It took Gale two days to regain her sunny mood during which mother had intensely cared for her. The experience had deeply drained her physically which turned the lie of illness into reality. Strong potions, magic and plenty bed rest were needed but she made a full recovery.
We resumed the lessons with her master during the day while I taught her in the night. The remaining family looked concerned by the obvious exhaustion both of us displayed but they gave us room.
“Today we will talk about advanced applications of runes, your master has taught you the basic way of inscribing runes and also about fusing runes which was a concept foreign to me. But there are certain advanced applications he does not know and today we will look into those.”
We were seated in a comfy pillow pool, part of Gale's Mind-palace. “Formations are more commonly used by practitioners of Qi but they are in fact based on runes. The most used setup are four runes in a cross layout.” Glowing white particles took the shape of the array I was talking about.
“These setups are all based on circles, they can be woven into each other like you would create a chain-mail. Their advantage is that they can be easily formed in battles and that with little preparation. I have compiled a list of basic, advanced and master arrays in your hidden notes. Commit them to your memory as fast as possible, then burn the paper as usual.”
Gale nodded, her focus on a copy of the array I had just demonstrated. Once she had finished I continued.
“The next step are layered runes, this is more complicated, similar to the fusion you can place multiple overlapping runes into the same place of a formation to change the meaning of the single rune. This can drastically reduce the number of circles that are needed to create an effect. Notes on known combinations and some theories are in the black book, do the same as with the notes.” “Now I will show you the most advanced form of rune application I know.” A single blue glowing rune took shape above my hand. The pressure it emitted caused minuscule cracks in the very space around it to form and disappear.
“This is a multi-rune. The rune is created by forming a rune out of countless smaller runes, like normal a multi-rune it can be set into formations and circles but its power is vastly superior. It retains the combined energy of its whole sum of parts. A single one of these runes is powerful enough to kill the drake back then. But they have a very big drawback, it takes a long time to create one, your technique of rune creation using ambient Mana cannot form one of these. My current capacity barely allows me to slowly build one of these, also it places a big toll onto my soul. I did not write this down, the information is too dangerous, we will only discuss these inside mind-space.”
I got a short and determined nod as reply.
“I have pondered a bit on how to best apply runes to your fighting style and have come up with two possible applications. The first is to tattoo the runes into your skin but we would have to permanently erase the fur to keep the runes active.”
Fear had invaded Gale's face, she was hugging her own tail looking desperate.
I could not help but smirk over her distress.
“The second way are Obelisks, stones made out of condensed energy bound to your soul. These Obelisks could even carry multi-runes but they require extreme concentration to wield. In your current state two are the maximum you can control.”
Relief spread over her face as she heard the second option. “And where do I get the raw material for these Obelisks? It does not sound like stones fitting that description are common.”
A deep flush spread over my face, fumbling a bit as I tried to not die of embarrassment.
“They are more common than you think but getting them is unorthodox and painful.” Confusion was plastered on her face which made me even more embarrassed.
“Why would acquiring a stone end up painful?”
“They are poop! Dragon poop to be precise. Where do you think all the mass I eat goes?
We dragons and its sub-breeds convert excess we cannot properly digest into stone!” It only took moments for her to fully slip into a laughing fit. “Our mighty huntress has urinary stones!”
“It is not funny! Normally I smash them and release the powder while letting water. But to get stones the size you need I will need to precisely cultivate those rocks and that WILL hurt.”
“Please for me, consider! I would be less fluffy for you to cuddle if we burn my fur for runes.
I would become less comfy!”
I could only sight in defeat, this time she had not even used her own version of
“It will take time, if I consume large quantities of random stuff I should be able to produce one before we reach the next town, but you need to prepare the runes you want on it.
These stones can only be shaped a limited time after they leave the body.” She gave me a high spirited thumbs-up as I tried to come up with an idea to fulfill the request in time.
I left Gale to practice in her own mind returning to the real world. It was already around midnight as I left Gale to her own training which quite honestly looked like she was dreaming quite well. Increasing my size a bit I dragged the blanket snug around her, descending down into the main compartment of the wagon afterwards.
