As soon as the tongs inside the furnace reached the ideal temperature, I grabbed the crystal and placed it on the table. It was time to inscribe the runes.
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. My spiritual energy was already scarce, and I knew that any mistake would cost me not only time but also my endurance.
With one hand over the crystal and the other drawing symbols on it with the tongs, I began to chant the incantations I had memorized. My voice echoed softly in the room, each syllable charged with precise intent to imbue the runes with power.
At that moment, I felt a faint vibration in the crystal—a sign that my magic was being absorbed. But along with it came the inevitable drain on my spiritual energy. My body trembled slightly, a chill ran down my spine, and my vision darkened at the edges.
I gritted my teeth and pressed on. This was only the first step.
