Memories of the Past

I still remember it—the cries of my kin as they ran, desperate to escape the bloodshed. The innocent souls abandoned in the fields, left as prey for the beasts. The final, desperate shouts of the soldiers as they charged toward their inevitable end.

Even now, my body shivers at the memories that haunt me.

The runes. Those cursed runes. The cause of my homeland's downfall, the reason my clan was nearly wiped from existence. Mere scribbles on stone had unleashed devastation beyond comprehension.

I was lucky to survive.

After the onslaught, a wandering priest found me—saved me—despite me being an Abyssal and him a human. He gave me a second chance at life, a chance I clung to. My parents visited me once a week when I was a child, their presence a fleeting comfort. But that ended the day I left for this academy.

As I open my eyes, the marbled ceiling greets me. Sunlight filters through the window, painting soft patterns across the room. I rise, stretch, and let the morning air wash over me as I open the window. The academy hums with life beyond these walls, the distant chatter of students blending into the rustling of leaves.

I dress in my uniform and leave the dormitory, stepping into the bustling campus.

The air is different today—charged with anticipation. Everyone is preparing for the Aetherfall Festival. It's more than just an event; it's an opportunity. Winning in the festival can boost grades across subjects, and, in some cases, grant the right to advance to a higher class. Though not a guaranteed promotion, the prospect alone is enough to stir excitement.

Classes are optional during the preparation period, but I decide to attend anyway. Knowledge is power, and I have no intention of falling behind.

I make my way to the classroom for Magical Integration in Civilization. As I step inside, I note that only a handful of Class E students have shown up—ten, at most, including myself.

I take a seat and ready my notes, waiting for the professor to arrive.

The door opens, and the room falls into a hush.

The professor enters, clad in deep blue robes lined with silver runes. The sigils shimmer as though alive, reacting to the latent magic that fills the air. Behind him, a massive floating crystal pulsates rhythmically, tethered by glowing chains of light to a series of arcane devices. A testament to how magic has become intertwined with civilization itself.

His gaze sweeps the room, sharp as an eagle's.

"Welcome, scholars, to the study of Magical Integration in Civilization," he begins, his voice both stern and melodic. "Many of you grew up in cities where enchanted streetlamps guide your way at night. Where aqueducts flow not just with water, but with purification sigils ensuring its drinkability. Where whisper-stones allow you to communicate across vast distances, and skyships soar powered by elemental engines. You wield weapons that channel forces older than recorded history."

He pauses, his eyes narrowing.

"But I ask you this—how did we arrive here?"

Silence stretches as the weight of the question settles over us.

"Long ago, magic belonged to the wilds—raw, untamed, unpredictable. It was the domain of dragons, spirits, gods, and those foolish enough to grasp at it with mortal hands. Civilization had little place for magic beyond fearful worship or desperate defense.

But as we built our cities, forged alliances, and sought to shape the world in our image, we did not shun magic—we harnessed it. We wove it into our walls, our streets, our way of life.

Yet magic is no docile servant. It is a force of will and consequence. To integrate it into our world, we needed structure, understanding, and, above all—balance."

With a flick of his fingers, three glowing words appear in the air:

[Regulation] – Who controls the flow of magic?

"Some kingdoms enforce strict regulation, limiting magic to licensed arcanists, battle-mages, and scholars. Others allow it to flow freely, wielded by both commoners and nobles alike.

But with great freedom comes great risk. Wild magic outbreaks, rogue enchanters, ley line collapses—these are but a few of the dangers of unchecked magic. Every nation must ask itself: Do we govern magic, or does magic govern us?"

[Application] – How do we use magic responsibly?

"Consider the infrastructure of a great city. Walls reinforced with binding runes, roads paved with unbreakable stones, gates sealed with elemental sigils.

Yet should a kingdom become too reliant on such enchantments—what happens if a war-mage disrupts those runes? If your society is built entirely upon magic, then magic becomes your greatest weakness."

[Limitation] – What price do we pay for power?

"Magic is not infinite. Every spell cast, every artifact activated, every ward maintained draws from a source—be it the caster's life force, the ambient energy of the world, or ancient wells of power.

Some civilizations prosper by managing their magical reserves wisely. Others fall to ruin by draining them dry."

"Tell me, students—" His gaze sweeps the room. "Is a kingdom truly strong if it stands upon borrowed power?"

A wave of silence washes over us.

With a gesture, an image materializes—an ancient kingdom bathed in golden luminescence. Towers adorned with floating crystals, streets lined with automaton sentinels. The pinnacle of magical civilization.

Then, the image shifts.

Crystals shatter. The light fades. The city crumbles into darkness.

"Eldoria. A kingdom where every brick was enchanted, every citizen lived in effortless luxury. But Eldoria no longer stands. Why? Because they believed themselves untouchable.

They bound their very existence to an artifact of immeasurable power. And when that power faltered—when a single miscalculation drained their core dry—their entire way of life collapsed overnight.

Their defenses failed. Their constructs turned to lifeless husks. Their people, so reliant on magic, could not survive without it."

