Ritsuka went to Lunch with Hikigaya Hachiman.
As they were walking, he couldn't help but ponder Where the hell has everyone gone?
He tried searching everywhere.
Yet the names, or rather people...
Significant parts of history seemingly vanished.
As they arrived at the cafeteria, he put aside the matters inside his head.
The two waited at the cafeteria for the third guy to arrive.
Yoshiteru Zaimokuza.
He has grey/white hair that he keeps in a short ponytail, brown eyes, and glasses. Although a little chubby, he is leaning more toward the taller side. He wears a trench coat over his school uniform, along with black fingerless gloves, even when it is during the summer months, and because of this, they cause him to be almost always sweaty, even during the winter.
"My Two Brothers! The time for our communion has once again arrived! Let us partake in a feast as we revel in our glory!"
He said, appearing out of nowhere, casually taking a seat next to Ritsuka.His overly exaggerated words and worrisome body language garnered the trio some weird looks. Some were amusement, and some were actual worry.
However, most of them were disdainful.
The two rolled their eyes at his antics; however, they still welcomed his arrival.
"Anyways, Fujimura-shishou... I'm not here for feasting today. My main goal is to understand Magic! Nay Magecraft!"
Hikigaya sighed as he heard his words.
The others who heard his voice gave them weird looks, but Ritsuka and Zaimokusa remained unfazed. Only Hikigaya was self-conscious and lowered his head shyly.
Ritsuka solemnly nodded his head as he seriously stared at Zaimokuza.
"Are you prepared to learn magic from the age of gods? Very well, our lessons shall continue. This time, I'll tell you about primordial runes. Derived from ancient Norse mythos."
Zaimokuza gulped and nodded his head.
"However, such knowledge is sparse, and learning it would earn you a sealing designation from the association. Are you truly prepared to take such risks?"
Hikigaya sighed as he stared at the two of them.
"Look, Fujimura... There's nothing wrong with playing along with his antics, but everyone is literally staring at us. Can you two tone it down..." He said as he held his face.
"Don't be foolish, Hachiman! I need his knowledge to further my novel! I think it needs more spice! And Ritsuka's knowledge on the myth and occult is top class."
Zaimokuza said indignantly.
Hikigaya shrugged his shoulders as he munched on his food.
Ritsuka chuckled and smiled, "Alright... Alright. Here, I'll write it on paper."
He said as he rummaged around his bag.
"Rune Magecraft is one of the Thaumaturgical Systems that originated in Scandinavia during the Age of Gods, and are symbols that, once inscribed, automatically realize Mysteries accordingly to the meaning that they represent. Their strength varies depending on the string of runes you combine in a sequence. It could even have varying effects entirely."
He said softly as if recounting memories tied to them with a nostalgic smile.
"There are three types of Rune Magecraft. Primordial Runes, The One used by the All-Father himself. The Norse God Odin. Old Runes used by druids in ancient Celtic/Scandinavian mythos. Then there are Modern Runes that are a pale imitation of the aforementioned two."
Ritsuka said methodically as he completed the set of modern runes.
"This type of magecraft is inefficient since not a lot of people use it these days. No one has been able to bring out the true power of Rune Magic in modern times. And now has just become just another unpopular magecraft in a modern Magi's eyes."
He said as he gestured in the air, tracing it and drawing a primal rune. However, nothing happened contrary to Zaimokuza's expectations.
"There are still 18 Primal Runes that I haven't drawn. But they need to remain guarded as the price of learning them would seal your fate entirely." Ritsuka said jokingly, but both Hikigaya and Zaimokuza felt that there was something more to it than he let on.
"So? How do you like my lessons in magecraft? That was taught by the legendary Hound of Ulster, Cú Chulainn, and The Legendary Queen, Scáthach herself." He said with a confident grin.
Both Hikigaya and Zaimokuza were honestly impressed.
"To think you would have this much knowledge on such ancient stuff is truly surprising. It's no wonder you always get a perfect score in History."
Hikigaya said, making Ritsuka smile brightly.
"Of course! I had the best teachers after all." He said with a sad smile filled with precious memories.
Zaimokuza nodded his head, "I'm more or less inclined to believe you, Fujimura-Shishou. It truly feels like you walked alongside these legends yourself. Yes! My mythic eyes could see it."
Ritsuka scratched his cheeks and laughed wryly, "It's mystic eyes. But, yes... It does seem like that, doesn't it? I just loved reading books as a kid." He said a bald-faced lie; however, the two did not doubt him in the slightest.
Their conversations continued as Zaimokuza pleaded for more ideas for his hackneyed novel.
As time passed, more and more people stared. Their initial curiosity turned into actual wonder as they listened to Ritsuka babble about what runes could do.
The three quickly finished their lunch, unaware that behind three of them was a trio of gals listening in on their conversation.
"Wow! It's quite surprising that the Ritsuka Fujimaru-kun of princely fame would know such Otaku-like topics! It really opened my eyes wide... I might change who's top and who's bottom on my next issue." The girl with glasses said with a nasty grin.
She was Hina Ebina, a cute and tall girl with brown bobbed hair, green eyes, and a pair of red half-framed glasses.
"Ugh! Can you not ruin my appetite with your pervertedness? We're eating right now! TMI!" A beautiful blonde girl said as she poked the sides of Ebina with her fingertips.
Yumiko Miura is an attractive girl with slightly wavy waist-length blonde hair that has bangs hanging over on the right side of her face with curly chest-length tips at the bottom and olive-green eyes. She was the most Intimidating gal out of the three.
"Ahaha... Well, Boys will be boys. You know?" Another beautiful girl with pink hair said with a wry smile.
Yuigahama Yui, a beautiful girl with light orange hair that is almost always seen with a loose side bun, has peach-reddish eyes.
Yumiko rolled her eyes at them, " I don't understand why Fujimura-kun plays along with them. I haven't seen him this energetic since the first year."
Ebina nodded her head, "The famed Sleeping Beauty himself, A closet otaku. I can already see the headlines. To prevent his secret from leaking out. Hikigaya threatens him to do--Mmph!?"
Yumiko blocked her mouth from proceeding further. "Stop! Stop! I get your point!" She said with a sigh.
The trio that was being talked about, however, was oblivious to all of this as they returned to class. Sleepier than ever as their stomachs were filled.