Page 126 of Wings of Ash & Flame
“Only twice this time,” Alaire replied, sliding between them as Professor Stere began.
“Ah yes, settle, settle,” he mumbled, not looking up from where he seemed to be enthralled with an especially ancient book. “Today we delve further into the Third Age runic systems—oh blast, where did I put my spectacles?”
They were perched on his wild grey hair. Students exchanged amused glances until he triumphantly plopped them onto his nose. “Found them!”
With a wave of his hand, runes appeared on the blackboard. Alaire leaned forward, studying each symbol carefully. None matched the geometric patterns she’d seen that night in the Serenity Gardens.
“Some sigils and runes serve as protection words—others reinforce, strengthen, or expand elemental magic. Notice the interlocking spirals? Quite different from the harsh angles of Old Umbric script from the First Age runic systems.”
Alaire sketched the signs anyway, hoping something would click.
“My grandmother has some of these carved into her cottage doorframe back in Gale Crossroads,” Archer said. “Says they keep the house warm, even in winter.”
“Ms. Moore, can you translate this passage?” Professor Stere waved a hand at a series of runes while addressing Kaia.
Kaia studied the symbols. “It says… ‘To flow and strengthen.’”
“Excellent! And the binding element?”
“The circular knot at the end, sir. It creates a continuous loop to power the rune by the aether of the wielder until it’s either scratched out or burnt through.”
Alaire scribbled notes about binding elements and continuous loops. It was fascinating, but it still wasn’t the answer she was searching for.
Professor Stere meandered through the Third Runic evolution, touching on the runes most often used by House Aqualis and House Arborstone.
“The shift from elemental representation to abstract concepts marks a crucial development in magical theory,” he mumbled, conjuring symbols reminiscent of air and storm motifs. “When the Consortium was formed, magic between the houses became more formalized.”
Kaia leaned in. “Don’t tell me you’re going to grab five more books to study this.”
“Maybe I will.” Alaire grinned.
“Now then, for homework,” Professor Stere announced as students began packing up, “I want you to research the evolution of house-specific sigils during the Consortium’s formation. Pay particular attention to which symbols were… oh dear, what was I saying?”
“Homework, Professor,” several students called out in unison.
“Right, yes! Due next Tuesday.”
Alaire gathered her things as students filed out, chatter echoing off the subterranean walls. Whatever those geometric patterns were, she hadn’t come across them anywhere else yet.
The sound of footsteps faded as her classmates climbed the winding stairs.
“Coming to dinner?” Archer asked as they trudged upward, voices bouncing against the stone.
“In a bit,” Alaire replied. “I want to stop by the library first.”
Kaia and Archer exchanged a look. “Take a break. The books can wait.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“No need to fib,” Archer said with obvious skepticism. “Just… remember to eat, alright?”
“I promise.”
As her friends headed toward the dining hall, Alaire turned down the opposite corridor. The thought tugged at her, stubborn and insistent: she was missing something important.
Alaire made it halfway to Australe Library when she heard footsteps echoing behind her.
“Ms. Vallorian.”