I've heard of Eldoria before. A kingdom renowned for its advanced magical infrastructure—the first to create an artifact that controlled magic within its walls. A grand mana core stored its immense power.

But that power was its undoing.

As the artifact grew stronger, the core weakened. When it could no longer contain its energy, a catastrophic mana dispersion destroyed the kingdom from within.

This is why modern kingdoms now build multiple mana cores, dispersing energy when needed to prevent overload. In rare cases, mages bathed in those overflowing energies became immeasurably powerful—a fact that led to high-class mages being held in great reverence.

The professor clears his throat.

"I forgot to introduce myself." He pauses. "My name is Maelis Thornwell."

The room stirs. A mixture of awe and fear spreads through the students.

Maelis Thornwell. One of the first human mages to reach the pinnacle of magic. Known as the Immovable Wall of the Great Kings, his mastery of defensive magic is legendary.

His Unique Ability allows him to imbue magic into any tool, weapon, or object—enhancing its resilience and power far beyond its natural limits.

Without hesitation, I raise my hand. "Professor Maelis, may you expand on how magic is imbued into items or objects?"

He smiles, clearly pleased by the question.

"Ah, an excellent question. Enchanting—also known as mana infusion—is one of the oldest and most vital applications of magic. Without it, we wouldn't have glowing street lamps, self-sharpening blades, or preservation chests that keep food from spoiling. But how does one bind magic into something as mundane as a ring, a blade, or even a quill? Let me explain."

With a gesture, an illusion takes form—a sword engulfed in an eternal, controlled flame, yet its metal remains untouched by heat.

"Consider the legendary Blazing Fang, wielded by the Crimson Warlord during the War of the Five Kings. This blade was not merely a sword with fire magic cast upon it—it was carefully crafted with several layers of enchantment. Let us analyze its construction."

[Vessel]: The blade was forged from fire-touched mythril, allowing it to hold extreme heat without melting.

[Magic Source]: A sliver of an elemental fire spirit was bound within, fueling the blade's eternal flame.

[Binding Method]: A combination of runic inscriptions and elemental infusion ensured the fire remained controlled and did not consume the wielder.

The professor lets the illusion fade, their expression turning serious.

"Now, a question for you, scholars: If the elemental spirit bound within this blade ever grew unstable—if its rage overcame its bindings—what do you think would happen?"

A murmur spreads through the classroom as students consider the implications.

The professor nods approvingly before continuing.

"Indeed, magic is not without consequence. A poorly enchanted item may become unstable, leaking its power or even consuming itself. Prolonged use of certain artifacts can drain the wielder or alter them in unforeseen ways. And, of course, the greatest risk of all—over-reliance. What happens when a kingdom's enchanted infrastructure fails? What happens when an army that depends solely on magic finds itself in an anti-magic field?"

The Class went into silence.

"To be an enchanter is not just to be a craftsman, but to be a guardian of balance. You do not merely give an object power—you give it responsibility, and that responsibility must be considered with great care. So, my students, if you were to imbue an item with magic, what would you create? And more importantly... would you be prepared to live with the consequences?"

The professor's gaze sweeps across the class, waiting to see who will answer. The class remain silent in astonishment.

"The skill to imbued mana into items, is that why knights are still relevant in this era where magic reign supreme?" A classmate ask from the back of the room.

"Great question, shall we then take a stroll into the hallway?" Professor Maelis said as he instructed the class to walk through the halls behind him.

The professor paces in front of the class, their cloak trailing behind them, heavy with runic embroidery. They stop beside a mounted suit of enchanted armor, its pauldrons etched with glowing symbols, its blade resting in an ornate scabbard. With a knowing smirk, they gesture to the figure before addressing the class.

"Why do knights—those who rely on steel and strength—place such value on magical imbuement? Why do warriors, whose skill lies in the dance of battle, choose to integrate enchantments into their very way of life? The answer is simple: because war is not fought with steel alone.

A knight is not merely a swordsman. They are a force on the battlefield, trained to be the unshakable foundation of any military force. And in a world where mages hurl fire and monsters tower over men, raw strength alone is not enough. Thus, they do not reject magic; they adapt it to their craft."

With a flick of the professor's finger, three glowing words appear in the air:

"First point"

[Enhancement] – "Why settle for steel when you can wield something greater?"

"A knight's weapon is an extension of their will. A blade imbued with magic is not just a tool; it is an edge—both literal and metaphorical. Whether through runic reinforcement, elemental infusion, or divine blessing, an imbued weapon grants its wielder an advantage that no mundane steel could match."

[Runic Inscription] – Strengthens weapons and armor to resist breaking, ensuring longevity in battle.

[Elemental Infusion] – Allows a knight's sword to cut with fire, ice, or lightning, making them a threat to both flesh and spellcaster alike.

[Kinetic Runes] – Increases the weight and force of strikes, allowing a single blow to shatter even enchanted barriers.

"A swordsman with raw talent is deadly. A swordsman with talent and an imbued blade? Unstoppable."

"Now our second point"

 [Defense] – "A warrior is only as strong as their resilience."

"A knight's duty is not just to strike—it is to endure. While mages weave barriers and rogues dodge, knights stand. To stand against sorcery, they turn to magical augmentation, forging armor that resists spells and shields that defy unnatural forces."

