Chapter 7 : Flux Energy

Adonis retrieved various objects from his bag, resembling alchemical materials: metals, minerals, and a few other tools, placing each carefully on the table.

"First, tell me what these are," Adonis asked Ezra.

Over the past year, Ezra had learned some basic alchemy, or at least he had learned to identify some of the materials. His father had given him books on basic alchemy and mathematics, and tested Ezra from time to time, just like now.

Ezra observed the objects and tried to identify them. He recognized electrum and obsidian, both commonly used in basic rune crafting for testing rune formulas due to their stability and affordability.

He also noticed bloodroot, a herb often used as a catalyst in making runic ink, essential for inscribing runes. Among the items, there was also a runic pen, a specialized tool used for precisely carving runes into various mediums.

Ezra also saw something he didn't recognize. At first glance, it looked like a white pearl, but upon closer inspection, the inside was filled with swirling, sparkling gilt threads that moved around like liquid gold.

Ezra named everything he recognized to his father and then asked about the mystical pearl.

"You got them all right, Ezzie. Well done," his father said, praising him. "As for that pearl, it's called a Flux Core. It's what we use as the energy source for our Runes."

"Flux?" Ezra asked, curious about the term.

"Flux is... well, it has many names and there are numerous theories about it," Adonis began, his tone turning more animated as he delved into his explanation.

"You just need to know that it’s the energy of our world, which we can harvest and manipulate under certain conditions. Flux can manifest in both tangible and intangible forms; it can be metal, liquid, gas, or even other states. It is highly adaptable and mutable, enabling us to transmute it into any element. Everything in the world contains a small amount of Flux."

Adonis's passion for the subject was evident as he spoke, his inner scholar shining through in his detailed explanation.

"When a beast absorbs enough Flux, it will awaken and form a Core. That's how we harvest the Flux Core," he said, making Ezra give a second glance at the pearl.

Ezra's eyes widened as he took in the information, "So this came from a beast?"

"Yes," Adonis confirmed, "a creature that had gathered and absorbed enough Flux to crystallize it into this form. It's a rare and valuable source of energy for our runic crafting."

"Addy, what are you teaching a five-year-old?" Acantha joined the conversation,

"You can't overwhelm little Ezzie with so much to study," she said, her tone tinged with worry and a hint of anger.

"But he's so smart, he absorbs everything I teach like a sponge, we can't just waste his potential," Adonis defended, his voice filled with admiration for his son's abilities.

"I know little Ezzie is smart, just give him a break," she said her voice softening.

"Let me show him something exciting, then," Adonis said as he retrieved more items from his bag.

Among them was a palm-sized rectangular plate of electrum and a small container of Runic ink.

He picked up his Runic pen and dipped its metal tip into the ink, the tip of the pen glowed faintly, and he began inscribing the electrum plate.

Ezra watched his father deftly draw two fundamental Runes: Shiftweave and Cyclonis, symbols for Switch and Loop, respectively. These were intricately connected to Gyratio, an intermediate Rune denoting Rotation.

Then, Adonis added a new Rune that Ezra didn't recognize, linking it to the circuit.

"This is Absorptis, an intermediate Rune" his father explained as he wove the intricate lines. "It absorbs energy from the Flux Core into the Runic circuit."

As Adonis finished his weaving, he carefully placed the Flux core on top of the new Absorptis Rune. With precision, he took a small needle-like obsidian and positioned it atop the Gyratio Rune.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

When Adonis activated the Shiftweave Rune, the small needle-like obsidian began to rotate, and when he deactivated the Shiftweave, it stopped.

Ezra's eyes widened with amazement. Although he had a vague idea of what might happen, witnessing it firsthand was truly astonishing. The combination of runes and their effects on physical objects fascinated him deeply, igniting a newfound curiosity for the intricate art of rune crafting.

"Ezzie, can you tell me what you understand from this circuit?" his father asked in a scholarly tone.

"The Absorptis Rune absorbs energy from the Flux Core. The Shiftweave Rune connects or disconnects the energy supply to the circuit. The Cyclonis Rune helps circulate the energy in a loop, and the Gyratio Rune rotates the small obsidian."

Adonis smiled widely, then turned to his wife.

"I told you, Cathy, he is a genius," he said, a tinge of pride in his voice, causing Acantha's eyes to light up with delight.

'It wasn't that big of a deal; it's just a simple circuit. Even children can tell that,' Ezra thought, momentarily forgetting he was a child too.

Adonis then turned to Ezra, his tone becoming scholarly again.

