Chapter 202: Runesmith.

Chapter 202: Runesmith.

Lets try it out! Pour mana in and shoot! Outside in the training field of House Helvass mansion, Ellaine, wearing her repaired dragoon armor, was concentrating her mana into her sword before swinging it. Six blue glowing lines suddenly lit up on the sword, before the swords blade split into seven individual shards, all held together by one single, thick mana thread.

In awe at the blade shards dancing in the air, Ellaine kept swinging her new sword around, testing how long the thread could extend. The mansions guards began to take notice, watching Ellaine play with her new toy before being called out by the Count. Once the spectators were gone, Ellaines father returned his attention back to his daughter.

[Oooh, the blacksmith did a fine job with your blade, dear. The extension of the weapon is controlled by how much mana you pour into the weapon, and you can retract it whenever you want by decreasing the flow of mana. Easy to control,] KleaHatma, without revealing her eyes, spoke to us through her telepathy. [Hmm, how about releasing my powers to see how it works with them?]

Please, take care not to startle my guards, Ellaine, the Count warned, not to his daughter but indirectly at the demon since he couldnt say her name out loud.

Ellaines whipblade was finally finished. The blade was made using the metal of the High Ogres axeblade, which was able to withstand my [Dreaflare Aura] at point-blank range, a handle and crossguard made from Cernusts broken antler-horn, and a few of my old, shed layers of my claws and carapace spikes. Just from the materials used, most adventurers would immediately recognize this as a high-tier weapon.

In addition to those, the weapon itself had a mechanism inside its rather large crossguard. Under Grimnirs instructions, Ellaine managed to contribute to her own weapon by implementing the mechanism needed to control the whip part of the weapon by how much mana she was pouring into it. With this mechanism, Ellaine could control the length of the mana thread released and extend or contract the blades reach. Grimnir did mention it could use some more tweaking, but Ellaine could do this herself once she became better at tinkering.

Woah! Once done with the tests, Ellaine stopped pouring mana into her weapon and it snapped back into a sword, causing Ellaine to fly backwards as the recoil of the retraction was unexpected for her. Ouch! she groaned before I helped her up, chuckling at her mistake.

Her father sighed as he saw this, scratching his head. Your training will have to increase if you wish to learn this weapon, Ellaine. Dont forget to come back home the moment your classes are over.

Well, if you could help me skip a few lectures, I would be able to train more. Right, Father? Ellaines mischievous comment only earned her a fierce scolding from her father, who was trying to inject more discipline into Ellaines character, similar to how he would train a soldier or a squire. Ellaine has been training with her father daily since we arrived in Griffonpeak, and it seemed their relationship has improved a bit. I mean, Ellaine was acting more relaxed around him, in my opinion.

Speaking of school, Ellaine just came back from the academy just a few moments ago. When she learned Grimnir had finished both making her new weapon and repairing her armor, she instantly changed out of her academy uniform and jumped right into her armor. Poor Josine had no experience armoring a knight up, so Count Helvas had to teach Ellaines maid how to do it.

When her father told her to name her sword, as it was customary for a knight, I couldnt help but think of Farrons weapon, back in Firwood. Caliarus was its name. I guess I should have figured it out back then when I saw his profile and that he had Artorian Lionheart Sword abilities, that Farron was a former Knight of the Lionheart.

However, Ellaine decided to hold off on naming her weapon for now, since she wanted to do it after she passed the knights exam. Still, this was her weapons stats.

Dragonclaw Whipblade

A finesse weapon made using the claws of a sunfang dragon and the horn of a forest drake, bound together with white voldunna alloy. Forged using the flames of a high-rank dragon, the mana of the dragon was infused into the weapons metal, increasing the blades mana accumulation. A combination of high-quality materials and artificer work, this unorthodox weapon acts not only as a sword but also as a powerful whip

Attack Power: 1877

Skill: [Mana Conductor Lv. 5] [Mana Efficiency Lv. 4] [True Sword Mastery Lv.1] [Decreased Weight Lv. 5] [All Damage Enhancement Lv. 1] [Herculean Power Lv. 1] [Speed of Sound Lv. 1] [Aerial Fighter Lv. 8] [Mid-Air Maneuvering Lv. 5] [Minds Eye Lv. 1] [Durability Loss Reduction Lv. 10] [Improved Abnormal Status Infliction Lv. 6]

Still a bit weaker than Farrons weapon, but Grimnir mentioned he could reforge it stronger and better as we gained better materials. Still, it would serve her good enough for now.

