The Runic Alchemist

They had an hour to spend. Damian decided the edge of the waterfall was as good a place as any to wait out his last moments on Earth. Vidalia conjured some chairs and a table to sit upon, while Damian used his runic circles to build a small windscreen from earth, lighting a fire beneath it. It wasn't as cold as the Dreaded Lands, but the wind was brisk, and the temperature was certainly below normal.

They sat in silence. Ten minutes passed, and no one spoke. Vidalia even took out a random book and began reading, as though their entire life didn't depend on how this final hour would reflect in the other world. Third-rankers truly were a different breed altogether. Damian briefly considered pulling out his research papers but decided against it.

This was Earth. This was his home—a place where he had once been just a man. He had lost everything he ever loved here, thousands of years ago, though it felt recent to him. No, he would not sully Earth's memories with his enthusiasm for another world's magic. This hour, he would mourn. The lost humanity deserved at least that much respect.

'One thousand years...?' Damian's thoughts wandered. 'Could it be possible that when the waygate located Sister Hadley she was still here, But a thousand years had passed by the time I traveled? Or when I woke up in this kid's body, Earth had already moved centuries ahead of my time?' He sighed. 'Well, only going back will confirm the truth...'

Damian glanced up at the third-ranker before him. She was absorbed in her book, looking like any young student he could have seen at his university back in the day—though far more beautiful. Elves were such a trap. Vidalia was twice the age of what his grandmother would have been if she was alive in his time. Not that he had anything against older women... 'What the hell am I even thinking?'

This was why he hated sitting still; his mind always wandered in the most random directions. Vidalia suddenly looked up, and Damian instantly cleared his thoughts. 'Damn it, Did she hear me..?' he cursed inwardly. Without his mental barriers in place, it felt like he was constantly walking on eggshells around her.

"I see... That's how it is."

"Huh?" Damian stiffened. Had she really read his mind?

"You... You can copy spells!"

"Ah... what?" Damian tried his best to feign ignorance.

"You copied my flying spell. But you don't have enough mana to practice it, nor did you have enough time. And it was launched from runes on parchment at that! Runesmiths can only craft scrolls for spells they can cast themselves, and even then, it takes years to mold the spell into the runic language. Tell me, Are you a unique prime Esper with the rare ability to copy spells?"

What the hell...? Damian's mind raced. What was one supposed to say in a situation like this? He had always known there was a risk of her figuring it out, especially when he pulled out the flying spell roll from his storage. But in his overwhelming emotions to search more of his world through flying,

he had ignored the risks. It seemed she had overlooked it for a while, too, but now, with time to rest and think, she had caught on. Esper's couldn't wield magic like others, their bodies were molded to use their mana in a specific way that only they could use like monsters and beasts.

This was the only conclusion she could come to without knowing about his unique skill—one that allowed him to see the true essence of magic with his eyes. If even she didn't know about such a skill, it was safe to assume it wasn't something many people possessed.

Then again, Damian had gained this skill after unlocking a hidden truth of mana and substances, combining the two.—For them there was no difference in mana and natural laws of science, but to him they were clear as day, it was pretty hard requirement to fulfill.

"Didn't you already see that in my head?" Damian shot back, unwilling to reveal anything. If she wanted to force the truth out of him, he wouldn't survive the attempt, but he wouldn't die without giving her the fight of her life.

Besides, she had no mana detecting accessories, being the spell master herself, even with his soul tearing apart using invisible box, he could always take her with him to the afterlife, if there was such a miserable place.

"As I said before, I only get glimpses and images... You.. Your control is impressive.."

Damian just nodded, though he didn't trust her words. He'd lie through his teeth too if he was in her position.

"I guess that makes my burden a little less awkward to share with you," Damian said, turning his gaze back to the waterfall. The white mist rising from the falls made the place look serene. They were on the edge of a crack in the Earth, surrounded by nothing but black, wet land. It wasn't a most pleasant view, but it had a dark, gloomy beauty to it.

"What burden?" Vidalia asked, a mix of confusion, curiosity, and caution in her eyes.

"Do you remember the day you almost scared me to death?"

"When I activated my Divine Seeker Vines spell?"

"Yes."

"What of it? Wait... don't tell me..." Her eyes widened, and the book slipped from her hands, landing on the new smelling table with a quiet thud. "You... you copied that much powerful spell too, you bastard?"

"Hey! No need for name-calling now," Damian replied defensively. "As you can guess, our spells clashed, creating this mess we're stuck with."

"Did it work?" she asked, regaining some composure and masking her shock behind a cold expression.

"What do you mean?"

"The spell, obviously."

"I don't know. As you said, I didn't have enough mana. I passed out halfway through. I'm not sure if it activated, but it definitely interfered with your spell," Damian admitted.

"Why tell me this now? Do you want me to think you're such a valuable asset that I can't harm you? Just how untrustworthy and ungrateful do you think I am?" she snapped, her icy façade slipping for a moment. "You're starting to annoy me with your cynicism."

"Cut the drama," Damian interrupted. "I'm telling you because I think it's the key to fixing the bond between us." He revealed his true reason before she could launch into a lecture mode. She had sealed his mana and beaten him in front of everyone, yet she dared to act as if he had no reason to be suspicious of her? The nerve this chick had..

"Hmm... You want us to let down the mental barriers and figure out who controls the spell?" Vidalia finally understood, thinking deeply as she absentmindedly stroked her book.

"Yeah. Something like that."