The Runesmith

"Oh, I can't wait! The Champion's Joust is almost here!"

"I know! But do you really think Sir Robert can win? The Lord is putting a lot of faith in him."

"I'm sure he'll be victorious!"

"I don't know… His first opponent… I've heard he's a seasoned warrior who favors speed and swift attacks."

"You don't say!"

Two servants whispered to each other while hiding in what appeared to be the castle kitchen. They were simple workers, gossiping about the fast-approaching tournament. Unbeknownst to them, the very Champion they spoke of, Sir Robert, was eavesdropping and peeking in from the shadows.

'Roland was right… This trial is already giving me ways to gather information before it even begins. I need to use this to my advantage.'

Robert thought to himself while trying to take in what these two people were talking about. They were discussing his first opponent, and from what he gathered, this warrior relied on speed and agility. That meant heavy armor wouldn't be the best choice but he couldn't decide just on this assumption, from what he gathered there would be multiple opponents and this one would more than likely be the weakest of them.

"You there, speak, what do you know of the other participants."

Eventually, he stepped out of the shadows to confront the two servants. Their conversation hadn't moved beyond idle chatter, so he needed to ensure they would answer his questions. Regrettably, the moment they saw him, they froze in fear, their faces pale. No matter how many times he asked, they only trembled, unable to give him a single answer.

"Please Champion, we don't know anything."

"Very well, you are free to go."

Robert sighed as the two servants trembled before him, clearly unwilling or unable to reveal anything more. It seemed that pressing them further would yield no results. He needed another way to gather information.

'How much time do I have for this? There might be a time limit for the rune equipment assembly if I take too long here…'

In the distance he spotted a tower with a large clock, he had already been moving around the premises for half an hour and only found these two people talking about his first opponent. While this information was worthwhile and they revealed some of his enchantments, he needed more than this.

There had to be other ways to gather information. He turned away from the trembling servants and made his way toward what looked like the practice grounds. If there were any knights or squires training, there was a chance one of his future opponents would be there. At first, he thought the place was nearly empty, but as he got closer, the clash of steel against steel echoed through the air.

'Wait… could this mean…?'

Robert came to a realization. It was possible that unless he was near a certain area, he would not sense the presence of any people. Some kind of enchantment might have been blocking his senses, or other strange barriers could have been interfering, making it difficult to gather information. If that was true, he would have to search the entire castle grounds, including the interior, to find clues for his trial bouts.

To keep his presence unnoticed, he crept toward the practice ground. The moment he stepped past the threshold of the practice area, a flurry of movement was revealed. Knights, squires, and warriors of all kinds clashed with wooden training weapons, their armored forms darting across the dirt-packed arena. Sparks flew as blades met, and the air thumped with the sound of combat.

'This is it. My opponents must be among them, but… how do I find them?'

His eyes flickered across the field, taking in every detail. The area was filled with armored men, some wearing runic equipment while others trained in simple gambesons. A problem arose as he had no idea who he needed to pay attention to, nor whether the runic armor they wore would be used against him.

'My opponents should be the more skillful ones, right?'

Robert's gaze darted across the training grounds as he tried to single out his opponents from the mass of knights and squires. There were close to a hundred people scattered across the area. Some training, others talking, and a few simply resting. He couldn't afford to waste time watching random sparring matches. Instead, he focused on those who stood out, those with precise movements, refined technique, and confidence in their steps.

A clash of steel nearby drew his attention. Two knights were locked in a fast-paced duel, their strikes sharp and unrelenting. One of them wielded two massive swords, more akin to cleavers than traditional blades. His fighting style was brutal, relying on overwhelming offensive force with reckless abandon when it came to defense. The sheer weight of his swings sent shockwaves through the air, and Robert noticed glowing runes inscribed along the length of his weapons. Impact runes. Each time the blades collided with his opponent's shield, sparks erupted, and the force of the impact seemed to grow heavier with every strike.

'To counter an impact rune, it's usually best to avoid it or use an impact-dispersing rune to halt the momentum and catch them off guard.'

Robert narrowed his eyes. If this knight was one of his future opponents, he would need a plan. Facing someone with such raw, crushing power head-on would be a mistake. However, he was not sure if choosing a rune to counter the heavy blades was the best idea. It was probably better to study his movements and look for an opportunity to counterattack. Warriors who relied purely on overwhelming offense could be taken down easily if their attack was timed against them at the right moment.

