The Old Library smelled of decaying paper and silence. It was Julian’s favorite place in the entire Academy.

  While other students were busy posturing in the dueling grounds or meditating in the Spirit Pagoda, the library was empty. To the cultivators of this world, ancient theory was useless compared to raw power.

  "You're late," Julian said without looking up from a dusty tome titled *The Flow of Aether*.

  Amelia Voss hurried between the bookshelves, clutching a velvet-wrapped bundle. "I had to sneak past the dormitory prefect. If they catch me giving resources to an F-Grade..."

  "Then we better make this quick." Julian closed his book. "Show me the patient."

  Amelia unwrapped the bundle on the table. Inside lay a dagger. It was beautiful, forged from silver-blue Mithril, but the surface was covered in erratic, jagged glowing lines.

  "It's the *Shard-Slicer*," Amelia explained, her voice anxious. "I etched three *Runes of Severance* on it. It should be able to cut through iron, but every time I channel mana into it, it vibrates so hard it cracks the handle. I've wasted two hilts already."

  Julian picked up the dagger. He didn't look at the runes; he tapped the blade against the table. *Clang.*

  [Item: Unstable Mithril Dagger]

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  [Flaw: Resonant Overload]

  [Efficiency: 35%]

  "The problem isn't the power," Julian diagnosed. "It's the noise. You have three runes screaming at different pitches. They are creating destructive interference."

  "Interference?" Amelia blinked. "But the Grand Artificer says more runes equal more power."

  "More engines on a plane don't help if they are pushing in different directions," Julian muttered. He pulled out a small metal file from his pocket. "I'm going to fix it."

  "Wait!" Amelia gasped as Julian brought the file to the blade. "What are you doing? You'll ruin the enchantment matrix!"

  *Skreee.*

  Julian ignored her. He firmly scraped away the connecting line between the second and third rune. Sparks flew. The glow of the dagger flickered and dimmed.

  Amelia looked ready to faint. "You broke the circuit..."

  "No," Julian said, blowing away the metal dust. "I removed the feedback loop."

  He placed his hand on the hilt. **[Internal Oscillation]** activated. He pushed a steady stream of mana into the remaining runes.

  Instead of the violent shaking Amelia was used to, the dagger began to hum. It was a low, steady sound, like a purring cat. The chaotic blue light stabilized into a razor-thin edge of white energy covering the blade.

  "Try it," Julian slid the dagger across the table.

  Amelia picked it up gingerly. She channeled her mana. The blade didn't shake. She slashed it casually at a stack of old parchment.

  It didn't just cut the paper; it sliced clean through the thick wooden table leg underneath, silently and effortlessly.

  Amelia’s eyes went wide. "How? You removed a rune. It should be weaker."

  "Constructive interference," Julian said, holding out his hand. "I aligned the frequency of the remaining two runes to match the natural vibration of the Mithril. Less energy, more output."

  Amelia looked at the smooth cut on the table leg, then at Julian. The look of suspicion was gone, replaced by something akin to awe.

  She dropped a heavy pouch into his hand.

  "Ten Low-Grade Mana Stones," she said breathless. "And... can you teach me how to calculate that 'frequency' thing?"

  Julian weighed the pouch. It was enough energy to last him a week.

  "One lesson at a time, Amelia," he said, pocketing the stones. "Now, tell me about this 'Freshman Trial' I heard the seniors talking about. I have a feeling I'm going to need more than a dagger to survive it."

  Amelia’s face paled. "The Trial... right. If you're an F-Grade, you shouldn't be worrying about weapons. You should be worrying about writing your will."

  Author's Note: