The rune actually seemed simple at first—or, at least it seemed complex to my level of understanding, as far as runes go. What I mean is, it seemed comparatively simpler than it actually was.
But then, as I looked closer, I realized that the rune was more complex than I thought possible.
Its basic shape is that of a sealing rune, but it has much more complexity than even the one that holds my brother.
Each of the lines that make up the rune, on closer inspection, were composed of a tiny and sprawling script so small as to be unreadable.
The words seemed to move along the circular rune’s lines, adding to the complexity, and mystery of it.
And then, the biggest shock came when I realized that it wasn’t just one rune.
Sure, physically, it was one large circle; encompassing complex designs like clockwork, but each of the ‘gears’ within it were their own stand-alone runes, to complete different jobs.
I could see the shape of a transport rune, a concealment rune, a ward rune, and a replenishing rune all inside the sealing rune. And those were the ones I could recognize. There were three times as many that I couldn’t, interwoven into the surprisingly small sealing rune.
No, seriously—This rune smacks the whole ‘bigger is better’ thing in the face, since it was only as wide as I am tall.
Most powerful runes take up ten times as much room, but this one simply makes the best of the little space it occupies. I couldn’t see the floor under the rune, is what I mean.
The big question, though, is that of the rune’s function.
If it’s a complex sealing rune, then what is it sealing?
Normally, a sealing rune would hold that which it seals within it, but that can’t be the case here, since the only thing within the seal are more runes.
Maybe the other runes hold hints as to what, exactly, needs this rune.
The transport rune has to do with space, and position in space, so maybe it’s brought the item being sealed to another location? That’s no good though—Even while the transport rune looks like one, like everything else in the rune, it’s complex beyond belief. What if it had been another type of rune, that’s been changed so much that it looks like a transport rune?
Well, luckily, there is one rune that I can identify with absolute certainty.
It’s the rune that creates a ward.
It’s the simplest one I could find, as well as the most frightening.
Why is it frightening?
Well, it the simplest rune, but the power it holds terrifies me. The function of this ward rune is to place a simple physical barrier around a massive area of land, equal to 700000 square kilometers.1
Just the energy’s involved…
I shudder to think about the functions of the rune’s I can’t understand, given that this was the simplest.
But more than that, doesn’t it mean that I won’t be able to leave this place, unless I disable the rune?
Ugh. I’ll need time to think about all this.
Anyway, I spent a day accustoming myself to the mana density levels at the top of the clock tower.
Since the density here was the highest, I won’t need to do this anymore. I’ve already matched the density outside, inside my mana pool.
The first thing I did after that, was to steal the nice clothing from that skeleton.
Oddly enough, the robe seemed to fit me perfectly, and there was a long tunic made of leather strips under that, layered over each other to form a V shaped collar.
Also, there were some loose pants made of the same type of leather.
The leather must have come from some rare animal, since it felt just like fabric, and not at all thick, or stiff.
Unfortunately, the skeleton itself turned to dust as soon as the clothes were off, like they had been all that was still preserving it. The staff that had been leaning against it fell to the ground, where I picked it up.
Warmth seemed to spread from the staff to my hand, and the room brightened up just a little. For just a moment, just a blink of an eye, the whole staff seemed to crawl with runes.
While the rune on the ground was certainly complex beyond belief, the runes seen for a split second on the staff seemed simple, but unfathomable at the same time.
They blinked out just as soon as they appeared, though, so I couldn’t make out much more than that.
I used〖Analyze〗on the staff, and got some interesting answers.
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Step of TimeAs one of the primordial staffs, crafted form a branch of the creation tree, Step of Time holds no power of it’s own, but amplifies it’s wielder’s greatly.
Not too bad.
It doesn’t actually tell me how the amplification is done, though. I’ll have to be careful with this, since I don’t know the degree to which it amplifies my magic. I mean, it would be bad if it amplifies it too much, and then I can’t handle the magic. It’s a case of knowing your limits, I guess.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
I’ll definitely still hold onto it, though.
As for the rune, I’m going to try and find a way to just break the part creating the ward, leaving the rest alone. I don’t want to find out through experience what the rune does.
Unfortunately for me, and everyone else occupying the three continents, there was no way to only deactivate only one part of it.
It was all or nothing.
It’s a pretty bad dilemma, you know.
Really, there are two choices for me to take. I can disable the whole rune, unsealing whatever it’s target is, and leave wherever this is. Or I can live forever here, restrained within the massive physical ward.
I enjoy the company of good people, who haven’t fallen morally yet. Hell, even those who can be a little depraved at times are fun to be around. I haven’t met another person here, in the months it’s taken to approach the rune. The closest I’ve gotten is that skeleton, which didn’t exactly represent the most ideal conversation partner.
I’m not built for isolation, nor for being restrained.
So, really, there’s only one choice.
I have to break the rune.
And, it felt all too easy when I did.
(1700000 Km2 is about the size of Texas, for a good comparison. Or two Germanys.)
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Everyone in the three continents felt it, when Kai broke the rune at the center of Ascension Island.
It was a very physical sensation.
Well, to put it simply, an earthquake ripped through the continents, causing everybody to drop whatever they had been holding, and seek cover.
It wasn’t an earthquake, though.
No buildings toppled over, and nothing changed, since not only the landmasses were shaking. Everything was.
Niten and Flavius, who had been waiting patiently outside the island’s wards, were the only ones that observed a beam of golden light burst out from the center of the island, and strike for the sky.
They watched, Flavius in awe, and Niten with growing horror, as the beam of light hit something in the sky, far, far above them.
Spreading from that impact, the sky seemed to dissolve, like a piece of paper being slowly consumed by fire from it’s center.
It was like something had always covered the sky, like some inconceivably massive dome had been draped over the continents.
And now it was collapsing, slowly burning away.
The sky beyond its clear expanse was the same, but now seemed different somehow, like something fundamental had changed unwittingly.
All over the lands, people watched as the sky burned away, and some screamed that the heavens were falling, were abandoning them for some conceived misdeed.
The oldest and most powerful of the land knew exactly what was happening, and, like Niten, were now deeply concerned and frightened.
They knew they were akin to frogs in a well. However, that same well had been sealed tight, so the frogs couldn’t leave, and the hawks couldn’t enter.
However, now those living near the coasts of the three continents saw something, far out into the distance, as absolutely gigantic landmasses blurred into existence. Rather, it was the three continents which appeared in this world, for the first time since ages long ago.
The Grand World Seal had been broken.
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Author's Note:
For those that have wanted to see Kai's new status, this is it:
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Status:Name: Katariah Nadine SilverTitles: (5 Hidden)Race: Demon/ElfAge: 13Gender: FemaleMain Class: MageSub Class(es): Smith; SwordsmanLevel: 74Health: 3045Mana: 102400*Strength: 542Stamina: 498Dexterity: 576Intelligence: 784Wisdom: 624Luck: 1
*Combat value~300000
Abnormal Status: CursedThe holder of this status will not be able to advance in level for the period of time equal to one year. Alternatively, killing that which had given the status will release the curse.Cursed By: Grand Lich Toledo
—River.