CHAPTER 213: LEARNING THE AFFINITY RUNE

"Impressive," Eldric remarked softly, clearly satisfied. "You’ve already reached decent mastery. Usually, even prodigious talents need several dozen attempts. You’re certainly living up to your reputation."

Orion exhaled gently, a quiet sense of fulfillment warming his chest. He glanced up at Eldric, feeling quite confident. "Grandpa, I’d like to form my Thunder Affinity Rune immediately. Rest can wait until afterward."

Eldric hesitated slightly, concern briefly flashing across his expression before ultimately nodding with understanding. "If you feel confident and ready, lad, then proceed. But listen carefully, don’t try to force the lightning. Remember, control and balance are paramount."

"I understand," Orion responded calmly.

Eldric stood back, granting Orion space to fully concentrate. Orion calmly walked to the meditation mat positioned conveniently within Eldric’s study, settling comfortably into a cross-legged posture.

He closed his eyes, focusing inward and swiftly entering his expansive Sea of Consciousness.

Inside the boundless azure realm of his consciousness, Orion immediately navigated toward the brightly glowing orbs representing his elemental affinities.

Carefully, he isolated the Thunder Affinity Orb—brilliantly vibrant, crackling energetically with potent arcs of lightning mana—and gently separated it from the rest, creating ample space for the delicate formation process.

Instinctively, he began crafting the Origin Glyph atop the orb. His mental touch guided mana smoothly, the foundational glyph manifesting effortlessly, deeply resonating with his innate comprehension of Thunder’s fundamental nature.

Once the Origin Glyph settled stably, Orion methodically arranged the nine selected runes around the orb.

Thunder, Flow, and Stabilize glowed vibrantly at their positions, interwoven seamlessly alongside Amplify, Speed, Channel, Sharpen, Shock, and Reinforce, each rune beautifully balanced and clearly defined.

Drawing on his potent mana control, Orion carefully began connecting the runes with intricate mana pathways, allowing Thunder mana to pulse fluidly through each channel.

After that, he expertly inscribed the delicate runic inscriptions upon the arrangement.

Finally, Orion commenced the crucial final step—merging the Origin Glyph, rune arrangement, mana channels, and runic inscriptions into a cohesive whole.

He delicately guided his mana, carefully fusing each layer together. The resulting Thunder Affinity Rune shone brilliantly, emitting an intense, vibrant aura of pure lightning energy, harmoniously balanced and fully integrated into his Sea of Consciousness.

Feeling satisfaction and relief, Orion gently withdrew his consciousness from within, opening his eyes slowly in the physical world.

Eldric stood quietly nearby, observing Orion intently. Upon noticing Orion’s calm yet triumphant expression, Eldric immediately smiled with pride and satisfaction.

"Well done, Orion," Eldric spoke warmly, his voice filled with genuine pride. "Your progression in a single day is really something else. You formed your Thunder Affinity Rune in a single day. I must tell this to Selene haha. And you—you must rest now. Advancing too swiftly can strain your soul and mana channels."

Orion nodded calmly, accepting Eldric’s sincere advice without protest. He rose from the meditation mat, carefully stretching to relieve stiffness from prolonged sitting.

"Thank you, Grandpa," Orion replied warmly, feeling a little happy seeing his Grandpa so proud and excited to tell his Grandma about it. "I’ll take your advice and rest now."

Eldric smiled approvingly, his gaze affectionate and proud. "Good lad. Now go—rest well. You’ve more than earned it today."

Orion respectfully inclined his head toward Eldric before quietly departing from the study. Walking down the softly illuminated corridor, he reflected thoughtfully on his rapid progress and newfound mastery.

Reaching his own room, he stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind him.

Lying comfortably upon his plush bed, Orion closed his eyes for a moment, allowing himself a brief respite from the intense concentration and mental exertion of the day.

