Deepblue Aria

“**The Deepblue Aria is a grade 6 rune**, and Norland right now has knowledge only upto grade 5. If you wish to complete it, you’ll need to head to the depths of the boundless planes and look for its secrets.”

Second oldest promise that Richard made after his mother's grave.

blue lines were running all along Sharon’s body, like branches with a life of their own as they spread throughout her body before shining suddenly with a faint blue light.

Richard’s mind blanked out, filled only with this beautiful blue as his train of thought ground to a halt. He couldn’t think anymore; this beauty before him was beyond words— no, beyond everything.

Sharon’s voice came lightly, like it was something that was not of this world. “Did you see that? This is a rune unique to me, the Deepblue Aria. It isn’t complete yet, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to complete it in my lifetime, but now I’m willing to give myself some hope. Richard. If it’s possible in the future, complete it for me.”

This also meant that he would have no problems becoming a **saint runemaster**, even if that **wasn’t enough to fix the Deepblue Aria** on her body.

The patterns of the Deepblue Aria were still carved deeply into his mind. While incomplete, it was still far more powerful than any grade 5 rune, perhaps even a set. The single rune occupied all of Sharon’s rune slots, providing offence, defence, and any other utility as well. Most other legends could only afford a number of runes that served each of their individual requirements; some couldn’t even get grade 5 runes at all.

## Completion

Sharon’s rune was exactly what a combination of ember essence and this drop of blood could bring. While it used astral energy, it still allowed one to switch effortlessly between physical and magical combat, boosting one’s passive strength and defence when not used as such. Sharon was powerful due to her heritage alone, but fortified by a fixed Aria her strength would trounce all others. Even an all-out attack from Apeiron would barely cause any damage.

The Deepblue Aria was the rune buried deepest into Richard’s heart. He had renewed his research into it ever since he came across Sharon’s library, his progress speeding up to the point that he had almost mastered it all. He was only held back because he was thinking within the confines of astral energy, which he still wasn’t completely familiar with. The Deepblue Aria already optimised astral energy to near perfection, only lacking recovery. With the combination of the Beast God’s blood and the ember essence, it would become a perfect rune that would leave her with no weaknesses.

“A rune that could astonish the only divine runemaster in Norland? It seems extraordinary, would you mind describing it?” Greyhawk asked.

“Sure. It’s a rune that harvests the energy of the stars and brings one to near perfection. It’s called the Deepblue Aria, a grade 6 rune.”

“Grade 6?” the Prince stood up in astonishment.

“Mm.”

The significance of such a statement could not be overstated. Richard had once said that Midren’s battle edition was a rune beyond mere sainthood, but it wasn’t truly grade 6. His title of divine runemaster was a little exaggerated, but even approaching grade 6 it had swept every other saint runemaster away. If he managed it, he would truly earn the title of best runemaster ever known to Norland.

Such a title wouldn’t just be unprecedented; it was also unlikely to be replicated. Unless Norland itself was strengthened to match other planes like heaven or the abyss, finding the talent to accomplish this feat again would be near impossible. However, even if Norland eventually upgraded it would take millions of years.

## References

1. ↑ v1ch32
2. ↑ v1ch31B
3. ↑ Book 7 Chapter 43
4. ↑ Book 9, Chapter 71