Isolde sat nearby, cross-legged and watching him like a cat about to witness something hilarious.
"Remember what I taught you — keep the flow steady, don't force it, and visualize the rune clearly before you start."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Oliver muttered
He picked up the Runic Pen they'd bought earlier. The thing looked like a cross between a calligraphy tool and a soldering iron, its tip faintly glowing with magic. Oliver focused, channeling a trickle of mana into it. The tip lit up brighter.
"Alright… here goes nothing."
He began carving the simple shape of a Basic Wind Rune, tongue poking slightly out of the corner of his mouth in concentration.
The pen hissed softly as it cut glowing lines into the metal. Sparks flew — and for a moment, Oliver thought he was doing well.
Then the entire blade gave a loud crack — and exploded into a puff of smoke.
BANG!
Oliver yelped, falling backward onto his ass as the now-ruined sword clattered across the floor.
