Runeblade

Kaius gasped as he chose Initiate’s Glyphic Bladerite, the system's formless power slipping into the confines of his soul space. His soul shone resplendent in his mind's eye, even while his physical ones stayed open, drinking in the green fields of the plains.

With deific ease, the power that reigned above all weaved a new skill shard out of golden light. A second crystal, orbiting the fires of his soul in lockstep with his first.

It was just as aggressive - as prone to battle - as Drakthar, but there were differences. Where his first skill revelled in the heart pumping brutality of the fight, his newest skill was…different. Controlled.

It enshrined the honour and mastery that could only be seen in a contest between two equals, one where the very prize was life. It venerated the bond between man and blade. Without man, the blade was aimless. Without blade, the man was defenceless. Together they wrought art, whirling steel painting the canvas of the world with blood and victory.

The system bore down, and his skill finalised. As it did, Kaius’s mind throbbed. Information streamed into him, temples pulsing as the system forced knowledge upon him.

With it came understanding. He knew then what the skill represented, that he had made the right choice. This was just simply the beginning. The foundations of a partnership that would see him through until he reached the pinnacle, or breathed his last.

Two glyphs, one on the palm of his hand and one on the blade of his sword. Wrought from soulfire, they would be inured against mundane destruction. Burnt into the very fundamentals of their being, they would be inexorably linked, permanently deepening the soul bond that already existed.

It would not be easy. The glyphs that now shone in his mind were complex, and densely wrought. He would need time to weave them, hours at least. Thankfully, mana would be used as a vehicle, so he would still be able to use TonalWeaving.

In trade, the Bladerite was more potent than he would have thought. Overcharging the enchantments on A Father’s Gift looked like it would be effective indeed, even if it currently only had minor sharpness enchantments. Its true capabilities would come to bear as his sword grew, just as he had hoped.

Letting out a slow breath, Kaius mopped at the sweat on his brow before he looked over to Porkchop, who was watching him with curiosity.

“Well? What’s it like?” his brother asked.

Kaius chuckled slightly. “I made the right choice, but I will need to forge the glyphs that will bind me to the blade myself. I can do it - the system was thorough - but the work will be delicate to say the least.”

“Delicate as in ‘blow your hand up’ delicate?” Porkchop asked, narrowing his eyes accusatively.

Kaius laughed. “No, not from what I can tell. The glyphs that I have been receiving seem remarkably more stable than my original working. They just dissipate, from what I can tell. Still, I will likely need a few hours. I’ll do it when we set up camp for the evening.”

Porkchop nodded, before requesting that he watch over him while he surveyed his own choices. Watching his brother focus on his notifications, Kaius stretched and pushed himself to his feet.

Rolling his shoulder, he turned. Ianmus was waiting, patiently standing to the side while he finished his work.

“Sorry about that, I appreciate that right after a battle isn’t the most convenient time for us to pick our skills.” he said, scratching his head before grimacing at the blood that matted his hair.

Ianmus stifled a laugh at his reaction, politely saying nothing of his gorey state. “Think nothing of it. Skill selection is an exciting time, and I would not be one to stand in the way of development.” the half-elf paused, before looking at him curiously. “Did you get anything good?”

Kaius nodded emphatically, his satisfaction plain on his face. “Oh yes, though somewhat annoyingly it will need a bit of setup first. I’ll have to work on it when we make camp.”

“It’s an odd thing, this style you have discovered. I haven’t seen anything quite like it. Normally only artisan classes have some sort of set up beforehand.” Ianmus asked with interest.

“Ehh, it’s not too different from what a free caster has to deal with, just front loaded.” Kaius waved the man off, before turning as his brother chuffed.

He found Porkchop staring at him excitedly, his claws digging deep into the soft soil at his feet.

“Need any help? Or did you find something you want.” Kaius asked.

Porkchop shook his head. “I already picked. An offensive and control ability.” he explained.

“Oh?” Kaius replied, switching to talking through their bond. “What was it?”

“Prismatic Shardwall, A Unique just like yours. It summons a jagged wall of crystal that I can then slam towards me, or away from me. A stamina skill too, which is rare for something like this.” Porkchop replied, his ears flicking with excitement.

“Towards you? How does that help?” Kaius asked with a frown.

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His brother grinned at him in response. “What will happen when there is a monster between the wall and me?”

Eyes widening in shock, Kaius’s mind raced. Oh, that was devilish. With Porkchop being all but a steel barrier himself, the skill would crush them. Especially depending on how fast it moved. He could see how careful use of the skill would be useful indeed, especially if used to pull enemies around the battlefield, or draw them in, leaving them off balance and vulnerable.

A clap startled him out of his thoughts. Kaius turned to find Ianmus watching both of them expectantly. “Right. Since you are both done, should we head to that stream over there by that copse?” the magi said, pointing over to a small grouping of trees that were nestled at the base of a short rise a good quarter-league off to their right.

Kaius stared quizzically in the direction Ianmus pointed, his eyebrows scrunched. He’d seen the trees, but had completely missed the stream. Maybe the magi was mistaken? He would have noticed with True Sight.

