Arcane Academy: The Mob’s Rebellion

The Crucible of Combat

Aizen's first combat class was held in the Hall of Embers, a cavernous arena where the floor was etched with glowing sigils that pulsed like a heartbeat. Students clustered in factions—nobles with their entourages, commoners huddling nervously, and outliers like Lira, who lounged on a bench tossing arcane coins into the air. At the center stood Instructor Varkas, a hulking war mage with a scarred face and a voice like grinding stone.

"Today, you'll spar using only your affinity's basic spell," he barked. "No runes, no artifacts. Raw control determines survival. Pair up!"

Aizen's stomach clenched. His "Basic Pyrokinesis" skill was laughable—he could barely light a candle. But he'd spent the last three days grinding his forged Black Rune's mimicry, testing its limits in secret. It wasn't true power, but it could imitate it. Barely.

A hand clapped his shoulder. "You look like you're about to vomit," Lira said, her neon-blue hair glowing under the hall's torchlight. "Relax. Just pretend it's a game."

"Easy for you to say," Aizen muttered. "You've got a Lightning Rune."

"Stole it, technically. But semantics!" She skipped off as pairs formed.

Aizen's assigned partner was a burly noble with a Water Rune tattooed across his knuckles. The boy sneered. "Greythorn, was it? The mortal? Don't worry—I'll go easy on you."

"Quest Alert: Win the Sparring Match."

"Reward: Unlock 'Tactical Analysis' Skill. Failure: Humiliation (and possible third-degree burns)."

Aizen ignored the prompt. The noble's hands already shimmered with pressurized water. Water beats fire. Of course.

"Begin!" Varkas roared.

The noble lunged, firing a jet of water sharp enough to slice stone. Aizen dove sideways, his uniform sleeve tearing as the blast grazed his arm. Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Think. Adapt. His mind raced. In the game, elemental affinities had hidden synergies. Fire evaporated water, but only with enough heat—

The noble fired again. Aizen raised his palm, channeling his meager flames. The water hit the fire, dousing it instantly and soaking his hand.

"Pathetic," the noble spat. "You're not even worth my—"

Aizen's fingers twitched. Mimicry active. His Black Rune burned as he siphoned traces of the noble's Water Rune energy. The system flickered:

"Rune Mimicry (Basic): Temporary affinity shift—Water (Novice)."

He grinned. Got you.

Aizen clapped his hands, combining his residual fire with stolen water. Steam exploded outward, blinding the noble. Before the boy could react, Aizen tackled him, pinning his wrist and pressing a scalding palm to his throat.

"Yield," Aizen hissed.

Silence gripped the hall.

"Yield!" Varkas boomed. The noble stammered agreement, and Aizen released him, sweat dripping down his neck. Murmurs swelled—Did he use a Rune? But he's a mortal!

Across the room, Seraphina watched, her amber eyes alight with intrigue.

The Villainess's Proposal

After class, Aizen slipped into an empty corridor, his hands still trembling from adrenaline.

"Impressive trick," a voice purred. Seraphina leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "A mortal shouldn't be able to manipulate dual elements. Unless… he's a liar."

Aizen stiffened. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She pushed off the wall, closing the distance. "That Black Rune on your chest. It's fake. A mimicry skill, perhaps?" Her smile was knife-sharp. "Don't bother denying it. I've studied every legitimate Rune. Yours reeks of desperation."

Panic surged, but Aizen met her gaze. "And yet, you're here. Not exposing me. Why?"

Seraphina's laugh was low, dangerous. "Because I hate wasted potential. You're ambitious. Clever. Willing to cheat. Traits the Veyliss brat lacks." She tossed a scroll at his feet. "Midnight. The Blackwood Duelling Grounds. Prove you're more than a charlatan, and I'll consider you an ally. Refuse, and I'll ensure the entire academy knows your secret."

She strode away, her crimson cloak billowing.

"Quest Updated: Attend Seraphina's Duel."

"Reward: Seraphina's Respect (or Tolerance). Failure: Exposed as a Fraud."

Aizen pocketed the scroll. Allies with the villainess? Dangerous. But necessary.

The Heroine's Shadow

That evening, Aizen found Elara waiting outside his dorm. Her silver hair was braided with white lilies, and her Gold Rune glowed softly, casting a halo on the walls.

