Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 55: Runes [2]

"What do you know about runes?"

Velyrian asked, glancing back at Akamir as Milo pushed his wheelchair toward the desk.

"Nothing much," Akamir admitted. "This is the first I’ve heard of them."

Velyrian sighed. "Why are humans so stupid?"

Akamir didn’t have an answer for that.

It hadn’t been long since he had found himself in Asher’s body.

A little over a month, maybe.

There was still so much he didn’t understand... so much he’d never even heard of before.

’If I can, I want to learn as much as possible while I’m here.’

"Runes, like I told you earlier, are the language of magic or mana," Velyrian said as they reached his desk.

He opened a plain notebook, flipping through its pages.

"Those who study runes are called Rune Masters."

Akamir mumbled, "That’s quite straightforward."

"It is," Milo replied, sliding a chair in his direction. "Take a seat."

Akamir sat down next to Velyrian, who had begun sketching something inside the notebook.

"There are seven ranks of Rune Masters," Velyrian said, "and three types of Rune Forms."

Akamir’s interest piqued at the words.

’Is it similar to what I had back in my old world?’

He wondered to himself, rubbing his chin.

Back in his original world, people had used circuits to forge weapons that stored chi.

Akamir had used them too, and he knew how effective they could be.

Velyrian turned the notebook and slid it toward him.

On the page were several hand-drawn symbols, sharp, geometric lines intersecting and looping in strange ways.

"These are the Prime Runes," Velyrian explained, tapping the page. "There are nine in total."

Akamir leaned closer, reading the words beneath each symbol.

"Fire, water, wind, earth, life, decay, light, ice, darkness..."

"Learn to use two of them and you’ll be ranked an Apprentice," Velyrian said, leaning back. "Five, and you’ll reach Adept."

Milo returned with a set of pens and a clean notebook.

"Master all nine and you’ll be at my level—Arcanist."

She placed the notebook in front of him and stepped away.

’Why is she looking at me like that?’

Akamir wondered, glancing at her, who had a strange smile on her face.

The smile of someone who was going to enjoy a show.

"You mentioned three types of Rune Forms," Akamir said, returning his attention to Velyrian. "What are they?"

"Prime Runes are the basics," Velyrian replied. "Then you have Ascendant Runes, which deal with more advanced concepts."

He paused for a moment before lowering his voice.

"World Runes are... forbidden."

’Hmm....’

Akamir noted the sudden shift in tone.

There was a faint sadness there, but he didn’t bring it up.

Velyrian’s mood could turn on a dime, and Akamir had no intention of triggering another outburst.

"Now," Velyrian said suddenly, clapping his hands together. "Start learning."

"Huh?" Akamir blinked. "You mean right now?"

Velyrian’s ears twitched. "You think we’ve got all year?"

"I mean—."

"Start learning, boy," Velyrian snapped, eyes narrowing. "You’re not leaving until you do."

Akamir sighed and glanced at Milo, who was barely holding back her laughter.

’Ah, now I get it.’

The reason for that strange smile before...

’Fuck.’

... It’s because he was trapped.

He picked up the pen Milo had given him and hovered it above the blank page.

He wasn’t even sure where to start.

"Try drawing the fire rune first," Milo suggested. "That one’s usually the easiest."

"Alright," he muttered.

He copied it exactly, but nothing happened.

He tried again, but still the result was the same.

He frowned. "It’s not working."

"Because drawing a rune isn’t enough," Velyrian said. "You have to pour your mana into it."

"...Right."

He tried again, yet... nothing happened.

"Try again,"

Velyrian said, looking at him.

Akamir tried again. Then again.

Yet he couldn’t make the symbol perfectly.

---

’Urgh, what a pain in the ass.’

Three hours later, Akamir rubbed the back of his neck as he stepped out of the teacher’s building.

His mind was spinning from failed attempts.

He couldn’t get even a single rune to activate.

’What am I doing wrong?’

He stared up at the sky, frustrated. It wasn’t like the symbols were difficult to draw.

