Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 1 - New World

CH1 New World

***

Gasp!

A young boy shot upright in a large bed, breath ragged in the quiet of a tastefully furnished room.

Clutching his head, he groaned in pain as a surge of foreign memories flooded his mind.

After several tense moments, the pain receded, and the boy slowly opened his eyes which were now filled with clarity.

”I... reincarnated?” he murmured. ”Alex Fury... thatʼs my name now.”

He climbed out of bed and walked to the wall mirror.

”Silver-grey hair. Red eyes—pure and innocent like rubies. Even at ten, this face already screams lady-killer MC.”

Though the reflection showed a child, the soul behind those eyes belonged to a man in his thirties -a systems engineer and avid novel reader- reborn in a world of sword and magic.

From the memories inherited from his new body, he pieced together that his striking features were hallmarks of the Fury familyʼs Furor Bloodline, a lineage known for its immense martial power. The purity of his red eyes should have marked him as a prodigy.

Instead, his bloodline awakening had ended in failure.

The inability to manifest his bloodlineʼs power and warrior traits caused the family to deem him talentless.

He was quietly exiled from Ashen Castle to a remote lodge in the back mountains of the castle, out of sight and out of mind.

Young Alex, oblivious of what this meant, buried himself in books from the lodge library. So while his knowledge of the outside world was commendable, his knowledge of his own familyʼs inner workings remained very shallow.

”This bodyʼs too scrawny,” Alex muttered, inspecting himself in the mirror. ”Thatʼs going to have to change.”

Knock.

”Master Alex, are you awake?” came a womanʼs voice.

”Yes.”

”Then Iʼm coming in.”

The door opened, and a voluptuous, middle-aged maid entered.

”Youʼre to have breakfast with the Earl today. We need to get you ready.”

Before Alex could struggle or even protest, she pulled him along to the bath. Despite her delicate and enticing appearance, her grip was firm and strong. Alex realised she may be stronger than any woman, or man, heʼd ever met in his old life.

Within the hour, she had washed, dressed, and prepared him like a ragdoll.

Dressed in tailored noble wear befitting a young noble heir, she led Alex to step outside where a group of knights waited on horseback.

”Young Master Alex, we are here to bring you to the Earl.” The lead knight said.

ʼRemaining mounted and looking down while speaking to his superior... Looks like I donʼt have a standing in the family.ʼ Alex thought grimly.

Without ceremony, the maid lifted him onto the lead knightʼs horse. With a signal, the group galloped down the mountain towards Ashen Castle.

---

Ashen Castle loomed like an immovable giant over the land. So much so that Alex had to admit that he was indeed in another world.

As they entered the castle grounds, Alex saw a warrior slice a training dummy clean in half from five meters away.

A young mage floated above the courtyard, adjusting his flight spell. Strength and skill were everywhere.

The lead knight, who still didnʼt deign to introduce himself, led Alex through the castleʼs main corridor.

The rough stone walls were adorned with weapons, tapestries, and trophies; silent declarations of the Fury familyʼs martial creed.

Soon, they arrived at a vast, dimly lit dining hall. A ten-meter-long table stretched between him and the figure at its far end.

Earl Drake Fury.

Alexʼs new father.

He was a striking man with silver-grey hair and blood-red eyes — sharper, darker, and more intense than Alexʼs own. A full beard shaped his stern face, and the edges of his eyes bore crippling wrinkle, showing the marks of time. But despite the age, there was a fierce vitality in his every move.

With precise, fluid motions, he carved through a steak, eating quickly yet elegantly. He drank red wine swirling in his goblet between bites, with no drop ever spilling out.

His movements were the epitome of etiquette. Even though he was eating too quickly and too much, his elegance made it difficult to tell as several kilograms of beef vanished into his stomach.

Alex couldnʼt deny that Drake was a very graceful and charming man.

He straightened his posture and mimicked his fatherʼs table manners the best he could.

Thankfully, a combination of his past lifeʼs habits and the muscle memory of his current body ensured he at least didnʼt make a fool of himself.

At last, Earl Drake wiped his mouth with a cloth and set his utensils down.

”You are fortunate... and unfortunate to be a Fury,” he said evenly.

His voice carried a weight that pressed down on Alexʼs shoulders and encouraged him to look away.

Still, Alex forced himself to meet the manʼs gaze.

Drakeʼs lips curled into a faint smile.

”Even the most experienced of nobles would be hard-pressed to pick out a flaw with my posture and grace... Even though our Fury family has three centuries of history, those old-school nobles still see me and our family as one of the nouveau rich.”

Drake leaned back.

”On the other hand, there is a figure in our empire who loves to have his way with girls in the middle of their development and yet to mature. In fact, he despises the sight of full-grown women. This figure is called the Flower-plucking Gentleman.

”There is another figure called Blood-crazed Demon. This is someone who must see blood every single day or he would lose control of himself and go on a rampage. He must have a freshly hunted heart before he is satisfied. Only waiting a day more for a rare species. If he goes on a rampage, humans and beast make no difference to him.

