Chapter 104 Professor Jonathan Stone

Professor Jonathan Stone strode into the classroom, his imposing figure commanding the attention of the students. As he reached the front of the class, he paused for a moment before breaking into a wide grin. 

"Good morning, my dear students!" he exclaimed. "I hope you all slept well and are ready to tackle today's lesson with gusto!" The students chuckled at the professor's enthusiastic greeting and settled in for the day's studies.

 When the students settle, professor Stone continued, "Today, we will be diving into the fascinating world of magic rune letters and their principles. We will explore the intricate ways these runes can be used to cast spells and enchantments, and we will discuss the fundamental principles that govern their use. So, sit tight and get ready to embark on a journey of magical discovery. Let's begin."

Suzuka and Silvia sat quietly, attentive to his lecture on magic rune letters and their principles. The professor spoke in detail about how the rune letters work, providing examples of their usage in various situations. 

 He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the room.

"These ancient symbols," he began, his voice carrying a sense of reverence, "have been used for centuries and have been a vital part of the magic in our world." The air in the room grew thick with anticipation as Professor Stone spoke.

He continued, "Rune letters are unique in their ability to absorb the user's mana and provide either defensive or offensive properties, depending on their intended use." The students leaned forward, their eyes locked onto the professor as he began to delve into the complexities of rune letters.

"For example," he said, "let's say you're out in the field, facing a formidable foe. By using different rune letters, you can enhance your physical strength or agility, giving you an edge in combat. On the other hand, if you're facing a powerful spellcaster, you can use defensive rune letters to protect yourself from their magical or physical attacks."

Professor Stone's passion for the subject was evident as he spoke, his words painting a vivid picture of the power that rune letters held. "It's important to note that not all rune letters are created equal," he warned. "Some are more complex than others and require a higher level of mana consumption and control to use effectively."

The students scribbled in their notebooks, eager to capture every bit of information that Professor Stone was sharing. "However," he continued, "with long practice and dedication, you can master the art of using these powerful symbols to enhance your magic."

As the lecture drew to a close, Professor Stone's final words echoed through the hall. "In conclusion, the world of rune letters is a vast and exciting one, filled with endless possibilities. With the right knowledge and training, you can harness the power of these symbols to become a skilled and formidable magic user. So let's begin our journey into the world of rune letters, and discover the true potential of magic!"

Suzuka found herself particularly intrigued by the intricacies of the rune system. She already knew and was successful in creating one scale with a defense ruin letter on it. Despite encountering setbacks, such as the incident with Bill destroying her scale with a single punch, Suzuka remained determined to master the art of rune letter crafting. 

She poured countless hours into practicing and experimenting with different combinations of letters while she was living in Bill's cave, determined to create the perfect rune for both defensive and offensive purposes.

One student in the classroom raised his hand and asked the professor, "Excuse me, professor. The rune letters sound amazing but why don't we see anyone using them if they are so great?"

 The professor, with a sad expression, replied, "Ah, a good question, my boy! Rune letters do possess great potential, but there are some limitations to their usage. Firstly, they consume an absurd amount of mana, which makes them difficult to sustain."

After a short pause professor Stone continued, "Secondly, the process of creating a rune letter is time-consuming and requires a lot of effort. You need to carefully craft the ruin letters on the material using your own mana, and only the crafter can use it. It is not possible to buy them or acquire them from someone else. The only way is to create it yourself."

The professor paused for a moment to let his words sink in before continuing. "These limitations have led to only a few people using them in this day and age. Nowadays, it is easier to apply for magic box trials and acquire much superior magic powers that way. It is much quicker and easier, but it lacks the personal touch and individuality that the use of rune letters can provide. However, for those who are willing to put in the effort and time, the benefits of using rune letters can be great."

He looked around the classroom, meeting the gaze of each student to emphasize his point. "I would like to demonstrate the power of magic rune letters," he announced, his voice filled with excitement. "I have a ring with a magic rune engraved on it that I crafted myself. It's a strength letter, and it allows me to lift heavy objects with ease."

The professor, an elderly man in his late 50s, strode over to the front desk and gripped it with one arm. The desk was made of fine wood and weighed over 100kg, but the professor's grip on it was unyielding. With a sudden burst of energy, he lifted the desk off the ground with one arm, holding it up for all the students to see.

The classroom erupted into shouts of amazement and disbelief. Some of the students even stood up to get a better view of the professor's feat. The professor smiled, pleased with the reaction he had elicited.

"Now, I want to emphasize that this is just one example of what magic ruin letters can do," he continued, setting the desk back down with a gentle thud. "There are many different types of rune letters, each with their own unique properties and uses. With the right training and practice, you too can harness the power of rune letters and become a skilled mage."

The professor's voice boomed across the classroom, capturing the attention of every student. "Today we will be attempting to craft our own magic rune letters," he announced. "I want each and every one of you to give it your all and put your skills to the test. And listen up because this is important: the conditions for passing my exam will be successfully creating a working magic rune letter!"

