The Ascender's Legacy [A CHAOTIC STORM LITRPG]

The sun had already begun its descent by the time their mini-tournament ended. After promising to meet the boys for dinner in a few hours, Aodhán made his way to the runic laboratory to see Professor Caldwell.

There was plenty he needed to ask her about his recent insights into runic inscriptions, but if he was being honest, he also just wanted to say hello. She was his favorite teacher—arguably the sanest, most grounded professor in the entire first-year bracket. At least in Aodhán's opinion.

She was fun, sharp, and endlessly fascinating. Every moment around her was a learning opportunity, and unlike some of the other professors, she didn't seem to have any overarching or underlying motives attached to her decisions. She simply wanted to teach runes, study them, and use her knowledge to create new awakened items.

He arrived at the laboratory shortly after, whistling a jaunty tune. Finding the main area empty, he headed straight for Professor Caldwell's workshop and knocked. With core sense, he could sense two blazing cores working inside the workshop. The first—a blazing fire core—was unmistakably hers, while the other shone crimson, radiating an energy signature he was slightly familiar with.

The crimson core came towards the door, and Aodhán plastered on a wide smile when it swung open to reveal the familiar face of Zaxus Viremont.

The second-year blood-awakened leaned against the door frame, his crimson hair slightly damp with sweat from the heat of the forge despite the ice runes blazing brightly within.

Aodhán wouldn't call them close friends, but they'd shared an assembly bench once and had an unexpectedly interesting conversation during one of Principal Zatya's long speeches.

Zaxus smirked. "Look who it is. Hey, Professor, your favorite first-year is here. Should I let him in?"

"Is that Aodhán?" Professor Caldwell asked, her voice nearly drowning in the roar of flames as the forge worked overtime to melt whatever special material she was melting this time.

Zaxus pulled the door open in response to her question, stepping aside as Professor Caldwell glanced up from her work. She barely spared him a look before waving him in. "I was just about to send for you, but I wasn't sure you had arrived yet."

"I arrived a few hours ago," Aodhán replied as he stepped into the workshop.

Just like the last time he'd been here, half-finished projects littered the desk by the door, and on the opposite side, a pile of animal bones and parts sat in varying states of preservation. Some were sealed in transparent jars, while others were scattered haphazardly in a way that practically guaranteed frustration when searching for anything specific.

Professor Caldwell stood beside the forge, kneading a thick chunk of Ragnar steel, her exposed forearms taut with strain as she worked the glowing metal like dough. The sight of her casually manhandling such a notoriously tough material would've been impressive if Aodhán hadn't already seen her do it before.

Giving Zaxus a quick fist bump in greeting, Aodhán moved closer to the forge. "So, is there something urgent you need me for?"

Professor Caldwell shot him a sharp look, and Zaxus chuckled. "Oh, he's playing coy, Professor. Doesn't want to seem too eager, maybe?"

Aodhán frowned, confused. "I have absolutely no idea what you two are talking about."

"Don't you now?" Caldwell stopped kneading the metal and folded her arms. "Maybe I misheard, but I'm quite certain you spent your entire holiday with the Witch of Selia—one of the most prominent runic engineers in all of Ragnarok. And you didn't think to mention this to me?"

Aodhán cringed. Oh. Now he understood.

In hindsight, he should've expected this. The whole mission with Geneva must have seemed like a planned internship, even though that wasn't exactly the case. But telling them it hadn't been some carefully arranged opportunity wouldn't help matters.

Just like Professor Caldwell had said, Geneva was one of the greatest runic minds in both Ragnarok and Lutia. Working alongside her for even a single day was the kind of opportunity that die-hard rune enthusiasts would sell their children for. Admitting he'd gotten it purely by circumstance would only complicate matters.

So instead, he shrugged. "Yeah… sorry about that. I don't know. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of it all."

"As expected," Zaxus nodded in understanding. "Honestly, if I had landed an internship with the mistress of runes herself, I probably wouldn't have told anyone either. No offense, Professor, but I'd be too caught up in the excitement."

Professor Caldwell scoffed, rolling her eyes as she continued kneading the molten metal. "None taken. But you should have told me, Aodhán. I would've given you a list of questions to ask her. Anyway, how did it go?" shaking her head in amusement, she let out a short laugh. "Actually, forget that. I can't believe I even asked—of course, it went great. Please tell me you learned a lot."