Hmm? After helping Ellaine up, I noticed somebody leaving the mansion. With blond hair similar to Mariannes, I realized it was Ellaines elder brother, Jonathan. Hey, Jonathan, welcome back. Are you leaving for training again? I waved at him before he left on his gargoyle, prompting him to turn around to respond.

Ah, Lady Hestia, good day! Yes, I am currently leaving to train with the other squires, he waved back at me.

Dedicated, amazing. Oh, would you have some free time before then? Ellaine just received a new weapon. Would you like to see her wield it?

My sisters? Uhm, I apologize, haha, but I must take my leave right now. Maybe next time, Lady Hestia! Suddenly breaking his gentleman-like behavior, Jonathans brows frowned a bit when he saw Ellaine before jumping onto his gargoyle and flying off into the orange sky.

Ellaine looked dejected while Count Helvas sighed deeply as they saw Jonathan leave. Jonathan has been acting weird around Ellaine since they met up at the academy again, and I also heard they had a meeting with their parents the day before. It's their family business, so I didnt want to pry, but I felt it sucked that they were acting like this.

However, my thoughts didnt last long as somebody suddenly interrupted them.

By Crustacias twin locks, are you lasses trying to have me burn the wagon down! I told you to come over here now if you want to see a runesmith at work! It was Grimnir, peeking his head out of the RV, shouting at us with a red face. He only had stubble for now, but his hair and beard were slowly growing back.

With Ellaines sword and armor finished, Grimnir decided it was finally time for him to begin working as a runesmith again, which means he wanted to rune up Ellaines equipment. He had been preparing for it since midnight, apparently, and he was frantic enough to shout at us to hurry the fuck up.

As we didnt want to anger him, we all went over to the RV, including the Count. Unfortunately for him, Grimnir wouldnt have it.

I did not invite you, ankong, Grimnir called out Count Helvas, calling him human in dwarven. Sorry, Count, but runesmithing isnt for everybody to see. I might have been dishonored and exiled from the Ankor-Nazta, but I still aint letting any outsiders watch my craft. You aint a runesmith, you aint learning!

Then why are you inviting my daughter and the others then? Arent they onlookers just like me? the Count asserted, seemingly unsatisfied that he couldnt see something in his own yard.

You want me to kick the lasses out every time I want to work on some runes? The wagon only has so much space until I figure out how to turn the lasss [Room] into a rune, Grimnir argued back. Enough arguing! The damn furnace has been on since damn midnight! You four, get in here now, or Ill shut the door!

Saori, Tasianna, Ellaine, and I immediately did what Grimnir said, leaving the Count behind as we entered the RV. Suffice to say, when Grimnir mentioned he might burn the RV down, he wasnt kidding.

Ack! What is this heat! Saori complained as we closed the RVs door shut. As I looked at Grimnirs forge, I could see the flames flaring like a beast.

Urgh, its still bearable but why can I feel the heat despite my armors skills? Just how warm is it, Master Grimnir?! Ellaine questioned the dwarven smith, barely sweating since her dragoon armor was made using my scales. I wasnt sweating, but I could feel the heat creating a veil around me. Tasianna, could you

No! Grimnir interrupted Ellaine with a shout. Dont change the damn temperature, bladdarg! Do you know how long I had to keep the damn flames going, waiting for you to come back home?! Fucking enough, Im sweating! Here, look! Grimnir pointed at his slightly damp forehead.

Still not understanding the situation, I had to finally pose a question, You said youve been preparing for this since midnight. Are you kidding me, youve been keeping your furnace on since then?! Why?!

Runesmithing, Grimnir grumbled before pulling a cloth, revealing an anvil underneath it with multiple shining runes. Do me a favor, Tasianna. Cast [Air Shield] around us. You should be able to control it perfectly with your Goddess blessing, right?

Tasianna did exactly that. When she cast [Air Shield] with her catalyst blessed by Zephira, she could control the spell to let air in and out whenever she wanted. Normally, when casting using either a normal catalyst or no catalyst, [Air Shield] blocked air from coming in and going out, so it didnt just block sound but also kept oxygen and carbon dioxide from crossing the barrier, so you had to dispel it before it suffocated you. Tasiannas didnt have this problem.

Once the spell was up, Grimnir continued, To tell you the truth, I was lying to your father, Ellaine. Technically, Im not even supposed to show you lasses any of what Im doing. The runesmithing guild is a dwarven-only guild, and, as with every other tazongn craft, we dont like letting others learn our trade secrets. We especially dont like sharing our craft with the other races. The runesmithing guild, though, is especially stubborn. Its an exclusive art for only dwarven runesmiths and their apprentices.

