The group rushed up the hill, their breaths heavy, the weight of their plan resting on their shoulders.
Mash, Cu Chulainn, Bazzet, and Guilmon led the charge, their bodies a blur of movement as they dashed ahead. with Mash wearing a headband on her forehead embroidered with the runes—ᚲᚨᛗ.
Behind them, three figures clad in makeshift robes—stitched together from the school's curtains—moved as silently as ghosts. Takato, Ritsuka, and Olga Marie, each draped in enchanted fabric inscribed with the runes ᛉᛊ/ᛁᛈ, running behind Mash.
Takato held Cupidmon tightly in his arms, the small Digimon trembling slightly but staying quiet. Fou sat firmly on Takato's shoulder, his ears twitching.
Blindfolds covered the human's eyes, each one carefully embroidered with the runes—ᚲᚨᛗ. They were trusting the runes to hide them from the Archer's keen gaze, and Mash to lead them to the top safely.
The plan was simple. Make it to the temple without being seen by the servant class with the best sense of sight.
-One Hour Earlier-
The group sat in the abandoned high school, gathered around a makeshift map scribbled onto a classroom blackboard. Cu Chulainn crossed his arms, his face serious. "The Holy Grail is under the Ryuudou Temple. That much is certain." He tapped the chalk drawing of the temple at the top of the hill. "Problem is, it's guarded by the King of Knights herself."
A tense silence filled the air.
Ritsuka frowned. "Saber… King Arthur, right?"
Cu nodded grimly. "Yeah, and that's not all. She's got a lackey."
Mash tensed. "Who?"
Cu let out an annoyed sigh. "A lovestruck fool of an Archer. One of those sentimental types, actually tried to talk stuff out with the mad bitch, even after killing her own master and starting the flames that spread and enveloped the city and beyond, only to get drowned in the mud by the king of Knights he loves so much."
Takato tilted his head. "Is that… bad?"
Cu smirked. "Depends. If we were fighting him alone, it'd be easy to mess with his head. But with you guys around? It's a problem." He tapped the board again. "Climbing the hill might as well be the hardest damn thing we do."
"Why?" Ritsuka asked.
Cu's eyes darkened. "Because Archer can and will shoot us down before we reach the top."
Bazzet nodded in agreement. "Servants and maybe Guilmon can react, dodge, or even block his attacks. But the rest of you? You'd be defenseless. Archer-class Servants are the best at long-range combat. You'd be dead before you made it halfway up."
The room fell silent.
Ritsuka's frown deepened. "Then… shouldn't we split up? Have the humans hide somewhere, maybe in the sewer system, while the Servants and Guilmon take on Archer?"
Bazzet immediately shook her head. "That would only make things worse."
She looked directly at Ritsuka. "If Archer notices the humans aren't with us, he'll leave his position and start hunting you down." Her eyes hardened. "And the moment he finds you? He won't hesitate to kill you. A servant without a master is a servant on borrowed time. without a master to feed us mana, we will just return to the throne in time."
Ritsuka gritted his teeth.
Olga Marie let out a frustrated groan, gripping her hair. "Then what?! We have no way of reaching the temple without getting picked off!"
The tension in the room rose. Until. "What about hiding?" Takato's voice cut through the air.
Everyone turned toward him.
Bazzet raised an eyebrow. "Hiding?"
Takato nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Is there a way to use magic to hide someone's presence? To make them invisible?"
Olga crossed her arms. "Even if there was, you and your brother are complete novices. You don't even know the three basic spells of Magecraft, how to make a basic Geis, or even a rudimentary Bounded field, why not do the best thing possible and let the people who actually know magecraft plan, and wait for orders."
Ritsuka immediately scowled. "Hey, don't talk down to my brother—"
But Takato wasn't bothered. Instead, he smiled. "I don't need to know how to cast magic. I just need to know if it can be done."
Bazzet's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
Cu's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
Olga gaped.
Takato pressed forward. "Both Cu and Bazzet use runes to cast magic, right?"
Bazzet nodded. "That's correct."
Takato grinned. "Then wouldn't it be possible to inscribe runes onto some of those window drapes, wear them as rubes, and make the wearer invisible to the outside world?"