"Ezzie, you explained it perfectly. Just like this basic circuit, you can create larger and more complex circuits using a wide variety of Runes. By combining various Runes, you can develop new functions to build a larger algorithm. In an artifact, we weave these algorithms according to their functions."

"That's enough, you two. It's already late; you can continue tomorrow," Acantha interjected, gently putting an end to their passionate conversation.

***

The next morning after breakfast, Zara approached Ezra with a hopeful smile.

"Ezzie, do you want to come with me to the village seamstress?" she asked, her eyes bright.

"Okay," Ezra agreed with a nod, seeing no reason to refuse his sister's request.

The siblings quickly finished their morning chores and prepared to depart.

As they stepped outside, the air was filled with the scent of blooming wildflowers, and the sun played hide-and-seek behind fluffy clouds, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the rolling hills surrounding their home.

"So why are we going to the seamstress?" Ezra asked with curiosity.

"Oh, I commissioned a dress last week, with the fabric Dad brought from the Capital," she said cheerfully.

"So we're going to get the new dress?" Ezra asked to confirm.

"Yeah, it's for the Gaia Fest. I was told it would be ready today," she said with a nod.

"What's Gaia Fest?" Ezra asked, hearing it for the first time.

Zara looked confused at first, then a tinge of understanding appeared on her face. "Oh, I forgot you were too little to go last time. Gaia Fest is a festival celebrated every three years in Gaia Village. Everyone gathers and have fun! It was super amazing," she said enthusiastically.

"You're just two years older than me. How come you know that? You don't remember, do you?" Ezra teased with a grin.

Zara's face became sulky. "Okay, maybe I don't remember everything, but I did go to the fest last time with Dad, while Mom stayed home looking after you. And I've heard lots of stories from Mom and Dad. They say it's filled with music, dancing, games, and the best food ever."

"Okay, I believe you, but you don't have to sulk," Ezra said with a playful tease.

"I am not sulking," she said, a little louder, then quickened her pace.

"Hey, wait for me! I'm sorry, okay?" Ezra called, laughing as he ran to catch up with his sister.

It was a fifteen-minute walk to the seamstress from their home; The seamstress used her own house as her workplace. As they approached, they could hear the rhythmic sound of thread spinning on a spinning wheel.

Zara called out, "Aunty Maerwynn!"

The rhythmic sound of thread spinning stopped. After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing a kindly middle-aged woman with brown hair. She smiled warmly upon seeing Zara.

"Well, if it isn't little Zara," she greeted. Then, turning to Ezra, she asked, "And who is this handsome little man?"

"This is Ezzie, my little brother," Zara replied, returning the smile.

Then with an excited smile, Zara asked, "Did my dress finish?"

"Of course, dear, come inside," Maerwynn said with a smile, leading them into her home.

Inside, Ezra stepped into Maerwynn's cozy workshop, the room was filled with numerous dresses, each at different stages of completion. Vibrant fabrics adorned the small space, draped elegantly over chairs and meticulously organized on tables. It was clear that every piece was commissioned by villagers in preparation for the upcoming festival.

After a brief search, the seamstress retrieved a package and delicately removed its cover, unveiling a stunning blue dress adorned with delicate white accents.

Ezra noticed the myriad emotions flickering across Zara's face, but it was clear to anyone that she was thrilled with the dress. Even Ezra couldn't deny the beauty of the garment.

"Did you like your dress, dear?" Maerwynn asked, causing Zara to nod vigorously.

Zara retrieved a coin pouch and offered it to Maerwynn. "Mom said to give you this," she said.

Maerwynn accepted the pouch and took out a coin from it, handing it back to Zara. "You two can buy sweets with it. No need to tell your mom," she added with a playful smile, ruffling Ezra's hair.

They thanked the seamstress and hurried back to their house.

On the way back, Zara suddenly asked Ezra, "Hey Ezzie, do you want to try the dress first?"

"What?" Ezra asked, stumbling a little.

"The dress. It would look really cute on you," she said, making Ezra realize he had heard correctly.

Ezra looked at his sister for a moment, trying to gauge if she was teasing him in return for earlier.

But for some reason, she didn't seem like she was joking.

With a flat expression, Ezra looked into Zara's eyes and said, "No thank you."

"But Why?" Zara asked in confusion, but Ezra didn't talk anymore.

As they reached their house, they could hear conversations coming from inside. When Ezra opened the door, he saw a third person standing beside his parents.

Then, suddenly, the person leaped towards Ezra.