Painkillers to a stubborn old man… Wait, is he talking about Salvatore?
He shivered just thinking about Salvatore getting injured? If he really was hurt, then anyone who could do it…
Jin shook his head and looked down at the rune book resting in his lap.
“Not something I or anyone else apart from Salvatore could deal with,” Jin said to himself. “Narrator?”
? Yes ?
“Assign one of the echos to go through my memories, especially those of me reading the book, and find anything that I can use to give Salvatore an edge. Something we can acquire here.”
? Understood. ?
The leather cover was warm against his palms, almost alive, and he was sure it was the effect of one of the many runes used to enchant the book. He traced one finger along the embossed title, feeling the grooves.
The Basis of Magecraft: A Primer on Runic Theory.
The demonstration Joe had shown him the spell construction, the runes lighting up one by one, the way the fireball formed from nothing but will and essence, it replayed in his mind on loop.
“That was really an interesting display there,” Jin said.
? Indeed, that was the arcanist school of spell system. Quite systematic and clean, if I’d say so myself. ?
“Yeah, that’s one part I really like, not just the fact it matches with my knowledge from my previous life, but how scalable it is,” Jin said. “I’d love to experiment and test the limits, but with runes being so taxing on mental energy… It’s better to mostly use one or two verse sorceries for the bulk of my cast and spells for specialized work.”
? Make sense. ?
“Spells look cool, but the sorceries sound cool.” He said with a chuckle. “You know, bro, lying in that hospital bed, whispering those incantations like some chuuni protagonist... that gave me an escape when I needed it most. I'm not giving that up.”
“Besides, sorcery could act as a misdirection.”
? Interesting perspective ?
“What do you mean by interesting? It’s awesome!” Jin huffed and cracked open the book. The first page was blank except for a single line of text in elegant script:
To those who seek to bend reality: Begin with humility, for the first rune you read may be your last.
“Cheerful.”
Jin laughed and turned the page.
…
Runes are not symbols. They are not letters, nor are they mere representations of concepts. They are fragments of the primordial language through which reality was first spoken into existence.
To read a rune is to glimpse truth.
To write a rune is to impose your will upon the world.
To master a rune is to claim dominion over a sliver of creation itself.
This text will not teach you power. Power is earned through blood, sweat, and the slow erosion of your mortal limitations. What this text will provide is a foundation, the bedrock upon which all greater works are built.
You will begin with Base Runes, also known as Tier 0 runes. These are the simplest expressions of reality. They are also the most essential. A magus who cannot command Base Runes is no magus at all, merely a charlatan waving his hands and hoping for miracles.
~~~
Jin paused, pulling out a small leather-bound diary, which had “Jin’s personal journal” engraved on it. He had Joe engrave it. It had a couple of entries, some of his own daily entries, and more random stuff. He opened it to a blank page and started writing.
MAGIC 101
Base Runes = Tier 0 = Foundation layer
Not symbols. Fragments of creation language.
Reading = seeing truth. Writing = imposing will.
He underlined the last part twice, then kept reading.
~~~
There are twenty-one base runes in total. Each represents a fundamental principle of existence. They are divided into three categories:
Source Runes (5 total)
Manipulation Runes (10 total)
Control Runes (6 total)
A First Circle magus must select seven base runes to inscribe upon their mage core. These seven will form the foundation of all future spellwork. Choose poorly, and you will find yourself limited. Choose wisely, and the path to mastery opens before you.
Note: Once inscribed, Base Runes cannot be removed without destroying the circle itself. Choose with care.
~~~
“Hmm.” He stopped writing mid-sentence. His pen hovered over the paper.
Can't be removed. Ever.
“No pressure.” Jin took a breath and kept reading.
~~~
The Twenty-One Base Runes
SOURCE RUNES:
Reservoir - Stores and provides essence. The foundation of all casting.
Channel - Creates a pathway for essence flow.
Anchor - Binds essence to a location or object.
Transmute - Converts essence from one type to another.
Amplify - Increases essence output.
MANIPULATION RUNES:
Shape - Defines physical form. Sphere, blade, wall, etc.
Compress - Condenses essence.
Expand - Disperses essence.
Motion - Directs movement. Projectile, homing, static.
Duration - Controls temporal persistence.
Bind - Restricts or constrains.
Sever - Cuts or separates.
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Merge - Combines multiple essence types.
Echo - Replicates the effect.
Shift - Alters position in space.
CONTROL RUNES:
Trigger - Defines activation condition.
Seal - Closes and stabilizes the spell structure.
Limiter - Caps maximum output.
Filter - Allows selective targeting.
Feedback - Returns information to caster. Sensory link.
Dispel - Terminates spell effect.
~~~
Jin's fingers and hand ached from all the nonstop writing, copying everything down into his diary with annotations and observations crowding the margins.
