Dragonglass Magic Array

The North, Sea Dragon Point Peninsula, Crystal's Scar, the magic academy's temporary quarters.

After finishing the morning's lessons, Eddard went straight to another tent. The advanced students were learning quickly. By lunchtime, ten students could just barely use their abilities, while someone as exceptionally gifted as Little Arthur could already manage a little control over flames.

This tent stood at the center of the area, and a great pile of dragonglass lay in its very middle. This batch was natural dragonglass ore specially mined by the Dragonglass Spider Mother, Alys Rivers, and differed somewhat from the dragonglass she produced.

There were now two kinds of dragonglass Eddard used. One was the dragonglass native to this world, a spellcasting tool commonly used by the Valyrians and the Children of the Forest. The other was dragonglass produced by the Dragonglass Spider Mother, Alys Rivers. This kind stored souls less efficiently than natural dragonglass, but it had the advantage of being abundant and quick to produce. It could just about store weaker souls and serve as an emergency consumable.

"Lord Eddard! What do you need all this 'frostfire' for? In certain legends on Essos, the ancient Valyrian Dragonlords used 'frostfire' to cast magic and make Glass Candles. Could I have the chance to witness such a miracle today?"

After finishing her teaching duties, Sinvara had followed Eddard here. Upon seeing the dragonglass covering the ground, she raised this question.

As a priestess of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, Sinvara knew many of the continent's secrets, particularly certain legends about dragonglass. Had the priests of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, not been able to cast magic without dragonglass, it would probably have long since become a scarce resource on Essos.

"I did once have a Glass Candle, though I haven't yet worked out how to make one. But I did discover something very interesting: Glass Candles are 'alive'!"

Upon hearing Eddard's words, Sinvara recoiled a step in shock. In particular, when she looked at the dragonglass, it was as though she were looking at some terrifying creature. She understood exactly what Eddard meant. As a Red Priestess of the Lord of Light, she knew something of the secrets of ancient times.

Many priests of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, knew perfectly well that the Valyrian Freehold had been destroyed because the Valyrian Dragonlords had abused magic. Documents in certain Temples of R'hllor recorded that, to obtain more dragonglass, the Dragonlords had sealed every volcano in the Fourteen Flames and used magic to draw an endless supply of dragonglass energy from within them.

The Doom that destroyed the Valyrian Freehold had been caused by the simultaneous eruption of every volcano in the Fourteen Flames. Ultimately, all of it had resulted from the Dragonlords' excessive exploitation of dragonglass resources.

"This is a method I found through studying dragonglass: combining it with demonic magic arrays to modify it, making it into an entirely new system of power and allowing more of my subjects to learn to use magic."

"Demons?"

Hearing Eddard's words, Sinvara raised another question. Although this world also had legends of demons, those legends had no unified classification for them. Thus, many twisted, dark creatures in this world were called demons, yet most people had never seen what such terrifying creatures looked like.

In the teachings of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, his greatest enemy was the Cold God, the deity who represented death and ice. Certain writings of R'hllor, the Lord of Light, recorded that the Cold God's minions came from the north and would spread death and despair throughout the world. In Yi Ti in the east, the Cold God was also called the Night Lion.

Thus, Sinvara expressed confusion at this coined term of Eddard's. After all, it differed from the things they usually encountered. "You can think of them as strange creatures from another world. These beings possess tremendous power. Perhaps that Cold God has something to do with them, because some of the powers it displays are much like those of demons."

Eddard's explanation helped Sinvara understand what demons meant. Then Eddard activated the Golden Eye and began modifying the dragonglass on the ground. As the pure souls of the Children of the Forest were infused into it, the dragonglass began heating rapidly. Before long, it had become golden magma.

Under Eddard's control, the magma gathered on the ground into a sphere. As the sphere kept changing, a prismatic crystal pillar appeared in the center of the tent. As the crystal pillar continued to grow, cracks appeared across its surface.

Crack...

Amid the sounds of shattering glass, seven smaller dragonglass prisms appeared around the large prism. Drawn by some strange force, they hovered around the enormous prism.

Strange light began appearing around the crystal pillar, while Eddard remained standing there. By now, the crystal magic array had essentially taken shape, but it still lacked something extremely important: magic runes belonging specifically to this Dragonglass Magic Array.

This crystal magic array was a device Eddard had developed to awaken potential. It was also one of the nodes connecting the Dream World and the real world, serving the same purpose as the Heart Tree, as well as a device that consumed the soul energy within dragonglass to the fullest extent.

The runes were a medium Eddard had newly developed for consuming soul power. Not only could they allow those without talent to master magic, but they could also attach a certain amount of soul power to objects.

After studying First Men Runes and Demon Runes, Eddard had devised three runes of his own: the Flame Rune, the Dragonglass Rune, and the Soul Rune.

The Flame Rune originated from demons' control over the power of fire. Controlling fire was as simple for demons as breathing was for humans, while the Flame Rune represented control over the laws governing the power of fire. In theory, anyone who could master the Flame Rune could control flames.

The Flame Rune resembled the pictographic character for "fire," looking like a fiercely burning flame. Between three mountainlike pillars of fire ran three golden S-shaped lines.

The Dragonglass Rune originated from the dragonglass dwelling in the right side of Eddard's body. This rune could drive the growth and movement of dragonglass. Combined, these became crystal magic, though certain further applications would depend on the students' research and exploration.