Mother and father were still awake, sitting in each others arms they seemed to enjoy some kind of liquor while watching the stars together. I alerted them of my approach with a soft * kyuuu*, would not want to scare my parents by simply appearing on their shoulders. That had earned me a meeting with Mr.Reedbundle once and I was not keen on repeating that mistake.
“Hey little one, want to keep your old folks company?”
I nodded and took a place between them, gazing at the stars. Father already looked quite drunk, while mother appeared quite sober, tipsy at best.
“Mother, father, I need to tell you something important. Due to reasons I cannot yet tell you, I need to leave for a few days. I have prepared these stones.” With a * plop * four small, blue pebbles landed on mothers lap, still a bit wet from my storage.
“They will allow me to find you anywhere, anytime. Do not lose them please, it would be best for each of you to carry one. If you find danger that needs my help place a single drop of your blood on it and I will know.”
Both looked very worried, father prepared to say something but mother placed her paw over his mouth shutting him up instantly. With father silenced she turned towards me, her voice echoing through my head full of concern.
“We know our current life is hard on you, but do you really need to leave? The pack is stronger together!”
“Yes mother for I need to collect something very special and it will take me a while. It is for Gale and will help us later but I cannot yet talk about it.” Both of them hugged me, with Gale training and Ere deep asleep I disappeared into the darkness leaving behind my worried family.
POV Almer, ranger in the city guard of Wyn
My lord had sent me and my men out into the wild, a greater beast had appeared that began to greatly unsettle our mining endeavors threatening to rob Wyn of its needed supply of raw metal ore. As his most trusted ranger he had tasked me to gather information or to stop the beast.
It only appeared during the night, no one saw where it came from or where it went, only large gashes in the very stone remained, telling of its passing. Many of the workers already told fantastic stories about the beast, how it swallowed whole mining crews guards included. But I knew better, while the damage to the mountain and its ores was great, no worker or guard had been killed by it directly.
We had some deaths due to a panic when the beast again devoured enough stone to build an entire segment of a city's walls but no actual kill. And that was what made my lord so afraid, if it could do THAT to a mountain, our walls would not offer any resistance to its attacks.
While seemingly random I had found a pattern in its appearance, a certain ore was the target of the mighty beast. My prospectors had told me of it, a rare black ore that no one had found a use for yet. While plenty in this mountain all but the main vein had been devoured so I had placed a hidden ambush to guard the last remaining vein, intent on guarding my lords property.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The night was dark as the earth began to rumble, a slight indention, like a wave telling of the approach of the hidden beast. We had camouflaged us in the trees hoping to get clean shots onto the animal.
Then it surfaced! All our hearts sank, the trap ring we had brought would not even fit around its paws. The beast was gigantic, silver fur stained with dirt erupted out as the monstrosity shoved its head over the surface.
I am a proud man, veteran of many battles but I take no shame in telling that I have soiled myself as I saw the thing. Air rushed along us as an incredible suction devoured everything in front of its maw, cleaving the very rock. We helplessly clung to the aching trees as the beast took its meal.
The last of the ore disappeared down its maw, the vein depleted. The beast once more took towards the earth, its humongous body took an entire minute to once again disappear.
My men investigated the area the beast had appeared from but to our horror no trace of its passage could be found in the solid rock.
I would rely to my lord that the only solution against that beast was prayer to the gods.
If it ever deemed our city tasty, Wyn would disappear off the maps completely!
POV Kai
It felt so good to return to my real form in full size, I had wasted the first day hunting large beasts in a remote valley satisfying my instincts with their blood. But I had not forgotten why I had come out here, my senses told me of a rare ore hidden deep in the mountains.
Product of eons of intense Mana accumulation in platinum ore, my target was raw orihalcum. Thankfully this world seemed not to know of its vast range of applications which left most of the veins in the area fully unguarded. Most advanced world would guard these riches with entire teams of entities that would have destroyed me in an heartbeat.
While the accumulation of energy had gone well, the pain had gotten worse, letting water had become pure torture as four raw obelisks slowly took shape in my innards.
Only pure will kept me from smashing them into useless powder, stricken by pain I had taken greater risks to acquire enough material before I could not hold back anymore.
