The days following his discovery were entirely devoted to understanding and mastering magical runes. Mordred, now aware of the paramount importance of these symbols, had retreated to a remote cell in the underground prison that he had methodically transformed into an improvised laboratory. The cold stone walls, once silent witnesses to prisoners' suffering, were now covered with complex diagrams, tangled calculations, and hastily drawn runic schemes.
The confined air of the cell now carried a persistent odor of burnt mana and stone dust. In one corner, charred fragments bore witness to the numerous explosions that had punctuated his experiments. Every available surface was covered with scribbled parchments, rough measurements, and half-formulated theories.
