The Runic Alchemist

When Damian arrived at the workshop, only a handful of people were still with Reize. No strict time limits had been set; they could leave after finishing their assigned tasks or make up for them later. Some of the more passionate ones even asked for additional work after completing their tasks.

Among the workers, Damian recognized one of the boys from his History of Magic class. He remembered the boy as a clever commoner with a unique perspective on mana theories. His answers in class were often odd and unheard of, reflecting someone who had likely studied independently and formed his own views on many topics.

After briefly greeting Reize, Damian resumed his part of the project. The frame was crucial for the aircraft's structural integrity, and he was determined to make it as strong and sturdy as possible. He worked with long steel poles, reinforcing them with his blacksmithing skills before welding them into position.

After three days of his relentless work, eat, and train routine, Damian was notified by a second-ranker guard that a group of Highswords would be visiting the workshop today. Runefather had already informed him, and Worldscribe had taken the initiative to assign guards to protect the workshop, without Damian even having to ask.

Damian had expected two or three people at most, but when they arrived, it was a full group of over six or seven individuals. All of them were third-rankers, accompanied by another group of second-rankers trailing behind—likely their squires or assistants.

Among the third-rankers, Damian recognized four: Runefather, Worldscribe, Lifewarden, and, surprisingly, Gravebreaker. The other three were unfamiliar. One was a noble-looking lady with short golden hair clad in blood-red, gleaming armor. Another was a plain-looking man wielding the most impressive spear Damian had ever seen—both in design and in the intricate runic arrays it bore. The last was a petite woman with a casual dress, a ribbon in her hair, and a simple demeanor. She barely looked like a teenager, standing at about 5'4", and seemed to shyly hide behind the others.

Appearances, however, were often deceptive. Each member of the group was a powerhouse, even within the third-ranker category. Worldscribe and the armored woman exuded particularly powerful and dangerous mana. The teenage-looking woman, on the other hand, felt different. Her mana was oddly bright, creating a strange sensation in Damian—one reminiscent of the feeling he got when encountering those whose mana was specifically modified by their bodies for certain abilities. In other words, an Esper.

Becoming a third-ranker was a monumental achievement, but for an Esper to reach that level meant their ability was extraordinarily potent. Was she the one responsible for the monster illusions they had fought against in the exam? A power like that could certainly overwhelm even the strongest opponents. Could kill many like that.

The student workers, having heard about the Highswords' arrival from the guard's mouth, looked visibly uneasy. Not wanting anyone to suffer under such unnecessary pressure, Damian told them to take a break. Only Damian, Reize, his close friends, and Maelor with his two followers—who had somehow gotten wind of the visit—stayed behind.

Though it was a rare opportunity to meet the Highsword members, even the noble students steered clear. While some Highsword members might be friendly, no one wanted to bear the overwhelming pressure of so many powerful individuals, feeling their knees weaken under the intensity.

Reize was visibly uncomfortable, but when Damian told her she could leave as well, she chose to stay.

Damian greeted Runefather and the others with a balanced demeanor—neither overly formal nor too casual—showing just enough respect to avoid causing offense. No one seemed to mind his relaxed attitude as he led them inside to reveal the half-built, massive frame of the aircraft.

Some of them asked questions, their curiosity piqued, and Damian answered as honestly as he could without revealing anything about himself that wasn't already public knowledge. After giving them a full tour, they exited the workshop and gathered near the benches and tables Damian had set up with the help of wood-style mages. The area served as a quiet retreat for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the constant heat & noise of smithies and the chatter of workers inside.

The recruits often used the space to relax and chat during short breaks. The weather was pleasant—a sunny day with a gentle breeze—but the third-ranker group stood nearby, too proud to sit in such an informal setting. Other than discussing various parts of the aircraft, they didn't talk about anything else.

Damian noticed how Runefather, Lifewarden, and Worldscribe only conversed among themselves, while the spear-wielding man and Gravebreaker appeared to be a pair. The lady in blood-red armor kept to herself, much like the petite woman with the ribbon. It was clear they belonged to different factions. Though no formal introductions had been made, Damian gleaned from their conversations that the woman in red armor was the famed Sunkeeper, and the man with the spear was Hellseeker—one of Voidshaper's men.

"It's a massive build. Can't believe a pipsqueak like you made it," Gravebreaker remarked offhandedly. Damian, already familiar with his odd personality, simply smiled without reacting.

"A hovercraft capable of traveling any surface, running for long periods, and carrying over 100 people… If you can make this work, it would revolutionize our rescue operations and transportation in needed areas," Runefather commented.

"The mana requirements would be immense," Gravebreaker added.
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"Why did you create something like this? Surely a waygate would make much more sense and require far less mana and effort," came a surprising question from the quiet, petite woman with the ribbon.

Like everyone else, Damian turned to look at her. She visibly reddened under the attention, her embarrassment clear as her cheeks flushed.

Damian offered her a smile before replying, "Why? Because the goal isn't just reaching the destination—it's about the journey itself. A waygate is limited in the distance it can cover. But with this, you could cross the entire continent, from the edge of Faerunia to the far end of Eldoris without making a single stop anywhere. Not to mention much faster than any third ranker can fly."