[Anti-Magic Plate] – Runes carved into armor that disperse arcane energy, making spellcasters less effective against them.

[Regenerative Sigils] – Armor inscribed with self-repairing enchantments, ensuring it does not weaken over prolonged combat.

[Anchoring Charms] – Prevents displacement magic from forcibly moving the knight, making them immovable against telekinetic or gravitational spells.

"To break a knight with no enchantments is difficult. To break one who has layered defenses woven into their very armor? Nearly impossible."

"Our last point"

[Combating Mages and Supernatural Beings] – "How does steel cut through the intangible?"

"A knight trained solely to fight other warriors will find themselves helpless against an enemy who does not fight by mortal rules. Creatures of the void, phantoms immune to steel, and spellcasters who weave barriers stronger than any shield—these are foes that cannot be bested through strength alone. Thus, knights employ magic-countering weaponry."

[Wraithbane Runes] – Allows weapons to strike incorporeal beings such as ghosts and shadow-born creatures.

[Dispel Strikes] – Certain enchanted weapons can unravel spells upon impact, disrupting shields and negating wards.

[Mana-Siphoning Blades] – Some swords, forged with arcane metal, can leech magic from their foes, draining mages of their power and forcing them into close combat.

"Against a mage, a warrior without enchanted arms is but a victim. With the right enchantments, however, a knight becomes their worst nightmare."

Professor Maelis pause letting his words sink into the minds of my classmates.

"Is there a reason then on why we all take the same combat class?" I ask with my question on my mind if we have our own weapons we specialized why bother learning other combat methods or techniques that could ruin our individual sets.

Professor Maelis then snapped his finger, in a blink of an eye were transferred in the grand training hall which was different from our usual outside courtyard where we train for our combat class.

The professor stands before the gathered students in the grand training hall, where racks of weapons—both enchanted and mundane—line the walls. The banners of the academy flutter gently, disturbed by the occasional gust of wind from the open courtyard where other students spar under the watchful eyes of combat instructors. The professor clasps their hands behind their back, surveying the class with a knowing gaze before speaking.

"Why do we train you in all forms of combat? Why do we insist that even the most gifted archer learns the feel of a blade in their hands, that even the most skilled swordsman understands the precision of a bow? Why must a battle-mage wield both spell and steel?

Because war does not grant you the luxury of choice." Professor then handed different weapons to us.

"There are three cores you should learn" The professor waves their hand, and three glowing words appear in the air:

[Adaptability] – "A warrior who only knows one way to fight is a warrior doomed to fall."

"The battlefield is ever-changing. No plan survives first contact with the enemy, and no single fighting style guarantees victory in every scenario. You may prefer the spear, but what happens when you are disarmed? You may excel at ranged combat, but what happens when the enemy closes the gap?

A true warrior adapts. A true warrior survives.

That is why you train in both close and ranged combat—not to master everything, but to ensure that when the moment comes, you are never defenseless."

[Counterplay] – "To defeat an enemy, you must first understand them."

"A swordsman who has never fired a bow does not understand the mind of an archer. A mage who has never held a blade underestimates the sheer ferocity of close-quarters combat.

By training in every form of combat, you gain insight into the strengths and weaknesses of each. You learn how an enemy thinks, how they move, how they react under pressure. This knowledge grants you an edge—because the best way to counter an opponent is to know their craft as well as they do."

A melee fighter trained in archery knows how to read an archer's movements and anticipate when they will fire. A ranged fighter trained in close combat knows how to evade and create distance when the enemy closes in. A spellcaster who understands weapon combat can seamlessly transition between magic and steel when their mana runs low.

"In this academy, we do not train you to be predictable. We train you to be prepared."

[Survival] – "When the time comes, hesitation kills."

"Imagine this: You have spent years honing your skills as an archer, your aim unparalleled. But in the heat of battle, the enemy overwhelms your front lines, and suddenly, you are alone. Your bow is useless at close range, and you have never learned how to wield a blade.

What do you think happens next?

This is why we teach you all manner of combat—not because you must be the best at everything, but because you must be capable of everything. A warrior who can fight in any condition, with any weapon, is a warrior who lives."

Professor then dismiss the class. I then decided to return to my dormitory until i saw a familiar figure in the hallways strolling around with books in his arms.

"Yo" I said as i close the gap between him and me.

"What is it?" Ezekiel startled by my sudden intrusion.

"I thought you would enter a class this week?" i ask him about his absence in today's class.

"I was busy skimming multiple books in one seating does that answer your question now?", He said as he raise his eyebrows at me suspiciously. "Right what is your lesson today?", he then ask.

"Well it was magic intergradation, honestly an interesting lesson" i replied handing out my notes to him.

"Is it okay for me to borrow your notes?" he ask carefully.

"Yep its fine, i already know the contents in my own notes anyways" i replied handing him my notes by placing it at the top of the books his carrying.

"Is that so? Then thank you" he said as he continued to enter the boys dormitory.

I watch him until he eventually entered the dormitory shaking my head as i didn't know he was such a bookworm.