32 Master of Runes (1/2)

Nick ran to meet with Dan this morning. The sinner said he was ready to go out on the road and meet Ranger in a safe place.

When they met, Nick looked at the sinner's face with surprise.

\”Dan, how many hours did you sleep in the last 24 hours?\”

\”I haven't slept in two days. And I'm very tired, but I've managed to do a lot. Sorry, Nick, I barely collected any trophies. I only picked what was in the open. But I did it! I've changed my specialty from 'Rune Expert' to 'Master of Runes'. I assembled a full set of runes. It's a small set of runes, there are only 120 runes, but it's a full set. I couldn't stop, there was no time to sleep.\”

\”On your way home, do you have enough strength?\”

\”I feel good. Let's go to the castle. Tell me about your adventures. I'll tell you about my discoveries when we all gather at the same table.\”

They went to the castle, and Nick told the sinner about the Spider Dungeon and the Spider Queen. Dan apologized for not being able to join the group. Nick laughed and said they should get different experiences from the game. It was interesting and difficult to pass the dungeon without the skills of an inquisitor.

At the castle, Dan said hello to Anna and gave her a stock of herbs he had found in the witch's house. Anna kissed him and ran away to her lab. Dan went to the blacksmith's place. He had a question for the dwarf and he wanted an answer immediately.

Turin was working, but he put his hammer aside to say hello to Dan:

\”Greetings, aren't you in any new trouble?\”

\”Hello, Turin, my armor needs no repair. I've met unusual people and unusual places, as always. Master Turin, I have one important question to ask you.\”

Dan came close to the pus and asked in a quiet voice:

\”Visste du lenge at spillere dukker opp i din verden?\”

The dwarf froze and was silent for a few seconds. Then he answered quietly:

\”Seven years. Father of the mountains told our priests about the appearance of players in the world seven years ago.\”

\”Thank you, Turin. I learned the main thing.\”

\”Du har lært mye,\” smiled a dwarf.

\”I learned a lot, you're right, but I want to learn more. But I talked to a wise man and I realized I should be more careful when interfering in other people's affairs.\”

\”And that's something you need to learn a lot about. It's a shame you can't get that skill, Master Dan.\”

Dan laughed and left the smithy. He wanted to sleep, and he really wanted to sleep in a normal bed, on a clean sheet, under a normal blanket. He hugged Velida and apologized honestly:

\”Velida, feed my cat. I want to sleep more than eat. Please make a meat pie for dinner.\”

\”I'll make a fish pie with a special recipe, Sir Dan,\” smiled the owner of the kitchen.

Dan went into his room, got undressed and fell asleep as soon as he fell on the bed.

He slept until late at night. When he woke up, he got a message from Pussy. The cat broke into his head with vivid images of delicious food that wasn't being given to her because the stupid master was sleeping!

Dan quickly washed his face and went down to the dining room. The women began to set the table, and the men sat there talking about the mine.

Turin didn't insist but said it was time to start working at the mine. A small group of mining dwarves would be able to mine a small part of the ore. Iron and copper isn't the main thing. A batch of Adran's ore is needed by the players.

\”You have begun to fight strong monsters. I can reinforce your armor. The defense will almost double. I won't hide it, it will be a pleasure to discover new facets of my skills,\” said the dwarf.

\”The mine is safe, but the road to it is dangerous. Wolves live in the forest, we don't kill animals on purpose. We'll have to spend a lot of time guarding the dwarves,\” said Nick.

Turin laughed:

\”Master Nick, do you really think 12 experienced gnome masters would scare a pack of wolves?\”

Dan looked at Turin's level and laughed. The dwarf was level 37! The best masters will go to develop a mine with a valuable breed that will eat any wolf in the local forest.

\”Nick, there'll be level 40 dwarves, they're not afraid to meet animals. All I care about is secrecy.\”

\”You know the dwarf language, Master Dan. The contract will be strict and reliable,\” said Turin.

