Chapter 122: New Quest And Runes
Cael sat quietly in the corner of the Hogwarts library, hunched over a worn book on Charms, his quill tapping rhythmically against the table as his eyes scanned the faded text. His focus, however, was suddenly interrupted by a familiar mechanical chime echoing in his mind.
Ding!
New Quest Available, Host.
A translucent blue screen hovered before his vision, its golden letters shimmering faintly.
Quest: Foundation of Improvement
Objective: Learn 1200 Ancient Runes (Magical Script)
Reward: +20 Magic Points (With these points, your magical capacity will rival that of a young wizard freshly graduated from Hogwarts.)
Failure: Missed opportunity to grasp the fundamentals of spell creation and enchanting arts.
Cael's eyes lit up with amusement as he muttered under his breath, "Sweet… A proper quest at last." He leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly as he contemplated the challenge. "Memorizing runes is easy… applying them? That's the real hurdle." A grin curled at the corner of his mouth. "Well, no point wasting time."
Rising from his seat, Cael wandered between the towering shelves, trailing his fingers across the spines of ancient tomes until one title caught his attention:
The Fundamentals of Ancient Runes
By Eridan Greaves — Rune Master & Curse-Breaker
"Perfect," he whispered, plucking the heavy volume from the shelf and returning to his seat.
He had only just begun to immerse himself in the complex scripts and diagrams when a familiar presence settled across from him. Looking up, Cael's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Hello, Hermione. Researching again?"
Hermione Granger, clutching a small stack of books nearly as tall as her torso, set them down with a soft thud, dust puffing up from the covers. Her curious brown eyes flicked to the title of Cael's book, intrigue instantly sparking across her face.
"Of course I'm researching," she replied matter-of-factly, adjusting the books into a neat stack. "But… Ancient Runes? Isn't that a third-year subject?"
Cael shrugged lightly. "Technically. Doesn't mean I can't get a head start."
Hermione frowned, biting her lower lip. "Isn't that… difficult? I've heard Professor Babbling's class is no joke."
He closed the book with a soft thud, tapping the cover. "Runes are ancient magical symbols—used for writing, enchanting, protecting. They're drawn from old magical alphabets like the Elder Futhark or Ogham. Complex? Yeah. Worth it? Definitely."
Hermione leaned in, fascinated. "And what exactly do you use them for? Besides looking impressive in class."
Cael chuckled softly. "You can:
Inscribe spells onto objects, walls, or artifacts,
Create wards and magical barriers,
Unlock ancient magic or translate forgotten knowledge,
Curse-breaking, magical construction… enchanted artifacts, too."
Hermione's eyes practically sparkled. "That sounds incredible! You're telling me you could inscribe magic onto something permanent? Like… make a quill that never runs out of ink? Or a book that repairs itself?"
Cael grinned. "Exactly. Or imagine a door that only opens when the right rune sequence is touched. The possibilities are endless."
She bounced slightly in her seat, clearly trying to contain her excitement. "I have to learn this. I mean, I planned to, eventually—but this? You're making it sound like the key to half the magical world!"
Cael smirked, resting his chin on one hand. "You can, but I'd suggest waiting for summer vacation. It's… intensive. You'll need lots of time, and right now, classes will keep you busy enough."
Hermione hesitated, visibly weighing her ambition against her towering schedule. "Right… I suppose you're right. I already have homework piling up as it is…"
She started sorting her books again, but paused as if remembering something. "Oh! Actually, I meant to ask you—do you know anything about Nicolas Flamel?"
Cael's eyes narrowed slightly, amusement flickering behind them. Ah, so the plot thickens. The Philosopher's Stone mystery begins…
He tilted his head. "I do. Want me to tell you outright? Or would you rather a clue, so you can chase it down yourself?"
Hermione frowned. "Chase it down?"
"With a clue," Cael clarified, voice low to avoid attracting Madam Pince's wrath. "I give you a hint, you do the digging. Better for learning. Or I can hand you the answer neatly wrapped."
She regarded him, unimpressed. "You sound just like Professor McGonagall."
Cael chuckled under his breath. "That's the best compliment I've had all week."
Hermione rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. Give me the clue."
He leaned in conspiratorially. "Fourteenth-century alchemist. He's in the alchemy section—look hard enough, you'll find him."
Hermione's face brightened with determination. "Thank you. And for the record, you've just earned yourself a proper Christmas present."
Cael raised an eyebrow. "No pressure or anything."
With a quiet laugh, Hermione gathered her stack of books and strode off purposefully towards the alchemy shelves, her mind already racing.
Cael watched her go, shaking his head in amusement before turning his attention back to the runes. The intricate symbols seemed to glow faintly under the flickering candlelight, each one a key to ancient magic—and to his quest.
Time to get to work.