Avince let out a weary sigh as he finished studying, realizing just how late it was. The moonlight spilled through his window, casting a calm glow over his desk. He had barely stretched his tired limbs when he heard a knock on his door, followed by his mother’s voice calling him to dinner. Glad for the break, he joined his family around the table, the air warm and lively.
Over dinner, his mother mentioned their upcoming trip to her clan to stock up on supplies for the dragon egg. "Amyra will need some specific herbs and materials to keep the egg stable during its hatching process," she explained. His father nodded, adding, “We should also redeem some materials for when the dragon egg hatches. Avince, would you like to come with us?”
Avince paused, tempted for a moment. He hadn’t visited since he was young, during his failed awakening. But the mountain of things he still has to do still looms in his mind. “I’d love to, but… I still have a lot to do here,” he admitted, looking a bit sheepish.
His father chuckled, patting his shoulder. “I understand, Avince. Do your thing, but make sure you don’t burn yourself out. There will always be more trips, call us if you need anything.”
The family finished dinner and gradually drifted back to their rooms. Once alone in his room, Avince locked his door and sat on his bed, ready to finally do something he’d been looking forward to: Engraving the Rank 3 Channeling Rune.
Reaching into his storage ability, he looked and eventually took out a small leather patch, its surface marked with the intricate design of the channeling rune. The rune increased mana channeling speed, reducing the casting time of spells — a valuable trait for mages like himself who often found themselves needing to cast spells under pressure.
This rune was an upgrade for him. He used to carry a staff inscribed with an amplification rune, which made his spells more powerful but came with its own set of drawbacks. For one, the staff was bulky and limited his movement that did not suit his fighting style , and during one ill-fated practice session, he’d actually used it as a makeshift weapon and bashed his enemy with it. It had shattered, leaving him to realize just how useless it was for close-range combat.
That experience had led him to consider runes that could be engraved on accessories instead. The channeling rune, designed for items like rings or bracelets, was perfect. The idea of a lightweight, easy-to-carry boost to his spellcasting appealed to him far more than another cumbersome staff. Plus, he was excited by the fact that this kind of rune compressed into an accessory would give him flexibility that he lacked before.
Pulling out a small mithril-coated ring from a box on his desk, he ran a thumb over its cool surface. It wasn’t pure mithril — that would have cost more than he could afford — but even this mithril-coated version had cost him a significant amount, with his parents ultimately helping him cover the steep 150,000 Alliance Credits. The ring had been his prized purchase, a blank slate for whatever rune he wanted to engrave on it.
He laid the ring beside the leather patch, feeling a rush of anticipation. Engraving the rune onto the ring would require precise mana control, as he’d have to condense the intricate design to fit on the narrow band. Holding his breath, he began the engraving process.
Guiding his mana in fine, controlled flows, Avince carefully transferred the rune from the leather patch to the ring’s surface. It was a delicate task, one he had only mastered after countless practice. Slowly but surely, the intricate lines began to form on the mithril band. The leather patch dimmed as the rune transferred completely onto the ring, leaving it blank.
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Finally, after what felt like eternity, the engraving was complete. Avince let out a satisfied breath and slipped the ring onto his finger, eager to feel its effects. The ring’s mana reacted to his touch, humming softly, and he could sense the channeling rune’s presence, enhancing his ability to draw and control mana.
But then he hesitated, thinking back to his pendant. His ability allowed him to enter dungeons with his consciousness, but he’d noticed that certain items, like his pendant, didn’t come along. The pendant was part of his equipment in the real world, but it didn’t carry over into the dungeon realm. If the ring behaved the same way, he might not even be able to use it where he needed it most. He frowned, realizing he’d need to test his theory in his next dungeon session. Until then, he decided to place the ring in his storage space alongside the now-empty leather patch.
Avince sat back, mentally running through the various ways the ring could benefit him in a fight. Most mages struggled with the time it took to channel mana into more complex spells, especially in the heat of battle. Basic spells were quick, but advanced techniques took time and focus, two luxuries that were often hard to come by.
With the channeling rune, he would have the advantage of speed, making it easier to adapt in the middle of a fight. He imagined being able to cast more advanced spells faster or pouring more mana into a spell, making it more powerful without the usual increase in casting time.
But then a thought suddenly tugged at him. He had originally planned before to dive into a tempering dungeon, and with that, he had less of an opportunity to test the ring.
Thinking about the ring, he muttered to himself, “A tempering dungeon could still have plenty of creatures to test the ring with…” His fingers reached out to the amulet lying on his desk, its silver gleam inviting. Slipping it over his head, he felt a quiet thrill as his mana stirred, a hum resonating deep within him, aligning with the amulet’s presence.
Closing his eyes, Avince concentrated on his ability, nudging it towards a tempering dungeon as he’d learned to do. He recalled what he knew about tempering zones—mana-rich environments where natural phenomena like waterfalls, mineral springs, and even dense atmospheric currents enhanced the body and refined abilities. His mind flickered with images of places he’d studied: a waterfall that pummeled down with enough mana to rejuvenate and strengthen anyone under its torrent, a forest so saturated with mana that even the air felt alive, and a cavern lined with mana crystals that pulsed in rhythm with the heartbeat of the dungeon.
Avince mentally cobbled these images together, crafting an ideal scene in his mind. He pushed his ability as far as it would go, channeling the full extent of his mana reserves into the spell. In a flash, his surroundings blurred, and he felt his consciousness lurch forward, as if diving into the depths of another reality.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a lush, sprawling forest, bathed in a gentle green glow. The air here was thick with mana, nearly visible in the way it seemed to waver in the air, and the whole place felt alive, as if each tree and leaf pulsed with energy. Taking a breath, he could already feel his body responding, as if drawing in strength from the surroundings.
Avince tested his abilities, channeling a small surge of mana into his hand. The flow was swift and smoother than usual, and he realized with excitement that his intention had worked—this dungeon did indeed contain the elements he’d envisioned, though not perfectly matched to his ideal. Scanning the forest, he noted several promising areas: a shimmering pool that looked like it might be a mana spring, a dense section of forest where the air was thick and felt heavy, and in the distance, the faint sound of rushing water.
His excitement swelled. This dungeon had all the right spots for tempering, and he was eager to start. Just as he took a step towards the waterfall in the distance, a sudden voice pierced the air.
“Who’s there?”