Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1216: The Candidates

Days flew by quickly, yet the Academy's timetable clung to its ironclad routine without mercy.

Rarely did pupils from distinct Arcane Paths share lessons, as every path featured its dedicated set of courses. Still, a select number of shared classes demanded attendance from all hopeful students...

These included Mystical Artifact Study, Basic Alchemy, History of the Twelve Paths, and Arcane Ethics.

It happened in one of those sessions that Ruth and Rice met for the very first time.

Professor Halden unveiled a trove of vintage treasures, swords, charms, and shards of formation hearts. The class received orders to scrutinize the objects, pinpoint their weaknesses, and guess at their past roles...

Certain pieces bore inscriptions, but it went without saying that even those in Combat Arts needed to grasp such markings, given that their gear often came from the Rune Arts Faction. In the end, they focused on battle and needed solid tools too.

That's why grasping how to spot inscriptions proved essential.

Ruth drew near and inspected a fractured charm, her unique gaze shimmering softly...

In moments, she detected a faint shift in the inscription design, an issue that escaped most classmates. She jotted down observations rapidly, murmuring under her breath.

On the opposite side of the workbench, Rice examined a worn practice lance. His gut sense revealed the tool's former use, the rhythm of clashes carved into its damage. He copied a pose, tweaking his hold, and grumbled, "The balance is off... whoever wielded this must have compensated with footwork."

Their murmurs intertwined. Ruth looked up, startled to hear another pupil speak so assuredly. Rice spotted her scribbles and arched a brow.

"You saw the flaw in the talisman?" he asked.

Ruth paused briefly, then dipped her head. "The rune lines... they’re slightly misaligned. It weakens the amplification effect."

Rice’s eyes grew wide. "I didn’t catch that. But I can tell how the spear was used. The wielder relied on speed, not strength."

After all, this wasn't a quiz or formal assessment to begin with. The instructor simply aimed for the students to use the abilities from his lessons or the facts they'd picked up in class.

Professor Halden truly hoped the pupils would team up and dig deeper into the artifacts he'd displayed.

In that way, partnerships sprang up, and before long, Rice and Ruth delved into the study side by side. Varied paths, varied gifts.... Soon enough, they discovered they were both prospects for Vale’s followers!

"You’re Vale’s disciple candidate, right? I heard them talking about you." Rice inquired softly while gesturing toward a cluster of students glaring at Ruth with harsh intent.

Ruth blinked. "Yes... Wait--You too?"

Rice nodded. "Combat Arts."

Understanding lit their faces. They weren't merely fellow students in a joint lesson; they both treaded the perilous line of high hopes, tagged as likely heirs to the Shadow Immortal.

***

After that moment, they started choosing seats close to one another in the shared courses. Ruth offered thoughts on inscription defects, as Rice broke down fighting uses. Their chats frequently wandered to the Twelve Arcane Paths, both pondering when their roads might converge one day...

Even with their contrasts, they bonded over the shared goal of rising to full Disciple status someday. Ruth, bearing her delicate aptitude yet exceptional sight. Rice, boasting his remarkable skill yet weak frame. Each carried burdens to overcome.

One afternoon amid Basic Alchemy, the room hung thick with herbal aromas and the soft simmer of pots.

Learners paired off, blending components with precision beneath Professor Elira’s keen gaze.

Ruth and Rice worked as a duo... Neither shone nor struggled much in this subject, but it hardly signified anything since hardly anyone flunked as long as they could name a handful of simple elixirs and grasp their makeup along with preparation methods.

As they collaborated, Ruth weighed out every element with exact care, whereas Rice took charge of the simmering mostly, his motions steady and precise in spite of his slender build.

Yet over in the distance, conflict simmered.

Korr, offspring of a rich trading clan tied to the Alchemist Arts Faction, lounged in his seat with a cocky smirk.

He gained fame for parading his rank, frequently ridiculing those with lesser gifts. This time, his stare locked onto Ruth.

"Careful, Ruth..." Korr jeered, his voice carrying to draw ears. "With your low-grade talent, one mistake and you’ll blow us all sky‑high. Maybe you should leave the real work to those of us born for greatness."

A handful of students snickered uneasily, while the rest steered clear of meeting Ruth's eyes.

Ruth’s fingers shook a touch, yet she held steady on the blend.

Rice’s jaw clenched firm. He'd weathered endless jeers over his slim form for years, and he knew that mocking edge right away.

"Funny," Rice replied steadily, eyes fixed on the pot. "For someone born for greatness, your potion smells like burnt leather."

Silence gripped the chamber. Korr's cheeks burned crimson, his glare piercing Rice.

"What did you say?"

Rice lifted his gaze at last, his look serene yet piercing.

"You’re too busy talking to notice your mixture curdled. If you don’t fix it, it’ll explode."

Professor Naya’s attention whipped to Korr’s station. Indeed, his pot frothed wildly, the brew shifting to a dire black hue.

"Korr!" she barked. "Neutralize it, now!"

Alarm crossed Korr’s features. He groped at the materials, knocking over a portion. The pot sputtered and vapors began to climb.

Spotting the brewing disaster, the instructor called on Ruth to step in fast and mend it. This served as Naya’s subtle nod to the class about Ruth's prowess too.

Thus, right before Korr could worsen the mess, Ruth advanced. Her distinctive eye seized the issue at once. The inscription balancer carved along the pot’s edge got clogged by a leftover bit of material, ruining its power.

She corrected it with a swift motion, then dusted in a dash of ground frostvine.

The froth died down. The brew steadied.

Professor Naya offered a soft approval at her swift deed...

"Well done, Ruth. Quick thinking."

Korr’s expression warped in shame. He pounded his fist against the surface...

But right as fury threatened to erupt from him, Professor Naya lifted her palm.

Meanwhile, hurried footfalls echoed from beyond the door, heading straight for their workshop...

The entrance swung wide, and instantly, they knew the arrivals were enforcers from the Arcane Bureau!