As the sun began to dip from its apex in the sky, Domison and Craig paced the length of the new garden decorating a majority of the street in their encampment. Mel had gone off to shower and change, while Mike wasn’t anywhere to be seen at the moment, so Domison was able to push back the conversation causing him anxiety, even if it was only for a little while. As they walked, Craig explained to him what runes were in the system-controlled world, and how useful they would be to their group's future strength.
“Runes are a way to amplify, modify, or even automate Mana usage. Some even believe that Runes are the original script of the system. While nobody knows exactly how the system came about, it is not far-fetched to believe that it had to have been created by the Gods and was brought into being by an unfathomable working of mana.”
As Craig walked him around the garden, he pointed out several symbols etched into various places around the encampment. They were a variety of different symbols, but as they continued Domison noticed there seemed to be only three different runes being used and they were all placed with some sort of strategy in mind. Throughout the various plants being grown, every twenty feet or so, Craig would point out small, flat stones with intricate carvings drawn into them that swirled and interlaced. These runes somewhat reminded Domison of a minimalist impression of a whirlpool and Craig explained that this rune was used for gathering mana.
“There are essentially three tiers of runes as well.” Craig said after Domison got his fill of the mana-gathering rune, “A singular rune, an array, and a formation. A singular rune is the least effective, but the most efficient to establish. An array is a grouping of runes used in conjunction to establish a specific effect over a small area, or an item. Finally, a formation is a masterpiece linking several rune arrays together to blanket a much larger area.” He spread his hand out, indicating the plethora of smaller mana-gathering runes they had walked by, “I am not an expert, and thus I am only able to create runes. Unfortunately, I do not have the capability to establish arrays yet, let alone formations.”
After looking over the mana-gathering runes, Craig led him to their makeshift car wall, which had a rune different from the mana-gathering rune etched every ten paces. This group of runes Domison was not able to sense any familiarity with, the grouping of precise etching not drawing any picture to his mind. It looked almost like chicken scratch, but when Domison passed a hand over the top of the runes, he felt an intense tingle run through his fingertips.. Craig explained this rune as essentially a greenhouse rune, bottling in the amplified mana, while also magnifying its effects.
The third rune Craig introduced him to was a rune of deception. This rune had been placed between each greenhouse rune along the car wall as well as in several other areas throughout their compound. This rune was explained to be one that would muddy the senses of those not attuned to it, allowing their group a modicum of defense against enemies, be they monsters or the detestable humans from the Twilight Market.
“I have yet to activate these runes, as I wanted us all to be here when I did so that we could all attune to the deception rune prior to the semi-illusionary field being established.”
Domison nodded, doing his best to fully absorb the information and going over the three different runes in his mind as they finally came to a halt. A mixture of smells drifted through the air, from the earthy soil to the sweet and electrical scent of manabloom. He felt incredibly relaxed being back in their home base, which was now turning into a flourishing encampment and every second he spent back ate away at the anxiety he had been building within his heart.
“Thank you, Craig. I feel like this information will help greatly in the future.” Domison slapped a hand on the brute's shoulder and shot him a wide grin, “Do you think you may be able to write me up a short debrief on the different runes you know and provide it for my own research? I would greatly appreciate it.”
The massive Urketh looked so happy that he might cry when Domison said those words. After a moment's hesitation, Domison was wrapped up in a hug that stole all the air from his lungs. Working past his creaking ribs, the man being slowly crushed in his friend's embrace laughed and clapped his hand on his companion's wide green back. Their moment of suffocating mirth was cut short, however, as a high and bubbly voice drifted across the street.
“Hopefully we aren’t interrupting anything?”
Craig dropped Domison and they both turned to see Mel striding through the garden, Mike in tow. Mike looked eager behind Mel, a sheepish smile on his face as he waved at the two. Mel on the other hand did her best to hide her lingering shock with a smile, but her expression did not match the warmth she projected in her voice.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Not at all!” Domison laughed, “Craig was just teaching me a bit about runes and I requested his assistance in learning a bit more on the subject. In fact, I would like you both to eventually learn a bit about them as well.”
