“Pssst, Max…” Elliot whispered. “Can I ask you a few questions?”

“After class.” Max whispered back.

[Rune Master] Esther glanced at the two classmates, giving them a warning look before proceeding with her lecture over the six basic runes. It was currently the second half of the class, and the lecture portion was winding down. Soon some practical exercises would start, and Max didn’t want to miss any instruction. And he was glad he did, because not long after master Esther began explaining how to create more than a simple light rune.

Their objective was simple. Use the knowledge discussed in class to create a runic formation that allows two elements to function together. Max instantly thought of water, but what to do with it… He could heat it, chill it, electrify it, even use it to grow something… But his mind leaned towards the simple, boil water in the runic area. And he did just that. First, he connected a Power rune to a rune formation similar to the light rune he recreated last class but using a water elemental rune. Next, he used a pipe to connect a secondary fire elemental rune.

He powered the rune and… It failed. The cup of water he had placed in the center of the fire formation heated the water along with the cup, an unexpected outcome. Max scratched his head, flipping through his notes and his copy of Every Rune. A realization hit him like a train, along with his palm hitting his forehead. He quickly added one of the Six runes, Include.

Include and Exclude were the only twin runes of the Six. Together they often counted as a single rune, but when used independently their use shined. They worked by including or excluding properties the rune was going to come into contact with. In this case, including water caused the heating rune to only work on the water. If Max were to use Exclude instead, only the water would remain room temperature. The cup, and whatever else was within the rune boundaries, would heat up.

As Max tested out his formation, confirming that the rune worked as intended, the uses for Exclude flickered in his head. Include could be used in many more cases as Exclude required an elemental rune as a buffer. At least he thought so, he didn’t know if there was a rune that referred to living material. If there was, then Include and Exclude could be used interchangeable, but without, Include seemed like the clear winner.

“Good work.” Master Esther said as she inspected Max’s creation.

“Is there… A living material rune?” Max asked.

Esther glanced at the young man before returning to her inspection of Elliot’s rune. “Page eighteen.” She spoke.

Page eighteen of Every Rune was one of pages most written in. Scrawl and scribble lined the margins besides a relatively small diagram of the rune in question. The description read; This rune is a curiosity of many who have studies such arcane arts. This rune does as the name implies and accounts of living materials rather than elements. Even though the rune is very similar in structure as the Death rune, the Life rune is hardly similar. Through my experimentation, I have deemed this rune a requirement for any aspiring master. While the rune has some dreadful potential, the safety it could provide is insurmountable.

The rune of Life. Max thought, Fitting.

Max patiently waited for Esther to finish critiquing Elliot’s rune before asking about the Life rune. It seems as though Elliot decided to venture into the formidable path of the elements Rock and Electric. While his idea of a rock that draws electrical current, similar to a lightning rod, had merit, his execution was rather poor. His rock seemed to shock anyone who touched it. And while he passed the assignment technically, he failed in the real test. But Esther kept her words soft, as part of rune crafting is failure.

Once she was done, Max spoke up. “Master Esther, I have a question regarding the Life rune verses the Nature elemental rune?”

“What of it?”

“Well… What’s the difference? Do they not have similar functionality?”

Esther gave him a searching look. “The Life rune responds directly to life force, while the Nature rune responds to nature affinity mana.”

“But wouldn’t they both work the same using an Include or Exclude for my heating rune?”

“Yes… But the Life rune is much more than that. Let’s say, for example, you want to make a city-wide rune that dissolves a plague for every living being within the city’s walls. A careless rune crafter would use the Life rune for ease of use, but an experienced one would use a Nature rune. Why? Well, because Life runes are too easy to mess up, or tamper with…”

“Someone could just change the rune to kill all life within the city?” Max asked.

“More or less.” Esther said. “It depends on how they are destroying the plague, and it would take a very long time. Meaning the city would realize rather quickly that something was wrong and either change the rune or evacuate. But something like that is possible, yes.”

“But couldn’t they do the same but using the Nature rune?”

“Sure, but you cannot be harmed by your own mana while it is still within your mana system. So, the effects would be minimal.”

“Ah, that makes since.” Max said. “But why not tell me to look up the Nature rune when I asked about living material?”

“To be completely honest? I don’t know. After what you showed me last class, and my personal thoughts on the matter, I decided that you could handle knowing about the Life rune already. I normally don’t even mention it before students take my advanced course.”

Max nodded. “I take it the Death rune is similar?”

Esther became very serious at the mention of this rune. “Do not go playing with the Death rune.”

