Read Online The Archon's Apprentice by Neil Breault - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Neil Breault
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Archon as a symbol of power over the runes. But it is not only a symbol, it is also a powerful weapon.” Voletain ran his fingers gently over the hilt and down the scabbard. The runes responded to his touch and glowed faintly as he passed over them. He grabbed the handle, pulling the sword out. Chills ran up and down Mikol’s back as more of the blade drew forth from the scabbard revealing intricate runes etched on the metal.
“The sword was created for battle in a time when rune magic was wild and untamed. Everyone was able to use rune magic, and chaos was law of the land. It does not protect against all the runes and will not do anything on its own. But it cannot be hurt by magic of any form, and it will not dull, nor will it rust.”
Mikol reached out to touch the sword but pulled his hand back quickly. He had been through every armory in Valefort and had studied every sword he could and he had never seen such a beautiful weapon.
“Let me show you a little of what it can do.” Voletain walked over to a sconce on the wall and removed the outer covering. Behind the ornate reflector of the sconce lay a simple illumination rune carved into the wall. Voletain touched the tip of the sword to the glowing rune on the wall. Mikol flinched as the rune made a sharp popping noise and flared up in a brief, bright white flash. The rune had disappeared and the wall behind was left unmarred. Mikol could only guess at his own expression as Voletain smiled back at him.
“The sword is tuned to its owner, and through it you can will it to destroy magic. This type of weapon could not be created today with what is known of magic. Especially since the weapon is capable of working with an owner that is not tuned to the rune magic himself.” Voletain held the sword carefully in both hands.
“I think it is time I pass this down to my apprentice,” said Voletain.
Mikol stared at the sword, mesmerized by the beauty of the blade. The runes glowed softly in the now darker light of Voletain’s study. Mikol could see hundreds of runes pulsing along the edge of the blade. Voletain’s words finally permeated Mikol’s thoughts. He stammered for a moment before falling to his knees.
“I cannot take such a sword. Such a weapon should be given to a true master. I am not worthy.”
“You are more worthy than I. You are mastering rune magic and shall surpass what I can teach you soon. There has never been a need for me to use the blade, and for a time I had forgotten it existed. I have never wanted to use a weapon either. Mikol, it is I who is not worthy of this sword. Rise Mikol, take the sword, and become the master of Raythrael, Bane of the Malign.”
Mikol stood up reverently and grasped the handle, slowly taking it from Voletain’s upturned hands. Mikol knew the weight of swords and had trained with all kinds, but this was the lightest sword he had ever held. Voletain moved to one of the two remaining sconces in his study and removed the reflector.
“Come Mikol, use the blade and destroy this rune. I have been meaning to change the lighting in this room for some time.”
“How do I do it?”
“Simply think of what you want it to do. Touch the sword to the rune and will it away.”
Mikol walked up to the rune and touched the tip of the sword to it. Nothing happened. Mikol frowned.
“Feel the rune through the sword. Feel the world through the sword. Now let your will come through the sword. This rune should not exist, let the sword destroy it.”
Mikol closed his eyes, thinking of the first sconce. The wall was bare and untouched. He opened his eyes and pictured the same empty wall at the end of his blade. He felt a slight tingle in his hand and light exploded from the wall as it had for the previous one.
“Excellent!” said Voletain. “Remember this is still a weapon and should always be treated as such. This weapon is just as deadly to flesh as to runes. As Archons it is our duty to insure violence is not the
“The sword was created for battle in a time when rune magic was wild and untamed. Everyone was able to use rune magic, and chaos was law of the land. It does not protect against all the runes and will not do anything on its own. But it cannot be hurt by magic of any form, and it will not dull, nor will it rust.”
Mikol reached out to touch the sword but pulled his hand back quickly. He had been through every armory in Valefort and had studied every sword he could and he had never seen such a beautiful weapon.
“Let me show you a little of what it can do.” Voletain walked over to a sconce on the wall and removed the outer covering. Behind the ornate reflector of the sconce lay a simple illumination rune carved into the wall. Voletain touched the tip of the sword to the glowing rune on the wall. Mikol flinched as the rune made a sharp popping noise and flared up in a brief, bright white flash. The rune had disappeared and the wall behind was left unmarred. Mikol could only guess at his own expression as Voletain smiled back at him.
“The sword is tuned to its owner, and through it you can will it to destroy magic. This type of weapon could not be created today with what is known of magic. Especially since the weapon is capable of working with an owner that is not tuned to the rune magic himself.” Voletain held the sword carefully in both hands.
“I think it is time I pass this down to my apprentice,” said Voletain.
Mikol stared at the sword, mesmerized by the beauty of the blade. The runes glowed softly in the now darker light of Voletain’s study. Mikol could see hundreds of runes pulsing along the edge of the blade. Voletain’s words finally permeated Mikol’s thoughts. He stammered for a moment before falling to his knees.
“I cannot take such a sword. Such a weapon should be given to a true master. I am not worthy.”
“You are more worthy than I. You are mastering rune magic and shall surpass what I can teach you soon. There has never been a need for me to use the blade, and for a time I had forgotten it existed. I have never wanted to use a weapon either. Mikol, it is I who is not worthy of this sword. Rise Mikol, take the sword, and become the master of Raythrael, Bane of the Malign.”
Mikol stood up reverently and grasped the handle, slowly taking it from Voletain’s upturned hands. Mikol knew the weight of swords and had trained with all kinds, but this was the lightest sword he had ever held. Voletain moved to one of the two remaining sconces in his study and removed the reflector.
“Come Mikol, use the blade and destroy this rune. I have been meaning to change the lighting in this room for some time.”
“How do I do it?”
“Simply think of what you want it to do. Touch the sword to the rune and will it away.”
Mikol walked up to the rune and touched the tip of the sword to it. Nothing happened. Mikol frowned.
“Feel the rune through the sword. Feel the world through the sword. Now let your will come through the sword. This rune should not exist, let the sword destroy it.”
Mikol closed his eyes, thinking of the first sconce. The wall was bare and untouched. He opened his eyes and pictured the same empty wall at the end of his blade. He felt a slight tingle in his hand and light exploded from the wall as it had for the previous one.
“Excellent!” said Voletain. “Remember this is still a weapon and should always be treated as such. This weapon is just as deadly to flesh as to runes. As Archons it is our duty to insure violence is not the
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