Return of the Runebound Professor Chapter 918: Rake

The roar of the crowd dimmed to a distant buzz as Noah found himself, somehow for the second time in his life, trapped between two fighting godlike beings. Sure, they weren’t quite trying to kill each other this time around… but it didn’t look like they were too far from it. Perhaps that wasn’t really that odd in the grand scheme of things. Godlike beings probably fought quite often.

But this was definitely the first time they’d fought over .

“We are still within the Tournament,” Rake said, his lips curling upward in a cold smile. “The Rules still bind us both, Vivian. You cannot lay claim to him so easily. Not unless you mean to break them. And I do not believe that even you would be so bold as to do that. This is an old treaty. Not one worth tearing apart over a single man… is it?”

Vivian’s jaw clenched. Crackles of raw magic arced between the floating stones hovering at her back like an angry storm. Even with Noah’s magic completely suppressed, he could feel the intensity of the power radiating out from her. He didn’t know what kind of Rune the Prophet had, and he didn’t want to find out.

“I will not break the Rules,” Vivian ground out. “But mind your place, Rake. You cannot flaunt the Rules before me and then claim them to defend yourself. You interfered in my tournament.”

“Which only matters if I get caught,” Rake said.

“Which you did,” Vivian said.

“Only because you were planning on interfering as well,” Rake countered. “An argument which, as weak as it may be, will only implicate both of us. But you will be looked upon far harsher than I. It is nature for the attending Heads to attempt to cheat. But for the one running the tournament to do so… you cannot afford to be caught. The moment I drop my magic, you will find yourself in a worse position than I.”

“And yet you haven’t dropped it,” Vivian said. “You maintain the guise. You’ve never been one to bandy words, Rake. You aren’t good at it. We both know what happens if you make a true enemy of me. What makes you so insistent on this one disciple?”

“What makes so insistent?” Rake asked. He tilted his head to the side. “What would you do if I simply took him? Would you tear down your entire tournament to stop me?”

“He is mine,” Vivian said. She took a step toward Rake. “And I protect what is mine. I always have. And I always will. The moment I give up so much as an inch, I know you will not stop until you take everything. That is how we are. Weakness is death.”

Noah didn’t voice that particular thought. Especially with Rake somehow repressing his magic, he couldn’t afford the risk of one of the two Faction Heads just splattering him into paste on the ground to deny the other one their desire. Literally both Rake and Vivian could kill him with little more than a thought.

And, worse, if he drew on the Line or the Beyond to do anything that some random ‘disciple’ shouldn’t have been capable of, the only thin he’d accomplish would be making them even more interested in him. This was bad. Really bad.

That was a stupid question. Noah knew damn well how it had happened. He’d flown too close to the sun with his demonstrations. But he really hadn’t thought he’d done anything that standout. Surely using a Formation couldn’t have been that big of a flex. He had no damn idea what he could have accomplished to somehow draw so much attention from two Faction Heads.

“Weakness death,” Rake said, breaking the moment of silence that had hung over the arena floor. “But some would say that this is weakness. You go through enormous efforts to prevent me from getting this disciple of yours. It leads me to wonder why. And I must ask… why would you be seeking your own disciple out midway through a tournament? For that matter, why would your disciple be in the tournament in the first place? There is no need for him to be here. So tell me, Vivian. Why is he?”

Noah had to admit that Rake had a good question. In most circumstances, Noah would have loved to know the answer to it and find out where Vivian had gotten the idea that he was her disciple. He certainly hadn’t signed up to it when he’d joined the tournament. But Vivian’s presence here was the only thing giving Noah an excuse to refuse Rake without pissing off a Faction Head.

There was a moment of stillness.

Vivian and Rake stared at each other.

And, in that moment, it struck Noah that Vivian herself didn’t have an answer to Rake’s question. Even though he didn’t have a full view of her face, there was a vein bulging ever so slightly in the side of her neck. She was stressed. For whatever reason, Vivian reallyneeded him to be her disciple.

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“What are you implying?” Vivian asked, her words curt and measured. “Speak your thoughts clearly, Rake.”

“Is it not already evident?” Rake looked over to Noah. “I do not believe you, Vivian. You claim that this mage is your disciple. But he does not kneel to you upon your arrival. He does not even look at you with familiarity. I think you’re trying to hog the talent for yourself and prevent me from what is rightfully mine. I think you are already in breach of the Rules, Vivian.”

A flash of anger cut through Noah’s thoughts.

The arcs of magical energy arcing between the floating stones behind Vivian intensified.

“You think I would debase myself to such a degree?” Vivian hissed. “For a mere disciple? Do not forget your place, Rake. Do not forget where you stand. This is my city. This man my disciple. You have no claim to him. He only participates in the tournament because he sought to gain experience against others. That is not a crime. Don’t try to paint me in your image. Just because you can only lust for power does not mean others would debase theirselves to the point where they drop down to your level.”

