The Runesmith

Chapter 413: Arriving At The Institute.

“Quite the sight, but... are we really here?”

“Yes, sir. I'm not allowed to go any further. You'll have to walk to the gate by yourself. You seem to be new; be sure to present the eye with the letter.”

“An eye, huh?”

Roland nodded at the man who had brought him here. He stood on a brick road that led uphill toward a large gate. The gate was entirely wooden and surrounded by a hedge wall, seemingly around five meters tall at a glance. However, Roland's mana sense revealed that there was more to this wall than met the eye. It wouldn't be surprising if some form of attack, like vines or thorns, would be triggered if he attempted to jump over it.

After taking a deep breath, Roland adjusted the straps of his spatial pouches and began walking toward the gate. As he approached, he noticed an intricate pattern engraved on the wooden surface of the gate. The pattern depicted a stylized eye surrounded by arcane symbols, confirming the relevance of the “eye” the coach hand had mentioned.

When approaching this strange eye he thought about the lack of other visitors. There was no one here, nor did it feel like many people traversed through this path. This was strange considering the population of the Institute to be considered quite large. There should be thousands of mages present there plus many servants. The campus was a town by itself and the ground it covered was quite large.

Before arriving at the academy, Roland needed to rent a special carriage that guided him through a magical maze, a defensive measure implemented by the academy. The maze, covered in thick fog and crafted from large trees, posed the first hurdle. The coachman wielded a strange magical lamp that emitted a signal guiding them in a specific direction. During the journey, Roland carefully observed and analyzed the spell used in the lamp, eventually figuring it out. The lamp served as a device sending a unique signal to the intelligent magical maze, which in turn opened a path to the academy's location. Without such a lamp, travelers would likely get lost inside or end up back at the entrance.

‘Whoever made this Institute must have been something similar to a Chloromancer, it is quite fascinating but…’

As Roland approached the academy's gate, he marveled at the abundance of plant-based magic everywhere. However, he couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated, as his proficiency with plant-based magic was limited. While he could produce a few vines and branches, constructing something on the scale of this gate, maze, and wall was beyond his capabilities. Eventually, the magic he used would waver and dissipate. The academy's plants, on the other hand, seemed to draw energy through their roots underground. Roland considered venturing deeper into the academy to uncover the source sustaining their life.

The eye, resembling an etching, opened when he approached the gate, blinking at him before escaping from within the gate's confines. It was connected by some type of vine and clearly awaited Roland's action. After a moment, he presented the letter he had received from his friend within. The eye focused on it and emitted a light, as if scanning the contents.

“It's similar but not quite the same…”

He Instantly compared it to the scanning technology he had developed at home using research papers provided by Professor Arion. Roland suspected that the magical gate made of wood might be based on the same principles. After a brief moment, the letter began to vanish, and the middle of the gate creaked open, granting Roland entry into the institute. Before venturing forth, he took one glance at the scenery behind him which was now engulfed in a stronger fog. There was no going back and soon he found himself inside the academy.

“Hm?”

As Roland entered the academy, it felt as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. The fog wasn't the sole factor obstructing his view; a visibility spell was also at work. From the outside, he could only see the sky and clouds, but within the academy, structures became clear, and the campus unfolded before him. Sounds of people echoed in the air, revealing a bustling activity that was concealed from those outside.

'I see, no one will be able to peek from the outside. The need to pass through the gate serves as the entrance to the true magical campus...'

After witnessing the lush greenery outside, Roland had anticipated the Xandar’s Institute of Wizardry to continue with the same natural theme. However, the first thing that caught his eye were distinct towers that were impossible to ignore. These towers had a clear elemental motif and judging by the massive amount of mana surrounding them, it was evident that they were Mage Towers.

Within the magical spectrum, there were numerous variations of mana, with the four basic elemental types being fire, wind, water, and earth. Other elements existed, often deriving from or closely related to the main four. Every mage besides him had affinities towards these elemental types which opened up class choices for new mage classes.

The mage towers that Roland observed radiated these different mana types, each tower fitting the corresponding color scheme of its elemental nature. The fire-type tower produced actual flames, while the water-type tower resembled a giant fountain, with massive streams of water cascading down into a large lake around it. The wind tower exhibited a swirling cyclone at its pinnacle, with a lot of flying creatures larger than birds circling around it. Then there was the earth tower which had strange spiky crystals shooting up from the bottom of it.

Before proceeding further, Roland took a moment to survey his surroundings. The large hedge wall encircled everything, and he noticed several additional wooden gates scattered throughout. It seemed that there were many entrances through which people could enter the institute. To him, this appeared to be a somewhat hazardous design flaw, as it created multiple points of entry. In contrast, castle gates were traditionally limited in number, as it was easier to defend one or two instead of twenty.

