“Now it’s no different.” Baba Yaga said. “Researching Cursed Runes and normal runes is the same thing, yet back when you were a kid, your own ignorance shielded you from fear and expectations.”

“You strived forward, Lith, whereas now you are staring at the stable Cursed Runes and hope that somehow more runes will fall into your lap. Casting the basic runes will only produce their basic effects if you do it by rote.

“How can the Lodestar inspire you if you imagine and will for nothing? How can you and Elysia hear a new rune if you are not looking for one? You find nothing because your mind has remained empty since the moment we got here.

“Being in the Lodestar won’t be of any help unless you decide what you want to achieve and what form it must take. Having a guide is useless if the traveler refuses to move his feet.

“Even a journey of a thousand kilometers starts with taking one step. That’s how you created your first spells as a child and how you tapped into Zero Magic as an adult. You wanted something to happen, and magic answered your will, turning it into reality.”

Lith nodded and traced the rune for the Chaos Element again.

“Ekrasu!” The hand sign and magic word were the same, producing another small Chaos bullet.