Read Novel Full Chapter 1216: The Candidates
Chapter 1216: The Candidates
A few days passed, and the Academy's schedule was as strict as always.
Students of different Arcane Paths rarely overlapped, each path having its own specialized curriculum. But there were a handful of common subjects that every candidate had to attend…
Some of them were the Mystical Artifact Study, Basic Alchemy, History of the Twelve Paths, and Arcane Ethics.
It was during Mystical Artifact Study that Ruth and Rice first crossed paths.
Professor Halden had brought out a collection of ancient relics, blades, talismans, and fragments of array cores. Students were tasked with examining them, identifying flaws, and hypothesizing their original functions…
Some of them had runes, but needless to say, even Combat Arts must learn about such runes since most of their weapons were provided by the Rune Arts Faction. After all, they were all about fighting and required good weapons as well.
For that reason, they must learn how to identify runes.
Ruth then approached and checked over a cracked talisman, her special eye faintly glistening…
Soon, she noticed a subtle misalignment in the rune pattern, something most students overlooked. She scribbled notes quickly while whispering to herself.
Across the table, Rice was studying a battered training spear. His instincts told him how the weapon had once been used, the flow of combat etched into its wear. He mimicked a stance, adjusting his grip, and muttered, "The balance is off… whoever wielded this must have compensated with footwork."
Their voices overlapped. Ruth glanced up, surprised to see another student speaking with such certainty. Rice noticed her notes and raised an eyebrow.
"You saw the flaw in the talisman?" he asked.
Ruth hesitated, then nodded. "The rune lines… they're slightly misaligned. It weakens the amplification effect."
Rice's eyes widened. "I didn't catch that. But I can tell how the spear was used. The wielder relied on speed, not strength."
Well, this wasn't an exam or a test in the first place. The Professor just wanted the students to apply the skills they learned or the knowledge they obtained from his class.
Professor Halden actually wanted the students to cooperate and learn more about the items he had brought.
Just like that, groups had been formed, and soon, Rice and Ruth studied with each other. Different paths, different talents…. Then, they both learned that they were candidates to become Vale's disciples!
"You're Vale's disciple candidate, right? I heard them talking about you." Rice asked quietly as he pointed to a group of students eyeing Ruth quite sternly.
Ruth blinked. "Yes… Wait--You too?"
Rice nodded. "Combat Arts."
Recognition dawned. They weren't just classmates in a shared subject, they were both walking the razor's edge of expectation, marked as potential successors of the Shadow Immortal.
***
From then on, they began sitting near each other during common classes. Ruth would share insights about rune flaws, while Rice explained combat applications. Their conversations often drifted to the Twelve Arcane Paths, each wondering how their journeys might intersect some day…
Despite their differences, they found common ground in aiming to become a true Disciple someday. Ruth, with her fragile talent but rare eye. Rice, with his extraordinary talent but frail body. Both had something to prove.
One afternoon in Basic Alchemy, the classroom was filled with the heavy scent of herbs and the faint bubbling of cauldrons.
Students worked in pairs, carefully mixing reagents under Professor Elira's watchful eye.
Ruth and Rice sat together… They were both not too good or bad in this class, but it didn't matter since no one was really failing this class as long as they could identify a few basic tonics and had an idea of their ingredients and how they are made.
While working together, Ruth measured each ingredient carefully, while Rice would be the one mostly handling the brewing process since his movements were very controlled despite his frail physique.
Across the room, however, trouble was brewing.
Korr, the son of a wealthy merchant family that belonged to the Alchemist Arts Faction, sat back in his chair with a smug grin.
He was notorious for flaunting his status, often mocking those with weaker talents. Today, his eyes were fixed on Ruth.
"Careful, Ruth…" Korr sneered loud enough for others to hear. "With your low-grade talent, one mistake and you'll blow us all sky‑high. Maybe you should leave the real work to those of us born for greatness."
A few students chuckled nervously, while others avoided looking at Ruth.
Ruth's hands trembled slightly, but she kept her focus on the mixture.
Rice's jaw tightened. He had also endured years of scorn for his frail body, and he recognized the tone instantly.
"Funny," Rice said evenly, not looking up from the cauldron. "For someone born for greatness, your potion smells like burnt leather."
The room went silent. Korr flushed red, glaring at Rice.
"What did you say?"
Rice finally looked up, his eyes calm but sharp.
"You're too busy talking to notice your mixture curdled. If you don't fix it, it'll explode."
Professor Naya's head snapped toward Korr's table. Sure enough, his cauldron was bubbling violently, the liquid turning an ominous shade of black.
"Korr!" she shouted. "Neutralize it, now!"
Panic flashed across Korr's face. He fumbled with the reagents, spilling half of them. The cauldron hissed and steam started rising.
Seeing that it might cause a problem, the Professor turned to Ruth to quickly help and fix it. It was also Naya's way of telling the other students how good Ruth was.
Just like that, before Korr could make it worse, Ruth stepped forward. Her special eye caught the flaw instantly. The rune stabilizer etched on the cauldron's rim was being blocked by an ingredient that wasn't cleaned off, making its effect terrible.
She adjusted it with a quick gesture, then sprinkled a pinch of powdered frostvine.
The bubbling subsided. The potion stabilized.
Professor Naya gently nodded as her quick action…
"Well done, Ruth. Quick thinking."
Korr's face twisted with humiliation. He slammed his fist on the table…
But as he was about to burst in anger, Professor Naya raised her hand.
At the same time, several steps could be heard outside, and they were rushing to their laboratory…
As soon as the door opened, they immediately recognized the presence of the agents of the Arcane Bureau!