Releasing my connection to the mana, I sank to the grass, feeling a build up of frustration release from my body.
"Hah," I sighed, "Why can't I seem to improve? Was magic really this hard to learn…?"
"Tell me about it," Altius groaned from my right. "It feels like we aren't getting anywhere. Is this the limit to my abilities…?"
We sulked in this depressing atmosphere for what felt like ages, neither of us willing to break the loud silence that loomed over us; a brutal reminder of our failures.
Recently, it seemed as if Altius and I had reached a blockade in our studies together. I began to notice this feeling creeping up on me around the time she arrived last month, but paid it no mind, figuring that it would pass with time.
Well, time has certainly passed. Meanwhile, this feeling hasn't.
So…
What the heck was up with that?
It felt like no matter how much effort I put into spellcasting, I'd only come out with diminishing returns.
I could spend hours trying to learn a spell, to which the process would go as follows: Read about it, say the incantation, hope for everything to turn out as desired.
But, as it turns out, that method has its flaws. Who would've thought I'd have to actually put in work… What is this, some sort of training arc? Just let me cast intermediate-level spells already damnit!
"Hah," I sighed once more. Maybe it's that exact mindset that led me to this hole that I'm in now.
Of course, in the eyes of an adult or skilled mage, I could still be seen as quite the genius for my age.
Beginner-intermediate spells was something one would typically acquire around early adolescence, once they began their schooling and stuff. It certainly wasn't where you'd expect a six-year old to end up feeling bottlenecked at, that's for sure.
And yeah.
I could always just take it nice and easy, living comfortably knowing that my future is set for me, and that everything would come with time, but where was the fun in that?
I vowed to never end up like my old self again! I wasn't going to be satisfied with simply giving up or leaving things until there were "optimal conditions"—not as the only heir to a widely influential kingdom I wasn't.
Duty called, and therefore, I would answer. Regardless of age!
Was I primarily motivated by the prospects at which breaking into intermediate magic at a young age would bring me to in future situations in my life, yes, but that's a perfectly acceptable reason.
Haven't you ever heard not to judge a man based on the context of his heart!?
…Wait, no, that's definitely not the right saying.
Anyways, you get my point!
I'm bottlenecked and I don't have a clue on what I should do.
There was always the option to simply ask for help, but that'd tarnish my reputation as a reliable, independent prince.
I simply couldn't allow that. But, then again, if not that, then what?
Was I truly doomed to stay incompetent for the rest of my life? Did I ruin my second chance at life already?
How was I supposed to face Altius now? She had just barely begun to get a bit better at her magic, but it looks like I've been dragging her down.
Maybe it'd be better if I just di—
"—Sera!"
"E-eh?!"
Shaking out of my reverie, I cast an equally curious and startled look at the very girl in question, who was now standing over me with an unreadable expression. "How long do you plan to make Esil wait?"
"Uh… what?"
"She's been here waiting! Get up already!"
With my (prospective) retainer pulling on one of my arms with unnerving strength for her age, I soon found myself standing just a short distance away from my prized overseer, who held a small plate of assorted food. Little snacks that Alti and I usually ate, nothing more.
Ah, right, it is around that time, isn't it?
Esil stepped forward. "Really, it's nothing, Lady Altius, you didn't have to go through such trouble for me," she said bashfully. "If Sera isn't feeling well, I could always bring more snacks at a later time—"
"—He's feeling plenty well, Esil, I swear to you on my honor as a knight! Isn't that right, Prince 'Phis?"
The young girl's eyebrows furrowed glaringly.
"...You aren't even a knight. And what's up with that weird nicknam—!"
Before I could react, her hand gripped my shoulder in a way that appeared casual and friendly, but as the recipient, I could feel an intense, smoldering pressure that made me shrink.
"Indeed, I am feeling quite well, Lady Esil! P-please forgive me…"
The pain relented and Esil seemed to recoil at my sudden change.
"Oh… Alright then, I was just curious."
In a graceful stride, she made her way over to the nearby table accommodated with proper shading, setting the plate down and instead, trading it with a thick, ornate magical textbook.
She seemed to skim over the open book's contents before casting a glance back to us.
"Is this what you two have been studying? This book… It seems a bit much, doesn't it?"
"Well, this is the way of mages, it would appear. Spending the majority of your time neck-deep in textbooks, constantly absorbed in their written knowledge. It's the most efficient and straightforward method to getting stronger," I admitted, shrugging my shoulders.
An amused frown curled the edges of her lips.
"By no means does efficiency always walk the straightest path, my prince. And, by extension, neither does the path of a mage. This—" she gestured to the book, "is but one of many."
