As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with streaks of amber and violet, Astra and Bootstrap finally emerged from the forest and arrived at the edge of a small village. Just before leaving the dense foliage behind, Bootstrap knelt by a cluster of plants growing precariously close to a patch of poisonous purple leaves. To Astra, the herbs looked like ordinary mugwort, nothing to write home about. But Bootstrap’s sharp focus and careful hands suggested otherwise. Astra watched in quiet fascination. There was something about Bootstrap’s movements, deliberate and calculating, that made him seem perpetually on edge, as if he were playing a high-stakes game against an unseen adversary. Every step felt like it held purpose, as though Bootstrap was mapping out possibilities far beyond Astra’s understanding. Whether it was paranoia or simply a level of preparedness Astra couldn’t fathom, Bootstrap seemed to know the terrain of every place they entered.

  The villages on the outskirts of the Orinia kingdom are usually well guarded due to ongoing tension in the neighboring countries. This village was no exception. There were guards on every corner of the village and even more so in the town hall. The village was built into the expansive network of canyons so that the whole village was connected by rocky foot paths. Despite being carved out of the rocky sides of the mountain, the buildings were dark and slender with high pointed arches and large stain glassed windows. The last rays of sunlight bathed the village in a golden hue, casting elongated shadows against the stone-carved structures. The stained glass in the tall windows caught the light, refracting it into shimmering, colorful shards that danced over the path.

  Astra felt the village almost pulsed with a quiet, ancient energy. It was a powerful reminder of the centuries that it had weathered in this canyon. As much as Astra wanted to stay and admire the beauty of the scenery, he knew they needed to get in and out of here so that the shadow garden cannot catch up to them easily. After hearing Eadrich’s story, he knew that Shadow Garden was more complicated than he was initial made to believe. Eadrich looked like he was trying to find something in the wrong place. He was more misunderstood than evil.

  “Listen carefully. Our objective is straightforward. We need to retrieve two enchanted rings in the vault over there. I came across some dependable intelligence about this location some time ago, so I have a fair understanding of what to expect. Stay here and keep low. I’ll survey the area to confirm a few details. Don’t wander off. I’ll return shortly.” Said Bootstrap activating his speed runes.

  “Wait, so, how do you even know that the rings are even still in there…” Astra said to thin air as Bootstrap sped away.

  He can be just as rash as me. Astra thought. I really hope I never become like that.

  After about a minute, he rushed back. Astra did not even have time to adjust his pants or rest his tired feet.

  Astra straightened up. “so, uh, do you have a plan?” Astra looked over at the town hall then back at Bootstrap. “Maybe, some kind of powerful magic to blast a whole in the back?”

  Bootstrap pulled his head back, eyes widened. “My preferred magic is to use something more subtle and versatile.” Bootstrap gave a small chuckle.

  Bootstrap looked back at the town house. Now, he looked focused and ready. “Here’s the setup. There are only two guards stationed inside the town hall itself. First, we’ll get past the ones at the front. It should be straightforward enough. Then, your role comes in. You’ll distract the two interior guards while I relieve the one on the right of his vault key. No need for dramatics. Okay? Just keep their attention elsewhere. I’ll be in and out in two minutes. Understood? Keep it simple.”

  “Hmm, aye aye captain.” Astra said as he walked off. Astra was always up for a challenge. Astra strolled right into the first guard at the door.

  Here’s my chance to show Bootstrap my versatility. Astra thought.

  “Oh, sorry guards. I didn’t mean to bump into you. I’m such a clumsy person. Ah, you two look mighty cute standing together so close to each other though.” Astra’s words dripped with mockery as the two guards slid a little further away from each other.

  “Oh sorry, I’m not from around here. I’m still so nervous around everyone. You can tell from my accent. Can you show me where I can go to get some work information?”

  One of the guards put a large hand on Astra blocking him from walking further. “Where are you from? What house are you from?”

  “Ah, I am Phoot. I hail from House S-Sandale.” Astra said with a stutter.

  Bootstrap almost coughed out loud at this statement.

  “That is pretty far from here.” The unamused guard said.

