The Runes, those are mysterious symbols he'd studied extensively at the academy. Runes, he recalled, were said to be the very essence of power, created by the One True Creator when He formed this world. Each Rune held a particular command over nature's elements and forces, existing as part of a divine language that imbued the world with life and order.
The most common and practical were the elemental Runes, like Fehu for fire and Laguz for water, which mages wielded to manipulate and enhancing their respective elements.
However, there was nothing simple about learning them. Attempting to focus on Runes placed huge mental strain on most mages, almost like gazing directly at the sun. The pressure could scar the mind, leaving only the most determined or talented mages able to retain and use their forms.
Fortunately for Aedan, Runes came as naturally to him as breathing, for some reason. He had already memorized two of the elemental Runes in his second year of the Academy with ease – the Fehu and Laguz – a talent considered prodigious. Yet, his talent felt stifled by the curse blocking him from manipulating the Mana needed to cast even the simplest of spells.
So here he was, with one of the most powerful knowledge in the world but no way to apply it. His understanding remained a frustrating puzzle he couldn't put together, at least, not yet.
"I'll go fetch that rune-caster for you. We've got a few tucked away. Consider it your welcome gift," Mara said.
She exited with a nod the door closed behind her.
Aedan studied the weapon on the table then began to disassembling it once again, carefully examining each intricate part. He was beginning to recognize the mechanism piece by piece in that short amount of time. He hoped that with the Rune-caster, he could make real progress in understanding how this technology could merge with magic. He can't found the black powder yet which is the material that made this cylindrical thing let out its destructive power. It maybe some kind of Alchemy, but he don't know for sure.
After about ten minutes, the door creaked open. Aedan thought that was pretty quick. Mara strode in carrying a stack of supplies in her arms: a notebook, a pot of ink, a pen, and the most anticipated item — the Rune-caster.
Aedan's eyes widened as he took in the appearance of the Rune-caster. The device looked like an ornate pen, crafted from high-quality wood and pure silver. Its pointed tip was slender and sharp, resembling a blade, and it shimmered faintly under the light, hinting at the magical properties woven into it. Near its base was an odd, needle-like component that looked both out of place and entirely necessary. Mara definitely got it from stealing.
"So… here's everything you asked for," Mara announced, setting the items on the table with a casual air. "The Rune-caster should work fine, but I'm guessing you already know how to handle one?"
Aedan ran his fingers over the Rune-caster, admiring its craftsmanship. "I've studied them, but I've never actually used one." He tilted it, catching the light on its silvery edge. "The needle… it needs to be inserted into my hand, right?"
Mara nodded, her expression curious as she watched him examine the device. "Yeah, I've heard how it work, that thing absorbs your 'understanding' of the Rune you want to imprint. If you don't truly know the Rune, it just… won't work."
Aedan frowned slightly, contemplating the intricacies of this tool. He could understand memorizing Runes, but he'd never quite grasped how a Rune-caster could interpret the knowledge and bind it to physical items. It was like capturing thought itself and imprinting it. This device was a magic that lay beyond his comprehension for now. He could only assume it was some form of ancient enchantment, woven by the world's most skilled artisans. That's why this thing is very expensive.
"So," Mara said with a grin, "care to give it a try now?"
Aedan took a breath, rolling up his sleeve as he held the Rune-caster with a newfound determination.
He steadied himself while holding the Rune-caster with as he prepared to engrave the Fehu Rune onto a small square of parchment.
He explained his cautious approach to Mara, saying, "I can't risk carving directly onto the weapon's surface just yet. I'm worried I could damage it, or worse, make it unstable. So, I'll try imprinting the Rune here instead and put this in it later."
Mara crossed her arms, watching with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.
"You're just sticking a Rune on a slip of paper and taping it to the weapon? Do you really think that'll work?" Mara asked.
"It might," Aedan said, choosing his words carefully. "Weapons from this world need a mage to channel the Rune's power, but this one is different. I don't know how yet, but I think it already has a form of power."
He nodded to the weapon's cylinder. "It has its own fuel of attack in those small metal cylinders. Maybe the Rune will enhancing the energy already inside it."
She gave a half-hearted shrug. "It's your experiment. Go for it."
He took a breath and carefully pressed the Rune-caster to the parchment. Focusing intently on Fehu's symbol in his mind, he began to trace its intricate lines.
A sharp pressure tugged at his mind, a familiar strain that had always accompanied Rune engraving. Unlike other mages, though, Aedan could handle the strain — he felt his awareness pulse and throb as he poured his understanding into each stroke.
Once finished, he set the pen down and examined the result. The Rune shimmered faintly, its fiery essence captured on the page. He carefully placed the Rune-imprinted paper onto the weapon's handle where the cylinder are stored, fastening it in place.
"Now, let's see if this holds," Aedan murmured, glancing at Mara.
She leaned closer, curious but also guarded.
Mara tilted her head. "So, what now?"
Aedan braced himself, feeling a nervous energy stir in his chest. "If it works, this Rune should bind just enough to trigger an elemental reaction."
He took a deep breath try to contain his beating heart.
Aedan glanced at Mara. "I need to test this somewhere isolated."
With a nod, Mara gestured down the path. "Follow me. There's a chasm on the far side of the village where no one ever goes."
Lira, spotting the two as they headed out, perked up with excitement.
"Are you testing the weapon?" she asked, jogging over to join them.
Mara grinned. "Yep, let's go!"
A spark of curiosity ignited in Lira's eyes, and she fell into step with them. They moved quietly through the dense forest until they finally reached the chasm — a massive, rugged gap in the earth surrounded by towering trees.
Aedan drew the weapon and took a steadying breath. Lira and Mara stepped back as he positioned himself, bracing for the recoil he'd felt last time.
With a quick squeeze of the trigger, the weapon fired.
BANG!
An enormous blast burst forth from the barrel. This time, the recoil hit him like a battering ram and launching him backward. He tumbled across the ground, feeling dirt and rocks scrape against him before he finally stopped, sprawled out on his back.
BOOM!
An explosive boom echoed through the forest, followed by a wave of heat. Aedan struggled upright, blinking through the shock. As he looked ahead, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Where he had aimed was now a raging inferno, flames licking high and casting an orange glow across the trees.
Mara's jaw dropped. "Uh... Aedan, you meant for that to happen?"
"No... Not like that," Aedan muttered, eyes still glued to the fiery chasm.
It was like an attack from a Rank 3 mage. Which obviously, he wasn't one before.
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