The Runesmith

Chapter 686: Apprentice Ascension.

The metallic arm rose with a heavy groan. There was no outer shell yet, only a skeletal frame of dark alloy reinforced with thick runic channels running along the joints. Blue light pulsed through the engraved pathways like veins carrying blood. Inside the cockpit, Robert shifted slightly, and the construct mirrored him a second later.

“This is…”

Robert watched the frame beside him respond to his movements. The delay was obvious. A massive lag passed before the construct reacted, yet seeing the enormous metallic frame move as if it were an extension of his own body was fascinating.

“The delay will be the first issue we must overcome, but it will never truly reflect your movements, at least not with this model.”

Roland spoke while studying the monitors and the flowing streams of information appearing across them. The runes embedded into the cockpit walls flickered in response to Robert’s mana phantom while dozens of calculations passed through the operating system.

“The larger the frame becomes, the harder it is to achieve instant movement. Weight, mana transmission, signal conversion, all of it creates delay. Once the prototype is ready, you’ll have to adapt to how it functions.”

Robert slowly lowered the metallic arm, then raised it again.

“I think I get it… I’ll have to predict the movements instead of simply reacting. But will that magic I used during the trial work here too?”

“By magic, you mean the one that helped you predict the other knight’s movements?”

“Yes, that.”

“I’m not sure, it’s too early to say.”

“I see.”

Roland had used the mana phantom to predict the movements of opponents and monsters alike. The system worked by reading the movements produced by a being’s soul before the body itself reacted. However, things became more complicated with beings like golems.

If he asked someone whether a golem had a soul, most people would say no because it was a being made of magic. Yet both answers could be correct at the same time. The mana phantom always moved before the body, that much was true. Even inanimate objects could contain soul energy, as Bernir had already demonstrated. However, combining such objects together did not necessarily create something with a true soul. He believed the reason for that was the world system.

Regular beings in this world were tied to the system and possessed some form of status screen. This applied to naturally born creatures as well as dungeon-created monsters. Against them, he could use the prediction system without issue. Golems assembled from old golem cores or artificially created ones were different.

Their connection to the system existed not as living beings but as items, which prevented the prediction system from functioning properly. The golems he would face in the competition would all possess customized cores rather than restored monster cores. That much was certain. The dwarven craftsmen were far too proud to rely on monster-made components, even if doing so would save them time.

Either way, he would be unable to predict the movements of the golemic machines in the same way he could predict those of living beings. In the future, it might be possible to develop a method to calculate those predictions instead, as each golem operated through a program that reacted to combat situations and followed specific behavioral patterns.

Even though the dwarven craftsmen took pride in making everything by hand from start to finish, that did not mean they improved much on the old golem programming. Their methods were shaped by tradition and stubbornness, both of which he could exploit.

Most master craftsmen relied on proven rune programming passed down through generations, and they disliked working with Rune Mages. Altering the systems too much was considered dangerous, especially when a single mistake could cause a golem to go berserk or collapse in the middle of battle.

There was also only a limited variety of golem types. Most were humanoid in shape with standardized joints and movement patterns because those designs were reliable and easy to maintain. His opponents favored stability over innovation, but that did not mean he would not face serious opposition. Even a predictable machine was dangerous, especially one perfected over generations.

Then there was the issue of actually damaging them. Even if Robert could react in time and land hits, it would mean little if he could not get through the thick armor plating. For that reason, he needed to create a weapon capable of doing exactly that. Robert was a swordsman, but swords were not particularly effective against heavy armor.

Still, at this size, the sheer weight of such a blade could allow it to function almost like a bludgeoning weapon. With the right enchantments and a few structural adjustments, he could create something capable of piercing metals stronger than mithril itself.

“This feels awkward… and shouldn’t the legs be moving?”

Robert commented as he shifted around inside the pod. He quickly noticed that although his own legs were moving, the large golem’s legs remained still.

“I deactivated them for now, but this is probably a good opportunity to test it. Wait a moment.”

Roland replied before activating something with a glance at the Mobile Runic Armor. The frame was attached to several thick metallic cables, which soon lifted it slightly off the ground. It was not raised by much, only enough for the legs to hang freely.

“Activating the leg sensors. Try moving around.”

Now that the large golem frame was secured in place, they could begin the test. Just as expected, the movements felt awkward because there was no forward momentum inside the pilot’s cockpit.