A beat of silence. Then Bazzet let out a proud chuckle. "Hah. Now that's thinking like a proper Magus."
Cu let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Damn, kid's got balls of steel, I like it!"
Olga, still processing the idea, slowly nodded. "That… might work, but..." She crossed her arms, deep in thought. "Archer-class Servants have the best sense of sight among all Servant classes. There's a chance he could still spot you."
Ritsuka rubbed his temples. "I don't like how risky this is… but we don't have any better alternatives."
Olga hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. We'll go with Takato's plan."
Cu grinned. "Kid, you're seriously testing how good an Archer's sight is. I love it."
Bazzet smirked. "I would expect nothing less from the one who summoned me."
Takato flushed slightly at the praise but quickly shook it off.
They had a plan. Now all that was left was to execute it.
- Now -
The wind howled as the group rushed up the hill, each step a race against death.
The sky split open.
A barrage of glowing projectiles rained down, illuminating the darkened landscape with a blinding purple and red hue.
Each arrow carried enough force to punch through solid stone.
The first one struck the ground—BOOM!—a massive crater formed in the dirt, shaking the very earth beneath them.
The second followed. Then a third. Then dozens more. Until it became a storm of destruction.
Cu Chulainn was already moving, a wild grin on his face. He twisted his body, slid beneath the first arrow, and then flipped over the second, moving as if he had memorized the attack pattern before it even began.
A third arrow came straight for him. He caught it mid-air with a single hand, twisting his wrist to spin it away. "Tch! That all you got?!" He cackled, sidestepping another explosion before it could consume him.
Mash Kyrielight braced herself. Her shield slammed into the ground, her body crouched low, absorbing the full impact of a devastating purple and red blast.
The shockwave pushed her back, her boots skidding against the dirt, but she held firm. "I won't let you through!" Another arrow came - BOOM! - Her shield held strong, resisting the overwhelming force.
Behind her, Takato, Ritsuka, and Olga stayed close, hidden beneath their rune-inscribed cloaks.
Cupidmon clutched onto Takato's arm tightly, his tiny wings trembling. "S-So much violence…!"
Takato kept his arms wrapped around Cupidmon, shielding him from the blasts.
Fou clung to Takato's shoulder, his fur bristling.
Olga was gasping for breath, struggling to keep up. Her hands gripped her robe, trying to maintain her balance as explosions erupted around them. "Damn it! This is insane!" she growled, her hair whipping wildly in the wind.
Bazett did not block. She did not defend. She outran. Lightning-fast footwork. Precise movements. Every arrow that came near her? She twisted her body at just the right moment dodging within inches, feeling the sheer heat of the energy brush past her skin.
A lesser Magus would have been obliterated. A lesser fighter would have faltered. But Bazett Fraga McRemitz was no lesser fighter.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions erupted all around her, but she never stopped or slowed down; her eyes were fixed ahead. She awaited that crucial moment when the enemy archer would realize something was amiss. If the plan worked, he would soon leave to hunt for her master and his brother. This would give them the opportunity to bypass the fight entirely and confront the mad king directly.
Guilmon didn't dodge. He fought back. His claws dug into the earth as he skidded to a stop, his mouth glowing with a crimson hue. "GUIL SHOT!"
BOOM!
A rapid succession of red-hot energy spheres erupted from his maw, streaking toward the falling arrows. Each projectile collided mid-air, detonating before it could hit the ground. "GUIL SHOT! GUIL SHOT! GUIL SHOT!" One after another, he kept firing, his sharp eyes locked onto the sky. For every glowing arrow that fell— A Guil Shot met it.
And one by one, the storm weakened. As they continued their sprint, Cu Chulainn flashed a smirk toward the sky. His mind worked quickly, reading the pattern of attacks. "Come on, ya bastard. Take the bait."
And then— The arrows stopped. The sky went still. Cu's grin widened. "Gotcha." The enemy Archer had realized his attack wasn't hitting anything vital.
Now that he couldn't see any humans running up the hill, he was doing exactly what Cu wanted him to do, him giving them precious time to deal with the king of knights while he was hunting for them.
A deafening explosion erupted behind them. The group turned, just in time to see their safe house going up in flames. A pillar of fire rose into the sky, embers scattering in the wind. Archer had chosen to destroy their base, thinking they were hiding there.