Twenty-one runes. Pick seven. Forever.
His mind was already racing through combinations, running calculations, testing theoretical builds.
Reservoir was mandatory. No question. Every spell Joe demonstrated started with that.
Seal was equally essential. Joe's warning about leaking spells was burned into Jin's memory.
That left five slots.
Jin flipped to the next section of the book.
~~~
Selecting Your Seven
The choice of Base Runes is deeply personal and should reflect your magical philosophy, combat style, and long-term goals.
Conservative Path: Reservoir, Channel, Shape, Compress, Motion, Seal, Limiter.
This selection prioritizes safety and versatility. You will cast reliably but without exceptional power or innovation.
Aggressive Path: Reservoir, Amplify, Compress, Motion, Merge, Seal, Trigger.
This selection maximizes offensive output. High risk, high reward. Fragile spell structures.
Specialist Path: Reservoir, Transmute, Shape, Duration, Bind, Seal, Filter.
This selection favors control and precision. Excellent for enchanters and ritualists.
My Recommendation: Do not follow any path but your own. These templates exist to show possibility, not to constrain ambition. Study your affinity. Study your skills. Choose runes that complement your strengths and shore up your weaknesses.
And remember: Seven runes are only the beginning. The Second Circle will bring seven more. Third Circle, seven more still. Your foundation shapes your future, but it does not define it absolutely.
Build well.
~~~
Jin closed the book and leaned back, rubbing his temples. His head throbbed from reading, not just runes, but apparently even the knowledge about magecraft was draining mental energy.
? It is still a wonderful way of training your mind. Reading this and the rune, your “Mental fortitude” skill went up a level. ?
? Just from one glance, what runes are you thinking? ?
Instead of answering straight away, he closed his eyes, visualizing his combat style. He always fought fast, aiming to put down his enemies as fast as he could while maintaining the range. He was mobile and someone who wanted to be versatile.
“Well,” Jin sighed. “I suppose we have time. Let’s move on to the next chapter.”
? Your marked skills suggest a heavy focus on hybrid combat and multi-system synergy. ?
“Yeah, high-skill abilities. Almost all of them have complications, and I need to balance and maintain the requirements to pull off the damage.”
? Hmm, yes, High skill abilities instead of simple abilities. ?
“Well, even the Archmage Lysander said, ‘Do not follow any path but your own. These templates exist to show possibility, not to constrain ambition.’” Jin said.
? Then, your rune selection should reflect that hybrid nature. ?
? Understood. ?
“So what do I need?” Jin muttered to himself as he cast his focus on the available runes.
“Alright.” Jin grabbed his pen and started a new page.
Must-Have:
?? Reservoir (power source)
?? Seal (stability)
His finger tapped the page. “Okay, I need more information about them before making more choice. ‘Reservoir’ and ‘Seal’ are musts since they are crucial for any spells.”
“Apart from that, there are so many good possibilities I can’t even begin to select one,” Jin noted. “Well, I think I’ll ask Joe about them before making a choice.”
? That’s a good call. ?
Jin looked at the book again, flipping to Chapter Two.
By Archmage Lysander Thorne
…
Theory is worthless without practice. You have selected your seven Base Runes. Now you must learn to draw them.
This will hurt.
Runes are spiritual constructs, not physical symbols. Drawing a rune requires channeling essence through your mental pathways while simultaneously maintaining perfect visualization of the rune's structure. Your mind, essence, and will must align.
For a beginner, this is agony.
Your mental capacity will strain. Your essence channels will burn. Your concentration will fracture under pressure that feels like someone driving hot needles through your skull.
Do it anyway.
The process is simple:
Enter a meditative state.
Channel essence to your hand (or focus point).
Visualize the rune in perfect detail.
Draw.
The rune will appear as a construct of pure essence, hovering in the air. It will last only seconds before dissipating. This is normal.
Repeat.
Again.
And again.
And again.
You will fail hundreds of times before success. Accept this. Failure is the price of mastery.
~~~
Jin read the instructions three more times, memorizing every word. Then he closed the book, set it aside, and settled into a lotus position on the bed and slipped into the Eternal Sovereign breathing pattern.
Jin sank through layers of consciousness until he reached the space where his essence resided.
Okay, let's start with Reservoir.
He pulled the mental image from the book. The rune was deceptively simple… a circle with three lines radiating inward, meeting at a central point.
Jin channeled essence into his left hand, and power flowed smoothly, cold and clean, pooling in his palm.
Now visualize.
He held the image in his mind. Perfect clarity. Every line. Every curve. Every angle.
Draw.
Jin moved his hand through the air, essence trailing from his fingertips like liquid light. The rune began to form—
Pain exploded through his skull.
His concentration shattered. The half-formed rune collapsed into formless essence that dissipated immediately.
