27. Runes and Roles

Chapter 27: Runes and Roles

I gripped my black sword, its weight steady in my hands, and glanced over at the twins. The wolves hadn't made a move yet, but their blood-red eyes burned into us, their massive frames coiled and ready to pounce. It was like being in the world's worst staring contest, and I wasn't in the mood to lose.

"Alright, nobles," I said, my voice cutting through the tense air. "Before we do this, I need a quick crash course. What's your deal with magic? What tiers are you, and what kind of Martial Magic can you even use?"

Lashley turned his glare toward me, clearly annoyed by my lack of "respect." But for once, he swallowed his usual snark and answered. "I'm a Tier 2 Stone Bastion. My runes focus on fortification, resilience, and absorbing damage. My elemental magic is earth-based."

I raised an eyebrow, impressed despite myself. "Stone Bastion, huh? Fancy name for a human battering ram. So you're the guy who takes all the hits while the rest of us do the actual fighting?"

His glare sharpened, but he didn't rise to the bait.

"And you, Princess Acrobat?" I asked, turning to Neralia. "What's your deal?"

She straightened, flipping her cloak behind her with an air of practiced elegance. "I am a Tier 1 Bladed Dancer," she said, her tone tinged with pride. "My runes enhance agility, acrobatics, and precise movements. I can strike quickly and retreat just as fast."

I tilted my head. "Bladed Dancer, huh? So you're good at dodging and looking fancy while doing it. Got it. What's your element?"

"Water," she replied, her tone clipped.

I hummed, my mind already piecing together their roles. "So you've got water spells for control and support, and you," I said, nodding at Lashley, "are earth for defense and brute force."

The system In my head kicked in, helpfully reminding me of the rune basics I'd skimmed during my first week in this world.

Runes: The Language of Mana. Ancient magic script carved into the skin—either permanently or temporarily—allowing Martial Mages to enhance physical attributes. Each rune is powered by the user's mana and requires a specific affinity and tier to function effectively. Higher-tier runes demand more mana, providing greater power in return. The color of the runes when activated reflects the user's elemental affinity.

Neralia and Lashley, like all Martial Mages, had inscribed their preferred attributes on their bodies using these runes. Lashley's were focused on fortification and brute strength, while Neralia's gave her the agility of a gymnast on steroids. The tiers? Simple enough. Tier 1 was beginner-level. Tier 2 meant you were competent. Tier 3 and above? Now you were dealing with the kind of monsters who could level mountains.

"Got it," I said, nodding. "You're both Martial Mages with earth and water affinities. But what about your runes? How much can you actually use them?"

Neralia's lips thinned as she glanced at the wolves. "Not much," she admitted. "My runes aren't powerful enough for prolonged combat, and I don't have the mana reserves to sustain them in close quarters."

"Same here," Lashley added reluctantly. "My runes are stronger, but they're meant for defensive purposes. We're better off relying on long-range elemental magic."

I frowned, the pieces clicking into place. They'd mentioned this yesterday, right before the whole "almost ambushed by invisible assholes" incident. These two weren't front-line fighters. Their Martial Magic was still a work in progress, which meant they'd brought me along to be the vanguard.

"Great," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "So I'm the meat shield while you two play Avatar: The Last Airbender from a safe distance."

"We prefer the term strategic support," Neralia said, her voice dripping with mock dignity.

"Yeah, yeah," I grumbled, shifting my stance. "Just don't miss."

The wolves growled, their low, rumbling snarls sending vibrations through the ground. Their red eyes glowed brighter, and their muscles tensed as if preparing to strike.

I raised my sword, my grip steady. "Alright," I called back to the twins. "I'll take point. You two stick to what you're good at. And for the love of all things holy, don't let one of these bastards take me down."

"Don't worry," Neralia said, her rapier glowing faintly as runes on her forearm lit up in a soft blue hue. "We'll keep you alive. If only to avoid dealing with your ghost."

