled user, can draw the Rune for Fire-"

He paused as he simply raised his finger, and the Rune materialized, spewing gouts of flame.

"- And have it give you water!"

The Rune suddenly began dripping with water instead, the hot flame from before having disappeared.

Professor Bones made the lecture as interesting as possible, but at the end of the day. not many young and hot blooded teens wanted to sit and draw symbols all day.

As class ended, Axel asked Alastor,

"What do you think about this class?"

Alastor replied calmly, 

"It's immensely useful."

Axel immediately nodded and made a mental note to definitely take this class, no matter how boring it seemed.

Karna asked, "Another reason most people are avoiding this class, is because it's a widespread sentiment that it is a form of magic for those without it."

"Like a lesser version of spellcasting."

Alastor scoffed at the thought.

"Fools."

Alastor asked A, "So, it seems like you have some knowledge about Runes?"

A nodded, his demeanour suddenly serious.

"My chief drilled it into me since I could walk."

"Even if I didn't use them, I must know how to face them."

'Chief? Interesting. I'll file that away.'

Alastor thought as they headed to the next class.

Weapon Creation.