James's gaze darted to the cuffs encircling his wrists. The dull metal bands pulsed faintly with a rhythm that seemed almost alive, their surfaces engraved with intricate runes. Each rune glowed faintly, a mix of blue and silver lines interwoven into patterns he couldn't quite decipher but instinctively knew held immense power. Whatever magic Aria had used to bind him was no simple trick.
He shifted against the tree, wincing as the bark scraped against his back. His movements were slow, calculated. He didn't want to draw Aria's attention, not while she busied herself further away in the clearing. She was humming softly, her back turned, seemingly preoccupied with preparing something over a small fire. The rhythmic rise and fall of her voice only served to underscore her control of the situation. James's lips tightened into a thin line. He hated feeling powerless. But if these cuffs held the key to his restraint, then perhaps they also held the key to his escape.
With painstaking care, he tilted his wrists to get a better view of the runes. Each symbol seemed to pulse faintly, almost in time with his heartbeat. The longer he stared, the more patterns he began to notice. There were sequences, repetitions, and subtle variations. He'd never studied magic in depth, but the system-driven nature of this world had taught him to recognize patterns in skills and abilities. Perhaps these runes were no different.
Focus, he told himself. It's just another puzzle.
He closed his eyes briefly, drawing in a slow breath. The cuffs might be suppressing his magic, but they couldn't suppress his mind. If he could decipher even a fraction of what these runes did, he might be able to exploit a flaw. His fingers twitched as he began to trace the shapes mentally, committing each line and curve to memory. The runes seemed to shimmer more brightly when he focused on them, as though responding to his attention.
"You're too quiet," Aria's voice broke the silence, making James's heart lurch.
He forced a cough, feigning drowsiness. "What, you want me to sing or something?"
She turned, one brow arching in mild amusement. "Just making sure you're still alive."
"Barely," he muttered, shifting as though trying to find a more comfortable position. Aria's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned back to her work. He let out a quiet breath of relief.
As soon as her attention was elsewhere, James resumed his silent study. The runes were arranged in concentric patterns, each circle feeding into the next. It reminded him of the skill trees back in his old MMORPGs, where unlocking one ability often required understanding the prerequisites. If he could figure out the flow of energy between these runes, he might be able to disrupt it.
His thoughts drifted back to the system notifications he'd seen when acquiring new skills. The descriptions always emphasized intent—focus and deliberate action to shape the outcome. If the system operates on intent, maybe these runes do too, he reasoned.
Over the next few hours, James carefully observed the faint pulses of light that traveled between the symbols. He noticed certain runes flared brighter when he moved his wrists, while others dimmed. It was almost as though the cuffs were responding to his movements, adapting to his attempts to break free. He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. But frustration wouldn't help him now. Patience would.
The next morning, James woke to the sound of birdsong and the faint crackle of the dying fire. Aria was gone, though her belongings remained neatly arranged near the campsite. His eyes narrowed. She wouldn't leave him unguarded unless she was confident he couldn't escape. That confidence irritated him, but it also gave him the freedom to work more openly.
He studied the cuffs again, this time whispering quietly to himself. "Alright, let's see how this works."
Starting with the outermost circle of runes, he began to trace the patterns with his mind. One symbol in particular caught his attention—a jagged shape that seemed to spark faintly when he focused on it. It reminded him of the skill icons for disruption magic in the games he used to play. He concentrated on it, willing the energy to shift.
Nothing happened.
James's brow furrowed. He tried again, this time picturing the rune in motion, its lines bending and breaking apart. For a brief moment, he thought he felt a flicker of warmth in his palms, but it was fleeting. He sighed in frustration, leaning back against the tree. Come on, think. What am I missing?
His mind wandered back to the system's emphasis on intent. What was his intent here? Freedom, sure. But more than that, he wanted control. Control over his power, over his situation, over himself. He focused again, this time channeling that thought as he visualized the rune.
A faint spark leapt from the cuff.
James froze, staring at the tiny flicker of energy. It was barely noticeable, but it was enough to fill him with renewed determination. He repeated the process, this time focusing on a different rune—one that seemed to hum with a steady rhythm. He imagined its energy flowing outward, unraveling like threads pulled from a tapestry.
Another spark. Slightly brighter this time.
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Gotcha."
Over the next several hours, James continued his painstaking work, alternating between different runes and experimenting with their energy. Each success, no matter how small, fueled his determination. The cuffs seemed to grow warmer with each attempt, their glow intensifying as though reacting to his persistence.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, James had managed to disrupt a small section of the outermost circle. The runes in that area flickered weakly, their once-steady pulses now erratic. It wasn't much, but it was progress.