Cu just cackled. "Too damn predictable."
The distraction had worked. Now, all they had to do was get to the top.
--------------------
When they finally reached the summit, they stopped. And stared. The Ryuudou Temple was gone. What had once been a grand structure of old Japanese architecture was now nothing more than ruins. Scorched wood. Shattered stone. A graveyard of what once stood here.
But at the back of the ruins, nestled between two crumbling pillars a cavernous entrance yawned open like the mouth of a beast. A path leading underground to the Grail.
Olga, who had been gasping for breath from the climb, straightened. "H-Hah…! We did it…!" She threw her hands up, victorious. "We survived! I DIDN'T DIE HAHAHAHAH!!!!"
At that moment, Romani's holographic screen flickered back to life. His face was practically glowing with excitement. "YES! You guys made it! Oh, man, that was incredible! And Takato!" He grinned, pointing at him. "Quick thinking with those runes, kid! I honestly didn't think it would work, but wow, you proved me wrong!"
Takato grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Hehe… yeah, well, let's hope that luck doesn't run out."
Romani's expression shifted. His eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping at the console. Then his voice grew serious. "Listen, everyone. I'm getting insane levels of magical energy coming from inside that cave." His eyes flicked between the readings on his screen. "There's no mistake. The Holy Grail is down there."
The group fell silent.
Ritsuka took a deep breath. "Then that's where we're going."
Takato nodded firmly.
Mash clutched her shield.
Bazett rolled her shoulders, stretching her fingers in preparation.
Cu twirled his staff.
Guilmon sniffed the air, growling lowly.
Olga Marie, finally catching her breath, wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Alright… alright, we're almost there." She turned to the group, determination in her voice. "Let's finish this."
The tension was razor-sharp. Just as they were about to step into the cave, the air snapped with a twang of a bowstring released.
Cu Chulainn's eyes widened in an instant. His instincts screamed. "GET DOWN!" His staff slammed into the earth. In a burst of emerald energy, ancient druidic magic erupted from the ground. Thick roots and twisting vines shot up, forming a protective dome around the group just as—
BOOM.
A spiral-shaped sword, twisted into an arrow, slammed into the barrier with a detonation of raw power followed. The explosion shook the battlefield. A massive shockwave cracked the earth, reducing the surrounding ruins to dust. A firestorm engulfed the dome, licking at its edges, scorching the surface black.
The force was enough to vaporize lesser fighters. But then the charred dome cracked and as the dusst started to sattle, four figures stood tall. Through the smoke and embers, Four sets of eyes burned with determination.
Cu Chulainn, his signature smirk laced with fury.
Bazett, fists clenched, the runes along her gloves glowing fiercely.
Mash readying her shield to use as a blunt weapon, or to defend if needed.
Guilmon, low to the ground, lips curled back in a growl, his claws digging into the scorched dirt.
Perched atop one of the few surviving structures of the ruined temple, a lone figure watched them. A smirk played on his lips, his arms crossed, posture loose and relaxed. Yet his eyes sharp, and calculating told a different story.
"Really, Cu?" His voice dripped with amusement. "Like the mutt you are, you have a one-track mind. Did you really think I wouldn't know how your two remaining brain cells rub together to form half a thought?"
Cu Chulainn gritted his teeth, knuckles turning white around his staff. "You damn Archer…!" His staff aimed forward, while his fingers were glowing with arcane energy. "This time, I'm putting you down for good!"
Archer chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Big words." His smirk widened. "Let's see if you can back them up."
In a single, fluid motion he jumped. "Trace… on." The air hummed with power. A pair of twin swords materialized in his hands. One black. One white.
Olga's eyes widened in shock. "Since when do Archers use Magecraft?!"
Before anyone could react, Archer moved in a blur of motion aining a lethal strike. The black and white twin blades gleamed as they cut the very air, aimed at Olga. "Tch—!"
Mash threw herself forward, shield raised. -CLANG- The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield. Archer's blades screeched against her shield, sending sparks flying. Instead of withdrawing, he adjusted instantly. Using his momentum, he flipped, planting a single hand on Mash's shield, using the shield as a platform. He pushed off the shield, spinning mid-air, aiming a strike downward.
