Chapter 1: Rune AsSeMbly
"Mana as a computer program..." Xylos pondered for a moment as he drew upon his memories from another world. Xylos was a computer programmer. He was really interested in it since he found out how to program his graphic calculator in high school; he was able to create a small app that performed quadratic calculation so all he had to do was enter the variables "a", "b", and "c" to solve for the values of "x." It saved him time on both homework and tests; at that moment he was fascinated with all the possibilities that programming offered.
The first thing he looked up was the assembly language. It was a series of commands that performed simple "add", "subtract", "label", and "goto" actions. Once the commands were complete, it would compile into machine code and then the user can run it on any compatible CPU.
Xylos look around his table for a book on Rune magic. He felt that it was similar since programming was a symbolic way to represent a series of actions; it was simply telling the system to do something with a series of abstract phrases and commands. The system, however, in this situation, was an interaction between a person's "true self." and mana.
Xylos then took a piece of paper and traced the simplest rune on the page. It was a simple rune that creates a ball of light. He drew two runes and when he encircled both runes, he felt something flow through him near his chest and then...an intense pain shot through his entire body. The runes spluttered and fizzed be for going out leaving Xylos gasping for breath amidst the pain.
He grimaced in contemplation and focused inward on the throbbing pain in his chest; a distorted haze of white light and something like a small streak of lightning appeared in his mind eye.
- What did I do? What did it do? -
The memory of everything that happened seems to be clear in his mind the moment it happened. First, some mana was drawn from the surroundings, then it flowed toward that white light inside his body, which he knew that his "true self." The moment that the mana flowed through the haze it tried to expel it based on what the runes were supposed to...assumed to do based on what he read. However, because he didn't have a "true self" that knew how to handle the spell, it tried to construct a one on the spot and failed miserably causing a backlash. It was lucky that he tried a set of Runes that didn't require a lot of mana otherwise he knew that his "true self" would implode.
When he arrived at that conclusion, he was filled with cold sweat. He almost turned himself into a rumored monster that appeared when people lose control of the mana.
- I was too impatient, it was obvious that I need to have some semblance of a "true self" or "core" before trying to use mana -
He proceeded to look at all the books on the magic system again this time focusing on how to create a core. As he expected, there were 22 different ways to do so. Some required meditating under the waterfall, some required performing a dance around a totem, some required performing a series of moves while visualizing something, or drinking the blood of another practitioner.
They varied but they all had something in common; a strong belief and visualization of the ideal self relative to what system he/she is using and a sense of uniqueness that makes it stand out from the norm. It could be as simple as visualizing a haze of different colors regarding the element a person would like to master, or maybe an object, creature, or imaginary entity that the person feels a connection to.
Xylos looked around him, the library was a very old fashioned place; other than bookshelves tables and chairs there was nothing else. Something like a computer probably doesn't exist in this place. A computer would definitely be something unique.
Then it hit him. He realized with surprise that we can understand the books he was reading even though the words used in those books look nothing like what he has seen before. Then, he remembered the data core that the person gave him before disappearing.
- Would my language be something unique in this world? -
He then took another piece of paper then wrote the words "light" on it and drew a circle around it like what was mentioned in the Rune Magic book. He needed something to present a spell is complete, drawing a closed circle around it seems to be the best way to go about it.
He felt some mana flow toward his chest again. Instead of pain, he felt some warmth before something like a shadow of a rectangular square appeared in the haze. The next moment, white light shined from the paper illuminating the dark corner of the library.
Xylos look with awe at the light that shined from the piece of paper. He was surprised that a simple English word was able to generate a beam of light from the paper. Curiously, he wrote the letter "光" on the paper and circled it. He felt something flow through him again and the paper lit up again, but this time it only occupied the amount of space that the character took.
Intrigued, he grabbed another piece of paper and wrote the words "light x 2." The moment he completed the "Rune" two rays of light shot out from the paper and a stronger rush of mana seem to have permeated his body.
After a few more tries with different combinations, he identified several things. First, in order to complete the spell, the words/runes need to be enclosed in a circle; it was basically the step telling his "core" to compile the spell and project it in the real world. However, the object enclosed in it is limited to what he can visualize. Light, fire, water, earth, and ice appeared as one would expect but things like Life, Death, Gravity, Soul, and Spirit were too vague to identify, let alone visualize.
Second, he was limited to 3 words or x3 modifier. He determined the limitation when he activated "Light x 3" At that point, his chest felt like bursting and his hazy core seem to be lit with small streaks of lightning. He felt a warm feeling in his chest after, as if his true self has some exercise.
Third, any of the three languages that he knew can be used to write the "runes" and activate the corresponding effect. This can be used to write faster or write on smaller surfaces while maintaining the same effects.
- Alright, now that I have something like a magic system. I can find a way to live longer than one month in this body. I wonder what is causing Arths to have such a limited life span? -
Xylos stood up from the table and collapse soon after. The only thought that went through his mind before he blacked out was - Oh, I see why... -
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
eextreme
eextreme Is there an average number of words per chapter?