My curiosity suddenly taking a turn, I urged her to continue. "What do you mean?"
"I believe you mentioned your current issue to me once before. You're undergoing a natural process that comes with being a mage, one where you feel as if you've hit a plateau. Truthfully speaking, it's possible you might've, and in fact, we'll proceed with the assumption that you have—both of you. And so, the answer you've chosen in response to this plateau is to merely brute force your way through it by constantly studying and practicing. That isn't the wrong choice, per se, however…"
She locked gazes with Altius and I, punctuating her words with gestures.
"It's far from the most ideal. In both of your cases, at least. From what I've seen, you two both struggle with different things entirely. Lady Altius' issues lie within her limited view on magic and restrictions she's placed upon herself: Her refusal to utilize her water magic, as well as her single-minded goal to acquire her father's renowned Sunfire divergent art, ignoring her own potential strengths."
She turned to me.
"Prince Seraphis, you seem to have hit a natural plateau, limited not only by your knowledge of magic, but also your creative application of it, though that can be said for both of you. By limiting both of your issues under the same umbrella, you prevent yourselves from ever truly finding out what is holding you two back. I believe I can offer you two assistance, though."
"You'll help us get stronger?" I blurted out without a second thought.
Esil gently shook her head. "That is something I am expressly incapable of. And it's not just because of my differing mage type."
A tinge of remorse and embarrassment welled from within me as my head drooped.
What a dumb question, of course she can't…
I avoided asking her for help because I knew she couldn't just make the problem away, but that question just undermines everything I've done. So much for my independent, genius prince reputation.
All I've done is get both Altius and I stuck under this same "umbrella".
"Then, what is it you're suggesting, Esil?" Alti's voice rose, low and shaky at first, but finished with express intrigue.
I raised my head, interested in my overseer's answer.
"I'm glad you asked, Lady Altius. While I cannot give you two a straightforward method to getting out of your current situations, I can suggest that you take a detour, of sorts. Whether or not you come out of it having learned something will be purely up to your own hardwork and determination. Please, wait here for a moment as I retrieve something important from the library."
And with that, she set out towards the palace once again.
Altius and I filled in the silence left behind with inquisitive chatter.
"...So you can use water magic, you merely choose not to?" I began hesitantly, not wanting to accidentally step on any landmines.
As per usual, my carefulness seemed unwarranted.
"Oh, d-did I say that? Ahaha… Sorry for that, I'm just not very interested in it, so I don't use it. Bad history with it, I guess," she admitted, rubbing her neck with a sheepish grin that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Oops."
…Seriously, this one. Oops? Really?
I sighed. "It's fine, don't think too hard about it. Not being interested in a certain magic type is quite normal, and it's a perfectly fine reason to not want to use it."
"R-right?" She agreed, though it was clear she wasn't entirely too sure herself.
"A-anyways, what do you think she meant about you not having creative enough application of magic?"
"Hmm." Not having a creative use of magic, huh? Wonder what that could mean.
That I simply don't use magic the right way? No, was there even a "right" way to do it?
Then, perhaps I have the wrong idea about magic itself?
No, though they seem somewhat similar, those two flaws are completely different. In the first place, if I had the wrong idea about magic, then I'd be having trouble using magic, I assume.
And I don't have trouble using magic, rather I have trouble… applying it?
…Maybe I do have the wrong idea about magic?
I thought about it a bit more following this train, to no avail. Eventually, I was clawing at my own head like a madman, unsure of anything anymore. Why was this so hard?!
Agh! Shiranai! Wakaranai! Mendokusai!
I wanted to yell, but I held back. Mainly because by this time, Esil had already returned, wielding another ornate textbook in her hands, and gesturing us to the table, but also because screaming out random Japanese words I'd learned over the course of my time consuming media in my past life would undeniably give me questionable stares.
Altius and I sat next to each other, meanwhile Esil stood across from us.
The book title was in bright gold letters and read:
The Key to the Language of Magic: Runic Spire.
Alti and I had noticeably confused expressions, meanwhile Esil wore a delighted smirk.
Neither of us had the courage to rain on her parade.
"Uhm. Excuse me, Esil, but just what is this, exactly? I thought you were just saying that spending too much time reading wasn't exactly ideal for us?" Altius still spoke up anyways, earning her a glare one could only describe as having been cultivated from the very pits of the underworld itself.
A haunting, blood red aura seemed to emanate from her.
…Though of course, that was merely our imagination. In reality, Esil merely clarified.
"The issue isn't that you two were spending too much time studying, of course not—that is the very precipice of being a mage. It's merely that you two weren't studying the right things, you could say.
