Ethan was starting to feel like he had something of a handle on his new life as he walked toward the Runic Guild. There had been so much panic, and he’d been pulled in so many directions that it was like he was caught up in a river, just being swept along by need. Being able to run his own days again, feeling he was able to create a disciplined routine and his own path forward was almost intoxicating.

Runes had begun to feel like the final black box in this world. Something he knew existed and even relied on, but were so beyond his understanding that it was like being illiterate in a world of books. Charlie had just casually informed him that anyone could learn to read, and Ethan was jumping at the chance to better understand one of this world’s greatest mysteries.

He soon reached the Guild, and found Selina without much trouble. She was in a dimly lit ritual room, walls covered in runes, and smelling of burning herbs. She was busy casting some kind of ritual for another Hunter, but Ethan had shown up near its completion, and didn’t have to wait long. “Hello, Runemistress,” he said when she noticed him.

“Mr. Bishop!” she said in her typically bubbly tone. No one in this world could understand how much he wanted to say ‘Actually it’s Doctor Bishop’, everytime he heard that.

“Please, call me Ethan,” he said.

“Oh, gladly. Did you need something? Have you fully recovered?”

“As much as I think I’m likely to,” he said while reflexively tracing a scar. “Thank you again. I was actually just hoping we could talk about runes, though, if you have the time.”

She got very excited then. “Absolutely! Meet me in the library, and I’ll fetch us some tea.”

Ethan smiled, though inwardly he grimaced at the prospect of more bitter tea. He moved to the library they’d spoken in before, and this time inspected the many books on rune theory. He recalled the Runemisstress had actually offered to loan him some when he was here last, but he’d fallen into a broody spiral and left things a bit awkwardly.

She joined him after a few minutes, placing the tea on a small table between the two comfortable chairs. “So, what can I do for you?” she asked.

“First I wanted to apologize. You spent days taking care of me, and I basically just ran out of here caught up in my own drama.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary. Looking after Hunters is the best part of my job! They always have the most remarkable stories to tell. Besides, I’m afraid I’m guilty of roughly the same behavior.” The tall woman took a breath, as if steeling herself. “My people are taught not to speak of those…who have passed…with any but our closest loved ones. I didn’t mean to force you to speak of your own loss.”

Ethan smiled sadly. “You couldn’t have known. And honestly there are few topics from back home that don’t remind me of…my family. Next time we talk about my homeland, I’ll be a bit more careful.”

Selina beamed then. “So you’re still willing to share? I’m so glad! And don’t worry, I can make the visits worth your time. Helping Hunters is what I do. The woman who just left needed special runes prepared so she could Hunt some sharkodilus. The ritual I did will allow her to breathe underwater!”

Ethan smiled. “That’s incredible, and brings me to why I’m here, actually. I’m only just beginning to understand how much I don’t know about runes, and what they’re capable of. You mentioned you might be able to give me some instruction?”

“I’d love to! You’d be surprised how many Hunters would rather just get the work done and leave. I suppose it isn’t much different from stopping at the blacksmith to them, but it could be so much more!”

Ethan smiled, sitting down in one of the chairs. “I believe you. Tell me about it. I really don’t understand much beyond Bond Runes.”

She sat opposite him, her large frame perched on the edge of her chair, and she excitedly began to teach. “That’s the cornerstone of it all! Runic theory is based on Bond Runes. The early Runemasters realized that Familiars were using runes as a way to channel magical energy.” She paused, a finger on her dark red lips.

“I suppose you could think of them as roads…or maybe channels? Imagine the magic is a lake, and you need the water to go somewhere…and do something? I’m not sure this works. Wait! It sort of does, but not really.”

Ethan blinked, not sure if he should interrupt or let her figure it out. Finally she continued. “Right, so at one end of the channel is the water, and the other end is where you need the water, but you also want it to do something. That’s the runes! Maybe they’ll run over loose soil, and then you have mud. Or they’ll go near a volcano, and then it’ll be scalding hot!”

Selina was grinning in triumph, and Ethan nodded politely. “Okay, so the way the water–magic–moves will determine the output?”

