Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 3: Rune-Tech Magic I

CH3 Rune-Tech Magic I

***

A month had passed...

Alex awakened to a realm exploding with vivid hues. For each of the last thirty days, his gaze had met the eddying spectrum of surrounding mana each dawn.

Merlin Pendragon, now his instructor in magic, explained that this peculiar sight stemmed from an eye alteration, a scarce expression of his heritage.

Alex deemed this rationale overly straightforward. Sensing mana was a trait typical of mages, yet the Furor Bloodline represented a fighter's descent. He viewed it as inconsistent.

His "reader instincts" buzzed.

This suggested another untainted lineage coursed through him, probably inherited from his mother.

Regrettably, details about her escaped his knowledge. She perished during his early childhood, and servants along with caretakers had nurtured him at Ashen Castle prior to his dispatch to the lodge.

Nevertheless, he believed her ancestry was far from commonplace. Indeed, it had apparently surpassed the potent Furor Bloodline. Maybe that explained why his Furor gifts never appeared following the Family's ritual.

Regretfully, reaching out to Ashen Castle remained impossible. His father had cut off all contact until Alex emerged as a legitimate mage.

Nevertheless, although Spirit Sight stood as the chief gift from his eye change, additional faculties existed as well.

Enhanced Vision and Eidetic Memory joined the list.

-

Alex rose from his enormous bed.

The lodging at DragonHold Enclave boasted such luxury that his cherished flat from his former existence seemed akin to a cramped storage space.

The suite comprised eleven chambers: sleeping quarters, lounge, eatery, contemplation space, battle area, versatile workshop, and five dedicated arcane labs.

Moreover, a separate wing stored yet another six rooms for his expanding array of enchanted artifacts.

Every area featured refined decor in the sophisticated, mystical aesthetic preferred by sorcerers.

-

He concluded his morning routine just as the morning repast was brought.

Since his initial days, a youthful female novice—about fifteen or sixteen years old—had been tasked by the Enclave's duty board to bring his food.

Benefits of serving as the direct pupil of the Enclave's leader.

As always, the young woman stressed that he might summon her "anytime, for anything." She consistently included a light touch, no matter how minor.

Alex grasped her motives clearly, yet he pretended otherwise. Her tone was pleasant, and her features were developing, but to him, she remained merely a child.

Though his present form was a decade old, and maturity in this realm started at fifteen, the seasoned spirit within upheld the ethical standards from his past life.

"I'm Asta. Remember my name, Alex," she repeated endlessly, offering a grin before departing.

Alex exhaled.

Persistence defined the girl above all.

He had intentionally refrained from using her name, aiming to signal disinterest and prompt her withdrawal. Unfortunately, she interpreted his detachment as timidity.

Even worse, she regarded him as a naive, unaware—and crucially, attractive—ten-year-old lad.

He dismissed the issue and turned to the food before him.

Unlocking a heritage power brought advantages, yet it carried a drawback—his hunger had surged dramatically.

Particularly as the majority of his heritage powers operated passively, steadily sapping his vitality. Without proper nourishment, exhaustion would claim him.

He consumed the food swiftly and readied himself for the day ahead.

-

Describing DragonHold Enclave in a single term, Alex would select: academy.

The sorcerer's spire's layout and functions closely resembled the higher learning institutions from his Earthly experiences.

A scholarly section housed wizards delving into arcane secrets, while a teaching section offered structured lessons led by elite or deeply versed sorcerers. Novices and established wizards alike could join these sessions.

To advance from novice to recognized wizard, one needed to prove command over core principles of a selected Mage Class (arcane specialization route); typically via a hands-on display or comprehensive scholarly work, similar to a dissertation.

Every learner received a Guiding Instructor. For Alex, this was Merlin Pendragon.

In this comparison, Zora resembled his advanced seminar aide, although her duties carried much greater weight.

"I never imagined returning to college... in a different realm." Alex laughed inwardly at the notion.

Typical novices enjoyed liberty in selecting courses—as long as fees allowed.

Session costs and supplies were tallied, with statements dispatched each month. Without settlement, entry to fresh courses was barred.

Alex lacked such liberty. Merlin had curated a demanding syllabus for his debut month, packed predominantly with essential topics:

Mathematics, Planar Geometry, Magic Philosophy, World Theory, World Systems, Planar Organism Study (basically biology), Analysis of living beings (Anatomy), Matter Composition study (Chemistry), History of races, Spell Formation and more.

His timetable overflowed—mirroring that of an advanced learner in an accelerated program.

His periodic invoice soared. Only then did Alex comprehend the hefty initial sum his father provided.

He pondered how fellow learners coped with the grueling lineup. Survival for him hinged on the Eidetic Memory gift.

At a hefty mana expense, Alex could capture any visual input via his sight and review it subsequently.

By deliberately examining the recordings and emphasizing key elements, they would imprint permanently in his enduring recall, never to fade.

This day signaled the conclusion of his intense inaugural month.

Following it... a crucial choice awaited regarding his future direction.

-

Foundational Magic Philosophy served as an open session accessible to all within the spire.

Alex observed a varied assembly of attendees—humans, elves, orcs, trolls—from youths to aged elders in their eighties. Still, none exceeded Intermediate Mage in mana aura, even the most senior.