I want you two to dedicate the better half of a month towards learning the language of runes: Runic Spire, so that you can open up your options when it comes to magic a bit more.
Think of it like this: if you can't increase the firepower behind your spells, instead, you should aim to increase the spell's capabilities by learning the ways it can interact with our world. You'll see what I mean, as you both are quite fast learners. We'll go through some of this book's materials together, as it is quite an advanced book. I doubt even then that you would be capable of truly applying the knowledge until later in your lives."
And with that, she flipped to the first page—which turned out to be a preface.
The only words written were:
As you begin your journey through these pages, remember that every rune is a key, every sequence a door, and that the true language of magic is one still being written; making the study of Runic Spire as much an act of discovery as it is one of learning.
Finally, we moved on to the real first page.
Prologue:
Origins of Runic Spire
The origins of Runic Spire can be traced all the way back to the earliest days of magic study, approximately one hundred years after the start of the Era of Great Beginnings, which marked the start of a new era, the one in which magic study and experimentation had reached an all time peak.
Era of Magic.
Era Magicae, as it came to be known, saw an exponential increase in all kinds of mages, alongside an increase in those who studied magic, mage or non-mage.
Eventually, an incredibly skilled and rather secluded ancient race of beings—who no longer walk this planet, said to have one day disappeared, leaving very little behind—seemed to have come across, or rather, developed their own study of magic, which was widely adopted amongst mages and built upon by others (even to this day).
A popular folktale invokes the idea that this race of beings were recognized by the gods who reside in Celestia and were offered a seat there for their advanced knowledge and evolution, despite being mortals.
During this time, all races were said to be rather friendly, so there were no issues with sharing the knowledge amongst them all, though problems did present themselves in the form of translation and communication.
What the knowledge detailed was a language of magic, based on the indecipherable and ornate runes that appear whenever a mage casts a spell. It essentially broke down those runes and translated them into understandable words, opening up a realm of possibilities.
The records and epigraphic evidence left behind by that ancient race reveal that runes have long served as vessels for magical intent, their shapes and sequences channeling power in ways that are still evolving today, each generation of spellcasters adding and translating new symbols, meanings, and methods to the lexicon.
This language would come to be known as Runic Spire.
It reached its zenith in the interlude between Era Magicae and the next, when great magical academies had begun to be built, and knowledge was even more desired.
Scholars and practitioners alike devoted lifetimes to the study and refinement of runic sequences, eventually developing a complex grammar of roots, modifiers, and bridges.
The elements go as follows:
Roots, which define the essence of a spell.
Modifiers, to shape its character.
Bridges, to fuse disparate effects.
These elements of spellcasting became the foundation for the system.
However, as with all things, time wrought change.
The rise and fall of societies, the shifting priorities of magical scholarship, and the loss of key texts all led to a gradual decline in the widespread practice of Runic Spire.
It is still studied today, but it is on a far lesser scale, as incantations—which act as a shortcut, automatically assigning these runes to your spells—and other methods quickly took favor over the art of learning a second language in of itself; one that is quite expensive and sees far less practice.
As it's rudimentary in spellcasting, the very basics of it are still covered in magical institutes, but that is about it.
The runes, modifiers, and bridges detailed in this volume represent only a minute portion of what once was—or rather, is. Many runes—some said to possess extraordinary power—are now tied to history, their forms and functions surviving only as rumors or half-remembered tales.
Yet despite this, the allure of Runic Spire endures in its promise: that with the right combination of symbols, a mage may shape magic itself—not only with pure, brute force strength, but with versatility and imagination.
…Flip.
***
Chapter One:
The Structure of a Spell; Roots, Modifiers, Bridges
Roots: The essence.
In Runic Spire, every spell is a sentence, and every rune a word. The most basic spells begin with a Root Rune—the element or force you wish to command. The observed ones go as followed:
Ignis (Fire)
Aqua (Water)
Aer (Wind)
Terra (Earth)
Modifiers: The shaping.
But the true artistry of magic, however, comes from the Modifiers and Bridges.
Modifiers are runes that alter, amplify, or refine the root's effect.
Each modifier is a tool, a chisel for the sculptor-mage…
Examples:
Magnus; Large, amplifies the scale or intensity.
Parvus; Small, restricts or focuses.
Celeritas; Speed, accelerates the effect.
Motus; Movement, imparts motion.
Altus; Height, makes the effect tall or elevated.
Densus; Density, increases solidity or thickness.
Stabilis; Stability, makes the effect unyielding or fixed.
Spira; Spiral, imparts a swirling or twisting motion.
Calidus; Heat, intensifies temperature.
Transitus; Transition, causes the effect to shift or fade.
