Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1215: The Disciples

The buzz at Marshall Academy ignited like a raging firestorm.

Reports flooded in about the Mystic Arts Tower slamming its gates shut without warning, forcing every challenger out right in the middle of their trials.

The professors verified the whispers that the students had already pieced together. A new master was on the verge of claiming ownership over it.

The Academy's own outlets, along with the local City paper, jumped on the story immediately. The Arcane Gazette blasted fronts like "Mystic Arts Tower Selects Its Heir!" as the Student Chronicle spun endless guesses on the identity. Halls echoed with gossip, some pointing to an outsider genius, while others murmured it was one from Vale’s followers.

Thrilling energy pulsed through the lecture halls and open grounds.

To countless learners, the Towers stood as far-off legends, emblems of peak achievement. Learning that one had picked a fresh owner sparked a mix of wonder and jealousy.

Within the student body, Vale's potential followers felt a surge of drive.

They understood that if a true disciple of Vale had seized the Tower, the bar for them would climb sky-high. They buried themselves in books deeper, drilled skills longer, resolved to show their true potential.

One such figure was Ruth Vey.

Ruth, an orphan nurtured in the Church of the Fortune Goddess, had faced the classic Rune Sanctification ritual there, the step that guided her toward the Rune Arts Path and gauged her knack for Runemastery.

Her outcome fell short. Low-grade talent meant she could manage just a handful of spells. Plenty wrote off her prospects as average at best.

However, the Shadow Pillars, those hidden warriors under Shane, had spotted something odd. Ruth owned a unique eye. It held a hidden gift for spotting flaws in Runes. Still raw and untapped, it was scarce enough to slot her into Vale’s lineup of disciple hopefuls.

When the word hit about the Mystic Arts Tower sealing up, Ruth's pulse quickened.

She perched silently in the Academy's vast library, gripping her scribbled pages, picturing her future self at the doors of the Rune Arts Tower.

That vision seemed miles away, yet it fueled her fire. She craved it, especially with so many standout rivals around her.

***

For the moment, Ruth had grasped just the trio of core Rune Arts spells, the essentials all pupils must nail before pushing forward:

Among them sat Rune Amplification.

This spell boosted the impact of any etched rune, letting a basic mark unleash amplified force. It formed the bedrock of smart usage, showing learners ways to stretch their scarce supplies.

Then came Rune Freeze.

A protective incantation that fixed a rune steady, blocking any meddling or disturbance. Crucial for holding setups firm in fights or lessons.

Finally, Rune Link. This key third spell tied two or more runes together, forging linked outcomes. Basic on the surface, it laid the groundwork for intricate rune setups and patterns.

It fully earned its spot among the three core spells of the discipline.

Naturally, Ruth drilled these with fierce focus. In recent sessions, she had discovered her special eye...

Even if she struggled to wield it well, it occasionally highlighted flaws in her etchings, helping her fix them quicker than others.

As she peered through the glass, seeing pupils buzz over the Mystic Arts Tower, Ruth murmured under her breath...

"One day... I’ll take the Rune Arts Tower trial. Even if I’m weak now, I’ll prove myself."

The shutdown of the Tower had sparked her inner flame, awakening a goal she had kept buried deep inside.

***

Not only Ruth Vey felt this spark in the situation.

Among Vale's disciple hopefuls lingered another orphan called Rice...

Rice had scraped by in the gritty alleys of a city scarred by endless battles, left behind from the start and sheltered in a tiny orphanage that clung to life on scraps from passing sellswords.

Unlike Ruth Vey, shaped by the Church's care, Rice had faced nothing but struggle and starvation. His first recollections involved eyeing troops drilling in the adjacent yard, copying their motions with twigs and shattered edges.

Once an opportunity hauled him to the Academy, he tackled the Martial State Test, the Combat Arts match to Rune Sanctification. The findings stunned the teachers. Rice boasted high-grade talent, signaling his exceptional bond with Combat Arts.

His gut feelings, quick reactions, and knack for picking up fighting moves outshone the norm by miles.

But a massive drawback loomed. His build was frail, brittle next to fellow hopefuls. His frame missed staying power, his sinews tired fast, and his energy dipped in extended drills. Loads figured he couldn't hack the brutal road of Combat Arts.

Still, Rice dug in his heels. The instant acceptance hit, he locked in his aim.

Daily, he pushed beyond everyone, making up for his weakness through raw grit. He pored over the basic Combat Arts moves like they were his lifeline...

Those three core spells proved no simple feat.

The opener was Iron Guard Form... This Spell aided a shielding pose that deflected incoming power instead of taking it head-on, safeguarding his delicate form from straight hits.

Next up, Swift Step. A movement trick stressing velocity and dodging, enabling him to sidestep attacks over tanking them.

Wrapping it, Spirit Strike. A starter attack method that funneled resolve into one sharp hit, drilling him to trust precision over raw might.

Even as his frame often betrayed him, his gift let him conquer these techniques or spells swifter than classmates.

Upon the Mystic Arts Tower shutdown news hitting the Academy, Rice tuned in silently amid the other students' feverish chatter. He balled his hands tight, sensing the urgency to ramp up his growth...

"One day, I’ll stand before the Combat Arts Tower and show them that talent is more than muscle. Even if someone claimed it that time, I will do my best to take it from them..." He muttered.

He pondered.

Though just a freshman, his ambition stood firm!