After spending some time observing the man fight, he eventually moved on with his research. Not far from the duel, another knight stood at the sidelines, holding a heavy dueling rapier. His armor was light, and the runes on his equipment clearly enhanced his speed. The rapier likely had increased penetrative power, something Robert would also need to watch out for.

He had now identified three potential enemies, each one vastly different from the others. While he had learned some of their strengths and weaknesses, a problem remained. Their fighting styles and weapons varied too much for him to choose runes that would counter all of them effectively. It seemed that instead of focusing on countering their abilities, he would need to rely on something that complemented his own skills.

'Maybe Roland was right and this trial is more about me identifying the runes than anything else.'

At first, Robert assumed he was supposed to pick runes to counter other runic effects. But now, standing in the practice grounds, watching the knights clash and trade blows, he realized the trial was not just about reacting to others. It was about understanding his own capabilities and knowing which runes would enhance his personal strength. Nevertheless, knowing beforehand what these champions were good or bad at would give him an advantage, so he continued moving through the grounds. Many knights were using various bladed weapons, and time passed until he heard a loud bell ringing. The clock tower in the distance was doing something.

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Robert barely had time to process what was happening before the ringing in his ears intensified. The world around him shifted, the colors blending together like ink spilling across parchment. He felt the pull of an unseen force, his body weightless for a brief moment before he was suddenly grounded again. The air smelled of burning metal and magical energy. He recognized the scent immediately, he had arrived at a rune smithing forge.

"Ah, so you must be the one,"

The runesmith revealed himself, his resemblance to Bernir, Roland's assistant, was uncanny.

"About time. The tournament waits for no man. Now, what do you wish to use?"

A sense of déjà vu washed over Robert as he heard the man speak. He was certain he had this same conversation before, but the ascension trial had erased his memories of it ever happening. With one glance, he understood why he was here and that was to choose his runic enchantments along with the equipment he would use as the Champion.

It seemed that there was a time limit on the research period. He had spent a few hours going through the illusory space to research his opponents but only managed to find information for four of them. There was no going back now and he needed to make a choice again. Soon he went around picking up his armor along with the sword that most fit him. Just like before, his left hand was occupied by a heater shield.

"Now, the real question Sir Knight, what enchantments do you desire?"

"As for the runes… could you make hybrid ones?"

"As for the runes… could you make hybrid ones? Like melding them together?"

The runesmith resembling Bernir crossed his arms together and started thinking.

"Ah, you wish to blend the runes together, lowering the number of charges in favor of using your mana?"

Robert quickly nodded as that was just what he wanted.

"Yes, is that possible?"

"Of course! I am the best runesmith in these lands!"

For a moment, Robert was unsure if it could be done, but Roland had instructed him to try something he called hybrid rune structures. These runes combined both types, ones that used charges and those powered by mana. The drawback was that the enchantments became slightly weaker due to the exchange of components, but in return, he would be able to use both at once, his mana along with a few charges to be used once he was in trouble.

"Aye. That's quite an interesting assortment of runes, Champion! I can't wait to make them!"

Soon, Robert explained which runes he wanted on his armor and sword. Lucille and his brother had drilled into him what he should aim for, and he had done his best to relay that information. The runes were not much different from his first attempt, but this time, he instructed the runesmith to place them in specific positions on his armor, determine the number of charges they required, and make some custom changes to the runic components within. The man seemed to react favorably to this adjustment, something he had not done before.

'I think I got all of it… right?'

He was not sure if he had misremembered some of the component placements, but just like with the clock bell, he would not have the chance to correct himself. The world shifted once more, and in a matter of seconds, the runes were inscribed. Just as in his first attempt, a squire approached him and guided him to the arena for his first bout against the man who resembled his old instructor.

"I yield…"

His first opponent was down, and it felt like he had defeated him much faster than before. Thanks to his training and previous snooping around, he had been able to prepare for the combination of runes the man was using. His skills as a fighter were already superior, which gave him an advantage. With the hybrid rune structure on his gear, he had not used any of the charges and had relied only on his own mana to fight.