Aria returned shortly after, her expression unreadable as she approached the campsite. James quickly slumped against the tree, feigning exhaustion. His wrists burned from the effort of channeling his intent, but he forced himself to remain still.
"You look worse than this morning," she remarked, setting down a bundle of herbs and other supplies.
"Gee, thanks," he muttered. "Guess being tied to a tree all day will do that to you."
She didn't respond, instead busying herself with preparing a small meal. James watched her from the corner of his eye, his mind racing. He needed more time, more opportunities to experiment. But he also needed to stay under her radar.
The days blurred together as James continued his secretive work. He made small, incremental progress each day, unraveling more of the runic patterns. The process was slow, maddeningly so, but he couldn't afford to rush. Each success came with a greater understanding of how the magic worked, and with that understanding came hope.
By the end of the fourth day, James had managed to disable nearly half of the outer circle. The cuffs still held firm, but he could feel the suppression weakening. His magic was still out of reach, but it no longer felt like a distant memory. It was there, just beneath the surface, waiting to be reclaimed.
Aria remained oblivious, or so he hoped. She continued her enigmatic routine, tending to him when necessary but offering little in the way of explanation. James played the part of the frustrated captive, complaining just enough to keep up appearances without drawing suspicion.
But inside, he was focused. Determined. Each spark, each flicker of energy, brought him closer to freedom. And when the time came, he'd be ready.
As his understanding of the runes deepened, James began to notice the intricate ways they interacted. Some runes seemed to act as stabilizers, ensuring the others maintained their power. Others pulsed erratically, as though waiting for a trigger. He theorized that disabling the stabilizing runes could cause the entire system to collapse, but it would be risky. If he disrupted the wrong one, the cuffs might tighten or unleash some sort of defensive countermeasure.
He spent hours each night mapping the energy flows, tracing the pathways with his mind. His wrists ached from the effort, but he pressed on, driven by the prospect of freedom. Slowly, the patterns became clearer, the sequences more logical. He began to see the cuffs not as an impenetrable prison, but as a series of interconnected locks, each waiting for the right key.
One evening, as Aria tended to a wounded bird she had found, James made a breakthrough. He discovered a subtle link between two adjacent runes, their energy flows overlapping in a way he hadn't noticed before. By focusing on both simultaneously, he managed to weaken their connection, causing a ripple effect that disrupted several other runes in the sequence.
The cuffs hummed faintly, their glow dimming. James suppressed a grin, his heart pounding with excitement. He was close—so close he could almost feel the magic returning to his fingertips. But he couldn't afford to be careless. One mistake could undo all his progress.
By the seventh day, James had disabled nearly the entire outer circle. The cuffs felt lighter, their once-intense suppression now little more than a dull ache. He could sense his magic stirring, like a caged animal ready to break free. It was exhilarating, but also nerve-wracking. He knew Aria wouldn't remain oblivious forever. The slightest hint of suspicion could ruin everything.
As he worked on the final runes, James's thoughts turned to what came next. Escaping the cuffs was only the first step. He'd need to find a way to neutralize Aria or at least evade her long enough to make a clean getaway. The thought of confronting her directly sent a shiver down his spine. She was powerful, far more experienced than he was. But he couldn't let fear hold him back. Not now.
With a deep breath, James focused on the last remaining rune. It was the most intricate of them all, its lines weaving together in a complex pattern that seemed to defy logic. He studied it intently, memorizing every detail. Then, with deliberate intent, he began to unravel it, one thread at a time.
The rune resisted, its glow intensifying as though fighting against his efforts. Sweat dripped down James's brow as he pushed harder, channeling every ounce of focus into the task. The cuffs grew warm, then hot, their metal biting into his skin. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give up.
Finally, with a soft crackle, the rune shattered. The cuffs fell silent, their glow extinguished. James stared at them in disbelief, his wrists trembling. He had done it. He was free.
[You have learned Basic Runecraft]
[Basic Runecraft: your understanding of runes expands and you learn how to craft and manipulate spell runes) (Level 1) (Common) (Channel/Active) (No affinity)
But the sound of footsteps approaching snapped him back to reality. Aria was returning, her expression unreadable as she stepped into the clearing. James quickly concealed the cuffs beneath his sleeves, his mind racing. He wasn't ready to act yet—not without a plan. For now, he would bide his time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And when that moment came, he would be ready.