The Forsaken Heir

"Now, now, let's not get too comfortable with these little sparks of brilliance, shall we?" Farron called out, his voice carrying easily across the room. His grin had returned, and his eyes gleamed behind his spectacles as he motioned for the class to gather around. "These enchantments you're working on today, as impressive as they may seem, are what we call temporary enchantments. They'll fade over time, leaving your weapons just as mundane as they started."

The room filled with murmurs as the students exchanged glances. Lorian paused, still holding the faintly glowing dagger in his hand, and joined the rest of the class as they gathered around Farron's desk.

"Temporary enchantments?" one of the students asked, frowning as he examined his own glowing blade. "So, they don't last?"

"Exactly," Farron confirmed, pacing energetically in front of them. "What you've been doing so far is merely channeling elemental energy into the weapon. It gives the weapon a magical boost, sure, but the enchantment won't hold for long. A few uses, and—poof—it's gone. The weapon returns to its original, non-magical state. The mana you've infused will dissipate, and all you'll have is a slightly warm dagger to show for your efforts."

Lorian's brow furrowed. He'd put effort into binding the fire magic, but knowing it would eventually fade felt… unsatisfying.

"Now," Farron continued, raising an eyebrow as he scanned the group. "Who here can tell me what makes an enchantment permanent? Hm? Anyone?"

The students exchanged hesitant looks. Lorian remained silent, his thoughts racing as he tried to piece together what he knew. He had heard bits and pieces about permanent enchantments, but the exact process had never been covered in his earlier studies.

"No one? Really?" Farron chuckled, clearly enjoying the tension. "Oh, come on now! Surely one of you has an inkling."

A timid hand went up in the back. "Runes?" the student offered uncertainly.

Farron snapped his fingers, pointing directly at the student. "Yes! Runes! But that's only part of it. Runes are the foundation, but they're not the whole picture. Anyone know what else we need?"

The room fell quiet again, and Farron sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if deeply disappointed. "Ah, you lot are hopeless! Fine, fine, I'll explain. Listen closely, because this is where things get really fun."

He picked up a dagger from his desk and held it up for everyone to see.

"To make an enchantment permanent," he began, "you don't just shove elemental magic into a weapon and hope for the best. Oh no, that would be chaos, and not the productive kind I love so much. What you need is a system—something stable, something that can channel and recharge the magic indefinitely. And that's where runes and mana gems come into play."

Farron set the dagger down and pulled out a small, brilliant blue gem from a pouch on his belt. It pulsed softly, radiating a calming energy.

"Behold—the mana gem," Farron said with a flourish, holding the gem between his fingers as if it were the most precious artifact in existence. "This little beauty is the key to permanent enchantments. You see, while your temporary enchantments rely on the caster's mana or an affinity from an item like a crystal, a mana gem can store magical energy indefinitely. And better yet—it can recharge on its own."

Lorian leaned forward, his interest piqued. He had heard of mana gems, but seeing one up close and hearing about their capabilities was something else entirely.

Farron continued, his voice taking on the tone of an enthusiastic storyteller. "The mana gem acts as a reservoir—a pool of energy that your runes can draw from. When the mana inside is depleted, the gem naturally absorbs ambient mana from its surroundings, refilling itself over time. No need for elemental affinities, no need to channel your own mana—just let the gem do the work!"

He spun the gem in his fingers, grinning as he saw the students' fascinated expressions. "Now, the runes! Runes are the other half of this delightful equation. Think of them as the blueprint for the enchantment. They tell the mana gem what to do with the energy it provides—whether that's igniting your sword with fire, freezing your opponent in place, or, in my case, accidentally causing a dagger to explode in a rather spectacular fashion."

A few students chuckled at that, and even Lorian couldn't help but smirk.

"So," Farron continued, "you carve the runes into the weapon—carefully, mind you, or you'll end up with a very expensive hunk of scrap metal—and the mana gem provides the energy to keep the enchantment going. The runes dictate how the magic flows, what the weapon does, and most importantly, they keep everything nice and stable. Without the runes, the magic would just be a jumbled mess."

One of the students raised their hand. "But Professor, if mana gems don't require an affinity, how do you recharge them? Won't the magic inside eventually run out?"

