Ian dealt with his enemy.
Magnus and Grayson were stunned for a moment, but they soon finished off their opponents too.
Ian returned to the group.
"As expected of Lord Kieran's student."
Magnus praised Ian as he spoke.
"You two were impressive too!" Ian replied modestly.
Beside them, Grayson kept his head down, as though he had suffered a blow. He said nothing more.
Magnus glanced at him but left him alone.
The group continued deeper into the mine and soon reached a rock wall that radiated a fiery red aura.
A colony of fire salamanders still occupied the area.
Once they had been dealt with, the miners behind them began excavating. Ian and the other two waited nearby.
"Supervisor Magnus, where is the Fire Runes wall on the second level?" Ian asked curiously.
"There's one nearby. I'll take you."
Magnus was noticeably warmer toward him than when they had first entered.
Following him, they reached an adjacent cavern. Deep in one of its walls, fiery red lines shone with light.
"There should be a natural fire-attribute rune in there, but it hasn't been fully deciphered yet," Magnus said.
Ian studied the wall and immediately judged that the Starfire Rune was connected to it somehow.
Perhaps this was where it had come from.
"The work over there will continue for a day. You can spend that time studying it," Magnus said.
Ian nodded.
Without delay, he began sensing the First Ring Starfire Rune.
Unfortunately, a day passed.
Ian had made no progress toward mastering it.
He had also discovered a problem: the temperature here was simply too high. Even he was beginning to struggle.
He might have managed another day or two, but the heat was already affecting him badly.
Besides, it was time to leave.
"Looks like I need