"Cute," I shot back.

Lashley's stone runes ignited next, glowing a dull brown against his skin. "Just don't screw this up," he said gruffly.

I smirked. "Relax, noble boy. This isn't my first time dealing with oversized pests."

The wolves crouched low, their growls rising in volume. The leader, the scar-faced alpha, let out a bone-chilling howl that echoed through the forest.

"Alright, mutts," I muttered, lowering my sword into a ready position. "Let's dance."

The alpha wolf snarled, its blood-red eyes fixed on me. Behind it, the rest of the pack moved like shadows, circling us, their massive frames blocking out the sunlight.

"Let's get this over with," I muttered, adjusting my grip on my sword. I darted forward, closing the distance between me and the closest wolf in an instant.

Its jaws snapped at me, but I sidestepped, my sword slicing through the air in a wide arc. The blade met fur and muscle, carving a shallow gash into the wolf's side. It howled in pain, recoiling as dark, smoky blood oozed from the wound.

Before I could press the attack, another wolf lunged at me from the side, its claws aiming for my head.

"Kaizen, look out!" Lashley's voice boomed.

The ground beneath me rumbled, and a wall of jagged stone erupted between me and the wolf. It crashed into the barrier, its claws raking uselessly against the rock.

"Not bad, noble boy!" I called over my shoulder, but my compliment was short-lived. The wolf I'd injured recovered quickly, charging me again.

I pivoted on my heel, narrowly dodging its snapping jaws, and brought my sword down in a two-handed slash. The blade bit deep into its shoulder, eliciting another pained howl.

Behind me, Neralia's voice rang out, calm and focused. "Stay clear of the next one!"

A glowing blue magic circle materialized in front of the wolf she was targeting, about five feet off the ground. It had two layers: the inner circle packed with runes and swirling patterns, while the outer circle rotated slowly, adding a second set of runes that glowed brighter.

From the center of the circle, a jet of water erupted like a coiled serpent, striking the wolf with enough force to knock it off its feet.

I smirked. "Nice shot, princess."

But before I could say anything else, the water splashed into the ground at my feet, soaking the dirt and turning it into a slick mess. My next step sent me slipping like a drunk on ice, and I barely managed to stay upright.

"Are you trying to kill me, too?" I shouted.

"Maybe if you'd get out of the way, I wouldn't have to!" she snapped, her cheeks flushing pink.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my focus back on the fight. Two more wolves closed in, their massive bodies moving in eerie synchronization.

Lashley stepped forward, his stone runes glowing faintly on his arms. Another single-layered magic circle appeared beneath the wolf nearest him, radiating brown light. The ground shifted, and a chunk of earth the size of a small boulder shot upward, striking the wolf square in the chest.

The beast stumbled but didn't fall, shaking off the attack like it was nothing.

"Your aim needs work," I called out, dodging another wolf's swipe.

"And you need to stop complaining and fight!" Lashley retorted.

Neralia's next spell was more precise. A single-layer circle formed at the wolf's paws, its runes pulsing in a steady rhythm. A torrent of water shot out from the ground, sweeping its legs out from under it.

This time, the wolf went down, its massive frame crashing into the dirt with a resounding thud.

"Finally," I muttered, charging forward to capitalize on the opening. My sword flashed in the sunlight as I drove it into the wolf's side, cutting deep.

The beast let out one final, ear-splitting howl before collapsing, its red eyes dimming.

"One down," I said, pulling my sword free.

Behind me, Lashley landed another hit with his earth magic, a single-layer circle sending a jagged spike of stone into the chest of another wolf. It stumbled, blood pouring from the wound, before collapsing next to its fallen packmate.

"Make that two," Lashley said, his tone smug.

The remaining four wolves growled, their eyes glowing brighter as they regrouped.

"This isn't over," I said, wiping the blade of my sword on my cloak. "Stay sharp."

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