“Sort of!” she said brightly. “The metaphor breaks down, partly because we don’t have a perfect understanding ourselves. Some scholars theorize there’s a Runic language we don’t know, and what we’re doing is essentially writing with that language, which makes magic happen according to some kind of laws.”

Ethan squinted, sensing that this was one of those ‘half science, half art’ situations. “Okay, let’s get more practical. I keep seeing people make circles and drawing runes, what are they actually doing?”

“Ah! Right. The actual process you’re seeing is usually someone carving runes–making a channel–between a source of magical power, and the output of the ritual. That can be just a rune–like the ones you have for skills–or it can be a magical focus, like a monster gem.”

“Monster gems? I’d thought those were just for skills. I even have a few in my inventory.”

“Yes and no! Hunters can use them for skills, but it’s a waste if you ask me. Rune Mages like myself can actually do a lot more with them. We can use them to cast some abilities without a Familiar! I knew a Rune Mage that carried over a hundred with him.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “That’s incredible, why haven’t I heard more about this?”

“Oh it’s not easy,” Selina said, shaking her head. Her long, deep purple braids got a little caught in her horns, but she didn’t seem to notice. “It takes time to learn, and it’s often not practical to use in combat. Unless you have the proper Soul Rune, of course.”

She pulled her dark robes aside, proudly displaying an elaborate pattern in the center of her chest. Ethan reminded himself he was a doctor a few dozen times as he examined the rune, but he didn’t recognize the image–he had the same problem with his own, which seemed like something between a blade and a letter. “What does that do, exactly?” he asked.

“Rune Mages can channel mana directly to runes, or monster gems. Our abilities usually enhance those effects,” she answered.

“That’s incredible. Have you used them in a Hunt?”

Selina’s eyes widened. “Oh certainly not. Haven’t you learned about Nator yet?”

“Very little,” Ethan admitted. “Truthfully I don’t really understand how there are multiple races here. On Terra we only have humans.”

“I’m not sure how much there is to know, outside of our Boons. Humans understand technology, Elves can Bond without dying, and Nator develop their Soul Runes when we reach adulthood. Most people are mixed blood though, nowadays, so some people don’t know which Boon they’ll get until it happens.”

Selina laughed and pointed at her horns, “For others it’s a little more obvious. But it’s very difficult to find more Bonds as a Nator, especially in a kingdom like Viridus where Bond stones are so limited. We tend to rely on them more than the other races.”

Ethan nodded, some gaps in his understanding of this world being filled. The king certainly looked human, but his children had pointed ears. Elven mother? He turned back to the situation at hand. “So you never wanted to be a Hunter?” he asked.

It was hard to tell with the red skin, but she almost seemed to blush before answering. “I’m quite content where I am. There’s always Hunters coming through the Hall, and I get to hear all sorts of wild tales. But we’re getting off topic. Do you want me to show you some rune magic?”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ethan smiled widely, “I’d love a demonstration.”

***

Ethan hadn’t expected the Runemistress to invite him to her home, but she was nothing if not friendly. As he looked over at the powerful woman, easily a half foot taller than him, he considered that she likely wasn’t worried about her kindness being taken advantage of. As she laid out more than a dozen monster gems on a small table, Ethan amended that other people would probably be better off being the friendly ones.

After a brief walk from the Runic Guild toward the West wall, they’d passed right through her simple home to a small backyard. She appeared to live alone, the house being a mess of books and large furniture, but the yard had an entirely different aesthetic. It was an odd mix of comfort and utility, with a grill and hammock right next to a series of training dummies.

The yard backed onto the sparse woods surrounding the city wall, so they didn’t have to worry about hurting anyone–which seemed like it might be a good thing as Selina examined her gems. “Are those dummies covered in runes?” Ethan asked.

“Oh absolutely. I knew a Hunter who made them for himself to try out abilities, and I figured I could do the same. For fun,” she insisted when he raised an eyebrow. “I even made the runes emulate different monster Affinities. It’s better practice that way.”