“Ri-Right…”

“The Death rune is a plague on [Rune Crafters] everywhere. At the height of its popularity, all [Rune Crafter] classes were banned. Even that atrocious author of Every Rune was wise enough to exclude it from printing.”

Max glanced at Elliot, who had a horrified expression, before saying, “I understand,” to Esther.

Esther returned to the front of the class and spoke to the entire group. “Next week we will be discussing how to pair runes with spells. This is an important lesson and much of your future income may rely on the ideas discussed. Class dismissed.”

“Come on.” Max said to Elliot. Together with Emi the two classmates wandered the streets until they found a small friendly-looking tavern.

“What is it you wanted to ask.” Max said as his order of hot chicken wings arrived, as well as Emi’s loaded fried fish.

“Just… Who are you?” Elliot asked.

“You are one of the few in this city who knows my title.”

“But- I don’t think- I mean no disrespect when I say this, I’ve met quite a few nobles while working in my uncle’s shop. You are nothing like them…”

“Really? How so?” Max asked while licking his fingers of spicy sauce.

“Well for one, they normally do not eat in establishments such as this… As well as order foods such as that…” Elliot said.

“But it’s good and cheap. Why would I not eat stuff like this?”

“Lords usually eat things more… Sophisticated.”

Max simply shrugged. “I’m a first-generation Lord.”

“But the mansion in the center of the city? Everyone knows that that place is the Lost Lord Lester’s, how are you living there? Not to mention, you know Madam Veline, Lester’s wife, and Arc Flash Bishop, Lester’s teammate… Oh… I understand now…”

“Do you?”

“Yes…” Subtly, mist started forming around the table, a silencing spell Vel had taught Max not too long ago. The mist allowed people to look in, but no sound would come out. “Y-You are Lester’s son.”

Max and Emi let out a loud laugh. “Sorry, Elliot,” Max said in between giggles. “I’m not laughing at you, but you were so serious. You are wrong, I’ve never even met Lester.”

“But Healers from the Church, renowned adventurers, city leadership… I don’t know of any noble that could have all of them attend a party such short notice. It’s almost as if you were Lest-“ Elliot cut himself off.

“I was Lester?” Max shrugged again. “I know I’m older than you, but I’m not that much older.”

Elliot sat in silence for a moment thinking through his own conclusions. To him, it seemed as though Max didn’t want to continue this conversation, so Elliot decided to drop it. Instead, he asked, “How did you get your runic formation to work? Mine didn’t work as intended.”

Max smiled, glad at the change in conversation. “I’ve worked with something similar to runes before. To me, the logic behind runes just make sense.”

The two talked about runes for close to an hour before Max had to excuse himself along with Emi. The bonded pair made their way into a safe teleportation spot before charging the mana required to long distance teleport. A white tunnel with streaks of color filled their sight as the two suddenly appeared in the Garden of Globes in Esmel. Since their last visit, the warding scheme had been changed to allow their presence.

They took to the streets, heading for the main guard barracks where captain Ism usually was stationed. As they walked, it was apparent that something positive had happened to the city. Last time, the city was somber and quiet, but now there was celebration spilling out onto the streets. Elves danced to music that seemed to magically echo, allowing all to hear. It was a beautiful sight for the downcast city, but a confusing one, nonetheless.

“What’s going on?” Max asked a nearby Elf.

“You haven’t heard? One of the [Arbors] has woken up!” They replied and danced away before Max had a chance to ask which one.

A few minutes later, the pair found themselves walking past two stuttering Elven guards and entering the barracks. The room seemed to come to a standstill as all eyes fell on Max and Emi. It seemed their reputation and rumors had only increased since their last visit, and now people were able to identify them without so much as a glance.

“Uhh… Hi… I’m looking for captain Ism, is he here?”

Everyone was silent, even the two stuttering guards that had left their posts to follow the unusual pair.

“Ar-Are you him?” A female guard asked.

“Him who?” Max retorted.

“Nacittib.”

“I’m not sure I know what that word means. It doesn’t sound Elvish.” Max said knowing that his universal language Lost Lord ability does not translate the unique word.

“It means bringer of death… Or at least it did before the dome went up…”

“What do you mean?”

“The title has been used for centuries as a curse, more or less. But now? It is a title with great renown. A-Are you him?”

“I don’t think so.” Max lied. “I’m just looking for the captain. Is he here?”

While no one believed his words, they did cause a stir as someone broke off from the group and ventured into a nearby hallway. A moment later the captain arrived.

“Max, Emi.” Ism said. “Come with me, the rest of you get back to work.”

Once the three were outside, the captain spoke softly, “I thought we agreed you would send a mana message when you arrived back.”