  “Yes, exactly. It is. It is waaaaay out there.” Astra replied taking up more of their attention with an outstretched arm.

  Astra saw Bootstrap snuck through both of them in a blur as he activated his runes again. Astra still couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Bootstrap zoomed by with magic. He decided he will ask Bootstrap to teach him how to run that fast once they are a bit safer.

  Astra pulled both of them closer to him as he took off a boot. “You see this little toe here? Yeah, it doesn’t look damaged, but I was cursed by a sand witch for asking her for a sandwich. I can’t actually run around or stand for too long, but I really, really need a job because I have this one uncle who tried to box a bear…”

  Bootstrap took this chance to walk in and observe the guards next to the vault entrance. Funneling his mana into his ears, he started to listen and to count patrol patterns around the vault. The rotation of guards gave just enough time for him to be able to speed in and pick the lock or blast a small hole in the door if needed.

  Astra strode into the room and immediately collided with someone. This wasn’t just any random passerby. It was a man of obvious importance. His pristine suit, tailored from fine silk and animal hides, practically screamed wealth and arrogance. The way he carried himself, chin held high and a faint smirk curling his lips, made him the perfect target. The gentleman exuded just enough smug self-righteousness to make Astra’s mischief feel entirely justified.

  Bootstrap was trying to concentrate, but all he could hear was Astra starting to argue rambunctiously with the lord of the village. He heard something to do with the mayor not respecting patrons with disabilities and how the king will hear about this when Astra returns to the capital. At this point, Astra had gotten too close to the lord of the village, and guards were starting to notice. As Astra’s voice carried through the hall, his exaggerated complaints about the mayor’s lack of ‘respect for those in need’ grew louder sparking the guard’s attention.

  As the guards all started moving to stop Astra from getting more riled up, Bootstrap took that opportunity to palm the keys off of the passing guard.

  Bootstrap shook his head, resisting the urge to groan aloud. He thought, One day, that boy’s going to get us both thrown into the stocks. But he couldn’t deny Astra was doing an impeccable job of causing just the right amount of chaos. He was perfectly whelmed.

  Your sacrifice will not be in vain Astra, thought Bootstrap as he covertly unlocked the vault doors and rushed to the rings. Bootstrap was quick and precised. He was in and out just as fast as he said at the beginning.

  Once outside again, Bootstrap breathed a sign of relief. Not more than twenty seconds later, Astra was physically thrown out of the town hall causing a nearby rotund black cat to scurry off in a hissy fit. The comically large guard sneered at Astra as he tried to recover to his feet. Astra raised his middle finger back at the guard rudely before running off. He was having too much fun and was too far in character for Bootstrap’s taste.

  “Phew, they really didn’t take that joke well at all.” Said Astra patting dirt off of his clothes.

  “Great work kid. I couldn’t have asked for a more annoying partner.” Smiled Bootstrap. “I’ve secured the rings. They should help us in the near future. Now, let’s not linger. Let’s get out of here before anyone discovers what’s missing.”

  With that, they hurried to a nearby cave and jumped to the next place. The cavern blurred and everything contracted and returned.

  “Whoa, I seem to be getting a bit better at the post jump sickness.” Asta said as he started feeling woozy. “Maybe just a couple more times, and I will really be a master like you.”

  This time, they found themselves in a vibrant forest. Amazingly, it was an entire village built into the trees. Everything looked like it was a part of one big plant all interconnected with each other with vines and plants growing into the buildings. Homes were nestled into the trunks of some trees and some were dug into the roots of the tree as an underground house. Almost all the homes had intricate carvings of long, strange curved script letters on their front door archway. All of the forest was incorporated into the way they lived and worked. The village was a marriage of nature and magic. The entire village felt alive with magic. The forest seemed to hum with life, and each step he took felt like an intrusion into a world both sacred and hidden. He could almost hear whispers in the rustling leaves like the trees themselves were alive carrying secrets that were centuries old.

  Spotting a colorful round bird in the tree next to them, Astra jabbed a finger at it direction with enthusiasm and eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s so round! Is that how it normally is?” Astra laughed in astonishment. “It’s a ‘borb.”

