Three days had passed since Arthur and Beli began studying the runes that anchored the ghost's essence.
Progress was steady, though fraught with trial and error, as they tested combinations of symbols to stabilize the connection. The camp bustled on as usual, the rest of the crew oblivious to the delicate balance of magic and willpower at play.
Arthur adjusted his grip on the practice sword, his strikes measured but lacking urgency, his attention clearly divided. "Look..." He began, his tone carrying both frustration and thoughtfulness.
"The runes are a temporary solution, not a declaration of Beli's existence. 'Not' and 'without' aren't elegant, but they do what's required, they anchor his essence to something tangible. If he has better suggestions, he can carve them himself once he figures out how."