His victory was met with the cheers of the crowd, and he was given a brief moment to rest before facing another opponent. The cheers faded into a distant hum as his focus narrowed on the battlefield ahead. He had won the first bout, but the true test was just beginning. His squire approached him, handing him his weapon as the tournament resumed.

The next man to appear was unfamiliar, someone Robert hadn't seen in the training arena, and his runes were foreign to him. This battle was hard-fought, but thanks to his training, he managed to secure another victory, though his armor had received some superficial scratches. His third opponent was the man with the heavy rapier, who caused him some trouble.

'I think these knights are different than before…'

One, two, three, and then four opponents fell before his blade and runes. Finally, a man in darkened armor appeared. His blade was massive, something that could only be wielded with two hands, yet he somehow held it in one as he approached. The runes on the large blade glowed with a strange intensity. This seemed to be his fifth and final opponent.

He could feel that this person was strong. His hands trembled slightly, not only from exhaustion but also from fear. He could tell that, in the previous trial, he had fallen against this very same opponent. But this time, it would be different. Perhaps the order of his enemies had changed, but this one remained in the same spot.

The clash began. His recovery potions were now gone, but he was still in full health, and his runes were at half capacity. The massive sword his opponent wielded came crashing down on him again and again, sending a strange half-crescent blade of crimson energy with each swing.

Robert barely managed to deflect the first few swings, his shield vibrating painfully under the impact. Each attack sent waves of pressure through the air, forcing him to move constantly lest he be overwhelmed. The crimson crescent arcs left faint scorch marks on the ground, an eerie testament to the power imbued in his opponent's blade.

'These runes… they're draining my stamina…'

Not only was his enemy producing deadly energy attacks but after each block, he was losing stamina and becoming slower. He gritted his teeth. His opponent's weapon was imbued with energy-draining runes, making each block and parry cost him more than just endurance as it was sapping his very ability to react.

'Then I can't let him dictate the pace.'

Robert rolled to the side, evading another devastating downward strike that sent cracks rippling through the stone floor. He adjusted his grip on his sword, channeling mana into the hybrid runes that fortified his blade. His runesmith had done an excellent job as he could feel the energy coursing through the enchantments, resonating with his own magical reserves.

With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, feinting a slash at his opponent's exposed flank. Predictably, the massive blade swung to counter, but Robert anticipated this. He pulled back at the last second and twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the counterstrike before delivering a quick, precise stab at the knight's wrist.

A spark of blue light flickered as his runes interacted with the opponent's defenses. The man staggered, the weight of his own blade working against him. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Using his remaining charges, he increased the sharpness of his blade and enhanced his strength to deliver a critical blow. The dark knight groaned in agony as he was slashed, his wrist flying off into the distance as Robert claimed his victory.

"I did it…"

He gasped for air, his body tired and sweaty from exhaustion. The battle was over, the crowd cheered, and it was finally done. With anticipation, he looked to the rune lord, who raised his hand to quiet the crowd.

"Very well, my champion. Rest well now. More challengers await tomorrow."

"T-tomorrow?"

He repeated the last word, realizing he had underestimated this tier-three trial. These five opponents were not the end of it, and he was in for more than he had bargained for.

...

...

...

"Ugh…"

"It's okay… you're back. Focus, Robert."

Robert gasped for air, his heart racing as he recalled being pierced by a blade radiating lightning energy. He had returned to the real world, and his brother, along with Lucille, was there to calm him down. Roland was already casting his spell to keep him from forgetting what had transpired. Just as they had agreed, he started listing details of what had happened. He focused on the enemies he faced, the ones he had gathered information on, and the ones that had given him the most trouble.

"I failed again…"

He slumped his shoulders while sighing. However, while he was disheartened by what had happened, his brother didn't seem to care. Instead he was starting to scribble things on the near blackboard, listing down the strength and weaknesses of his opponents that he could remember along where he found the information of where he found them.

"So you failed twice, others failed ten times or more, don't worry about it, you still have one big advantage."

As Robert was moping, his brother started speaking.

"An advantage?"

"Yes. How do you think I've got this far? By doing things by the book?"

"You didn't?"

"No, of course not. The way to success is by bending the rules…"

Robert wasn't sure what his brother was getting at but it seemed that he had some kind of plan to get him through this strange ascension trial, and soon he would be returning to try again for the third time…