‘Are they not worried about anyone sneaking in? or perhaps they don’t really care that much?’

Magical spells and devices were prevalent everywhere, to the extent that Roland's own mapping device struggled to present them on its display. It crossed his mind that if someone were identified as an enemy, they might be instantly targeted by the numerous magical traps scattered throughout the area. Roland could also spot golemic constructs and magical beasts roaming in the background, further emphasizing the magical prowess and defenses of the institute.

As Roland ventured deeper into the campus, he encountered students and faculty members, all engrossed in their studies or engaged in magical experiments. The attire of the mages varied, reflecting their chosen specialization. Some wore robes adorned with flames, while others had attire reminiscent of flowing water or swirling winds. The diversity in clothing reflected the broad spectrum of magical studies within the institute.

He realized one thing: he didn't stand out much among the diverse crowd. It was as if he wasn't even there. A robed man wearing magical armor wasn't anything special in a place where magical spirits floated around and distant explosions were a common occurrence. The campus was more lively and dynamic than he had anticipated, with students bustling in all directions.

Soon he arrived at the central plaza of the campus which featured a grand magical fountain. The water was very clear and strange exotic fish swam around with rainbow color scales. Surrounding the fountain were statues of renowned mages from the history of the institute, showcasing the contributions of individuals who had shaped the world of magic. Roland recognized the figures of legendary mages such as Archmage Xandar, the founder of the institute, and other iconic figures who had left an indelible mark on the magical community.

Roland's eyes were then drawn to the main building, the Arcane Hall, which served as the heart of the institute. The entrance was adorned with intricate rune carvings that pulsed with magical energy. The Arcane Hall housed classrooms, lecture halls, and the offices of esteemed professors, including Professor Arion. After witnessing the doors open he witnessed strange floating platforms and a space that seemed a lot larger on the inside than on the outside.

However, he wasn’t sure where to go now as his guide had not appeared to greet him. He didn’t want to push his luck as he was asked to wait by the Archmage Xandar’s statue to be picked up. Thus, for the time being, he decided to sit down on a nearby bench to examine his surroundings. Some students passed him by and recognised that he was a new face, they were a curious bunch who started to whisper between each other in speculation.

‘Hm… interesting, they are blocking out their sounds…’

The mana around the people in the vicinity swirled, indicating that they were all using spells to conceal their conversations from Roland. Lips moved, and glances were exchanged, but no audible sounds emanated from their mouths. Choosing to ignore the attention, Roland concentrated on the task at hand. If his contact didn't find him within an hour, he decided he would need to try approaching the reception area, hoping it existed within the main structure of the institute.

As time passed, Roland observed the students around him. They varied in ages and demeanor but shared a commonality - they all belonged to the mage class and were above the age of ten. This would have been his destiny had he not failed to acquire his elemental affinities, a peculiar case that he never found the answer to.

‘There is no fixed timeframe to send kids here, but they usually start early.’

Although the primary focus of the school was on teaching youngsters how to handle mana and chanting, it also provided education in various scholarly fields. Students were taught subjects such as math and economics to groom them into responsible members of the kingdom. Many nobles sought the services of such mages as advisors, not just for warfare. These individuals were often kept as a reserve force, their main strength lying in long-range bombardments.

Roland had never been able to interact with other mage types, as from a young age, he embarked on his own journey. According to Arion and the books he had received, Roland had a natural talent for spellcasting. It appeared that producing magical effects for others wasn't as straightforward, as Roland rarely fumbled a spell, even during stressful encounters in dungeons. There was a learning curve to spellcasting, and spells weren't skills that activated automatically.

‘What’s taking him so long?’

Thirty minutes elapsed, and Roland was growing increasingly annoyed. He was confident that, after the introduction letter was scanned, the necessary party should have been made aware of his presence. Wasting his time was something Roland disliked, but he restrained himself from complaining due to the unfamiliarity of the environment. He wasn't certain if voicing his concerns would yield any results in this new and unknown setting.

“Harrows!”

“Huh?”

While Roland sat there, tapping his foot on the stone tiles, a peculiar sight appeared before his face. It resembled a flying jellyfish with large, expressive eyes that radiated cuteness. Its body was partially transparent and emitted a blue glow reminiscent of mana. The tentacles swirled around, and the being produced a strange magical dust as it moved.

“Arwe you Mr. Wayrand?”

“Ah… yes that’s me.”

“Yay, Master Arion wirr be rate, so he tasked this one to bring Mr. Wayrand to his office!”

