Chapter 434: Metal in the night

Chapter 434: Metal in the night

Shit, Moxie breathed, her eyes going wide. Thats nothing like any Space Rune Ive ever seen.

Yeah, Noah said. He stared at his hand, then swallowed. It used up a shit ton of energy just to do that tiny move, but it was damn effective.

How much energy?

Noah peered into his soul to check on the rune and almost choked in surprise. The rune was completely empty and had only just barely started to gather power once more. Hed drained it entirely. He grimaced and returned his attention to Moxie. Damn thing is completely out of power. Its starting to regenerate, but its slow.

You completely drained a Rank 4 just to do that? Moxies eyebrows rose up her forehead.

Well, its not perfect, much less flawless, Noah pointed out. But yes. I thought Id just used a bit of it if Im being honest. Its actually kind of weird. Using space magic feels different from other magic.

How so?

Its hard to describe. Less efficient, I guess?

Maybe its because you arent actually using something physically around you? Moxie guessed. With an Earth Rune youd have the ground to work with. Im not sure what the space youre working with actually is. Its kind of hard to conceptualize.

That could be it, Noah agreed, but he wasnt so convinced. It felt like there was more to it than just not being able to see what he was working with. Even if the space was more of a concept than anything else, it was still there.

He fell silent for several seconds as he dug through his thoughts for an answer, but nothing arose. That was fine. He had time to get used to the rune and test it out more, so there was no pressure to rush to figure anything out now.

Something told him he wasnt going to brute force this. It would just take more understanding of space. If Brayden still found his Rank 4 Runes inefficient after working with them his entire life, then he wasnt going to find a simple solution.

Itll be a bit before my rune recovers, and I probably need to get some energy into it before I can do any real testing, Noah said through a yawn. I think Ill work on that tomorrow, sometime around or after class. We can test it out more then.

Sounds like a plan. Speaking of class, are we just going to go back to the arena? I dont think the transport cannon is operational for random usage yet.

Yeah, the arena is probably our best bet, Noah agreed. Its getting close to that first exam. We should probably decide who the final winner of the competition is pretty soon. You have been keeping track, right?

Have you not?

Noah coughed into a fist. I was, yes. But a reminder wouldnt hurt. I kind of assumed you were doing it.

I know you did, Moxie said with a laugh. Isabel and Alexandra are both really close, but Alexandra is two points up. Todd is a bit behind them, followed by Emily and then James. Their scores are honestly all pretty close to each other.

The rune would be useful on all three of the top lot. Neither James nor Emily actually want it, so that works for me. It honestly probably doesnt matter who wins. I might be overestimating them a bit, but Im pretty sure the kids would give the rune to whoever actually needed it the most regardless of who won.

Youre probably right, Moxie agreed. I guess well find out. It still seems a bit insane to just give away a Master Rune.

Alexandra didnt let her realization show in her posture or features. The last thing she wanted to do was give away that she knew someone was there. Instead, she launched back into a set of sword strikes that she used to move in a slow circle around the dirt training area and scan her surroundings.

It didnt take her long to find her target. A small form stood at in the shadow of a nearby fence. Alexandra wasnt even sure if they were trying to hide. The light of the moon was shimmering off their eyes, making spotting them laughably easy.

Alexandra dropped out of her form and raised her sword to point right at the person watching her. There was no point pretending she didnt see them when she was looking right in their direction. Theyd probably have already realized she spotted them the moment she stopped moving.

The figure stiffened in surprise. They hesitated for a second, then stepped out of the shadows. Alexandra blinked in surprise. It was Yulin. The girl made her way over to Alexandra, stopping at the edge of the dirt arena. A plain metal sword rested at her side.

I didnt think you saw me, Yulin said. How long did you know?

That depends on how long you were standing there, but you arent as good as hiding as you seem to think. Do you want something?

Yulin hesitated for a second before replying. Were you serious about what you said when we were in the advanced track meeting?

I rarely say things I dont mean, but Im not sure what youre referring to.

You said youd be willing to spar me again in the future. Yulin shifted from foot to foot and rubbed one of her forarms.

Alexandra blinked. She had said that, but she hadnt actually expected Yulin to take her up on it. She scanned her surroundings again to make sure that there wasnt someone else hiding in wait to ambush her.

She seemed a bit too arrogant to accept, and I cant imagine theres any way her professor would be okay with this.

Yulin glanced over her shoulder nervously, and realization struck Alexandra. Unless Yulin was a very good liar, everything about her body language said that she felt like she was somewhere she wasnt meant to be.

She snuck out here to spar with me?

You want to spar now? Alexandra asked.

Im busy during the day, Yulin said. The excuse was so lame that Alexandra didnt even bother trying to pretend like she believed it.

What would Vermil say I should do? This is a risk. Even if I havent spotted them, there could be someone waiting in the shadows. Yulin had a pretty bad loss against me. Its possible Jakob would want me out of the way so it would be easier to get at Emily but Yulin seems genuine.

When I was stuck under Gentils control, I really would have loved if someone had done literally anything with me. If theyd even acknowledged me as anything other than a tool. It was agony. But Im not there anymore. Can I afford the risk?

Enough talking, Alexandra said. A flicker of disappointment passed through Yulins face. It vanished as quickly as it had arrived she was good at controlling her emotions. She made to turn away and Alexandra let out a huff. Where are you going?

Yulin sent her a baffled look. I thought you said

Alexandra gestured at the blade at Yulins side with the tip of her sword. Speak with your sword.

A small smile passed over the Torrin girls lips. She drew her sword and inclined her head, taking a step toward Alexandra and entering the arena. They circled each other for a second, then both darted toward each other. The ring of metal on metal filled the silent night, but the two of them were the only ones around to hear it.