The Rune Magician Who Lost Everything to Her Older Sister, Becomes Doted On by the Genius Prince – Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Rune Magician
“I see. Then let’s test it.”
“A test?”
“Yes.”
The prince took out a translucent crystal from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The runic letter 【ᛊ】 was engraved inside the crystal.
“This is a runestone discovered in a certain ruin. Show me how to activate this rune.”
“Understood.”
Leticia responded and moved in front of the runestone.
Then, for a moment, she turned her gaze towards me.
There was malice ingrained in it.
Is she jealous because it’s the first time I’ve been chosen? I’ve never seen her this uncomfortable before.
“What’s this ‘rune’ thing? It’s just a kind of magic, isn’t it?”
She muttered, touching the stone.
She poured her magic power into it.
However, the moment she did, the stone made a snap and rejected her hand.
“Ugh! I failed.”
“You failed.”
“Please, one more time.”
“It’s not necessary. You don’t understand anything about the rune. Can you show her an example, Meiana Pheles?”
“Yes!”
When my name was called, I hurriedly ran to the Rune Stone.
Leticia glared at me as she moved back.
I was nervous, sandwiched between her gaze and His Highness’s gaze.
Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I used magic in front of someone.
Due to sudden tension, my hands started shaking.
“It’s okay. Just do it the way you always do, like you’re on your way home.”
“Huh…”
When I turned around, His Highness smiled kindly at me.
On the way home, he said.
After finishing a difficult job, during my only free time on the way back, I practiced Rune Magic.
Just like during that time, I can use it now.
I took a deep breath and faced the Rune Stone.
The engraved letter on it is 【ᛊ】.
The letter means the sun.
I feel the magic embedded in the engraved letter by touching the Rune Stone.
What did the spellcaster think and wish for when carving this letter?
Only by deciphering the inscription can the rune be activated.
“――【ᛊ(Sowel)】.”
The magic contained in the rune is released, the stone floats and emits a dazzling light.
“Well done.”
“Th-Thank you.”
I hear applause from His Highness.
I am happy to be praised for the first time, and my expression naturally breaks down.
“So what?”
Leticia mutters quietly, as if she were speaking to me.
She seems to be saying, ‘What’s so great about just a stone shining?’
“Oh, no…”
His Highness seems to have heard it too, and she panics.
His Highness explains calmly without showing any signs of anger.
“To activate someone else’s rune, you need a thorough understanding and knowledge of the rune, as well as the ability to perceive someone else’s will. You can’t just activate it by pouring magic into it. You said earlier that Rune Magic is outdated, right?”
“Yes.”
“That interpretation is a mistake. Why hasn’t Rune Magic permeated until modern times? It’s because understanding Rune Magic is difficult, and there were extremely few people who could use it skillfully.”
His Highness continues to speak.
The history of Rune Magic is deep.
It is one of the lineages that was born when magic was born in this world.
The characters imbued with magical power, that is runes.
While other forms of magic encode their magic in words, spells, or actions, Rune Magic expresses everything with just one character.
Therefore, even with the same character, the effect and nature vary depending on how it’s inscribed.
The more you understand, the deeper and broader it becomes, with numerous interpretations for just one character.
That’s why an overwhelming knowledge and wisdom are essential.
“Talent alone is not enough. It takes effort and experience to finally reach the starting point. Rune Magic hasn’t been left behind by the times. Magicians have simply run away from it.”
“――!”
I met the first person who thought that way.
It was shocking.
“I know it’s something that modern magicians would hate to hear. But I believe it is true. Because I have experienced it myself. Rune Magic is the only thing I have never been able to master.
He’s a modern-day genius.
Even His Highness, who has learned all sorts of magic, couldn’t master Rune Magic.
As he speaks, his profile looks somewhat regretful yet also expectant.
“From my perspective, I think you are the true genius.”
“――Me, a genius…?”
No one has ever said such things to me before.
I was never recognized.
I was a castoff from my sister, worthless, and a failure.
But…
“I’ll say it again, Meiana Pheles. I want you to lend me your power.”
To think that someone needs someone like me.
Not as a replacement for my talented sister, but me, myself.
“…Yes.”
There’s no reason for me to refuse.
As I respond, I hold back the tears that well up in my eyes.
Leticia glares at me for doing so.
Normally, I’d be scared, but I feel nothing now.
I’m just happy to have been chosen, and my heart is full.
