The Rune Smith

Chapter 3- The Forlorn

Hello again! From here on out, it will be getting a lot more exciting, and I particularly enjoyed writing this chapter, as it introduces two of my favorite characters. I really hope you enjoy this new chapter!

The Scholar's Library was nearly vacant, with its only two occupants standing at its very center. Behind them lay a hearth in which a roaring fire crackled. Books climbed up its rotund sides, masked only slightly by the ramp winding around the interior of tower like a cord.

Although almost all of the books were complex in nature, the only book that the occupants had any focus on was the small novel seated before the youngest of the two occupants.

That youngest was Alia.

Alia stared intensely at the book, almost as though she was trying to set fire to the novel with her glare. After a few moments of getting nowhere, she spoke up, sitting straighter in the creaking wooden chair.

"I can't read this. I literally cannot see the words. Carrin, you have to understand that this is pointless."

The tutor frowned at the casual use of his name, desiring a more respectful 'sir' instead. It was safe to say that his wish would not be granted.

"I do not have to understand anything. You know that as much as I do. There is a reason I am making you do this."

Alia gave her tutor a confused look. He sighed, and produced a rune. It was feeble in appearance, dimming and brightening every few seconds. He did explain why he was instructing Alia on how to read.

"Read this. Tell me exactly what it does."

Alia felt the air prickling around the rune and she grimaced. It was close enough that she immediately felt it whispering in her ear, trying to get her attention.

She tried to brush the feelings off, instead exchanging them for complaints and excuses.

"No, I'm not going to. Can I leave? Please? I got caught again and Alex got stuck fixing my mess. I really need to apologize."

"Please stop referring to the commander as 'Alex.' That is not the proper way to refer to your caretakers. You must refer to them with respect. And I asked you to read the rune."

Alia frowned. She tried so hard to create a casual, friendly environment, but every attempt ended up with Carrin shutting her down. She felt comfortable talking to him, unlike Professor Carnhill, but clearly he wasn't comfortable talking to her casually.

"You still haven't answered my question. And I said that I wasn't going to read it. Cause I don't 'read' the runes like people think I do. The talk to me. They tell me their stories. I told you this before. How can I give you my respect if you don't listen to me either. Just like trust, respect goes both ways. Please let me go."

Carrin sighed. When Alia believed that she could convince Carrin that she could do as she wished, she was relentless.

Every other time, she was absurdly lazy.

Carrin dispersed the rune, causing it to shimmer for a moment before it dissolved into sparks.

"I experienced something similar you know. I forced myself to learn to read, and I am a better man because of it."

Alia groaned.

"Yes, but you could also slightly see the words. They weren't completely invisible. Besides, you nearly lost the one thing that made you useful to the king because you learned to read. If I lost my runic reading ability, then I would have a less pleasant future than you have."

Alia looked at the ground, suddenly melancholic.

"At least your parents had some power. Mine..."