God's Tree-Chapter 56: The Saint Beast’s Knowledge

The vibrations in the ground intensified, the pulsing glow of the golden runes illuminating the ruins like firelight.

Argolaith and Kaelred instinctively stepped back, hands gripping their weapons, their breaths steady as they prepared for whatever was coming.

Then, from the depths of the ancient corridors, it emerged.

A massive, majestic creature stepped into the light, its form both awe-inspiring and surreal.

It stood on four powerful legs, its fur a deep silver, shimmering with strands of woven starlight.

Its eyes glowed like molten gold, filled with an intelligence beyond mortal comprehension.

Two massive, feathered wings rested against its back, the tips glowing faintly as if infused with ancient energy.

Atop its head, a pair of curved horns inscribed with swirling runes pulsed faintly, radiating power.

Argolaith and Kaelred remained still, watching the beast with wary fascination.

Kaelred muttered under his breath, "That… is not a primordial beast."

Argolaith nodded slowly. "No. This is something else."

The Beast lowered its head slightly, its golden eyes studying them with an unreadable gaze.

Then, it spoke—not with words, but directly into their minds.

"Travelers… You are not of this place. Yet, you have come seeking knowledge."

Argolaith’s muscles tensed. The voice was deep, ancient, filled with power yet carrying no malice.

Kaelred swallowed hard. "Are you going to kill us?"

The beast blinked once, almost as if amused. "If I wished you dead, you would not have crossed the threshold."

Argolaith exhaled slowly, forcing himself to relax. "Then… what are you?"

The beast’s wings rustled lightly, stirring the dust around it.

"I am the Guardian saint beast of the Lost Runes, the Keeper of Forgotten Knowledge."

Visit frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓ for the b𝘦st novel reading experience.

"My kind once guided those worthy of wielding true power… before the world abandoned the old ways."

Kaelred furrowed his brow. "You’re saying… you’ve been here for millennials? Alone?"

"Time does not flow for me as it does for you." The beast’s gaze sharpened. "But you, mortals, have awakened these ruins. That alone means you were meant to come here."

Argolaith exchanged a glance with Kaelred before stepping forward. "Then… will you teach us?"

The Saint Beast lifted its head, golden energy crackling along its horns. "If you are willing to learn… then I shall grant you the wisdom of the Forgotten Runes."

The beast led them deeper into the ruins, where tall stone pillars inscribed with glowing glyphs surrounded a massive circular platform.

The runes etched into the floor pulsed softly, as if alive.

Argolaith and Kaelred stood in the center of the platform as the beast raised one of its great wings.

"These runes belong to an age before kingdoms, before magic was confined to scholars and warriors. They are not spells… but the very foundation of magic itself."

The beast gestured toward the nearest pillar, where a series of symbols flared to life, shimmering with raw energy.

Kaelred crossed his arms. "What do they do?"

"They resonate with the world around them. Unlike magic that draws power from the caster, these runes are written into existence, binding energy to them permanently. They are knowledge given form."

Argolaith frowned in thought. "So… you’re saying these runes don’t use mana?"

"Correct. They are an extension of natural laws. To understand them is to rewrite reality itself."

The words sent a thrill of excitement through Argolaith’s mind. This was not magic as he knew it.

This was something entirely different—something older, more absolute.

Kaelred walked toward one of the pillars, running his fingers over the etchings. "So how do we use them?"

The beast’s gaze shimmered. "You must first learn to read them. Then… you will write them."

With a flick of its tail, a section of the platform shifted, revealing a large stone slab covered in ancient inscriptions.

Argolaith and Kaelred knelt, examining the symbols closely.

Some were familiar, resembling runes from the Elven cities. But others were entirely foreign, their meanings unknown.

The beast continued, "Each rune has a purpose. Some enhance strength, others sharpen perception, and some… bind the forces of the world itself."

Argolaith studied a particular rune that glowed a deep crimson. "What about this one?"

The beast regarded it for a moment. "That is the Rune of Fortification."

"It was once used to strengthen the bodies of warriors beyond mortal limits. A single inscription could allow a man to stand against giants."

Kaelred whistled. "Sounds useful."

The beast nodded. "It is. But only if inscribed correctly. Runes are not like spells—they must be written, carved, or embedded into an object or body. They do not fade, and they cannot be undone once inscribed."

Argolaith and Kaelred exchanged a glance. The implications were staggering.

Kaelred rubbed his jaw. "So, if we learn to inscribe these properly, we can permanently enhance ourselves?"

"Yes. But to inscribe a rune upon oneself requires absolute focus and understanding. If done improperly, the body will reject it, and the consequences… are irreversible."

Argolaith exhaled. "No pressure, then."

The beast gave what might have been a wry smile. "Knowledge is earned, not given. I will guide you… but the mastery of the Forgotten Runes is yours to claim."