  Once again, Bootstrap seems to know this village well enough to navigate around all the bustling of the shops closing for the day and the gawking of the all the what Astra recognized as elven children to find a magic shop in the back of the village. The strange people had the typical long pointed ears and pale skin of elves in the picture books back home.

  “Whoa, they literally are elves with the ears and everything.” Astra whispered loudly at Bootstrap.

  “Indeed, Astra.” Whispering loudly back at him, Bootstrap said, “Whatever you do, don’t point out their ears! That’s rude.”

  Astra face grew crimson as more elven children stared at them passing by. Given in to his embarrassment, Astra quickened his steps as Bootstrap laughed out loud.

  The elven village gave off a serene yet vibrant vibe that was the opposite of the ghastly smokey city that Astra was used to. The shops along the way smelled of fresh leaves and wildflowers mixed with sweet fruity scents. The fresh wind flowed through the village like it was guiding them somewhere important.

  “There’s bound to be a magic shop somewhere in this village,” Bootstrap mused, scanning the narrow streets with a discerning eye. “I’ve had a few items in mind that might suit you. Some items that could keep you alive. Also, I am positive you’ve been wanting to ask me about magic, correct?”

  “Uhh, yeah I have.” Astra looked distracted. “There’s another question on my mind though, actually.”

  Astra didn’t know why he was thinking about his old life now, but maybe, he was thinking about how he has been living up until now. He was realizing now that he missed the proverbial forest for the trees. Maybe instead of focusing on trying to grow up so fast to get away from his situation to find his real family, he could have been building his family with those around him. Astra’s chest tightened as he thought of Clara, of the friends he’d left behind. Perhaps, he realized, family could be something you built as you went, piece by piece. Maybe it’s all the families in the small village influencing his thoughts, but the impact of all that has happened the past day has been weighing on him mind. All those swirling thoughts steered his mind towards Clara and the others. Astra shifted nervously, pulling on the hem of his shirt. The reminder of Clara and the others made him realized that he let himself get distracted rather than asking about about what happened.

  “Umm, is Clara going to be okay? How about the rest of the kids? Like, do you think we are ever going to see them again?” Astra hurriedly asked Bootstraps as they got to the magic shop. The shop was a small wooden shack built into the side of a great oak. Bootstrap held the door open for Astra. The small door did not look like it lead to a shop that could hold any customer let alone both of them, but the inside was deceptively larger than Astra initially thought.

  “Firstly, don’t put all the blame onto yourself. Secondly, she’ll pull through,” Bootstrap said with quiet confidence, his tone measured but reassuring. “From what I observed, she’s tougher than she looks. The blast left her with a fractured arm and some bruises. It’s nothing she can’t recover from. The memory might haunt her for a while, sure, but physically? She’ll make it.” Bootstrap said reassuringly with a small pat on Astra’s back.

  “Seems to me Eadrich wasn’t aiming to cause any real damage. He’s likely just trying to corral us, not take us out for good. That’s… telling, but it doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.” Bootstrap continued for Astra.

  “I don’t know his real goals, but he definitely let his partner there perished. He seems to be holding some information back.”

  Astra’s shoulders relaxed at the news of Clara’s recovery. But, he couldn’t shake the nagging worry that he still wouldn’t be able to do anything if next time, things turned out worse. “Thanks, Bootstrap,” he mumbled, glancing away. “Sometimes… I wonder if I’m bringing way too much danger to those around me.”

  Bootstrap pat Astra on the shoulder, “No matter where you go there will be danger. You can’t just sulk about it. You have the opportunity to either use this situation to propel you forward or let it knock you back.”

  Bootstrap took this moment to think a bit deeper, looking passed Astra. “And if you are thinking about death, you will come to see that there are things that are worth dying for. There will come a time in our lives where we can put our lives on the line for a cause that is greater than just us.”

  Waiting for a minute, Bootstrap eventually said, “Sorry, I was lost in some other thought…” Bootstrap apologized. “Regardless of what comes our way, I won’t let you fall. You will get stronger, Astra. Strong enough to protect those around you. I promise.”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “For now, I need to make sure you can protect yourself. While we have a chance, I’m going to show you some magic and self defense. So get your wits about you.” He said as he walked into the magic shop. This particular shop smelled of smokey kindling and old tea leaves. Something about this magic shop feels different from the others that they passed along the way.