"Aizen," she said, her voice strained. "Can we talk?"

He hesitated. In the game, Elara was kind to a fault—but Lira's warning about "hidden darkness" echoed in his mind. "Make it quick."

She glanced around nervously. "I saw your spar today. That steam technique… it reminded me of someone. An old student who… experimented with Runes." Her fingers tightened around her staff. "What you're doing—it's dangerous. The academy expels anyone caught forging Runes. Worse, if the Church finds out—"

"Why do you care?" Aizen interrupted. "I'm just a stranger."

Elara's composure cracked. "Because I've seen what happens to people who chase power blindly! My brother—Kael—he's obsessed with the Eclipse Arcanum. He's changing. Becoming colder. I don't want…" She trailed off, tears glistening.

Aizen frowned. In the game, Kael was a paragon of virtue. But Elara's fear felt visceral. Is the hero slipping? Or is there more to her story?

"Quest Updated: Investigate Kael's Behavior."

"Reward: Elara's Trust +20. Failure: Unlock 'Suspicion' Debuff."

"I'll be careful," Aizen said curtly.

Elara nodded, retreating like a ghost.

The Transmigrator's Heist

At 11:30 p.m., Lira materialized outside Aizen's window, rapping the glass with a sparking dagger. "Rise and shine, Rune-boy! Time for our field trip!"

Aizen groaned. "I have a duel with Seraphina at midnight."

"Perfect! Multi-task!" She tossed him a vial of murky liquid. "Drink this. It'll mask your mana signature from the Archivists."

He downed it, gagging at the taste of burnt sugar. "Where are we going?"

"The Forbidden Archives. The answers to the 'glitches' are there. Also, I want to steal a cursed grimoire. For funsies."

They crept through moonlit halls, dodging patrols. Lira's carefree demeanor vanished as they reached a massive door etched with warnings. She pressed her palm to the lock, and lightning arced from her Rune, overriding the wards.

Inside, the archives were a labyrinth of floating books and fractured mirrors reflecting alternate realities. One mirror showed Kael kneeling in a bloodstained robe; another, Seraphina crowned as empress.

"Don't stare too long," Lira warned. "The mirrors show possible futures. Most are bad."

Aizen froze at a mirror depicting his own corpse in the Blood Moon Festival's aftermath. Still on track…

Lira pulled him toward a pedestal holding a book bound in black chains. "This is it. The Chronicle of Shattered Realms. It's why the system's glitching—it's a record of every timeline, every transmigrator. Someone's been… editing it."

She unclasped the chains. The book flew open, pages whirling as holographic text scrolled:

ERROR: PRIMARY TIMELINE CORRUPTED.

CAUSE: UNAUTHORIZED NARRATIVE INTRUSION (AIZEN GREYTHORN).

Aizen's blood ran cold. "I'm the glitch?"

Lira's grin was grim. "Ding ding ding! You're not just changing your fate—you're breaking the world. But hey, apocalypse's more fun than midterms, right?"

A siren blared. Red lights flooded the archives.

"Oops," Lira said. "Run."

The Duel at Midnight

Aizen arrived at Blackwood Duelling Grounds breathless, Lira's laughter still ringing in his ears. Seraphina waited atop a stone platform, her Crimson Rune blazing.

"You're late," she said.

"Had a detour."

"I don't care." She unsheathed a sword of solidified flame. "Show me your resolve, liar."

Aizen activated his mimicry, copying her Crimson Rune's frequency. Fire engulfed his fists.

Their clash was brutal. Seraphina fought with precision, every strike meant to maim. Aizen relied on dirty tricks—feints, stolen embers, kicks to the shins.

"You fight like a gutter rat," Seraphina sneered, parrying his wild punch.

"You fight like someone who's never had to win," Aizen shot back.

She faltered. He swept her legs, pinning her with a knee to her chest.

For a heartbeat, their faces were inches apart. Seraphina's breath hitched—not in anger, but something akin to fascination. "You're… interesting, Aizen Greythorn."

"Quest Complete: Survive Seraphina's Duel."

"Reward: Seraphina's Cautious Alliance. 100 Arcane Points."

As Aizen stood, the Blood Moon glowed brighter. Somewhere, Kael watched from the shadows, his Silver Rune flickering like a dying star.

Chapter 2 End.