Although Ezequiel only nodded at those words, he felt a tremendous weight lift off his shoulders, and his resolve to continue his journey in magical crafting intensified even more.
Having addressed that, Zatiel began to discuss the real reason he came here.
"I've completed my runes, and they're functioning perfectly within my body, so I've brought some to transfer into yours."
"Master, you've already finished!" Ezequiel was astonished at Zatiel's announcement.
Although he was sure his master would craft the runes, from what he understood, it would typically take someone extremely talented at least a week to complete a rune. To learn that Zatiel had crafted runes for both of them in merely four days was surprising.
This could be understandable if the runes were weaker and simpler, but knowing his master, Ezequiel was certain they must be powerful.
"Of course. Who do you think your master is?" Zatiel enjoyed seeing the boy continuously nod like a bird to his boastful remarks.
"The runes are named 'Aerial Walk' and 'Secondary Consciousness'. Their functions are self-explanatory from their names. You will understand how they operate more thoroughly as you use them. The first one will be embedded in your legs and the latter in the upper section of your spine. Prepare yourself."
"Yes, Master!" Ezequiel uncovered the parts where the runes would be placed and concentrated to avoid any errors.
Even though he wasn't well-versed in runes, he knew that embedding them involved intense pain since the runes had to not only lie on the surface of the recipient's body but also connect with their internal energy.
Zatiel began with 'Aerial Walk'. He placed the rune parchment, made of animal skin, against Ezequiel's legs. Once in place, he began channeling his energy into it. The moment the parchment was charged, the rune began to transfer from the skin, engraving itself onto Ezequiel's legs.
Ezequiel instantly experienced extreme pain, as if his legs were aflame, but he remained utterly still and maintained his focus throughout the process.
After a few minutes, the process was completed, leaving a tattoo pulsating with energy on the boy's legs.
"Test the rune before we proceed with the next one."
Knowing the next rune would be more difficult to transfer due to its placement, Zatiel wanted Ezequiel to relax a bit before they began.
Ezequiel nodded and directed his abyssal aura to his legs; the rune glowed as energy charged into it, and he immediately perceived its effects. As he walked, it felt like he was stepping on invisible stairs in the air. This newfound freedom reminded him of the birds he loved to watch, and a wave of emotion swept over him.
"Hahaha, this is amazing!"
Excited, Ezequiel leaped and moved around the room, never touching a solid surface.
Zatiel smiled, watching the usually reserved boy revel in his new ability, and decided to let him enjoy the moment.
Eventually, Ezequiel returned to Zatiel. Although he appeared the same as before, there was a subtle change in him.
"Thank you, Master!" Ezequiel expressed, his face relaxed, smiling, and his demeanor as if he'd fulfilled a long-cherished desire.
"Hahaha, little brat, there's no need to get so emotional. Now that you are ready, let's start with the next rune," Zatiel says, patting the boy.
"Yes." Ezequiel uncovers his back and regains his focus.
"I will begin. This one will be much more painful due to its proximity to your nerves. Brace yourself."
Zatiel placed the parchment on the boy's spine and initiated the process.
Ezequiel clenched his teeth, enduring the immense pain. The sensation was torturous, but he remained immobile throughout the entire transfer. Only when the process was completed was he finally able to relax.
"Try it out and let me know how it feels."
Ezequiel nodded and channeled his energy into the rune, beginning to feel as though there were two of him, although the other one seemed more 'simple' and thought in an entirely different way.
It felt strange initially, but as he continued using it, he realized its utility.
"Thanks, master, this will be very useful for my experiments," he decided to maintain this secondary consciousness to review his knowledge about magical crafting as he continued to talk to Zatiel.
"Good, you've understood the correct way of using it. That rune is not only helpful in battle but in all aspects of life. Now that you are ready, let's go to the first floor. It's time to attract some attention."
.....
Old Hal was resting at his desk. His job was fairly simple, so most of the time he was just sleeping, waiting for the next apprentice to show up. He had resigned to the fact that without a miracle, advancing to rank 1 was impossible, so he preferred relaxing over constant meditation.
As he rested in his chair, Zatiel and Ezequiel appeared before him.
"Hey, old man, I need to discuss something with you."
"It's you two, how can I assist you?"
Though lax in demeanor, Old Hal knew better than to offend certain people and responded to Zatiel with professionalism.
"I was wondering if you could disseminate information about some items I am selling to the people in the tower."
"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in being a middleman in a transaction."
"Are you certain? These items are valuable, and you could earn a percentage," Zatiel remarked, presenting two runes to the old man.
Initially, Old Hal showed no interest, accustomed to apprentices displaying inferior creations, but assessing these runes left him in shock.
"These are peak rank 0 runes! How is this possible? It hasn't even been a week since you asked for equipment to craft runes, and now you've created such valuable items."
"What can I say, I excel at crafting," Zatiel replied nonchalantly.
Old Hal stared at Zatiel as though he were a monster. 'Can someone like this exist? He returned unscathed after Arthur and his team pursued him and now demonstrates exceptional runemaster talent.'
"I don't wish to offend, but I'm not proficient in runes. How can I know the quality of these runes?"
Old Hal, though doubtful of Zatiel's intentions, couldn't completely dismiss the possibility of his achievements in such a short time.
"No worries, I came prepared. Little EZ."
Ezequiel activated 'Aerial Walk' on cue, moving swiftly through the air across the entire first floor, surprising the present disciples. He returned to Zatiel's side once his demonstration was done.
"So, are you convinced?"
"Yes, yes! My apologies for doubting you," Old Hal almost leapt from his chair in astonishment.
Observing his surroundings and the apprentices' expressions, Zatiel knew his plan was unfolding as intended. He sought Old Hal as the promoter of his runes due to his extensive knowledge of Zatiel's time in the tower, which would be beneficial when significant individuals showed interest in his runes.
"Keep the runes. Remember, disseminating information about the runes is more important to me than the selling price," Zatiel said as he began to leave. The risk of Old Hal deceiving him was negligible, and even if it occurred, it would mean only a few days of lost work.
Just as Zatiel and Ezequiel were about to exit the first floor, someone shouted at them.
"Wait!"