Are runes real?

I'm rather curious, could you please clarify something for me? I've heard a lot about runes and their supposed mystical powers, but I'm left wondering - are runes really a thing? Are they ancient symbols with some hidden meaning, or is it all just folklore and imagination? If they are indeed authentic, what kind of evidence supports their existence? And if they do possess some sort of supernatural qualities, how does that fit into our modern understanding of the world? I'm genuinely interested in getting to the bottom of this mystery, so any insights you could provide would be greatly appreciated.