His voice was calm, smooth, and deadly. "Trace… on." Another faint glow. A second shield, identical to Mash's, appeared in his hand, as one of his swords dematerialized.
Mash's eyes widened in shock. "What—?!"
Archer twisted his body, flipping through the air and bringing the copied shield crashing down toward Bazett.
Bazett reacted fast. Her rune-enhanced gloves met the attack head-on.
CRACK.
A shockwave shook the ground as their blows met. Her feet dug into the dirt, but she held her ground.
As Archer was knocked backward, his body twisted mid-air, shield still in his hand his sharp eyes flicked toward the next threat.
A crimson blur.
Guilmon was already on him, charging like a feral beast. "ROCK BREAKER!" His claws glowed white-hot, slashing forward in a brutal arc.
Archer's eyes flickered. He smirked. His legs tensed. While reinforcing the copied shield to its limits and beyond, making the usual blue lines that signal reinforcement turn from blue to orange and from orange to red, he pushed off the shield still in his hand and used it to jump back into the battle.
The shield shot toward Guilmon like a projectile.
BOOM!
The moment it made contact, it detonated. A pulse of energy sent Guilmon flying back, smashing into the ground.
Takato's voice rang out in horror. "GUILMON!!!"
Archer landed smoothly, his smirk widening. "One down. Three to go. Who's nex—" A gout of fire erupted from Cu Chulainn's fingers. Archer barely had time to react as a thin, searing line appeared on his cheek.
Cu grinned. "Not so cocky now, are ya, bastard?"
Archer's eyes shone with a darker intensity. He lifted a hand, wincing as he touched the burn mark on his cheek. Then he laughed. "Heh. You're fast, I'll give you that." But his eyes burned with something sharp, dangerous. "Still not fast enough to do me over, mutt."
Cu landed beside Mash and Bazett, spinning his staff before pointing it at Archer.
Bazett, still tense, spoke through clenched teeth. "Is he really an Archer-class Servant?" Her voice was sharp, suspicious. "He's shown techniques and skills that would usually place him in other servant clsses. Using swords to battle, casting spells..." She narrowed her eyes. "What the hell is he?"
Cu clicked his tongue, his grip tightening on his weapon. "That guy is the worst." He spit on the ground. "Slimy little bastard. A damn eel." His eyes darkened. "Tried to figure out his identity before. Got nothing. He's a complete mystery."
Bazett's jaw clenched. "No name, no identity…"
"Well. That was fun." Archer tilted his head, voice carrying a deadly amusement. "But I think it's time to end this."
The battlefield trembled under the weight of tension.
Bazett's eyes narrowed, her gloves glowing with runic magic as she took a fighting stance.
Cu Chulainn spun his staff once, planting it in the dirt as he smirked.
Mash clutched her shield tightly, but a firm hand on her shoulder stopped her. Bazett spoke first. "I'll take the offensive." Her voice was steady. Determined. "Cu, you'll provide support with your Magecraft. Force him on the move and cut off his escape routes."
Cu grinned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Sounds good to me."
Bazett turned to Mash. "You go back and protect the others."
Mash hesitated, but she nodded. "Understood!" She turned on her heel, dashing back toward Takato, Ritsuka, and Olga.
The battlefield was set.
Bazett took a deep breath, and in a moment's notice she launched forward.
Bazett's legs burned with energy as reinforcement Magecraft surged through her body. Her runes activated in sequence, allowing her to exceed her usual limits as both the runes and reinforcement enabled her to reach her full speed and strength.
Her form blurred and in a flash, she was upon Archer. Fist cocked back glowing with power. Archer's eyes widened for a split second.
CRACK.
The impact sent a shockwave outward, the sheer force of Bazett's punch fracturing two of Archer's ribs. Archer hissed in pain, flipping back and landing smoothly.
His smirk vanished. His patience snapped. With a single breath, he summoned his bow. "Trace… on." A blade formed in his hands, twisting and morphing into an arrow. His lips moved, chanting words that sent a shiver down the battlefield.
"I am the bone of my sword.
Steel is my body, and fire is my blood."
The air around him changed his body moved with renewed speed, his form sharp, deadly. He fired. The arrow screamed through the air and Bazett's fist met it head-on.
