Chương 690: Chapter 688 – Arcane Writing.

"That's an interesting quill… She chose well out of all the options, but what exactly is this class…?" Roland glanced at the screen as the slideshow began to play. This was an upgraded model of the ascension trial memory device. The images were much clearer now and appeared at shorter intervals. During shorter trials, the memories were also condensed, giving him a better overview of the entire space. His apprentice was performing some kind of scribing skill, unlike those used by mana scribes or runic mana scribes.

The magic itself seemed different, yet strangely familiar. It still involved runes to some extent, but something else was woven into it, a different kind of logic, as if the runic language itself had been altered.

'Is this some sort of specialized magical language… or is it because this isn't a combat class?' Normally, Millie was incapable of producing even a single magic scroll due to her lack of mana. Only after he created the bracelet was she able to progress. It was something that should not have been possible under normal circumstances, yet she had managed it. She would never have been able to attempt a standard ascension trial otherwise. However, the class she was pursuing now appeared to function differently.

The mana did not seem to come from her directly, but instead from the special ink and the quill she was using.

'Maybe the bracelet won't be as necessary anymore… but the ink will be.' Creating a bracelet capable of supplying his apprentice with mana was a simple task for him. A few runes placed in the right spots, and the work was done. Magical ink, however, was outside his area of expertise. Fortunately, he had an alchemist working for him.

'As for that quill, I should be able to figure it out once I see her new skill in action…' The classes Millie kept obtaining were far from ordinary and seemed to require considerable outside assistance to function properly. Still, until she completed the trial successfully, he could not be certain of anything.

'The memories aren't fading… which means…' The device was designed to preserve information from ascension trials so that future candidates could prepare more effectively. Normally, failed attempts resulted in memory loss, necessitating the memory restoration feature. However, if someone passed the trial, there would be no memory erasure and no need to activate the recovery function.

"Mmm…" Millie's eyes slowly opened, her vision blurred as though she had awakened from an exhausting dream. A dull ache lingered behind her eyes, and for a brief moment, she forgot where she was. Her gaze drifted toward the ceiling above her as it gradually came into focus. Then she noticed her master standing nearby.

"Master? Then that means…"

"Yes, you did it. Rest for a moment. The first time is always disorienting." He replied while checking her vitals. Non-combat classes usually made ascension trials easier on those undertaking them. There were no dramatic stat increases to alter the body, nor overwhelming skills that strained the mind and spirit. Most people gained simple classes that were easy to adapt to. However, in Millie's case, the class she had obtained seemed far more unusual.

'This class… the name hasn't changed much, but…' Name: Millie L 26 Classes: T1 Mana Calligrapher L25 T1 Arcane Calligrapher L1 Tier one classes usually followed a simpler naming pattern, so it was not surprising that the new class lacked some grand title and was instead presented as a variation of the original. Even so, it hinted at the future ahead of them and made it clear that the next tier two class would revolve around arcane magic.

Some people used magic and arcane interchangeably, but they were different forms of energy, much like the many others he had already analyzed. One advantage of arcane magic was that it consumed less mana. The downside, however, was that it required extensive preparation to complete the formulas properly. A single mistake could cause the entire arcane structure to collapse or create a completely unintended effect.

It was a far more unstable form of magic that demanded precise chanting along with numerous supporting items. Fast casting was especially difficult and carried a much higher chance of failure. However, once the spell took shape, the resulting effect was usually stronger than regular magic or enchantments. Arcane Calligrapher Class Allows the user to sense arcane energies and use them for arcane calligraphy. He began reading through her status to see what she had gained.

The first thing listed was the Arcane Calligrapher class and, as expected, it was not a combat class and lacked the stat bonuses such classes usually provided. A mage class, for instance, came with increases to mana capacity and mana regeneration. This one, on the other hand, only seemed to grant something similar to the mana sense skill that mages typically received. There was no separate skill listed for it, clearly indicating that the class itself fulfilled that role.

'Interesting…' Arcane Penmanship Active skill Allows the Arcane Calligrapher to shape arcane energies into words of power. This was clearly the core skill of the class, the ability that allowed Millie to create arcane enchantments. However, it was not the only skill she had gained. Arcane Ink Infusion Active skill Allows the Arcane Calligrapher to infuse ink with arcane energies. This was about all the skills she had received. The workflow itself seemed rather simple.