"I did." Aodhán nodded, unable to help the thrill that shot through him. "So much, in fact, that I don't think I've fully processed it all yet. That's why I'm here. I have so many questions."

I bet," Zaxus muttered, shaking his head with a sigh. "I won't lie—I was so envious when I heard you were on a mission with the Witch of Selia. The rune mistress herself. It must have been glorious working and fighting alongside her like that."

"It was glorious," Aodhán admitted, the memories of those two weeks flashing through his mind—the cultist outposts they had taken down together, the battles fought side by side. Geneva had been nothing short of an inspiration.

He hadn't gained as much knowledge as he would have liked, but he had gained plenty. Not just about runes, but about what it truly meant to be a champion. Real combat. Hard-earned experience. Words of wisdom he knew would stick with him. A deeper understanding of his own skills—and how to properly apply them. And then there were the things he had gained without even realizing it yet.

"It was glorious," he repeated, this time with even more conviction. "I was blown away when she offered me the opportunity. I didn't even think before accepting—it all happened so fast. It felt… surreal."

Professor Caldwell shook her head in amazement. "Perhaps she noticed your enthusiasm for runes when you met her during your changeling mission. Maybe that left an impression on her."

"Or," Zaxus said, tilting his head thoughtfully, "and I mean this in the best way possible—maybe she chose you because of your core-sensing ability. That would be incredibly useful for a runic engineer of her level."

Aodhán shrugged. "Yeah, I considered that." He paused for a beat before adding, "But honestly? I don't care why she chose me. I'm just glad she did."

Professor Caldwell nodded. "Whatever her reasons, I'm just glad you got to experience her in such an incredible way. Now, come—you have to tell us all about it. And while you're at it, maybe explain how that translated into you completely taking over the battle at the Steppin' Plains. You're really doing a lot."

"It's not much of a story," Aodhán chuckled, but Professor Caldwell shook her head.

"Tell us anyway. And while you do, do you want to help out?"

"Sure," Aodhán said, scanning the scattered materials on the crafting table. "What are you working on this time?"

"We're forging a serrated blood sword for me," Zaxus answered, picking up a bone to clean it. "We're using a mix of tier-75 scavenger bones, silver dust, and blood-infused Ragnar steel."

"That sounds interesting." Aodhán eyed the glistening black bones laid out on the table. Some had already been cleaned with a special solution, while others still bore rough, jagged edges. As they spoke, Zaxus resumed cleaning another bone with practiced ease.

"It's also ridiculously complex." Professor Caldwell added with a chuckle. "At first, I thought Zaxus had forgotten the favor I owed him, but it turns out he was only waiting to come up with an idea this complex before cashing in on the favor."

Zaxus grinned. "And man, am I glad I waited. If I hadn't, I probably would've asked for a scythe or a glaive—but now? I can't even touch those without feeling an awful aversion to them."

"Why is that?" Aodhán asked curiously.

Zaxus shrugged hesitantly. "Core ideal stuff. My Icon hates them."

"Oh." As much as Aodhán would have liked to ask for an explanation, he understood that not everyone was comfortable talking about their cultivation with others.

Professor Caldwell smirked. "Well, now that we're talking about favors, what about yours? Planning to use it soon, or are you going to sit on it for a year like Zaxus?"

"Definitely wait a year," Zaxus advised, adding another scavenger bone to the clean pile. "By then, you'll have a much better understanding of yourself and your skill set."

"I know that," Aodhán sighed. "But the tournament is getting close, and I'm starting to think I'll need something to give me an edge. Doesn't even have to be a weapon, just something... unique."

Professor Caldwell nodded thoughtfully. "An edge is always a good thing to have. Have you thought of anything in particular?"

Aodhán shook his head. "Not yet, but I'll figure it out soon. In the meantime, what can I help you with?"

Professor Caldwell gestured toward Zaxus. "Take over from Zaxus. Help him clean and cut those bones into strips. I'm done with this mound of steel, and he needs to infuse it with chaos and blood essence before it cools."

