After that day, after revealing the truth to Vanessa, time had slipped by one after another, and with each passing sunrise, the atmosphere within Velthia Academy grew heavier.

Only five days remained before the departure to Vazrun Island.

The change was impossible to ignore. Everyone could feel it — the tension that seemed to cling to the academy itself.

Velthia had suspended its lectures entirely.

Classrooms once filled with monotonous discussions and magical theory now sat empty, abandoned in favor of preparation.

Five days had been granted to every first-year scholar, to sharpen themselves for whatever awaited them on that island.

Everyone understood the gravity of it.

Training halls remained occupied from dawn until midnight. Even the libraries, usually filled with idle conversations had fallen into an almost sacred quietness. Because no one from the first-year scholar wished to arrive on that island unprepared.

The same went from Ruvian. He, out of all the scholars of the first year, needed to prepare a lot more than all of them.

Ruvian continued his walk.

’This place is not that bad.’

The academy garden was one of the quietest places in Velthia. It was hidden between the tall academy buildings and training grounds, far from all the noise.

Then, after walking further into the depths of the garden, he finally spotted the person he was looking for, seated alone on a bench with her gaze fixed absentmindedly upon the orange-tinted sky.

"You’re late yet again... Ruvian."

Silvena said, her lips curling into a faintly impish smile.

Ruvian smiled faintly, not offering a defense. Well, he didn’t need one. Both of them knew he would come. And both of them knew she would wait.

He stepped closer and spoke without preamble.

"So, did they manage to secure everything?"

Silvena rose to her feet. The hem of her uniform shifted gently with the breeze as she reached into the inner fold of her coat.

"Of course," she said, eyes beaming with pride. "Come on, Ruvian. You wound me by doubting us. The D’Elvoire Merchant House is the finest in Averenthia — our reputation doesn’t suffer incomplete deliveries."

From her palm, she revealed a dimensional storage ring. She stepped closer and placed it in his hand along with a folded paper. "Here, I already ticked all the lists of the artifacts that you wanted. They’re all inside the ring."

Ruvian took the list back that he had given Silvena that night in the secluded private library dimension, and unfolded it.

====================

1)Stove Cube - Grade D utility-type artifact

2)Equinox Cloak - Grade C utility-type artifact x5

3)Whisperflow - Grade C enhancement-type artifact

4)Shroudcloth - Grade C utility-type artifact x5

5)Fortune Distiller - Grade C utility-type artifact

6)Nocturne Berries 50g

7)Sealed Jar of Lirenthia leaves

8)Evervow Waterskin - Grade C utility-type artifact

9)Empty potion vials x10

10)Nightward Necklace - Grade C utility-type artifact x5

11)Nightward Ring - Grade C utility-type artifact x5

12)Farscribe - Grade C utility-type artifact x2

====================

Ruvian looked down at the ring in his palm, then back at her. "Wow, you didn’t miss a single detail," he said simply.

Silvena narrowed her eyes.

"Oh please, I never do," she said, low and confident. Silvena watched him for a moment longer, her arms now loosely folded.

Ruvian smiled faintly.

"Thanks a lot."

"Heh, it’s nothing much." The woman waved her hand dismissively before continuing, "Honestly, knowing the requirements beforehand actually helped me prepare too, so I should be thanking you instead, you damn oracle."

She paused briefly, a faint look of admiration appearing on her face. "But seriously... you really know a lot about artifacts. Even Bella was impressed."

Ruvian merely shrugged at that.

"What do you mean? This is just basic knowledge for adventurers — their standard starter pack. But anyway... how much all of this again?"

Silvena side eyed him.

"Asking as if you’re going to pay. No need. I used all the money I got from the goldmine you told me anyway."

Then, she looked at her watch.

"Ah, sorry, Ruvian... I can’t stay for too long. Got something to do with my squad."

But after a brief moment of silence, Silvena spoke softly again.

"Ah, also... good luck. You said you already have plans of your own during the test, so whatever it is... I hope it succeeds."

Ruvian smiled slightly.

"Yeah, and you too. Good luck with the test. Make sure you get into the Top10."

"Yeah, yeah~ don’t worry too much."

Ruvian lightly shook his head.

"And one last thing... please take good care of one of my friends in your group."

Silvena tilted her head slightly.

"You mean Corwin?"

Ruvian nodded.

"Yes. Make good use of him as well. He’s far more special than he appears. I genuinely believe he’ll become someone extremely important to your entire squad during the test."

Ruvian let out a proud smile.

"So trust me on this." (+100PP)

He gently patted her shoulder before leaving.

*****

That night, Ruvian returned to his quarters. He moved with his usual composure walk, neither hurried nor lethargic. He shut the door behind him, a softness to the motion.

He sat, eventually, then allowed his thoughts to catch up.

Tonight, however, was not yet over.

There was still one more matter Ruvian intended to address before surrendering to rest. He had made a habit of it, recently — these quiet, personal reckonings with himself, always done at night before sleep.

