Hal could understand the lure of becoming a rune master, heck he just learned about it yesterday and he couldn’t stop thinking about it, however he still felt that the burly youth was being extreme.

“Young master Frank, please stop causing a scene” The plump manager signalled Frank’s guards to take him away.

“I won’t leave until I see master Master Swanson” Frank resisted, and he was able to shake off his guards.

‘It seems his size is not just for show, or maybe they dare not ruffle him up’ Hal thought

“Master Swanson is not here, He has secluded himself with the hope of breaking through to the next realm” The manager was exasperated, The youth was being very unreasonable.

Hal spread his perception throughout the store, if master Swanson really wasn’t here, then his trip would be a waste. Hal could vaguely identify another person’s presence in the store untill his astral perception clashed with theirs, and while he believed he could overpower it if he pushed through, he retracted his perception instantly.

A man emerged from the store barely a second later. He looked to be in his forties but his brown hair was streaked with gray, his eyes were feverish with expectations. When he caught sight of Hal, he gestured for him to come closer and Hal did after a split second hesitation.

‘Such strong and pure astral sense, I can’t let such a gem get away’ Master Swanson thought

“Young man, you should be careful not to invade other people’s privacy with astral perception, but I will forgive you if you consent to become my apprentice” was what he actually said

“I would be honoured” Hal bowed

‘This seems a little anti-climatic, I was expecting to have to prove my worth’ Hal thought

‘You already did” grimoire told him

Hal knew the astral perception he sensed belonged to Master Swanson, but he had already learned that Master Swanson had never accepted an apprentice before, even when they possessed astral sense, Unlike the other two rune-masters in the city, who had an influx of apprentices because of Master Swanson’s rejections, but he wasn’t about to complain.

Before returning into the store master Swanson turned towards the youth who looked like he was about to resume his pleas but Master Swanson cut him off

“Stop making a scene or I will no longer provide my services to the Horst family. If you really want to learn, you should plead to one of the other rune-masters instead, however without astral sense there isn’t much even they can teach you”

….

Inside Master Swanson’s private study room at the back of the store, Hal sat opposite his new master who served two cups of of a black herbal tea and handed him one of the cups. Hal took a sip and was tempted to spit it out, it was revolting, however feeling that it would be disrespectful he swallowed it and placed the cup back on the table.

Master Swanson laughed loudly at the expression on his face.

“The taste is bad, but it will help you clear your mind and improve your affinity with astral energy”

Hal picked up the cup with some trepidation but mustered up the courage and took another sip.

“Now, what do you know about runes?” Master Swanson asked

Hal repeated everything grimoire had told him but master Swanson didn’t look satisfied.

“Runes can indeed be used to create spatial treasures, but it can also be used for so much more. Runes are words of power said to be the language of the gods. Legend tells us that the gods make use of runes to traverse worlds. While rune-masters are unable to perform such feats, we’re still a force to reckon with among mortals” Master Swanson produced a bunch of rectangular sheets from seemingly out of nowhere (but Hal knew they had come out from the ring on his middle finger) and placed them on the small round table which separated them.

The rectangular sheets were about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Master Swanson picked up a brush and drew complicated looking runes on four of them then he infused the runes with a formless energy with hal effortlessly recognized as astral energy, the rune glowed cyan before returning to an ordinary inky black but now it radiated power, it was mild, but it was power nonetheless.

“This is a rune” Master Swanson tossed the drawn rune into the empty space beside him and it exploded into red flames.