"Excellent question!" Farron exclaimed, clapping his hands. "The beauty of mana gems is that they don't require specific elemental affinities to recharge. They naturally absorb mana from the ambient magic around them, and that's enough to keep them going. Sure, the process is a bit slow, and if you're using a lot of magic, you might have to wait a while for it to fully recharge. But that's what makes them so versatile. As long as you're in a place with magic in the air—which is most places, by the way—the gem will refill itself over time."

The room buzzed with quiet murmurs as the students absorbed the information. Lorian, too, felt his mind racing with possibilities. A mana gem, combined with carefully carved runes, could create a weapon of unimaginable power—one that never needed constant recharging, one that could wield elemental magic without relying on his own mana reserves.

Farron, seeing the spark of understanding in his students' eyes, nodded approvingly. "Now, this doesn't mean permanent enchantments are easy. Quite the opposite. They require precision, patience, and a deep understanding of both the runes and the magical properties of the weapon. But once you get it right… oh, it's worth it."

He let the thought linger for a moment before continuing, his voice growing slightly more practical. "Now then," he said, "I wouldn't be doing my job as your professor if I didn't give you all something to work on beyond these flashy little exercises. Permanent enchantments aren't something you'll master overnight, so we're going to start small. Very small."

He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a stack of thin, flat sheets of metal, placing them on the front table with a heavy clank. Each sheet was about the size of a small book, etched faintly with grid lines. Next to the sheets, he placed several intricately carved tools, each one glowing faintly with a faint blue aura.

"These," Farron announced, tapping the stack of metal sheets, "are rune practice sheets. They're just basic sheet metal, enchanted to respond to the tools you'll be using. The gridlines are there to help you learn proper spacing and control, so don't get too ambitious just yet. And, in case you make a mistake—which you will—the sheets are enchanted with a reset feature. This will allow you to clear your mistakes and continuously reuse them. After all, the best enchanters learn through repetition."

He picked up one of the tools, showing it to the class. "And this," he continued, holding the glowing carving tool up for everyone to see, "is a rune etcher. It's specially designed to carve runes with precision into any metal, wood, or stone surface. The energy within it will help guide your hand, but don't rely on it too much—this is all about learning proper technique. I want you to practice using these etchers on the sheet metal, focusing on accuracy and consistency. Your goal is to make clean, stable rune carvings that would be suitable for mana binding."

Farron placed the etcher back down with a flourish, as though he were presenting something far more glamorous than a basic tool. "In your free time over the next couple of weeks, you'll be studying and practicing basic runes. You'll find the necessary materials and instructions provided with the sheets and etchers, which I'll be handing out in just a moment."

The students murmured quietly amongst themselves, some clearly excited, others perhaps a bit nervous. Lorian watched as Farron continued, his mind already racing with thoughts of how he'd use the new knowledge.

Farron raised a hand, silencing the room once more. "You'll each start with a basic set of runes—nothing too fancy. Just enough to get a feel for the art. These runes are the foundation of every permanent enchantment. If you can't master these, then the rest will be impossible. And trust me, I'll know if you've just been scribbling random marks on the metal."

The professor's grin widened as he moved toward the stack of metal sheets and began handing them out. "In two weeks' time, we'll have a practical test where you'll be asked to carve a rune onto a weapon and bind it using a simple mana gem. But for now, I want you to get comfortable with the tools. Learn the flow, the precision. And don't rush—it's better to carve one perfect rune than twenty sloppy ones."

As Farron moved through the room, distributing the etchers and rune practice sheets, he continued speaking with his characteristic blend of enthusiasm and authority. "Rune carving is all about precision. If even one line is out of place, the entire enchantment could fail—or worse, backfire. So, take your time. Study the runes. Practice with care."

When Farron reached Lorian, he placed the sheet and etcher on his workbench with a knowing grin. "I expect great things from you, Lorian. You've got a good feel for magic already, and I can see the gears turning in your head. Let's see how you handle runes, shall we?"

Lorian nodded, accepting the materials and feeling a surge of excitement and challenge. The weight of the etcher in his hand was solid, and he could feel a faint hum of magic coursing through it. The practice sheet was simple, but he knew that what it represented was anything but.

As the class began examining their tools and materials, Farron clapped his hands together, bringing the lesson to its conclusion. "Remember, precision and patience! Those are the keys to mastering runes. Don't get discouraged if it's not perfect right away—this is an art, and like all art, it takes time to refine."

