Power of Runes

Eons ago, there was an age when Runes existed in their true form within the world. They were not hidden or sealed, but stood as they truly were, radiating concepts and intents so profound that anyone could attempt to comprehend them. As long as one possessed the mental fortitude to endure the strain of gazing upon those true forms, the Runes revealed themselves with clarity.

During that time, an Ancient Civilization known as the Celestial Circle emerged. It was founded by twenty individuals, each of whom had encountered the Runes and absorbed them.

At first, there was discord among them, for they were strangers with no bonds of trust or kinship. In fact, they had not even known that others like themselves existed, scattered across the endless expanse of the universe. Each believed they were alone until fate, or perhaps the Runes themselves, drew them together.

These twenty were called the Rune Bearers. They were hailed as the greatest geniuses of their races, figures of unparalleled talent and potential. By fully comprehending the concepts behind the Runes, they were able to merge with them, absorbing the essence in a way no ordinary being could. With every new concept grasped, their power multiplied, raising them to heights far beyond the reach of others.

Among the Rune Bearers, there was someone who was the most knowledgeable of them all. His name was never recorded, yet his power was undeniable. This figure approached the remaining nineteen, one by one, and through his words and vision, he persuaded them to unite. Thus was born The Celestial Circle, a civilization destined to become the strongest that had ever existed.

The Circle flourished with frightening speed. Their mastery over Runes, combined with the diverse talents of different races, allowed them to create powers and technologies that could easily overshadow the power systems of the present world. What the world now considers advanced would have seemed crude before the wonders of The Celestial Circle.

But.....

A civilization that blended countless races, magics, Runes, and powers, a civilization that bent the very laws of the world and reshaped them as it pleased, a civilization that produced brilliance unmatched and talents unrivaled,

.....that civilization vanished in a single night.

At least there is a compiled report about it here...

Ash quietly closed the book in his hands.

Its title read The Celestial Circle.

At first, he had picked it up expecting detailed knowledge about some extraordinary magic circle, perhaps a formation that could enhance his abilities or guide him toward new heights of power. Instead, what he found was a chronicle of history, yet one that carried its own kind of revelation.

...At least now I finally know the name of the civilization that once absorbed the Runes...

And not only that, he realized he had learned far more than he expected. The book was thick and comprehensive, filled with information that matched fragments he had painstakingly gathered from dozens of books within the academy.

The depth of the Dragons' knowledge revealed itself in these pages. Their ability to compile such an extensive record of an ancient civilization, one that had thrived millions of years ago, was proof of their unmatched scholarship. The report contained everything they had managed to uncover from ruins scattered across the world, pieced together into a coherent whole.

...The most knowledgeable of them all....hmmm...

The phrase might have seemed vague to an ordinary reader, yet to Ash it carried a weight that struck directly at his thoughts.

If I am right, that figure must have been the one who absorbed the Rune of Knowledge. To possess such wisdom, to persuade every other Rune Bearer to set aside pride and rivalry in order to forge a new era, such a person must have been terrifyingly strong...

Even so, a question remained in Ash's mind. Who among the twenty Rune Bearers was the strongest?

The book gave no answer. There were no hints that suggested who truly held supremacy among them all. Perhaps no records about this were made, or possibly their strength was so varied that no conclusion could ever be reached.

Logically, the bearer of the Rune of Knowledge had to be among the most powerful, given that he had the ability to lead and unite the others. Yet there were also those who held the Runes of Time, of Space and Life.

Which also had the potential to surpass, if not completely overpower, the rune of knowledge.

The measure of strength between them was not something that could be decided so easily.

But maybe I am missing something here... maybe the Rune of Knowledge is the strongest of all. After all, the Runes I possess are still not fully comprehended, whereas the other Rune Bearers have reached complete understanding of their own Runes...

Maybe the Rune of Knowledge will grant me some kind of overwhelming ability that I cannot yet imagine...?

Ash was uncertain. These were only his assumptions, nothing more.

Sighing, he leaned back in his comfortable chair, closing his eyes as he allowed his thoughts to roam. Sitting in his Soul Library, he felt the calm of his soul envelop him, the quiet around him sharpening the focus of his mind. He continued to think, letting one possibility lead naturally to another.

