Runes

**Runes** are words of power that represent an aspect of magic and can imprinted in an object. They are the language of magic, regardless if formed using chants and hand signs like fake mages or with one's mind like true mages. It doesn't even matter if they are arranged in a temporary form like a Warden does or in a permanent item like a Forgemaster - by arranging them in the correct order and infusing them with willpower, there can be infinite effects. Learning a rune is like learning a single word whereas to make a spell the grammar is important as well. Runes are used in spellcasting, arrays and Forgemastering to specify certain functions. Runesmithing is the art of creating and manipulating runes.

Elemental magic runes can be considered like a language with which a mage communicates with Mogar and borrows a fraction of the world energy. Spirit Magic runes and Royal Forgemastering wands, instead, allow the mage to communicate with their own mana core.

Examples of runes are a communication amulet's contact runes that represent a person's contact.

## Principles

Runes are just the way mages have found to imitate Mogar and make use of the elements. In a way, runes are Mogar's language that is used to shape world energy according to one's will. Runes are rare/uncommon for Awakened, but are a closely guarded secret for fake mages. Awakened mages don't need runes to cast spells because they're attuned with mana and world energy. Everyone else needs runes to cast spells in the form of hand signs. The Griffon Kingdom only allows Royal Forgemasters access to runes.

Life force cannot be imbued into an elemental rune, only willpower. However, this is not the case for light and darkness runes. It is possible by using light to hold one's life force and darkness as a conduit.

## Ancient Runes

**Ancient runes** are powered by magic crystal dust/powder and were used to empower creations before Forgemastering was created, being the first way fake mages found to emulate true magic. They were used by Wardens to create magical formations just as Forgemasters used them to bind metals to their will. Ancient runes were akin to Warden runes, placing the enchantment on the surface of the metal rather than inside of it, to not tamper with the mana pathways that the Bonding process creates (functioning like a permanent array, to complement the strength of the spells imbued within an artifact).

Ancient runes were invented by Ripha Menadion, earning her the 1st Ruler of the Flames title. They were used to imbue a spell inside anything they were carved onto, but they were delicate and expensive. After Silverwing's legacy became available, it was discovered that they could still be used in the preparatory phase of Forgemastering to lower its requirements. Ancient runes have to be engraved in sets, and a single one by itself is useless.

Ancient Forgemasters would physically carve the surface of the objects, so that the engravings would serve as both a beacon for their mana and as a template for the runes. The downside of this method is that the runes are isolated from the mana circulatory system of the item, so they act as separate entities.

One of the major downsides to ancient runes was that they can't be imprinted; as long as they have power, anyone can use them. Additionally, they are awfully expensive and unreliable, as one needs to carve them and then fill them with magic crystal dust to keep them active. Once pulverized, a magic crystal loses a lot of power and recharges slowly, so only purple crystals are effective, and even then only obtain mediocre effects. They are unreliable because if anything happens to a single rune, the whole spell is broken.

Additionally, visible runes have several downsides, the most obvious being that it is impossible to hide them since they shine like a torch - just by watching a mage's blade would allow their opponent to predict its enchantments. Ex. a sword that stops working after a bad clash, or an armor that offers no protection if it takes a hit - in ancient battles, runes became the first target because they were easy to spot.

However, modern Forgemastering methods can still be applied to ancient runes, such as making them invisible while preserving their effects, but regardless ancient runes are outdated - like crafting a sword using an ancient blueprint.

**Rune Words**:

* Fire: resembles an English P
* Darkness: a M overlapping a X

## Modern Runes

**Modern runes** are activated using a caster's mana. They were invented by Bytra (Korgh), earning her the 4th Ruler of the Flames title. They are conjured by the spells thus giving them their effects, but being made of energy cannot be damaged. Unlike ancient runes, modern runes exert their energy inward rather than outward even though they are still carved on the surface of an item, and that's why they are invisible to normal means. Also, this way they are able to alter the properties of both the metal and its mana circulatory system so that once the enchantment is applied, the final result is given from the synergy between the runes and the pseudo core. Old runes can only add an effect, while modern ones are able to blend together with the pseudo core and mana crystals, creating something that's greater than the sums of its single parts.

Runes allow weak metals to hold powerful spells, but when applied to powerful metals, like Adamant, they are the only way to unlock their full potential. Without runes, once the Bonding spell is used to embed purple crystals on Adamant, its mana flow becomes so strong that it becomes impossible to Forgemaster it. Due to this secret, only Royal Forgemasters can use Adamant and Davross to create powerful artifacts, giving the Royal Family a monopoly over them.

Instead of physically engraving runes onto the surface of objects, modern Forgemasters shape their mana as runes on their own before applying them on the surface of an item. This way, the energy released by the runes is not restricted by the physical carvings and can circulate throughout the artifact. The process makes them invisible to normal means of detection and able to alter the properties of both the metal and its mana circulatory system.

Once the enchantment is applied, the final result is given from the synergy between the runes and the pseudo core, creating something that's greater than the sums of its single parts. The downside of this method is that it requires great focus, memorizing the runes that comprise each set and shaping all of them to perfection at the same time. The slightest mistake in their form or positioning will lead to failure.

### Dimensional Runes

There are only two ways to fuel dimensional runes - the first is with what their maker intended as a key. In the Odi's case, it was a mana crystal carved with a particular shape. The second way is to use a Royal Forgemaster Wand to directly activate the rune with the wielder's mana. Unlike normal runes which shine with a blue light, dimensional runes are red due to the abundance of fire element needed to boost at the same time all the other elements that comprise gravity magic.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 666
2. ↑ Chapter 1077
3. ↑ Chapter 1334
4. ↑ Chapter 1173
5. ↑ Chapter 1198
6. ↑ Chapter 1183
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Chapter 783
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chapter 675
9. ↑ Chapter 742
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Chapter 921
11. ↑ Chapter 668
12. ↑ Chapter 708
13. ↑ Chapter 1272