Another hour or so had probably passed.
'Not like I can even check the clock in this god-forsaken place.'
And it was also another hour of Marduk ignoring Saryn.
'I don't need his help in particular right now, but I have a feeling he didn't take my arrow joke too well…'
Saryn sighed, glancing at the countless pieces and remains of the mirror he had absolutely destroyed on the other end of the room, before turning back and resuming his humble pursuit toward endless knowledge.
'Where was I? Lost my line again…' He thought as his eyebrows furrowed, his finger tracing along the paragraph in search for where he left off before daydreaming.
The book cradled in his hands was named "Oaths: Shackles of the Soul", and was supposed to be an informative book but was short and filled to the brim with beliefs and myths.
'Okay, found it.' Saryn's finger stopped in place as he found where he had left off.
Oaths are spoken of in ritualist folklore as vows so absolute they carve rules directly into the soul. The stories claim that those who swear them gain abilities beyond the reach of ordinary training or semblances - but only in exchange for restrictions just as severe. No reliable method for forming an oath has ever been recorded, and most scholars dismiss the entire concept as superstition, the kind of tale that grows in the telling until it becomes indistinguishable from truth.
What little writing survives is frustratingly vague. Some accounts insist an oath is born in a moment of clarity, others that it requires sacrifice, and a few claim it happens by accident when a vow aligns too perfectly with one's nature. All agree on one point: an oath is not a spell or ritual, but a binding that reshapes the oathbearer from the inside out. Whether these accounts describe a real phenomenon or the embellished ramblings of desperate ritualists is impossible to determine. Still, the myths endure - warnings that power gained through a vow is never free, and the cost is never small.
'What a waste of ink.' Saryn hated reading these so-called "informative" books that contained nothing but doubt and uncertainty.
'What am I supposed to learn from someone who doesn't even trust their own words?' He sighed, snapping the book shut and tossing it to the side of the table.
The book skidded across the table, stopping just shy of the edge. Saryn reached out for the next book, his arm stuttering slightly as he hesitated. He withdrew his arm, pulling it back as if the book might bite - suddenly unsure.
He raised his hands in front of his face, his elbows resting on the wood, as he conjured a ball of water.
It swirled from side to side slowly and gracefully, Saryn's eyes twinkled as he watched in awe while the bending semblance intensified on his elbow, the ball of water deconstructing itself before gathering into a miniature tornado of sorts.
The crystalline tornado of water spun quietly, scattering rays of warm light across the table. He looked at it with a sense of comfort creeping onto his usually blank expression.
Saryn dismissed the tornado, shooting it out behind him as a light splash noise resounded throughout the room. He tended to get carried away from time to time, fiddling with his semblances despite knowing it was a waste of energy, time was ticking.
'I'm getting better at pulling myself out of my procrastination.' He chuckled inwardly before grabbing the next book, hoping it wasn't another cryptic tome containing pointless rubbish
Saryn read the title, which was quite ordinary and straightforward.
'Basic Guide to Armaments, huh? Hopefully this is as "basic" and straight-to-the-point as it seems.'
The appearance of the book was also plain and normal: a wine‑red cover with the title written in a majestic gold font, the spine of the book was slightly cracked in some places, where white strings which held the pages together were left dangling out as if the entire construct was about to pull apart in front of him.
Saryn flipped it open before it could molecularly deconstruct itself - which, judging by its condition, seemed entirely possible.
He began reading.
An armament is a constructed extension of the ritualist's will - a weapon or tool forged through ritual formation rather than conventional craftsmanship. Unlike ordinary weapons, an armament possesses superior durability, enhanced power output, and a natural resonance with its wielder's essence. This resonance allows the armament to respond to intent with minimal delay, functioning almost as a loyal servant.
While an armament may be formed from thin air, most ritualists select a base object to guide the final shape. A base item ensures the resulting armament aligns with the wielder's preferred weapon type and reduces the material cost of the ritual. However, the base object will not survive the process unchanged.
Saryn's eyes shifted toward the obsidian greatblade, he loved the feel of it, and upon reading this paragraph, felt that it would be appropriate to use the greatsword he dragged around as a base for his armament, should he craft one.
His gaze returned to the book shortly after, following the lines of the next paragraph.
Armament construction is ideally performed within a tier three ritual circle or higher. Lower-tier circles lack the stability required to sustain the Severance and Formation stages. Attempting the ritual in an inadequate circle may result in failure, incomplete formation, or the creation of a lesser artifact. In the worst case scenario, it could result in injuries to the ritualist in control.
'Tier three? I have no idea what tier this circle is, I guess I'll just have to pray.' Saryn thought, before continuing.
The ritualist's will determines the outcome. If the ritualist directs their intent toward forming a semblance, the materials will shape accordingly. If they desire an armament, the circle will attempt to construct one. Note that armaments require a minimum threshold of material quality and quantity. Should this threshold not be met, the ritual will default to producing a semblance or artifact instead.
'I have the obsidian greatblade, and it seems to be of fine craft, that should make up for a heck-ton of the required materials, anyways, like ninety percent of the materials Marduk left here are also at my disposal.' Saryn was at ease, and had now planned to also obtain an armament before leaving the room.
He flipped to the next page while scoffing.
'Thankfully this book is actually informative, unlike some others.'