ALL NOVEL Chapter 21
Darius finds himself sitting on a weathered stone in the midst of expansive natural landscapes, attempting in vain to integrate a foreign hand held firmly in his own. The weight of disappointment hangs heavily in the air, reflecting the heaviness within his heart. Despite the absence of human features, the essence of his disillusionment radiates from the shape of the armor. The burden of frustration appears suspended in the air, invisible yet perceptible, while his eyes remain focused on the misaligned incongruity that refuses to find its place. Letting out a heavy sigh, he brings his hand closer, his fingers tracing the cold, metallic edges. Moonlight casts silent shadows on the metal lines, capturing the core of his contemplation,The fingers of the glove extended to touch the helmet, in an unusual gesture of frustration and weariness. The stillness of the night was broken only by the faint rustle of the gentle breeze, which seemed to carry the lament of the silent armor.
It's not as though he hadn't expected it. Rather, he came to terms with the loss of his hand. Still, frustration couldn't help but envelop his very essence. He heard the approaching footsteps and saw Younes nearing him, holding a book and a small chair in his hand. Placing the chair down and then setting the book on his lap, Younes cast a glance at Darius, then at the metallic hand lying in his own.
"It appears that no matter what you do, success eludes you," Darius withdrew his hand from his face, expressing a gesture of agreement. Younes responded to him with his dry voice, "They say that if one door closes on you, another will open... or a window, I can't recall exactly." He concluded his words in an attempt to dispel the disheartening atmosphere. "In any case, I hope you don't mind the timing I've chosen."
Darius lifted his head to gaze at the massive green-hued mass suspended in the sky, responding audibly, thanks to the runic characters inscribed on the ground nearby,"I don't mind, actually. Though I can't enjoy the view, I appreciate the tranquility of the night."
"Glad to hear that. Now, a simple question: how's your language progress?"
"Not much. I understand most conversations, but haven't had a chance to learn reading or writing."
"It seems that the book is not needed ," Younes said, picking up the
"Since we've agreed on explaining rune mechanics and their usage, I won't delve deep into their origins." He paused briefly, then continued.
"Runes... 500 years ago, the world lost its colors and meanings. Yet, a group emerged, rewriting these concepts. They became the world's pillars, preventing its collapse. Simultaneously, they held power over these notions, granting others governance over a part of them. This is the concise history of runes, or what's commonly known. Runes embody a fundamental concept in the universe Briefly ." He roamed the area while explaining, until he found a tree branch to hold onto. Returning to stand by Darius, who held back from further questioning about rune history, Younes continued, "To this day, there are three recognized types or branches of runes. We'll focus on two: fundamental runes and subsidiary runes." He sketched two shapes on the branch - a circle symbolizing the fundamental rune (0), and another circle with an inner line that extended outward, splitting the circle in half, representing the secondary rune. Younes pointed to the fundamental rune before proceeding.
"The Fundamental Runes are the ones granted by the pillars to the rest of humanity. These runes are stronger and more pronounced, yet their downside is their inability to easily combine with each other, except in rare cases where there's a certain relationship among the pillars. Their number is approximately 56 runic characters," Younes turned the branch to point towards the secondary runes.
"As for the Subsidiary Runes, they're a human endeavor. They adhere to the same basic runic patterns but derive their effects and concepts from novel phenomena or entities that emerged due to changes. They also encompass understanding of pre-existing universal concepts beyond the scope of pillars. Though their exact quantity is unknown, recorded ones exceed sixty Rune."
Seating himself on the chair, Younes adjusted the book while he leaned back, accompanied by the faint sounds of his creaking bones. "Oh, my aged bones," he quipped.
"Despite the manifold ways of using runes—whether through fusion, synthesis, or rituals—there's a singular method to activate them, with several unalterable prerequisites," Younes marked the ground with a few additional symbols before continuing. "Inside every living being flow energy currents akin to veins. I refer to them as Essence Streams. Anyone wishing to master rune usage must learn to manipulate these streams without harming their physical body."
"One more swift inquiry," he added, "I've previously mentioned the ability to perceive these streams, which I termed Threads?" Darius nodded in response to the question.
"This simplifies matters. This step is both the most significant and perilous in rune usage. Most individuals attempting to learn it end up paralyzed, dead, or facing bloody explosions when they try to manipulate these streams. This is why rune users are incredibly rare," Darius indicated his comprehension as Younes went on, "Upon mastering this, a person gains the ability to perceive what eludes the rest of humanity. Just as it happened when you approached for the first time, you emitted a glow from tens of meters away."
"Crucially, one of the primary prerequisites for activating a rune is to inscribe it onto a solid, steady surface, while striving for perfect precision. Any distortion or deformity in the form will cause the rune to lose its potency, diminish its effectiveness, alter its essence, or, in the direst cases, result in an explosion right before you," Younes pointed to a symbol resembling a hooked figure (ᚲ). "This subsidiary rune is [Kenaz], representing fire. Once activated, it expels fire—just like this." Suddenly, from Darius's viewpoint, the currents within Younes's hand surged, passing through the drawn shape on the branch. With a surge of heat, a fire the size of an apple burst forth from the shape, causing Darius to step back slightly. As the currents retracted from Younes's hand, the fire's intensity waned until it vanished, as if it had never existed.
"The method you employ to guide the currents will shape the fire, while the quantity determines the intensity of the rune's effect and its duration after you withdraw the currents," Younes shifted the twigs once more, sketching another symbol in the form of ᚢ. "This subsidiary rune is [Uruz], symbolizing the concept of strength." He replicated his previous action with the first shape, but this time, no evident effect emerged.
"Reach out to the nearby ground," he directed, indicating to Darius, who complied and was surprised to find the earth noticeably harder.
"This will conclude our discussion for today. You can try working with these two on your own," Younes announced.
Darius hesitated before voicing his skepticism, "Just these?"
"Indeed, just these," Younes playfully replied. "It's already quite late, and staying awake isn't very healthy for an old man like me."
But weren't you the one who wanted to teach at this hour?
Darius's tone grew firmer this time, "Didn't you mention that the early stages are challenging and dangerous?" Younes responded without looking back, "They are, but you are a armor, not flesh and blood. Moreover, practice and mistakes lead to perfection.
Darius could only sigh softly as he gazed at the symbols on the ground, while the receding figure of the elderly man crossed his mind, "This old man."
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