Aodhán nodded and grabbed a pair of chemical-resistant gloves. Taking over from Zaxus, he picked up a jagged piece of scavenger bone and dipped it into the special solution.

Zaxus murmured his thanks and moved toward the forge. With a deep breath, he opened himself to the origin plane of blood and began channeling chaos into the molten metal. Crimson essence poured from Zaxus's hands, swirling into the molten metal and changing its color.

While he worked, Professor Caldwell stepped closer to Aodhán. "Alright, I'm ready. Tell me everything that happened."

Aodhán laughed, and with the forge flames roaring in the background, he recounted his mission with Geneva, how he'd ended up helping the soldiers at the Steppin' Plains, and everything in between.

When he finished, Professor Caldwell shook her head in amazement. "What a beautiful experience. I have to say, you've made everyone at the academy proud."

"That's true," Zaxus admitted, having paused his channeling to listen to Aodhán's story. "You were all anyone could talk about for like a week after the attack. And now you're a lieutenant?" He shook his head. "Your achievements make me feel inadequate, to be honest."

"It just means you have to step up, Zaxus." Professor Caldwell replied with a smile. "We all have to step up."

Their conversation flowed easily, with the rhythmic clink of bone and metal in the background, until Zaxus finished infusing the molten Ragnar steel with blood and chaos, giving it an extra touch of flair for aesthetics. By that point, Aodhán had already cut the bones into thin, precise strips, carefully placing those that had come out just right into a bowl of shimmering silver dust to prepare them for the next step of the merge.

Once Zaxus finished, Professor Caldwell grabbed the now blood-infused mound of Ragnar steel from him and placed it back into the forge. With a grunt of effort, she began kneading the steel, scowling each time the material resisted, releasing a cloud of blood essence into the air that merged with the flames to create a stunning display of sparks and small fireworks.

Watching her intently, Aodhán handed the bowl of prepared bone strips to Zaxus and asked. "Is there anything else I can help with?"

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Zaxus nodded and pointed to a bone hilt resting on the table. "You can help us inscribe the hilt. We're aiming for an Epic+ ranked weapon, and while the major runes will be on the blade itself, the hilt could use a few initiate runes too. I'm thinking a tracking rune or an anchor rune, though I'm not sure if you've learned your runes to that level yet."

"I haven't gotten as far as the anchor rune yet," Aodhán said, shaking his head. "But I can do the tracking rune. Right now, I'm perfecting the rune of rust and decay."

Professor Caldwell glanced up at him and smiled, but Zaxus's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he blurted, "Isn't that the 15th rune? Already?"

Not wanting to brag about how much further he could have gone had he focused less on perfecting them and more on simply understanding the runes, Aodhán casually shrugged. "I'm good with runes, I guess."

Professor Caldwell chuckled. "I can't say I'm surprised. In fact, I wouldn't even blink if you told me you'd finished the entire set of initiate runes."

"I wish." Aodhán snorted and picked up the intricate hilt. "I barely had time for myself throughout the break, and then I got completely caught up in trying to understand the runes, not just perfecting them. It's one of the main reasons I came here today."

Professor Caldwell's smile widened. "As expected, you can't spend so much time with the Witch of Selia without developing a deeper interest in runes.

"Wow… I can't believe it." Zaxus shook his head in amazement, muttering something about the 'partiality of the heavens when it came to distributing talents and opportunities.

They all laughed, and Professor Caldwell said. "How about we discuss your runic discoveries after we finish with Zaxus's sword?"

"Sure," Aodhán replied and took out his inscriber. With his hands poised to begin, he asked. "Which other runes would you like to inscribe on the hilt, aside from the tracking rune?"

Zaxus mulled the thought for a moment before responding. Zaxus mulled it over for a moment, tapping his chin before speaking. "A durability rune would be solid. Or, we could go for a six-phased durability rune circuit."

"No, make it nine." Professor Caldwell cut in, building on Zaxus's idea. "Link them all to a single activation circle, with the tracking rune at the center. We'll need Zaxus's blood to attune the tracking rune, so make sure he gives you a sample before you begin the process." She paused, a slight frown on her face. "You can do all that, right?"

Aodhán nodded. "I think so. I mean, I've never done it outside of paper before, but I'll ask questions if I run into any problems."

