Elder Molric stared at me expectantly.

  I fought back a sigh - we'd already done the whole "look at the strange Natural" routine with the elder council, but I supposed he just wanted a closer examination of that phenomenon.

  "He's probably hoping to figure out how you manage it," Azure commented. "The council meeting was more an introduction than a study."

  I couldn't really argue with that. His earlier experiment on living runes kind of hinted that he wasn't the sort to just accept things when they were presented to him - so long as he got enough time and leeway, he wanted to figure it out.

  I closed my eyes and turned my thoughts inward, to my inner world.

  The miniature red sun was still cowering at the bottom corner, but its power came easily enough when I called upon it.

  I guided the energy through the byways and walls the seed had laid out in my inner world, and again, felt the familiar warmth spreading through my body as I boosted my physical essence.

  Looking down at red lines running through my arms, I somehow felt disappointed.

  Even with the boost, this body was pathetic.

  My cultivator body was laughably powerful compared to this. I could've just used the Tri-Essence Harmony technique and exchanged more soul essence to increase my physical power, but what was the point?

  I wasn't here for mere power – I was here to learn how to better manipulate plants for battle.

  Besides, most Rank 1 Skybound seemed to focus entirely on physical enhancement. Even in this sorry state, my proficiency with elements should give me an edge if it came to a fight. The painful process of remodeling this body's stats just wasn't worth it.

  But knowing how these stories went, I would be shocked if some arrogant young initiate didn't try to test the new 'favored disciple' within a week.

  These worlds all seemed to use the same tropes - and the 'young master picking a fight with the protagonist' chapter was practically obligatory.

  Elder Molric circled around me slowly, muttering to himself as he examined the red lines. "Interesting... the pattern is similar to Sun-Touched transformation, but the mental state remains completely stable. Degradation or madness... nowhere to be seen?" He clapped his hands together noisily. "The possibilities are mind-blowing, what if there is a natural resistance to the red sun's corrupting taint? Or maybe an innate capacity to process the energies more efficiently?"

  I maintained a blank look and allowed him to theorize. He wasn't too far off base - the Genesis Seed did process and purify the red sun's power, preventing the plague of its mental corruption that dogged so many others. It just was not something I could explain to him.

  About a minute later, I felt the telltale drain and let the transformation fade.

  The red lines pulled back from my skin, leaving it unmarked.

  "I hear you can manipulate plants directly," Elder Molric said, gesturing to a potted example on one of the nearby workbenches. "Show me."

  I approached the plant, mindful that this would be not only a demonstration but a test. The vine looked normal: green leaves, thin stems, nothing noticeably changed by the red sun. Yet.

  "Master," Azure whispered in my mind. "The purified essence from the Genesis Seed. Raw red sun is... volatile."

  And so, it was. I reached into my inner world, not to the crimson core itself, but to the essence that came from filtering it through the Genesis Seed.

  I extended my hand toward the vine, letting it reach out as though to touch with gentle fingers. That was evidently enough because the plant almost threw itself at my hand.

  The vine crystallised, its stem thickening. Muscles? Fine muscle fibres? Grew across the main stem. It curled and uncurled like a tail, others reached out to me like worms seeking sustenance.

  Then it began rubbing against my hand just like a demanding cat, the metallic leaves somehow soft against my palm instead of sharp.

  Elder Molric muttered while he watched, making notes I couldn't quite catch. At last, he asked, "The change is complete, but the specimen shows no signs of aggressiveness. Did you bend it to your will to behave this way?"

  "No, Master. This just... happens whenever my energy touches plants. They transform and seem to recognize me as..." I hesitated, not wanting to say 'master' since that might raise questions.

  "As a friend," I finished lamely.

  "Fascinating!" He exclaimed, and snapped his journal shut. "But now, pay attention!" He approached another plant: this one was a small bush with dainty purple flowers adorning its brambles. He made a gesture with his hands, manipulating the red sun energy to carve runes into the air.

  The bush responded to his power, growing and reshaping itself, though it didn't shift into a demonic form like it did when I manipulated it.

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  "You see?" He directed the bush to weave its branches together into a pattern. "With proper runic control, we can guide the energy more subtly without triggering any strange transformations."

  "The runes act as filters," Azure explained in my mind. "They structure the energy in ways that suppress its transformative aspects while enhancing its ability to influence natural growth patterns."

  That would be useful back in the sect. The ability to use the red sun's energy without creating demon plants would definitely help avoid awkward questions. No need to explain why every plant I touched started trying to eat people.

  "Your turn," Elder Molric said. "To make this bush dance...without turning it into something more dangerous."

  I took a deep breath and brushed my hands along the bush's tangles, trying to imitate the way he directed the red sun power. It was difficult without runes, but I tried to use the filtering technique of the Genesis Seed as best as I could.

  For a moment it worked. The plant grew in size, its leaves visibly brighter, before the familiar crystalline sheen started creeping across it and seconds later, I had another demon plant fondly trying to rub against my fingers.

  "A good first attempt," Elder Molric said, though I noticed he was writing even more notes. Then he suddenly looked up, staring at me with an intensity that made me want to step back. "Would you be willing to participate in some experiments? Nothing dangerous! Just some basic tests to gauge how your... unique relationship with celestial energy and its effect on different plants."

