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."
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."
That was the first time Martel ever heard Master Fenrick resist going into the theory behind magic.
"No, first, we'll work on teaching you all some basic runes and practise how to pronounce their associated words. Trust me, it'll take you a good while to even come close to approximating the right sounds." Master Fenrick took out a large piece of parchment and unfolded it, showing them the rune upon it. "This, perhaps the most useful symbol you'll ever learn, is the sign of warning. The associated word is vara. Repeat that after me…"
***
After two hours, Martel felt almost dizzy from studying the runes. They had yet to actually try activating any – Master Fenrick said that in-depth knowledge was a prerequisite – but Martel could already feel the potential of it; a whole new branch of magic opening up to him, much like how Sindhian magic had given him alchemy.
It also made Martel curious about the rune token that he always carried in his pocket, given to him last year by Regnar. He had yet to understand its actual purpose, but he was starting to have some idea. Furthermore, realising that the library held books describing the runes, maybe he could actually find out. He would look into that tonight, though first, he had another afternoon lesson waiting for him in Mistress Rana's laboratory.
He saw all the different ingredients lying on a worktable that she had told him to study. Like the last recipe, all of it was different parts of plants. He wondered if those were just the simplest potions to make; probably the easiest to gather ingredients for at any rate.
The alchemist pointed at the reagents. "Which one is this?"
"Hemlock. A few drops can be used to help someone suffering from seizures. In larger quantities, it can be paralytic or even lethal, so great care must be taken, and the age and size of the patient must be taken carefully into account before administering any remedy containing this plant," Martel recited.
Mistress Rana nodded in approval, and they continued down the table as Martel described everything he had memorised. Satisfied, she gestured for him to gather everything up and go to the fireplace to begin his brewing.
***
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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