  After some aggressive but sly negotiation with the rare herbs that they gathered before jumping to the elven village, bootstrap secure four small rune stones with delicate elvish symbols carved into each stone.

  “Wow, like, I’ve never seen someone threaten another man that old for some rocks before.” teased Astra.

  “Now, hold on. I didn’t threatened anyone. I merely asked him if he needed a demonstration on how effective those healing herbs could be. He drew the conclusion not me.” Bootstrap rebutted.

  "Let us establish one thing clearly," Bootstrap began, his voice steady yet tinged with a wry amusement as he cast Astra a glance. "I have never professed to be a model of virtue. That distinction belongs to you, Astra. You possess the spark, the unrelenting drive to make a difference. My role? It is merely to ensure that flame of yours does not extinguish before you can light the path for others or perhaps even set the world ablaze in your own unique way."

  Astra laughed. “No, don’t worry I trust you. You’ve been a better role model than ninety percent of the people I’ve seen so far. I mean, I haven’t died yet, have I? Well, we did get close several times actually…”

  "Well then, let us see to it that such a fate does not come to pass, kid." Bootstrap said as he lead them to a nearby secluded hill. The hill was surrounded by a dense patch of green trees making it the ideal location to camp out for a break. After the last couple of days, Astra just wanted to clear his thoughts.

  “Okay, so I couldn’t procure any greater runes, but we did get some nice lesser ones. They should suffice for what we need them to do. These three runes should be able to increase your muscular activation strength and speed, increase your healing rate, and help you increase the focus and fine-tuning of your natural senses.”

  Bootstrap pressed the runes on to Astra’s arm and poured a bit of mana into them. They glowed then settled into his arms. “It may seem simple but in practice it can be confusing especially at first.”

  “Cool, can I get some weapons too? Like the small sword that you have there.” Astra asked eyeing Bootstrap’s weapon. Astra didn’t cared about the weapon so much as he was just so excited to finally do some of the fascinating magic that Bootstrap has been doing.

  "You should not need a weapon at all if you learn to control your magic properly," Bootstrap said, his tone instructive but carrying a note of strong conviction. He held up the sword, its fractured edge glinting in the dim light. "Besides, this sword… well, it is broken. Hardly the best choice anymore. Yet, for reasons I cannot quite explain, I find myself unable to discard it..." His voice softened, his expression laced with sadness.

  Abruptly, he straightened, the moment passing as he shifted his focus. "Anyhow! How do the runes feel? Are they resonating properly?" Bootstrap asked, his scholarly curiosity cutting through the fleeting shadow of his thoughts.

  “Good. I guess.” Astra answered, feeling a bit skeptical of Bootstrap’s response. The runes for some reason did feel very natural to him. Almost like he’s had experiences with them before. Astra noticed that they didn’t glow like Bootstrap’s did when he was fighting.

  “Good, now I’ll present a bit more explanation on rune and sigil magic. There are countless types of magic out there, but my expertise tends to lean heavily on runes and sigils, so let us stick to what I know best. Rune magic, at its core, involves creating a spell by channeling mana through symbols such as runes to amplify or direct its effects. Think of it as writing a command into the fabric of reality itself.”

  “For this to work properly, the caster needs a firm grasp on the natural phenomenon they’re invoking. The command also has to be simple, elegance in simplicity, as my old teacher used to say. Done correctly, it’s efficient and flawless. Now, let’s take that translation rune as an example. That’s a greater rune, meaning it can handle up to two distinct commands.”

  Bootstrap raised his hand and mimicked inscribing a rune in the air. “In this case, the rune collects your brain’s electric signals, your thoughts, and converts them into mana. That mana is then layered onto sound waves as you speak, essentially turning your words into mana-imbued intent. On the flip side, when you hear someone else’s words, the rune unscrambles the intent encoded in their mana, translating it into a form your brain can comprehend. Pretty clever, wouldn’t you say?”

