Memory
The upgrading of the ring was actually pretty simple. All I did was use runes he gave me and added the ring and metal into the cauldron at the right time. Then waited for the metal to forge into the ring. It was a little like casting potions. But a lot less complicated.
"See it's simple isn't it. Didn't I say you can do this with your eyes blindfolded." Carter laughed lifting the ring from the cauldron with his magic. He was no longer afraid of the cauldron. He discovered that the cauldron was not as dangerous as he had originally thought. He acclaimed it all to the cauldron being sealed and broken.
"Yeah, it's simple, but if I hadn't cast potions before, I don't think this would have gone so smoothly" I said taking the ring from him. I quickly inspected the ring. It looked exactly the same. It was black in color with a tiny rune inscribed in the center of the band. Pushing magic particles into the ring, I quickly found myself seeing the inside once again. The inside of the ring was no longer the size of a closet. It had grown to the size of the cellar room, which was a pretty decent size. I put all the coins into the ring sorting the different coins into different piles. Then I sorted the gems and metals into the ring. Next I started sorting the herbs and placed some racking into the ring. The racks from the cellar room were still perfectly good to use. It was just a little battered. The herbs all got sorted again. After finishing everything. I looked around the room for anything else the master may have left. But at last, there was nothing. I was about to leave when Carter pointed me toward a hole in the wall.
"This here looks suspicious." He said pulling up to the wall.
"What, it's just a hole." I said inspecting the hole in the wall. It looked perfectly normal.
"No this is a seal." He said. "Something is sealed inside."
"Really" I said curious. What could be sealed inside. Did master seal something here?
"This spell is very intricate. It almost looks like..." he said trailing off.
"Looks like what" I asked, please finish your sentences Carter. I rolled my eyes.
"It looks like scripture. The fourth set of spells in Sacris Magicae." he finally said after a few minutes of silence.
I immediately examined the hole more closely. I still didn't feel anything, but with the mention of scripture, I remember the final stage of casting potions into a pill. The technique scripture was used. So, could this really be the 4th set of magic in the Divine Arts? was this even possible?
I took out a pen out from the masters pouch and started to draw the runes for scripture on the wall, in a circular manner. Soon, the runes for scripture encircled the hole.
"This... this is scripture. So, you do know the spells of Sacris Magicae." Carter yelled out in excitement. His eyes glowing with wonder.
"This is scripture, master did teach me these runes, but I've only ever used them for casting potions into pills. I don't know how to activate these in the magical sense. Only in casting can I use them somehow." I said.
"What type of nonsense is that! If you can use it in casting potions. You can use it in real life. What did your master teach you?" Carter said rolling his eyes in exasperation.
"I really don't know what to do. The swords of Solomon had to be etched in blood for it to work and I haven't unlocked the other sets of the Divine Arts. So, I can't use them." I explained. did you think if I could use them I would be telling you this? I thought in my head.
"Okay, how do you use these runes for casting?" carter asked trying to point me in the right direction.
" I place magic stone in these spots." I pointed to the runes with open circles. "Then I inscribed casting runes in them and scripture just starts working." I said.
"Mother of dragons. You are so dimwitted." Carter cursed.
"What, why am I dimwitted" I refuted. I was not dimwitted. If i had to describe myself. I would call my self smart, intelligent and charming. dimwitted was not in my dictionary.
"Okay, so you draw these casting runes in these spots with magic stones, right?" he repeated my words.
"Yes" I agreed. That's what I said.
"Well isn't it obvious" he said tilting his head.
"What, what's obvious." I said looking at him. He was not making sense.
He took in a deep breath. "You can replace the magic stones with real magic and this problem should be solved. Oh lord, how did you ever survive in this world?" He said clasping his claws over his eyes to cover his embarrassment in knowing me.
A barrier in my head suddenly broke and I collapsed.
"Hey! What's wrong...!" Yelled Carter in the distance as I lost myself to blackness.
............................
Flashes of memory started to flood into my head. My master sitting on the ground teaching the 7-year-old me the concepts of casting and the runes involved.
He drilled the runes into my head until I Memorized every last one of them. "Logan with these stones, magic will be infused into the runes and a chain can be formed. That way scripture will commence." He explained.
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"Why don't we just draw these casting runes into the circles, then place the magic stones on top. Isn't that the same?" I asked not understanding why we had to carve the runes into the stone. Magic stone could be used by simply placing them on top of runes. That was basic knowledge. Why go through the hassle of drawing on them? Wasn't that a waste of time and effort?
Master Kohl laughed. "That is true, but if you actually drew the rune into the circle, the spell would be complete. Also, if scripture was active before the the start of casting. It would be to powerful for you to handle. You are not ready for that yet. Maybe someday. He said drawing the runes into the circle and chanting under his breath.
The next moment I found myself collapsed and unconscious as a blinding light shot into my head. When I woke, I had forgotten the previous incident and I no longer questioned the method master taught me.
"Logan, just remember this moment in the future and know that this was all done to protect you before you are ready" master said his eyes full of worry.
I looked up at him confused but nodded nevertheless.
..................................
