Master Of None

"Runes are only used in the cities by the high archangels. It is forbidden to use them in any form or else it could be a sign of war." Elane made this very firm. It was proof that there were many things that had happened but the use of runes being banned? That was a ridiculous.

"Let me take a guess, Runes were used in ways that caused many angels to die between both empires?" Walker never intended for runes to be used for wars, but he understood that they could be. It was too easy to see that potential.

Runes were able to gather elemental mana without the constant care of someone else. If they were made in the right way, then they would be able to influence massive amounts of elemental manas to cause catastrophic damages.

This was evident in the youngest and least experienced rune carvers. When they failed to make a rune, they could cause damage. The perfect example were the fire elemental rune arrays that could cause a large explosion if too much mana was gathered and the rune failed. It was all too common of a story and why these rune carving workshops were often built to be tougher and handle the potential explosions.

"In Genesis, we use runes to help every day life. In The City and on our weapons and other things. But we do not make large rune arrays for fighting. We fight face to face using other methods if we need to. However, I  understand that the Rize and Fel empires had different views. Elemental and non-elemental views on things. I have seen some of the history before the elders of your race left to other planes of existence." Walker said he had seen but it was better to say that he had learned.

Hearing what Walker said and how seriously he was looking at them made her open her mouth then close it without saying a word. She had no idea how to respond to such a large statement spoken with such confidence.

"I will say it again. Tunes should be used to better everyone, not just one place. If there is war between your empires, then it should be ceased. The world clearly doesn't support it if it is letting growing problems exist among both empires. They are so kept up with them that they can't fight. If I were the world, I would let it remain like this." Walker felt that his hunch was correct, however, he got an odd feeling that he had more than just been correct. He couldn't say why he felt this way though.

"That is not the issue. Runes are dangerous. They can not be used so casually." Elane remained steadfast, but as Walker thought about it more, he began to understand why the angels might feel this way even more.

"Since angels absorb mana through their wings or if they are wingless, from the air, then this is bad for your entire species. Runes also take mana from around them. You could basically stop an entire group of angels from using mana at all. Why don't you rely on elemental spirits to stop that? The elemental spirits have no problems with rines. They even stop the runes from working if they are failing. We've seen it in Genesis." Walker felt like he was uncovering and understanding a lot.

The confused looks for more than just Elane glanced back at him though. It seemed like he had just found another mystery. "Walker, I think they don't have elemental spirits here. Zephyr hasn't felt a single one. It's normal for them to be around even in their weakest forms." Gil had been pulled in to the conversation. But as Gil said this, everyone began trying to sense this too.

Soon the whole party had some sense that there were not any elemental spirits around at all. Since Genesis had become a haven for awakening elemental spirits, they had all become very used to them existing everywhere. Now that they couldn't even sense a since one, it felt too quiet. As if the air itself was missing a little part of what it should be.

"Now I understand. Elemental spirits aren't around here anymore. That's why there were always so many dormant elemental spirits around. The elders of the angels must have used and abused them instead of learning or figuring out true spirit forging. That means that spirits here are gone, dormant, or hiding. And if you saw the world's message when we balanced mana, well, no one understood how elemental spirits and that related."

The more puzzle pieces that Walker fit together with the history of angels, the more he understood. Because the elders had different views and split up then ascended to who knew where, the rest of the angels brough to this continent were left without the proper information. They were lost.

From that lost place, the angels took their views to the extreme. They began to build a new way of living that prioritized fighting. That focused on the fact that they needed to beat those different from them. From there, they involved dragons and eliminated those that could threaten them, like the elemental spirits. That was why the angels were in the shape they were now.

Many angels most likely didn't want to fight anymore and could even be said to struggle with resources as a backlash of constant wars. On top of that, the mana had partially become unbalanced here because of the lack of elemental spirits. The world was supporting Walker's party so much because of their actions. That was why they gained so much all the time. Everything they had been doing was also helping the world return to its best shape. It was just that they had too small of a view to grasp this before.

"I seem to have learned more than I expected. It's not your fault. I will bring these issues up with your leaders. Whether it's one empire or the other. I am not happy to know that a group I care for was hunted like this in the past. From this point on, the elemental spirits are more than just spirits. They are a race recognized by all of Genesis. I doubt anyone will argue with me when I return home." Walker made this both out loud and in his heart. He never wanted to see Fleur hunted and used for some terrible deed. He felt that way about his whole family.

As if to return this feeling, Walker felt the natural mana stir around him and the others. "I think it's time we were on our way. I can tell that the rest of our group has become restless. Walker glanced around at where he could feel there were dragonkin and elves watching. They were waiting to report things back to the other but also waiting in case any issues arose.

"We might see all of you again. Things will get busy once we get to the embassy. I would prefer things remain calm and collected, but wherever we go, things get dramatic." Gil laughed a little, breaking some of the tension around. However, the merchants didn't seem to want to move. Eventually, the old man and Elane started whispering as Walker's party started to leave.

"Wait, can we come too?" Elane's single question made Walker wonder if it would be alright. These were angels that clearly didn't have a solid home. Ones that surely just wanted to be merchants.

"If you want, I don't see an issue. But if you do and the other empires don't like us, you might be thrown in with us. Same with the village we met when we came ashore. The village we started helping build themselves up." Neither example of why things might go wrong seemed to shake the look in the merchant's eyes.

"How could we ever say we don't want to explore a new land? We are small time merchants. I am old and never had a chance to really see things anew in all the fighting. But I might just be able to see things despite my age here. Elane will take us with you if you will have us." The old man spoke for all of them.

"Then welcome to the march. I would recommend changing names. You aren't just angels now. You might be the farthest flying angel merchants ever after this." Walker didn't see threats in these angels joining them. It was actually a very wise move. Sever ties with merchants here to build a network that went to another continent? It sounded like starting over but it was actually better than that. It was stepping up massively to a whole new game. One they had never seen in their entire lives.

"Perfect. It means we get new herbs constantly." Remey mumbled her approval while Alice and Su joined in as they thought about the whaling potentials. Even Alma soon joined the conversation after considering the other plants they might find that had disappeared from her elven forest.

....

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