It’s just that he always made some kind of mistake.

"You need practice," Nayomi said, drawing his attention. "Runes can’t be mastered in a day."

"...Hmm."

"Wait," he said, turning to her, "you studied them too?"

Nayomi floated closer until she was beside him.

"To make artifacts, runes are essential," she said softly. "So yes, I had to learn."

"What rank did you reach?"

"Worldforger," she replied without hesitation. Her voice carried a hint of pride. "It’s the highest rank there is."

"...That’s impressive," Akamir muttered. "So, how strong are you now?"

"My strength depends on your rank," she said. "Not that it matters without a physical body."

’So, she is regressed back to Orange Core?’

Akamir wondered, nodding to himself.

It made sense to him, as she was connected with him in a way he can’t explain.

’I can still feel the red thread that kept us connected.’

He let out a slow breath and began walking toward the cafeteria.

"Your core’s unstable," Nayomi noted, glancing at his abdomen. "I can feel the ripples from here."

"Seriously?" he asked, frowning. "Think it’s because of Void Fox?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "You should be careful. You don’t really know what that thing is capable of."

"Kyuu!"

As if offended by her words, the Void Fox screamed in his mind.

’....’

Akamir stopped in his tracks as something crossed his mind.

’Can it hear Nayomi?’

He wondered, looking at the woman who tilted her head in confusion.

’...No way. That would be too much.’

He shook his head and pushed the thought aside as he reached the cafeteria.

The scent of baked bread and simmering stew hit him instantly, making his stomach grumble.

A few students nearby turned their heads, looking at him.

As he passed them, they began to whisper behind him.

’The fuck is wrong with them?’

Akamir frowned in annoyance as he picked up a tray and began to move towards the food.

"Yo!"

Someone slapped his back.

Akamir turned to find Viros grinning at him, his sea-green hair tied in a lazy ponytail.

"Where’ve you been?" Viros asked, picking up food from the commoners’ line. "And why aren’t you eating upstairs?"

Akamir glanced up at the second floor, where most of the nobles were.

The place was much more organised than the first floor, with waiters serving them.

The academy claimed equality, but the system said otherwise.

"I like the food here," Akamir said, adding stew to his tray. "Tastes better."

"You’re weird," Viros said.

"You’re one to talk."

After picking up a modest portion of food, Akamir moved along with Viros.

They made their way to an empty table near the back wall where Luca was already seated.

"How you doing, special child?" Akamir said, taking his seat in front of him.

Luca just glared at him. "Don’t call me that."

"Come on," Akamir grumbled. "I am not calling you that because you are a ginger."

"My hair is golden—."

"Nope," Viros interrupted, sitting beside him. "They are definitely ginge—."

"Shut up!"

Viros scoffed. "Alright, geez."

Luca drew in a deep breath as he took a newspaper from his pocket.

’How did he even fit that inside?’

Unaware of Akamir’s question, he slid the newspaper in his direction.

"Care to explain this?" Luca asked, showing him the front page.

It was a picture of Akamir and Inara kissing passionately.

And the headline was...

A real love story of a princess.

’...That’s cringe.’

Akamir barely controlled his expression as he looked back at Luca. "What about it?"

Luca pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly trying to maintain his composure.

"Why did the princess even like a guy like you?"

"Must be something magical," Viros mumbled, glancing between Akamir’s legs.

Akamir’s lips twitched as he sighed. "Don’t bother with my love life."

"Oh, we wouldn’t have if we had any," Viros grumbled softly.

"Single?"

"Gay."

"What?"

"What?"

Akamir frowned in confusion as Viros blinked innocently. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

’Didn’t he just say gay?’

Akamir opened his mouth to speak again—.

Bam!

"Can’t you see, blind idiot!?"

But a sudden sound made him stop.

He turned his head as he found a few students blocking a girl’s path.

A tray lay at the lavender-haired girl’s feet.

"..."

Akamir stared at Zaina, who stood with her head bowed.