Chapter 7

Zane laid bed, shirtless, his skin was still wet from the shower he had taking.

He had been given instructions: clean himself up and wait. Mia had left, saying she needed to retrieve something that was important for the runing.

He was happy he was finally going to learn something about runes and also get a tattoo, he really didn't feel like a real shadow hunter without it since everyone had runes

The door creaked open, and Mia stepped in, fresher than before.

He subtle took in a deep breath inhaling her natural scent, vaguely something in his head told him this was bad, he was falling to quickly for a girl in a trial, someone he might not even be able to take back with him.

Who says she would even leave everything she had over here to follow me back to my world?

He didn't think he was that enticing.

 She had changed into a fitted black outfit, her hair tied up carelessly. In her hands was a large, heavy looking book that was covered in runes

She shut the door behind her with a quiet click before striding toward him, her boots barely making a sound against the wooden floor.

"This," she said, setting the book down on a nearby table with a heavy thud, "is a copy of one of the newest rune compendiums still in circulation."

She paused for a moment then continued

"Runes are said to be the language of the gods, divine symbols capable of affecting reality itself. They make us what we are."

Zane raised a brow. "And how do they work exactly?"

He said as he sat up and picked up the book, he tried to open it but it stubbornly refused no matter how much strength he put into it.

Mia collected it from him and after a short delay the book opened.

Mia flipped through the thick pages, her eyes scanning the intricate markings. "They require soul power. Every living being has a soul, but only a few can actually harness its strength. That's why Shadowhunters are different. We inscribe these runes onto ourselves using our shadow essence, you should be able to feel it in you now that you have combined both angel and demon blood, essentially binding them to our souls. The stronger our soul, the more runes we can bear."

He sat up a little, intrigued. "And what happens if someone tries to take on more runes than they can handle?"

Mia's expression darkened slightly. "Soul injuries. Permanent damage, sometimes even death. It's not something to take lightly." She turned a page, showing a series of detailed rune sketches. "That's why runes should only be taken one at a time, with long intervals in between. It's also why there's an entire division of Shadowhunters dedicated to rune experimentation—countless lives have been lost trying to create and understand new ones."

Zane frowned, absorbing the weight of that information. "So, not all runes are permanent?"

She nodded. "There are two types. Temporary runes, which fade after use, and permanent runes, which become a part of you forever. Temporary runes are useful for quick boosts, but permanent runes are the true foundation of a Shadowhunter's strength. They don't just enhance you—they evolve with you."

He glanced at the book, then back at her. "And how are they activated?"

"They respond to thought," she explained. "A simple mental command is enough, though most newcomers find it easier to activate them by speaking their names at first. Over time, it becomes second nature."

"That explains a lot."

Mia turned another page, revealing a list of common runes. "Most Shadowhunters carry a core set of runes: Accelerate, which enhances speed; Strength, which boosts physical power; Stealth, which allows us to evade from detection even from cameras; Resilience, which toughens the body against damage though it does nothing for the soul; and Heal, which heals wounds depending on your soul strength."

Zane leaned forward, intrigued. "And they get stronger?"

She nodded. "Every time a Shadowhunter kills a being, traces of their soul essence are left behind. Over time, that essence strengthens the Shadowhunter's own soul, which in turn enhances their runes."

Zane was silent for a moment. "So, runes are more than just tools, they're a reflection of a Shadowhunter's growth and the type of fighter they are."

"Exactly."

He glanced at her again, this time with more consideration. "What would you recommend for me?"

Mia's fingers froze on the page. She looked at him, genuinely surprised. "You're asking me?"

"Yeah. Did i say something wrong? You are kind of my mentor right now"

She hesitated, then closed the book slightly. "Rune decisions should only be made between Shadow Partners."

Zane raised a brow. "Shadow Partners?"

"It's a permanent bond," she said, watching him closely. "Two Shadowhunters who swear loyalty to one another, fighting and growing together. They make decisions about each other's runes, train together, and rely on each other completely."

He studied her. "And you don't have one?"

She exhaled, looking away for a brief second. "I haven't found the right person."

"Because?"

Mia's lips pressed into a thin line before she finally answered. "Because my goals are bigger than most Shadowhunters can comprehend."

Zane didn't say anything at first, but he understood. She wasn't looking for just anyone. She was looking for someone who could match her ambition.

Finally, she let out a breath and refocused. "Anyway, for you, I'd recommend starting with just one. Your soul has been through a lot, and even though you have potential, we need to be careful."

He nodded. "Which one?"

She looked at him like she was testing him "Depends, what do you want?" she continued before he could speak "Do you want to be a front line attacker? or someone who launches attack from the back, or do you want to support others, or defend, each of them have runes that help achieve your goal, so i'll ask again what do you want?"

He sat quietly and thought about it, his first rune will show what he prioritized most and will be what he built his future on. Should he focus on strength, or something that increased his speed? He was sure there would probably even be a rune that will turn him invisible if he asked, but none of that felt right for his first rune, maybe later he could focus on them but for how he wanted to survive and so he made his choice.

