The Legend of the Soulheart

After roughly three days at sea, Benjamin returned to the mainland, coming ashore within Caritas.

Some of the villagers chose to say goodbye and begin new lives in this country, while the rest followed Benjamin back to Akademi. Benjamin could not possibly spend too much effort settling them down; some dry rations and books of general knowledge were about the greatest help he could offer.

After that, he returned to the academy with the sister and brother, along with the spoils gained from this journey.

"How has the research been going lately? I brought you some interesting things during this trip."

The moment he entered, Benjamin did not even have time to sit down for a drink of water. Carrying the Swift Tablets, he hurried to the Rune Research Institute—the specialized institute established by the academy after the Rune Research Group had expanded—and entered the main laboratory.

Upon hearing this, the mages in the laboratory stopped their work and gathered around Benjamin.

"Oh... Headmaster, what work have you found for us this time?"

A hunched old woman removed her gloves and walked over, asking helplessly. She was Mage Abby, one of the Rune Research Group's original members and the newly appointed director after the Rune Research Institute had been established.

Benjamin smiled without answering. Instead, he took the tablets from his bag and laid them out in a row on the table.

At once, the eyes of all the mages present lit up.

"These are..."

"The latest rune research materials." Benjamin spoke slowly. "We have yet to discover any of the runes on them. More importantly, there may be certain patterns to their arrangement as well. Their research value is immeasurable."

Hearing this, the gathered mages showed even greater delight.

Mage Abby picked up one of the tablets, her aged