I wanted to try again. . . I had to try again, and yet this is when the vision struck. My vision turned dark and something new took its place. It was unnerving and yet invigorating! The closest I could come to describing it would be the scene in the Dare Devil remake. It was where when raindrops touched the world around him, his surroundings were alight in black and white relief. His visible sight was still gone from him, but he could still see or sense his surroundings very clearly. It was like that for me, particularly within the magic circle as each of the carven runes shone in bright contrast to their surroundings.
As they were formations of great power, I sought to engrave their image upon my mind. Focusing on the rune nearest to me, I felt and saw the many curves and straight edges which made up its form. Repeatedly engraving the rune within my mind, I sought to solidify its shape for personal future use. However, as I felt I had accomplished my goal with the first rune and turned my attention to the next, the image in my mind became foggy and indistinct. Going back to the first I attempted again to solidify it within my memory and move on. The moment I relaxed my senses from their focus upon it, it refused to remain in clear within my thoughts.
What exactly were these runes!? Failing to make any headway on their memorization, I feared my time was short. Based on all my prior visions being limited in duration, I believed I should seek to make the most of whatever time might be left. As this was the first time I had real control over my actions, I was unsure of any additional restrictions or limitations that might arise, and so I hurried. After giving up on memorizing the runes, I began exploring the fainter sense of my surroundings outside of the magic circle.
The feedback to my senses was much fainter as it crossed over the floor barrier of the circle. The limitation didn’t feel intentional, but more so as a byproduct of the circle’s various functions. At least that is the way it felt to me. There was no antagonistic or controlling sensation coming off from the many runes scattered about, but more of a sense of protection, cleansing, and healing, which I had already experienced for myself.
Beyond the circle, I could sense the various shelves throughout the shop as they had been pushed aside for the sake of the elemental assimilations. Lastly, I focused on where I recall Gertrude being. As I drew my intent into a more focused beam, my once scattered senses fell upon where I believed her to be. Although closed in concentration, my eyes widened and threatened open on their own accord I was shocked at what registered!
An ancient entity, steeped in magic and putting off a sense of firm stability shone brightly yet briefly in my awareness! I wanted to learn more and push past the surface revelations as there seemed to be so much power and complexity beneath that top later.
“Oh, dear me. Let’s not hurt your mind now young one.” Gertrude’s imposing and ancient voice sounded out within my sphere of awareness. In an instant, her presence vanished like it was never there. The resulting void in that space then shocked me from the vision and I came out from it still sitting within the circle.
The only thing different was my staff which was in my right hand. . .
Well, that and Gertrude was peering down at me with her long neck and black eyes locked with mine, shining with great interest. “Very impressive I must say!” She exclaimed!
I thought that the sense of awareness from my vision had faded completely, but wait, no, there was something left! I still had a faint awareness of the general floor plan of the store, even from where my back was turned. I somehow instinctively knew that if I was told to point to where each of the open floor shelves were behind me, I could with full confidence accomplish such a task without turning around.
It wasn’t much, but it was like a 6th sense had merged with my other senses. It felt like a passive awareness which required nothing from me, except perhaps a casual recognition of the additional presence around me. It didn’t even reach the edges of the shop.
Gertrude continued to present a blind spot as if she did not even exist despite being seen by my eyes and heard by my ears. I had to ask as I was intensely curious about what she just did. “Gertrude. It seems like I’ve been given a spacial area sense. . .”
Her eyes glistened with vivid interest with my description. I recounted the various details and was honest about my attempts to memorized the various runes in her magic circle. Then I went on to describe what I felt when I gazed at her. Finally, I ended with my current state and level of awareness.
*Hahaha!* She laughed after hearing of my escapades during my vision of intense awareness. Then she spoke. “I would honestly by very surprised if you had managed to retain memory of any of the runes I have within this circle. Those are runes which I have obtained throughout a very long lifetime and exposure to various elements and spells. Do you know what runes are or what they do?”
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“No.” I replied, shaking my head.
Raising up her head as if preparing herself to give a spectacular sermon she then spoke. “Runes could be said to be the language of the world. Each pure and blended mage stone, those which can be assimilated for personal growth, has a special singular or grouped formation of runes which makes up its nature.” She grew more excited as she continued her explanation. “Most often at the basic mage level, and in particular if it is artificially created, you may get several sets of Mage stones with the same core rune which makes up its identity and presence. If you seek among those created in nature and move up the ladder of tiers, you will find a greater diversity of runes, making up the core and supplemental aspects of various Mage stones.”
She took a moment to allow me to absorb that knowledge. However, before I had the opportunity to ask a clarifying question, she took off again with more to say. “An example would be the rune for fire.” Holding up her hands, more than a dozen glowing runes emerged from her body and simply hovered in the air between us.
“Each of these is different, yet I learned them all from combining fractured parts of numerous fire mage stones. The core or even supplemental runes which can be learned from a mage stone, can become a great boon to the one who comprehends such.” Motioning around her at the artifacts scattered about her shop, she added. “I utilize these runes as the primary feature in my work.”