BOOM.
The force pushed her back, but she didn't waver. She punched again. And again. Each sword-arrow exploded on impact, but she kept advancing.
Cu moved in the background, slamming his staff into the earth. Vines exploded upward, twisting toward Archer, seeking to ensnare him.
Yet Archer's chanting continued.
"I have created over a thousand blades."
His arrows rained down faster, the ground beneath him cracking, fire emerging from between the cracks.
- With the humans -
A little ways away, Takato, Ritsuka, and Olga sat behind cover.
Olga was using her Magecraft to heal Ritsuka's leg, which had been singed by the explosion before the battle.
Yet Ritsuka wasn't paying attention to his injury. His eyes were locked onto something else. Takato's D-Arc. His brother held it tightly, using it to communicate with Guilmon.
Olga, noticing Ritsuka's glare, raised an eyebrow. "You hate Digimon, don't you?"
Ritsuka froze for a moment. Then, his fists clenched. "With every fiber of my being." His voice was low, restrained, but filled with emotion. "They hurt my brother. They endangered him. They traumatized him for life." He gritted his teeth. "Humans and Digimon don't belong together, humans are better off without those parasites."
Olga hummed thoughtfully as if analyzing his words. "Interesting."
Ritsuka looked at her, frowning. "What?"
Olga crossed her arms. "You sound exactly like some Magi I know. There are entire factions that see Digimon as a threat. Some want to control them, some want to destroy them. Others see them as the key to reaching the Root itself."
She flicked her gaze back toward Takato. "Well, you better get over it. Or at least hide it better before your brother notices." Her expression was cold, but not unkind. "Because I can already see how your feelings will affect Takato negatively."
Ritsuka's eyes widened slightly; he hadn't considered that. He was also surprised that Olga, of all people, cared enough to be worried about him and his brother's emotional well-being. 'Maybe she isn't so bad after all.'
Takato, meanwhile, was completely focused on his Digivice. "Guilmon, you okay?"
Guilmon's voice crackled through the device. "I got an owie…"
Takato chuckled softly. "Yeah, that guy who threw a shield at you is a real jerk, huh?"
Guilmon huffed. "Big bully."
Takato's smile softened. "It's okay. I'll fix you up real soon." He took a deep breath, gripping his Digivolution card. "Alright, buddy. It's time to stop the bad guy." He swiped the card.
- Back in the battlefield -
Archer's chanting reached its crescendo. His hands moved faster, swords manifesting in the air, floating in a circle around him. Each blade glowed with an eerie radiance, vibrating with power.
Bazett and Cu prepared for the worst.
Then a voice cut through the battlefield. "Guilmon, Digivolve to—!" A blinding crimson light erupted. A sound like an egg cracking open filled the air.
Archer's chanting faltered. His body froze for just a moment. His eyes flicked to the side.
And there, standing in the distance a giant, demonic red dragon glared at him. "GROWLMON!!!" Flames swirled in its maw, its yellow eyes locking onto its target.
Archer's face finally lost all amusement. For the first time, his smirk disappeared. His mouth opened slightly, a whisper escaping. "I'm sorry… Saber. I once again failed you"
Then—
"EXHAUST FLAME!"
A roar shook the battlefield. A torrent of white-hot fire exploded forward, engulfing Archer in an instant.
BOOM!!!.
The sheer heat melted the very earth beneath it. Archer's body vanished in the flames. A moment later he was gone with not even ashes left behind.
Growlmon roared to the sky, declaring his dominance. The battlefield, once a storm of blades and magic, had finally settled. A deep rumbling breath filled the space—Growlmon stood tall, his red scales gleaming in the afterglow of his own flames.
The moment the dust cleared, a group of figures emerged from their cover. "Is everyone okay?!" Ritsuka ran ahead of the group, his breath still labored from running.
Mash, Olga, and Takato followed right behind him.
His eyes scanned over Bazett, Cu, and Growlmon. Seeing everyone alive and standing, a wave of relief washed over him. "Damn… that was intense." He wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Is magic always this insane?!"
Cu laughed, slapping him on the back. "That? That was nothing, kid." He grinned, his staff resting lazily over his shoulder. "You're rolling with the right crowd if you wanna see some real insanity."
