Skill activation: [Character Sheets]

===============

{}---『RUNEHEART』---{}

◇ Name: Julian Rozenberg

◇ Age: 18

◇ Spellcore: Tier 3

◇ Rank: First-Class Magus

◇ Magic Affinity: None

[Mana Resonance: (900/1,000)]

==[General Attributes]==

Strength: B-

Agility: C+

Endurance: A-

Vitality: A-

Perception: C+

==[Mage Attributes]==

Mana Control: C+

Casting Speed: B-

Magic Power: B-

Mental Strength: B+

Mana Sensitivity: C-

Mana Essence: [4,500/4,500]

==[Innate Blessings]==

- [N/A]

==[Affinity Mastery]==

- [Lightning (Advanced)]

- [Fire, Pure Mana, Darkness (Intermediate)]

===============

’His stats are still the same... good.’

After examining his [Runeheart], Ruvian’s thoughts slowly drifted somewhere else.

Among all the named characters in the novel, Julian Rozenberg was one of the few third-rate villains that Ruvian truly believed had the potential to become much more than just a minor antagonist.

He possessed a solid backstory, consistent development, and careful build-up. The tension between him and Zian had been written quite well, creating a meaningful sense of rivalry that felt really natural.

Even Julian’s goal was believable, something that readers could understand and made his presence in the story enjoyable to follow.

However, as the story progressed, that potential was gradually wasted by the author.

After the Magus Spire arc — after he had arranged for Zian to be expelled from the academy — Julian suddenly vanished from the narrative without any clear explanation, and he never appeared again.

’Now that I think about it... this was the part I hated the most in this novel. I remember dropping it for a few days because of this before I came back to pick it up again.’

As one of the readers who had actually liked Julian’s character, Ruvian had been deeply disappointed.

The same thing had happened with Vanessa — but unlike her, Julian had far more importance to the story, which made it even harder to understand.

He had even left some feedback, gently urging the author to reconsider and rewrite Julian’s direction.

Yet his suggestion was rejected.

The author replied that the matter was not entirely within her control.

’Haa, again, seriously... what does she even mean by that?’

At times, Ruvian truly could not understand what was wrong with that author.

It was her own story.

She could simply revise it if she wished. It should not have been such a difficult matter. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

But in the end, Ruvian concluded that perhaps the author had simply been... lazy.

Because of that, Ruvian never got to see Julian’s redemption arc. So, in the end, Julian never achieved his goal, nor found any resolution to his story.

’But still...’

Ruvian planned to change that.

He decided to solve that mystery and prevent Julian from disappearing.

’...Julian, after all, has a great potential to stand alongside Zian and Calyra.’

’It would be such a waste to lose him.’

Ruvian looked again at Julian’s stats before comparing to his.

Julian was still far stronger than him.

Maybe three times stronger, maybe even four times stronger!

The gap was still extremely large, almost unreasonable, and very difficult for him to close before the Vazrun Island test.

’But if I remember it correctly... even though Julian held the top seat of the first year, he was still not the strongest scholar among the first year batch.’

Ruvian recalled it clearly.

If ranked purely by strength, the order would be different.

Calyra would stand at the very top.

Zian would firmly take second place.

Rosalin and Julian would fight closely for third and fourth position.

Then came Loden.

And even though Silvena had now transferred here... among all the named side characters, she still remained the weakest in terms of combat strength.

Because her strength was never about power.

Her strength was wealth!

Ruvian lightly exhaled as he returned back from his wandering.

Then he noticed that Julian was looking at him with a calm, irritated face.

"This is not over between us," he finally said. "So you better watch your back."

Ruvian replied with a thin smile.

"Sure, and I suggest you do the same." (+100PP)

Just like that, the tension loosened.

The unease was still there, but the Scholar Council had already made their position clear, and for now, this was as far as the matter would go.

*****

The Scholar Council gave both sides a formal reprimand for now, no heavy punishment was given since no real harm had been done.

Ruvian quietly went back to his table without saying anything.

Julian also had left not long after, looking completely unbothered, as though the gathering of squads here no longer held any importance to him.

Letting his gaze drift across the hall, he caught the laughter returning — awkward at first, but slowly settling into a more natural rhythm.

At some moment, Ruvian could feel the attention of the crowd more than he could see it, as if their gazes were lightly pressing on the back of his neck.

And when he lifted his head, he saw that their eyes were not only on him, but also on the three Scholar Council members who had stepped in earlier.

Their presence passed through the room like frost on glass, bringing a sense of clarity and cold authority at the same time.

He almost smiled.

’Well... they are the Scholar Council after all.’

People often said they wanted justice. But in truth, what they really wanted was something interesting to watch — a spectacle.

He let the thought stay in his mind, leaving a bitter and metallic feeling behind.

Most members of the Scholar Council were chosen from the third-year students. They were not elected, but personally selected by Ophelia Dumblelore herself. Especially Nereus Calleon, who was known to be her favourite student.

’Anyway... where is the notification for the relevancy stage? Was that commotion still not enough for me to rank up?’

Ruvian wondered in puzzled.

To be honest, the reason he chose to confront Julian during this chaotic event from the novel was because it gave him the best chance to gain more Plot Points and increase his relevancy.

He felt that he would need a larger amount of Plot Points for the event happening this coming weekend.

He was going to make the first strike on the demon first, after all. And he did not want to treat that event lightly.

’Oh well, I guess it’s still not enough for me to rank up yet.’

’But I think... I’ve already gained quite a large number of Plot Points already.’

[23,050 PP]

’Yes, this should be enough.’

At last, Ruvian returned to his table.

That was when he noticed his group was still trying to process what they had just witnessed. All of their thoughts were still lagging behind the events that had just unfolded.

──────── ✦ ────────

[Chapter 139: Velthia’s Highest Echelons (2)]

Plot Points= 23,050