She would need to infuse magical ink with arcane energy using the 'Arcane Ink Infusion' skill, then use 'Arcane Penmanship' to transfer it onto paper. This would likely be her work for the next twenty-five levels, and he would need to figure out how to help her perform it efficiently.

'She is going to have to be very precise in her work from now on.' Roland nodded as he activated the seat, straightening it to help her sit upright. Once the dizziness passed, he finally began asking her a few questions.

"How do you feel?" Roland asked as he handed her a small glass of water. Millie accepted it with both hands. Her fingers still trembled slightly from exhaustion. After taking a few careful sips, she looked back at him.

"Tired… but also strange. It feels like my head is full of things I don't completely understand yet."

"That is normal after acquiring a new class, especially one tied to knowledge-based skills. Once you start using those skills and reinforcing what you learned, it should become easier to understand." Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. His expression remained calm, though inwardly he was far more curious than he let on. The memory images from the trial had already revealed enough to confirm his suspicions.

Arcane formulas were different from the ordinary runes he specialised in, yet somehow Millie had managed to complete the trial despite having no prior exposure to them. What interested him even more was whether this calligraphic skill was limited to paper or if it could be expanded further. The ability to create magical scrolls was already useful, and he had perfected the craft by making miniature versions no larger than a playing card.

That was something he could teach her, but perhaps there was more to this arcane class than met the eye.

"So, how was it?"

"... How was it… oh!" At first, he wondered if he should call for her parents to help her home, but the moment he mentioned the trial, Millie's eyes widened.

"It was really strange, Master, but I listened to all your advice!" Millie straightened slightly in the white chair despite her exhaustion. The earlier dizziness had already begun to fade, replaced by excitement bubbling beneath the surface. Her trembling hands tightened around the small glass of water as she started speaking with far more enthusiasm.

"It really looked like something from my old memories. It was the Red Dragon Inn, just like you predicted! I spent so much time looking for the actual trial master. It was so nerve-wracking!" The more she spoke, the more excited she became. He was not sure if this was simply her teenage side showing through, as she was usually energetic even under normal circumstances.

"And then I found the door at the end, and inside it was…"

"I see…" Roland did not interrupt her. He allowed her to continue as her eyes nearly sparkled with excitement. It was obvious she was proud of passing the trial on her first attempt and eager to tell her master everything. She described the experience from beginning to end while he listened carefully, making sure she was truly alright.

"And then, and then I almost failed, but I managed to fix it just before the last grain of sand fell!"

"Oh? And what was the spell within that arcane scroll you created?"

"The spell within the scroll?" Millie blinked twice, clearly caught off guard by the question. During all her excited rambling, she had not even stopped to think about what she had actually created. Her brows furrowed as she tried to recall the final moments of the trial.

"I… don't know."

"You don't know?" Roland raised an eyebrow. That answer alone was unusual. Most ascension trials ended with the creation of a simple spell or item that reflected the class itself. The user normally understood at least its basic function instinctively after succeeding.

"It started to flash, then the whole room turned white, and after that I woke up here…"

"Interesting. Maybe it was just a simple light spell." Roland pondered the possibility. It was not entirely unreasonable. When he became a runic mana scribe, he had only needed to create a scroll containing a glowing orb spell before his class change.

"Oh… why don't I just do it now? I still remember it clearly. Maybe I should do it before I forget!" Millie suddenly jumped off the chair and pointed toward the exit for some reason.

"I don't think that's a good idea. How about we continue tomorrow? There are still a few things we need to prepare, like the special ink." Roland shook his head. He did not want the girl to overwork herself. She was clearly excited after performing so well, but he still was not fully prepared. Some of the key ingredients for the magic ink and quill were still missing. He already had an idea of what to do, but gathering the materials and speaking with Rastix would be necessary first.

"Oh… really? But Master, what if I just tried it once…"

"It's fine. We'll do it tomorrow. For now, go back to your parents and tell them the good news. We'll continue in the morning."

"Right! I need to tell Mama and Papa!" The moment Millie heard her parents mentioned, her eyes began to sparkle again. She nearly spilled the water in her hand before quickly gulping it down.

"I need to show them my status right away… b-but…"

"Just use the glasses I gave you. They'll be able to see it." Roland replied as Millie stood up and nodded with a bright smile. She turned around and started running toward the door, but just before reaching it, she stopped.

