BLOOD & SIGILS

Chapter 10: The First Rune

Morning came with a whisper of cold air through Kael's open window. He had barely slept. Not from exhaustion—but from anticipation.

The book sat on his desk, untouched since last night. But its presence lingered in his thoughts, pulling at him like a whisper in the dark.

He had made up his mind.

Today, he would begin.

A Step into the Unknown

Kael's heart pounded as he shut his chamber door behind him. If anyone caught him now, there would be no easy explanation.

His fingers traced the edges of the book as he carried it deeper into the estate, through unused hallways and finally into the old storage room near the western wing. It had once held spare weapons and armor for the knights, but now it was just dust and silence.

Perfect.

He set the book down carefully, flipping through its pages.

His eyes landed on the section he had studied last night.

The Art of Inscription.

The words detailed the basics of rune magic—symbols that could store power, refine spells, and even layer effects over time. The principle was simple: carve a rune, channel mana into it, and let the magic take hold.

But the execution?

That was where it got difficult.

Kael took a deep breath, pulling out the small knife he had brought. Nothing elaborate—just a simple, sharp blade meant for carving wood.

His target was the back of an old wooden crate—a surface no one would look at.

He pressed the blade to the wood and began.

The first stroke was shaky. The second, more confident.

Slowly, a small symbol began to take shape. It wasn't perfect, but it was his.

A rune of containment.

Something simple. Something that would hold a flicker of mana without vanishing.

Kael exhaled and placed his hand over the rune.

Now came the real test.

The First Spark

He closed his eyes, reaching inward.

Mana was always there, deep inside him—a vast wellspring, just like the rest of his family. But instead of forcing it out in an explosion of raw power, like the Crimson Sigil demanded, he guided it slowly, carefully.

He let it flow.

A faint, silvery light flickered beneath his palm.

The rune glowed.

Kael's breath hitched.

The glow lasted three seconds before fading, leaving behind only the faint carving in the wood.

But that was enough.

It had worked.

A grin broke across his face. It wasn't much—but it was proof.

His theory was right. The book wasn't lying. Runes could store mana.

And this was only the beginning.

Footsteps in the Hall

Kael's triumph was short-lived.

A sound—soft but unmistakable—echoed from the hall outside.

Footsteps.

His heart leapt into his throat. He quickly shut the book, stuffing it into his coat. The rune! He turned, rubbing his palm over the carving, trying to smudge it out. It wouldn't disappear entirely, but at least it wouldn't stand out.

The door creaked open.

"Kael?"

His breath froze.

Elira stood in the doorway, arms crossed, sharp blue eyes narrowing at him.

"What are you doing here?"

For a second, Kael couldn't think of an answer. Lying to Elira was never easy.

But he had no choice.

"Just… clearing out some space," he said, forcing a casual shrug. "Needed somewhere quiet to think."

Elira's gaze flicked over him, taking in his slightly disheveled clothes, the way he stood in front of the crate like he was hiding something.

She sighed. "You've been acting strange lately."

Kael forced a small laugh. "Since when am I not strange?"

She rolled her eyes but didn't press further. "Well, whatever you're up to, don't get caught." She turned, stepping back into the hall. "Mother's looking for you."

Kael felt the tension in his chest ease.

But as Elira walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't convinced.

He needed to be more careful.

This was only the first step. But if he was going to master rune magic, he couldn't afford any mistakes.

Not when he was so close to something great.