With one final glance around the room, Farron gestured toward the door. "That's all for today, my eager enchanters. Get out of here and start practicing! I'll be watching closely over the next couple of weeks. And who knows—maybe one of you will surprise me with something extraordinary."

Lorian gathered his things, tucking the rune practice sheet and etcher into his pack. He could feel the weight of the challenge ahead, but rather than feeling daunted, he felt exhilarated. This was exactly the kind of test he had been waiting for—something that would push him, something that would help him sharpen the skills he now knew were his to master.

As he left the classroom, the academy grounds stretched out before him, bustling with activity. Cadets rushed from one class to another, training yards echoed with the clash of weapons, and the hum of magical energy lingered in the air. But Lorian had something different in mind. He needed space, quiet, and sunlight to work through what he had just learned in Professor Farron's class.

He slipped away from the crowded paths and found a secluded spot outside, near a large oak tree that provided some shade but let the warmth of the sun spill across the grass. It was quiet here, away from the noise of the academy, and the perfect place to start his rune practice.

Lorian sat down, laying the sheet of metal and the rune etcher before him. He glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then let out a slow breath as he focused on the task ahead. The challenge wasn't just in drawing the runes—he could already tell that much. The real test was in controlling the flow of mana that he needed to channel through each stroke, each line. With the seal removed, his mana had surged to new levels, and he was still learning how to control it.

As he picked up the etcher, Lysara appeared in her familiar form, a sleek black cat that blended into the shadows despite the sun shining down on them. She didn't say a word, but her crimson eyes flicked toward him lazily as she found a warm patch of sunlight and stretched out, clearly content to observe in silence.

Lorian smirked. "I guess you're not here to offer advice?"

Lysara merely flicked her tail, her silence more telling than any snide remark she could have made.

With a deep breath, Lorian focused on the first rune, the Rune of Binding. He carved the initial lines into the sheet metal, careful and precise, channeling his mana as instructed. The etcher pulsed faintly with energy as he worked, each stroke glowing faintly.

The Five Basic Runes:

1. Rune of Binding: The fundamental rune for anchoring magic to a weapon or item. Without it, any enchantment would simply dissipate over time. Lorian carved this one first, knowing it was the foundation for the enchantment to hold.

2. Rune of Stability: This rune prevents the enchantment from becoming unstable or volatile. It ensures that the magical energy flows evenly and doesn't cause dangerous feedback or explosive results. Lorian understood its importance—without stability, the enchantment would unravel.

3. Rune of Flow: The Rune of Flow allows magic to travel smoothly through the object, ensuring that the mana, or any elemental energy, doesn't get stuck or blocked. It's what allows the magic to be wielded efficiently without draining the user too quickly.

4. Rune of Empowerment: Designed to amplify the magical energy in an item, the Rune of Empowerment strengthens the effect of the enchantment, whether it's adding more damage to a weapon or extending the reach of a spell.

5. Rune of Preservation: This rune ensures the longevity of an enchantment. Without it, any magical effect would deteriorate rapidly. Preservation keeps the energy intact, allowing the item to stay enchanted longer.

Lorian began with the Rune of Binding, and at first, things seemed to be going well. The mana flowed through the etcher and into the rune without too much resistance. But as he neared the end of the rune, he felt the familiar surge of energy within him—wild and unrestrained. Without the seal, his mana was always pushing, always straining for release.

He tried to keep the flow steady, but too much mana rushed into the rune, causing it to flare up before fizzling out. Lorian grimaced. The Rune of Binding wasn't supposed to do that. He had overcharged it.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, setting the etcher down and rubbing the back of his neck. His muscles were tense from the effort, and his head pounded from the strain of holding back his own energy.

Lysara opened one eye but said nothing, her tail flicking lazily as she soaked up the sun. She didn't need to say anything. He could feel her quiet amusement.

Lorian sighed, adjusting his grip on the etcher as he prepared to try again. This time, he focused harder on controlling the flow of mana—less force, more precision. The Rune of Binding required balance, not power.

The second attempt went better. He managed to carve the entire rune without any flare-ups, though the energy still felt unstable, like it was teetering on the edge of control. He had done it, but it wasn't perfect. Far from it.