“Actually, Mister Wolfe…” Craig interrupted, his head dropping slightly as though the very thought of going against Domison’s word physically pained him. “Unfortunately there may be very little they can learn… Since you are somewhat separated from the system, I assumed you may be able to put the knowledge to good use. For a regular system user, however…” His face fell even further as he trailed off for a moment and it looked as though he were steeling himself against Domison’s inevitable disappointment, “The system will only grant a person the ability to further study in a craft such as rune workings if you have a talent for it and it will assign you a job in the craft, which you level up in separately from your class.”
Silence filled the air for several heartbeats as the entire group absorbed this information. Domison even felt the presence of Raze in the back of his mind, hanging upon every word as though he was learning this information for the first time as well. It was at that point that Domison realized, his guide probably knew just barely more about the system than he. ‘I wonder if that is why he has been absent so frequently… Could Raze be taking a crash course on the system?’ Domison shook the stray thought from his head, refocusing on the main goal he had set for himself tonight.
“Either way, it doesn’t matter. We can try and if nothing comes of it, oh well.” Domison focused his gaze on Craig then, “Sometime soon I would like us to discuss the path forward for regular system users and the best ways to go about that. For a tutorial, it doesn’t seem like the system has been giving out too much educational information.” Both Mike and Mel nodded glumly at this statement and Domison continued, “I’m glad we have everybody together though, there is something I was needing to discuss with you all… Sooner rather than later.” The weight behind his words was not missed by Domison’s three friends. The moment the words began he had their rapt attention and he could tell that they were all worried.
“Don’t worry Dom.” Mike was the first to speak, a genuine smile lighting up his face as he sheepishly scratched at his head, “Mel told me what happened and we both agree, no matter what you have to tell us… We’re with you for as long as you will have us.”
Domison stared at the three people standing around him with an expression of something like disbelief, shock, and tentative acceptance all in one. He didn’t know exactly when it happened, but at some point, these three people, who were still practically strangers, had become some of his closest friends. He had never really been close to anyone, not even Sam. His commanding officer had been more of a mentor figure than anything else. The majority of his life after the auction house had been spent either training or fighting. That only ever changed when he got Pabu around six years prior and his dog was the only family, let alone friend, he had ever really had. His companion radiated a warmth and love through their bond as he sensed Domison’s memories and his heart stilled its rapid beating.
The sun had begun to wane, but it still sat above the horizon and the orange rays of its light slithered through the purple-blue body of the sky. The beautiful crimson and deep azure variants of the manabloom seemed to glow in the evening light and the ambiance soothed the remainder of Domison’s nerves. To the man, this might just be the best night of his entire life, a step above even the day Sam rescued him from the clutches of the Twilight Market when he was just a boy.
“What I need to tell you all, is regarding an enemy from my past who seems to be significantly more active since the advent of the Omnicrux System.” Domison spoke the words confidently, his face stony as he summarized his history with the evil organization, “When I was a boy, I was considered merchandise owned by the twilight market.” Though no emotion was shown on the man’s face, the sky seemed to be darkening just a fraction too quickly and soon the orange beams of sunlight started to lose their hold upon the heavens above.
“They put all of their ‘belongings’ through what they call a ‘rigorous reeducation program’. They aim to break down your spirit and turn you into nothing more than an object.” A weary grin spread across Domison’s face and Mel flinched slightly, “Luckily I was a decent actor, and even more lucky for me… Sam saved me before I could be truly broken…” Craig was trembling in rage, Mel had a hand clapped over her mouth, and Mike looked shaken to the core, but still Domison continued. “Sam trained me to be a killer. To take down the Twilight Market with his team, and those like them. I don’t enjoy killing,” Domison cast a glance toward Mel, “But after a while, you stop caring so much about finding a specific excuse for each person, about the evil deed they did to deserve it. They just become another story that you don’t care about how it comes to an end. The people who tried to capture me, and subsequently Mel when she found me, was the Twilight Market. They have been actively capturing civilians since the advent, and who knows what they have been doing with them.”
Domison steeled his resolve, knowing that once he spoke the words into the universe, he would not be able to take them back. In the end, however, Domison knew what the result needed to be. He knew exactly what it was he had to do. Not all stories deserve a decisive ending. Domison could feel the savage excitement radiating from Raze at the back of his mind as he began to speak again,
“I am going to raze the Twilight Market to the ground and salt the ground it was built upon. Throughout the city-state of Aurora I will slaughter all those who represent that evil organization. Whether you decide to help me… or not. I will bring judgment upon the degenerates of this world.”