I looked at the rune that I drew on the paper. I've been practising drawing runes for a while now but never actually tried using it. First I wanted to get better at drawing runes good enough to even draw them with my eyes closed. The Rune Magic in this world was all shapes and symbols intertwined with each other. These symbols each represent one of the Great Sage's Dragon children or the lesser gods. That's why they have the power to draw mana. The most common and must for every rune was a Circle that represented the Great Sage Sol. The shapes and symbols were a simple thing on their own but together it was a mess. The tricky part here was to draw them. The more mana one wished to draw from his or her surroundings, the complex a rune got. The complex rune was the most difficult as it was hard to keep track of each symbol's dimensions in the rune. So the mathematical equations exist to make it easier. Each equation pertains to the symbol's dimensions where you can just put numbers to calculate the size and shape.
It was easy in theory but in practical, it was a hassle to keep track of each symbol in the rune and how it was connected to another. Then again, this was all considering that you managed to draw a proper rune without blowing yourself up amidst the battlefield.
In this world, The Rune Magic could be learned by anyone who is literate and has a basic understanding of mathematics and geometry. But there were very few successful rune magicians in this world, I could even count them on my hands. I say successful because the cases of a person trying to use rune magic and blowing themselves up were a common thing. Either they lost a limb or in the worst case, dead. Besides, Why use rune magic when you were born with innate magic so rune magic was only taught as a theory?
"Okay, It is a simple rune. I can't blow myself up for something as simple as that." I pep-talked myself.
I took a deep breath and sighed before drawing the last symbol to complete the rune. As soon as I finished the rune, it was like fitting the last puzzle piece into place, and the rune lit up. This was my first time completing a rune, all my drawings so far were incomplete, always missing the last part. But today I took that last step.
It was a simple fire-making rune but as soon as the rune lit up, my hands stung like I was burning them in the fire I just made. Startled by the pain, I lost all concentration and that misstep caused me to start an actual fire. I hurriedly tried to put out the fire by pouring water on it. I emptied the water jar in my room but it didn't put out the fire. When I was just thinking about bringing a bucket from my bathroom, I realised I should put the rune off. That's right, Once a rune was started, it could only be stopped when the controllers erased a part of it.
I looked at the floating rune in front of my face. My hands still stung so I quickly erased a line with a wave of my hand and the rune was gone. I sighed relieved of the pain in my hands and laid down in my bed.
Slowly a smile came onto my face and it soon turned into giggles as I kicked my pillows and blanket, rolling around in the bed. I made it! I finally was able to use the magic of this world. This feeling would last me a lifetime. Why does it matter when you were planning on leaving this place anyway, you ask? Okay then let me ask one thing in return, Would you be able to keep curiosity in check when your favourite fiction was right in front of you as your reality? I couldn't so here I am trying to do magic that I only dreamed about.
But what I didn't understand was the pain in my hands. I looked at my hands that were burning severely just a moment ago. Another fascinating thing was when you were drawing a rune, the tiniest mistake could make the rune blow up in your face and could cause fatal injuries and in worst cases, death but when you were stopping a rune, You could just erase a random part without care.
It was like once you tamed something, it was at your disposal. Or something of that sort.
Very Fascinating.
Now if only I was able to see what this pain was about, I could just get rid of it and use magic without any problems. I couldn't wait for it. So I stood up and barged out of my room in a hurry and my maids outside immediately followed after me.
The library. I should be able to find everything I want in that place.
As I walked into the deeper darker, dusty parts of the library, I caught sight of the restricted section. The door and the sign was a little dramatic so it caught my eyes the first time I visited this place as well. That little detour let me learn about Seth's ancestry.
Peregrines were a family that were formed by a demon's blood. However I didn't get to the part where and how it started. I couldn't help myself as if my legs had a mind of their own. But what surprised me was the whole section of the books. The books that related to the founding of the Peregrines were gone. The shelves were empty. It must be Seth who made sure there weren't any unnecessary rats, aka me, snooping around his family affairs. I couldn't help but pout. I was a little disappointed but It wasn't my actual goal for coming to the library today. No expectations were thwarted. No feelings were hurt. It was just a detour. So gathering my spirits back up, I walked out of the restricted sections then back to the Rune Theory sections.
"Where on earth am I supposed to start in this mess?" I asked as I looked at the rows and rows of shelves filled with books.
Longwei Laws of Mana
Grancis Theory
Mana and Magic
Rune Myst
Rule of Rune
Basic Runes
And the books went on and on about the Runes. That Grancis guy was still alive by the way. Though I wonder where he was wandering. Long life does make one person develop a sense of wanderlust in such a beautiful world where a few steps and you find yourself alone in grasslands or surrounded by trees and mountains. Peace was a step away unless you couldn't defend yourself and fall victim to a wild boar.
I picked up a few relevant titles and settled in the library for the rest of the day scourging through the materials and absorbing everything I read like a sponge would water.
Damn it! This is bad! Very very bad!
