Ch 33 : Rune Inscription

After that night, Auron and his friends trained more diligently. Every afternoon during free time, the group could be found practicing their spellcasting at the Spell Training Ground. Auron patiently guided each one, and by evening, Eliot finally condensed his mana core. Alice and Thyra's spell structures became more stable through continuous training. Auron suggested they master all basic spells to experience various spell structures and enhance their foundations.

Walter, meanwhile, borrowed weighted bracelets and anklets from Sir Baldwin to refine his body. Sir Baldwin encouraged him to maintain his determination. Auron frequently sparred with Walter, revealing his weaknesses. With Walter's earth elemental affinity, Auron advised him to adopt a shield and hammer combat style to maximize his advantages. He also suggested Walter purchase a foundational hammer and shield combat manual from the Trading Hall to establish a solid combat foundation.

Auron himself didn't slow down, continuing to meditate on the Primordial Fire heavenly rune. A spell derived from the rune had begun to take shape. The rough outline of a javelin formed in his mind, and he opted for the javelin over a spear due to its easier projection. However, Auron refrained from practicing it just yet, as he struggled to fully control it. The potential instability of the spell structure, especially with the destructive nature of the Primordial Fire, posed too great a risk. Injuring himself or others was not something he could afford. Nevertheless, his control over his celestial aura's destructive traits had improved as his understanding of the Primordial Fire rune deepened.

Today marked Auron's first club meeting at the Forge of Embers, an underground facility dedicated to rune inscription and forging. Senior Aren had already given him directions. Following the path, Auron found an ancient tree in the courtyard that concealed a stairway leading into the darkness. Lighting a small fire cluster, he descended into the hidden depths.

He soon arrived at a grand chamber, the Forge of Embers, its banner prominently displayed. The room looked ancient, with luminous crystals lighting the space. Recognizing them as common Luminous Stones used to light underground areas, Auron walked toward the counter, where a male clerk stood.

"Hello. Sorry to disturb you, but could you point me to the rune inscription room? I'm a new member of the Rune Inscription Club," Auron asked politely.

"Oh, so you're the new member. I was wondering if you'd get lost since you were late. Senior Aren mentioned you'd be coming. Come, follow me," the senior replied, gesturing for Auron to follow.

As they walked, they passed several small forges dedicated to students, though there were a few larger ones reserved for the teachers. The temperature inside was high, but Auron, having undergone the heavenly rune baptism, barely noticed the heat.

"Here we are, junior. Enjoy your day," said the senior, motioning to the room.

"Thank you for showing me the way," Auron replied before entering the room.

Inside, Aren waved him over. "Auron, finally! Come, sit here."

Auron noticed another person in the room: a broad-shouldered young man with muscular arms. Aren introduced him.

"Auron, this is Senior Kaelin Ashforge, a member of the Ashforge family—renowned blacksmiths from the empire's capital."

"Greetings, I'm Auron. Nice to meet you," Auron said with a polite bow.

"The pleasure is mine," Kaelin replied with a smile. Despite his noble lineage, Kaelin was humble. His lack of arrogance spoke volumes about his character. True power, after all, came from ability, not titles.

Just as they exchanged pleasantries, the door swung open, revealing an elder. He wore glasses and had a tidy appearance, his white hair signifying wisdom and experience. He was tall, with a clean-shaven face.

"Good evening, everyone. Apologies for being late. I got a bit too absorbed in a new idea," the elder greeted.

Auron immediately felt the man's presence—powerful yet calm, like a flame that could both forge steel and illuminate minds. This, he realized, must be one of the great blacksmith masters of the academy.

Noticing Auron's presence, the elder smiled warmly. "You must be the new student, right? Auron, is it? I've heard you possess a high fire affinity and 7-star comprehension. Impressive. I'm Teacher Garrick Ashforge, Kaelin's uncle. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"It's my utmost pleasure to join the club," Auron replied politely, bowing slightly.

Teacher Garrick began the club meeting by introducing the basics of rune inscription. "Rune inscription consists of three fundamental components: the rune design, the materials for carving—whether ink or the surface to be inscribed—and finally, the carving process. Today, we'll focus on materials."

He explained further, "The ink used for rune inscription is typically derived from the blood of magical beasts, though in some cases, it can be made from a mixture of tree sap and blends of magical herbs. This ink acts as a conduit for the rune's power, providing a channel for mana to flow. The smoother your inscription, the better the flow, increasing the effectiveness and power of the rune.

"However, the surface you carve the rune on must be compatible with the ink. If they're incompatible, not only will the rune fail, but it may also destroy the surface. This is especially true for weapons, where runes are often inscribed to enhance their power. The key elements to consider are the potency of the ink, the compatibility between the ink and the surface, and your precision during the inscription process."

After a thorough explanation, Teacher Garrick concluded, "That's all for today. Auron, I want you to study this book," he said, handing Auron a small leather-bound book. "It contains basic runes commonly used in rune inscription. Practice drawing them on paper using normal ink. I'll assess your progress at the next club meeting."

"Thank you, Teacher," Auron replied as he accepted the book.

Before leaving, Teacher Garrick gave one last piece of advice. "Don't rush. Mastery comes with precision and patience." With that, he disappeared from the room.

Aren, still sitting beside Auron, smiled. "Make sure to practice those runes on paper first. True rune inscription requires skill, and this will prepare you."

After a moment, Auron turned to Kaelin, his curiosity piqued. "Senior, can I custom-order a bow here?"

Kaelin raised an eyebrow. "What specifications are you looking for?"

"I need a bow that can withstand extreme heat since I plan to infuse it with fire. Also, it needs to be strong enough to endure the strength of a peak tier 2 Augmenter," Auron explained.

Kaelin let out a low whistle. "That's a tough request. The materials alone would be expensive, not to mention the difficulty of forging a bow—one of the hardest weapons to craft. It'll cost you about 500 points."

Auron nodded thoughtfully.

"You'll need to ask Teacher Garrick about the specifics, but first, gather enough points. It's not something you can just order on a whim," Kaelin advised. "Good luck," he added, before heading out.

Now alone in the room, Auron sat with the book in his hands, determined to master rune inscription. His mind was already buzzing with ideas for both his bow and the fire-infused spells he was developing. The path ahead was long, but he was ready to blaze it.