  He paused for a moment, gauging Astra’s reaction before moving on. “Now, as for the runes you’ve got etched into you, they function a little differently. These augment your body directly by using mana to enhance natural responses, like quickening your neural firing or bolstering physical strength. They’re designed to kick in the moment you channel mana into them, no casting delay, no waiting around. Instant activation.”

  “That said, you’ve got to be cautious. Mana isn’t a perfect energy source. Some of it dissipates as heat and light, which is why you’ll see casters glow when they’re really working their magic. Overdo it, and that heat can scorch you from the inside out. ‘Burnout’ isn’t just a figure of speech. A good mage will be able to hide most of the glow in a better way than other novice mages.”

  “So far, so good? Any questions before I move on, or am I dazzling you with brilliance here?” Bootstrap asked.

  Bootstrap had a way of explaining things that was both rambling and precise, like a spider weaving its web. Astra’s head spun, but he found himself catching on quicker than expected.

  Astra had a blank look on his face and made a gesture to indicate that he had dramatically died with his tongue sticking out for the full effect. Then he smiled and said, “Just kidding, Bootstrap. Boot? Yeah, Boots that rolls off the tongue.”

  “Yeah, I’ve never seen magic done before I met you, but honestly, that seems pretty simple. Simple and kind of scary. I mean, I don’t understand the underlying reason for how it all works, but there is an intuitive portion to this that I somehow get really quick. Also, I think you should be a teacher or something instead of a bum hitch hiking across worlds.” Astra joked. “That explanation was actually pretty clean.”

  Bootstrap continued. “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment. Now back to the magic lecture. Now, let’s dive into sigils,” he began, his voice measured as if explaining the finer details of an ancient text. “A sigil, in essence, is a complex assembly of runes. Think of it as a mosaic. Each individual rune is like a smaller picture contributing to a much larger image. When arranged into a circle or other closed shapes, they follow a specific internal logic, amplifying and directing the magical energy they channel.”

  He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he considered his next words. “Sigils are rarely placed directly onto a person’s body. And the reason is simple, the mana required to activate one is astronomical. For most beings, mortal or otherwise, that kind of demand would cause catastrophic burnout in seconds. Only beings with essentially limitless reserves, immortals for instance, could sustain a sigil’s power without self-destructing.”

  Pointing to his own cloak, Bootstrap’s tone shifted with a note of practical pride. “They’re more commonly used for things like containment or large-scale computation. Case in point, the sigil stitched into this cloak of mine. It’s a protective mechanism specifically designed, by me, to absorb impacts up to about 11,000 newtons and mitigate certain projectile magic. Handy against the likes of magical fire and lightning.”

  He adjusted the cloak slightly, revealing faintly glowing patterns woven into the fabric. “Of course, it has its limitations. It doesn’t do much against crushing or suffocation, nor can it handle everything the universe throws at me. It’s primarily calibrated for high-energy attacks such as fireballs, lightning strikes, things of that nature. It’s no perfect shield, but it’s kept me in one piece more times than I care to count.”

  “Now if there are no questions. I’d like to show you some rune script that I personally use.” Bootstrap gleefully rubbed his hands together.

  Bootstrap took this time to show Astra some simple rune script such as elemental controls, mind and body inputs, summation and division, and conditional symbols. It took some time, but Astra was able to memorize one or two of the symbols.

  “Once you lay down the base code for the runes, the input and minute controls are dependent on how well you use your mana to tell the runes what to do,” Bootstrap said.

  Astra felt the magic simmer beneath his skin as he got more excited about learning magic from someone as experienced as Bootstrap.

  Rubbing his beard, Bootstrap exclaimed as he remembered more to teach Astra. “Ah, yes! Since you witnessed Eadrich’s flair with arcane magic, I suppose it’s worth delving into,” he began, his tone shifting to that of an instructor mid-lecture.

  “Arcane magic, you see, is intrinsically tied to the planet itself. Some say it is the only natural form of magic and even more extreme believers say that it is the original magic of this world. Practitioners draw their energy from natural sources such as geothermal currents, magnetic fields, even the subtle hum of tectonic shifts. It’s magic rooted in the very fabric of the earth. ”

  “Hmm, interesting.” Astra said deep in thought.