The students murmured amongst themselves, some excited and others are nervous about the task ahead. The professor's words hung in the air, almost daring them to rise to the challenge. He walked up and down the aisles, examining each student's equipment and asking questions about their previous experiences with rune crafting.

"Remember," he continued, "the process of creating a magic rune letter is long and arduous. It requires patience, skill, and a deep understanding of how magic works. But the rewards are great, and the possibilities are endless. With the right magic rune, you can protect yourself in battle, strengthen your spells, or even control the elements themselves!"

The students listened with rapt attention as the professor explained the intricacies of rune crafting, providing examples of their usage in various situations. He went over the basics of drawing the runes, explaining how the position and shape of each symbol affected its properties. He also explained how the runes absorbed the user's mana and could provide defensive or offensive properties, depending on the user's intentions.

As the lecture came to an end, the professor reminded the students of the challenge ahead. "Now, it's time to put theory into practice," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I can't wait to see what you all come up with! For today, we will try crafting a letter on a simple sheet of paper. It should take a few hours of practice before you could successfully craft the rune letter."

Professor Stone distributed paper sheets to the students, and they began to practice crafting the letters. Everyone struggled since it was their first time attempting this task, but Suzuka found it effortless. Having crafted a letter before, she was familiar with the process.

The other students fumbled with their papers, trying to make sense of the complex diagrams and instructions written on them. Suzuka, on the other hand, quickly got to work, her mana flow is gentle and steady, carving the letter on the paper with practiced precision.

She remembered the feeling of crafting her first rune letter, the thrill of creating something from scratch that could protect her in battle. As she worked, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.

The professor walked around the room, peering over the students' shoulders to check their progress. He stopped at Suzuka's desk and examined her paper.

"Well done, Helen," he said with a nod. "You're natural at this, not even five minutes have passed and you're almost done. Remarkable! You're certainly making quick work of it." 

Suzuka blushed at the praise, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Oh no, professor," she replied humbly. "I've had some experience with crafting rune letters before. It's not that I'm a natural at it, I just know what I'm doing."

The professor's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Is that so?" he said, sounding intrigued. "Well, in that case, I'll have to take a closer look at your technique. Perhaps I can offer some tips to help you improve." 

He leaned in closer, examining the rune letter Suzuka was crafting. "Hmm, your mana flow is a bit too gentle, considering that you're going for a defense rune letter," he observed. "You need to sharpen it, give it more edge, more power. Doing so will make your progress go faster and more effective." Suzuka listened intently, absorbing the professor's advice.

After receiving Professor Stone's tips and advice, Suzuka was able to finish her rune letter much more quickly than she anticipated. With a sense of accomplishment, she exclaimed, "I have to admit, professor. All this time I was doing it wrong, but the way you showed me, I could have finished my last rune in an hour or even faster."

Curious about Suzuka's progress, Professor Stone asked, "What rune did you make, and on what material?"

Suzuka replied, "I made a defense rune on a wooden armored scale. It took me around eight hours, maybe a bit less."

Professor Stone leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "That is amazing!" he exclaimed, "Considering you were using such an inefficient technique, you are a natural, if what you say is true."

Suzuka nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. It felt good to have her hard work recognized by such an esteemed professor. "Thank you, Professor Stone. I will work hard to improve my technique."

The professor nodded, his eyes scanning over the rune that Suzuka had etched into the paper sheet. "And also," he continued, "don't forget that the materials you use can greatly affect the potency of the rune. For example, a defense rune on a wooden scale may be effective against swords or arrows, but it won't do much against a powerful spell. On the other hand, a defense rune on a metal plate can withstand even the strongest magical attacks, but it's much harder to craft."

Suzuka nodded in agreement, "Yes, professor. I've noticed that as well. The wooden scale was easier to work with, but it turn to dust after one hit and didn't offer much protection. The metal plate would be great."

"Exactly," the professor replied. "It's all about finding the right balance between efficiency and effectiveness. And with practice and experience, you'll learn to craft the perfect rune for any situation."

The professor leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he continued his lecture on the intricacies of rune crafting. "Picture this," he said, gesturing animatedly with his hands.

 "A blacksmith hammers away at a piece of hot metal, pouring all of his strength into each strike. It's the same principle when it comes to crafting a rune letter. The harder the material, the stronger your mana flow needs to be. It's all about pouring yourself into the craft, allowing your mana to flow freely, and infusing the material with your magic. The more you pour into it, the faster it will take shape before your very eyes. It's a delicate balance, one that takes practice and patience to master."

 The students leaned in, captivated by the professor's words and eager to learn more about the ancient art of rune crafting, and scribbling notes, eager to apply the knowledge they were learning. The professor smiled, pleased with their enthusiasm. "Now, let's get back to work. I want to see each of you craft your own rune letter by the end of the day!"