Arthur knelt beside the remains of the Ironclaw Behemoth, his breath misting in the cold air. The beast's massive carcass lay sprawled across the snow, its fur thick and matted, its claws sharp as daggers. The battle had been brutal, but its end had brought an unexpected opportunity. Arthur had always been resourceful, but even he couldn't have imagined what would come from the Behemoth's remains. Now, as he surveyed the monster's body, his mind buzzed with possibilities. He had already decided he would make weapons from its claws and armor from its fur, but that would come later. For now, the priority was ensuring the magical materials didn't decay before he had a chance to use them.
The Behemoth's fur, as magical as it was durable, would serve as both armor and clothing. The claws, on the other hand, would make excellent weaponry. Arthur had already gathered a substantial portion of the creature's flesh, carefully packing it in what supplies he had determined to preserve it. The magical nature of the Behemoth's body allowed him to store the meat without worrying about it spoiling, a small comfort as he considered the work ahead.
With a grunt, Arthur stood and wiped the sweat from his brow. The tower where he had found refuge had become his makeshift workshop. It wasn't ideal, but it was functional enough. It had been a few days since the Behemoth's death, and over the course of the next several weeks, Arthur had brought its meat back to Eamon's home, where it would be used for their meals. The blood, though, was the most important part. He had stored it carefully, knowing its potential. Monster blood could increase the effects of any runes he drenched in the blood as he made them. It also was much easier to write runes on materials like leather than carving into it with his knife, even if not carving lowered the effectiveness. He would save it for when he was ready to begin crafting, once he had the proper tools. For now, though, his focus shifted.
The next three months would be dedicated to learning more about the runes he had discovered. The book that had led him to this point was still an enigma, written in a language he could barely comprehend. But the pictures, the illustrations, and his own growing knowledge allowed him to piece together the meaning of the symbols.
The first rune he had successfully learned, Aegis, was still fresh in his mind. The frustration he had endured in trying to etch the complex symbol was now distant, replaced by a feeling of accomplishment. But with each new rune, he realized the learning process was easier than before. Perhaps it was the experience gained from Aegis, or maybe the runes themselves were just simpler. Whatever the reason, it was a relief not to struggle so much.
Virelith, the sharpness rune, was the next one he tackled. He spent hours pouring over the rune's illustration, practicing over and over until his hands had learned the motions. The rune's purpose was clear, when drawn, it would make whatever it marked sharper. He had carved it into a scrap piece of wood as a test, and once the lines were etched, he carefully ran his fingers over the marks. The wood felt different under his touch. The edges were crisper, sharper. He grinned, feeling the satisfying weight of success.
With his confidence bolstered, he moved on to the next rune: Thaelios, the binding rune. This one was a bit trickier. It wasn't about sharpening or enhancing; it was about control, about holding something together. He traced the lines of the rune, focusing on his breathing, making sure the strokes were smooth and steady. When finished, he could feel the subtle power in his gloves, where he had etched the symbol. It wasn't visible, but it was there—his grip was firmer, his fingers more sure. He tested it by holding his sword, his grip unyielding, even when the handle was slick with water. This was a useful rune, he realized, one that would be a huge help in making sure he didn't have his weapon out of his hands.
Next, there was Emberis. This heating rune would prove invaluable in the harsh conditions of Ashlynd, where the cold was a constant threat. He etched the rune into his cloak, and as he did, a small warmth began to radiate from the fabric. At first, it was subtle, a gentle heat, unlike Igni which was a strong fire, that made the material feel more comfortable against his skin. But as he continued to work, the warmth grew, enough to make his clothes feel like a shield against the bitter chill outside. Emberis had more applications than just clothing, too. He could etch it into tools, and weapons, even around the tower, and the heat would help stave off the relentless cold.
The last rune he learned during this time was Terrak, the Impact rune. This rune released a powerful force when activated, akin to a concentrated pulse. Arthur found this rune fascinating, though mastering it took more effort than the others. The process of channeling raw force through a blade was unlike anything he'd experienced. As he etched the final line of the rune, he felt the weapon grow heavier in his hand, almost as though it carried the weight of the force it would unleash. Testing it, he drew the sword deliberately from its sheath and focused. The pulse activated, sending a controlled shock outward from the blade. The force rippled through the weapon, jolting his grip and pushing the blade back slightly, a warning that it would take more than strength to wield this power effectively.
With these new runes under his belt, Arthur turned his attention back to his gear. He had been carrying the knowledge of the runes for some time now, but it was time to put that knowledge to use. The first step was the knives. They were his most trusted tools, and he had etched Virelith into each of them. The sharpness rune now made their edges sharper than ever. He tested one, running the blade through a piece of wood. The cut was clean, precise, and almost effortless. The rune had worked exactly as intended.
His gloves were next. He had etched Thaelios into both of them, and the improvement was immediate. His grip, once a little uncertain, was now firm and unyielding. It was a subtle change, but in combat, it would make all the difference. No longer would he have to worry about weapons slipping or losing his grip in the middle of a fight.
Arthur turned to his cloak next. The Emberis rune was already in place, and he had etched the heating rune into his boots and gloves as well. The warmth was welcome in the bitter cold of the outside world, and it allowed him to move more freely without the weight of frost constantly gnawing at his limbs. The northlands were the coldest place in all of Ashlynd, but Arthur now felt prepared to face whatever came his way. All of his clothing also received the Aegis rune, which enhanced the protectiveness of the material.
Next, he moved to his sword. The sword that now held three runes was his masterpiece, on one side blade near the hilt was the Igni rune. The edge of the sword was where he carved the Virelith rune. Its blade was sharper than ever with the rune enhancing it. The Terrak rune alongside the spine of this sword and let him create pulses nearby as long as it was close to the sword.
The greatsword, however, still remained untouched. Despite all the runes he had successfully etched into his other weapons, he knew he needed more time to learn about the strange metal it was made from. For now, he was content to let it rest against the wall, a reminder of the potential power waiting to be unlocked.
Arthur sat down on a nearby stool, looking over his newly engraved weapons and gear. The last three months had been intense, but they had yielded results. His knives, sword, gloves, and clothing were all better for the runes he had etched into them. He had improved his combat ability, his ability to withstand the cold, and his control over his weapons. The Behemoth's remains, while still unused, were a reminder of what was to come, his future armor and weapons were waiting, but for now, the runes were enough. He also made the decision to leave in five months instead of six so he could make it to a larger village where he could put the materials to use and have them ready before his schooling started. This meant he only had two more months before he left.
He stood, stretching his stiff muscles, and moved toward the door of the tower. The wind howled outside, but the warmth he felt from his clothing, along the weight of his sharpened weapons in his hands, made him feel ready for whatever the world had in store.
As he stepped outside, the cold air hit him, but it didn't seem so oppressive anymore. His clothes were warm, his gear was sharp, and his mind was focused. There was more work to do, more runes to learn, and more battles to face. But for now, he was prepared.