Reborn With A Technology System In A Fantasy World-Chapter 51: Rejected Tutelage

After the Instructor had snapped out from his moment of awe. He lowered the paper and locked his gaze onto Adrian.

’Which house are you from, young man?’ he asked with curiosity. ’That kind of skill isn’t common.’

Adrian kept his expression neutral.

’I’m not from a noble house,’ he said simply, resulting in everyone exchanging glances. Nobility often dominated such classes, their private tutors giving them a head start. A commoner with this talent was unheard of.

Professor Toren’s brow rose, but he pressed on. ’How did you learn to craft runes like this? This precision... it’s beyond a beginner’s grasp.’ His fingers traced the Fire Rune’s spiral, as if searching for a flaw that wasn’t there.

Adrian shrugged. "Just picked it up," he said to keep it vague. .

Toren studied him, then asked, "Your name?"

"Adrian," he replied with a steady voice.

"Adrian," the Instructor repeated before setting the paper down.

"This is genius. Pure genius." He paused, then leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Would you consider being my personal student? I could guide you, refine that talent into something extraordinary."

The hall fell silent, the weight of the offer sinking in. Gasps broke the quiet, students staring with wide eyes. Becoming a personal student was a rare privilege, a mark of favor that carried immense weight.

It meant private lessons, access to advanced techniques, and a direct path to greatness in the Academy.

For a professor to offer this to a first-year — especially a Knight and not a Mage — was almost unthinkable.

Everyone in the hall, both those from privileged backgrounds and the commoners all looked stunned, envious even. Fabian’s scowl deepened and his friends whispered furiously beside him.

Adrian tilted his head, pretending to consider it. ’A disciple for runes? That’s the last thing I need,’ he thought.

The System already gave him advanced rune knowledge and the Instructor’s basics were useful but far below what he aimed for.

Still, he didn’t want to burn bridges. "I appreciate the offer," he said, his voice polite but firm, "but I’ll pass for now."

The hall erupted in gasps, louder this time. Rejecting a personal apprenticeship was unheard of, a bold move that bordered on reckless.

Professor Toren blinked, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face, but he recovered quickly, his humility overriding any pride.

"I understand," he said, nodding. "Your work is exceptional, Adrian. This class may not challenge you, but you could help your peers. Would you assist them?"

Adrian nodded, standing. "Sure." He moved through the hall, his steps confident, and began checking the students’ work.

Their runes were messy so he corrected them with the same calm precision Toren had used, but his voice was smoother and more professional.

"Your spiral’s too tight," he told one Mage. "Loosen the curve." To another, "The lines need equal length. Start over."

To his surprise, no one argued. The students, even the haughty Mages, listened, their frustration easing under his guidance.

He reached a group of Mages whose runes were better than most. Their Fire Runes were nearly complete.

It wasn’t any surprise that they were Fabian and his friends. Adrian guessed that they were nobility and were likely trained by private tutors long before the Academy.

Adrian scanned their work, noting the clean lines and balanced spirals. ’Not bad,’ he thought, but he saw no need to guide them.

They were close enough, and Fabian’s earlier stunt left a sour taste. He moved on without a word, ignoring Fabian’s glare, which burned hotter with every step.

***

By the the time System Panel in his vision was some minutes to 5 PM, the sixth bell rang signifying the end of the class, its deep chime echoing through the hall.

The students slumped, sweat beading on their foreheads, their hands cramped from hours of drawing.

Most were still grappling with the Fire Rune, their papers littered with failed attempts. A few had moved to the Earth Rune, their progress halting but visible. The air was thick with exhaustion, the scratch of quills replaced by heavy breaths.

Professor Toren clapped his hands, drawing their attention. "Well done for today," he said, his voice warm but firm.

"This is just the start. You’re free to take 10 runic papers each — manage them carefully, as you’ll soon need to buy your own. Practice at home. Precision comes with repetition, and practice makes perfect."

He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on the students’ tired faces.

"By our next class, I expect progress on all four runes — Fire, Earth, Wind, Water. Show me what you’ve learned."

The students nodded, some muttering weary thanks, their voices hoarse.

Toren’s eyes settled on Adrian. "Adrian, thank you for your help. I truly appreciated it." Adrian, already back at his chair, gave a slight nod, his expression neutral.

The Instructor smiled faintly. "If you ever reconsider my offer, I’ll be here." With that, he turned and left, his robes swishing as the door closed behind him.

The hall exhaled, the tension breaking like a snapped thread. Conversations erupted, students clustering in groups, their voices a mix of relief and excitement.

"That was brutal," one Mage said, rubbing his wrist.

"How are we supposed to learn four runes by next class?" The chatter shifted, eyes drifting toward Adrian’s table.

"How’s that Adrian guy so good?" a Mage whispered. ’He’s a Knight, not even noble, and he drew all four like it was nothing.’

"He turned down the Instructor’s offer," another said.

"Who does that?" A third leaned in, lowering his voice.

"Think he’s got some secret tutor? No way he just picked it up." The questions piled up, curiosity turning to admiration.

A group of Mages and the two other Knights huddled, debating whether to approach him.

"We should ask him to tutor us," one suggested. "He was helping everyone, maybe he’d do it again."

They turned, but Adrian was already moving, his bag slung over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

"Hey, Adrian!" a Mage called, her voice hopeful. ’

"Can you help us practice? Like, tutor us?" Others chimed in, their pleas overlapping.

"Just a few tips!"

"Please, man, you’re a genius!"

Adrian didn’t break his stride and with his blank expression he ignored all their requests and pushed through the door, their voices fading behind him.

The courtyard was nearly empty, the sky dimming as evening settled. Adrian’s stomach growled, but he had missed lunch already and he had to wait till it was time for dinner before he could eat.

’I’ll just return to the dormitory.’

At the dormitory, he climbed the steps to his room, key in hand. The door creaked open, revealing an empty space; Karl wasn’t there. Adrian paused, frowning.

’Where’s he at?’ he thought. He hadn’t seen Karl in Alchemy or Rune Making, though the Alchemy Hall’s crowd might’ve hidden him.

Shrugging, he stepped inside. ’Probably off somewhere. Not my problem.’ He headed to the communal bath, the well water washing away the day’s sweat.

Back in his room, he changed into fresh clothes and collapsed onto his bed, letting out a slow breath as his body sank into the mattress.

Just as his eyes began to close, a sharp ding echoed in his mind and notifications began flashing across his vision.

[Your products have been widely utilized!]

[You’ve gained 500 EXP!]

[Congratulations! You’ve leveled up!]

[Congratulations! You’ve achieved Level 10!]

[Evolution Initiated!]