Training Part 2

"After two hours of sleep, Jake woke up in the afternoon.

"What time is it? Nexus?" Jake asked, rubbing his eyes.

[1:00 in the afternoon]

'Hmm,' Jake nodded, washed his face, and then reached the dining table.

"Here, eat. You must be starving," Sera said, coming to him with a bowl of clear white soup containing some veggies.

Jake, still a bit groggy, nodded and started eating the soup. The warmth of the broth and the aroma of the veggies gradually helped him wake up fully. As he savored the flavors, Jake couldn't help but appreciate Sera's caring gesture.

Sera: "Feeling better now?"

Jake: "Much better, thanks. I guess I really needed that rest."

"Good, rest for another hour, and after that, we will start your Rune training," Sera said, then took the empty bowl and went to the kitchen.

Jake nodded and then returned to his room, "Nexus, what's my gain?"

[Attributes:

Health (HP): 1000 - 1500

Strength (STR): 30+20 - 40+20 (Subclass effect +20)

Agility (AGI): 25- 40

Intelligence (INT): 50

Wisdom (WIS): 30

Vitality (VIT): 20 -30 (VIT*50=HP)

Dexterity (DEX): 20+20 (Subclass effect +20)

Charisma (CHA): 60 (Potential lady killer)]

"All my physical attributes are increased by 10; the training is damn good," Jake exclaimed, seeing the stats increase.

[No, it's not just training but also your food. Your friends might have only gained three or four stats improvement.]

"Hmm, I see," Jake nodded.

[Rest well; you are going to need it for Rune class.]

Jake nodded and decided to meditate until his mom calls him. Meditation would help Jake recover from mental exhaustion and ready his mind for the upcoming Rune class.

After an hour, his mom called him.

Reaching the lobby, he found his mom sitting there with two books on the table.

"Come sit, Jay~" Sera said with a warm smile.

'Something's definitely wrong,' Jake thought as he went to sit in front of her.

"Jay, why aren't your friends coming? Don't tell me you think your mom can't teach others unlike your dad," Sera said with a smile on his face, but that smile is far from her usual warm smile.

'I knew it, something was definitely wrong,' Jake silently gulped and mustered the cutest face he could and replied, "Mom, I forgot, sorry," with his head down.

Suddenly, Jake felt two arms picking him up, and he found himself sitting in his mother's lap. "It's okay; it means I will have to teach Jake any way I could today," Sera said, rubbing his head.

"Hmm," Jake nodded with a smile and mentally thought 'Safeeeee.'

"Hmm, since your friends will join us from tomorrow, how about we learn the history of Runes today?" Sera said.

"Okay, Mom," Jake replied.

"Hmm, the Runes are languages of the energies. Using Runes, we can create spells, enhance equipment, and many more things like this Rune. This Rune is used in cleaning dirt or dust off clothes; it's one of the Runes you will find in all magic clothes to keep them clean, and another example is this Rune; it keeps the temperature of the body normal regardless of the environment..." Sera started explaining about Runes as she created many types of Runes in mid-air to explain them.

In the world of Celestaria, runes are the arcane threads that weave through the very fabric of existence. These ancient symbols, etched in shimmering luminescence, hold the essence of elemental energies, magic, and cosmic forces. Each rune represents a conduit to a different aspect of the universe, embodying both the primordial and the present.

Created and deciphered by renowned monarchs, emperors, and kings, these Runes hold immense powers. They draw inspiration from the diverse landscapes and magical ley lines that crisscross the fantastical world.

The runes of Celestaria come in various shapes and sizes, and their luminescent glow reveals their attunement to specific energies. Runes associated with nature may shimmer with a verdant green radiance, while those linked to man might pulsate with a serene blue light. The color and resonance of each rune signify its unique connection to the cosmic forces that shape reality in Celestaria or beyond.

Mages and enchanters in Celestaria harness the power of runes to craft magical constructs, cast spells, and commune with the mystical forces that permeate the land. The ability to decipher and manipulate these symbols is a revered art, passed down through generations of arcane practitioners who seek to unlock the secrets of Celestaria's magical tapestry.

Whether inscribed on ancient tomes, engraved on mystical artifacts, or woven into the very air during magical rituals, runes are the language of magic in Celestaria, bridging the mortal and the mystical realms. The wise and the adventurous alike delve into the study of these symbols, seeking to master the art of runecraft and unlock the boundless potential that lies within the luminous glyphs of this enchanting world.

"Mom, who first discovered runes?" Jake asked as his mom stopped explaining.

"No one knows, but from the records, it is told that Elements themselves presented their language so that people could communicate with them and help the world defend itself from the invaders, " Sera smiled and said.