Ritsuka let out a tired laugh. "Not sure if I want to see more."
Mash, who had been silently watching, clutched her shield tightly and gave a determined nod. "Don't worry, Senpai. No matter how intense it gets, my shield will always be there to protect you and Takato." Her voice was strong, unwavering.
Both Takato and Ritsuka turned to her, a moment of silence hanging between them.
Then a soft smile spread on Ritsuka's face. "I believe you, Mash."
Takato nodded his head and smirked. "Yeah. Same here."
Her face flushed pink for a second, before she turned away, flustered.
As the group regathered, Takato noticed Cupidmon hovering toward Bazett. His small, angelic body glowed with excitement, his tiny wings flapping wildly. "That was SOOOO COOL!"
Without warning he latched onto Bazett's face, hugging her tightly. "You were amazing! So strong! And those punches, they were so cool, you tanked those attacks like they were nothing!!!"
Bazett froze. Her cheeks immediately turned pink, her normally composed demeanor breaking for just a second then, with a small, polite smile, she patted Cupidmon's head. Her voice was softer than usual. "I only did what was expected of me."
Cupidmon pouted, still clinging to her. "No way! You were the coolest!"
She sighed, giving him one last affectionate pat on the head before gently prying him off her face. Bazett's eyes drifted to Takato. And for a moment she noticed something. He was standing differently. Not the usual easy-going, innocent Takato.
No. There was a weight in his stance. A quiet confidence in his gaze. His posture mirrored a warrior who is ready for more combat. "You did a good job, Bazett." His voice was steady, calm, and more mature.
Then he smirked. A smirk full of confidence, completely sure of himself.
Bazett narrowed her eyes slightly. That look. She had seen it before. It was the same hard, steely gaze he had after Guilmon evolved the first time. She was certain of it now. The level of evolution directly influenced his personality and mindset.
Perhaps, one of the many mysteries of the bond between a Tamer and a Digimon. Still, she couldn't deny she preferred this confident version of him.
A low growl echoed. Growlmon, still in his massive Champion form, was pacing restlessly. His tail swished, his claws flexing, his nostrils flaring. He was still hungry for battle. The lingering rush of combat still pulsed in his veins.
Bazett was about to call out to him, but Takato beat her to it.
He walked up to the massive red dragon, placing a firm hand against his leg. Growlmon immediately halted. His yellow eyes looked down at his Tamer. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other. Then, Takato spoke, his voice was firm, yet soothing. "Calm down."
Growlmon's nostrils flared again. His muscles tensed for a moment, then a deep exhale. The wild, primal tension in his body faded slightly. But his claws still flexed, his eyes still burned with battle lust. He wanted to fight again. Soon.
Takato grinned, stepping back. "Don't worry." His hand patted Growlmon's leg. "We'll fight a strong opponent soon enough."
Growlmon let out a snort, before giving a slow, approving nod.
Bazett, watching from the side, analyzed the exchange carefully. impressed how Takato calmed down the giant dragon.
With the battle concluded, the group finally took a collective breath. But in the distance, the cave entrance loomed. The Grail still waited below. And with it the true enemy they had yet to face.
They had no time to rest. The next battle would be even greater, After all, the maddned King of Knights awaited them
.
.
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Do you guys care for the Runes explanations in the end of the chapter, or do you guys like it? I think I will post an Index chapter with a list of the runes that were used so far in the fic.
Runes used in the chapter, and their explanation:
1. Robe of Concealment ᛉᛊ/ᛁᛈ :
Algiz ᛉ : (Z or -R: Elk, protection.) Protection, a shield. The protective urge to shelter oneself or others. Defense, warding off of evil, shield, guardian. Connection with the gods, awakening, higher life. It can be used to channel energies appropriately. Follow your instincts. Keep hold of success or maintain a position won or earned. Algiz Reversed: or Merkstave: Hidden danger, consumption by divine forces, loss of divine link. Taboo, warning, turning away, that which repels.Sowilo ᛊ : (S: The sun.) Success, goals achieved, honor. The life-force, health. A time when power will be available to you for positive changes in your life, victory, health, and success. Contact between the higher self and the unconscious. Wholeness, power, elemental force, sword of flame, cleansing fire. Sowilo Merkstave (Sowilo cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): False goals, bad counsel, false success, gullibility, loss of goals. Destruction, retribution, justice, casting down of vanity. Wrath of god.
