Marriane sighed quietly as she looked at the piles of books and notes on her desk. She had so much work to do.
First, she needed to study the Spatial Tool and figure out how it worked. Then, she had to find a way to open the Silent Edge. Both tasks were difficult, but she couldn't afford to waste time.
With that thought, she picked up her quill and started working.
While observing the Silent Edge, Marianne noticed something strange. Her eyes narrowed as she leaned in closer. The patterns on its surface seemed to shift ever so slightly, as if reacting to something.
Her heart pounded. Without wasting a second, she quickly grabbed a book on runic circle and flipped through the pages. She needed to confirm her suspicion—was this movement a mere trick of the light, or was the Silent Edge responding to something?
Marriane flipped through the pages of the ancient tome, her eyes scanning the chapter on Ancient Runic Circles. The faded ink described lost techniques, forgotten by modern scholars, yet still lingering in the deepest corners of history.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she came across a passage detailing Sealing Runes—specifically, those used to imprison powerful forces beyond mortal control.
"When a Runic Seal is placed upon an object or entity, it remains dormant unless one of the following conditions is met:
The seal weakens over time due to mana depletion.A being with matching mana resonance approaches.The original purpose of the seal has been fulfilled or disturbed."
Marriane's breath hitched.
"The Silent Edge is definitely sealed with runes," she whispered to herself, gripping the book tighter. The shifting patterns she had seen weren't just a coincidence—they were a sign that something had changed.
But the question was: Why now?
Had the seal weakened over time? Unlikely. Such powerful runes would last centuries, if not more.
Had someone—or something—with the right mana signature unknowingly triggered it? That was a possibility… but who?
Or worse—had the seal been placed to contain something that was no longer there?
Her heart pounded at the thought. If the Silent Edge was reacting only now, then that meant something had shifted in the balance of mana. And whatever was sealed away… might no longer be trapped.
She needed to find out what had changed. And fast.
Marriane mumbled to herself, "Wait… the Scarlet Flames?"
She flipped through the pages again, her eyes scanning the lines carefully. Ancient runic seals react to mana resonance… to lingering traces of powerful magic.
Her thoughts drifted back to the Ancient Forest, where Anastasia had used the Scarlet Flames. Could it be?
"Did the Silent Edge react to the lingering mana of the Scarlet Flames?" she whispered.
She gulped. If that were the case, then Anastasia's magic had somehow connected with the seal. It wasn't just a reaction—it was a response.
Marriane tapped her fingers on the book, deep in thought. If the flames had triggered it, then maybe there was a way to understand what the Silent Edge was hiding. She just needed to keep searching.
....
It was nighttime, and the cool breeze carried the faint scent of pine and earth. Anastasia stood in the backyard of the inn, her black hair, darkened by an artifact, glistening under the moonlight. Her usually bright blue eyes were dim with exhaustion, but she didn't stop.
She tightened her grip on the wooden sword and swung downward.
"10,001… 10,002…" she counted under her breath.
Each motion was precise, her arms moving in a steady rhythm. Her muscles ached, but she pushed through the fatigue. She had to get stronger.
The night was quiet except for the soft thud of wood striking the air. The stars above twinkled, indifferent to her determination.
And yet, she kept going.
....
In a quiet room, under the moonlight, Jeremy sat at his desk, his fingers tapping against the wooden surface. He mumbled to himself, yet another failed attempt… What am I missing?
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. He had tried everything—every possible method, every combination of techniques—but there was still no progress.
Just how in the world can I merge my two attributes?
His brows furrowed as he stared at the scattered notes and diagrams before him. No matter how hard he pushed, the two opposing forces within him refused to blend.
He let out a frustrated sigh. There had to be a way—he just hadn't found it yet.
With that, he started his 88th attempt.
Jeremy took a deep breath, steadying his mana as he focused. He extended his hand, channeling both of his attributes at once. Sparks of lightning crackled at his fingertips, while a dark mist swirled alongside it.
For a moment, they seemed to coexist—balanced yet separate.
Then, just like before, the energies repelled each other, clashing violently before dispersing into nothing.
Jeremy gritted his teeth. Failure. Again.
But he didn't stop. He couldn't.
Clenching his fists, he prepared for the 89th attempt.