"Invaders?" Jake asked, hoping to get more information.

"Yes, invaders, they are bad people out of this world who destroy anything in their paths," Sera replied.

"You are still small; you will learn about it from the Academy, so wait until then," Jake was going to pry further when his mom stopped him.

"Hmm, Mom, then tell me about different kinds of cores and my special core," Jake nodded and asked.

"Hmm, okay," Sera nodded and started explaining about the cores.

{A/N: I have already explained about it in previous chapters so here I will not}

"Now about your second core, the Second Core of yours is called the Heart Core and is exclusive to the witch bloodline. You awakened it because you have a witch bloodline in you, inherited from me as I am a Witch, and your father is human. That makes you a half-human and half-witch descendant," Sera.

Sera then continues, "The White Core of yours now is still dormant, but it's mostly known for its purifying and destructive properties. Right now, we don't know what your element is, but whatever it will be, it's definitely going to be powerful. So make sure to use your Second Core only against enemies and only when you could perfectly control it"

"Okay, Mom," Jake nodded.

"There are many kinds of elements you could awaken like White Flames, Ashen Wind, Grey Earth, Ruin Water, and much more. All of them will be very powerful, and when your core matures, we will see which one you got," Sera.

"But leave it for later; we were talking about Runes, right? So let's go back to the topic," Sera.

"As I was saying, Elements themselves presented their language but how?" Sera said and looked at Jake.

"By talking to humans," Jake replied.

"Close, but the answer is their incarnation or Elemental Spirits," Sera shook her head and said.

"The Spirits are very, very rare, and only those who have gained their trust can talk to them. But during the invasion, they had no choice but to pass the Runes to humans to aid them against the invasion." Sera's explanation continued, delving deeper into the connection between elements, runes, and the rare Elemental Spirits.

Sera: "The Elemental Spirits, the very essence of the elements, are exceedingly rare beings. Only those who have gained their trust and respect can communicate with them directly. However, during the invasion, a desperate need arose."

She gestured towards the runes etched on the book's cover.

Sera: "To aid in the defense against the invasion, the Elemental Spirits had no choice but to pass on their knowledge, their language, to humans. These symbols, these runes, became the conduit through which the elements could speak to us. They carry the power, the essence, and the language of the elements."

Jake listened intently, absorbing the mystical connection between the runes and the ancient language of the elements.

Sera: "Understanding the runes is like deciphering the whispers of the Elemental Spirits. Each symbol is a key to unlock a specific aspect of the elements. By combining and interpreting these symbols, mages and runecrafters can harness the raw power of nature, bringing forth its might in spells, enchantments, and protective wards."

Jake: "So, the runes are like a bridge between us and the elements, a way for humans to speak the language of the spirits."

Sera nodded approvingly.

Sera: "Exactly, Jake. And your journey with these runes has just begun. As you delve into their meanings and unlock their potential, you'll uncover the secrets hidden within the very fabric of Celestaria."

"That book contains basic Runes, although there are only 24 basic Runes, but their combination is more than 1000 and they are still getting discovered," Sera said as she passed the book into Jake's lap.

Opening its first page, Jake saw a weird symbol, "It means Create. Runecraft magic involves this Rune to create an Element out of thin air using one's core energy as fuel." 

Jake kept turning pages as his mother kept explaining about each Rune. Only after completely reading the book, Sera allowed Jake to leave her lap.

"Go and read it calmly in your room; tomorrow I will ask questions related to it from you, and don't forget to inform your friends tomorrow morning about this class too," Sera said as she stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

Jake looked at the window and saw the orange hue painting the sky. 'It's already evening.'

[When you do something interesting, you don't know when time passed.] Nexus commented.

'It's true,' Jake nodded and returned to his room.

While in the park,

"Why didn't Jake come today?" Jimmy asked, seeing it's already time to return home.

"Maybe he is too tired," Emily replied calmly.

"Hmm, but we aren't, and he didn't seem too tired compared to us. Remember we were limping while he was calmly walking," Jimmy said while demonstrating.

"Maybe he wants to impress Emily," Mark joked.

"Hahaha, then Jake is in for pain...Arghhh," Jimmy laughed, hearing Mark, only to receive a punch on his head. He crouched down holding his head and cried, "Emily, I won't forgive you if I don't grow up, because of you always punching my head".

Arghhhh

Jimmy heard another cry and saw Mark crouching down holding his head too, and Emily looking at them with a red face.

Jimmy gulped, seeing Emily's angering face and ran away. Mark too ran away.

'Idiots,' Emily muttered as her face returned to her usual calm face, and she walked back home.