  Bootstrap gestured vaguely to the ground, as though the world beneath their feet held the answers to countless mysteries. “This connection allows for remarkable manipulation of natural forces such as detonations, elemental movement, the kind of phenomena that can both awe and annihilate, depending on the user’s intent. Its versatility is undeniable, though I confess I don’t quite know all its applications.”

  His gaze flicked upward, a faint smirk playing at his lips. “It also has its more esoteric uses, particularly in divination. Some arcane mages use it to anticipate cosmic events, charting the movements of celestial bodies or predicting the ebb and flow of natural phenomena. It’s akin to those fortune-tellers with their tarot decks. You know, the ones we have seen before.”

  “Ah, I see. I see.” Astra said looking wide eyed at so much information.

  Handing Astra the enchanted rings they stole, he explained. “These rings use a type of soul magic. Soul magic is used to bestow sentience to inanimate objects usually requiring a lot of mana. These rings for example are used to locate each other. As long as you are wearing your ring, I should be able to sense your presence wherever you may be. That should help in case we get separated. You just have to follow where the ring tugs you.”

  “Aww, that’s cute. Now I feel really bad because these are probably some lover’s ring meant for a fancy wedding that we stole.” Astra’s words came out in a small, shame-filled voice.

  Hopefully, it was just some unwanted arranged marriage that Bootstrap and I disrupted. Astra thought.

  Bootstrap gave a small, amused chuckle, his demeanor relaxing as he shifted from scholar to mentor. “Ah, well, best not to overthink it,” he said, his tone light but steady. “Some things in life, magic included, make more sense when you’re not chasing every detail all at once. Let the knowledge settle.”

  He reached into his bag, pulling out a bundle of dried jerky. “Now, let’s eat,” he continued, handing some over. “You’ve taken in a lot today, and no one learns well on an empty stomach. Besides, physical training on a full head and an empty gut? Not ideal.”

  Astra on seeing the jerky again, asked, “Say… do you have anything else at the moment? I don’t really feel like eating more jerky.”

  “Hmm. I guess, I did procure some other stuff before we arrived here.” Bootstrap said, digging into his bag. After digging around for 10 whole seconds, Bootstrap handed Astra a loaf of bread with some meat floss in it and a bowl of some strange vegetable.

  “Interesting.” Astra eyed the strange vegetable with skepticism. “I guess, it’ll do.”

  They both enjoyed the meal regardless of Astra’s skepticism.

  Bootstrap spent the next couple of hours before sundown teaching Astra about the fundamental of self defense and evasive footwork especially coupled with his new found runes.

  “Look, Astra. You can’t just use your runes to blast every part of yourself with mana. Try to be precise and meticulous about what you are trying to do with your mana.” Bootstrap said demonstrating to Astra what to do.

  “Imagine, Astra, your mana as a stream. It should be controlled, deliberate, flowing exactly where it’s needed and nowhere else,” he began, gesturing with his hand as if sculpting the image in the air. “Right now, when you want to run faster, you’re flooding your entire lower body with mana like some overeager apprentice dumping too much ink on a page. All you’re doing is wasting energy and leaving yourself defenseless. Not to mention the chances of burning out.”

  He paused, turning back to face Astra directly, his tone firm but instructive. “What you should be doing is sending just enough mana to activate the rune, then channeling it specifically to your calves and hamstrings. Think of it as focusing a lens so that each muscle gets what it needs, no more, no less. Keep the rest of your mana in reserve for when you need to react, dodge, or defend.”

  Bootstrap crouched slightly, picking up a twig and using it to illustrate his next point on the ground. “Now, here’s the real trick. Instead of pumping mana steadily, which is wasteful, release it in controlled bursts. It should be short, sharp, and targeted. It’s like hammering a nail. A continuous push might eventually drive it through the wood, but small, precise strikes? Far more efficient and effective.”

