Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 21 - Rune-Net

CH21 Rune-Net

***

”This product is still in its conceptual stage,” Alex began cautiously, ”but I hope that, based on what Iʼve already shown you, Iʼve earned enough credibility for you to believe I can make it happen.”

Pinchcoin and Zora nodded instinctively. Only Merlin maintained his unreadable, stoic expression.

Alex took a breath and launched into his pitch.

”The Enclaveʼs library houses one of the largest collections of scrolls in all of Pangea. There are likely thousands—perhaps hundreds of thousands—of unique documents and manuscripts stored within its walls.”

The others blinked, clearly caught off guard. This wasnʼt the direction they had expected him to go.

”Yet, no matter how diligently theyʼre preserved, damage is inevitable. Whether through deliberate acts, neglect, or simply the wear of time—documents will be lost.

”And for a library of this magnitude, space becomes a major constraint. Letʼs not forget the difficulty of categorising and retrieving documents. Without the help of overworked staff, most people canʼt even find what theyʼre looking for.”

Alex raised his voice slightly, letting the weight of his next words linger.

”But what if I told you there was a way to store these documents without requiring all that space?

”What if I told you there was a way to access them anytime, anywhere, without needing to rely on library staff?

”What if I told you multiple people could read the same document simultaneously—without the need to copy or duplicate it?

”What if I told you we could restrict access based on credentials—ensuring that no bribes or nepotism could circumvent the rules?

”And finally, what if I told you the Enclave could profit from the distribution of knowledge... without burdening its own resources—or the purses of its citizens?”

He paused.

They were hooked.

Even Merlinʼs eyes narrowed ever so slightly in thought.

Alex smiled.

”Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: the Rune Network.

”Rune-Net, for short.”

He stepped forward, voice brimming with conviction.

”Using Runes, I can create a virtual space—a digital construct—where the contents of the entire library can be copied and stored. This virtual library can then be accessed from anywhere, through any terminal linked to the network.

”It wonʼt matter how many people access a book at once. The system will display the same content to everyone simultaneously, ending the era of ʼno available copiesʼ.

”Users will be able to search for knowledge based on any detail they remember: the title, date of publication, a phrase, or even a subject tag. If they know something, they can find it.”

He took another step forward, voice gaining momentum.

”We can also regulate access. Acolytes will only see what is permitted for their rank. Restricted or forbidden knowledge will remain secure—access granted only to those with the proper clearance.

”And yes, this virtual system can generate income. Weʼll implement the subscription model to it as well. To access a terminal, users will create non-transferable accounts tied to their identity. Funds deposited into the account will be deducted as they read paid texts.”

He looked each of them in the eye.

”The entire process will be seamless—comfortable. So much so, that using this Rune-Net library will become the default way to access information in the Enclave.”

Then, he allowed himself a small, knowing smile.

”And if all goes well...

”In a few years, weʼll be able to shrink the terminal and integrate it into the Brick Phone.

”At that point, knowledge itself will be as easy to access as oneʼs own fingertips.”

Alex waited silently as Pinchcoin, Merlin, and Zora processed his words and their implications.

Merlin was the first to speak.

”Will you need to be involved in every aspect of this virtual library?”

”No,” Alex replied, shaking his head. ”My role ends with the creation of the virtual space. Once thatʼs done, itʼll be up to the Enclaveʼs staff to fill and maintain the library.

”In essence, Iʼm only building the world. Once it exists, as long as they have the right permissions, anyone will be able to add or alter content within it.”

”Good,” Merlin nodded firmly. ”As laudable as this project is, I will not allow you to be shackled by it.”

Alex acknowledged the sentiment with a respectful nod.

Next came a flurry of questions from Zora and Pinchcoin, the latter diving headfirst into the technical specifics with enthusiastic intensity.

”How will the contents of a book be transferred into the virtual space?” Pinchcoin asked.

”A scanner rune circuit,” Alex explained. ”It will scan and copy the bookʼs contents without harming the physical manuscript or its contents .”

”And how will a user be able to view the information?”

”There are multiple options. We can connect a holographic projector array to the terminal, allowing it to visually display the information. Alternatively, users can interface with the terminal telepathically, receiving the data directly into their minds.”