The moment Robert tried to walk normally, he stumbled forward inside the cockpit. The harness holding him in place kept him steady, but he struggled to mimic a proper walking cycle, at least at first. There was also the problem of his legs moving faster than the machine could keep up with, causing the golem’s movements to become uneven and unnatural.

Roland wasn’t sure how quickly he would be able to make the golem move, but the unnatural way his brother struggled to walk would need to be fixed. He could already see several possible solutions. One option was to have Robert learn a specific walking pattern that the golem could imitate and consistently follow. Another was to implement a small assistance system that would compensate for movements that were too erratic or too fast.

There was also a third approach: installing movement-limiting devices. He imagined them as metallic boots that would make movement more difficult while allowing Robert to feel the weight behind the golem he was controlling. He could do something similar for the hands by installing gloves or another type of controller that Robert could grip and physically feel.

‘I could expand the harness, but there might not be enough space… perhaps magnetic force?’

In his mind, he was already assembling the inner workings of his mobile armor. If he implemented magnetic magic that pushed and pulled against Robert’s arms, he could probably simulate the golem’s true movements far more accurately. That would allow Robert to adapt to the machine much faster while making it feel as though he was genuinely controlling the golem instead of simply flailing his limbs around awkwardly.

“Let us run a few more tests.”

After thinking it through, he had a rough idea of the direction he wanted to take. This was exactly why he had brought Robert in for testing, as both practical and theoretical experiments needed to be conducted.

For the next several hours, they continued refining the control interface and pushing the prototype through increasingly demanding movement tests. Robert’s learning curve was steep at first. Walking remained awkward, each step inside the cockpit slightly out of sync with the massive construct outside.

They also tested the stabilizers on the rotating cockpit to see whether Robert could keep his balance if the golem fell over or was slammed against a wall. The results were eye-opening. The cockpit automatically shifted itself perfectly level and kept him standing upright, which was perhaps not the ideal outcome.

If the golem fell over while Robert remained standing normally inside, the movements required to get back up would become awkward and unintuitive. Roland began to wonder if the entire platform should move along with the golem while Robert’s feet remained strapped into the metallic boots. If the construct fell, the cockpit would tilt and rotate accordingly, placing him in the same position as the golem outside. That would make reacting to external movements much easier and eliminate much of the awkwardness.

The sync ratio displayed on the monitor continued creeping upward as the day went on, but eventually the tests were halted, and his brother was finally allowed to step out of the machine.

“How was it?”

“I’m not sure… but I can say that I’m intrigued.”

Robert answered as he carefully stepped out of the circular cockpit. His legs felt slightly unsteady after spending half the day standing on the platform and moving around inside it. The runic light illuminating the future golem pod gradually dimmed, and before long, everything was shut down.

“Glad to hear that. You’ll have to come here a few more times, but until then, you can head back to Aldbourne.”

Robert nodded and, for a moment, said nothing as he looked down at his suit.

“Oh, right…”

Roland smiled awkwardly as he activated the release rune for the silvergrace suit. His brother could finally get back into his armor. Sebastian led him outside toward the changing room while Roland followed behind and waited by the door.

“So, how are things in Aldbourne? Is Fin fulfilling his duties well?”

“The boy? He makes a fine squire.”

Robert replied while putting on his armor. The exchange felt awkward to Roland, as he was usually the quieter one in the group. Robert remained a man of few words despite all the changes he had gone through over the years.

“That’s good to hear. I was worried he might cause trouble for you.”

“He did at first. Couldn’t tell the difference between an arming sword and a longsword. Handed me the wrong one during training.”

“Oh…”

That was not entirely surprising. Fin had not grown up around a noble household or trained to serve knights like most squires. He was just a commoner boy who had gained a warrior class and was now doing his best to improve.

“The boy has heart, though, and he learns fast.”

Robert stepped out of the room wearing his full suit of armor. Roland nodded and handed him his greatsword, its enchantments fully repaired.

“Take good care of it. I increased the output of the enchantment to match your current level.”

Robert accepted the greatsword with both hands and gave it a testing swing. The blade cut swiftly through the air before he slid it back into its scabbard.

“The weight is perfect, and the balance is better than before. You have my thanks, brother.”

“Don’t worry about it. Now go back home. Your wife is probably waiting for you.”

At the mention of his wife, Robert’s expression softened. A moment later, he put on his helmet and, after saying his farewells, headed toward the train.

The dwarven-made machine now traveled regularly between the towns, and the journey only took around an hour. There was little reason to waste energy on the teleporter, which consumed more power than an entire train carrying passengers and trade goods for an hour.

