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"Are we going to piece all the clues together? An interesting test."
The corners of Syndra's lips curved upward slightly as she placed the magic tome onto the table. With a subtle wave of her hand, several books floated from the nearby shelf.
"The earliest recorded mention of the world runes comes from the Blessed Isles, now the Shadow Isles. Before its corruption, it was a haven for mages."
A book titled Helia the lost city floated from the shelf and settled into Ryan's hands.
The soft sound of turning pages broke the silence as he methodically flipped through the volume until reaching a key passage in its middle section.
"Helia," Ryan read aloud, "was once the most prosperous magical capital of the Blessed Isles. It housed countless magical associations, one of which was devoted to safeguarding ancient relics—this was the magical order to which Ryze and his teacher, Tyrus, belonged."
Ryan's lips curled into a faint smile as he recognized the familiar name on the page. The memoir was written by a mage named Tyrus.
The passage described a ritual of apprenticeship, detailing the acceptance of a student.
The apprentice's name was Ryze.
Ryze, the Rune Mage whom Ryan had met before, was also someone Syndra viewed with disdain.
"His magic is undeniably powerful," Ryan murmured, "and his intentions noble. He has made it his mission to hide the world runes, hoping to shield Runeterra from their destructive power. And yet..."
He trailed off, his eyes lingering on the words describing how Ryze had killed his own mentor, Tyrus, to fulfill his convictions.
In Runeterra, beliefs often collide like swords in battle. When those beliefs clash, even bonds of family, mentorship, or love are not immune to the cold blade of resolve.
Syndra's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"He dedicated himself to collecting the world runes, ensuring they are never again used as tools of war."
With a flick of Syndra's hand, a gentle breeze stirred the pages of the book in Ryan's hands, turning them until they revealed a passage about one-third of the way through:
"The world runes possess unparalleled power, yet they are perilous—capable of unleashing destruction upon all."
"About a thousand years ago, the so-called Rune Wars began," Syndra continued.
"It marked the first time world runes were wielded in large-scale conflict. Noxian records refer to it as 'The Shattering'.
Ryan closed the book and released it, letting it hover beside him in the air. A second tome floated into his hands, its Noxian title boldly etched across the cover:
'The Shattering'
He opened it, scanning the first page.
"Noxus welcomes all willing to contribute, yet its barren lands are ill-suited for magical study. While it has few mages, it boasts many historians," Ryan said.
He paused, tracing a line of text with his finger.
"One such historian was Heinos, a Noxian chronicler who witnessed the Rune Wars firsthand."
Ryan read aloud the author's opening words:
"The Shattering began when mages discovered the destructive potential of the world runes and dared to wield them in war."
Syndra let out a chuckle, the corner of her mouth twitching as a scroll made of skin floated into her grasp.
She unfurled it and placed it in front of her, the parchment unfurling to reveal vivid illustrations.
"The Battle of Khom," Syndra noted.
"According to our records, it was the earliest recorded war fought with world runes."
On the scroll, a deep blue stone shimmered ominously in the sky above a crumbling city.
The city was engulfed in flames, torrents of water, jagged lightning, and ferocious winds, with destruction creeping ever closer.
"That conflict took place about 15 years before the founding of Noxus," Syndra continued.
"A mage from Helia discovered a way to weaponize the world runes and foolishly shared his findings with others."
Ryan turned to page 41. The handwriting there was uneven, as though the author's hand had trembled while writing. It conveyed urgency, fear, and the gravity of a mage who understood the chaos that had been unleashed upon the world.
"The method of using the world rune involves infusing it with massive magic and vitality, causing it to release an immense burst of energy. It destroys everything in its path, friend and foe alike."
A hint of contempt played at the corner of Syndra's lips. She lifted her slender fingers, and another red book fluttered into her hands.
"After the Battle of Khom, the blue rune appeared again in a conflict between two kingdoms about ten years later. This time, the lineup of mages was unprecedented—thousands of mages poured their magic into the world rune. When it was released, the rune soared into the sky, and an endless torrent of water engulfed the capital of one of the kingdoms."
Syndra turned the page to reveal an illustration, then continued with a blunt remark:
"The mage who unleashed the rune did not pay the ultimate price with his life. It is clear that the previous mage lacked the necessary power—he was mediocre."
Ryan chuckled softly, understanding her implication. The other mage's magic had been more than enough for such a feat.
He, too, was a mage, but there was a vast gulf between genius and mediocrity.
"Could this also be related to the 'Warmond's Expedition' in your hand?" Ryan mused aloud.
"We could theorize that the blue rune represents water, while other runes might represent different elements."
Syndra paused, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Elemental magic is the manifestation of these runes. If each rune symbolizes a fundamental rule, it should be tied to magic or the elements. Spells like 'Storm Gathering,' 'Nullifying Orb,' 'Walking on Water,' and 'Absolute Focus' all seem to fit this category."
Ryan suspended the book in the air again and nodded thoughtfully.
We should tentatively refer to them as Arcane or sorcery runes.
"Sorcery runes?" Syndra's lips curled in disdain.
"They are merely runes, not arcane artifacts. Arcane is too grand a term for them."
"Then where do you think he might be?" Ryan asked, smiling.
"When I contacted Ryze, it was clear he was in a hurry. He didn't explicitly say it, but there are at least two runes he hasn't collected."
The world rune was among the easiest powers to control. Having at least one in hand was crucial.
"The last record we have is from an expedition diary written by a Noxian mage."
Noxians hailed from the lands surrounding the Immortal Bastion and were the first people to establish the city-state of Noxus. Ryze himself was one of them.
"There are many diaries and books from Noxians in the Immortal Bastion," Ryan continued.
"Nearly all the wealth I've gathered has gone into acquiring these texts from various people and nobles. After discarding the more fantastical and unbelievable works, the remaining books hold significant value."
He paused before continuing with a soft, almost reverent tone:
"One of the diaries contains a fascinating entry. It reads,
'With this world rune, I can enter Axamuk's tomb and uncover how he became the Mage King. Look at this deep blue light, so intoxicating. I must not let anyone discover that it is in my possession.'"
Ryan read aloud from the diary, recorded over 700 years ago.
The diary had been passed down through generations, eventually finding its way into the hands of the fellow soldier.
The soldier, Siko, had served in many battles. He loved collecting books, and he also inherited many from his ancestors.
Unfortunately, Siko died in the Battle of Placidium, struck by a sharp shuriken that pierced through the gap in his iron helmet. His death was a noble one in battle.