In this chapter, we learn that the young man in the mask is a "runemaster" . This is a term used to describe a person who has the power to control the laws of nature. In other words, the person who controls the laws is the master of the universe. The young man, however, is not a master. He is merely a "young human novice" , and he has no experience in the arts of running. He claims that he can cut through a flame-sword with an inscription knife, and that he is able to do so because of his "soul energy." This is, of course, a reference to the ancient saying, "The soul of a man can do more than the soul of his body." The narrator is amazed at the speed with which this young man has been able to accomplish this feat. He wonders if the man is really a "senior runemaster," a title reserved for a man who has spent a great deal of time and effort in