Hidden Agendas

Kaelan walked quietly across the academy grounds, the early morning atmosphere calm despite the quiet tension he'd sensed since recent incidents. His senses, sharpened by constant vigilance, made him aware that political undercurrents around him had grown increasingly dangerous.

As Kaelan took his usual seat in the advanced rune-tech class, Instructor Darius appeared more serious than usual, addressing the students with evident caution. "Today, before we continue with practical rune training, we must address recent security incidents. The sabotage attempt during the last demonstration targeted advanced rune practitioners specifically. Exercise caution—this was no accident."

Subdued murmurs filled the room, but Kaelan remained silent. Marcus shot him a worried glance, understanding clearly whom the instructor was indirectly referencing.

Once class concluded, Instructor Althea quietly intercepted Kaelan in the corridor. "Master Elric urgently requests your presence at Aurelium Estate. We've uncovered more about the sabotage attempts."

Kaelan nodded, excusing himself from his friends, and swiftly made his way to Aurelium Estate.

At the estate, Rune Master Elric awaited him with a grim expression. "Kaelan, I have important news. Evidence strongly indicates that House Draven was behind the sabotage. Your advancement threatens their influence, and they are responding aggressively."

Kaelan exhaled slowly, having anticipated such news. "I suspected as much. How should I prepare?"

"Refining your existing skills will serve you best now," Elric explained carefully. "Before introducing new techniques, let's ensure your current abilities are optimized. Tell me—which of your skills do you feel needs immediate improvement?"

Kaelan considered thoughtfully. "My Phantom Thread Lance is precise, but limited to single targets. Also, my Woven Mana Barrier lacks flexibility in intense, sustained combat situations. Perhaps enhancing these would help."

Elric smiled approvingly. "Excellent choices. Let's strengthen your Phantom Thread Lance first. Rather than just piercing, we'll adapt it to handle multiple targets simultaneously."

Kaelan began carefully weaving his mana threads under Elric's guidance. Initially, controlling multiple threads at once proved difficult, with mana scattering chaotically. However, after patient practice and Elric's precise adjustments, Kaelan gradually found the required delicate balance. Soon he could simultaneously project several phantom lances, maintaining their deadly precision without loss of control.

"Outstanding," Elric praised, clearly impressed by Kaelan's rapid progress. "This improvement greatly broadens your combat versatility."

Encouraged by his initial success, Kaelan next turned his attention to his defensive skill, the Woven Mana Barrier. Previously, the barrier was strong but static, ineffective against rapidly changing attacks.

"To improve your defensive flexibility," Elric suggested, "why not merge your Mana Awareness skill into your barrier? With heightened awareness, your barrier could automatically adapt to incoming threats."

Intrigued, Kaelan began carefully merging the two closely related skills. The integration felt natural, each skill complementing the other seamlessly. After a period of intense focus and repeated adjustments, the mana threads wove together harmoniously, forming an adaptive defensive rune formation around him—reacting instinctively to subtle fluctuations in nearby mana signatures.

"Excellent," Elric commented, observing the improved barrier with clear satisfaction. "This Adaptive Mana Barrier suits your combat style perfectly. It senses incoming threats and adjusts accordingly."

Kaelan exhaled softly, pleased by his refined mastery. "This feels much more natural. Thank you."

Elric nodded approvingly. "Continue practicing these enhancements. Strengthening your existing abilities consistently will always surpass creating unrelated new skills."

Kaelan practiced diligently for several more hours, gradually internalizing these enhancements until they became second nature.

Returning to the academy dormitory that evening, Kaelan was immediately greeted by Marcus, Liam, and Selene.

Marcus stepped forward eagerly. "Well? Any news from Master Elric?"

Kaelan nodded calmly. "House Draven was behind recent attacks. They're openly challenging my position now. I've strengthened my skills accordingly."

Selene frowned worriedly. "Then things are escalating fast."

Kaelan smiled gently. "Yes. But with your support, I'm ready."

Marcus grinned warmly. "Always. Just say the word."

Later, alone in his room, Kaelan reviewed his enhanced skills carefully, reassured by his recent improvements:

Status (Updated)

• Level: 35 (rapidly approaching 36 through focused training)

• Skills (Enhanced):

• Phantom Thread Lance (S → S+): Now capable of multi-target simultaneous precision strikes.

• Adaptive Mana Barrier (S-, new fusion): Combination of Woven Mana Barrier (S-) and Mana Awareness (S-), allowing intuitive defensive adaptation to incoming mana threats.

Gazing quietly into the peaceful night, Kaelan felt prepared. Political threats would intensify soon—but with these careful improvements, he knew he could confidently face whatever came next.