Jin gasped, clutching his head. “Fuck. This won’t be easy.”
? First attempt, Structural integrity: 47%. Mental strain: severe. Recommendation: rest for thirty seconds and retry. ?
The narrator said, unbothered.
Jin breathed through the pain. Thirty seconds.
Then he tried again.
The rune collapsed at 52% completion.
Again.
38% completion.
Again.
61% completion.
Again.
Again.
Again.
On the fourteenth attempt, the rune held.
It appeared in the air above his palm… a perfect circle with three radiating lines, glowing pale blue with his essence signature. The construct was beautiful, intricate, and real.
Jin stared at it, exhausted and grinning.
Then it dissipated, essence scattering like smoke.
Three seconds. That's all he'd managed.
But it was a start.
? Reservoir rune successfully manifested once, Duration: 3.2 seconds. Stability: acceptable. Mental capacity expenditure: significant. ?
“Now we've gotta do that 10 more times.” Jin collapsed back against the pillows, chest heaving. Sweat soaked through his shirt. His head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it.
? Assuming you don’t mess up even once. ?
???
JOE
….
Joe stepped through and immediately felt an intense presence of blood. With his affinity and his connection to blood, he could feel just how much of the potent blood was spilled.
The blood was not fresh… probably a couple of hours old. He noted as his casual grin vanished.
"Old Sal?" he called out as he moved through the ruins and craters.
“Yeah, Here!” Salvatore called out. He was slumped against the far wall, surrounded by blood. His coat was torn to shreds. Burns covered his chest and arms. And his left arm…
Completely severed at the shoulder, the stump was wrapped in makeshift bandages that were already soaked through.
The missing arm lay three feet away on the blood-stained floor.
"Bloody hell," Joe breathed. “What in fuck happened here?”
"You're late," Salvatore rasped.
"Traffic was murder." Joe crossed towards him in three strides, already pulling supplies from his spatial storage. "What hit you?"
"The Revenant."
Joe's hands paused. Just for a second.
"Revenant? The Revenant? That old corpse?” Joe said carefully.
"Yeah, the very same," Salvatore grunted, gesturing weakly at his severed arm with his remaining hand. “He's the one leading this wipeout.”
“Then this attack is not merely wiping out the city. He’s not someone we can take on.” Joe knelt beside him and grabbed the severed limb. The flesh was cold but not yet necrotic. Clean cut. Single strike. Salvatore had gotten lucky… if you could call losing an arm lucky.
"Hold still," Joe said.
He pressed the severed arm against the stump, lining up bone and muscle with practiced precision. His hands glowed silver-blue as essence flooded the connection point, knitting reality back together where it had been torn apart.
Salvatore hissed through clenched teeth but didn't pull away.
"Drink," Joe ordered, pulling a vial from his coat.
The potion inside glowed golden, liquid light swirling with power.
Salvatore took it without argument and downed it in one pull.
His wounds began closing, flesh knitting, burns fading.
Joe kept working, reinforcing the spatial sutures while the “golden rejuvenation” did its job.
Minutes passed in silence.
Finally, Salvatore flexed his reattached arm. The movement was stiff but functional.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
"Don't mention it." Joe sat back on his heels, exhaustion tugging at him."You gonna tell me what happened?"
Salvatore didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took another flask of ambrosia and drank deeply.
“Seriously?” Joe waited.
After a minute, Salvatore waved his hand.
Two bodies dropped between them.
“Hmm?” Joe's eyebrows climbed.
The corpses were humanoid but gave off an undead vibe, but what caught Joe’s eyes was the sheer amount of essence still radiating from them even in death… powerful, corrupted, and undeniably Lord-rank.
"Undead," Joe said flatly.
"Yeah."
"Two of them."
"Yeah."
"And The Revenant?"
"Ambush." Salvatore took another pull from the bottle.
Joe stared at the bodies and sighed. "They wanted you dead."
"Well, not me, but whoever was causing the havoc… now they know, though.”
“Obviously.”
Salvatore looked at the bodies again. His expression was grim.
"He called it the great work or something. Jin did say there were four cities in total, right?"
Joe didn't like the sound of that. Not even a little. “Yeah, you think the ritual is connected… if so, what would require that much sacrifice?”
“I don’t know… could be they are forcing a conjunction, but…” Joe continued. "Whatever it is, we need to stop this."
Salvatore snorted. It might've been a laugh. Hard to tell.
He took one more pull from the bottle, then stood. His movements were stiff but steady. The ambrosia was still working, essence flooding his system and forcing accelerated regeneration.
He turned to Joe, and his expression hardened into something cold and purposeful.
"We need to kill a cockroach," Salvatore said.
Joe raised an eyebrow. "Calling an ancient being a cockroach is…"
"That’s what he is." Salvatore's smile was all teeth and no humor.
~~~
? ? ?