Over the past few weeks, he had pushed his body and mind to uncomfortable edges, coaxing strength from weariness, insight from repetition. Every session, whether gruelling footwork drills, sword swinging, mana control or spell casting, had improved tremendously.

Ruvian summoned his [Runeheart].

==========

{}---『RUNEHEART』---{}

◇ Name: Ruvian Castelor

◇ Age: 17

◇ Spellcore: Tier 2

◇ Rank: Third-Class Magus

◇ Magic Affinity: None

◇ Relevance Tier: Stage III – Pivotal Extra

◇ Plot Points: 38,180 (PPs)

◇ Current Arc: Arc 2 – Beneath the Banner of Enrollment

[Mana Resonance: (50/500)]

==[General Attributes]==

Strength: D

Agility: D

Endurance: D

Vitality: D

Perception: D

==[Mage Attributes]==

Mana Control: D

Casting Speed: D

Magic Power: D

Mental Strength: S

Mana Sensitivity: D

Mana Essence: [1500/1500]

==========

==[Innate Blessings]==

- [Blessing of Indomitable Will]

==[Affinity Mastery]==

- [Pure Mana (Advanced)]

- [Wind, Darkness (Intermediate)]

- [Water (Basic)]

==========

As of now, after undergoing relentless training, all of his stats had finally advanced from D- Rank to solid D Rank, a growth rate that even he considered fairly impressive. His Mana Essence had also risen to 1500, while his mastery over Darkness Affinity had successfully reached the Intermediate Stage.

He also managed to pick up Basic Mastery over Water Affinity after learning some water spells from Calyra the last few days.

’Hmm... my Mana Essence is still far too low.’

Honestly, for someone from Class E, 1500 Mana Essence was already considered fairly decent.

However, Ruvian had far too many things he intended to accomplish within Vazrun Island, and considering how perilous that place truly was, merely possessing this much power was nowhere near enough for him.

After all, the greater your source of power, the better.

Furthermore, Ruvian believed that once he successfully advanced his Spellcore into Tier 3, the evolution would significantly strengthen his overall physical abilities as well.

His gaze lowered slightly in thought.

’Yeah... I should prioritize increasing my Mana Essence first. The stats can be upgraded later during the departure to that island.’

With that thought, he activated [Power Scaling].

[Your talent cap is B-]

[Therefore...]

===========

{From → To} {Cost PPs}

D → D+ 1600PP

D+ → C- 2150PP

C- → C 2860PP

C → C+ 3750PP

C+ → B- 4900PP

Special Traits:

Mana Essence +50 each (300 PPs)

Mana Resonance +1 each (50 PPs)

Affinity Slot – Locked (50,000 PPs)

===========

"Upgrade my Mana Essence to 5,000."

The blue grimoire flickered softly, recalculating the cost before settling into a clear summary.

[Stat Upgrade Summary]

[Mana Essence (1,500 → 5,000): 21,000 PP]

[Total Cost: 21,000 PP]

[Remaining PP after upgrade: 17,180 PP]

[Proceed with the upgrade?]

[Confirm / Cancel]

"Yes, confirm."

Soon, the blue grimoire trembled.

Ruvian felt a massive surge within his Spellcore reservoir as it expanded far beyond before.

With his current stats, he could reasonably match the average Class B scholar; at least. The distance between him and the named prodigies — Calyra, Rosalin, Silvena, Irene and Julian — remained, of course.

Still, there was something quietly satisfying in this realization. He no longer felt like a background extra to their story.

The scaffolding of his foundation had finally taken shape, and though the structure was far from complete, it was now solid enough to build upon.

"Now, there’s just one thread left to pull, and it lies somewhere on that island. I need her power. A power-up piece that I can’t afford to leave behind, no matter what. If I managed to bring her on my side, everything would go smoothly from that on."

On that island, Ruvian remembered the existence of a Great Spirit that had once been prisoned there by the legendary heroes long ago.

According to the novel, Zian had accidentally encountered her during the test.

However, for reasons unknown, he ultimately failed the trial she gave him, and because of that, he was unable to gain her acknowledgement.

Honestly, it was quite a waste.

But still, even Ruvian himself had no idea what kind of test Zian had faced back then. The novel never truly explored that scene in detail.

It merely mentioned that the moment Zian encountered the Great Spirit, he suddenly froze in place, as if his consciousness had been pulled elsewhere.

Spiritually, he had entered the trial.

Then, only a few moments later, he returned back from that realm.

Though, he had failed.

That was all the novel ever revealed.

But then again, if even the protagonist of this world had failed that test, what chance did someone like him even have?

Probably close to none.

Still, Ruvian wasn’t the type to back away before even trying. Even the slightest possibility was worth grasping.

After all, there was practically nothing to lose.

If he succeeded, the rewards would be unimaginable.

And if he failed?

Then, he just have to proceed with another plan.

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 208: Five Days Before the Vazrun Island Test]

Plot Points= 17,180