His hands tapped lightly against the desk as his mind shifted between questions and possibilities. Using Omni Thought had become so natural that it was almost instinctual, a seamless part of his body and life.

I do not know. There are so many possibilities, and I do not want to strain my mind for answers that may not exist...

Yet one question would not leave him, no matter what he thought.

When was the World Tree born...?

Was it before the Life Rune Bearer discovered the Rune of Life, or after? If it existed before, then the World Tree must hold knowledge of countless events, but that raised questions about its presence during the fall of the Ancient Civilization.

The Celestial Circle had been wiped out in a single night. If the World Tree had existed in the same reality, it should have been destroyed along with them. If it survived, then it must have come from a different world, originally Akumia.

But if the World Tree was born after the extinction of the Celestial Circle, then who took the Rune of Life from her, and how was it sealed?

According to the World Tree, the Rune was not in a sealed state when she comprehended it, which means someone must have taken it and sealed it.

But if that is true, then all the other Runes must have been unsealed at some point, only to be sealed and scattered across the planets and the universe.

But, it does not explain why there are 10 sealed runes on this planet....

As his thoughts traced these possibilities, Ash's gaze grew colder.

"Why do I feel like I am being manipulated, dancing in the hands of someone else..."

It might simply be overthinking, as it often was for him. Yet more often than not, his instincts were accurate.

Everything depended on the timing of the World Tree's birth.

Letting his thoughts rest for a moment, Ash exhaled slowly and opened his eyes to the real world.

Sunlight streamed through the windows and touched his face, warm and gentle. Ash stretched and relaxed. Turning his head, he saw light snow falling outside, drifting softly through the beams of sunlight. The combination of warmth and snow created a strange but peaceful atmosphere.

Let's sleep a little bit now...

***

Waking up, Ash took a warm bath, ate breakfast, and went outside to practice with his sword.

Nowadays, Elysia is training with Instructor Elva and Saint Alice, learning to control the new abilities she had awakened due to the high influx of emotions she had experienced the other day. Ash already knew what abilities she awoke, though he did not tell her. He believed that such power should be discovered by the wielder themselves, not told by others. The instructors were present only to ensure she did not harm herself in the process of learning.

A short distance from the house, Ash practiced with his sword, performed exercises and meditation, and experimented with forming new spells inspired by the ideas that came to him in flashes of insight.

His list of spells had grown so vast that even he sometimes struggled to decide which one to use. In some situations, the outcome would be nearly identical no matter which spell he cast; the difference lay only in the execution and the subtle effects of the spell itself.

Where most people struggled due to a lack of spells, Ash struggled because he had far too many. Even now, he had not perfected a breathing technique suited to him, still searching for that final piece to complete it.

At the same time, he was gradually filling his Soul Vault with items that would not decay over time. Most of these came from the Dragons' treasury, but he was careful never to take too much. For example, if the Dragons held one hundred healing potions, he might quietly take thirty, doing so in a way that the treasury appeared untouched.

The treasury was now heavily guarded, so Ash focused on collecting rare resources that could prove useful in the future: Phoenix blood, the blood of other mythical beasts, precious metals, and other valuable items.

"huu..."

He exhaled slowly, opening his eyes as warmth radiated from his body despite the light snowfall around him.

His skin gleamed in the middle of the piled snow, catching the sunlight and reflecting it like liquid gold scattered across a white canvas.

Slowly, he rose from his meditative position and stretched his body, feeling each muscle awaken and loosen.

Now, what should I do today...?

There were so many things he could do: checking on Elysia, making his sword art, creating new spells, gathering intelligence, laying the foundation for the organization he envisioned, inspecting the beast hiding behind the space crack, and countless other tasks.

...let's...

Before he could finish the thought, a loud ringing shattered the quiet.

-RINGGG!!!!

****

A/N: Hey everyone, I just wanted to say sorry for being so inconsistent with posting chapters lately. I know it's frustrating, and honestly, stuff keeps coming up every time I try to get back on track. I'm slowly finding my rhythm again, so don't worry, I'm getting there.

The chapters I missed? I promise I'll get them out—either as extra chapters or in a big release so nothing gets skipped. I really appreciate all of you sticking around, being patient, and still reading even when updates are delayed.

Thanks for supporting me, and I hope you keep enjoying the story. I'm working on making it even better for you.