in the shadowed empire of Veridia, magic is not merely power; it is bloodright, destiny, and a potential death sentence rolled into one. It flows from divine echoes, etching its mark onto flesh and soul, dividing the populace into the blessed and the damned. But this inheritance comes at a chilling price, especially under the paranoid gaze of the Mad High King Tiberius.

Echoes of the Divine

Veridia’s magic stems from the gods themselves, their essence passed down through millennia. From the unions of gods and mortals sprang the Nephilim, and from them, the Runeborn – those who carry the divine spark. Yet, time dilutes even celestial blood; power fades, families obsess over purity, and the marks of the gods become unpredictable whispers rather than resounding commands.  

The Pantheon’s touch manifests as Runes – sacred symbols branding the skin, revealing lineage and potential:  

• Gaia’s Rune of Terra’s Heart promises strength.  
• Zeus’s Rune of Skyfire crackles with storms.  
• Pele’s Rune of Heartfire holds volcanic passion.  
• Poseidon’s Rune of the Sea commands the tides.  
• Hades’s Rune of Death whispers of the underworld.  
• Apollo’s Rune of Radiance offers light and prophecy.  
• Odin’s Rune of the Arcane grants wisdom.  
• Harmonia’s Rune of Balance seeks peace.  
• Nemesis’s Rune of Vengeance demands retribution.  
• Phobos’s Rune of Terror weaponizes fear.  
• Eros’s Rune of Desire commands passion.  
• Metis’s Rune of Logos grants cunning thought.  

One rune marks the Whispering Reborn (“Whips”); two or three, the Echoed Runeborn (“Echoes”); four to six, the Resonant Runeborn (“Ants”); seven to ten, the powerful Symphonic Runeborn (“Syms”); and the legendary, near-mythical Chordant Runeborn (“Dissonants” or “God Touched”) bear eleven or twelve.  

The Great Divide: Runeborn vs. Null

This divine lottery creates a stark, brutal divide. The Runeborn, varied as their powers may be, often stand above. The Nulls, born without magic’s kiss, are deemed lesser – the backbone of labor, often facing prejudice, exploitation, and a quiet desperation that breeds simmering resentment. In Veridia, lacking magic often means lacking worth in the eyes of the powerful.  

The Mad King’s Test – The Sacred Tears

This division is codified by fear. King Tiberius, haunted by prophecies of his downfall by a Runeborn of specific, combined power, decreed the Mandatory Testing. At twenty-one, every soul must report to the capital, face the chilling ritual pool known as the “Sacred Tears of the Gods”.  

You step into the freezing, shimmering water. If magic slumbers within, the water ignites, and runes blaze into existence on your skin – searing brands of divine connection. Manifest power? You are property of the state, shipped to Runestone Academy to be trained and utilized. Manifest the wrong power – the combination Tiberius hunts? You simply vanish. The Test isn’t about potential; it’s about control. It’s about identifying and eliminating threats to a paranoid King’s bloody reign.  

will the King’s fear extinguish your spark before it can ignite?

In Veridia, your very blood can be a blessing or a death warrant. The runes you bear are scars of divinity, painting a target or path to power. Will magic save you, or will the King’s fear extinguish your spark before it can ignite? Dive into The Rune-Bound Chronicles to witness the true price of power.