“Oh… Right… Sorry…”

“Its fine.” Ism gestured to the cheerful street. “I take it you have already seen the festives?”

“I have.” Max hesitantly said. “An [Arbor] has woken up?”

“Xylem, and yes and no. He has woken in the sense we can speak with him, but he can not do much more than that. You will see when we get there.”

The captain led the pair to Xylem’s trunk, where a small frame cut out was opened behind four stationed guards. They saluted to the captain, but their eyes were locked on Max and Emi. They both nodded to the guards as the entered the hollowed trunk. They wrapped downwards through a narrow spiral staircase and through damp tunnels, eventually finding themselves in a large and spacious chamber. Plastered into the far wall, was the face of Xylem’s stick avatar. With their presence, the Xylem’s eyes creaked open.

“Welcome, Max, Emi.” Xylem said with a dull reverb.

“Xylem? How are you awake? I thought you were supposed to be asleep for a lot longer.” Max asked.

“I was. But the others and I agreed that one of us was required now, especially if you are going to be available for hire.”

“I’m not for hire. I’m helping out of free will. No payment needed.”

Xylem let out only what the others could consider to be a laugh. “You will receive payment for your troubles one way or another. You have done more for this city than anyone could have asked for.”

“I don’t need money.” Max tried.

“It is not money that will be used as payment. Max, there aren’t many things we [Arbors] can do in this state. One of the things we accel at, however, is noticing things within our domain. I know very well that your last visit ended with a ring of fire as your teleport finished. Trust me, that is not supposed to happen.”

“I figured that issue out…”

“Oh, I know. Your nearly seamless jump today was evidence enough. But it seems as though you still need guidance before you kill yourself with a misused spell.” Xylem blinked his wooden eyes. “I can pay in knowledge.”

“Thanks, but I really don’t want payment.”

The walls seemed to shake as Xylem sighed. “Max, please. Esmel does not want to be in your dept more than it already is.”

Oh. Max thought. That makes sense, actually.

“Alright.”

“Good.” Xylem said. “Captain, please ready the list and return with the prepared funds. In the meantime, Max, tell me how your spell work has progressed. Any progress with the puzzle?”

Max bowed to Ism before speaking to Xylem, “The space puzzle? No, I haven’t touched it much lately. I’ve been busy focusing on other things.”

“I understand, as I have fallen victim to the same time constraints, and I am near immortal.”

“I made my first signature spell, actually. It’s called Accelerate…”

Max proceeded to explain to his former teacher his progress in the field of space magic. He started with Accelerate which got a thumbs up from the tree-man, then explained his thoughts behind teleportation and tunnels. Xylem assured Max that his reasoning was sound in terms of theory, and well-crafted in practical usage. He saw no reason for the spell to ever fail, especially if casted using the system crutch. Xylem talked about his ideas of why the ring of fire appeared after Max’s first attempt.

As the [Arbor] explained, space can heat up, much like rubbing sticks together to start a fire. The only difference was that no physical contact was needed because the space wasn’t actually touching. The space around the exit node of the teleportation must have shivered while Max was within the tunnel, thus causing a ring of fire. To Max, the idea made since with his Earthly knowledge, if space can vibrate that is. They then discussed if causing fires with space magic could be used for practical combat. Xylem argued no, simply due to the fact that he would have heard about such uses. But he did concede the point that it may be possible.

During all of this, Emi lounged around idly levitating orbs of water or chasing the occasional cockroach. She was board, and rightfully so. Once the two [Space Mages] started their impromptu lesson using actual magic, the time seemed to fly by again. To Emi, magic was her life, but talking about magic wasn’t. She was a creature of familiarity, and she was strictly instinctual in her skills. She never took classes or learned from anyone. Hells, she had actually taught manipulation skills to Max even though she was just born on this planet. But then again, Max was just born into this planet also. It was the slow times like these that Emi regarded Max. She was honestly very lucky to have such a man as her partner as they were so similar.

Both outcasted into an unknown world where through determination and bonds, they were able to retain a place within society. Emi didn’t want to think where’d she be if it wasn’t for Max. Probably still in that God forsaken box. Who put her in there was a question she often asked herself, along with what was she and who are her parents? She was a mystery, one of which her partner never questioned, and she was thankful for that. While others looked at her strangely as they passed by on the streets or disregarded her presence like a common pet, Max, and her other friends, never once treated her poorly. And she gave credit to Max for that. If he hadn’t spoken to her like a person before she could talk, would people treat her like an intelligent being?

