Chapter 12: Runes and Spells

Leaving the library, I decided to head for Rune Masters' lab. I knew my sister would still hold a little grudge for not letting me accompany her on the Seraph chase. 

Before long, I arrived at where I knew my sister had started working as a rune master.

I opened the door and found a room neither too big nor too small, filled with cloth and metal scrawled with runes, there were also different liquids needed to change the properties of the ink. It must not be the same to engrave runes on cloth as metal' I thought to myself before turning my attention to my sister. 

She was sitting, in front of her was a table with some sort of metal bib on it.

She was so focused on engraving the rune that she didn't even realize she had an intruder, for a moment I thought about scaring her, but I soon dismissed the idea. 

I was coming to get her forgiveness, not to make her angry. 

I waited a few minutes until she finished the rune and left the bib. 

"Bff" my sister snorted with satisfaction at her work.

My sister raised her head and saw me standing with only a table separating me, I saw her surprised reaction for not realizing I was there. 

"How long have you been here? You could have warned me" she said in a slightly guilty tone.

"Just arrived" I replied half truth half lie, 'a couple or three minutes might qualify as just arrived' I thought, before forgetting about the insignificant matter. 

"How are you getting on with your runes?" I asked, knowing it's a subject that always appeals to my sister.

"Good, although I'm struggling to acquire new knowledge, there is practically no research on new methods, applications or runes" she said with a slightly heavy tone.

"I understand you, in alchemy it's the same for me" I replied with some joy to have someone who shared my problem.

To tell the truth, it is not a problem of our tribe, in general, this world has practically no people trying to create new things, progress is extremely slow and even if there is new knowledge, it is rarely shared with the world, it is usually only used by its creator and with some luck some prominent families who pay stratospheric prices to obtain that knowledge.

I started talking to Rina about her advances in runes and what she intended to do in the next few weeks.

The minutes turned into hours, we were immersed until a question about runes popped into my mind.

"Rina, if you are able to write runes on cloth made of animal skin, shouldn't you be able to write runes on the living animal?" I asked with great intrigue.

Rina froze for a couple of seconds at my question, "I hadn't thought about it, I don't know if it's possible, theoretically yes, but I don't know how runes affect a living body" she said still with her expression slightly numb from the shock of the question.

Soon after I left the building knowing that my sister's mind would be more on the question than on me.

As I made my way home I could see the sun setting, a clear sign of the end of the day. 

Seraph must be back from her walk' I thought, deciding to pay her a visit before the end of the day. 

I arrived at her stable, I found her sitting, clearly bored at not being able to do anything.

She quickly spotted me, I was practically her only change in her monotonous day.

'She didn't tremble,' I was surprised. Compared to the last few times we exchanged glances, this time she didn't tremble.

'My Spell of Subliminal Mindset is taking effect' I thought with joy at being able to see its effects in less than a day. 

Yes, one of the three things I bought in the shop, I obviously bought it to use it, so the moment I read its effect, I applied it on Seraph.

[Spell of Subliminal Mindset

Spell capable of slightly manipulating the mind and twisting or changing a perception.

Requirements: Having had extensive contact with their body and having a strong bond both positive and negative with that person.

Perfect for mischief]

From the first moment I used it on Seraph.

Changing his perception of what happened in his house and on me.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Seraph is extremely intelligent, if I used it at full power she would be able to notice the subtle manipulation. 

To avoid that, I lowered the effect level to an almost imperceptible level. Furthermore, I did and will turn her days into nothing more than grazing twice a day, expressing milk and my visits.

Any normal person suffers effects on their mental and physical health if they spend all day doing nothing. 

Maybe one day has no effect, but a week or even longer?

I asked her a couple of questions related to her grazing with Glen and Zin, and after confirming that everything was correct, I went to bed to finish my day.

Shortly after dawn, I got out of bed with more energy.

'Seraph must be out for a walk' I thought before I was interrupted by a "knock, knock" at the door.

Startled, I went to open the door to greet my surprise guest, it was Lyra.

"Hi Lyra, come in" I said as I made room for her to enter.

"Thank you" she replied before entering.

"So what brings you to my house?" I asked, thinking it would be something to do with spells.

"I was wondering if you wanted to continue learning spells, I'd like to teach you what I know to keep them from falling into oblivion" he said before adding "I think you're someone capable and talented, I'd like to teach you".

"Ohh, private lessons it would be, mmh" I said with a tone somewhere between cheerful and sarcastic.

"That's fine though, it should be in the afternoons, in the morning I have to hunt to increase my level and work on my alchemy." I added confirming my interest in the classes.

"Perfect, let's do the classes after noon," she replied enthusiastically.