”Still, the old nobles think these two are true role models of nobility. Do you know why?”

”Power... They must be powerful people.” Alex answered.

Drakeʼs eyes narrowed in amusement.

”Indeed. The Flower-plucking Gentleman is the Chancellor of our Virellian empire. He is below only the Emperor and above everyone else. He is also senior Legendary-ranked Mage. The Blood-crazed Demon is one of the guardians of the Empire. A warrior who has stepped beyond even the Legendary rank.

”Both men have power such that those old noble houses dare not infuriate them.”

He snapped his fingers. Servants whisked the dishes away.

”You are fortunate to be a Fury because you have the foundation to obtain strength and power. But you are also unfortunate to be a Fury because if you do not obtain strength and power, only hell awaits you in every corner.

”Externally, Orcs, grey dwarves and other hostile races from the north prepare to strike. Other Virellian nobility to the south, sharpen hidden knives for your back to take your lands.

”Even within this family, while you are my first son -my heir-apparent- you are not my only child. Our family is built on strength and power. Compared to your siblings, your personal strength is weak– Far too weak. Your prestige within the family, after your awakening ceremony, is also little to non existent. Your siblings are waiting like hawks ready to strike at any moment to take power from you.”

Alex said nothing. He already knew.

Drake leaned forward.

”Your ruby eyes mark your heritage. Your failure shames it. People will expect great things—and if you disappoint them, youʼll die.”

His tone grew colder.

”Youʼve had ten years of peace. That ends now. If you want to keep your status, your wealth, your life, then gain power. Not just ordinary power, but overwhelming power. Power so vast no one -hostile race, other nobles or even your siblings- dares challenge it!”

The air turned heavy. Drakeʼs words struck like thunder in Alexʼs chest.

He stared blankly at his father who maintained his graceful poise as the manʼs words resounded multiple times in his heart.

Earl Drake smiled charmingly again.

”Once you possess overwhelming power, you will be able to do whatever you want and no one will question you. Be it reasonable or absurd, no one will dare breath a word. Like this...”

Earl Drake clapped his hands.

Three bound men were dragged in by guards and forced to kneel just a few metres away from where Alex sat.

Before Alex could react, Drake was beside him. The Earl drew a guardʼs sword and, in one fluid motion, decapitated all three men.

Alex froze in horror.

The butler, the maids, the guards—none flinched.

Then, one of the severed heads rolled to his feet.

Its dead, still-pleading eyes met his.

His stomach churned and Alex vomited everything he ate.

Earl Drake saw the scene and shook his head.

He was reminded Alex was just an introverted ten years old child and not a battle-hardened veteran.

Still, some matters had to be taught quickly.

He returned the sword to the guardʼs sheath and called over a maid who brought him a towel to clean his hands.

Alex was in for another shock because rather than take the towel, Earl Drake tore the maidʼs clothes, revealing her pecky bosom, and used that to clean his bloodstained hands.

The maid flinched, but remained still, making no attempts to cover her exposed breasts.

Not one person reacted.

Alex sat, stunned.

Drake turned to Alex, speaking again.

”They were spies. Traitors. By law, they deserved a trial. But the law is for those with equal strength.”

He walked over, and held the armrest of the boyʼs seat, bringing his eyes level with the boyʼs.

”Never forget. Only if I hold a sword, and you hold one as well, can we talk law. If I hold a dagger and youʼre empty-handed, I hold with me, the truth... and your life.

”Those who create the rules are often the first to break them. Rules are chains for the weak and tools for the strong. Everything else is falsehood. Morality, law, rules... they only matter when both sides are equal in power. Power is the only truth.

”Do you understand?”

Alex nodded, instinctively.

”Good.”

Drake straightened.

”Youʼll go to a Mage Tower where you will spend the next few years. Since you lack warrior talent, youʼll study magic there. Do not forget what I have taught you today. This is your last chance. I hope you will give me a pleasant surprise.”

Alex looked at the corpses on the floor. He instinctively held his throat.

He nodded again, more solemnly this time.

”You leave immediately.”

Alexʼs eyes widened. Drake ignored him.

”Jarred,” the Earl said, turning to the knight who brought Alex from the Lodge, ”Youʼll escort him as discussed. Brush up his knowledge of the world along the way.”

”As you command.”

Without delay, Jarred swept Alex onto his towering black Nightmare warhorse. A dozen knights assembled behind him.

And just like that, they departed.

—

Earl Drake Fury stood at the castle window, watching them vanish into the distance.

”Have the rumours been confirmed?” He asked the butler.

”Yes, my Lord. The three human empires all report a surge in planar gate occurrences. The Royal Mages report it is now twice as easy to obtain spatial coordinates of lesser planes. Some say weʼre entering an era of prosperity.”

Drake narrowed his eyes.

”Prosperity...? More likely an era of war.”

His gaze lingered on the road.

ʼYou donʼt have much time, Alex. Grow quickly... because your generation will be one of upheaval.ʼ

***