Grace Finley was born mana-deficient and because had no talent in rune magic, she gave up the idea of studying. So for more than two decades, she had zero contact with mana. Her body has no experience wielding mana, to be precise. So when I forcefully activated a basic rune, It stung my hands. If I had tried using a complex rune, then it would have burned my body. This was a sign that came close to the Mana Aversion condition. The deadly condition that Fern, Ivy's brother, had. Of course, my daily life would be normal given I would never wield even a wisp of mana.
"Good thing, I didn't wait any longer." I muttered to myself in a little relief. At least, starting at this point and slowly getting my body adapted to accepting mana from my surroundings would let me use rune magic without problems someday. Someday before I leave this place. Funny thing. I thought I would lose interest in this once I came across a wall because this life I'm living right now was ephemeral. But when I reached that bridge, I couldn't just give up. I wanted to walk across it, no matter how dangerously high it was from the ground and no matter how thin the plank was.
"Wait for what mother?"
"Ah!" My heart almost jumped out of my mouth when I heard that question. It's been a while since I saw a horror movie but who would have thought that I would experience one of my favourite scenes myself?
"You almost gave me a heart attack, Dearest." I said, taking Noah into my arms. Actually, he climbed into my lap by himself and settled there comfortably. It was a relief that he doesn't hesitate in front of me anymore. I'm so proud of him! I squeezed him in my arms and rubbed my cheek over his little head.
"Is it fun to read these books, Mother?" Cleo climbed the bench I was sitting on and hugged me from behind. His little arms around my shoulders and his body leaning on my back.
"Mn, A little?" I said after thinking for a moment.
"Why only a little?" Noah asked.
"Because I didn't like the answer I got for my question?" I said, swaying back and forth gently.
"I also don't like it when I am told that I shouldn't use a sword the way I like it." Cleo answered, solemnly shaking his head like it was some kind of travesty.
"That was because you were swinging it recklessly and almost got your wrist broken." Noah chastised, making me chuckle.
"I was only stating the truth." Noah added after being stared at by Cleo like he betrayed Cleo.
"Must you put it like that?" Cleo questioned back.
"Can't you say it more nicely?" He added. Noah only shrugged to Cleo's annoyance and the youngest twin dived trying to reach his brother from behind me. They struggled around me like a pair of kittens as they caught and dodged each other. In their squabble, they wrinkled my clothes and messed my hair. In just a few minutes I had strands of my hair falling out and I looked like I just survived a windstorm.
"Alright." I said smiling a little but they both were in their own world.
"That's enough." My words fell on deaf ears.
"Stop, before you hurt yourselves." I said again. But the little rascals had more to say.
"Noah is skipping swordsmanship classes in the name of not wanting to be around people but was actually off wandering around the old palace dungeon ruins!" Cleo announced.
"You were there too! You promised to keep it a secret!" Noah spoke like it was unfair for him to take all the blame.
"That was until you made fun of me, hmph!" Cleo turned away haughtily.
"I wasn't making fun of you." Noah was baffled.
"You always speak slowly in front of our mother, hiding everything. It was only me that was made fool of." Cleo pointed an accusing finger at Noah. By now, their fight was echoing inside the always-silent library that it already attracted a few eyes.
"I never hide anything from our mother. I always tell her the truth." Noah snapped back.
"Hah! Who are you trying to fool now? I was the one who always spoke his heart and was truthful, unlike someone. Mother loves me more." Cleo stated, folding his hand rightfully. With that, Noah jumped on his younger brother and they began rolling on the library floor holding each other's collars and hair. It was a full-on fight.
"That's it!" I slammed my book close and held the twins' ears each in my hands. I was being patient so far, weren't I? But these brats were testing its limits and I reached my limit before I knew it.
"It is nearing dinner time and you brats are ever so energetic." I glared at the two.
"But…" Noah was trailed off fidgeting.
"Follow me!" I ordered and the twins obediently walked behind me as I made my way to Seth's palace.
"I'm sorry, Mother." Noah was the first one to apologise and this only lit a fire under Cleo for some reason and they shot glares at each other. But I didn't speak a word until I slammed open Seth's office door.
"Do you want me to go and welcome him, Your Highness?" Jasper was asking by the time I entered.
"It is better to let him know that we are aware of his arrival but…" Seth trailed off as he looked at me. I don't know what kind of expression I was wearing but Seth raised a brow and looked behind me, at the twins.
"What is the matter?" Seth asked and was about to stand up but I walked and slammed my hand on his table startling him to sit back.
"You sons are infuriating!" I glared at Seth. It was only fair that the father does some work.
"I…" Seth looked behind me again.
"They are just energetic kids-" He changed his tune immediately which angered me even more and I cut his words slamming the table again.
"Then take care of those rascals yourself!" I snapped.
"I'm not speaking a word to you or your brat sons. Not even a word! No sir, Not. Today." I spat my anger with every word.
"Kind man as you are, put up with them and their antics." I scoffed.
"And you two!" I turned to the guilty-looking six-year-olds fidgeting.
"Sleep at your father's today." I turned away with those last words and left the place without another look behind me.