Every single one of Vivian’s words seemed to burn themselves into the air. They were imbued with Rune Force to the point where Noah could literally feel them knocking the wind from his stomach — and yet, he didn’t miss the very sharp look that Vivian sent in his direction.

“Is that so?” Rake asked. His pale gray gaze turned to Noah as well. “Then I am certain your disciple would have no issue corroborating your story. Speak, Spider. Are you Vivian’s pawn? Or did you come to this tournament to find a worthy master? Because I can assure you… nobody can show you how to wield the power you possess better than I. Come under my wing. No matter what Vivian claims, we are all bound by Rules. Vivian cannot harm you here. She cannot prevent you from making a choice. If you wish a master that speaks honestly, then come to me. I have seen what you are capable of. I can foster such power. The only path to greatness is through me.”

The hair on the back of Noah’s neck stood on end. Two Faction Heads were staring at him, and they each had the exact same look on their faces. Hunger and warning. There was literally no answer here that would end without him getting screwed over in some way or another.

He’d lose if he sided with either of the Faction Heads. Given the amount of effort they were inexplicably going through to get him, he got the strong feeling that they wouldn’t be willing to just let him walk away after all was said and done.

Noah’s jaw clenched. His brain spun as it desperately searched for a way out of this. He could always just call on the Line to teleport away… but he couldn’t hide from two Faction Heads forever. Especially not Vivian. This was her city. She’d find him. Even if he went on the run, he wouldn’t be able to find all of his students. And if he did… he wouldn’t be able to keep them safe.

Then his eyes narrowed.

There was a way out. It was a damned stupid one. But it was the only one he could think of that didn’t end with him somehow ending up as the toy for one Faction Head or another.

Noah stared at them for a long second. Then he blew out a slow breath and raised his hand.

“Okay,” Noah said. “Thank you. I appreciate it, Vivian. I think we can call things fair at this point. You can’t be faulted for this. Rake is too persistent.”

Both of the Rank 8s stared at him in confusion.

“What?” Rake asked.

The expression on Vivian’s face made it abundantly clear that she was thinking the very same thing.

“I’m honored that you think me worthy to be your disciple Rake,” Noah said. He let his hand drop. “I really am. It seems I may have put on a little bit too much of a show. For that, I apologize. But I’m afraid I’m not here to be recruited.”

“Speak plainly,” Rake said, his voice gaining a dangerous edge. “Are you refusing of us? So Vivian is not your master?”

“Of course he—” Vivian started.

“Of course I am,” Noah said sharply. He crossed his hands behind his back casually, ensuring he didn’t let any emotion slip through his mask. “But I don’t know if you can really phrase it like that. I can’t exactly refuse Vivian when this isn’t what she wants in the first place.”

“What are you talking about?” Rake asked. “Don’t walk back on your words. You’ve already claimed Vivian is a liar.”

Vivian looked equally as confused as Rake soundeded. Noah supposed it was time he rectified that. After all, if Vivian didn’t realize what he was doing and back his story, then everything would fall apart.

“A liar on my behalf,” Noah said. “And for good cause. I requested her to claim to be my master in the chance that anyone asked, Rake. I wished to avoid any unnecessary embarrassment. But since you are so insistent on this, then I will answer you directly. I cannot be anyone’s disciple because I am not even a full human. I am nothing but a sliver of a full being, weak enough to officially participate in the tournament so that I may witness the strength of my potential recruits firsthand.”

Rake’s brow creased. “What?”

“Do you have a master?” Noah asked.

“Of course not,” Rake said, the note of anger returning to his voice. “I am a Faction Head. I have no need of a Master. I am a step away from a god.”

Noah sighed. “I was trying to be polite. Very well. I’ll spell it out more directly for you, Rake. My true form is not some lowly cloned Rank 5 mage. Allow me to properly to introduce myself. I am Spider, Master of the Lost Citadel, Herald of Chaos, and Rank 8 Mage.”

Vivian and Rake stared at Noah in disbelief. A flicker of realization passed behind Vivian’s eyes as she realized what he was trying to do. It was joined by a significant amount of anger. It didn’t look like she appreciated being used like a pawn.

A shimmer of gold passed through the air before Noah. He grabbed on to it, letting its power flood through him more than he ever had before. He could feel the magic roaring within his soul. His eyes tingled from the intensity as a golden sheen passed over the entire world.

“It’s as you said,” Noah said. Then he vanished. Rake’s magic could do nothing to stop him from reappearing an inch away from his face. He clapped the Faction Head on his shoulder, but the smile Noah gave him was anything but friendly. “Mages of our strength have no need for a master.”