Misara looked down the dirt road from her wagon seat and hollered, “Let’s goooo!” With a wide smile plastered on her face. Sitting next to her and holding the reins of their horses, Fehyin couldn’t help but grin at her antics.

“Ha, let’s see you keep that up the entire journey,” he said, watching as his companions' long black hair was blown into her face by the wind. The sun was high overhead, and they were making good progress to Ceren. Most importantly, they were at the front of the caravan so dust wasn’t being blown into them.

Misara turned to him and gave his shoulders a playful pounding. They weren’t broad shoulders as Feyin was an enchanter by trade. He was a small bookish man molded from the dirt of the earth with warm brown eyes and an infectious smile.

“New runes, just imagine the possibilities! I heard those old stooges even have a rune for immortality.” Her green eyes looked at him with such fervor he felt he needed to nip it in the bud and keep expectations a bit realistic. Fixing her hair, he said, “If they had those type of runes, they wouldn’t be in such dire straits."

"They've been in dire straits for ages! What else is it but immortality!" Misara said.

Fehyin chuckled at that. "Well, I doubt they'd admit to it. At most, they’ll give us a few choices and let us deliberate among ourselves which rune we want. Might not even get the one we’re looking for if the other enchanters get their way. Velin is going around trying to convince everyone to pick decay if it’s an option. ”

“If he wants to go ahead with the cheese business he should keep it to himself.” She said grimacing. “Also, which one are we looking for?” Misara asked, raising an eyebrow. She had her own thoughts on the matter, but apparently, Fehyin had already decided what they were choosing. Not that she had much say being the apprentice. Luckily, Fehyin didn’t run a strict ship, and if the next words to grace Salrion's light wasn’t Tretoic Animation. Well! She’d wheedle him until it was.

“We’ll be going for the rune of cold.”

“By Salrion's bosom, why?” Misara said loudly enough that the caravan guard to their left blushed.

“Misara! Your poor parents would think they raised a scoundrel.” Fehyin said, showing a mock offended face.

“But why cold?”

“Profitability,” replied Fehyin, snapping his fingers in that crisp way he did when a deal was struck.

“Oh no, It’s too hot. I know! Instead of buying a cheap straw hat, these incredibly expensive cold enchanted boots will keep me cool!” Misara said in a lower-pitched voice; Her impression of a bumbling customer.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well, our Buranese neighbors might see it as a necessary expense. Days so hot they can crack open an egg and eat it straight from the shell fully cooked.”

Misara laughed. “That’s impossible. Have you been talking to Ejen again?”

“No, I got that from my sister who got it from her twice removed Buranese son-in-law. Truer than the Guider’s Star I tell you.”

"Aunt Lisalen or mom?"

"Blind me sideways with a stick! There's two of them?!"

Misara glowered at her uncle and he innocently took off his spectacles wiping them. Finally, she relented, smirking. “Alright, But animation could be so much more useful, and it’d be real magic. Not some parlor trick a granny with a pen can do.”

Fehyin couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, let’s hope not everyone’s grandma can enchant. I know it may not be the magic you’re looking for but remember my young protege. This is a business, and animated items require more power and time than a simple temperature enchantment. I’ve never personally used any Tretoic Animation runes, but my frien-” Misara sighed; since he brought up money, this would be a very long uphill battle. Maybe if she convinced some of the other membe-

“Misara, are you listening?” Fehyin said, clearly catching her mind wandering.

“Yes uncle.”

“Misara, Misara, what will I ever do with you. Not every magic item has to spew streams of lightning or fart fire. Did you know fifty years ago in Yedin they found out how to attract fish to their boats? Swam right up to them. All th-” Not every magic item had to be legendary in its power like the Falling Star or the Helm of Visions. It was a conversation they’d tread over multiple times. But, she wanted to make at least one thing that would be talked about in the ages to come. A legacy to leave the world in awe like the enchanters of old. A hand descended from above, ruffling her hair.

“Got your attention now?” Fehyin asked, withdrawing his hand.

“Okay that time, I really wasn’t paying attention,” Misara admitted, embarrassed. She often went off in her own mind, playing with ideas.

“Hmm well, how about this. Go to the back of the cart and read the runebook. Might be able to keep all your thoughts together long enough to learn something new.”

“But I know all the runes we have already.”

A mischievous grin crossed her uncle's face, and butterflies started fluttering in Misara’s belly. She stood up heedless of the cart’s jostling and made a dash for their chest where the books were kept.

“Careful!” Fehyin called back to her.

Misara opened the chest and found not one but two books. Alongside an Aelithic runebook their family had kept for generations, sat a small hand-sized green volume simply labeled “Tretoic Basis.”

“By the Guider’s starlight. Where? How?” Misara said, brushing back her hair and staring at Fehyin. His back was towards her, so she couldn’t see his face, but if he didn’t have a grin wide enough to serve as a table, she’d eat an enchanted boot.

“Old Ejen retired four days ago. No successors, so he sold their family runebook and gave me that. Contains three Tretoic runes, he says. Couldn’t find a use for them, but I think you’ll be able to work your magic. ” Fehyin replied, not turning around.

Misara sat down, excitement coursing through her, ready to burst. She picked up the book and started reading.