"But during that discussion, we had some disagreements over the origin of runes. He believed that runes were born of heaven and earth, manifestations of the World Laws."
Water flowed over the prosthetic limbs and dolls again, nudging them back to their original positions.
Ryan calmly watched the restored scene and the device storing Orianna's heart, his gaze filled with remembrance.
"His initial idea should have been correct. But the laws of heaven and earth should have been fixed at the birth of the world; they should not increase or decrease. Yet the truth is that after countless long years, more and more runes have appeared.
"Perhaps we have merely discovered laws we did not previously know, but I am more inclined to believe that new runes are being created."
"Created?"
Katarina keenly noticed the difference between that word and "discovered."
"Perhaps there were only a few runes in the beginning, representing the laws of heaven and earth—earth, water, fire, wind, perhaps also time and space. Those were World Runes, symbols of the world's great power. Their strength was so vast that they nearly destroyed Runeterra several times.
"These runes were recorded, engraved, and imitated, branching out from the fundamental elements. Noxus alone has records of more than twenty runes that manipulate water. These are ordinary runes lacking such great power, and they are unlikely to bring calamity."
As he spoke, runes formed from water floated up at his side, circling him with a mysterious deep-blue Shimmer.
"Beyond the evolution of World Runes, as time passed, humans, demons, and celestials constantly wielded their power and imposed their will. Gradually, new runes appeared in the places where those powers lingered."
In Ryan's hand, the water transformed into vivid, mysterious images. Some were noble, some ordinary, some terrifying, and some made people instinctively want to worship them.
"That mage's explanation was that once magical power surpassed a certain threshold, some kind of calamity would arrive. Afterward, the laws of heaven and earth would change, and new World Runes would be born. He had seen too many rune researchers consumed by calamity, so he warned me not to go too far."
"This made me wonder whether calamity did not create runes at all, but rather the creation of runes brought about calamity." Ryan's eyes shone with curiosity.
"So today's rune is entirely new? Is it a manifestation of Orianna's will or power? And before long, some calamity might descend?"
Katarina found it absurd, yet she had no choice but to believe that Ryan was telling the truth.
She did not understand runes. Not only her—many mages did not understand them either.
They were a mysterious power that only a tiny number of exceptional mages had the chance to encounter.
And Ryan, standing before her, was among those at the forefront of all mages.
"The birth of this rune proves my point. It differs from the ordinary runes created by imitating World Runes. You could understand it this way: the world witnessed the miracle she created at that moment and gave birth to this special rune for her. Like a World Rune, it has a vessel. As for calamity, this rune is not powerful enough to attract its attention."
There was a trace of emotion in Ryan's voice as he unconsciously sighed.
"This world occasionally produces miracles beyond imagination, and those miracles are the manifested power of runes."
"Do miracles exist because of runes, or are runes born because miracles happen?" Katarina asked curiously.
"I favor the latter. Humanity created miracles, and thus the runes we now know came into being. I look forward to uncovering every known and unknown rune, learning the beautiful or sorrowful stories behind them."
Ryan smiled. Beyond the water-element runes from earlier, even more runes appeared around him. They were all runes collected by Noxus.
At last, the rune that had just been born appeared and drifted into the formation, becoming one of them.
Compared to the others, the final rune clearly shone with a deeper light, with faint streams of radiance flickering within it.
A mage's mana was nearly equivalent to the power of heaven and earth, and that power was the key to using runes.
Even Hex Crystals relied on the mana of the Chitin People to activate their runes.
And the more he studied runes, the more he could sense a certain gaze watching him from afar.
Ryan knew very well that it was the calamity the mage had mentioned. The mystery of runes drew him in. If that mage could absorb runes into his body, why couldn't he?
"All right, enough chatting. The owner of this place is coming back."
He suddenly turned toward the door and stopped speaking. One by one, the water-formed runes entered his body, and everything returned to normal.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Ryan."
Orianna pushed open the door and entered, followed by a tall pink-haired girl.
The girl was much taller than Orianna, yet she hunched over and hid behind her. With a pair of beautiful wide eyes, she watched the two people in the room.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Seraphine!"
Seraphine remained slightly hunched over, and her soft self-introduction carried a hint of goodwill.
"Your singing just now was lovely. My soul danced to that melodious voice, and I could hear the sincere emotions you wished to convey."
Ryan offered a warm smile, hoping to ease the girl's unease.
"But..." Seraphine blinked, her curious eyes fixed on Ryan. "I can't hear the sound of your soul. This is the first time."
"Can you tell me what kind of sound it is?"
At Orianna's gesture, Ryan and Seraphine sat together at the wooden table prepared for guests in the workshop.
Orianna also looked at Seraphine with curiosity. This was her first time hearing that Seraphine could listen to the sounds of souls.
"Orianna's soul, for example. It used to sing with passion. It longed to see Ionia's grassy plains, experience the biting winds of Freljord, join the Noxus army on an expedition, and take on a survival challenge in the deserts of Shurima. Her song carried melodies of longing and hope. It was the most beautiful soul music I have ever heard."
The moment Seraphine spoke of music, the timidity vanished from her face. She became animated as she talked about everything she knew.
"That was the old me." Orianna smiled awkwardly, as though her childhood dreams had been discovered.
"Yes, that was the Orianna from before."
Seraphine tossed her long pink hair, encouragement written across her face.
"Orianna, you really should go out and see the world. Listen to the wonderful sounds in every corner of it. Now, your soul's song contains only prayers—your most heartfelt blessings for your father. You have completely lost yourself. Even the melody has become stiff and dull, like a machine."
"Perhaps the accident in Zaun completely changed my life. I have new dreams now, new pursuits. I will live well."
A gentle smile rested on Orianna's beautiful face, as though she had already come to terms with everything and prepared herself for it all.
"All right, all right. But I still like the passionate Orianna. I like songs filled with passion." Seraphine pouted.
"What about mine?"
At Ryan's prompting, Katarina asked. She was also curious about this girl.
Heaven had given some people talents beyond the ordinary, but Katarina was not among them. Recently, while learning the tricks Ryan taught her, she had come to deeply understand that truth.
She watched Seraphine's attentive expression with envy, waiting for her answer.
Suddenly, Seraphine's ears twitched. It was as though she had heard something unpleasant. Her body trembled slightly, and she looked fearfully at Katarina before shrinking behind Orianna again.
"Oh, Sister, your song is terrifying. It is full of fanatical cries. You are always singing loudly of your convictions. The Empire. Your family. Your father. Your younger sister. You are someone who does not judge people by appearance, only by their inner abilities."
She had never displayed her abilities before outsiders. But when Orianna came to find her, she told her of Ryan's assessment, leaving her no choice but to come here and reveal the ability that only her parents knew about.
Seraphine knew Ryan understood her ability well. Although she could not hear the sound of his soul, the song emanating from the soul of the sister beside him made her feel that he was not a bad person.
Maybe he could even help her solve her troubles.
Mm. I really want to hear the song sung by this important figure's soul. Would it be filthy, decadent music, or a magnificent, grand song? I want to hear it so badly!
This chapter only represents what Ryan had heard from others. As for the mysteries of runes, I still need all of you readers to help correct me. I'm going crazy looking through the lore. Even Ryze's own stories contradict each other, so I chose an interpretation I understand as the temporary setting.
Before you continue