For the next several hours, the Saint Beast instructed them on the fundamentals of runic inscription.

They practiced carving simple glyphs into stone, learning how each symbol interacted with the world around it.

Some runes repelled water, some absorbed heat, and others shimmered with faint energy, affecting the air itself.

Eventually, the moment of truth arrived.

The beast gestured toward their arms. "It is time to inscribe the first rune upon your own flesh."

Kaelred hesitated. "Are you sure we’re ready for this?"

Argolaith rolled up his sleeve, revealing his forearm. "We’ll never know unless we try."

The beast watched approvingly. "Then begin."

Argolaith took a small engraving tool—one infused with the essence of the ruins—and carefully carved the Rune of Fortification into his skin.

The moment the final stroke was completed, a searing heat spread through his arm. His muscles tensed, veins glowing faintly with red energy as the rune burned itself into place.

For a brief moment, pain surged through his body—a test of his will.

Then, it faded.

Argolaith clenched his fist. His arm felt different—stronger, more resilient, as if his very flesh had been reinforced.

Kaelred, emboldened, followed suit. He carved his own rune, wincing as the energy took hold, but the results were undeniable.

The beast watched with quiet satisfaction. "You have taken the first step. In time, you will inscribe more… and your bodies will become more than they were."

Argolaith exhaled, flexing his arm. "This… is incredible."

Kaelred grinned. "And this is just the beginning."

The Saint Beast nodded, its wings folding against its back. "You have learned well. But there is still much to uncover."

Argolaith’s gaze sharpened. "Then let’s keep going."

The glow of the ancient runes reflected in Argolaith’s eyes as he traced the inscriptions along the stone tablet before him.

Kaelred sat beside him, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to decipher the meaning behind a particularly complex set of glyphs.

The Saint Beast stood in quiet observation, its molten gold gaze steady, watching as the two warriors attempted to grasp the intricacies of the Forgotten Runes.

"These are… different from the ones we carved earlier," Kaelred muttered, tapping the edge of a symbol with his finger. "It’s like they’re shifting, almost alive."

Argolaith nodded. "The basic runes were stable. These—" he gestured to the inscriptions glowing faintly in blue and gold "—these feel like they don’t want to be understood."

The Saint Beast finally spoke, its deep, ancient voice filling the chamber.

"Because they do not. The runes of power are not meant to be wielded without mastery. To attempt them without true understanding is to invite ruin."

Kaelred exhaled sharply. "Fantastic. So, what? If we screw up, we explode?"

The beast tilted its head slightly, its expression unreadable.

"Some runes will destroy the body. Others will unravel the mind. There is no singular punishment for arrogance—only consequence."

A heavy silence followed.

Argolaith clenched his jaw. "Then how do we avoid that?"

The beast extended a wing, and the symbols along the walls brightened.

"You must learn the flow of energy behind the runes. Without understanding, they are nothing but marks upon stone. With understanding, they shape reality."

The words stirred something in Argolaith. He had read about runes in old texts, had seen lesser versions of them used for enchantments, but this was different.

This wasn’t inscribing power onto an object—this was rewriting the very fabric of existence.

Kaelred crossed his arms. "So, what’s stopping us from just… testing them until we get it right?"

The Saint Beast’s eyes dimmed slightly, and with a slow movement of its tail, it gestured toward a section of the ruins they had not yet explored.

A darkened alcove, its walls lined with carvings that were fractured, broken, as if whatever had been inscribed there had been violently erased from existence.

"Because others have tried before you."

Argolaith and Kaelred exchanged a look.

Kaelred stepped forward, inspecting the ruins with a growing sense of unease. "What happened to them?"

The Saint Beast exhaled, and the air in the chamber grew colder.

"They sought mastery before they were ready. The runes do not forgive impatience."

Kaelred turned back to the beast. "So, they died?"

"Some died. Some became… something else."

A shiver ran down Argolaith’s spine. "What do you mean?"

The Saint Beast stepped forward, and for the first time, there was something like sorrow in its voice.

"Those who forced the runes upon themselves did not simply perish. Their bodies twisted. Their minds shattered. They became conduits for power they could not wield—and in doing so, they ceased to be human."

Argolaith and Kaelred stared at the ruined alcove, the fractured runes seeming to pulse in warning.

Kaelred exhaled. "So, that’s the warning. Go too fast, and we don’t just die—we lose ourselves entirely."

The Saint Beast inclined its head. "This is the nature of all power. It is never given. It is earned."

Argolaith swallowed hard, gripping his forearm where his first rune—the Rune of Fortification—still tingled with faint energy.

"This just got a lot more complicated," he muttered.

Kaelred smirked, though it lacked his usual bravado. "When is it ever easy?"

For the next few hours, the Saint Beast guided them through the next stage of their training.