Grimestone tapped his device once more, displaying an image of a slate with the glowing word 'shield' engraved on it.

"For example, simply engraving 'shield' doesn't require that much will, and the resulting shield's power will depend on the amount of mana you can infuse into it."

He tapped his device again, and a slate with the glowing words 'impenetrable shield' engraved on it appeared.

"However, engraving 'impenetrable shield' would obviously demand more willpower to create. But keep in mind that merely engraving 'impenetrable shield' doesn't guarantee an invincible shield; its strength is directly proportional to the strength of your will."

"This example applies to shields, but rune engraving follows the same principle overall. The stronger your will, the more powerful the rune. Now, our first lesson today will be about harnessing your will."

"The strength of your will is determined by one thing: your mental strength, which is closely tied to your life experiences. In this case, the more adversity you've faced and overcome, the better."

Grimestone clapped, and the lights in the room came back on, clearing the holographic display.

"Now, let's focus on you engraving your first rune."

"Bring out an engraver and a slate," Grimestone instructed. Atticus followed his guidance, producing a slate and an engraver.

The slate was a rectangular piece, measuring approximately 12 inches in length, 8 inches in width, and half an inch in thickness. Its surface had been meticulously polished to a mirror-like finish.

The engraver, as its name suggested, was used for engraving runes. Crafted from polished steel, it featured a finely carved wooden handle. The tool had a moderate length, providing optimal control and balance.

It tapered elegantly toward the tip, where the actual engraving took place. Constructed from a specially tempered steel alloy, it was exceptionally sharp and hard, allowing for precise and clean incisions into rune slates.

Grimestone also retrieved a slate and an engraver from his storage ring.

"It's fairly easy to engrave your first rune, as long as your intelligence surpasses a certain threshold and you can use it to control your will, it's simple and straightforward. Most warriors have strong wills, but the reason they can't become runesmiths is because they lack the intelligence to focus and use it. Watch me closely," Grimestone instructed.

Grimestone placed the slate on the table and then focused his mana and will on the tip of the engraver. Almost immediately, Atticus saw the tip start to emit a purple glow.

"Now, the color of everyone's mana is naturally blue, but when I mix my will into it, it changes to purple. Each runesmith has a different color, reflecting their life experiences. Mine is purple, but you might encounter another runesmith with a blue color," Grimestone explained, making sure Atticus understood.

He proceeded to engrave the word 'Shield' on the slate. Once he finished, the word lit up with a purple glow, and Grimestone inserted mana into the slate, tossing it into the air. The slate transformed into a purple, transparent shield, covering Grimestone.

"Now, close your eyes and concentrate. Try to recall everything you've been through in your life," Grimestone instructed.

Atticus followed the guidance, picked up the engraver, and closed his eyes, entering a meditative state.

"Don't be discouraged if you don't get it at first. It's very rare to see young ones like you becoming runesmiths, unless they've gone through something extremely tragic," Grimestone encouraged.

He wasn't expecting Atticus to succeed quickly, considering the lack of significant adversity in his life. He couldn't help but remember Lucas, the genius 1st-year trainee who achieved this feat in just three weeks. 'I wonder what that boy went through to have such a strong mind,' he thought.

While Grimestone was contemplating this, he suddenly noticed a red glow forming on the tip of the engraver that Atticus was holding, sending shock throughout his body. 'How?' he thought, surprised.

Meanwhile, Atticus, unaware of the impact he was having on his teacher, continued to concentrate. He was thinking of everything he had experienced in his life, and to be honest, it wasn't anything particularly remarkable.

His life on Earth had been peaceful, with only a few trivial incidents. Even his death had been quick, with only a brief moment of pain. In his life here, he had primarily focused on training and hadn't faced any significant hardships. So it wasn't surprising that his will felt lacking.

However, his intelligence had reached a high level, allowing him full control over his body. High intelligence meant increased control over his actions and thoughts. Thus, despite his underwhelming will, due to his high intelligence, he was able to focus and control it.

After a few minutes of concentration, a deep red color emanated from the tip of the engraver.

Grimestone's eyes widened. 'Why is it so red?'

While he had encountered various colors in his experience, this was the first time he had seen a hue as intense as this red.

The color of an individual's will was seen as a representation of their life experiences and personality. 'What could have made it so red?' Grimestone pondered.

Atticus opened his eyes and brought the engraver down onto the slate. Focusing on his intention, he moved the engraver with fluid grace, writing the word 'shield' with extraordinarily beautiful penmanship.

As soon as he completed the last word, it was as if he had lost all his energy and motivation. He suddenly felt disheartened, as if nothing in life mattered anymore.

Grimestone, noticing Atticus's condition, snapped into action. He retrieved a vial, similar to the one he had consumed earlier, and quickly administered it to Atticus.

Almost immediately, Atticus emerged from his depressed state. Grimestone looked at him and explained, "It's a recovery potion. It will help you regain your will faster. Now you understand what I meant by looking like me 90% of the time," Grimestone remarked with a chuckle.

Atticus was still shaken by the experience. 'That was dangerous,' he thought.

The feeling of complete demotivation wasn't something to be taken lightly. It was as if he had lost interest in everything, suddenly he didn't want to train anymore, he didn't want to get his revenge anymore. Heck, even breathing seemed like a chore!

'I should never use this in battle,' he decided.

***