Nick waved his hand and agreed that if the gnomes agree to do business quietly and in secret from the attention of others. But he needs to meet the dwarf and negotiate the terms of the income sharing well. Turin said he had no right to enter into a contract of this level, he was not a merchant, and he was a blacksmith. They've decided to make time and go to Dor.

Then everyone ate and told each other their news.

Anna complained to everyone. That she didn't have the skills of an herbalist to identify some of the plants that Dan brought in. He was surprised and said that he hadn't seen any unknown herbs. She didn't believe it and took some root out of her dress pocket and gave it to Dan:

\”What is that root? I can't see its name or its properties.\”

Dan took the root and looked at it. Then he shrugged his shoulders and said:

\”The root of the Swampy Golden-Eyed Jug. It's a rare type. Sorry, but I can't say more. I'm no expert in alchemy.\”

\”It's more than that! I don't understand. You have the skill to recognize evil, but the ingredient cannot be evil or good. It can't be cursed. How could you know its name? Thank you for that, I can work with him now.\”

\”I have discovered the skill of the 'Eye of Wisdom'. I can see the levels of the inhabitants of this world, the beasts, and many things and phenomena,\” confessed Dan.

\”He also became the Master of the Runes!\”

The words of Nick, who gave away the secret of the sinner, silenced everyone. The gnomes were the first to react. They got up and bowed to the player, then sat down at the table and continued eating. Anna was silent and thought about the important question. Nick did not feel guilty. They wanted to discuss this issue during the general meeting, but the guys had already written him a message: \”We are in a whorehouse! We're happy. We'll be back tomorrow afternoon.\”

Dinner continued in a calmer atmosphere.

After dinner, Anna called Dan to the lab where he could help her and identify the rest of the unknown material. Dan called her properties and a brief description of the different ingredients. She listened carefully and even took notes in her book. When they finished the work, she stopped Dan:

\”Dan, there's an important case. It's about me and Nick. Did I get it right that your skill in runes is a new rank in the specialty?\”

\”Yeah, now I can start cautious experiments with runes. It's possible to combine the runes with a certain effect. Protection, damage enhancement, enhances strength, protection against magic. It's small and simple to start with.\”

\”I'm interested in something else. You once talked about... That you could create a Vow for the clan. A magical oath that will have power.\”

Dan sat down in his chair and confessed:

\”Now I can do it. But it requires careful and careful drafting of the oath. And think carefully about the consequences of breaking the oath. I assure you, this case is serious and dangerous. In this world, an oath is not a toy.\”

Anna smiled such a happy smile that Dan felt weird. He felt very good for a moment. He felt truly alive and full of the pure joy of existence.

\”Girls learn the words of one important vow early on. Will you help me arrange a wedding with Nick?\”

Dan hadn't thought about using runes magic like that. He was a little scared. And he felt uncomfortable. And Nick wasn't in the lab. The situation went beyond a simple conversation.

\”Does Nick know?\”

\”Nick wants it,\” smiled at Anna.

\”Aren't you kidding me?\”

\”I'm going to fry your balls now. I can do that. I know the initial level of fire magic,\” said Anna. \”How can I joke and cheat about that?\”

\”I'm sorry, this is all sudden. Are you sure about the text? I'm not taking responsibility for your relationship. It's none of my business. I can help, but it's your business now. Getting married... wedding... until the day you die.\”

Anna corrected his words:

\”Until death do us part.\”

Dan closed his eyes and shut up, he was a little jealous of Nick and Anna for the first time, jealous of this relationship. Then he looked into her eyes, which did not lose a spark of laughter even during such a serious conversation, and said:

\”I know how to perform the ceremony. Don't worry about it. It'll be real. I know how ancient immortal hunters made and bound their vows. You can talk to Nick any way you want. I can help you now, it's no problem.\”

\”We'll wait for everyone. We'll be pleased to please the boys with such an event.\”

\”Then Nick should run into town to meet the boys. Bachelor party!\”

\”Fiery magic,\” said Anna strictly and threw a finger at the sinner. \”Without your stupid bachelor parties and whores from the whorehouse, we can do it.\”