bdsm-fiction The 5th rune
The 5th rune
The crystal ball's reaction was unmistakable. This slave girl, regarded as a "jinx" and plagued by misfortune, did not bring any vague "bad luck" in spirit, but rather possessed an innate, unguided affinity for the special elemental energy of "darkness."
Those so-called "bad luck" are likely the manifestation of the subtle interference and erosion caused by her unconscious and uncontrollable dark energy field on the fragile mortals around her.
and...
Lin Qi stared at the dense, solidified black mist inside the crystal ball.
The content of this element...
Her talent is probably quite remarkable!
This crystal ball cannot accurately detect Lucy's wizarding talent level, but judging from the dark elements attracted by the crystal ball, it is definitely not low.
At least he has the same level of talent as him, or even more.
Advanced talent...
Lynch's eyes lit up immediately.
Apprentices are valuable anywhere in the Wizarding World, and the higher their talent level, the greater their value. Even the Grey Tower offers specific rewards for recruiting new apprentices.
of course,
Lynch had no intention of introducing this excavation apprentice into the Gray Tower.
Once inside the Gray Tower, she would belong to the Gray Tower as its property. Her life and death would no longer be in his hands, and even her future value would have no direct relation to him.
But if she stays here, she becomes her own private property!
Experimentation, modification, enslavement...
An apprentice who is completely under your control is far more valuable than any reward from the Gray Tower!
"That's enough, let go of my hand," Lin Qi said, his voice less indifferent than before.
Lucy felt like she had been granted a pardon, and carefully, almost tremblingly, removed her hand from the crystal ball that seemed to bite.
A smile appeared on Lynch's face, and his tone softened considerably: "My guess was right. Lucy, you are indeed a potential wizard."
"I... really?" Lucy looked up, her light gray eyes filled with disbelief and a deeper sense of bewilderment.
Suddenly, something occurred to her, and her voice trembled: "Then...then were all those unfortunate things that happened to me before really related to...my 'constitution'?"
When she asked that question, there was a last glimmer of hope in her eyes, wishing that it was all just an unfortunate coincidence.
Lynch nodded, confirming the cruel yet truthful answer: "Yes."
He then explained in the simplest and most straightforward way, "Your spirit is naturally drawn to the dark element, but you yourself cannot perceive or control it."
"That unrestrained, naturally dissipated energy, like invisible dust, can subtly erode and interfere with the fragile life and objects around it...that's roughly it."
"It really is me..." The light in Lucy's eyes quickly dimmed, overwhelmed by immense sadness and self-blame.
She always attributed her misfortunes to fate or her own "bad luck," never imagining that she herself was the unconscious source of all this.
Those who suffered misfortune because they were near her...including the hunter family who raised her, the grocer...
The images churned in her mind, almost suffocating her.
"Don't be sad about it." Lin Qi's voice pulled her out of the vortex of self-blame, calm and rational: "These phenomena are simply because you cannot control your own power, just as an infant wielding a sharp blade will hurt itself and others."
"When you truly embark on the path of a wizard, begin to learn meditation, take control of your own mental power, and learn to restrain and guide this talent, these unconscious 'calamities' will naturally cease."
"Control...stop?" A faint but real flame suddenly rekindled in Lucy's dull eyes.
The shackles of "original sin" that had long weighed on her heart seemed to have cracked.
Those misfortunes were not her evil intentions, but rather stemmed from a "power" she could learn to control? This realization was nothing short of a redemption for her.
Lin Qi stood up, walked to Lucy, looked down at the girl who was still kneeling on the ground, and said clearly, "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say, every single word, and think it over carefully before making your judgment. Do you understand?"
Lucy nodded nervously.
Lynch continued, "The wizarding world is a cruel and dark world. There are no emotional bonds here, only cold and ruthless calculations of value."
"Body, organs, appearance, emotions, soul, everything here is measured by value. Everything here revolves around value. The whole world is a world that pursues value."
"Equivalent exchange is the first principle of this world!"
He paused, then continued, "As a price, coming to this world means facing calamities, slaughter, and the bizarre. You are constantly struggling on the edge of life and death, and any mistake could cost you your life. Terror and despair are ever-present companions."
"In exchange, coming to this world grants unparalleled supernatural power, a status above all others, and... an eternal and immortal life, and the truth to reveal all the answers to the world."