On the final “mining” I had even been observed by a group of hidden hunters! There was also another downside for me, the massive intake of food and raw material had boosted my growth absurdly. While assuming my maximum size I had become a giant, sluggish monstrosity. There had also been another complication with one of my skills,
The darn skill had without my intention absorbed a large part of my harvest. While having close to unbreakable bones was nice, should the value of the mineral ever come to light I feared to be hunted down for my bones.
With my harvest complete I took course towards the soft magical pull emitted by the four small marbles I had left my family. All four were close to each other and nothing had pointed towards any trouble. So I did not hurry very much and arrived close to the caravan later in the night.
My timing was perfect, one more day and they would have already arrived in our last shared stop, a medium mining city called Wyn. As I reached close enough a mental shout keyed for Gale echoed through the night. Sometimes being a telepathic species really paid off, I would have likely caused a panic had I been forced to rely on sound.
POV Gale
My outfit clung sloppily to my body and I was extremely tired but the mental hurricane that my sister had unleashed made me hurry through the night. Mother and father had told us that Kai needed a release for her pent up instincts and had left for a small venture to satisfy her needs, but I knew better.
Kai had gone out to create the promised obelisks for me. I reached the source of the shout just a few minutes later. A quite spacious clearing in the forest was where it had originated.
But as I stumbled into the open my sister was nowhere to be seen. Then the earth rumbled and half of the entire space lifted upwards. She had become massive, her hot steamy breath that came from her flaring nostrils nearly threw me over. Eyes the size of a small cart stared down onto me.
If not for the knowledge just who was in front of me I would have run as fast as I could.
“Hey Gale everything okay? Is everyone fine?”
Out of instinct I covered my ears which was not very helpful against the mental communication, her voice was deafening. The ridiculous growth spurt had apparently impacted how she perceived her own voice.
“Yes but please try to be more silent madam destroyer of mountains, slaughterer of calm!” A hint of worry flashed through the deep green eyes. “Sorry. I will try” It was still loud but not brain-mangling anymore. “All four of us are fine, your absence had mother very worried which ended in all of us quite down but we are fine otherwise.” The reduction in tension was obvious as the muscles under her fur visibly relaxed.
It looked like Kai had also worried quite a bit, it made me feel proud to be part of this family.
“The harvest was successful, I have four obelisks prepared, two for your own formations and ready to use. The two others carry the strongest formations I can produce, while you will eventually surpass me they might save your life one day.” A small pure blue crystal appeared before me hovering in the air, it looked like two pyramids fused together at the base with a red spherical nucleus in the middle. Her praise still in the air I did my best to summon the first formation I had prepared.
“Hurry I can only keep it malleable for so long!” I had not been lazy, placing my hand on the surprisingly warm stone the formation I had prepared sunk into the stone.
A brief flash of light was emitted as I felt the connection establish, the stone had become part of myself no less than a hand or tail. Kai nodded approvingly, creating more wind.
I had to struggle to not fall on my behind but managed somehow.
The second obelisk appeared, it looked identical to the first and I repeated the process with a different array binding the stone to myself.
“The next ones only require a drop of your blood, I have prepared two functions in them, first they can store themselves inside you. Similar to the ability that allows me to change size, they will be able to disguise themselves as a small gem on an earring or similar.
With further mastery you can also store them inside your mind-palace making them very strong hidden weapons. The first one holds the strongest shield I could put together, the second one is even more special, I call it
It took me two attempts to properly draw blood but the binding was successful. It required all my concentration to only get them to shrink but I was left with two hazelnut sized gems that faintly pulsed.
With a very windy and quite loud sight Kai deflated until she reached scarf size again.
“Remind me to never suggest something like this again, I am spent.” Before I could reply anything she was already deep asleep, mother would be happy over her return so headed back towards the camp, carrying my loudly snoring sister around my shoulders.
My two small obelisks trailing noiseless behind me.
Mother was indeed very happy to get the pack back together but the two stones made her a bit uneasy, she gave me one of fathers leather bags to store them out of sight. I would get someone to craft me earrings for Kai's gift in Wyn, that I had decided. But for now sleep called and the family pile had been assembled, with my sleepiness on the rise I was all too happy to join. That day I did not even train in the mind-palace, simply enjoying the presence of my family was enough.