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Firebrand - Chapter 319

Published at 12th of April 2024 06:31:12 AM


Chapter 319: Warning Signs

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Chapter 319: Warning Signs

Warning Signs

Martel sat in Master Fenrick's classroom with anticipation in his stomach. Studying Archean was all well and good, but learning the Tyrian runes would actually give Martel new magic, along with insight into how many of the things in Morcaster worked. Just around the Lyceum, Martel had noticed countless examples of the small symbols. He knew they were used to push the water around the system of pipes, and the clerks likewise used it to send messages swiftly through tubes. Not to mention, access to the door of the library's upper floor, freeing Martel from needing the librarian to open it for him.

"You'll all be happy to hear that you've passed Archean, even if some certainly did the task better than others," Master Fenrick announced. "Ideally, we'd spend time delving into the many mistakes repeated again and again, but since the school prefers you continue straight on to Tyrian runes, we'll do that."This chapter's initial release occurred on the n0vell--Bjjn site.

Martel could not disagree with the priorities of the Lyceum on that account.

"Now, there's a number of very basic runes that even thick-headed acolytes should be able to learn and activate. For instance, I'm sure you've seen how messages are sent across the Lyceum from the entrance hall," the teacher continued. "That is done by inscribing a rune of attraction upon the parchment and activating it using the right Tyrian word. Which means, you'll be learning as many runes as you can, but also basic Tyrian vocabulary."

Several of the mageknights groaned at the realisation that this would be another language class.

For his part, Master Fenrick smiled. "The second floor of the library has a few tomes containing our collected knowledge of the Tyrian alphabet, along with descriptions of their functions and the activating word. Though some of it remains speculative."

Martel raised his hand. "Pardon me, master, but how exactly does it work? How do we activate a rune?"

"If you'd be patient a moment longer," the teacher replied with slight reproach, "I'm getting to that. Tyrian runes work on intent and vocalisation. In other words, you must know and wish for the effect to happen, and you must speak the appropriate word. Do not ask me the lore behind this, as we don't have time to delve into such."

The process proved much the same as Martel's previous attempts at alchemy, except rather than boil, the liquid in the cauldron should be simmering at most. Too much heat destroyed the cooling properties of the ingredients, which made a certain kind of sense. Though it still felt strange to think about. It reminded Martel of how little he actually knew, and how much he had to learn.

Working at less heat also meant more time to finish the brewing. By Martel's estimate, though he would have to go to his chamber and check his Khivan clocks to be sure, he worked for more than three hours before Mistress Rana declared the potion ready to be bottled. As before, she poured, allowing him to focus on trapping the magic inside the vial. It coalesced into a blue glow. And as Martel closed his hand around the glass, he found it cold to the touch even though it had been simmering less than a minute ago.

"I suggest you chain your curiosity and save this potion for a hot summer's day. You drink it now, nothing will make you feel warm, and you'll have a long, sleepless night ahead of you," Mistress Rana warned him, though she did so with almost a twinkle in her eye. He could barely recall when he had ever seen her so expressive before.

"Understood, mistress. Thank you for teaching me."

"Yes, yes. Clean up your worktable."

***

In the evening, Martel went to the library as intended. He located one of the volumes containing all the known lore regarding Tyrian runes. While the book itself was heavy and expensive, Martel soon realised it was because lots of the descriptions contained meandering guesses and considerations that did not necessarily correspond to the truth. In fact, leafing through the book, it became apparent that Asterian insight into the symbols was limited and suffered from a great deal of uncertainty. Which seemed a great shame; simply from what Martel had seen, from how the few known symbols were used, the applications were extensive.

He made a few attempts to find the symbols inscribed on his rune token, but he had a hard time recognising any. Either because they were missing, or perhaps whoever made these entries had copied the designs incorrectly.

Yet going through them, Martel suddenly saw one that looked familiar. Not from his own token, but one he had seen in Lady Pearl's study. It seemed among the more advanced symbols; much of the discussion about this, as written in the text, went over Martel's head. But from what he could deduce, this was a rune of suppression, used to nullify other runes, much like how gold suppressed his own magic. It raised one question and made another return to Martel's mind; why would Lady Pearl possess such a token, and what exactly had he helped Ruby accomplish at the convent of the Sisters of the Sun?




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