Isa ᛁ : (I: Ice.) A challenge or frustration. Psychological blocks to thought or activity, including grievances. Standstill, or a time to turn inward and wait for what is to come, or to seek clarity. This rune reinforces runes around it. Isa Merkstave (Isa cannot be reversed, but may lie in opposition): Ego-mania, dullness, blindness, dissipation. Treachery, illusion, deceit, betrayal, guile, stealth, ambush, plots.Perthro ᛈ (P: Lot cup, vagina.) Uncertain meaning, a secret matter, a mystery, hidden things and occult abilities. Initiation, knowledge of one's destiny, knowledge of future matters, determining the future or your path. Pertaining to things feminine, feminine mysteries including female fertility, and vagina. Good lot, fellowship and joy. Evolutionary change. Perthro Reversed or Merkstave: Addiction, stagnation, loneliness, malaise.
Those who do not wish to be found have quite a few options at their disposal, even if they limit themselves to Runecraft. When this sequence is woven into or stitched onto a piece of cloth that covers at least half of that which it's trying to conceal, neither can be found by sight alone. This is done by the combination of the merkstave Isa rune and the Algiz and Sowilo rune that together 'protect' one from light or, in other words, bend it away from the cloak. The 'bent' photons may, after finishing their altered route, have their frequency altered as well. This is because of the Algiz rune not functioning perfectly due to any possible inexperience on the caster's part.
Here is where the difference between the work of a disciple and a master is truly noticeable. The more amateurish cloaks will hide their users as well, but will be followed by a trail of visible light with the specific color changing due to the random nature of the frequency change. Cloaks made by more experienced casters will instead emit 'invisible' light, mostly ultraviolet and infrared light, but it's only when a master runecrafter enchants a cloak that this drawback is gone.
Perthro reinforces both the strength of the rune as the rune of the occult and adds its own layer of deceptiveness as it's steeped in mysteries and secrets by itself. On top of all that, it hides all forms of magecraft active under the cloak.
On the flip side, however, the one under the cloak is unable to see anything, as no outside light can enter the inside of the cloak. Under the cloak, the outside world becomes a mystery and even if that isn't the case, the blindness of the Isa rune is enforced onto all who touch the cloth. With a great enough magic resistance (the magus version, not the servant one) this effect can be ignored, but the lower limit is by definition higher than the magic resistance of the caster, so no matter what, at least (s)he will have to suffer through this. Direct attempts to negate this with runes or other forms of thaumaturgy will either fail or dispel this enchantment.
2. Views of the land: ᚲᚨᛗ :
Kenaz ᚲ : (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed or Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.Ansuz ᚨ : (A: The As, ancestral god, i.e. Odin.) A revealing message or insight, communication. Signals, inspiration, enthusiasm, speech, true vision, power of words and naming. Blessings, the taking of advice. Good health, harmony, truth, wisdom. Ansuz Reversed or Merkstave: Misunderstanding, delusion, manipulation by others, boredom. Vanity and grandiloquence. (Odin is a mighty, but duplicitous god. He always has his own agenda.)
Mannaz ᛗ : (M: Man, mankind.) The Self; the individual or the human race. Your attitude toward others and their attitudes towards you. Friends and enemies, social order. Intelligence, forethought, create, skill, ability. Divine structure, intelligence, awareness. Expect to receive some sort of aid or cooperation now. Mannaz Reversed or Merkstave: Depression, mortality, blindness, self-delusion. Cunning, slyness, manipulation, craftiness, calculation. Expect no help now.
A simple rune that mimics the user's sight from the viewpoint of the inscribed object. The Mannaz rune ensures that the user receives the same kind of vision from the object that his eyes give him.
In the case of a normal human being this means depth sight (despite not having a corrective element such as a second viewpoint), only being able to see 'visible' light, and so on.
Usually, a redundant security feature for the caster, as most enemies will be on the lookout for familiars and other 'obvious' security measures as opposed to the pebble by the road or the garden ornament.
Finally, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and I hope to see you guys leave comments as I always like seeing what my readers think.