Zaxus exhaled, visibly relieved. "Finally, something you're not 100% sure you can do. I think I might have passed out if you'd been confident about pulling it off."

Aodhán chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Professor Caldwell responded, her tone amused. "Because Zaxus is one of my top students in the second year, and he only just perfected the blood tracking circuits during the holidays. So, if you pull this off, you'll be weeks ahead of the curve. Why does that not surprise me?"

Aodhán grinned at the compliment, his heart lifting. He had always known he was good with runes, but hearing that he was ahead of his peers gave him an unexpected burst of pride. It wasn't just about the skill; it was the acknowledgment that his hard work was paying off.

"If you don't get it, I can teach you," Zaxus offered, his tone teasing but genuine.

Aodhán smiled in response. "Thanks, Zaxus." With a deep breath, he turned his focus back to the hilt, his hands steady as he prepared to inscribe the first rune of the nine-phased durability rune circuit.

The term "nine-phased" referred to the linking of eight durability runes in a nonagonal shape, with the activation circle representing the ninth. It was similar to the circuits he'd practiced during his midterm break but with a few slight differences.

His inscriber hummed quietly as he began the circuit, etching each rune in a more stylish way than he normally would. Studying Geneva's practice notes had instilled in him the importance of aesthetics when it came to inscribing runes on actual items rather than on his practice notes, and he put all that he had learned to use.

Taking time to consider the aesthetics made him spend more time than usual on the runes, but Aodhán didn't mind at all. As he focused on the details, though, he couldn't help but notice that he was adding more curves and lines than he'd intended. It made him wonder if some of the flourishes on the runes were merely decorative. Were they just there to add beauty, like the signature loop he'd noticed in so many of the runes?

It was a fascinating thought, and he pondered it as he worked. Half an hour later, Aodhán stepped back, admiring the intricate design he'd created. The nonagonal circuit shimmered in gold, each rune perfectly aligned, while the tracking rune dominated the center, standing alone, yet attached to the activation circle that anchored the whole design. It wasn't just functional—it was a masterpiece.

The whole blood attunement process for the tracking rune wasn't nearly as difficult as Zaxus had made it out to be. The real challenge lay in the delicate connection between blood and essence signature. Aodhán had to attune the blood to the rune with precision, ensuring the essence was extracted and mapped without distorting the individual's unique signature.

It had only taken him six tries to get it right, apologizing to Zaxus each time he pricked the poor boy's thumb for another blood sample.

Even Aodhán was a little surprised by how quickly he picked it up. Zaxus, on the other hand, looked downright shell-shocked, admitting that it had taken him more than two weeks to figure it out. But to Aodhán, the whole process felt natural. It was similar to item bonding—in a way, it was item bonding since the tracking rune allowed Zaxus to always locate the object. Maybe he should create something similar for his family. Just in case something bad happened.

Adding that to his ever-growing list of tasks, he raised the shimmering hilt to the overhead light, inspecting his work with a satisfied smile.

While he had been working on the hilt, Professor Caldwell and Zaxus had merged the molten Ragnar steel and the bone strips through a meticulous process of layering and infusion and forged the crystalline mixture of black and red into a serrated blade—its jagged edges reinforced with silver dust.

Zaxus wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced up. His lips curled into a grin when he spotted the hilt in Aodhán's hand. "Oh, that's nice. I'm not sure all that flair is necessary, but I do love it."

"I'm glad you do." Aodhán nodded and set the hilt down, his attention shifting to Professor Caldwell as she carried the glass-like blade to her inscription table and sat down, pulling out a much larger and more powerful inscriber from her spatial space as she prepared to begin inscribing the blade.

Before she began, though, she gestured to the hilt Aodhán had inscribed and said. "Let me see that."

Aodhán presented the hilt to her, and she scrutinized it, turning it left and right to inspect the runes he had inscribed. After a while, she smiled. "Impeccable rune scripting as always. Your lines are sharper, the curves smoother, and the circuit seems more real if you get what I mean."

Aodhán nodded. He understood what she meant. However, after all that good news came the bad, and Professor Caldwell frowned. "Despite its beauty, I can't help but notice that a certain loop is absent from the runes. Why is that?"

