Rune mage

Chapter 9: Eating dirt

My ears were ringing. As I tried to stand, I missed the block and was sent rolling and tumbling back into the dirt.

I blinked away the dirt and dust and sweat and tried to get to me feet again.

I activated a rune that would give me strength enough to get up- a quick blast of power that wouldn't leave a lingering signature. I made it to my feet, and even managed to block the next two attacks.

But then I was in the dirt again.

I lost a little time, during which I clearly had missed additional attacks, because I had some tender ribs that might have been broken if not for my well-being runes. I blinked as I looked around and found class was ending.

The trainer dismissed everyone and walked to me.

"Use of magic during these fights is prohibited."

"I accept any scan you wish to run," I said slowly. My face was swollen uncomfortably.

The trainer squat down to look me over. "I was concerned actually that Evan might have used magic on you. His magic is a battle magic perfect for speed and strength. Still, the final exam will allow for magics. You will be slaughtered."

His lack of belief in my abilities was not a surprise. I rolled and managed to sit up.

"Is it still okay if I train in the arena from time to time when no one is here?" I asked.

He stood and shrugged. "I cannot imagine what good it will do."

"But I have your permission sir, to meditate and train here?"

He nodded and then sighed. "I wish I could do more for ye lad. But these others, they're stronger and faster. Once we start allowing fights with magic, I fear you will be killed before the final."

"It has crossed my mind," I said without moving. I dug my fingers into the dirt. I was pretty sure there was stone under the dirt. The question was, how far down? "How do they judge use of magic? Do they have a judge just for magic use?"

Final fights were private, no student not being tested could observe. Rumor was it's because there were fatalities every year and they didn't want to needlessly traumatize students. Not that knowing there were deaths wasn't traumatic. No one ever knew someone personally who had died, but everyone had heard of someone who had, and everyone knew someone who had come close.

"I think I could be safe in telling you that each combatant is scanned multiple times throughout the fights. It is to measure their levels of power and judge where they will best be placed in the army. Some of the mages do not fight physically at all, but must show ability to use their magic to keep themselves safe. An emotion mage might be asked to turn aside a rampaging warrior. A music mage asked to do the same. But elemental mages, fire, wind, metals, stone... they fight, as do mages who can manipulate their strength and speed."

I sighed. "And rune mages."

He nodded, his expression saddened. "Sometimes they even survive."

I was going to survive. And as my fingers, subtly digging into the dirt, finally touched smooth stone, a plan began to develop. I was going to lay down the largest web ever made, and slowly suck power away from anyone in the web. A sip here and there wouldn't be noticed. But the final fights were days long challenges, with students spending all day in the dirt.

I knew the web design would hold the power, though it would surely be massive. The trick was, what would I do with that power? My magic did not allow me to attack- there was no fire or lightening or wind or arrows made of rock. I could defend. The question was, would that be enough?

I would have to etch the design without looking, by touch alone with my fingers buried in the dirt so as not to raise suspicion. First I would have to practice. There could be no mistakes, no design flaws. The good news was that webs were flexible: the lines didn't need to be perfectly parallel or evenly spaced. But the runes themselves needed to be perfect.

I licked my lips and then spat out the dirt. "I am going to survive." I said.

The trainer offered a tight smile and then watched me stand, probably making sure he didn't need to call a healer.

"I better go to the healer," I said to keep him from wondering why I wasn't more broken.

He nodded and walked away.

I walked- slowly- to the healer.

"You would think you would have learned how not to eat dirt," said the healer apprentice. She said it with a smile and a wink, so I was pretty sure she was attempting to tease me.

She had me take off my shirt and then poked and prodded all the places that would soon be bruised.

"I'm surprised you don't have any cracked ribs," she said.

"Me too," I winced as she pressed against one of the sorest spots.

She stepped back and let her focus shift. I could always tell when a healer was looking for injuries because their eyes did this thing... looking at you without seeing you.

"I don't see any active spells of healing, which is good. I can put down a spell to ease the pain."

"I will need a mark of healing so I am not accused of using magic without permission." That was new to the rules this year too. Apparently they really didn't want final year students using their magic unless in tightly controlled situations.

She nodded and walked away, returning with some bowls. In the smallest one was some paint of some sort. She picked up my hand and drew a simple circle with a center dot. The sign of the healers. Also the rune I used for my well being charms, because I would always associate the symbol with healing. As she powered the rune I snuck in a sliver of my own power, just to see what happened.

The mark glowed slightly but she wasn't watching. The glow faded as she mixed a tonic for me to drink.  My power hadn't been rejected, but hadn't done more than taste the mark she laid and fizzle away.

If I had been terribly injured, she would have used more power on mending my injuries. But healers always had to be ready for a near fatal injury, so they would mix their powers into other means to make sure they had what might be needed.

Which made me wonder.

"Would you be interested in an experiment?"

The healer blushed. "That depends."

I sighed. "Why does everyone think I'm trying to ask for sexual favors when I ask that question?"

She laughed. "You'd be surprised how often we healers get propositioned. What were you thinking?"

"I might be able to give you a rune set that could store power for you. I'm just not sure how you would access it."

"You have a design that stores power?" She asked slowly.

I winced. "Maybe?" Because if she went and told everyone I could be in serious trouble. "I need to experiment. And sometimes experiments blow up."

She chuckled. "I am not fond of blowing up. But if you get to the point where I wouldn't be risking my safety, I would be interested."

I nodded, already wondering. Could I create a method for others to access my store of power? And if I could? Would I want to? If I gave  access to the wrong person, I could be destroyed by my own rune designs.

"It will take time. I have to do tests." I stood and pulled my shirt back on. I was already late to ethics, no point in even attempting to attend. Instead I would go to the little courtyard and practice some designs.