Chapter 23: The Time Traveler

As Shade's Fate Ring formed, his consciousness seemed to soar once more, as if in a dream, high into the sky. He glimpsed the entirety of the world, touching upon its intricate web of connections. Compared to the vastness of the world, his individual soul felt minuscule—so deep, so terrifying, so immeasurable was the world...

Before he could fully grasp what he was witnessing, he was instantly pulled back into his body, making him aware of his present surroundings on the couch.

There was no need to turn back; the meaning of the two Soul Runes came to him automatically. These runes represented the qualities of his soul and the world's acknowledgment of his existence—things that never lied.

"The core rune at the center of the Fate Ring is almost always a brass-colored [Inspiration] rune. At least, that's true for most humans, because humanity's greatest strength lies in civilization, and individuals hold little uniqueness on their own.

However, for believers favored by the gods, their core rune can be golden [Miracle] or silver [Blasphemy], depending on their divine affiliation. These people are usually called the Chosen or the Holy Ones. Alternatively, those who become Ring Sorcerers through imperfect initiation processes or by relying on relics may end up with a black iron [Whisper] rune, though that comes with great risks to the soul."

The doctor's low voice gradually brought Shade back to reality.

With Shade's initiation complete, Miss Louisa regained her voice and added, "Of course, there are exceptions, such as ancestral powers, but that's beyond us ordinary folks."

Shade nodded. Noticing Shade looking at them, Dr. Schneider gestured for him to take a sip of tea.

"Your complexion doesn't look great, but that's normal. The forging of the Fate Ring changes the soul—it's only natural to feel pain. It'll take a few days of rest to recover. I didn't feel anything at first, but that night, the pain kept me awake, like someone banging on gas pipes inside my head."

Though Shade didn't feel particularly unwell, he followed the doctor's advice and took a sip of tea, letting the warmth of the steam wash over his face.

"Mr. Schneider, Miss Louisa, how many core runes are typical...?"

Because of the voice in his head, Shade couldn't be sure whether he was normal, so he dared not assume how many core Soul Runes were standard.

At this moment, Shade was doing his best to suppress the joy of successfully entering the world of the supernatural while maintaining a level of caution and reason. He had gained their trust and couldn't afford to reveal his abnormality.

The doctor gave him a look that seemed to say, "I knew you'd ask."

"Most people have no more than three core runes, but according to academy records, over eighty percent have only two. After all, a soul can rarely have just one dominant trait. However, there have been extraordinary cases. The highest recorded number was seven core runes, seen around the early Sixth Era, in 306 CE at the Zalaswen Academy."

This time, Shade didn't have to pretend; his astonishment was genuine.

"How many rings did they achieve in the end?"

The blonde writer shrugged, "No one knows. That person was a footnote in history, not even their name was recorded properly. Oh, I get what you mean, but the number of core runes doesn't correlate with higher achievements. Dr. Schneider here has a common setup..."

The doctor once again revealed his complete Fate Ring. At the center were two brass-colored Soul Runes: [Light of the Mind] and [Dream].

"I'll translate that: they represent the mind and dreams. In general, the simpler the concept, the easier it is to interpret in many ways, and the stronger its potential for developing versatile sorcery. Personally, I consider [Dream] to be the stronger one."

Because Soul Runes aren't in the contemporary language, the doctor translated it, not knowing that Shade had deciphered it immediately.

"I have three, but I'm not that special either."

Miss Louisa then summoned a white mist of steam behind her. Accompanied by the thunderous crash of a hammer, a square-edged, brass-colored ring appeared, rotating in the air. Upon it were three core runes: [Scribe], [Performer], and [The Other Princess].

She explained the meaning of her three core runes, remarking that "Scribe" was her most useful rune, fitting well with her profession as a writer. Miss Louisa excelled in the brass-colored [Inspiration] element, drawing power from stories and legends.

"Soul Runes are in the language of past ages. If there's no known translation, you can only ask the rune's owner, who automatically understands its meaning. So, Shade, what are your runes?"

The doctor and the writer revealing their power was meant to reassure Shade that there was no need to hide. After all, core Soul Runes determined one's academy and specialization after initiation.

"[Time] and [Silver Moon]."

Shade considered it and decided there was no need to hide these details. As soon as he uttered the two words, he saw Dr. Schneider and Miss Louisa exchange surprised glances. He couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. Perhaps it wasn't pride, but there was certainly a flicker of joy in his heart.

"Both are extremely broad concepts, which is promising... Regarding [Silver Moon], the academy has recorded a lot, and it's known to be versatile for developing new sorcery. It's rare, but not obscure. As for [Time]... are you sure it's [Time and Space] and not just [Time] or [Space]?"

The doctor leaned forward, his eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"Positive."

Shade nodded. Though he hadn't encountered the typical over-the-top talent trope of breaking the testing crystal ball, it was clear that his talents weren't entirely ordinary either. Shade controlled his emotions, displaying just enough curiosity to avoid suspicion while suppressing deeper thoughts. There seemed to be an uncanny coincidence between these two core runes, especially [Silver Moon].

"Don't you dare laugh," he muttered internally.

"Has [Time and Space] ever appeared before?"

He asked aloud. The doctor and the writer exchanged another glance before Louisa explained, "Of course, but it's exceedingly rare. There are only a handful of recorded cases with this core rune, probably fewer than five in all of history. And only about a hundred Ring Sorcerers have obtained [Time and Space] after initiation through contact with the supernatural."

The doctor hesitated, eyeing Shade cautiously.

"If you only had [Silver Moon], we'd recommend you join the Academy of Mathematics. You'd have the potential to become a sorcery expert or a master of incantations. But since you have [Time and Space], you'll undoubtedly be directed toward the Academy of History, where you'll join the ranks of investigators, exploring the mysteries of the past.

Even if I didn't recommend it, the professors of the History Academy would ensure you ended up there. There's no more fitting candidate for that field than someone with [Time and Space]. You'll walk through the past, facing more dangers, but also learning more secrets... secrets of the fallen Old Gods."