Ianmus rolled his eyes. “Yes, there is a stream. Unlike the two of you I wasn’t staring at the irontusk like it knew the solution to the Izmak theorem the entire walk over. Now come on, you both reek.” he said, answering Kaius’s unspoken question, before starting to walk in the direction of the copse.

Porkchop snorted, lumbering to his feet with a chuckle before he set off after their companion. “He’s got us there. We did get a little…fixated, probably something we should work on. A wash does sound good though. I hate feeling sticky.”

Kaius shrugged to himself. Maybe he had missed the stream. That was embarrassing. Only a little though, it was hard for him to feel anything other than pleased at their victory now that he had another skill to try out. As soon as they washed and got a few leagues closer to Deadacre that is, no point burning daylight when he could get it set up when they made camp. Besides, Ianmus was right. He could do with a little less blood gumming up the joints of his armour.

Paling a little at the thick scent of stale blood and sweat, Kaius recoiled from the stench emanating from his armour. He did reek.

Jogging after his traveling companions, Kaius raced forwards to the pair who were now strolling beside each other.

…

Staring into the low flames of their campfire, Kaius watched the way each tongue flicked back and forth.

Porkchop rested behind Kaius, head nestled on his paws as his warm bulk supported his brother’s back.

Their companion, Ianmus, had fallen asleep a good half an hour or so ago. Practically as soon as they had eaten.

It had quickly become clear that the academian mage was quite the stranger to hard travel. Oh, he hid it well, pushing through with nary a grimace or complaint. It was still obvious to him. His whole life had been hard travel, and it was easy to pick up on the little nuances.

The way the man winced as he took off his boots at the end of the day, even if Health and Stamina would easily deal with such mundane maladies. The way he watched his cooking with naked avarice, as if he was still unable to believe such creature comforts were truly available. Mostly though, it was the way that Ianmus fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit his bedroll.

He knew the man was combat trained, that much was clear, but there was something wearying about cross country travel that went deeper than stats and resources. It ground down at you, polished your resolve. It led to the kind of sleep that was difficult to wake from, to the point that he and Porkchop had taken to spending extra long on breakfasts just to give the man an extra hour.

That, and it was hard to turn down an excuse for a fried breakfast. Especially when they had a spatial bloody bag that kept them full of fresh supplies. No doubt Ianmus had noticed something odd, but the man was wise enough to not question the source of fresh cheese and eggs.

Still, Ianmus’s heavy sleep was a nice benefit right now. It meant he could work on his latest glyph in peace. It was surprising to find out that they extended beyond anchoring spell-hymns to the body, but he supposed he shouldn’t be too shocked. Free casting and sorcery both had niche skills and effects that fell under their ‘umbrella’ so it made sense that the third pillar had the same.

Kaius leaned back into his brother, staring at the stars above. It gladdened him, to see the same twinkling lights above him as he did in the sea. A little slice of home, that would be with him no matter where he traveled. Regardless if it was in an open field, or a city overflowing with too many people by half, there would always be a familiar sky waiting for him when the sun dipped over the horizon.

He sighed.

“Musing again?” Porkchop asked, leaning into him with a soft rumble.

Kaius smiled, still watching the stars above. “Only a little. It’s just odd, to think that what me and my father spent years on only ended up scratching the surface of an entire art. There’s so much to learn, and even what I receive from the system I barely understand on a true level. More like I am copying them by rote, you know?”

Porkchop nosed him affectionately. “Isn’t that exciting? It means there is more to conquer, and more to discover. Even if you don’t understand the basic principles right now, it doesn’t mean you never will. You have a skill that will help, you just need to study them. That, and perhaps get some help from someone else who wishes to learn more.” his brother finished, looking pointedly at Ianmus.

Kaius smiled. “Maybe, it's a little early to jump to that right now. Perhaps if the man doesn’t run off to the Dukedoms as soon as we get to Deadacre, and there are deeper bonds of true friendship between us, if that ever happens. Still, you are right on the studying front. I’ll need to start that when we get some more permanent accommodations in the city. For now though, I should get these glyphs made.”

Acceptance flowed across their bond as Porkchop switched his attention to keeping watch. Smiling at his brother in thanks, Kaius reached down next to him for where his sword lay waiting.

Drawing the blade, he watched the flickering orange light of the fire glimmer on its surface, before he lay it flat across his lap.

It was a beautiful gift, one he had treasured even before he knew of its true value. A shimmering steel blade, waves of darker grey playing across the metal revealing the quality of the artifice that had gone into its creation. Four runes alighted the centre of its length, nestled neatly in the furrow, while its sturdy crossguard and handle was decorated with intricately wrought filigree of life-like flowered vines that he had no name for.

He would be adding to the work, emblazoning a glyph at the base of the blade, similar to where one might find a maker's mark.

The skill was an interesting one. While it was a complete glyph, and the system had ingrained him with all the instruction he needed to complete the formation flawlessly, it was almost incomplete. The very act of linking his blade to his body and soul would…change it. Or something similar, he wasn’t quite certain, only that the final shape of the glyph would be personalised.

An emblem, representing his very person.

Kaius couldn’t wait to see what it looked like.

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