'Magic requires innate gifts,' he reflected. 'So methodical, yet it wields cruelty without reason.'

He claimed a spot up front.

Shortly after, a hirsute elf strode in, sparking murmurs.

'A bearded elf? Uncommon indeed. Elves typically deemed facial hair a Dwarven custom and shunned it. Likely tower-bred,' Alex deduced.

The elf disregarded the attention and launched into his discourse.

"Magic encompasses numerous doctrines. Among them lies the Top-Down Philosophy, asserting that comprehending the world precedes our empowerment.

"A plane and its Laws fuse as one, demanding obedience to the plane's rules for growth within it. Even the mighty evade this truth not; Grand mages ascending via derivative-pseudo law face planar retribution, whereas Legends grazing true core laws contend with the plane's full wrath.

"A plane's laws shape its essential traits and power framework. Upon visiting another plane, prioritize dissecting its laws and power setup, then adjust your combat style, directing assets and leveraging surroundings rather than clashing and suffering constraints.

"Ever keep in mind, from top to bottom—from the plane to thyself..."

The discourse continued for sixty minutes before concluding.

-

Returning to his quarters, Alex encountered Zora.

"Lady Zora," he saluted with deference.

While he inwardly labeled her Merlin's 'grad assistant,' officially she served as the Enclave's chief steward and overseer. Her power ranked just below Merlin's.

"How fare you, Alex? I came to jog your memory about our later appointment today. You haven't overlooked it, have you?"

"Of course not."

"Excellent. I expect your choice will be set by then." She offered a brief incline. "Very well, proceed."

Alex headed back to his suite.

Per his roster, spell training followed by contemplation was next.

He selected two elementary Grade-0 incantations to begin: Magic Arrow and Magic Ball.

Each held potential to advance into superior elemental forms—such as Fire Arrow or Fireball.

Peers might have shifted to more dazzling incantations, but Alex persisted with these to solidify his groundwork.

His Spirit Sight let him watch mana's flow during invocation, and his technical perspective drove him to refine wherever possible.

Take Magic Ball: initially, it demanded two seconds to invoke, covered a five-meter impact zone, and required five mana particles.

Through repeated drills in the month's closing weeks, Alex shortened the invocation to below one second (nearly immediate), expanded the impact zone twofold, while maintaining the mana expenditure.

Presently, his efforts targeted slashing the mana need entirely.

At last, triumph came in this session.

"Four mana for Magic Ball. Plus, I imparted sideways rotation to Magic Arrow..." Alex beamed at the perforated practice figure in ruins.

The figure, designed to replicate a plated knight's resilience, lay demolished.

"Time for a replacement. That'll dent my funds."

Each figure ran 1,000 gold coins—a fortune, given a single gold sustained a household for thirty days.

Who entrusts a ten-year-old with funds in an extravagant haven like the mage tower sans oversight?

Merlin, evidently.

The elder wizard declared, "A true sorcerer blends mind and sagacity. Coin handling forms part of that path."

Alex quaffed a 70-gold mana draught and commenced meditating.

"Contemplation challenges a restless intellect... Yet, I've attained 13 mana points. Nearing mid-Novice stage."

Subsequently, he unwound in a hot soak, pondering the impending session with Merlin and Zora.

Beyond Novice level, adepts must select a Class for focus.

Earl Drake embodied a Berserker. Knight Jarred pursued Dark Knight. Zora wielded Ice Mage, Merlin Dragonslayer Mage.

For the Dragon Enclave Master's direct disciple, matters diverged slightly.

Contrasting standard pupils, Alex faced an earlier mandate to pick a Mage Class. Merlin demanded this to craft a bespoke teaching plan matching Alex's route.

Sadly, despite over a hundred sessions crammed into one month, Alex remained undecided.

Options abounded in intrigue, and for a reborn soul like him, horizons stretched infinitely. Choice overwhelmed him.

Idly, Alex intoned the Magic Arrow incantation.

A sheer arcane ring emerged over his hand, birthing a luminous mystical shaft that hovered stably at his command.

He refrained from launching it—merely studied it.

His focus settled on the arcane ring. Most lacked even basic sight of it, but Spirit Sight revealed it to Alex.

Layering Enhanced Vision, he discerned the composing runes with clarity.

It captivated him.

"Evokes the Smart Ink initiative my group tackled before arriving here. Trust tech-savvy novel fans to devise Tech-tattoo concepts for armed forces. Hard to fathom the DOD leaders approved such folly," he mused with amusement.

"Imagine channeling that expertise into this realm's arcane framework... Creating a bespoke Class would be extraordinary."

As that notion surfaced, a change stirred.

Not just an idea—a germ—planted itself.

His stare stayed on the softly radiant arcane ring. Thoughts surged, piecing recollections from myriad discourses and fields explored lately.

"That's it!" Alex cried, springing upright.

He banished the hovering shaft and hastened to attire himself.

Soon, the odd scene of the Dragon Enclave Master's latest charge dashing across the main grounds attracted puzzled gazes everywhere.

Alex dashed like fate hung in the balance.

Perhaps it did.

The conceptual germ in his thoughts had budded into a tender shoot, demanding swift cultivation lest it fade.

To achieve that, he required his master's presence without delay!

***