Duratus; Duration, causes the effect to linger for an extended period.
An interesting idea to note, is that while modifiers can be stacked, each one layering on complexity, a spell with too many modifiers may collapse under its own weight.
Each process possesses its own flaws, with the shared one between them all being the increased strain and usage of mana that accompany adding on more layers…
Additional movement modifiers:
Velox; Very fast.
Medius; Medium speed.
Tadus; Slow.
Spira; Spiral.
Rectus; Straight.
Curvus; Curved.
***
Bridges: The Fusion.
The Bridge Rune—known as Fusio—is the keystone of advanced magic.
Whereas modifiers refine, bridges can combine.
A bridge allows the mage to link two sequences/roots, blending their effects into a hybrid spell.
Example:
Aer + Spira + Magnus + Fusio + Ignis + Parvus + Celeritas
A large, spiraling wind spell fused with a small, fast flame: a fiery whirlwind, basically.
Bridges require precision. The order of runes matters, and a poorly constructed bridge can cause the spell to unravel or backfire.
Spells must follow a specific sequence.
One that contains a basic, single-element spell, and the other, a hybrid.
Single-element structure:
Root + Modifier(s)
Hybrid/multi-element structure:
Root + Modifier(s) + Bridge + Root + Modifier(s)
If you wish for a more complex spell, you can add as many modifiers as you see fit, however be wary of the risk.
…Generally speaking, using this method, spells that are less complex are typically up for more "interpretation", since they aren't as refined/constricted.
"Hm. I think I'm starting to understand it a bit," I mused, more to myself than anything.
"If you'd like, I could give you a short sequence of runes and you two can try to decipher their effects?" Esil suggested, cupping her hands together and tilting her head slightly.
Before I could answer, Altius blurted out. "Ooh, that sounds like fun! Let's try it, Sera! But don't make it too hard, this is all still confusing as is…"
The maid-overseer chuckled lightly.
"Fear not, both of you, I'm quite aware of how overwhelming it can all be to learn at once. Rest assured that I will give you both an appropriate, and particularly familiar spell. Now then, here it is. Listen carefully: Aqua + Magnus + Celeritas."
Inwardly, I echoed the words to myself.
Aqua + Magnus + Celeritas… Well, for starters, I know Aqua is the translation for the root rune of water—knowledge from my past life. Now that I think about it, it's interesting they have that word here, actually. I wonder… Anyways.
Magnus is next. Let's see.
"On second thought… are we allowed to go back into the book to check?" Altius asked, rubbing the back of her neck with a look of resignation.
"Well…" Esil began, tilting her head slightly, "It's not to say that you're forbidden, however if you can recall some of the words, then I would much rather prefer that. At the very least, I'd like you to take a guess, Lady Altius. It would be a good starting point to get more familiar with these things for future reference, though I know it will all come second nature for you sooner or later."
The young girl seemed to genuinely ponder it for a bit.
"Uhm, celeritas was… crap, what was it again? Oh, yeah, speed right? And aqua is water, I think, so… Some speedy, water-type spell?"
Esil merely smiled in response, turning her attention to me. "And what of your guess, Young Lord?"
Hmm. A speedy, water-type spell sounded like it was on the right track, but we were missing one more key modifier. Magnus.
Let me think. What was it again? Magnus, magnus, magnus… If I recall, wasn't it something involving intensity? Ah, so then, perhaps heat? A fast, heated water spell?
The more I thought about it, the less confident I felt, seeing Esil's genuine smile.
Relenting, I decided to throw out a half-assed guess, and she slowly shook her head.
"While you were both on the right track, I'm afraid neither of you were correct."
Well, that was to be expected.
These sorts of things were the ones that required time and dedication to even truly begin understanding. We were essentially learning a whole new language, after all, and even with the runes being drawn out in the form they took while manifesting, it was going to take a separate exertion of effort to remember them. Surprisingly, however, I felt this spell was, in some ways, oddly reminiscent. Familiar, even…
"Ah, well we were close at least," Altius sighed. "Can we know what the answer was?"
"The answer," Esil smirked, "lies in the very reason we're here now. You both had everything deduced, save for the final rune, magnus, which represents intensity or amplification. All together: a large, fast-moving projectile of water—or in this case, a ball of."
"Lies in the very reason we're here now…?" Alti seemed to genuinely ponder this sentence, meanwhile Esil merely watched with a gentle expression as realization manifested on the young girl's face.
Suddenly, I felt the not-so-subtle gazes of the two figures settle on me.
"Ahaha… Sorry about that."
And thus began our four months worth this particular learning experience, all which went by in a flash.
***