Exam Day—Material Division
Kalem stood in the vast workshop hall of the Material Division, surrounded by workbenches lined with tools, enchanted minerals, and raw mana conductors. The air smelled of burnt metal, arcane dust, and ink, as students prepared for one of the most demanding exams in the academy's third-year curriculum.
Unlike the previous trials that tested combat prowess, magical endurance, or historical knowledge, this exam was purely a test of engineering and applied runecrafting.
It was a trial of precision, creativity, and efficiency.
The Examiner's Instructions
At the front of the room stood Professor Aldric Forgewell, a dwarven expert in rune circuits and alchemical metallurgy. His burly frame and thick mechanical gauntlets made him stand out even among the other scholars.
"Listen up, you lot!" his voice boomed, silencing all chatter. "You've got three hours to build a layered rune circuit—on the spot. No pre-drawn templates, no assistance, and no pre-engraved materials. Everything must be done from scratch!"
Some students exchanged nervous glances.
"Your rune circuit must contain at least three functional layers, each supporting a different enchantment or process. It must be stable, efficient, and responsive. If it fails even once during testing, you'll be marked accordingly."
Kalem exhaled slowly.
Three functional layers, stability, and responsiveness…
For most, that would mean weeks of preparation—not a single day, let alone three hours.
But Kalem had no intention of failing.
"Begin!"
Planning & Execution
The moment the exam started, Kalem didn't move immediately—he thought first.
His hands rested on the table as he considered his options.
There were multiple ways to approach this challenge:
A power circuit, designed to store and release energy. A reinforcement circuit, enhancing durability or resistance. A transformation circuit, designed to alter mana flow for various effects.
Most students would likely default to basic enchantment matrices, keeping their circuits separate and safe to avoid instability.
Kalem, however, had a different idea.
What if I build a circuit that merges reinforcement, absorption, and redirection into a single, layered system?
A risky approach.
But if he succeeded, it would be far more efficient than a standard model.
Step 1: The Foundation
He grabbed a mana-conductive metal plate and began sketching the first layer of his circuit.
The base layer would act as a reinforcement system, designed to strengthen whatever the circuit was applied to. The second layer would be a mana absorption node, capable of drawing in ambient energy to sustain the first layer. The third and final layer would be a redirection system, allowing excess energy to be expelled or funneled into an external device.
Kalem worked fast but methodically.
Every rune he carved into the metal plate had to be perfect—a single mistake could cause instability, mana leaks, or a complete system collapse.
Around him, other students were in various stages of progress. Some were already etching runes, while others were still debating their circuit designs.
Professor Forgewell roamed between tables, observing with a critical eye.
Step 2: Precision Engraving
Kalem took a fine-point engraving tool, its tip glowing with a faint blue mana light, and began carefully inscribing the first set of runes.
The reinforcement layer required stability runes, designed to absorb physical and magical stress without breaking. The absorption layer needed energy-conversion symbols, allowing mana to be stored and redistributed as needed. The redirection layer had to include flow-guidance glyphs, preventing overloads and ensuring a controlled output.
This was the most time-consuming step.
Every stroke had to be precise, every symbol aligned perfectly.
One misplaced rune could cause a mana surge—or worse, an explosive feedback loop.
Half an hour passed. Then an hour.
Students around him began showing signs of struggle.
One student's circuit flared too early, causing a short burst of energy to crack their entire plate. Another realized too late that their layers weren't properly aligned, forcing them to start over.
Kalem, however, remained focused.
His first layer was complete—stable and flawless.
Now came the difficult part.
Step 3: Layering Without Instability
Adding multiple layers to a rune circuit was always tricky. The biggest risk was interference—one layer affecting the others in unpredictable ways.
Kalem carefully carved the second layer, ensuring that the absorption runes didn't disrupt the reinforcement glyphs.
As he etched the final layer, he made micro-adjustments, tweaking the angles of his mana lines to prevent overlap conflicts.
It was painstaking work, but by the two-hour mark, he had a complete three-layer circuit.
Now, all that remained was testing.
Step 4: The Moment of Truth
Professor Forgewell approached his table.
"Done already, lad?" the dwarf asked, raising a skeptical brow.
Kalem gave a small nod. "It should work."
Forgewell grunted. "We'll see about that."
He placed a testing orb atop Kalem's circuit and activated it.
A soft hum resonated from the plate as the mana began flowing through the layers.
First, the reinforcement glyphs activated, creating a protective field.
Then, the absorption runes kicked in, drawing mana from the orb to sustain the effect.
Finally, the redirection system triggered, releasing excess energy in a controlled pulse.
The circuit remained stable.
Forgewell's eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of approval.
"Interesting design," he muttered. "Most would've kept their layers separated. You combined them?"
Kalem nodded. "It reduces power loss and increases efficiency."
The professor grunted. "Aye, if you can keep it from destabilizing over long-term use."
The test continued.
For five minutes, the circuit functioned without issue.
Finally, the professor deactivated the testing orb and gave a slow nod.
"You pass."
Aftermath
As Kalem stepped away from his table, some students gave him stunned looks, while others murmured among themselves.
Even among third-years, few could execute a layered circuit without flaw on their first attempt.
"That was quick," Nara remarked as she caught up to him outside.
"Not really," Kalem replied. "Took the full three hours."
She snorted. "Yeah, and half the class didn't even finish."
Isolde crossed her arms. "Efficient work. You weren't even worried?"
Kalem shrugged. "It was difficult, but I knew what I was doing."
Garrick smirked. "That's the scariest part, honestly."
Kalem simply exhaled.
The Material Division's exam was over.