The soft sensation of the silken sheets gently embraced him, easing the lingering tension from his muscles. A deep, slow breath slipped from his lips as his thoughts gradually cleared, leaving him feeling calm yet pleasantly exhausted.

[Master, you did absolutely amazing today! (｡∀｡)]

Lumi’s cheerful voice resonated gently within his consciousness, breaking the soothing silence. Her screen hovered playfully near him, emitting a faint, comforting glow.

’Thank you, Lumi,’ Orion replied quietly, opening his eyes and staring contemplatively at the ceiling. ’Honestly, I didn’t expect to progress this quickly either. Grandpa’s guidance certainly made everything easier.’

[Hehe, you’re being modest again, Master!]

Lumi giggled lightly, her virtual screen bobbing joyfully.

[It was mostly your hard work and talent! Even Grandpa couldn’t hide his astonishment! (๑˃ᴗ˂̵)و]

Orion chuckled softly at her exuberance, the faintest hint of a smile forming on his lips. ’Perhaps, but Grandpa’s experience and careful explanations helped immensely. Every detail he shared was invaluable.’

He lay there for a while longer, idly chatting with Lumi about various aspects of rune formations, elemental interactions, and future training plans.

Time passed unnoticed in the comfortable stillness, and gradually Orion felt renewed motivation building within him.

After several peaceful minutes, he pushed himself upright, stretching leisurely.

’Alright, Lumi, let’s not waste the day. I should continue mastering the remaining runes—no point in delaying it further.’

[Of course, Master! I’m ready whenever you are! (๑ᴗ๑)]

Lumi eagerly responded, clearly pleased with his decision.

Orion rose smoothly from his bed, stepping lightly toward his window-side study table. He settled comfortably into the well-worn wooden chair, spreading various scrolls and parchments neatly across the polished surface.

Opening the Runic Codex once more, he began diligently absorbing and practicing each intricate rune symbol again.

Hours drifted by unnoticed, the only sounds within the room being the faint scratching of his quill against parchment and the quiet rustle of turning pages.

Eventually, feeling a slight mental fatigue creeping in, Orion carefully set down his Verdant Root Quill, flexing his fingers lightly to ease their stiffness.

He exhaled slowly, satisfied with his progress but recognizing the importance of pacing himself.

’It’s about time I take a break,’ Orion murmured, rising from the chair and stretching his limbs fully. ’I’ve done enough for now.’

[Yes, Master, you shouldn’t overdo it!]

Lumi chimed in supportively, clearly relieved at his decision.

Refreshed by his brief rest, Orion made his way leisurely through the mansion and toward the gardens.

Stepping outside, he was greeted by the gentle warmth of sunlight, the fresh, floral fragrance of the gardens instantly relaxing him.

As expected, Edgar and Lucan were lounging lazily in their favorite spot beneath the broad branches of an ancient tree, basking leisurely in the afternoon sun.

Approaching the pair, Orion raised an eyebrow in playful amusement. "Comfortable, Uncle Edgar, Brother Lucan?"

Edgar opened his eyes lazily, chuckling softly at Orion’s mild teasing. "Quite, Young Master. You’ve come looking for me, I presume?"

Orion nodded, a determined glint in his eyes. "Indeed, Uncle Edgar. I wanted to ask about today’s sword training. You mentioned something special—what exactly have you prepared?"

Edgar’s lips curled upward mysteriously, his eyes twinkling knowingly as he rose smoothly to his feet. "You’ll soon find out, Young Master. Come with me to the training grounds."

Lucan, who had been quietly enjoying the warmth, grinned smugly and quickly stood as well, stretching lazily. Orion raised an eyebrow skeptically, eyeing Lucan’s relaxed demeanor.

"Why is this lazy bum joining us?" Orion questioned dryly, casting a pointed glance at Lucan. Lucan merely smirked, utterly unbothered by Orion’s skepticism.

"Just wait and see, Young Master," Edgar chuckled cryptically. "Lucan might surprise you."