The Runic Alchemist

The food was decent, and Toph also munched on it enthusiastically. However, the real issue lay elsewhere. Half the kids, both older and younger, around them were acting strangely, constantly stealing glances their way.

Evrin still had her hood on, concealing most of her features, but her strikingly pretty face hinted at her homeland with no doubt. Einar, on the other hand, exuded a wild beauty, her short red hair unfurled and vivid. While the canteen was filled with girls, both noble and commoner, few could compare to them. Eldorish beauty was simply otherworldly.

Yet, they weren't the only ones attracting attention. Damian noticed that many people were staring at Sam, Toph, and himself as well. Boys and girls alike would glance their way, only to quickly look away, flustered, when he met their gaze. Despite being younger than the others, Damian's lean face and slightly shorter stature made him stand out even more. It was a constant irritation to him that, despite being the oldest, he appeared the youngest among his friends.

Damian had long grown accustomed to such attention—especially with Toph always with him. After enduring enough stares on the streets, he had learned to ignore them. But here, it was more noticeable. Most of the onlookers were kids, less discreet than the adults back in the crowded streets.

"Are you two done?" Einar asked, her tone impatient. She and Sam had already finished breakfast, while Damian and Evrin were taking their last bites. That chick was a bit too excited for this.

"Are you ready for the exam? I'm ready to fight whoever they throw at us!" Sam said eagerly.

"It's not just fights; it's a test," Einar corrected him.

"A test of strength, right?" Sam asked, confused.

"Yes, but the methods change every year. It's not one-on-one fights," Evrin added, cutting short the conversation as she finished her food and got up.

Damian, now done as well, sipped his sweet juice while playing with Toph, who had eaten too much and was struggling to stay balanced. He also stood up, lifting the little elephant in his hands, and they left for the exam grounds.

The academy grounds were massive, and they walked for a while before reaching the designated area. Streams of teenagers in all kinds of outfits passed by, their faces set with determination. Some wore armor, others casual clothing, and a few flaunted expensive attire. Regardless, they all shared a nervous energy.

"Huh?"

Damian suddenly stopped in his tracks. Toph wheezed in his arms as a girl bumped into him from behind, apologizing hurriedly before continuing on her way. His friends noticed his odd behavior and turned to face him.

"What's wrong?" Einar asked.

"Can't you even walk properly now?" Sam teased, but Damian barely heard him.

There were so many students it was hard to focus and recognize any specific one with his mana sense without focusing, but two mana signatures stood out. He couldn't mistake them, no matter how much they had grown in power and complexity.

'What the hell is she doing here? She should be nearly 15 and far ahead of her peers by now. She should've graduated already…'

Lucian Goldilocks was here. And so was that annoying prince of Faerunia. Thankfully, his sister wasn't around. Find adventures on empire

While there were other familiar mana signatures nearby, these two were beacons of unnecessary trouble for Damian.

"Come on, Maximus! You're blocking the path," Einar reminded, jolting him back to the present. He stepped aside, leaving the pathway to walk on the grass.

"Is everything okay? You look… off," Sam asked, his voice laced with concern now.

"Yes, I'm fine," Damian replied, regaining his composure. His friends exchanged confused and worried glances but soon turned their attention to their own thoughts about the upcoming tests.

Damian had changed in four years but not enough to be unrecognizable, they should have changed too. Sam wouldn't remember the prince but maybe the prince will remember him.. There was no authority of any kingdom on Edgeheaven and even if the prince found out, he couldn't do much before they left this island. Not that he could do anything to them at all, they were not the same helpless kids anymore. The prince could scheme and hire some other desperate kids to do his bidding, but such a threat was nothing to them. It depended on what the Highsword officials would decide if the matter was legaly brought over to them. But they never really cared much for the politics, if they could prove to be model students, they wouldn't even consider the case.

"Sam?" Damian called quietly.

"Yeah?"

Damian moved closer, speaking in a low voice that only his group could hear. "Don't use your lightning. You can manage without it, right?"

Sam wanted to argue or maybe boast, but Damian's serious expression stopped him. He nodded instead.

"Do any of you have a mask or a runic item to change appearance?" Damian asked.

"I have something," Evrin replied, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she scanned their surroundings. "Why do you need it?"

"It's fine; I'm the only one who might have a problem," Damian said, offering no further explanation.

After a moment's hesitation, Evrin retrieved a golden, butterfly-shaped brooch from her spatial storage. "This changes hair color for a day. It's a single-use item and expensive. It was a gift."

"I'll repay you in full and add something extra for the troubles, sorry to use your item.." Damian said, feeling awkward about taking such a valuable item.

"It's fine.. It was from just a man I barely knew.. The function was more important than the sentiment.." Evrin replied dismissively.

Damian accepted the brooch with a nod of gratitude. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up."

They left, and Damian found an empty corner of the academy garden. There, he took out his spellbook and a conjured body of still water as a mirror to activate the item. The runic circle that appeared was complex, golden with intricate black patterns. While its effect seemed simple, the numerous sections of runes filled to the brim were anything but simple.

After copying the runic circle into his spellbook for future use, Damian's hair turned green—it wasn't his choice but a random color picked by the spell, maybe he could modify it later. He quickly rejoined the crowd, arriving just as the first test was about to begin.

Hundreds of teenagers were being called by number and divided into batches of 100. Amid the sea of faces, Damian spotted her.

A girl clad in steel armor stood in the center of the group. Her icy blue eyes gleamed, her ocean-blue hair fluttering in the wind. She had changed so much in the past 5 years, but her mana was unmistakable.

That was Lucian Goldilocks.