CHAPTER 211: LEARNING RUNES

Orion’s eyes softened with understanding as he continued quietly, sharing details of his busy day—his marketplace visit, and his playful exchanges with Eldric and Selene.

Throughout his gentle recounting, Seraph occasionally nodded in quiet acknowledgment, her normally tense posture visibly relaxing as she listened attentively.

Her emerald eyes slowly regained their usual warmth, yet her lips remained without a smile—an expression Orion hoped to eventually restore.

After finishing his stories, Orion sat quietly for a moment longer, simply enjoying the calm and comfortable silence shared between them.

Eventually, he softly rose, gently placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder for a moment.

"Rest well tonight, Seraph," Orion said gently, his voice filled with sincere warmth. "We’ll talk again tomorrow."

Seraph’s gaze softened further as she nodded slowly, quietly appreciative of Orion’s unwavering kindness and understanding. Orion stepped quietly from her room, closing the door gently behind him.

Returning to his own chamber, Orion exhaled softly, settling comfortably onto his plush bed, feeling the weight of the day’s numerous activities finally catching up with him.

He closed his eyes momentarily, relaxing deeply into the soft mattress.

[Lumi hopes Master isn’t overexerting himself again! Today was quite busy, wasn’t it? (°▽°;)]

Orion smiled faintly, eyes still closed. ’Indeed, Lumi. Busy but packed with good stuff. I’m finally starting my Thunder training tomorrow.’

[Ooh, exciting! I can’t wait to see you shock everyone with your talent! (≧∀≦)ﾉ]

He chuckled softly, opening his eyes again and rising slowly from the bed, stretching lightly to relieve any lingering tension. ’Speaking of talent, I should really stop procrastinating on those runes. Learning them only when I need them is becoming troublesome.’

[Yes, Master! Mastering all the runes beforehand would certainly make things easier later on. Let’s do it step-by-step! (•̀ᴗ•́)و]

Orion nodded firmly, walking calmly toward his window-side study table. He settled comfortably into his chair, neatly arranging various scrolls and parchments across the polished wooden surface, his expression serious yet determined.

"Indeed. Let’s begin tonight. I’ll try to memorize and familiarize myself thoroughly with each rune as soon as possible. I should be able to do it in a few days."

Lumi’s screen sparkled brightly with cheerful excitement. [Great decision, Master! Let’s get started! (^▽^)]

Orion immersed himself completely in the thick Runic Codex, gently illuminated by the soft glow of a magical lamp beside him.

Outside, the serene night sky stretched endlessly, stars scattered gently across its deep expanse, casting faint reflections upon the polished surface of his desk.

With meticulous focus, Orion carefully traced his fingers along each rune diagram, before drawing them on the parchment paper that Edgar had given him before, as Lumi’s screen hovered close by, cheerfully assisting whenever he paused or hesitated.

[Master, your learning speed is impressive as always! (｡∀｡)]

Orion lightly smiled at Lumi’s encouragement, his eyes not leaving the intricate runes. ’It’s easier now, after having learned all those runes before. The patterns and logic behind them feel more intuitive.’

Hours quietly slipped by as Orion methodically familiarized himself with each rune, repeating them over and over until the symbols felt deeply ingrained within his mind.

Occasionally, he would pause briefly to rest his eyes or sip some cool water, yet his determination never wavered.

Eventually, the moon rose high overhead, casting silvery beams softly into the room, illuminating Orion’s slightly weary yet satisfied expression.

Having reached his goal for the night, he gently closed the heavy Codex, stretching leisurely as he finally stood up from the desk.

’All right, Lumi, that should be enough for tonight. Time to get some sleep.’

[Good work today, Master! Sweet dreams~ (≧◡≦) ♡]

Orion chuckled softly, extinguishing the magical lamp and making his way to bed. He settled comfortably beneath the soft sheets, letting out a contented sigh as exhaustion quickly claimed him.

***

The next morning, Orion awoke slowly, feeling oddly heavier than usual. Sunlight already streamed brightly through the window, indicating he had slept longer than normal.

Lumi’s cheerful voice rang softly in his mind as he rubbed the lingering sleepiness from his eyes.

[Master, you overslept again! Lumi really thinks this might be related to your upcoming evolution.

Orion shook his head lightly, rising from the bed and stretching to loosen his muscles. ’Perhaps you’re right, Lumi, but let’s not dwell too much on it for now.’

He made his way swiftly to the washroom to get fresh before coming back to the room. Moments later, a gentle knock signaled the arrival of Rina and Fiora, their soft greetings echoing cheerfully as they helped him bathe and dress.

Fresh and fully awake, Orion stepped out of his room and headed directly to the dining hall, the enticing aroma of breakfast already greeting him warmly.

Entering the hall, he saw Selene seated elegantly, waiting patiently at the table.

"Good morning, Grandma," Orion greeted warmly, taking his usual seat across from her. "Where’s Grandpa?"

Selene smiled softly, gently passing him a plate filled with freshly baked bread and a generous serving of eggs. "Your grandfather went to organize some books he insists you’ll need for your Thunder training. He should be here shortly."

As if perfectly timed, Eldric entered the dining room just as Selene finished speaking. He looked slightly excited for the lecture ahead, his eyes twinkling as he approached and settled comfortably beside Selene.

"Finally finished organizing those blasted books," Eldric grumbled good-naturedly, serving himself a hearty portion of breakfast.

He then pointed playfully at Orion, a mischievous smile crossing his lips. "Eat up, lad. You’re going to need all the energy you can muster—I won’t let you leave until I’m thoroughly satisfied with your progress."

Orion chuckled lightly, nodding with confidence and anticipation as he quickly finished his meal. "I’m looking forward to it, Grandpa. Don’t hold back."

Once breakfast concluded, Orion rose eagerly, following Eldric as they left the dining hall together and headed straight for Eldric’s study, anticipation building as he wondered what books Eldric had prepared for him.

Entering Eldric’s study, Orion glanced around curiously. The room was spacious and orderly, filled with neatly arranged shelves of thick books, scrolls, and various magical artifacts meticulously placed on display.

Gentle rays of sunlight filtered through the ornate windows, casting warm illumination upon the polished wooden surfaces.

Eldric moved briskly toward one of the larger shelves, his fingers tracing swiftly along the spines of several thick volumes before carefully selecting three exceptionally hefty tomes.

He turned around, carrying the large stack with surprising ease, and placed them heavily onto the study table in front of Orion.

"These are the fundamental texts regarding the Lightning Element," Eldric announced seriously, his gaze firm yet encouraging.

"Each contains comprehensive knowledge—from basic mana pathways and elemental theory, to complex rune formations and core principles governing Thunder magic. I want you to read them thoroughly and memorize as much as you can before we start practicing."

Orion didn’t hesitate nor question Eldric’s instructions; he simply nodded firmly, reaching immediately for the topmost book.

Despite their intimidating thickness, he felt nothing but anticipation, his determination unwavering.

Orion gently opened the first book, revealing dense pages covered with intricate diagrams and detailed text that precisely explained the Lightning Element’s characteristics.

Eldric, seemingly satisfied by Orion’s immediate acceptance, took a comfortable seat directly across from him, carefully studying his grandson’s expression.