First Legendary Dragon: Starting With The Limitless System

Selene smiled and said, "Well, didn't you read about them? Try to engrave them."

Orion's eyes flashed with excitement as he took Selene's gentle prompting as permission.

With care and enthusiasm, he carefully placed the newly forged sword flat on a stable engraving table, feeling its cool blade beneath his fingers.

The blade gleamed subtly in the warm light of the forge, smooth and awaiting its final transformation.

He exhaled softly, remembering the things he had learned from the Runesmithing book. Visualizing clearly, he began the intricate process of engraving three primary runes suitable for a Tier 1 weapon: Flow, Stabilize, and Sharpen.

Slowly, Orion steadied his breathing and picked up the Runescriber Blade from the side. His mana flowed outward smoothly, entering the blade and manifesting a thin, glowing line of azure energy.

Carefully, he traced the elegant yet precise lines for the first rune—Flow, symbolizing the controlled channeling of mana within the weapon. His movements were calm and smooth, reflecting his strong control and innate talent.

Satisfied with the first rune's completion, Orion moved methodically to the second rune, Stabilize, a vital component that ensured the structural integrity of the blade during mana flow.

His blade traced the intricate curves and sharp corners of the rune atop the sword, mana lines shimmering softly as they adhered seamlessly to the metal.

Confidence building, Orion approached the final rune, Sharpen, intended to enhance the cutting edge with subtle mana reinforcement.

As before, he methodically guided his mana with ease, finishing the rune cleanly. The three runes now glowed faintly, a harmonious arrangement upon the sword's smooth blade.

Feeling exhilarated by his steady progress, Orion shifted to the next critical phase—connecting the runes with detailed mana circuits.

The circuits would interlink the runes, forming an intricate web that guided mana from rune to rune, activating and balancing their effects.

Orion took extra care, his brow furrowing in deep concentration as he carefully laid down thin lines of glowing mana, meticulously interweaving connections between the runes.

He traced the circuit between Flow and Stabilize seamlessly. However, as he moved from Stabilize to Sharpen, he misjudged a single subtle curve in the intricate pattern.

It was a slight, nearly imperceptible deviation, yet enough to drastically disrupt the delicate equilibrium.

Orion realized his error a split second too late, as the mana circuit connected abruptly. Suddenly, an intense surge of unstable mana flared violently within the blade.

"Careful—!" Selene called out, her eyes instantly noticing the imbalance.

In the next instant, the sword erupted in a sharp, deafening explosion. Metal shards flew outward in every direction, propelled by rampant mana.

Before Orion could even react, Selene had calmly raised her hand. A translucent shield of silvery mana instantly appeared around him, effortlessly intercepting the deadly debris and diffusing the force of the explosion.

The echoing silence that followed was stark, broken only by Orion's sharp breathing. His eyes widened in slight shock and disappointment, realizing he had failed in crafting the sword.

"Grandma, I—" Orion began, feeling a slight bit of embarrassment.

Selene simply chuckled gently, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding. "Relax, my dear. Mistakes like this happen to everyone during their first attempts. Rune engraving requires precision, patience, and above all, experience."

Orion exhaled deeply, frustration fading as he listened carefully. "Can you explain exactly what I did wrong?"

Selene stepped forward, carefully examining the ruined fragments of the sword scattered across the floor. "Your initial rune inscriptions were perfect. However, when linking the runes together, you slightly misaligned the mana circuit connecting Stabilize and Sharpen. The imbalance of mana flow triggered the rapid destabilization you witnessed."

Orion nodded slowly, absorbing every word thoughtfully. "I understand. So even a tiny mistake in the circuit can cause such a drastic reaction?"

Selene's expression grew serious, yet still gentle. "Exactly, dear. Mana circuits and runes are like delicate instruments. One mistake can trigger severe backlash. Precision is essential."

Orion lowered his head slightly, thoughtfully absorbing the valuable lesson. "I'll be more careful next time."

Selene gently patted his shoulder, smiling reassuringly. "I know you will. Now, let me share an old tale about the consequences of neglecting rune precision."

Her gaze grew distant, recalling a memory with deep seriousness. "Long ago, there existed a flourishing Goblin Kingdom, widely renowned for their advanced runecraft. Ambitious to create a powerful weapon surpassing anything seen before in their kingdom, the Goblin King gathered the finest Runesmiths and smiths in the kingdom."

Orion's attention sharpened, captivated by Selene's storytelling.

Selene continued solemnly, "They intended to forge a weapon capable of channeling mana beyond their own limits. Unfortunately, due to arrogance and haste, they rushed the engraving process. A single rune circuit was misaligned—just as you experienced moments ago."

She paused briefly, letting Orion appreciate the gravity of the story. "The unstable mana unleashed from their mistake was catastrophic. The explosion annihilated the entire capital city, and its shockwaves collapsed the kingdom's foundations, leaving behind only ruins and legends."

Orion looked at her suspiciously, "How come you know this when everyone who was there died? I don't think a ruined weapon can show so much."

Selene nodded her head, "It's good that you're listening carefully. So listen, the truth is—I made that up."

Orion paused, looking at her speechlessly, "You made up that whole story?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Hmm? No, no, only the mistake part. This indeed happened before and it was related to the weapon, but we don't know exactly what. A lot speculate that they made a mistake during the rune engraving process."

He couldn't help but be suspicious of her after that little stunt.

Selene gave Orion a gentle, amused smile, seeing his skeptical look. "Regardless, the key point remains true, my dear: never underestimate the precision required in rune crafting. Even the tiniest mistake can lead to devastating consequences."

Orion nodded, feeling a blend of admiration and slight exasperation toward his grandmother's storytelling. "I understand, Grandma. I'll keep practicing until I can inscribe runes flawlessly."

She patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Good. You've already learned more than most do at your age. Now go rest; you've earned it after all this hard work."

Orion stretched slightly, feeling the accumulated fatigue from the intense crafting session. He gave one last look around the smithy, taking in the scattered fragments of the sword he had meticulously forged, a stark reminder of his first rune engraving attempt.

With a resigned yet determined expression, Orion finally turned and left the forge, heading back to his room to rest, reflect, and plan his next steps.

***

After who knows how long, morning sunlight streamed gently through the windows of Orion's luxurious obsidian carriage, softly illuminating the comfortable interior as it traveled smoothly along the paved road towards Thunderpeak Royal Academy.

Orion sat comfortably, dressed neatly in his academy attire, eyes bright with anticipation.

He rested his head against the carriage window, idly watching the scenery passing by, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity bubbling inside him.

[Master, you're unusually cheerful today!]

Lumi playfully remarked, her cheerful hologram hovering nearby.

Orion chuckled lightly, 'Am I? Maybe it's because I'll finally see everyone again. It's been a while since I've been to the academy.'