"Logan what the heck is wrong with you?" shouted Carter. "Hey, you still haven't helped me to be reborn yet. You can't die!" he shouted into my ear.
"For God's sake stop yelling into my ears" I groaned out loud. I blinked and shook my head to release the pressure building in my ears. I then sat up and looked over at the hole.
"Oh, you're okay. Good. Why did you suddenly faint?" Carter asked worriedly. He dashed around me trying to see if I was hurt anywhere.
I rubbed my temple, it still hurt. But I knew why I had fainted. Master had yet again sealed some parts of my memory and the seal had broken just now. So, the sudden flooding back of my old memory caused me to black out. My God. how many times did master seal my memory. First it was my past which is still very foggy. Now even some of the times I'd spent with master was sealed. This was getting to be very stressful. "Master why did you do these things? I would think I would have understood these things if you'd explained it to me." I mumbled to myself.
"What? What did your master do?" Carter asked curious. I explained my memory and master's seal to him.
"Oh, that makes sense" he said stopping in front of my face.
"What? What makes sense?" I asked more confused then ever.
"Your master sealed these memories so that you would be able to remember them at important times. These are his final lessons to you. If he hadn't sealed them, you would have forgotten them with the passage of time. Sealing them ensures you can receive them when you need them." He explained.
I took in his words. Was this really why master had done it? Was he planning to give me lessons even after his death? Does that mean there could be more times like this in the future? Master could pop up in my head again and again teaching me things I did not know. Master you knew you would leave your burdens to me someday, so you planned ahead to leave me these final messages? Was this your plan from the beginning?
A tear formed in my eyes. I quickly wiped it away. I shouldn't cry no more. Master had entrusted me with the mission of protecting the Divine Arts and I should do it. I need to grow stronger. The enemy whoever they are, will come find me someday. I needed to be prepared.
I stood up and looked at the hole in the wall. Picking up the pen, I drew in the casting rune into the circles. The moment the runes finished being inked. Scripture started to glow. Slowly old runes that was once drawn on the wall started to resonate with the scripture that I drew. One by one, the runes started to unravel.
"Wow, so that's how you unseal scripture." Carter whistled.
When the final rune disappeared, a black wooden box floated out of the hole in the wall. I caught the box as it started to fall to the ground.
I examined the box. A single rune I did not recognize was carved on top of the box. The box was otherwise plain. It was locked with an iron black lock. I fiddled with the lock, but it was very strong. I tried using some of my magic on it, but the box seemed to be immune to my magic.
"There is another kind of spell binding this box." Said carter. "looks to be a different type of magic. I'm not sure what it could be though." Carter said. He turned to me and said. "it seems your master knew more magic then he let on." He said.
I nodded remembering masters battle with the mage. He did know all the first spells of the 9 sets of the divine Arts.
"So, what should we do with this box?" I asked holding up the box.
"Not much we can do. You recognize this spell?" Carter asked.
"Not really. This rune is not any of the runes master had taught me." I replied. It looked very odd.
"Then you just have to hold onto it first. Place it in the ring, no put it in the cauldron. It could be important. Why don't you tell me about your master? He doesn't seem to be that normal after all." Carter asked.
I took in a deep breath. "Alright" I said starting from the beginning. I explained how he found me and raised me. Then I explained his final night and his battle with the mage. I tensed up when I talked about his death.
Carters ear raised when I finished. "That is certainly not a normal man." He said. "Your master can use 8 of the nine sets and even has resources that allows him to temporarily use the 1st spell in the 9th set. It's amazing really. I understand you a little now too." He said keeping quiet for a few seconds. "I have decided. I will help you after all and sign an official contract with you." He declared.
I rolled my eyes up. "Didn't you already agree to this." I said reminding him that he already agreed to this before. Was this dragon right in the head.
"I agreed before yes. But I did not wholeheartedly agree. This time, I actually wholehearted agree. You may be a crybaby and a cheating bastard, but I like you. So, we can be partners from now on. We can explore the world together and maybe discover who you were before you met your master. Maybe discover some of your master's secrets while we're at it too." He said floating above my head.
I chuckled haphazardly. "So, all in all, you're just interested in my master." I said.
"No, I am interested in you to." He said dropping onto my shoulder.
"Whatever. Okay let's go. I don't want we stay in town for to long. I have a bad feeling about this" I said walking away.
"Wait, I thought you wanted to make a contract with me" he said flying after me.
"oh, please, you just want to see the Divine Arts." I said rolling my eyes.
"Come on. It's not a bad deal. You gain my powers and I learn the ancient dragon's arts. If I learn them, I can awaken my inheritance from the dragon God's. If that happens, you can use those powers to. It's really working in your favor." He said sugaring up to me.
"Oh please" I said walking up the stairs.
When we finally arrived back on the surface I peaked out first. It was already dark. Oh great, another day spent. Days were starting to pass by so fast.
When I found no one around, I quickly came out from the debris. I was feeling really hungry. I was about to take out master's water bottle when I smelled this really good food smell.
I followed the smell all the way to an old worn-down theater on the other side of town. I was surprised this placed wasn't burnt down like the rest of the town. It was pretty worn. A slight fire should have destroyed it.