The railway had only been operating for a few weeks. At first, few merchants were willing to use it, but after employing the simplest tactic of all and allowing them to ride for free, interest quickly grew. For now, the train brought in little profit, but in time, once people became dependent on the railway and the trade routes it supported, its true value would become clear.

Roland stood alone for a moment after Robert left, listening to the fading sound of the workshop doors closing. The chamber had fallen quiet, but his day was far from over. Someone was still waiting for him several levels above.

“She looks nervous, but I would be too.”

On the main monitor, he saw a figure sitting at a desk covered in parchments and books. It was his one and only disciple, Millie. Her days were spent scribing magical runic scrolls and reading skill books to help her acquire worthwhile abilities. Her level had reached twenty-five, and now she could finally take part in her first ascension trial.

“I wonder what she will be able to become…”

For a moment, he hesitated. He knew this was a pivotal point in the young girl’s life. If she failed to obtain a suitable class, becoming his disciple in the truest sense would be difficult. Her current class, Mana Calligrapher, showed considerable promise.

Even without the rune prefix in its name, the class still allowed her to enchant scrolls through runic diagrams, something even Mana Scribes could not accomplish without learning an additional skill through a skill book or other means.

At first, there had been a problem. She was unable to learn the ‘Basic Rune Mastery’ skill, a foundational ability within his repertoire. It was the same skill that had allowed Robert to attain his own class. Some form of incompatibility linked to her non combatant class prevented her from learning it, which left him worried. Nevertheless, there was still hope, as something new had emerged once she reached her maximum level.

“Are you ready, my apprentice?”

He entered her private chamber, a room dedicated to scribing and study. Millie sat at a wide wooden desk, her hands hovering above a sheet of parchment already covered in half finished rune diagrams. The room was quiet except for the faint scratching of her quill, which stopped the moment she noticed him.

“Master... whoa!”

She had been so absorbed in her studies that she did not notice him enter until he was standing directly behind her. She stood up too quickly and nearly knocked over the ink bottle beside her, but with quick reflexes he caught it using a simple mage hand spell.

“It’s fine, I’ve got it.”

Roland spoke while glancing over the parchments before turning his attention to Millie and her status.

Name:

Millie L 25

Classes:

T1 Mana Calligrapher L25

Her level was now maxed out, and so were her most important skills.

Basic Mana Calligraphy

Active Skill

Allows the user to inscribe mana-infused symbols into physical mediums to create magical enchantments

This was her core skill, the ability that allowed her to produce magical scrolls like a Runic Mana Scribe despite lacking the proper class skill. The only issue was the immense amount of mana required, something her non-combat class struggled to provide.

Ever since arriving in Albrook, she had trained this skill relentlessly, and it had finally reached its maximum level. He had also encouraged her to learn other writing-related skills, such as ‘Basic Penmanship’, which increased her writing speed and reduced the strain on her wrists. Producing so many scrolls each day was exhausting.

Basic Steady Hand Inscription

Passive Skill

Greatly reduces hand tremors and improves precision when writing or drawing for long periods.

Basic Mana Ink Elemental Infusion

Active skill

Allows the user to infuse ink with elemental magic, producing enchantments of greater elemental quality.

He continued glancing through the list of skills. The elemental one was especially interesting because it allowed her to enhance the power of a spell without needing to perfectly recreate the runic structure. Finally, he focused on the thing that gave him hope. It was not a skill, but a title she had acquired after painstakingly writing thousands of scrolls.

Arcane Writesmith

Title

A person with this title has poured their focus into the written word and has formed a connection to the arcane through it.

The description was vague, but it hinted at untapped potential. Titles were enough to unlock special classes, and he had never heard of a Writesmith before. He did not even know if such a class truly existed or if the name was simply part of the title, but it was time to find out.

He was not sure how his disciple had gained this title, as he had done the same thing she had and far more. It was certainly not simply a matter of creating enchanted scrolls. Perhaps it was connected to the restrictions of her class. The description alluded to will and soul. Maybe it was only possible for someone with a restrictive class that normally would not even allow them to create a single proper magical scroll, yet she had managed to write over a thousand.

“Now then, my disciple, are you ready?”

“I...”

Millie lowered her head and clenched her fists before looking back at him.

“I am, Master!”

She was clearly determined to go through with it, and so the time had come. He took the ascension trial crystal from his side and placed it into her hand.

“Then, let us move to the memory chamber.”

“Yes, Master.”

Millie nodded and rose from her seat, heading toward the special room many before her had used to receive their classes more easily.