“I’ll take your word,” Ethan said, eyeing the eight dummies warrily. Most looked vaguely person-shaped, but one was an amusing approximation of some kind of crocodile monster. “Well, do your thing,” he said at last, backing away.

She smiled–a bit shyly for someone about to blow shit up, he thought. He gave a thumbs up and stood back. Selina picked up a few of the gems and slotted them into a belt clearly made for the process, then moved a little closer to the dummies. She took a deep breath, raising one hand in front of her.

When she suddenly clamped the hand into a fist, a circle of runes burst to life beneath her feet. Ethan recognized it as a reflection of her Soul Rune, and watched expectantly. The wait wasn’t long as a gem on her belt began to glow red, before a long stream of flames burst from her first, completely encompassing a dummy more than thirty feet away.

“Yikes…” he said, a flashback of a much larger Revan making him cringe slightly. Apparently hearing his unintentional call, the Familiar pushed up against Ethan’s side suddenly, making a sad, keening sound. “No worries buddy, we didn’t know each other yet.” He continued to pet the huge cat while enjoying the show.

A lightning bolt cascaded into another dummy a few moments later, followed by something that looked like a huge ball of acid. The final attack was three orbs or pinkish energy Ethan didn’t recognize, but they hammered into a dummy with powerful force, and seemed to sizzle. At last Selina turned back with a broad smile, then her eyes widened at the sight of Revan.

“That isn’t really…?” she asked hesitantly.

“This is Revan,” Ethan returned with an exaggerated wink. “You can pet him if you like. He doesn’t bite…I think. I haven’t seen him bite anyone since he was…bigger.”

Selina didn’t hesitate to run over, but moved much more reverently before placing hand on the black and red hide. Revan seemed happy for the attention, and Ethan left them to examine the dummies. They were remarkably intact, despite the impressive and diverse show of power.

“So if I keep practicing, will I be able to do that?” he asked. Selina looked up from scratching Revan’s belly, looking trapped between enjoying the experience and struggling with the Familiar’s true identity.

“Well, sort of? If you found the right monster gems and wrote out the proper rituals, sure. But that’s a bit of a waste of time for a Hunter.”

Ethan frowned. “Right, I guess you said it was seen as impractical,” he said, a little disappointed.

Selina shook her head. “Oh, that’s not what I meant. There’s still value, even to doing it the hard way. You could use defensive abilities before a battle, for instance. But it’s your friend here who makes Rune Magic like I do not right for you.” She pointed at Revan, who licked her finger with his rough tongue.

“Your Familiars are your best use of rune magic. If you learn enough, you can tap into their potential abilities. It’s not easy, or mana efficient, but many of the greats try it, especially at higher ranks when they need the power diversity, and have mana to spare.”

“Potential abilities?” Ethan said, fascinated. “That sounds incredible. How soon can I do that?”

“It’s an advanced technique,” Selina said in an apologetic tone. “It’s why average Hunters don’t bother.”

“Well, I have no time to be average,” Ethan said, and Selina cringed, obviously remembering the meeting with the king.

“I’ll lend you some books,” she said, trying to sound encouraging. “And you can come visit me! I’d love to teach you, and maybe hear more about your homeland in return?”

“It’s a deal,” Ethan said with a smile.

“Of course, if you’re really worried about time, you should try to find some Knowledge, or Impression Stones. Memorizing runes the hard way probably isn’t worth it.”

“Are those the things that download information right into your mind?” Ethan asked. He still felt a little weird knowing he’d used one. He had been too caught up in the momentum of events to really consider it the first time.

“Knowledge Stones do that. Impression Stones are a little different, and cheaper. They’re reusable, but they show you actual images and sounds of events.”

Ethan considered that. “I’ll talk to Kenji, maybe he has some.” He checked his pocket watch, noting the time. “I think I’ve bothered you enough for today though. If you’re serious, I’ll definitely take you up on the offer of a little tutoring.”

“Absolutely!” she said brightly. She looked down at the Familiar at her feet with obvious envy. “This has been…wonderful.”