Roland hadn't been informed about a peculiar floating jellyfish with an unusual speech pattern, but it seemed like the creature was here to guide him. Accustomed to the unexpected, he stood up from his seat and nodded at the strange being, ready to follow its lead.

“Sure, lead the way.”

“I, wirr!”

The jellyfish hovered in the air and beckoned for Roland to follow. As he trailed behind the peculiar creature, he couldn't help but draw attention from passing students. Some looked at him with curiosity, while others exchanged glances of disdain while looking at the flying creature and his clothes. Roland, however, paid little mind to the attention, focusing on keeping up with the floating guide.

Roland was led to the Arcane Hall that he previously had seen. There the floating platforms became noticeable. These floating platforms were a common mode of transportation within the Institute. They glided effortlessly through the air, carrying students and faculty members to various destinations around the expansive hall.

Then there was the interior that looked truly bizarre. Before proceeding, he stepped toward the edge of the floor. From there, he could glance both up and down, taking in the vast open space occupied by flying students on similar platforms. A significant gap, requiring flight for at least a hundred meters, separated sections of the structure. In the distance, various doors were visible - some leading into rooms, while others opened into corridors.

‘There is a lot of spatial magic involved here, but perhaps it could also be an illusion?’

He wasn't entirely certain, but time was scarce, and he couldn't scrutinize everything with his eye skills, given that his taxi had just arrived. The guiding jellyfish, likely a magical familiar, accompanied one of the platforms. Having observed students using these platforms before, Roland confidently stepped onto one. Before the departure, a magical barrier enveloped him, evidently a safety measure, as some students were struggling to maintain their balance. Fortunately, he effortlessly magnetized his runic boots to the platform's underside.

As he was zooming through the air Roiland marveled at the sheer complexity and ingenuity of the magical architecture surrounding him. Floating staircases, suspended gardens, and shimmering bridges spanned across different levels of the Arcane Hall. As he passed through each floor, Roland noticed specialized areas dedicated to various magical disciplines. There were laboratories for alchemy, lecture halls for spell theory, and even arenas for magical duels.

The jellyfish familiar guided him to a specific floor, where a large door adorned with runic symbols awaited. The platform connected to the lower portion of the doorframe and stopped. The little magical guide that had brought him here just kept floating around him as if trying to indicate that he needed to disembark. Thus, he moved his hand to the door and gave it a good knock.

“Did my visitor arrive? Please come in.”

After knocking on the door three times and pausing for a brief moment, he discerned a muffled response from within. The runes adorning the weathered door began to shimmer, and the magical lock clicked. The door creaked open, revealing a familiar feline figure inside. However, before he could enter, a cascade of parchments assaulted him, tumbling in his direction. Though he managed to snatch a few, some spiraled into the wide expanse of the Arcane Hall.

“Ah, Wayland! Welcome, welcome! Apologies for the paperstorm. My experiments with magically animated notes seem to be a bit... unpredictable.”

Professor Arion greeted him with a sheepish smile that adorned his feline face. Roland looked down at one of the pieces of paper that he was holding and realized that they were moving around. One managed to wrestle its way out and began flapping around as if it was some type of bird.

“Animated notes… sure… This is certainly a unique welcome, Professor.”

“Come in, come in. We have much to discuss, my friend.”

Roland stepped into Professor Arion's supposed office, which was filled with the aroma of ancient books and the subtle hum of magical artifacts. The room was cluttered yet organized, with shelves upon shelves of magical tomes, runic artifacts in display cases, and a peculiar-looking telescope pointing at the sky.

“Have a seat, Wayland. Tea?”

“Tea? Sure, black if it’s possible.”

As if on cue, a magical kettle levitated into the air, accompanied by a sizable cup of tea. Roland observed the intricate process of tea brewing: magical water flowed into the kettle, heated up, and then elegantly poured into the cup where tea leaves awaited. Adjusting his hood, Roland revealed his runic helmet. Professor Arion, a seasoned runic specialist, promptly identified the intricate structures.

“I see that you implemented some of my solutions in your helmet design!”

“I did…”

“Is something the matter?”

“Well…No, it’s nothing.”

Roland was now inside of Arion’s office and he had somewhat prepared himself but being in front of a talking cat still felt strange. He was just floating around in the air surrounded by floating books and metals covered in runes. His appearance was that of a regular black housecat, with something that looked like a wristband attached to his tail. “Ah, is it my current appearance? I always forget to change back, it’s just so much more comfortable, just give me a second!”

It seemed his friend realized his problem and before he could respond, the cat form started to alter. His form was shifting into something larger and Roland watched in astonishment as Professor Arion transformed before his eyes. The small black cat expanded and elongated, limbs shifting and contorting until the transformation was complete…

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