I have heard about that, Master Dwarf, Tasianna stated. This jealous possessiveness of their runecraft is linked to the dwarves lives before the Origin Gods advent in Peolynca. I heard that runecraft was made to alleviate the dwarves inability to cast magic, and, as such, your people are unwilling to share their crafts with others. You are telling us to keep this a secret, correct, Grimnir?

Aye, correct, fiflei, Grimnir nodded, calling Tasianna fairy in dwarven. I cant lie to the God of Runesmithing, but I can still trick the other runesmiths. I dont care about the guilds rules anymore, but I still agree I shouldnt be sharing our races proud craftsmanship with outsiders. Can I have your word on this, to not share any knowledge I impart on you? Close your lips under the God of Oaths eyes?

Seeing as Kargryxmor is looking down at us, breaking a promise like this would be kinda awkward. Still, I dont intend on betraying Grimnirs trust.

All four of us nodded, swearing we wont share any runecrafting secrets to calm the anxious Grimnir down. Grimnir glanced at the demon, prompting her to answer, too, [Not like it will interest me, so speak away.]

Grimnir scoffed at KleaHatmas response but accepted it regardless. Then, lets get started. Lass, your sword. I need to add a fail-proof to it. Grimnir glanced at his newest creation with pride, looking up into the ceiling of the RV. He then placed it on a workbench and pulled out a couple of iron ingots.

Listen well, for a runesmith never repeats this lesson to their apprentices, Grimnir said as he placed the iron into his forge. Once it started glowing orange, he pulled it out and began hammering the impurities away from it. Rune magic, as we runesmiths call it, is our races attempt to even the battlefield between you magicians and us magic-less. In the words our shrine maidens of Crustacia say, who have learned of the reason for our inability to use magic, it is both a curse and blessing that our original creators gave us on our birth.

Dwarves werent like the other races, for while the others were always born with flesh and blood, the dwarves originated from the ores of the world. When Crustacia arrived and became the dwarves patron Goddess, the dwarves shrine maidens began talking to the Goddess of Earth to learn more about the reason why they couldnt cast magic, why they couldnt use their Goddesss gifts like the other races.

We arent able to commune with elementals like the other races, even though we were made by the original ruler of the Earth element, an Earth Elemental Emperor. Neither can we use conventional catalysts like staves, spell rings, and such. Without elementals and catalysts, we couldnt produce mages before the Divine System. I was told my race was hopeful when Goddess Crustacia accepted us, so we felt deeply betrayed when we couldnt cast any Earth spells even then.

Crustacia was able to change the biological make-up of a dwarf to allow them to become mages, but Grimnir told us this was a sacred ritual, so rarely done that only a handful of dwarven mages existed. If you asked me, I would guess that Plesia probably had a say in it. If you think about it, changing a whole races DNA would be considered impactful.

Still, Crustacia revealed the reason for their inability to the dwarves. The Earth Elemental Emperor, one of the old gods of Peolynca, who controlled the worlds Earth elements as its primarch, was the creator of the dwarves. Using ores and rocks to create their form, which they then turned into flesh and blood, the Emperor was able to bring the dwarves to life. The elementals reason for creating the dwarves in this way was unknown even to Crustacia.

I wonder if this is the truth, but then again, why would Crustacia lie? The dwarves were furious that they couldnt cast the spells of their own patron Goddess, so if she lied, it wouldnt have ended so well. Well, Ill give her the benefit of the doubt, since Aurena had nothing bad to say about her.

Still, its not like us tazongs would be content with this. Before the Origin Gods came to our world, we created the first runic tattoo.

From what I heard from Talon, the illusionist from Cedaraille, I knew he was a runic tattooist and that the craft came from the dwarves. Grimnir explained runic tattoos were made to resemble magic circles, however, they used the dwarven language and their cultures engravings. Conventional catalysts made using alchemy were useless for a dwarf, so they came up with a version they could use.

Dwarves werent able to expel mana from their bodies, so it was simply impossible for them to combine it with the elements and mold it. For example, if mana was mixed with one of the six elements or the composite elements, its color would change corresponding to them. Thats why the magic circles were colored according to the element of the spell.

Dwarves could only channel their mana through objects related to the earth rocks, metal, wood, plants, and blood were primarily examples. They could still empower their fists and weapons with mana to cause massive damage, while their body was protected by their stubborn mana, reducing any incoming magical damage, as mentioned in the dwarven racial skills [Body of Earth] and [Dwarven Magic Resistance].

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Sunday, September 5, 2021 1:07:17 AM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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