Zaxus frowned, and Aodhán grimaced, now unsure if removing the loop was the right thing to do.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said. "Well, that is what I wanted to speak to you about. While trying to understand the runes more intimately, I discovered that the loop was present in all the runes and wasn't serving any particular function that I could detect. I tried to inscribe the runes without the loop, and they worked perfectly without it, so I figured it wasn't important."

"You streamlined the runes?" Zaxus asked curiously as he leaned forward to inspect the hilt. "What loop did he eliminate?"

Aodhán handed over the hilt, watching as Professor Caldwell turned it left and right, scrutinizing the runes he had inscribed. After a moment, she smiled. "Impeccable rune scripting as always. Your lines are sharper, the curves smoother, and the circuit feels more real, if you get what I mean."

Aodhán nodded. He understood exactly what she meant. But with the praise came the inevitable critique, and sure enough, her smile faded into a frown. "Despite its beauty, I can't help but notice that a certain loop is missing from the runes. Why is that?"

Zaxus frowned. Aodhán grimaced, now unsure if removing the loop was the right thing to do.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he said, "Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. While trying to understand the runes more deeply, I realized the loop was present in all of them but didn't seem to serve any actual function. I tested the runes without it, and they worked just fine, so I figured it wasn't necessary."

"You streamlined the runes?" Zaxus asked, leaning forward to inspect the hilt. "What loop did he remove?"

Professor Caldwell sighed. "Grandmaster Eludyre's signature."

Aodhán winced.

Grandmaster Eludyre wasn't just a runic engineer—he was the runic engineer, the most prominent in Lutia's history. Thousands of years ago, he had pioneered the study of runes, unraveling their meanings through rigorous experimentation. He was, in essence, the father of runic engineering—and yet, he had just casually removed his signature mark.

In his defense, Professor Caldwell hadn't taught them any of this, but it had never once crossed his mind that the so-called useless loop he had eliminated could hold such immense significance.

Professor Caldwell arched a brow. "Was it the Witch of Selia who taught you this?"

"No… not really." Aodhán shook his head. "I studied one of her practice notes, and I did notice a lot of streamlined runes, but she never actually taught me how to streamline anything. I just thought I—"

"The fact that you identified a decorative loop on your own is actually quite impressive." Professor Caldwell cut him off with a smile. "However, runes are an incredibly complex language. Attempting to streamline them at this stage is dangerous. Some loops and curves—like Eludyre's signature—might be decorative, but at your level, I'd advise against making any modifications until you develop a more intimate understanding."

"So… not all the lines and curves in a rune are important?" Aodhán asked.

Professor Caldwell hesitated before answering. "Well, yes. But until you can reliably distinguish between the essential and the ornamental, it's best to leave them alone."

Aodhán grimaced. "Don't you think I can do it? I mean, Geneva said she was already streamlining her runes before she even got into the evolved class."

Professor Caldwell raised an eyebrow. "Did she also tell you that her father and grandfather were runic engineers? That she's been studying the language of runes since before she even awakened?"

Aodhán hadn't known that, and with a sigh of disappointment, he finally conceded. He would wait until he had more understanding before resuming his streamlining experiment. However, he still had a few questions.

Pointing to the extra lines and curves on the runes, he asked, "I know some of these curves and lines stabilize the flow of essence and energy through the structure, while others channel intent into the runes. But I'm curious to know what other functions these lines and curves serve?"

"I think you've already covered a lot already," Zaxus responded as he returned to his seat. Most of the lines are for essence stabilization and intent channeling. But some of these extra lines are there for security, to keep the runes from blowing up in your face, or to limit how much energy a rune can absorb. Some control how fast a rune absorbs ambient energy. The functions are pretty endless."

"Zaxus is right." Professor Caldwell nodded in agreement. "Security might not seem as important when you're working with initiate-level runes, but as you progress in runic engineering, the runes get more dangerous. At that level, those safety measures could mean the difference between life and death. What would happen if you streamlined half of them away?"

The memory of a rune exploding in his face flashed in Aodhán's mind, and he grimaced. "I think I get your point."