***

Ethan’s walk home was a little unusual, and it took a few moments to realize why. Rather than the normal sounds of the city, everything seemed oddly muted. He began to notice people whispering in corners, and finally understood that it was happening everywhere. The whole town was like highschool when a new rumor was spreading.

Finally he slowed near a group who were less concerned than most about keeping their voices low. “But what does it mean?” a tall man was asking.

“It could mean nothing, or everything. That’s always the same with inter-kingdom politics,” a dark haired woman remarked.

“Arinae, though, they’ve been eyeing our land for generations. That desert waste they call home needs what we have. If their royals are coming…” a shorter man said ominously.

“Or they could be renewing trade agreements, or trying to intimidate the snowlands or any of a thousand things. It probably won’t even matter to people like us. Just another chance for the Rovaros and Innevaros to try to show off,” the woman insisted.

“That part I don’t agree with,” the tall man said. “No matter what happens up there, I promise it will be people exactly like us that end up paying the price.”

Ethan moved along. He’d heard enough for now, and was also becoming too obvious an eavesdropper. Visiting royals was clearly a big deal here, whatever those people thought, and he wondered what it might mean for him. Still, Ethan’s plate was more than full enough, and so he resolved not to start worrying until he was given a proper reason to.

As the sun set, Ethan returned to his small room with a mind brimming with possibility. He felt like he had a good sense of how he wanted to spend his days, at least for the short term. As he rearranged his furniture, Tomo appeared, watching him. “What are you doing?” the demon asked.

“I need to organize my life a little,” Ethan replied, as he took out the Hunting notices, and a pad of paper he’d purchased. He then used small nails to hang them on the wall in the space he’d just created. “I need to take this year as seriously as anything I’ve ever done, and that means making a plan for myself.”

He put the Thunder Drake at the highest point. “This is my first major goal–you said I need to get stronger, and even get support to take on this monster, right?”

“That would be wise. It is near the pinnacle of strength for a Dawn rank beast. Very deadly,” Tomo replied.

“Perfect, then I need some smaller goals in the meantime.” Ethan placed several more Notices beneath the first, each depicting a particularly gruesome looking creature. “I also need some practical experience on the way.” He began writing on the notepad, then placed them lateral to the hunts.

“I need to join, or form a team.” He pinned a note. “I need to study the prince.” He pinned another note. “I need to unlock my other abilities.” He put a final note on the opposite side of the hunts. “To do any of this, I need to train. Meditation and combat training with you. Mobility training with Revan and Deevee. Runes with Selina. Plus…I plan to make some more ‘house calls’.”

“You plan to continue to defy the Church?” Tomo asked, sounding more curious than concerned.

“Absolutely,” Ethan replied. “But I’m going to need to be smart about it; no rushing in, no leaving a trail.”

Tomo nodded, then looked at the papers. “There is more specific training that is worthy of your plan,” he said. “You should make notes for us to explore the following battle scenarios: ambush, direct confrontation, one versus many, and ambushed.”

Ethan nodded, and moved to do so. “That makes sense. I should be prepared for any kind of encounter.” He stepped back from the wall. “Anything else?”

Tomo examined the papers, and at last pointed to one of the other Notices. “This is a terrorvermis. They live and hunt on the stone pillars to the South West. They are challenging opponents, but will be a good target for you to work toward.”

“What are the stone pillars?” Ethan asked.

“Exactly what they sound like. A geographical oddity made by some monster long ago. Numerous, thin towers of stone, some more than a hundred feet high. Terrorvermis are effectively large worms that coil around the pillars.”

Ethan looked at the picture, the black and red monster looking more like a snake to his eyes, though the body was segmented. “Okay, do they ever come down?”

“No. You will need to fight the creature on the pillars. You will need to be stronger, and more experienced with your climbing skill. But there may be considerable reward…”

“Oh? Is there an ability in it for me?” Ethan asked.

“No, but I remember the pillars because my former master visited them. He placed a cache of supplies there that he no longer had use for. I believe I can guide you to them.”

Ethan grinned. “Well it sounds like we know what we’re doing, then. Starting tomorrow, we train to Hunt terrorvermis.”