Chapter 3

When Rayen finally arrived back at his uncle's home, he was met with the concerned gaze of Harveth, who had been diligently hammering away at his forge. The rugged blacksmith's eyes widened as he took in Rayen's bloodied and torn clothes, the savage marks left by the Ice Wolf's claws.

"By the gods, Rayen! What in the name of all that's holy happened out there?" Harveth exclaimed, rushing to his nephew's side.

Rayen winced as he eased himself down onto a wooden stool near the fireplace. "It's... it's a long story, Uncle," he began, his voice quivering with both exhaustion and lingering fear.

Harveth wasted no time. He fetched a basin of warm water, a clean cloth, and a needle and thread. "Let's get these wounds cleaned and stitched up first. Then you can tell me what transpired."

As Harveth began the delicate work of stitching Rayen's injuries, Rayen recounted the harrowing encounter with the Ice Wolf. He described the creature's eerie appearance, its relentless attack, and the strange occurrence of his hand glowing with a mysterious power that had saved him from certain death.

Harveth listened intently, his brows furrowing with concern. When Rayen finished his tale, his uncle leaned back, his weathered face thoughtful.

"Rayen, what you encountered out there was an Ice Wolf—a Tier 1 runic beast," Harveth began, his voice grave. "These creatures are born with a single rune, much like the one on your hand. They are formidable and dangerous, but they are considered the lowest tier of runic beasts."

Rayen's eyes widened as he took in the information. "Tier 1? There are more powerful ones?"

Harveth nodded solemnly. "Indeed. There are three tiers of runic beasts, each exponentially more challenging to confront. Tier 2 beasts possess two runes, similar to humans, which makes them even more formidable. Tier 3 beasts, on the other hand, are the most fearsome. They have the ability to synergize their runes, creating a wide range of devastating effects. For instance, Fire and Water runes can create scalding steam, Fire and Earth runes can form molten magma, and combinations of Water and Earth can give birth to treacherous mud."

Rayen couldn't help but notice the tinge of disgust in his uncle's voice when he gave that third example, but he decided against mentioning it for now.

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Rayen shuddered at the thought of more powerful runic beasts, his mind already reeling from his encounter with a Tier 1 Ice Wolf. "How do hunters deal with such creatures?"

Harveth continued to stitch up the wounds with steady hands. "Hunters who face runic beasts are often armed with weapons and tools specifically designed to allow the infusion of Runic energy. I'm fairly certain your distress allowed a partial awakening of one of your runes, so you may be able to use such equipment now, but I highly doubt it until your runes have been fully awakened at school. These runes provide them with the means to counter the beasts' abilities and protect themselves. It's a dangerous profession, but a necessary one to protect our lands."

Rayen glanced down at his hand, which now lacked any sort of light. "This rune on my hand... it saved my life. But I don't understand how it works or why it appeared."

Harveth finished stitching the last wound and cleaned his hands. He then sat down opposite Rayen, his expression thoughtful. "The appearance of a rune on your hand is rare at your age. It's a manifestation of a unique connection to the natural world and the magic that flows through it. Your encounter with the Ice Wolf triggered it, as a response to the danger you faced."

Rayen absorbed this information, his mind racing with questions. "What can I do with this rune, Uncle? Can I control it?"

Harveth placed a reassuring hand on Rayen's shoulder. "You have much to learn, my boy. Runes are a part of a greater system of magic that is deeply intertwined with the world around us. To control and harness the power of your rune, you will need to undergo training at the Academy, just like any other young person in our land. But you will have an advantage—the connection you've already forged with your rune."

Rayen nodded, a mixture of determination and curiosity in his eyes. "I want to learn, Uncle. I want to understand this power and use it to protect our home."

Harveth smiled warmly, pride shining in his eyes. "That's the spirit, Rayen. But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Your path will be fraught with challenges, but I have no doubt that you'll handle yourself just fine."

As Rayen looked at the glowing rune on his hand, he knew that his life had taken an unexpected turn. He was no longer just a young trapper and blacksmith's apprentice. He was now a bearer of magic, destined to explore the mysteries of the runic world and confront the formidable runic beasts that roamed beyond the Eastern Mountains.

Curious, Rayen asked, “Uncle, if everyone is born with two runes, which do you have?”

Laughing, Harveth responded, “Fire and Earth, of course! How else do you think I churn out basic stuff so quickly? Today I just had an order for a few hundred nails for the house that’s going up for a new married couple and I knocked it out in a single day. I know that to you, that sounds like a lot, but you don’t have the shaping ability of the earth rune, or the control over fire that my other rune allows for. I had you making some of the basic garbage mostly to keep you out of trouble!” Harveth guffawed at the annoyed look on his nephew’s face.

“Uncle!” Rayen exclaimed, obviously frustrated by the wasted hours he could have been outside.

With the support of his uncle, the knowledge of the Academy, and the determination that burned within him, Rayen was ready to embark on a journey that would change not only his destiny but also the fate of their entire land. Tier 2 and Tier 3 runic beasts might be powerful adversaries, but he was determined to become a formidable hunter and protector of their homeland.

As the evening sun cast long shadows in Harveth's rustic home, the two of them sat in silent contemplation, each aware that their lives had been moved forward by the events of that day. The world beyond the Eastern Mountains held mysteries, challenges, and wonders beyond their imagination, and Rayen was determined to explore them all, armed with his newfound rune and guided by the legacy of his father and mother.