  "The twigs from the World Tree are uniquely attuned to mana," Bootstrap explained, holding up a slender, gnarled branch. His voice carried the practiced authority of a scholar. "That is why you see such a seamless blend of magic and nature in this forest. However, not all objects are so easily receptive. Lucky for us, this twig will help demonstrate exactly what I need to show you."

  Bootstrap extended the twig between his fingers, and with a flicker of concentration, channeled his mana into it. The twig began to glow softly, a steady pulse of light emanating from its surface. "Notice this," he said, his tone shifting slightly, tinged with anticipation.

  A second later, he pushed a sudden surge of mana into the twig. With a sharp crack, it emitted two brief bursts of light before snapping cleanly in two.

  "See? A quick burst of mana creates an explosive impact," Bootstrap said, holding up the broken pieces. His gaze flicked toward his student, his expression thoughtful yet firm. "Meanwhile, a steady, controlled channeling does little more than light it up. Remember that."

  He straightened, tossing the twig aside as his voice softened just a touch. “This is about efficiency, Magic is about intent, balance, and timing, Astra. Not just brute force. Do you understand? If you can master this, you’ll move faster, hit harder, and, more importantly, last longer in a fight.”

  “So, wait, let me get this straight,” Astra said, furrowing his brow and gesturing vaguely with his hands. “I just need to, like, feel out my mana and try breaking it up into smaller pieces… ah right, smaller bursts. Okay, I think I got it.”

  Astra was slowly getting the hang of activating his runes. Astra was losing focus when he had to think too hard about what his next move is. Fortunately for Astra, Bootstrap was generously patient with him. By the time the sun went down, Astra did not even feel like he was comfortable in his own body anymore. His runes made his body feel awkward to move when they are activated. With wobbly legs and heavy arms, he felt ready to fall asleep immediately.

  The next morning they spent some more time before breakfast in town to drill some out boxing techniques and close quarter combat defense techniques. Both styles unmistakably took into account of Bootstrap mastery over his speed runes. He moved with the precision of someone who had spent decades honing his personal style, every motion shaped by hard-earned experience and relentless effort.

  “Hey, Boots, do you ever get lonely on your travels? You know, before you met me?” Astra asked while chowing down on some delicious mushroom stew that taste scandalously like beef stew.

  “Sometimes. I have thought about how traveling is nice for broadening my horizons, but if there is no one to share it with, did it ever really happened? Of course, physically it did, but it feels less impactful. There is something to sharing experiences with someone. With that being said, I’ve had travel partners before so it is not like I’ve been alone all this time. However, that’s a story I rather tell you about later, way later. Maybe after we succeed in getting the gemstone back from this Shadow Garden group and preventing this catastrophic mistake they are going to make.” Bootstrap shared.

  “Ah, so you do intend to stop them. Yeah, I figured you must have had a reason to try to fix that gemstone when you first talked to me. Also, does the original reason for getting the gemstones together have anything to do with your last travel partner? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.” Astra prodded at Bootstrap, smiling at him.

  Sighing, Bootstrap answered, “More or less. It’s… complicated, as most things tend to be. For now, let’s focus on what matters such as getting you prepared and safer for whatever attacks might come our way.”

  Bootstrap continued, “On that note, we’d best get moving to the next spot. With any luck, it’ll be a place where we can dig into this Shadow Garden group and figure out exactly how they’re planning to release the god of shadows. I’m still piecing together how they intend to pull off something so reckless and catastrophic.”

  Bootstrap found them a small cave opening near the village to give them some privacy. While looking around, Bootstrap noticed some inappropriate crude drawings of elves on the cave walls. Bootstrap smiled as it seemed even elven children had the same mindset as any human child. Firing up the gemstone, Bootstrap grabbed on to Astra and off they went into the familiar space distortion.

  At the same time, a different visitor arrived at the elven mage’s shop. “I seemed to have gotten lost, from my friends. Do you mind pointing me in the direction of two earthlings? They should look a bit out of place.”

  “Please, stop with the jokes. The whole archaic use of the word earthlings is weird. I gave them the runes and slipped in something extra for them too, like you asked. It was actually more difficult than you promised to get that in there. So, don’t forget to do your part. I know you always get distracted.” The elven mage said.