Chapter 2: Small Sparks and Greater Failures
Reyn's discovery of his ability to conjure a faint flame ignited a burning curiosity within him. From that moment on, he devoted every free moment to experimenting with what little magic knowledge he had, attempting to recreate that brief spark of blue fire. Unfortunately, the path of magic was not as simple as swinging a hammer. It was elusive and finicky, often slipping from his grasp when he thought he was on the verge of understanding it.
His failures were frequent and frustrating. Sometimes, no spark would come at all; other times, he would produce a burst of heat without flame, or a dim light that fizzled out almost immediately. He tried different materials and whispered new phrases, mimicking spells he heard the knights or mages recite in the market. Each attempt left him tired and empty-handed, a reminder that magic was not easily mastered.
Despite his setbacks, Reyn refused to give up. He practiced in secret at the forge, always late at night when the shop was quiet, and the embers glowed faintly in the dark. He tried using different types of metal, experimenting with various heat levels, and even whispered words in languages he barely understood, hoping they might unlock some hidden power. But the more he tried, the more he realized just how little he knew about magic. It was an art as complex as smithing, and without proper guidance, he was fumbling in the dark.
One day, while Reyn was practicing conjuring a flame that stubbornly refused to appear, his childhood friend, Liora, showed up at the forge. Liora was a lively girl with a knack for finding odd things in the city, and her parents often brought her to the shop when visiting Garvin and Elara. She had been Reyn's closest friend since they were young, always eager to join him on little adventures or lend a hand with whatever project he was working on.
Liora's green eyes sparkled with mischief as she pulled a tattered book from her satchel and handed it to him. "Found this in a pile of rubbish outside the noble district," she said. "Figured you might like it."
Reyn took the book, his curiosity piqued. The cover was worn and the title barely legible, but when he opened it, he saw pages filled with simple diagrams and strange symbols. "Basic Runes and Their Applications," the faded letters read on the first page. His heart skipped a beat.
"How did you find this?" Reyn asked, glancing back at Liora with a mix of disbelief and excitement.
She shrugged nonchalantly. "The nobles throw away all kinds of stuff. You'd be surprised what people get rid of when they don't know its value. I thought you could use it, seeing how you're always trying to do that magic stuff."
Reyn grinned, grateful for the unexpected gift. "This could really help, Liora. Thank you."
With the book in hand, Reyn threw himself into his practice with renewed vigor. The basic runes described within were simple enough for him to comprehend, providing the first real instructions he'd ever had. The book explained that runes could be carved into objects or traced in the air to channel magical energy in specific ways. It was like discovering a new tool in the forge, and Reyn eagerly began experimenting, following the diagrams and incantations as best as he could.
His initial attempts were met with limited success. He traced the runes in the air, whispering the proper incantations, but the results were underwhelming—a faint shimmer here, a small spark there. He tried carving a simple rune into a piece of metal, only for it to flare up and then go dull again. Still, it was progress. Each tiny success, however small, kept his determination alive.
Failures, however, were abundant. One day, he attempted a more complex rune sequence on a scrap piece of iron, hoping to produce a sustained flame. Instead, the rune backfired, creating a burst of heat that scorched his hands. His palms stung for days afterward, a painful reminder of his mistakes. Another time, he managed to create a glowing rune in the air, only to have it flicker out just as he thought he'd figured it out. The book spoke of focusing one's will and channeling energy steadily, but for Reyn, it was like trying to control the flow of a river with his bare hands.
Liora often sat nearby during his experiments, offering words of encouragement or teasing him whenever a spell failed to manifest. She didn't understand magic any more than he did, but she admired his determination. "Maybe you're overthinking it," she said one afternoon, after a particularly frustrating session. "You always talk about how smithing feels like instinct. Maybe magic's the same way."
Reyn considered her words. He had always approached smithing as an art that combined skill and intuition. Perhaps his failures in magic were because he was treating it too much like an exact science, trying to force it into submission rather than letting it flow naturally.
The next time he practiced, he let go of his rigid focus. Instead of concentrating solely on the runes and words, he thought of magic as a natural extension of his will. He closed his eyes, breathed in deeply, and imagined the magic flowing from within him, like molten metal being poured into a mold. He traced the simplest rune he had learned—a basic symbol for "fire"—and this time, instead of straining to create the flame, he let his desire for the flame guide him.
To his delight, a small but steady flicker appeared above the rune, burning bright for several moments before fading away. It wasn't much, but it was more than he had ever managed before.
Liora clapped him on the shoulder. "See? You've just got to trust yourself a bit more. Who knows? Maybe you'll be a famous mage-smith one day."
Reyn chuckled at the thought. "That's the plan," he said, a new sense of resolve blooming within him. If he could master even the most basic runes, then it was a step toward crafting magical weapons unlike anything this world had ever seen. He still had a long way to go, and the road was bound to be fraught with more failures. But he now had the knowledge he needed to start, a friend who believed in him, and the determination to succeed.
at the forge late at night, practicing the fire rune over and over, the little flickers gradually growing more stable with each attempt. For the first time, it feels like the magic is no longer a foreign force but something he can shape and control, like metal under his hammer. As the flame dances before him, he feels a surge of pride and hope.
