Runes, the primordial language of magic. They are ancient symbols that represent concepts, universal laws, and elemental forces.
Furthermore, inscribing, engraving, or integrating them into a spell, weapon, or armor allows for different effects.
For example, integrating the Ignis rune into the Fireball spell will give it greater power from the fire element. If, on the other hand, the Celeritas rune is integrated, the spell's speed will increase considerably.
In cases such as the crafting of magical artifacts, runes are integrated through a magical matrix, which is a set of patterns and runes that produce specific effects.
Runes can be combined to form special effects. In fact, this is how spells are created: a magic circle is built with runes within it, each rune contributing its characteristics to form the spell.
But of course, it's not as simple as just putting together a bunch of runes to create a spell. You also have to make sure the magic circle is logical and that the runes can be joined together, otherwise the circle will collapse and the spell won't work.
In short, runes are the foundation of fantasy spells and artifacts.
While runes are a very powerful force, they can't be used by everyone, as they require a certain degree of mental strength to draw, as well as channeling the necessary mana to use them.
Only the most experienced can use them in combat.
Of course, it must be added that runes also have their categories. There are minor runes and major runes, and there are also primordial runes. Some believe they are legends because primordial runes represent incomprehensible powers, and only a lucky few in the entire universe have managed to observe some.
Being such an ancient language, runes have been lost in the universe over time. Therefore, no one can even claim to know all the minor runes.
Of course, that's not the case with Astra. Currently, Astra, along with the Library of the Cosmos and the Field of Avenues, has managed to learn all the major and minor runes. He also learned one of the primordial runes, the rune of integration, Sigillum Totius.
Not only that, the first book of the supreme magic trilogy has allowed Astra to perfectly learn how to use mana in ways that the people of the world can't even imagine.
Creating spells, modifying them, and even improving them is as easy as taking a look. He can invent new magical matrices that adapt to whatever he desires, and then integrate them into artifacts.
Of course, it's still not as far-fetched as being able to create and control advanced spells related to causality, time, space, and other higher laws.
While he had a foundation and could understand some of those laws—particularly those of time and space—he still lacked the power to master them. It couldn't be compared to those spells that already existed in this world.
Those spells are the crystallization of countless ancestors in the fields of space and time; they are simply the work of many talented people throughout history. It's worth noting that all of these spells focused solely on each type of magic, unlike him, who learned about every conceivable possibility.
In fact, he was very happy to have his intellect; it was simply cheating. But he liked it a lot.
Another thing Astra can do now is create techniques for warriors, following the same limitations as spells. Of course, this doesn't mean that techniques are easier to create than spells; it just depends on what you want to achieve.
In addition to that, he learned the basics of alchemy to make potions and pills, things like combining ingredients according to his needs are fine. The same goes for forging and ores.
He can recognize a wide variety of types; of course, he decided not to learn them all, because they were an almost endless list.
But the best solution he found was to learn to identify the properties of all the materials, so he could know how to best integrate them.
All of these were deductions he came to based on the contents of the first book.
While this first book didn't have everything, he felt it left him well-positioned in the field of magic worldwide, at least based on what he had researched with his family and through the family library.
Astra concluded that the first book placed him on a higher level compared to the rest of the world, which is understandable considering it represents the crystallization of all magical theory from ancient times to the present.
He spent three years fully understanding the first book, and he also took advantage of the Library of the Cosmos to learn about minerals, magical plants, monsters, and more of the magical world.
He'd been very busy with all of this, but in the end, he's satisfied with the results. If he had mana right now, he could already imagine how surprised people would be if they saw how he used it.
He's even developed new ideas and theories based on what he learned.
On the other hand, in recent months, he's begun reading the second book, which is called Intermediate Magic: The Esoteric Plot.
Undoubtedly, when he started, he knew it would be a huge leap, but after what he's read in this time, he still can't help but be speechless.
The esoteric plot not only contains the knowledge to create those spells with complicated laws that the first book didn't cover, but thanks to it, he was also able to develop a theory that could harness ambient mana.
Yes, he could harness mana in his current state; it's just that, being a pioneer in this theory, he still has a lot of work to do, but he feels he's getting closer to achieving it and being able to test magic.
If he could achieve it, he would do something quite unique.
Suddenly, the library door opened, and a tender voice pulled Astra from his thoughts.
"How is my baby?"
He didn't have to turn around to know who it was.