  There it was, the mad scientist coming out. Still, I needed his knowledge…

  "Maybe sometime in the future, Master," I said carefully, with no intent of ever following through. "I think we should work on some basic training first?"

  He blinked, and then laughed. "Ah yes, of course! Forgive my enthusiasm - it's rare to find such an exciting subject, er, student. Ahem." Moving to another work station, he started gathering materials. "Now, we shall focus on something a little more esoteric. I mean, more basic. Specifically, your what was it? Ah yes! The Fundamental Rune."

  I perked up at that. All of my reading last night had put me in a perfect mood to work on my first rune.

  "Now, there's some debate about optimal placement," Elder Molric began. "Traditionalists insist on the forehead, on the grounds that proximity to the red sun enhances power. Others prefer the heart," he continued, "claiming that centralizing the rune provides better energy distribution." He gestured toward his own chest. "Ultimately, I prefer that system, but both have their advantages."

  That was a relief. I didn't want to have to walk around with a glowing rune on my forehead like Vayara. "The heart seems more practical."

  Elder Molric nodded approvingly and opened his robes just enough to reveal his own Fundamental Rune.

  I leaned in for a closer look. The rune was ludicrously complex - a central tree motif whose branches formed intricate geometric patterns throughout. The whole thing rippled subtly, as if the wood was still struggling to grow and shift beneath his skin.

  "Have you given any consideration to your own design?" he asked, re-fastening his robes.

  "Wood-based," I replied. No point pretending I was considering other options.

  "Very good. I had to ask - you'd be surprised by how many of our initiates make completely illogical choices about their Fundamental Nature."

  "Yeah, probably because the damned red sun is slowly driving them all mad," I thought, but kept that comment to myself.

  "Wood-based Fundamental Runes typically fall into several categories," he continued, pulling out a scroll and spreading it across a workbench. "Tree designs emphasize growth and adaptation. Vine patterns excel at energy distribution. Root systems promote stability and resource gathering. Leaf motifs enhance sensitivity and control." He pointed to different examples as he spoke. "Some try to incorporate multiple aspects, but that requires perfect balance in the initial design."

  The scroll showed dozens of variations, each more intricate than the last. "The original design is crucial because while you can add to it as you advance in rank, you can never change the base pattern," he explained. "Many promising initiates have crippled their advancement by choosing poorly."

  I studied the examples carefully. "I'm thinking a tree design," I said finally. "The branches would provide natural paths for future additions, and it seems the most versatile."

  "Good reasoning. Though I should ask - are you interested in adding elements outside of pure wood energy?"

  "Is that even possible?" I asked, though Azure had already noticed several multi-element examples on the scroll.

  Elder Molric nodded. "Possible, yes. Advisable? That depends entirely on your own ability to maintain perfect balance throughout the initial design. Without it, trying to juggle multiple elements becomes more of a crutch than an advantage."

  "Master," Azure chimed in, "I'm now seeing several symbols which naturally exhibit balance - the golden ratio spiral, the Fibonacci sequence expressed through branch patterns, even simple yin-yang motifs could work."

  "What about incorporating balancing elements into the design itself?” I asked the elder. “Using natural patterns that promote harmony?"

  Elder Molric's eyebrows climbed at that one. "An interesting notion, that. Most initiates who wish to try for multiple elements just try to brute force the balance," he said, pulling out another scroll filled with mathematical diagrams. "The natural patterns are stable, in the right ways. Such as..."

  We spent the next hour brainstorming different options, with Elder Molric becoming more animated as we discussed some of the theoretical aspects of balance once again. His earlier attitude about combining the two suns' power was forgotten, though when I mentioned concepts related to balance and harmony, I got his full attention.

  Finally, he straightened up, looking more sober. "You know the method, of course… Achieve meditation, let the power flow naturally to you, watch it for its patterns, use blood and essence to trace the pattern out, then the final imprint." A more sober expression came to his face. "And remember… It cannot be undone. Choose wisely."

  I took a breath, steadying myself and thinking carefully about the matter. After hours of discussion and study, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to create.

  "I want to incorporate the Celestial Spiral," I said, using the Skybound term for what I knew as the Fibonacci spiral. "The main trunk will follow the curves, with branches extending at key points to act as natural energy conduits." I demonstrated what I meant, gesturing and drawing in the air as I spoke. "Each branch will end in a leaf motif, positioned to create perfect resonance with the trunk's curve."

  Elder Molric's eyes lit up. "Ah, the Celestial Spiral, the pattern found in everything from stormclouds to growing vines. The very rays of the red sun trace our sky." He stroked his chin. "A bold choice. Most initiates opt for simpler patterns."

  "The Celestial Spiral appears naturally in plant growth," I replied. "If we're working with wood energy, why not use nature's own preferred pattern?"

  "Why not indeed?" Elder Molric smiled. "Though managing the energy flow through such complex curves..." He paused, studying me. "Are you ready to begin?"

  I nodded. This was what I'd come for - the key to unlocking a new level of power that I could take back to my world.

  "I'm ready, Master."

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