Questioning and decision-making!
This is an ancient ritual in the wizarding world.
The upper echelons of the wizarding world have decreed that any wizard recruiting apprentices from the human world must initiate this inquiry and cannot bring apprentices into the wizarding world by force.
Don't think this is just a formality or a perfunctory exercise; the consequences of violating the rules are quite serious.
Once, an apprentice who had been in the wizarding world for many years casually mentioned in conversation that his mentor, who had brought him into the wizarding world, had not initiated any questioning or interrogation. Later, after verifying the apprentice's statement...
That powerful wizard, who was already at the third rank at the time, never appeared again!
The wizarding world has many inexplicable rules, the meaning of which Lynch himself doesn't understand. Just don't touch them.
after all,
The second rule of the wizarding world is—
Follow the rules!
At this point, Lynch asked, "So, now I ask you, are you willing to follow me to the wizarding world and become a member of the pursuit of truth and eternity?"
Without the slightest hesitation.
Lucy nodded immediately: "Yes, Master, Lucy is willing, Lucy swears to follow Master to the death!"
Nothing unexpected.
The vast majority of apprentices, after being questioned about their choices, would still choose to go to the wizarding world without hesitation.
A small number of people who initially refused will eventually regret it as death approaches, and ultimately give up everything to embark on this path.
After all, what does selling one's life matter compared to immense power and eternal life?
Lynch nodded: "From today onwards, you will stay by my side."
"Be my apprentice."
That evening, Lynch taught Lucy the apprentice meditation method and some basic magical knowledge.
The meditation method taught to apprentices by the Grey Tower is a common meditation method in the wizarding world. It is not some rare and precious secret that cannot be passed on to outsiders, so it doesn't matter if it is passed on.
As for other things, such as the spells and potion-making skills that Lynch possesses, these cannot be taught indiscriminately.
These all bear the mark of the Gray Tower and are built upon the knowledge system of the Gray Mist Jungle. If Lucy learns them but doesn't use them in front of outsiders, that's fine. But if they are exposed, it's very likely that they will be traced back to him.
Knowledge is the most precious thing in the wizarding world, bar none.
Regardless of the specific region, the dissemination of knowledge is subject to extremely strict restrictions.
Although Lynch did use the Ignite spell to trade for giant lizard scales in the Gray Tower, those were all within the rules of the Gray Mist Jungle and were transactions permitted within the Gray Mist Jungle.
If he dares to leak that knowledge...
The wizards will teach him what the rules are!
......
Time flies, and five months have passed in the blink of an eye.
Lynch Estate, the Refining Stone Chamber.
The stone chamber was quiet and still, except for the steady burning of the meditation candle, which released a faint mist that maintained the elemental concentration in the small space at a suitable level.
Lin Qi sat cross-legged in the center, his breathing long and almost imperceptible, his mind completely immersed in the depths of his spiritual sea.
It was not empty. Four fully solidified basic runes, like four solid foundation stones, floated in the void of consciousness, emitting a stable and harmonious faint light, with an invisible connection between them.
Beside them, the outline of the fifth rune was already clear. The complex lines and nodes had been mentally sketched and filled with elements countless times, and now it was in the final and most crucial finishing stage.
Lynch concentrated all his mental energy on this point, like the most precise carving knife, guiding the elemental flow gathered by the meditation candle, meticulously pouring it into the last few minor flaws and connection points of the rune.
Each addition of an element solidified the illusory rune, strengthening its resonance with the other four runes.
This is a process that unfolds naturally yet requires utmost focus. Extensive practice, the accumulation of resources, and tireless meditation day and night are all preparations for this moment.
When time reaches a certain point—
It was as if a silent thunderclap exploded in my mind, or as if a taut string finally played a perfect note.
The rune, which was in its final stages, had its last tiny crack completely healed by the pure elemental flow, and the last key node shone with dazzling light!
The entire rune suddenly burst forth with a strong and stable light from the inside out, its brightness instantly surpassing that of the other four runes, as if a newborn star had been ignited in the universe of consciousness!
hum...
An indescribable tremor spread from the newly formed rune, resonating clearly and strongly with the other four runes.
The light of the five runes intertwined and flowed, and the invisible connection between them became stronger than ever before, forming a more complex and stable basic structure together.
The fifth rune has been successfully obtained!