NOVPUB
Chapter 102: Elements and Affinity Runes
The trio walked down the polished marble path, the sun reaching high above their heads.
"Plus," Arya added with a wink, "the first lecture will be given by Vice Dean Hargan himself."
Orion paused for a second, then smiled. "That’s better. Our time won’t be wasted and we’ll get the most useful knowledge for ourselves."
Arya laughed. "Yep. Better not fall asleep."
They soon reached the grand doors of the Main Building again amidst their laughter. Orion was the most excited out of the bunch, as if he would finally learn how to form affinity runes.
They stepped inside the Main Building once again, but this time coming for their classes. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they followed the wide corridor with students here and there.
There were remarkably fewer students now than when they were going for their entrance ceremony.
Orion couldn’t help but notice the luxurious design of the Main Academy again. The ground was filled with smooth marble floors with runes carved all over the place. But that didn’t make it messy—instead, it gave it a scholarly beauty.
The walls were decorated with paintings of various times. Some had different races, some had wars against the demons, while some had past deans of the academy.
’This building’s definitely overkill,’ Orion muttered with a speechless look as his eyes scanned the towering pillars and rune-inscribed banners that shimmered slightly in the presence of mana.
[Overkill? This is the bare minimum for a top-tier academy, Master! We’re talking about Thunderpeak Royal Academy! ヽ(>∀<☆)ノ]
’Yeah, my broke self wouldn’t know about this stuff. I only attend my local government university.’ He inwardly shook his head.
Arya giggled beside him. "First time I walked here, I got lost twice. Each floor has over twenty classrooms, not counting the specialty halls."
Orion raised an eyebrow. "Then how many times did you get lost in your royal palace?"
Arya elbowed him lightly, rolling her eyes. "I won’t get lost there. I was born and raised in the Royal Palace, you genius."
Orion chuckled as the group continued on their way.
Soon they reached the wide double doors of the Lecture Hall. The moment Arya opened them, the sound of murmuring voices washed over them like a wave.
The interior was massive.
Rows upon rows of curved tiered seating stretched upward like a miniature coliseum. The room could easily seat five hundred, but today, nearly three hundred students—this year’s full first-year batch—had already gathered and were scattered across the seats in cliques and factions.
Nobles dressed in finely tailored robes stuck together, while commoners huddled near the edges or upper tiers. A faint divide was present in the air itself.
And at the very front, ten large, plush seats were set apart in a semicircle—clearly meant for the top-ranked students.
Orion’s eyes flicked toward them instantly.
Seven were already occupied.
Sylvia Stormbolt leaned back in her seat, arms crossed, seemingly uninterested in the crowd around her.
Garron Harrington sat like a boulder in his seat.
Felira Norwyn was flipping through a thick herbology journal while Elias Marrow rested his chin on his hand, looking bored.
Kale Duskfield and Tavian Greyridge chatted quietly, but all of them kept their distance from the tenth chair occupant.
Nyss Blackwell.
Dressed in flowing black robes, veil faintly swaying like living shadow, she sat motionless with a posture so elegant it seemed sculpted. Her fingers were clasped over her lap, and her gaze was focused straight ahead.
But what drew Orion’s attention most was the empty space around her.
No one sat beside her.
Despite being among the top ten, she was alone. Students even in the back rows leaned away slightly whenever their eyes met hers—as if she carried an invisible darkness they didn’t want to touch.
Orion’s eyes narrowed in thought. ’So that’s how it is, huh? Students not only respect her but... fear her? Hehe, a chance.’
He didn’t hesitate.
Without a word, he walked straight past the crowd and took the seat right beside Nyss.
Whispers broke out immediately.
"Wait, isn’t he afraid of getting misfortune from her?"
"No one’s sat next to her before..."
"I heard House Blackwell practiced occult arts."
Arya blinked in surprise for a second, then smiled as she followed and sat beside Orion on the other side. Emilia sat beside Arya, spear resting against the side of her chair as her eyes calmly scanned the room.
Nyss turned her head slowly toward Orion.
Her black eyes, ringed faintly in kohl, met his. There was no malice in them, no hostility, just indifference and a faint hint of... curiosity?
"You don’t fear sitting beside me?" she asked in a quiet voice, nearly drowned out by the murmuring hall.
Orion smiled. "Should I?"
She paused for a second. "You should. Most people do."
"Then I’m not ’most people,’ am I?"
Nyss nodded her head without any change in expression and turned her head back to the front.
Arya leaned toward Orion and whispered, "Are you after her? She’ll probably become the Goth Queen of the academy soon."
"I’m just taking a seat," he said casually with a smile. "Can’t let the front row go to waste."
Before more chatter could break out, a sudden burst of pressure descended over the hall.
It was heavy. Almost suffocating. Like thunderclouds gathering over the sea.
Every student quieted down instantly.
From the side entrance behind the podium, Vice Dean Hargan entered.
Clad in the same deep azure robes from earlier, with the stormcloud embroidery glowing faintly at the seams, he walked forward calmly. Every tap of his staff echoed like thunder.
His mere presence crushed the murmurs before they even formed. And as he stepped up onto the stage, he swept his eyes across the entire room.
"You have proven your talent," he began, voice deep and reaching every corner, "but today... you learn what that talent actually means."
Hundreds of students sat straighter. Even the nobles looked genuinely attentive. Even if they had taken classes at their noble estates, they didn’t want to miss this chance.
Orion leaned forward slightly as his gaze sharpened. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
Arya also curiously looked at Hargan, wondering if he would teach her something she didn’t learn in her royal palace.
Vice Dean Hargan stood at the center of the stage, gazing down at the hundreds of students with eyes that had weathered wars, watched armies fall, and seen more talent wasted than he had cared to count.
"Today," he said, his voice like distant thunder, "we begin with the truth."
Not a soul dared speak. All the nobles and commoners sat like statues, silently listening to each of Hargan’s words.
"Most of you were praised back home. You were told you’re talented. Gifted. That you’re destined for greatness."
He slowly raised his staff and tapped it once on the platform. A ripple of mana spread outward.
"And most of you were lied to."
The ripple expanded into a translucent dome of mana. With another gesture, it turned into a glowing chart that hovered above the stage—eight elemental glyphs arranged in a ring.
"Today’s lesson will cover the foundation of all cultivation: Elements and Affinity Runes."
Orion’s eyes lit up.
[Yes, yes, this is it, Master! Pay attention! (≧∇≦)/]
’I will if you let me.’ He annoyedly said.
[...]
