Chapter 128: Study

News of the small town’s attack by the skeletal beasts spread swiftly, and with it, the rumors of Rando’s awakening traveled even farther.

The largest nearby city—Kegos—received the news promptly, and the city lord immediately sent envoys to invite Rando for a meeting in the city.

Under the proud gazes of the townsfolk, Rando departed alongside the guards sent for him. Along the journey, the guards regarded him with deep reverence, largely due to the skeletal beast that followed closely behind him.

To become an Awakened one was undoubtedly to rise above common status. Upon arriving at the city lord’s mansion, Rando was warmly and ceremoniously received.

Throughout their encounter, various subtle probes were made to test Rando, but he feigned the innocent naivety of a youth, cooperating with their performances without revealing a hint of suspicion. Once sufficiently convinced of Rando’s awakened status, the city lord’s hospitality grew even more earnest. As an Awakened, Rando’s rank was, to some degree, higher than that of a frontier city lord. Moreover, investing in the young man before his potential blossomed might yield rich rewards in the future.

For three days, Rando was lavishly entertained in the city lord’s mansion—fine food, exquisite wine, and beautiful companions were all at his disposal. He accepted everything without hesitation, embodying the sudden rise of a grassroots youth in full measure.

When the time came to part, Rando bid a reluctant farewell to the city lord. He set out for Gusman City, escorted by a contingent of guards and carrying a substantial sum of funds provided by the city lord.

News of Rando stirred a small ripple in Gusman City. In the world of Astrea, awakening itself was not particularly remarkable, but for a commoner to achieve it was indeed rare.

After traveling for five days, the group arrived at Gusman City, where representatives from the Central Academy awaited. Every Awakened could join the Central Academy directly; this was both the academy’s motto and the imperial decree.

The teacher of the awakening class, Albert Ellison, greeted Rando and his skeletal beast with a satisfied expression. “You must be Doran from Kegos City. I’m Albert Ellison, your Awakening instructor at the Central Academy. According to protocol, we must first conduct a test. Is that alright?”

Rando nodded without hesitation. Before arriving in this world, he had prepared well, inscribing within himself a rune imbued with the aura of the Dead’s Clan, capable of countering various tests.

Albert produced a black crystal about the size of a human head and gestured for Rando to channel his awakened power into it.

Without hesitation, Rando infused the black crystal with the deathly energy he simulated within his heart space.

The crystal emitted a black light deeper and more profound than its own color.

Albert nodded approvingly. “This concentration of death energy—only a necromancer of at least seventh level could cultivate such power. Doran, you are undoubtedly a born Awakened.”

His expression then grew stern. “But talent is not everything. If you don’t work hard from now on, your achievements will be limited.”

Rando quickly adopted a humble posture. “Yes, Teacher Albert.”

Albert was pleased with Rando’s attitude.

After dismissing the guards and allowing them to leave on their own, Albert led Rando to the Central Academy located at the heart of Gusman City—a venerable institution with a history as rich as the imperial court itself.

Upon entering, Rando was struck by a dense aura of death that washed over him, causing him to momentarily hesitate before subtly adjusting his heart space to ease the sensation.

Albert smiled proudly. “Well? The environment here suits you quite well, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed, Teacher. I feel this thick death aura is very conducive to my growth,” Rando responded with an expression of delight and reverence.

“Good. Since you have no foundational knowledge, I’ll be very strict with you from now on. You must work harder.”

“Yes, Teacher. I won’t let you down.”

Attending school in this world had been part of Rando’s plan all along. Knowledge was forever the greatest asset for an arcanist. The Dead’s Clan possessed a nearly complete necromancer heritage, and Rando believed that systematic study would deepen his understanding of the soul armaments within his system.

He intended to stay in this world for a maximum of two years—any longer, and he might miss the Special World Laboratory. Within this time, he aimed to absorb as much knowledge as possible and uncover the system’s secrets.

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A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Rando had gradually integrated into the Central Academy. Though unsurprisingly met with some exclusion, he cared little as long as it did not impede his studies.

His background was not entirely without merit. Unexpectedly, he gained the favor of a senior student—a former commoner Awakened who had ascended four years prior. Now, the senior bore no trace of his humble origins, moving with the poise and grace of the hereditary nobility.

Thanks to this senior—Lorell, the vice president of the student council and the key aide to Prince Jigger, the council president—Rando found life at the academy much more comfortable. Otherwise, even securing a library card would have consumed much of his energy in bureaucratic wrangling.

Rando set down a book titled *Detailed Explanation of Basic Runes*. After this period of study, he had grasped the power system of this world.

It was a classic and primal rune array system. By meditating, one condensed basic runes within the body to form corresponding spells. Each spiritual concentration enhanced the number of innate spells one could wield. These innate spells were not only more potent and efficient than ordinary spells but also triggered more naturally and scaled with the user’s strength.

Almost all basic runes in this world were necromantic in nature.

The entire system ranged from level one to nine. Beyond level nine, if one achieved a spiritual leap, they could become a legendary existence—a status held in the highest regard within the imperial court.

One well-known reason Awakened were so sought after was that they innately possessed an innate spell: the ability to contract with necromantic creatures. Their power was naturally more concentrated, granting them superior strength early on and making it easier to level up.

These advantages inevitably made Awakened more likely to become powerful than ordinary people.

Of course, there were many ways to awaken. Aside from the most difficult method exemplified by Rando, noble offspring mostly used rare and specific resources. If their parents were strong enough and fortune favored them, awakening was not impossible.