She was still a child at heart, chasing bugs and hunting fish were her favorite pass time. But as the days go by, she finds herself thinking more and more. She doesn’t sleep as much as she used to, and she started having weird aches and pains. Her muscles and joints seemed to want to be stretched and pulled, almost as if they were asking to grow. Whatever these weird pains were, she liked them. They reminded her that she was just a kid, a kid with undeveloped muscles and pains just like everyone else.

A loud wallop sound followed by a curse from her bonded partner, broke her out of her daydreaming. Max sat cross legged, sweat falling from his cheeks, and the familiar shimmer of recently manipulated space in front of him.

“Good.” Xylem said calmly. “This is a good time to remind you not to stick any appendages into the pocket dimensions without the corresponding spell box.”

Max rolled his eyes and began to fold space into itself. While Emi wasn’t paying attention, Xylem was explaining to Max the simplistic beauty behind pocket dimensions and their various uses. From jails to personal inventories, having a hole in space where things can be placed is a valuable resource for anyone. The idea behind the spell was rather simple. Space is layered and folded onto itself until the desired size. Then remove the folds along with the space they intersect and wrap everything together with more folds to hide the hole.

The difficulty was maintaining multiple folds of space in the same spot. Space did not want to be manipulated, and actively fought against the caster for dominance. As Max continued to fail, Xylem reassured him that he was on the right track, which made Max rather happy. His trials with teleportation spells had been long and tedious. He was never sure if he was actually making progress, or if it only seemed that way.

“Making the hole is the hard part. Wrapping it is rather easy, comparatively. I suspect your tunnels you make are similar in structure.” Xylem said after captain Ism returned.

“I can pair a pocket dimension with a ring using rune crafting, right?” Max asked.

“Yes, but I do not know the required runic knowledge.”

“That’s okay. I can just ask my teacher at the Guild.”

“I now see why you have no need for monetary reward. Inventory rings are expensive.”

Max shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I don’t think I’ve seen any being sold.”

“For good reason. I think there are only three, maybe four individuals that can make them. Most aren’t even sold, rather they are found in dungeons and old ruins.”

“Oh… I don’t know if I’m going to be selling them then… I don’t want to crash the market or anything.”

Xylem laughed. “Do not worry about the market. They are a rare commodity, but they are nothing more than a simple space spell. Usually, the rings are nothing more than casted silver or gold. A price crash might even be good for Nava as a whole. Could you imagine? Every [Laborer] having a ring that allows them to not harm themselves carrying heavy materials?”

“But for that to happen I would have to make a larger pocket dimension, right? You can’t place a plank of wood into a pocket that is no bigger than a book.” Max said.

“That is true. And I don’t know if there are diminishing returns to ring to pocket size, so maybe the price is warranted… Bah, the rarity of the rings is the issue, not the potential size.”

“Excuse me, I have the list and gold…” Captain Ism interrupted from the side.

The captain proceeded to go over the list with Max. Items were what the young man expected. Wood, metals, tools, material treating oils and salves, mainly items that are needed to rebuild. Ism explained that for this first order, only items that would better the city would be purchased. If everything went smoothly then luxury items may be ordered next.

“And here is the list of contacts we have in Lesterwood. Most of these had active contracts to Esmel, so unless they have sold all of their inventory, they should have items Esmel has already paid for.” Ism said.

“I see.” Max said. “Is that everything?” The captain nodded.

“Before we go, I have a few questions.” Max said to Xylem. “When I was making the tunnels for my teleportation spell, I lost a rock I was testing with. It disappeared while traveling through a tunnel, only to reappear days later in an entirely different location.”

“Weird.” Xylem said. “Maybe it was stuck in a fold, and only after the fold collapse it reappeared?”

“I don’t think so. I wasn’t using any folds. What about eyes? Have you ever seen eyes while using space spells?”

“Eyes? No? I’m not sure I understand.”

“Ah, don’t worry about it then.” Max said. “Lastly, do you know anything about portals?”

“Inspecting the portal systems, have you? Yes, they are a magical marvel. But sadly, I do not know much about them, they were never my specialty.”

“I see. Thanks for the lesson. I’ll be back with the items when I can.” Max said to the two leaders of Esmel.

“Thank you, Max. Safe travels.” Ism said.

“Indeed. Be careful with potential sales, and don’t get scammed.” Xylem said.

Max smiled and charged the mana for the long-range teleportation spell, Greater Teleport. Soon the bonded pair was traversing down a long and pure white tunnel of nothingness. They both found a comfort in the white, reminding Max of the long drives home from work after a practically stressful day. And Emi was happy enough to get back to Lesterwood as Esmel’s fish selection was rather lacking.