Elric slowly channeled a stream of psychic energy into the space ring on his finger.
The surface of the silver-white ring shimmered faintly with a soft glow.
Moments later, a small carving knife appeared in his hand.
The entire knife was black, with a subtle gleam along the blade, giving it a mysterious yet unassuming look.
Although the blade was small, it was incredibly sharp, reflecting a cold glint even in the dim light, exuding an aura of lethality.
Next, he carefully retrieved a deep red stone tablet from his space ring.
The surface of the tablet was covered with numerous small holes, scattered irregularly, bearing the marks of erosion from the passage of time.
The edges were rough, but despite its small size, it was surprisingly heavy.
Though only about the size of a palm, Elric could feel its weight in his hand.
Taking a deep breath, he gripped the black carving knife tightly.
Red Horse glanced at the knife in Elric's hand and commented with a calm tone, "Hmm, a level-one carving knife.
Not bad for a beginner like you."
His tone was casual, but it carried a hint of expertise.
Elric was puzzled by the unfamiliar term "level-one carving knife," and blinked in confusion.
"Level-one carving knife?" he asked, not familiar with the terminology.
Seeing Elric's confusion, Red Horse patiently explained, "Yes, carving knives are made from different materials.
The rarer the material, the higher the grade, with level nine being the highest.
A level-one carving knife, like the one you're holding, is the most basic, but it's more than enough for a beginner."
He continued, "A good carving knife or sigil pen is as important to a sigilist as a warrior's sword.
The carving knife isn't just a tool—it's a bridge between you and the runes.
It significantly enhances the precision and power of your sigils."
Elric nodded thoughtfully, his eyes fixed on the carving knife in his hand, now understanding its importance.
He had purchased this knife for a low price at the market just a few days ago.
"What should I do next?" he asked.
Red Horse, standing in the damp cave with his eyes fixed on Elric, slowly replied, "You should first familiarize yourself with the carving knife.
Place one hand on it and channel your psychic energy into it."
Elric nodded, feeling a bit nervous.
He gently touched the cold, sharp surface of the knife, sensing its metallic coolness under his fingers.
Closing his eyes, he began to gather the psychic energy within his body.
The pale energy flowed slowly, like a calm stream.
His palm glowed faintly as the psychic energy began to gather.
At the point where his palm touched the carving knife, the energy was gradually absorbed into it.
Elric could clearly feel the energy hesitate for a moment as it reached his palm.
But then, it seemed as though a strong force within the knife pulled it in, causing the energy to surge from his palm into the knife.
In an instant, the knife in his hand began to vibrate violently, as if it had been awakened.
The once dull blade now flickered with a strange, cold light.
Startled, Elric instinctively wanted to pull his hand back.
But he forced himself to stay calm, feeling the strange connection forming between his hand and the knife.
Despite the intense vibrations, Elric felt no pain.
On the contrary, the flow of energy seemed to become smoother, as if the knife were absorbing it, merging with his psychic power.
He took a deep breath, pushing down his alarm, focusing on the reaction of the knife.
Gradually, the vibrations began to subside, and the flow of energy became more natural.
Red Horse, observing from the side, nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.
"Good. Keep your focus!" he said sternly, watching Elric closely.
Elric, following his instructions, gradually steadied his mind.
As time passed, his sensitivity to the flow of energy increased.
He could now clearly feel the path the energy took as it moved through the knife.
The psychic energy and the knife were becoming attuned.
After about ten minutes of this intense concentration, Elric finally exhaled and opened his eyes, feeling a sense of relief.
"Did I do it?" he asked.
Red Horse, surprised by Elric's quick success, asked with a hint of disbelief, "You already finished?"
He had expected Elric to take much longer to master the process.
Seeing Elric nod in confirmation, Red Horse couldn't help but feel a silent admiration.
When Red Horse had first connected with a carving knife, it had taken him nearly half an hour.
But Elric had completed the process in just ten minutes, a testament to his exceptional talent.
"Not bad at all. It seems you're more talented than I thought," Red Horse murmured, with a hint of respect in his voice.
"And now?" Elric asked, awaiting Red Horse's next instruction.
"Alright…"
Red Horse nodded with satisfaction and reached out to touch Elric's forehead with his finger.
A wave of information quickly flowed into Elric's mind, unfolding like a stream.
"This is the method for inscribing a healing sigil that I devised myself.
Give it a try. I'll guide you in controlling the knife's pressure."
Red Horse's voice was steady.
Elric closed his eyes slightly, sensing the new information now filling his mind.
The patterns, steps, and principles of energy manipulation for the sigil began to take shape in his awareness.
He nodded slightly, silently memorizing the steps.
"Light at first, then heavy, extending outward in a smooth flow…"
He recited the steps in his mind, trying to synchronize his memory with his actions.
Taking another deep breath, Elric focused, his expression serious.
He gently placed the carving knife on the red stone tablet, carefully making the first incision.
However, he still hadn't fully mastered the pressure needed for the knife, and the overly forceful stroke left a deep cut in the stone.
Elric smiled awkwardly, feeling slightly embarrassed by the obvious mistake.
He had hoped to execute the sigil smoothly, but it was clear that the difficulty of sigil engraving was beyond his expectations.
Red Horse stepped closer and patted Elric on the shoulder.
"Don't rush. This is normal. Relax a bit—the psychic energy should flow naturally with the rhythm of the knife."
Elric took a deep breath, pushing down his impatience, and refocused.
Red Horse continued his guidance.
"The first step is light—the core of the rune. Remember, keep your hand light, and your energy steady. Don't rush the strokes.
Try guiding the knife with your psychic energy instead of relying solely on your hand."
Elric nodded, adjusting his approach. Once again, he let his energy flow into the carving knife.
This time, his touch was lighter, and the psychic energy flowed more precisely as the knife moved.
Carefully, he inscribed the next line of the rune, and slowly, the outline of the sigil began to form on the stone.
As Elric's focus deepened, his mind grew calmer, and he fully immersed himself in the process of engraving the sigil.
"Keep going," Red Horse said calmly.
Elric swallowed nervously, feeling the pressure build.
He gathered his energy once more, attempting to continue the engraving process.
"You're going too fast," Red Horse reminded him, keeping a close eye on Elric's hand.
Elric wiped the sweat from his brow, realizing how challenging this process truly was.
He continued to adjust his rhythm and the flow of psychic energy.
His hands were sweaty, and the energy drained steadily, each engraving taking its toll.
After many failed attempts, the stone was covered with scorched rune marks.
The deep cuts and broken lines of the failed sigils clearly showed his inexperience.
After hours of practice, Elric had ruined over twenty sigil markings on the stone tablet.
His fingers were growing numb, and his arms ached.
Finally, after repeated failures, Elric began to feel something click into place.
His coordination with the knife started to stabilize, and the energy flowed more smoothly with each stroke.
The rune lines were no longer rigid or broken, but began to flow smoothly and with precision.
"Ah…"
Elric exhaled a long breath, his body tired but his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Red Horse nodded approvingly, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Not bad. Your control over your psychic energy has improved.