Still, he pushed on to the next rune—the Rune of Stability. This one, in theory, should have been easier. It was designed to anchor the enchantment and prevent it from unraveling. But as Lorian began carving the first line, his mana surged again. The rune glowed brighter than it should have, and before he could adjust, the entire thing fizzled out once more, leaving the metal faintly scorched.

"Again?" Lorian groaned, sitting back. His frustration was mounting now. He wasn't used to this kind of struggle, not anymore. The seal had always held him back, sure, but now that it was gone, his power felt overwhelming, like a river threatening to burst through a dam.

He glanced at Lysara, expecting some biting remark, but the cat remained silent, her eyes half-closed as she enjoyed the sun. She was watching him closely, though, and Lorian knew she was silently waiting for him to figure it out.

Gritting his teeth, Lorian tried again. The Rune of Stability glowed softly as he carved the lines into the metal, this time focusing on keeping his mana flow steady, controlled. Sweat trickled down his temple as he worked, his muscles tense from the effort of holding back his energy.

Finally, the rune held. It wasn't perfect, but it was functional. Lorian let out a slow breath of relief. But he wasn't done yet.

Next up was the Rune of Flow, a rune meant to guide energy smoothly through the enchanted object. He hesitated before starting, knowing that this rune would require even more precise control than the others.

As he began tracing the lines of the rune, his mana responded immediately, flooding into the curves of the symbol. The energy surged too fast, and Lorian clenched his jaw, trying to pull back before the rune became overloaded. But it was too late. The rune flared with a bright light, and then the energy fizzled out, leaving the metal cool and lifeless.

Lorian cursed under his breath, tossing the etcher aside in frustration. He could feel the weight of his mana pressing against him, constantly pushing to be released, and he was still struggling to find the balance. The seal had been more than just a restraint—it had also been a crutch, and without it, Lorian was finding out just how difficult it was to keep his newfound power under control.

He glanced at Lysara again, her presence a quiet reminder of the shadows lurking just beneath the surface. She remained silent, but her eyes gleamed with quiet amusement, as though enjoying watching him struggle and learn in his own way.

With a determined breath, Lorian picked up the etcher once more. He wasn't going to stop until he got it right. He knew he had the talent; he just needed the control.

This time, as he began tracing the Rune of Flow, he slowed his mana even further, guiding it carefully into each curve, each line. The rune glowed faintly, and Lorian could feel the energy settling into the metal without pushing back. He was doing it—finally finding that balance between power and control.

The rune held.

Lorian allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction, but he didn't stop there. He moved on to the Rune of Empowerment, the most challenging of the basic runes. His muscles ached, and his mana reserves were growing thin, but he wasn't going to let that stop him.

As he began carving the rune, he could feel the familiar surge of energy building up again. But this time, he was ready for it. He kept his grip steady, his focus sharp, and his mana controlled.

But even then, the Rune of Empowerment demanded more. It pushed him to the limit, testing his endurance and control. His arm trembled as he carved the final line, the energy crackling in the air around him. Sweat dripped down his face, his breath coming in ragged bursts as he fought to maintain control.

Finally, the rune was complete.

Lorian sat back, panting from the effort. The sheet of metal before him hummed faintly with the residual energy of the runes he had carved, each one glowing softly in the sunlight.

He glanced at Lysara once more, the black cat lounging in the sun, her eyes half-lidded but still watching him closely. She didn't say anything, but the faint glimmer of approval in her eyes was enough.

Lorian wiped the sweat from his brow, his muscles aching from the strain. He had done it—he had pushed through the struggle and completed the runes. But it hadn't been easy, and he knew this was only the beginning. There was still so much more to learn, so much more to master.

But for now, he allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction. He had earned it.

Lysara stretched lazily, her eyes closing as she basked in the warmth of the sun. Lorian smiled, knowing that despite her silent presence, she had been watching his every move.

"Guess I'll have to get used to this, huh?" he muttered under his breath.

Lysara's tail flicked, and for a moment, Lorian thought he saw her lips twitch in the faintest hint of a smile.

"Mind if I join you?" a soft voice broke through Lorian's concentration.

He looked up to see Elara standing nearby, her golden eyes bright with curiosity, a gentle smile on her lips.