Rune mage

Chapter 19: friends don't hit friends (usually)

I left my room the next day and almost ran into Fredric. When he saw me he wrapped me into a hug and then apologized for hurting me. His joy at seeing me was a surprise. I had a true friend in him, it seemed.

"I'm sorry my father didn't tell you that he had applied the paperwork so you wouldn't get into trouble," Fredric said. "I hate that this happened to you. Are you healed now?"

I took a step back and powered up everything, holding my hand out so he would grasp it.

He took hold and then swore. "How are you even more powerful now?"

I dropped everything and went back to my usual level of power. "I need to test a new rune. Want to come out back and try hitting me?"

His expression went from enthusiastic to appalled. "I'm not hitting you."

I shrugged. "I'm pretty sure it would work if I hit you. Let's go test it out."

Fredric followed me out slowly. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yes. Afterward let's go to your house and power up the suppression runes. I will layer in a power storage design as well, so we don't have to keep coming back."

His expression was almost comical with how fast it went from cautious to pleased and back to cautious.

And then I hit him.

With the rock rune powered, it was like lifting a heavy weight: doable but not repeatedly.

His staggered back several steps and rubbed his chest. "What did you hit me with?"

I waved my arms around to loosen up and moved to try again.

"Don't you think we should talk a little more? What are we"

His words were cut off as he took a hit and dropped to his knees. His head bowed and he fought to breathe.

I pulled out a stamp and powered the rune on its end. "This might hurt but only for a second."

Then I pressed the rune stamp into is arm. The rune brightened against his skin and he yelped.

Then I stepped away and looked.

I had perfectly placed a wellness rune on his arm, and the power had transferred to him without me having to touch him. He looked at it. After a moment the rune disappeared

He looked at me with confusion evident.

I showed him the rune stamp. Then I smiled and said, "I learned how to be a rock. Or rather, as strong as one. And Fredric, I have some ideas on how to make my magic more offensive. If they're going to try to kill me anyway, I might as well."

Fredric stood and rubbed his face. "You made a healing rune? But you're not a healer."

I nodded. "It's similar. I have a theory that our magics branched from the same tree so to speak. Do you want to try to hit me?"

Fredric shook his head. "I know what hitting rock is like."

I frowned. "I move too slowly when it's powered. I think I need to train with it powered on and get used to the weight. Let's go to your house. I'll keep it powered on for as long as I can."

I made it only two blocks before I had to drop the rock rune. "It's like walking with a boulder's weight. I'll have to work on endurance."

"And speed, not only of movement but also of putting the rune into play. I take it you tattooed it on?"

I smiled but didn't answer.

He took that to be affirmation and then told me what he thought I had missed. I had already heard the gossip but hearing his anger as he spoke made me feel validated.

"I heard they even had the stone mage give testimony and he said he had nightmares. Fifty lashes was more than he had expected and he felt the cost was overly high for doing things that helped others. He even asked if that wasn't what the school wanted, to create mages willing to help others without asking for recompense for every thing. He resigned, from what my pa said. Decided he couldn't support a school that would lash a student for using his power for good."

I hadn't heard that. "Does me little good, to have people who support me, leave."

Fredric tilted his head in acknowledgment.

The home was empty when we arrived. "Where is everyone?"

Fredric shrugged. "It is normal for everyone to be out."

"Even Isaiah? I had hoped to meet him."

Fredric grinned. "I'm sure you'll get a chance, you are invited to dinner any time. What do you need to do with his room?"

I powered down the suppression rune and began making additions. With the power it suppressed, it would now fuel itself. I explained this to Fredric and he shook his head. "It seems too easy. Take the power he is creating and use it to fuel the suppression runes."

I paused in my work. "I thought of that while strapped to a boulder. The cuffs they put on were normal cuffs, but I was thinking that if the cuffs were runes for suppression and fed by the mage's own power, it would prevent the victim's power from lashing out while under attack."

Fredrick stared at me in silence long enough for me to return to my work.

"You were thinking of how you would make your own torture worse?"

I shrugged. "I had to focus on something other than the pain or my dampening runes would release and with them all my stored power, at least what I carry on me through tattoos. I wouldn't mind killing Lutsel or Tulimire, but Petre hasn't caused me personal harm, besides having to watch me be whipped. And from you and others have told me, he was furious."

"He nearly resigned. They sent him away and pa said he almost didn't come back. Don't be surprised if you have a different schedule than you expect."

Now that was different news. I tapped the final rune into place and powered up everything.

"I won't be heartbroken if I never have to sit in Lutsel Or Tulimire's classes." I gestured. "Go ahead and test the suppression so I know my changes didn't stop the main design from working."

Fredric stepped into the space and tried for several minutes to create fire. After a while the runes glowed, flickering.

He frowned. "What does that mean?"

I smiled, "it's a visual cue to stop and relax. It's one thing to have the nightmares, but if he is angry or scared and his magic is responding with enough power, I set up a visual reminder to stay in control. I wanted to tell him about it but," I shrugged. "You can tell him later. Do you know where Isa is this time of day? I never got to tell her the overflow runes worked."