The Cost of the Profession
Runemasters were professionals who used their knowledge regarding the Universal Language to manipulate mana and the laws of Twin Lands. That was the foundation of the profession. But to create lasting artifacts, runes alone were not enough. They needed materials and artifacts, but not only that, they needed tools to use the Universal Language to their advantage.
Historically, the profession of Runemasters was born when scholars began to specialize in the art of inscribing runes. They developed methods to improve the efficiency of their work and created artifacts for general use. Before that, the use of runes was more associated with spells, rituals, and other phenomena that would dissipate and lose their effects once the cultivator stopped pouring mana into the runes.