Continuing on, she said. “These runes, just as they differ in appearance, also differ in effect. There are often fractured supplemental runes which come from those stones derived in nature. These supplemental effects may impact intensity, duration, and other aspects of the primary rune. It allows for quite the diversity in use as opposed to simply triggering these by themselves.”
Giving a demonstration she appeared to stimulate the furthest right rune causing it to burst outward in a display of radiating flames, reaching about a meter in diameter. Although beautiful to see and likely dangerous in the right context, I felt no heat from my position, several meters away from it. The next one from the right was then triggered causing it to turn into a bright white flare which I reflexively flinched back from at the heat it released. Even with my reinforced body parading its new and improved heat tolerance, I could not escape the reactive fear and flash of warmth I felt at the display. Had I been where Gertrude was in relation to its release, I expect I would have a nicely cooked hide to heal from, that is if I even survived long enough to be healed.
The next flame in line actually put off an eerie blue glow which danced about like a ghost on the wind. A chill actually emanated from that flame, causing me to see frost forming on the ground around Gertrude.
She put away the remaining flame runes, but that was more than enough to hammer home the diversity among flames. My eyes lit up like the flare as I considered the myriads of possibilities such options could offer me in offensive fighting and general function. Also, despite its eerie nature, I was drawn most to the haunting blue flame and longed to find it or something similar in the future.
“How do you obtain these runes!?” I burst out in excitement.
“Tut, tut. . . Patience young one.” She lightly admonished me. “These are not easily obtained, nor . . .” She peered more closely while giving a rebuking librarian stare, “nor are they so easily stolen from another.” *Haha* She leaned back in mirth at seeing my chagrin. “Though I fault you not in trying to learn them, as they are power incarnate.”
“Runes. . .” She began “are an essential aspect of nature, reality, and the rules which govern us all. Although we as sentient life can affect various forms as well as displays of magic, we are still beholden to most of its own rules.” Stopping to pick up a nearby artifact of hers, she held it up to the light to show me the runes engraved upon it. “These runes which I wield were each hard fought for and earned through deep exposure to the essence which created it. No one can truly guarantee a way by which to obtain the knowledge and understanding of a rune. At least, not enough to ensure that it becomes yours. Every person is different and has their own special insights. . . or lack thereof. It is, however, a near universal observation that exposure is necessary.”
She was now waxing eloquent like a professor on one of their favorite topics. “On exceedingly rare occasions, runes may form from the very essence of the one seeking them. Usually however, discovering and inheriting runes comes from exposure to outside sources or close intimate observations to others and the world around us. Too often it seems luck is a great factor which determines a successful inheritance. But live long enough, and even the densest of individuals can learn a rune or two.”
Locking her eyes with me, she continued. “If you do happen to learn a rune, until you can adequately protect yourself, do not go around advertising your accomplishment. Just like families that will abduct an indoctrinate outsiders for their unique and powerful affinities, so too will they aim for you if you possess something of enough use to them.”
Her eyes turned dark and pensive as she explained. “Talented runists have had family and friends around them abducted and or threatened on the premise that they work for a powerful family or individual, or else. . .”
She left that warning hanging, allowing me to consider the implications.
“Haha!” A thought sparked and I couldn’t help but laugh. Looking back at her and envisioning her with Victoria and Monroe being used as leverage against me actually forced out a chuckle.
Gertrude’s eyes narrowed in curiosity. “What appears to be humorous to you?” She asked.
“Oh,” I responded. “I was just imagining someone trying to use you or my two masters as leverage against me.” Another chuckle escaped me, which Gertrude joined me in sharing.
“Yes,” she humoredly replied with a hint of endearment. “You do appear well positioned to excel. I wish you well in your endeavors.” Then switching back to a more serious tone she added. “We have had enough discussion on runes for now, let us return to the assimilations at hand.”
I nodded, taking on a more serious expression as I braced myself for the unknown of what was to come.
Seeing as how Life should be done before Death, I decided to save it for right before, and as such, I chose to next assimilate Time.
“Gertrude.” I called out. “I would like to use the Time mage stone, but before I do, if it isn’t too much to share, I was wondering how you procured it?”
I paused trying to explain my thoughts. “I mean, I heard from Victoria that spacial mage stones can be gathered from the homes of Lanuae Sciurus among other rare creatures with spacial affinities and abilities. However, time seems even rarer than space.”
“It is no problem to share.” She replied with abandon. “And in fact, it is not truly a secret, simply very difficult to obtain.” Pulling out a rolled-up paper from her storage artifact, she unrolled it in front of me to show me the contents.
It was a massive representation of our near and far surroundings! Something seemed so familiar about it, and it suddenly clicked! It most closely resembled that which I had seen in the avatar selection chamber with Naathan Gnosis, the creator of Millennial Enterprises who allowed me into this world. Across her map, I could see the overhead view of our current resident city, the nearby falls, and more. Yet further out, it also contained the vastness which made up the Great Lakes and the surrounding terrain and war front.