The Runic Artist Chapter 39: Chapter 358 - Worlds Apart

Read chapter 39 of The Runic Artist by Ellake on NovelPedia.

The inside of the tent was silent except for the warm wind ripping at the flaps as it blew across the desert outside. Nate waited patiently for the response from The Freed. “Could you get us more mana?” asked Kesiya, the scar on her young face looking stretched by the motions of her mouth. “I was going to do that anyway,” answered Nate. “It was actually the reason I came to Gashana. But when I saw you here, trying to free the last of your people, I decided I would offer more. If you want it, that is?” “Weapons?” asked the older woman with tattoos down her arms. Yavana, thought Nate, reminding himself of her name. She was clearly a Mage with the Binder Class favoured by the Gashanan Merchant Lords that had once been used to control their people. Nate pursed his lips in thought at the question. “I have, in the past, held off on supplying weapons because they can just as easily be used as tools to control and subjugate a people, as they can be to liberate and free them. I could supply you with weapons, though I would likely want them returned when you were done. But then I run into the problem of taking away the very things that might help you remain free. I’m not sure if that makes me a hypocrite or not.” “Deep thoughts for a young man,” commented Gajal. “And you are young, aren’t you? Or is this appearance an illusion like the one you used to sneak in here?” Before Nate could answer, the other young man blurted out his own question. “Are you a god like they say?” Nate turned to look at the young man. He appeared to be barely eighteen, which should have marked him as weak. Instead, Nate was reminded of Null from all those years ago. By the standards of Galle, this boy was a future powerhouse. Whether that remained true after Nate made his changes to the world was yet to be seen. “This is Kaffa,” said Gajal by way of introduction. “He was the bastard son of one of the Merchant Lords.” Kaffa spat on the rug beneath their feet, which drew the ire of the two women. “May he rot in the Nine Hells,” growled Kaffa. “He’s also the one the Devotees of the Artist voted to represent them. Like they do in Asmuisil. It is a new way for us,” continued Gajal, ignoring the manners of Kaffa. “His hate is understandable. He was being trained to be the personal assassin of his Father. Nameless training is brutal. I can only imagine that his was even worse.” “That doesn’t matter,” added Kaffa, though Nate could see the haunted look behind the boy’s eyes. “Is it true? Are you a god?” Nate shook his head. “I don’t think gods, as you think of them, actually exist. But if you’re speaking in terms of power…the power to do amazing things. Seemingly impossible things, then…if I am being honest, yes.” He chose that moment to pull out the mana font, placing the gem on one of the mage-constructed stone tables within the tent. The reaction was instantaneous. Kaffa seemed to suffer the worst, the ambient mana likely painful for him as he was clearly the lowest level in the room, except for the child in the background that was sitting quietly and watching. Gajal had turned to shield the girl in the chair, only to find a barrier around her keeping him out, as well as the mana. “Don’t worry,” explained Nate. “I wouldn’t let harm come to a child.” He turned back to the mana font before continuing. “I intend to put one of these in every Gashanan city. What you do with them is up to you, though I will not be pleased if I see the newfound wealth of mana being used for abuse or hoarded for the few. But, beyond that, you are free to use them and govern as you see fit.” “Just Gashana, or beyond?” asked Kesiya, her eyes glued to the gem. “Every city on Galle. Then, I will start on the wilderness areas. I am doing the cities first so that you have time to adapt and prepare. Expect beasts of the wilderness to become higher level and for there to be more of them. They tend to breed in greater numbers with more mana. You will also have the benefit of the ramping up of mana re