First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116: Runic Language

When they reached the classroom, Orion paused at the threshold, his eyes scanning the hall. It was a wide-style room with rows of tiered seats curving around a central platform.

A grand, obsidian-black board hovered at the front, gently shimmering with residual mana from previous spells.

Soft, cushioned seats filled most rows, each equipped with a small desk inscribed with subtle runic marks—likely to assist in spellcasting demonstrations.

The room was already buzzing with activity, filled nearly to capacity. However, as soon as Orion, Emilia, and Arya stepped foot inside, the buzzing quieted down.

Hundreds of eyes trailed them as the trio entered the class. The hall was full with over 300 students this time. Clearly, some bored seniors had decided to visit.

Yet, conspicuously, the front row remained vacant, its ten seats reserved exclusively for the academy’s top students.

"Looks like we’ve made quite the entrance," Arya whispered teasingly, nudging Orion’s arm as they stepped inside.

Orion chuckled softly, noting the curious glances and murmurs rippling through the room as they approached the reserved seats.

Emilia followed quietly, her posture alert and poised as always, her eyes calmly assessing her surroundings.

Taking their seats, Orion found himself beside Nyss once again. She glanced at him, her dark eyes briefly meeting his before she returned her gaze forward, maintaining her usual composed demeanor.

The room quieted gradually as a tall, distinguished figure strode confidently through the main entrance.

Unlike Hargan, this new instructor was younger, probably in his mid-thirties, with sharp, intelligent eyes beneath short, neat hair. He wore simple but elegant robes embroidered with silver thread that shimmered subtly with a mana-infused glow.

"Good morning, everyone," he began warmly, his voice resonant and engaging. "For those who don’t know me yet, I’m Instructor Alden. I specialize in Advanced Runic Theory and Practical Spellcraft. Today, we’ll be diving deeper into the fundamentals of the Runic Language."

Alden’s gaze swept over the students, lingering appreciatively on the front row. "I see our top scholars are punctual—excellent. Let’s begin with a question. Who can tell me what Primary Runes are?"

Arya immediately raised her hand. Orion watched with amusement as her face lit up eagerly.

"Yes, Miss Arya?" Alden gestured encouragingly.

Arya spoke clearly, her voice confident and precise. "Primary Runes are foundational glyphs within the Runic Language, each embodying a basic concept or function, such as elements or actions, used as the building blocks to create Composite Runes for more complex spells."

"Precisely," Alden said, pleased. "And how many Primary Runes are taught within our academy?"

Another student from the second row answered quickly, "There are 108 Primary Runes officially recognized by Thunderpeak Royal Academy, sir."

"Excellent," Alden smiled, clearly satisfied with the rapid responses. He then turned slightly more serious. "But remember, while we teach 108, there exist many more scattered throughout the world—known only to those brave or foolish enough to venture into hidden ruins or lost archives."

A ripple of intrigue passed through the students at the mention of unknown runes.

Orion felt a spark of excitement. His heart quickened slightly at the thought of uncovering runes that no one else knew—hidden treasures that could make for a fun trip.

Beside him, Nyss showed only the faintest hint of amusement, wanting to try answering a question herself.

Instructor Alden paced casually, his hands clasped behind his back, clearly at ease with his students. "Now, understanding runes isn’t merely about memorization. It’s about resonance. Each mage naturally resonates with certain runes more strongly than others. This resonance defines your proficiency and specialization. Can anyone explain what I mean by ’resonance’?"

A shy-looking boy raised his hand hesitantly. "It’s like... when a rune feels right? As if it’s part of you—natural and easy to invoke?"

Alden nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! Well done, young man. The stronger your resonance, the more efficiently you’ll wield that rune. Mastery, therefore, requires not only intellectual study but personal exploration and deep self-understanding."