Lingua-Arcana is the only form of magic not known to draw from the Anthem, nor require a caster to upkeep produced effects. Lingua-Arcana refers to arcane glyphs and runes, a practice that is ancient and understood by very few artisans. There are specific runes that produce particular effects when etched into conjoined, vertical sequences. These runes can match the abilities of most casters, though it is unfortunately significantly harder, as they do not draw from the Anthem - in fact, it is said the Anthem draws from them. These runes have been discovered over the course of history, at first by accident, but the rest by sheer brute force - new ones are still occasionally being discovered by a dying breed of artisans, who use specialised tools made of meteorite to make their etchings, as meteorite chisels and blades do not lose their edge as easily, or sometimes ever at all.

They are crafted by etching a sequence of very particular runes (lines and angles must be correct to an atomic level, angles precise and width exact) into a surface. There has thus far been no limit as to what a 'surface' dictates - if there is a meaningful difference between what is etched and what is not, then a rune may be etched there. Sometimes the effects of runes are mundane, a sending stone, a way to communicate long distances through two objects etched together in the same moment by tools from the same meteor. Sometimes, they can redirect or deflect arcana before it forms into a spell, preventing it from passing places or limiting it in others. Other times, they can be used to emit, emit heat or absorb heat quickly and diffuse it (basically, 'emitting' cold). While small amounts of elements have been able to be emitted, usually in the form of eternal candles, there hasn't been much success for such a thing beyond pure utility.

 
They are called runes most commonly, especially by arcane scholars - they are also called mother-runes by Champions of the Gods and the divinely dedicated, but called star-runes by Heirs of the Dragons. Why these distinctions are made is unknown, but it makes no difference to rune-writers.