He paused before adding, ”In the future, we could even add audio functionality—embedding recordings into the virtual library. With speakers attached to the terminal, users could listen to books, lectures, or instructional scrolls. The possibilities are endless.”

Pinchcoin tapped his foot, still not satisfied.

”How much physical space will this Rune-Net save?”

”Thatʼs hard to say until I have a working prototype,” Alex admitted. ”But based on my current estimates, even a low-grade Moro Crystal should be able to store at least a thousand books.”

Pinchcoin fired off more questions.

The more Alex answered, the more restless Pinchcoin became. The gnome finally burst out:

”What are the terms?!”

Alex grinned.

”For the Brick Phone and the General Address System, the Enclave will handle production and sales. Iʼll provide technical support and strategic input. In return, I want a profit split—forty percent for me, sixty percent for the Enclave.

”My forty percent wonʼt be paid in gold, though. I want it in materials and expertise.”

Pinchcoin opened his mouth, but Alex raised a finger.

”As for the Rune-Net... I donʼt want payment. All I ask is unlimited access to the system once itʼs up and running.”

His tone was calm, but the resolve behind it was ironclad.

Alex wasnʼt doing this just to introduce the conveniences of his old world—information access and communications. He had far more strategic reasons.

The DragonHold Enclave was a titan, not just within the Virellian Empire but across all of Pangea. Its logistical reach, stockpile of rare materials, and library of arcane knowledge rivalled even the most ancient noble houses.

Gold? He could always earn more gold in the future. But sources of rare and magical materials? Those were far fewer and far more precious.

In the long term, gold would lose its value to him. As a mage, mana stones would become the true currency of power. And for his Rune-Tech to evolve, a stable supply of high-grade materials—elemental stones, refined crystals, high-grade metals—would be critical.

A formal partnership with the Enclave would secure him all of that and more. Not one born merely of his discipleship under Merlin—something anyone could theoretically buy with gold—but a deeper, institutional relationship.

Moreover, introducing Rune-Techʼs version of the Internet wasnʼt just about aiding the Enclaveʼs library.

He had other motives.

Much larger ones.

One of the key reasons artificial intelligence couldnʼt be built overnight—even in Alexʼs previous world—was because, much like humans, an AI needed to undergo a structured learning process.

After implementing foundational machine learning principles that enabled the AI to adapt and improve itself, Alex now had to feed it data—raw knowledge that would serve as the basis for its evolution. The AI had to learn, refine, and develop along the ʼinstinctsʼ and protocols Alex embedded within its design.

At present, the OmniRune Core was being trained using data from Alexʼs own memories.

Thanks to the fusion of the Greater Rune with his Mindspace, Alex didnʼt just have greater control over the Rune—it could now also access his personal resources.

In other words, Alex had become the AIʼs biological hardware.

When not operating through the Tear of Zan—its dedicated inorganic computational device—the AI used Alexʼs mind as its central processor, his memories as its data storage, and his mana and spiritual force as its power source.

But there were limits.

While Alexʼs body and mind could serve as an effective organic host, his current cultivation rank meant his hardware was still far from ideal—especially during this critical foundational learning stage.

As he advanced in rank, his enhanced physique and mental faculties would translate into upgraded processing power for the OmniRune Core. However, no matter how much he grew, there would always be a ceiling on the data he alone could provide.

Which was why his gaze had turned to the Enclaveʼs library.

Alexʼs offer to help build the Rune-Net wasnʼt solely an act of goodwill. He had two very specific ulterior motives.

First, running the Rune-Net would require a sophisticated array of hardware.

A single Tear of Zan wouldnʼt be nearly enough.

Constructing and maintaining the network would demand a powerful assembly of materials—rare alchemical compounds, advanced Forgesmithing solutions, and enchanted constructs. This infrastructure would inevitably possess far more computational capacity than the library itself required.

Excess computation power that Alex fully intended to harness for his OmniRune Core.

It would save him the effort and cost of developing such a high-end system from scratch.

Second—and more importantly—by digitising the Enclaveʼs vast repository of knowledge and securing unlimited access to it, Alex would gain a training data set of unparalleled scope.

An ever-expanding library that could continuously educate and refine his AI.

He wasnʼt just building a network.

He was building the mind that would one day rival—or perhaps surpass—his own.

***