"I want rune that will make me almost unkillable on the field, i aim to be the strongest possible warrior that specializes in everything because in the world i come from anything less will get you killed and so i want to increase my chances of surviving anything thrown at me"

"That's a great choice" she said and she suddenly gave him a dazzling smile that made his heart skip a beat. His eyes widened in shock as he watched her pull of her shirt to leave only her bra on.

Was she that happy with his answer? he wanted to ask but her twin peaks captivated more at the moment. He always considered himself an ass man as he couldn't even understand how one could crave boobs that much but now he understood, and he understood it well.

"The Restore rune," she said as she pointed above her boobs. "One of the strongest runes a shadow hunter can hold and can only be used by hunters created by using high demon and angel blood. This rune is like an upgraded version of the heal rune and can reverse any damage done to your body or soul though it is more taxing on your soul, with this you will be almost unkillable as long as you have shadow essence and you aren't killed before you can activate it."

Zane met her gaze. "Then let's go with that."

Mia held his stare for a moment longer, "Why, you might injure your soul trying to handle this. Is it because i said i have it? if then...."

"Mia" He interrupted then reached for the book again then smiled. 

"I've made my decision"

"Very well" She said as she made whispered something to herself.

Zane smiled inwardly as he heard it, it seems his choice resonated with her and earned him a few brownie point.

"Please lay on your back" She said indifferently as she tossed her shirt aside and then dropped the book after studying it.

He wanted to make a small sexual joke at the comment but quickly forgot what he was going to say when she climbed on him and sat directly on his crotch area. Zane considered himself a strong man but seeing an goddess like woman half naked and on his crotch was testing his will immensely.

"So soft" he whispered as he moved his waist a little, he could feel! but then he felt a pinch that temporarily sent him out of the heaven he was experiencing

"Öww" he glared at her but she ignored it "Don't get the wrong idea, it's simply easier to draw it this way, it has to be on your heart region for it to produce the best result"

He wanted to ask her if she had drawn it for other men but then thought against it, first while he had already shown his interest the best she had shown was a tendency for them to be friends nothing yet romantic.

Second he really didn't want to know the answer to that question, he wasn't sure his heart could take it.

"The process of runing is straightforward, but not pleasant," Mia said not at all concerned about the young mans expression. "First, we need shadow essence."

She raised her hand, and to Zane's astonishment, her shadow suddenly writhed and detached from the floor. It slithered up her arm like living ink, pooling into her palm before solidifying into a sharp, pen-like shape.

"That's… unsettling," Zane murmured, staring at the dark instrument with wary curiosity.

"What you thought the shadow in our names was for nothing? Mia smirked. "Shadow essence is what binds the rune to your soul. Without it, the rune would be nothing more than marks on flesh."

Zane nodded, bracing himself. He had endured immense pain before. This wouldn't be anything new.

The moment the pointed tip of her shadow essence touched his skin, white-hot agony seared through him.

His entire body tensed like a steel wire stretched to its breaking point. The pain was so absurdly intense that he instantly forgot the softness of Mia's ass on him. His vision blurred. His breathing halted. Yet, through sheer willpower, he managed not to throw her off him. He didn't even scream—his body simply vibrated violently against the bed in silent torment.

"Endure it," Mia instructed, her voice a little bit oddly shaky as she continued drawing the rune. "It's just pain."

He barely heard her. The burning sensation spread from his chest, carving deep into his very being. He swore he could feel the rune etching itself not just onto his flesh, but into his soul.

With the pain wracking him, he forced himself to glance at Mia. Just from what he could see, she bore more than five runes. That meant she had undergone this excruciating process multiple times.

What kind of monster was she?

The process continued, stretching beyond his ability to measure time. He had no idea how long he endured the agony, only that each second felt eternal. Eventually, however, the pain began to wane, dissipating as if it had never existed. In its place, he felt an odd heaviness deep within him—a strange, dense presence he could not quite grasp. He theorized it was the rune on his soul. It wasn't unbearable, just… foreign. But he knew he would adapt.

He exhaled slowly, finally opening his eyes.

Mia was still straddling him, sweat trailing down her neck and down to her boobs. The effort of drawing the rune had clearly drained her. But as their eyes met, Zane became painfully aware of their compromising position. And worse, his member was fully active now.

"What is...."

For a moment, Mia remained oblivious. Then, realization struck her like lightning. Her usually icy exterior cracked in sheer horror.

She tensed.

Froze.

Then, without another word, she practically leapt off him, moving with such speed that she nearly stumbled. She was out of the room in seconds, vanishing down the hall before he could even process what had happened.

She had even forgotten the book.

Zane lay there, staring at the ceiling, his mind catching up to the chaotic sequence of events.

What he didn't notice was the damp spot on his trousers on the place she had sat.

"…Well, that happened," he muttered.

A restore rune, huh?

He smirked to himself.

At least he wouldn't die easily now.