Professor Caldwell chuckled. "I'd feel more at ease if you didn't just think, Aodhán. Safety comes first when dealing with runes. These lines and curves, as you call them, are there to keep you alive. I don't personally subscribe to the idea of streamlining runes. The only reason Geneva's runes are so streamlined is because she uses them in battle. Even an unstable rune would be deadly against her enemies. For craftsmen like us, though, stability and safety come first."

She was right, Aodhán had to admit. He had been so impressed by how fast and efficient Geneva's runes were that he had pushed safety to the back of his mind. Unlike Professor Caldwell, he wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of streamlining runes. However, he now understood that streamlining runes meant doing away with some functions that might not be too necessary for battle but essential for the creation of items.

Nodding, he responded. "You're right, Professor. I understand now."

"Of course I am," Professor Caldwell replied with a chuckle. "Now, I'm not saying you should stop researching or trying to understand your runes more deeply, but always keep safety in the forefront of your mind."

Aodhán nodded again, and she smiled. "Good. Now, let's finish this sword before Zaxus kills us with his eyes."

Zaxus snorted, settling into a chair beside Professor Caldwell. "We've got the whole evening to finish my weapon. I'm in absolutely no rush to see the overwhelming awesomeness we are about to create."

Aodhán laughed, and with a smile, Professor Caldwell began inscribing the blade. Her hands moved with precision as she traced a complex circuit of grand runes onto the surface. Each stroke was deliberate, as if the blade itself were a canvas, waiting to be etched with the language of power. The runes were extremely complex, and Aodhán barely even understood what he was watching, but he couldn't stop watching regardless.

the way her fingers danced over the blade, drawing swift, deliberate curves with a fluidity that spoke of years of mastery. The strokes were not as beautiful or awe-inspiring as Geneva's—those fine, almost ethereal runes—but they were far more practical, grounded in a way that conveyed purpose and function. Each line was direct, each curve precise, as though the blade itself was being infused with an understanding far beyond what he could comprehend. More than likely, it was.

Aodhán couldn't help but compare the quality of her work to the disaster he had created on the hilt. What she was doing now seemed so effortless, yet it was clear that each rune was carefully considered, each curve and intersection playing a role in the overall design.

The whole thing cost her only a half hour, and when she finished, she raised both blade and hilt and said. "Now for the interesting part. Zaxus, bring out the fusion chamber. It's time to seamlessly fuse this weapon."

Zaxus wasted no time grabbing the sleek, coffin-shaped block of dark, nearly obsidian-like metal, its transparent front panel made entirely of reinforced glass, each facet shimmering with the glow of golden runes.

He groaned as he hefted the chamber, and Aodhán quickly moved to assist, placing a hand under the chamber to help lift it. Despite its sleek appearance, the chamber was incredibly heavy, and even with both of them supporting its weight, they gritted their teeth as they dragged the fusion chamber to the crafting table where Professor Caldwell waited.

When they finally dragged the chamber to the table, Aodhán groaned. "What sort of metal is this thing made of?"

"That's not important." Professor Caldwell responded with a grin as she hefted the fusion chamber with three fingers and placed it on the table beside her. Seeing her pick up what the both of them had struggled with so easily reminded Aodhán that despite her friendly and calm nature, Professor Caldwell was also nearing the Mythic tier.

Activating the chamber with a trio of tier-50 blood cores, Professor Caldwell shoved both blade and hilt into the chamber and hastily shut its lid, gesturing for them to step back.

Aodhán complied immediately, taking five steps backward, and thank heavens he did, because the next instant, the chamber whirred to life with a loud hum, erupting in a flash of searing light and blood essence that spread out in a circle about a meter in diameter. A sharp screech echoed from the chamber as the materials began to fuse.

Curious, Aodhán shouted over the noise. "Won't the fusion affect the runes?"

"Not at all." Professor Caldwell shook her head. "In fact, it'll be impossible to inscribe the finished product as it would have become an amalgamation of blood and bone essence similar to that project Jorendil is obsessed with."

Five minutes passed before the fusion chamber finally came to a halt, and with bated breaths, Aodhán and Zaxus stepped forward to witness the final product. Before Aodhán could actually see anything, though, a line of golden text suddenly crawled across his vision.

Congratulations! You've been instrumental in the creation of an Epic+ weapon.

Amateur Runesmith >>> Novice Runesmith.