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

Days flew by quickly, but the Academy's routine stayed just as rigorous and demanding.

Learners pursuing various Arcane Paths seldom shared their lessons, since each one featured a distinct set of tailored studies. Yet a few essential courses required participation from all aspiring students...

Among these were Mystical Artifact Study, Basic Alchemy, History of the Twelve Paths, and Arcane Ethics.

It happened then that Ruth and Rice encountered each other for the first time.

Professor Halden displayed an assortment of old treasures, including swords, charms, and pieces of formation nuclei. The class was assigned to inspect these objects, spot their defects, and speculate on their past purposes...

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

Because of this, recognizing inscriptions became a key skill for them.

Ruth moved closer and inspected a fractured charm, her unique gaze shimmering softly...

Before long, she spotted a minor shift in the inscription design, an issue that escaped most of the class. She jotted down observations rapidly, murmuring under her breath.

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

Their murmurs blended together. Ruth looked up, startled to hear another learner speak so confidently. Rice spotted her writings and lifted a brow.

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

Ruth paused briefly, then affirmed with a nod. "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 formal assessment or trial to begin with. The instructor simply aimed for the pupils to use the abilities they'd gained or the information from his lecture.

In truth, Professor Halden hoped the students would team up and gain deeper understanding of the artifacts he'd presented.

In this manner, partnerships emerged, and shortly after, Rice and Ruth collaborated on their analysis. Distinct backgrounds, varied skills.... It turned out they were both prospects for Vale’s discipleship!

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

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

Rice confirmed with a nod. "Combat Arts."

Understanding clicked into place. They weren't merely fellow students in a joint lesson; both treaded the perilous line of high hopes, chosen as possible heirs to the Shadow Immortal.

***

After that moment, they started choosing seats close to one another in shared lectures. Ruth offered thoughts on inscription imperfections, as Rice described fighting techniques. Their talks frequently wandered to the Twelve Arcane Paths, both pondering if their paths would ever converge...

Even with their contrasts, they bonded over the shared goal of earning true Disciple status one day. Ruth possessed modest aptitude yet a singular vision. Rice boasted exceptional gifts but a delicate frame. Each carried burdens to overcome.

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

Pairs of students labored side by side, blending components under Professor Elira’s vigilant gaze.

Ruth and Rice worked as a duo... Neither excelled nor struggled 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 components plus preparation methods.

As they collaborated, Ruth weighed out every element precisely, whereas Rice managed most of the simmering, his motions steady and precise in spite of his slender build.

Yet in another corner of the space, conflict simmered.

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

He gained fame for parading his privilege, frequently ridiculing those with lesser gifts. On this day, his stare locked onto Ruth.

"Careful, Ruth..." Korr mocked, his voice carrying to nearby 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."

Several pupils snickered uneasily, while some averted their eyes from Ruth.

Ruth’s fingers shook a bit, yet she stayed concentrated on her blend.

Rice clenched his jaw. He'd faced endless derision over his weak constitution, and he knew that mocking edge all too well.

"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 as he scowled at 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 foreboding dark hue.

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

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

Realizing the risk of disaster, the instructor directed Ruth to step in and resolve it swiftly. This served as Naya’s subtle nod to the class about Ruth’s prowess.

Thus, right before Korr worsened the mess, Ruth advanced. Her distinctive eye detected the error at once. An uncleared residue clogged the inscription stabilizer carved along the pot’s edge, ruining its function.

With a swift motion, she corrected it, then added a dash of ground frostvine.

The frothing calmed. The elixir steadied.

Professor Naya offered a soft approval for her prompt intervention...

"Well done, Ruth. Quick thinking."

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

Yet just as fury threatened to erupt from him, Professor Naya lifted her palm.

Meanwhile, hurried footsteps echoed from the hall, heading straight for their workshop...

The door burst open, and right away, they sensed the arrival of the Arcane Bureau’s enforcers!