He was still a long way from mastering magic, but with each spark, he was one step closer to realizing his dream.
Reyn's magic practice had become a daily ritual, but his thirst for knowledge was far from quenched. While the book of basic runes was a valuable start, Reyn knew that if he wanted to go beyond simple spells, he would need more—more books, more materials, and more understanding of this world's magic. Liora, ever curious and eager for adventure, suggested they explore the outskirts of the noble district again. If one discarded book had proven useful, perhaps there were other hidden treasures waiting to be found.
One sunny afternoon, Reyn and Liora set out on their little expedition, weaving through the winding streets of the Duke's city. The noble district stood in contrast to the rest of the city, its grand architecture and well-kept gardens setting it apart. They didn't plan to sneak into the noble's quarters; Reyn and Liora were well aware of the guards who patrolled the area. Instead, they focused on the alleys and back streets near the district's outer walls, where servants discarded things that were no longer deemed valuable.
The streets buzzed with life as the duo moved away from the market square. There was an air of both luxury and indifference in the outskirts of the noble district; lavish items were thrown away without a second thought, discarded alongside ordinary waste. They found broken trinkets, cracked vials that once held potions, and worn scrolls containing faded inscriptions. Most of it was useless or too damaged to be of any help, but they kept searching, hoping to uncover something worth keeping.
As they rummaged through an abandoned pile of old books and parchment, Reyn's attention was caught by the distant sound of conversation. His ears perked up at the mention of monsters, and he motioned for Liora to follow him as he crept closer to the source. Around the corner, two knights were speaking near the city gates, their voices carrying over the clamor of the city streets.
"Another pack of shadow wolves was spotted near the edge of the forest," one knight said, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "They're getting bolder, venturing closer to the roads. Adventurers are being hired to keep them in check."
His companion nodded grimly. "And the trolls in the mountain pass aren't making things any easier. There've been reports of entire caravans going missing. If the Duke doesn't send a stronger force soon, it'll only get worse."
Reyn felt a thrill run through him. Monsters outside the city—shadow wolves, trolls, and other creatures—he had heard about them in passing, but he'd never considered just how close the danger truly was. The knights' words painted a vivid picture of the world beyond the city walls, a world filled with adventure, peril, and possibilities that extended far beyond the forge.
"Did you hear that?" Liora whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. "Real monsters, just outside the city. I wonder if any of those adventurers use magic weapons like the ones you want to make."
Reyn nodded, his mind racing. He had always dreamed of crafting weapons of legendary power, but to do so, he would need to understand what made these weapons special. What enchantments were needed to protect against creatures like shadow wolves or trolls? What runes could be used to amplify a blade's strength or allow it to strike with fire? The thought of it all made his heart pound with anticipation.
"Come on," Reyn said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's keep searching. There might be something here that could give us more clues about magic, or even about these monsters."
The two continued scouring the area, their spirits buoyed by the possibility of finding something truly useful. As they delved deeper into the back streets, Reyn stumbled across a wooden crate filled with old manuscripts. Most of the pages were covered in faded ink and incomprehensible scribbles, but one particular book stood out. It was bound in dark leather and bore the title, "Bestiary of the Northern Wilds." He picked it up and began flipping through the pages, finding illustrations and descriptions of various monsters, including shadow wolves, trolls, and even more exotic creatures he had never heard of.
"Liora, look at this," he called, showing her the book's contents. "It's a whole catalog of monsters. Maybe there's something in here that explains what kind of magic or weapons are effective against them."
She took the book from his hands and scanned a few pages. "This is perfect, Reyn! It's not a spellbook, but if we know what kind of creatures adventurers face, we could figure out what kind of enchantments would be most useful."
They decided to take the bestiary and a few other scrolls that seemed legible. As they made their way back home, their conversation was filled with speculation about the different monsters and the enchantments that might work against them. Reyn's imagination ran wild with ideas—blades that burned with the heat of dragonfire, armor that could ward off the bite of a shadow wolf, and even hammers that could shatter a troll's bones with a single strike.
Their adventure outside the noble district had given Reyn more than just knowledge of monsters; it had also fueled his desire to push his magical experiments further. He began to see the importance of creating weapons not just for their enchantments but for the specific threats they were meant to counter. His failures in magic seemed less daunting now, knowing that every small step brought him closer to crafting something truly remarkable.
The chapter closes with Reyn back at the forge, the bestiary open beside him as he sketches out ideas for new runes and enchantments. The words of the knights echo in his mind, reminding him of the dangers lurking just outside the city's walls. He feels a growing excitement, as if the forge fire itself had stoked the flames within him.
Reyn was no longer just practicing magic for its own sake; he was preparing himself for a world that extended far beyond the safety of the city.