"Hmm?" Roland tilted his head in confusion as the girl looked back at him, then suddenly rushed toward him again. Without warning, she wrapped him in a big hug.

"Uh…"

"Thank you, Master. I'll never forget what you've done for me. Never in a million years!" Roland felt slightly awkward being hugged by his new disciple like this. His arms lingered awkwardly in the air for a moment before one hand finally settled against her shoulder in a gentle pat. It was a timid gesture on his part, but Millie held nothing back, smiling brightly as she embraced him.

"There is no need to be so dramatic. You earned this yourself."

"No way! I never could have done any of this without you!" Millie pulled back just enough to look at him directly. Her face was flushed bright red from excitement, but there was also genuine emotion in her eyes.

"If you hadn't helped me, Master, I would still be stuck at the inn, folding blankets and cleaning tables forever."

"There is nothing wrong with honest work." He replied while rubbing his neck awkwardly as the girl refused to let him go.

"I know that. But now I can do more than that." For a brief moment, Roland saw something different in her expression. It was not just excitement over gaining a new class. It was hope. Real hope for a future she had long believed was impossible. The sight made him pause. People in this world rarely escaped the path their class forced upon them. A bad class at the beginning often meant a limited future forever. He had already seen enough examples to understand how cruel the system could be.

Millie had been another victim of it until now. Yet somehow, through persistence, luck, and perhaps a little interference from someone who did not belong in this world, she had managed to break free from that predetermined path.

"You should go before your parents start thinking something exploded in here." Millie laughed sheepishly and finally let go of him.

"Right!" She hurried toward the door again, but stopped halfway and turned around once more.

"Master?"

"What is it now?" Her smile softened slightly, and she spoke with a grin.

"I'll work really hard from now on." Roland nodded and smirked.

"I expect nothing less. Now get a good night's rest, because tomorrow you'll have a lot of work waiting for you." That seemed to satisfy her. She gave him one final energetic nod before rushing out of the room. A second later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor outside, followed by the elevator doors opening to carry her upstairs.

'I suppose I'll need to live up to the expectations of my eager disciple then…' It was clear that Millie was eager to learn and level up even further. He was there to guide her, but the problem remained. He was not an Arcane Calligrapher, nor did he possess any books related to the class. It was entirely up to him to do the research and set her on the right path.

"Sebastian."

"Yes, Master?"

"Inform Rastix that I'll be at his lab shortly, and make sure not to startle him, or he might blow something up again like last time."

"Yes, Master." The disembodied voice of his assistant echoed through the workshop as Roland made his way toward the elevator. He still had other work to do, but he made sure to spend both this day and the next in Albrook. Over the rest of the day, he began making preparations. As always, Rastix had left his laboratory in a complete mess, with alchemical reagents scattered everywhere, but creating tier one magical ink was not particularly difficult for him.

Roland possessed knowledge of many different variations, including some that incorporated arcane magic, so he left Rastix to prepare several ink bottles for him. Of course, he had to promise him more rare materials to experiment with afterward, but that was a small price to pay. Then, it was up to him to create the instrument his student would one day use. Scribes typically relied on quills, but that did not mean he could not create something better, such as a metal fountain pen capable of holding runes.

He continued his work, researching and building, though he never neglected his main project, the mobile runic armor. Millie was becoming an important part of his life, but there were still other priorities. Half a year had already passed, and he needed to travel to the institute to check on the students who would participate in the upcoming competitions.

"So much to do and not enough time for any of it… I could really use a machine that slows time itself." He grumbled as he examined the metallic pen he had created. The object in his hand was unlike the feathered quills commonly used by scribes. Its body had been forged from a silvery metal, polished smooth, and reinforced with thin internal channels designed to carry enchanted ink.

Tiny runes had already been etched beneath the outer casing, each one linked through delicate traces, though the system was not yet fully customized. The arcane energies his student would wield first needed to be studied before he could fully commit to the design.

"This should be enough to survive a tier one arcane energy discharge… I think." Although he had extensive experience in the field, accidents were always possible. At least during the first test, he needed to remain nearby in case a volatile explosion injured her fingers. With most of the work complete, he returned to the golem intended for the competition. Even though six months still remained, time would pass quickly. He needed to ensure victory if he wished to finally earn his freedom.