The Dragonglass Rune looked like three strangely shaped characters for "eye." Gazing at this pictographic symbol felt like being watched by "it."

The Soul Rune was a peculiar ability Eddard had modified from skinchanging. It could strengthen skinchanging and control abilities. To some extent, it could even manipulate the life force within Fire Dragonglass to grant life to the dead, or manipulate the power of death within Ice Dragonglass to give the dead another form of life.

The twisted, intertwined character for "soul" was as frightening as a ghost, as though it represented human souls. Its twisted lower strokes resembled a tentacled monster from the abyss that would hook people's souls away.

These three runes would operate continuously within this crystal magic array. If anyone had an affinity with any one of them, that person would awaken the corresponding runic power.

This was the Rune Wizard Faction Eddard had founded. Together with the original Bloodline Wizard Faction, Eddard had now established two different wizard factions.

In practical terms, rune wizards gained power more quickly, but they used soul power and could only cast magic through dragonglass.

Bloodline wizards were different. They used their own perception, and their special abilities came from their bloodlines. As their bloodlines were gradually purified, their power would grow ever stronger.

With the appearance of the three primordial runes, the Dragonglass Magic Array also erupted with tremendous power. Nourished by the soul power within the dragonglass, these three primordial runes would become the starting point for all rune mages, and more kinds of rune magic would appear in the future.

Boom... hum...

Amid a series of strange sounds, masses of almost tangible energy began spreading outward. As they spread, some people with keen perception also noticed these strange fluctuations of energy.

"Hmm..."

Just then, Eddard also noticed something unusual about Sinvara. Flames were appearing around her body, and immediately afterward, a rune resembling a burning flame appeared on her forehead.

"Good, very good. You've actually gained the Flame Rune's recognition. Try its power! This is utterly different from the magic you used before. It's a power that comes from the very essence of fire. Try sensing your surroundings."

Feeling the strange sensation in her body, Sinvara was somewhat curious. After hearing Eddard's words, she closed her eyes and began sensing this entirely new power. Then, to her surprise, she discovered that she could distinctly feel the power of fire surrounding her body.

Whoosh...

Very soon, a somewhat scorching wave of heat appeared around Sinvara's body. This time, the flames did not burn away her clothes as they had that night. Instead, they radiated heat like a heater.

Whoosh...

Under Sinvara's control, a mass of human-shaped flame appeared near her and Eddard. At her direction, the human-shaped flame greeted Eddard.

"Sinvara, you're truly gifted. This Flame Rune really suits you!"

"Lord Eddard, all of this is your gift. You're truly extraordinary, worthy of being the one chosen by the Lord of Light!"

Upon hearing Eddard's praise, Sinvara responded excitedly. Very soon, the flame-like humanoid monster vanished from the tent. This was not because Sinvara could no longer sustain it. If this continued, the tent very likely would not catch fire.

The power of the Dragonglass Magic Array spread continuously throughout the area. Apart from the bloodline wizards, many students without talent sensed the power of the runes to varying degrees. Most of these people were already adults. In particular, many of those nearing twenty could use runic power outright.

By the hour of the boar that afternoon, many people had come running to Eddard and Maester Albert to ask about the miraculous powers they had gained. Eddard and Maester Albert both passed the question on to the Old Gods, attributing everything to their blessing.

Legends of the Children of the Forest had always circulated in the North. As descendants of the First Men, nobles and commoners alike in the North believed in the existence of magic. Together with the White Holy Tree's influence on the subjects' dreams during this period, this allowed the students to quickly accept the explanation that it was the Old Gods' blessing.

By the hour of the crow that evening, Eddard had more than fifty students who possessed runes. Of these, nearly two-thirds possessed the Soul Rune. The rest had the Flame Rune or the Dragonglass Rune. There were fewer of these, but most had already reached Sinvara's level.

Most of those who had awakened their powers joined Eddard's Alchemy Workshop and the City Guard, while some joined the town center directly. However, some asked to leave Crystal's Scar. Their thinking was simple: they wanted to seek their fortunes in larger cities.

Eddard did not lose his temper with them or say he would punish them. He simply told them directly that magic came from the Old Gods, and that once they abandoned their oaths and faith, their magic might very well disappear.

In the Seven Kingdoms, lords provided their subjects with protection, and in return, those subjects would remain loyal to their lords' houses. It could be said that once subjects abandoned their lord, they had already broken faith.

The dozen or so men and women who had asked to leave Crystal's Scar would gradually lose control over their runic powers after departing. They would either die from the backlash of this mysterious power or suffer terribly from losing the replenishment provided by the primordial runes, as though their souls were being drawn out.

Many people here understood that these miraculous powers had appeared entirely because of Eddard's presence. This was a hurdle and a selection process. Only after certain people with impure intentions had been cast out would House Flint's rule become more stable.

"All right, my dear students. The future of Crystal's Scar will rest in your hands. The Old Gods will lead us toward a more glorious future. As long as you continue to follow me, I will bring you more hope."

After those weak-willed fellows had left, Eddard encouraged everyone from the lectern.

As the sunset's last light fell across Eddard's face, it made him look radiant and imposing. Seeing this wondrous scene, the students below were equally excited. In the end, all their words merged into wave after wave of cheers.

"Long live Lord Eddard! Long live our lord!"