Jacob arrived at Gerald's workshop just as the mage was sorting through a stack of crystals on the desk. Gerald looked up with a grin, wiping his hands on a cloth stained with residue from some failed experiment.
"You made it out alive," Gerald said. "I take it the guildmaster accepted you as his apprentice."
Jacob nodded and took a seat across from him. "He did. Boot camp starts in two weeks. He wants me to push my limits out in the wilds."
Gerald let out a low whistle. "That's no small thing. The guild's training grounds are brutal, but they forge real power. Before you go, though, I need those enchantments. Remember the items I mentioned last time?"
Jacob waved his hand to show it was no issue, "I have some time, I just need to take care of my things at the blacksmith and get a few enchantments and contingencies ready at home. No rush."
That made Gerald smile happily. "Here are the items, I was going to see if you could make a distortion band out of this ring and C-rank water core first. The space is inside the small gem at the top, don't worry about how small it is. Just use your enhancement method and the core will do the heavy lifting."
Jacob raised a brow, "Is it ok for you to tell me that? It sounds kinda like an instruction or a secret."
Gerald's smile turned into a smirk, "Oh, it's not ok for sure, but we can just blame your master now. As long as you don't tell anyone it was me who told you what to do. Besides, I bet you would have figured it out yourself anyway."
Jacob chuckled a bit as he grabbed the items. Looking at the core and ring, he realized a problem.
Well shit. I forgot that I have no idea how to spin up the core of an enchantment as I am applying it. Where would the core even be?
In order to gain a better understanding of how to enhance the enchantment, he decided to go back to the basics and pulled out his mithril inscription tool. He then channeled his magic through his fingers into the tool and observed.
Ok, it looks like there is some sort of pseudo-core in the center of the inscription tool. I guess I never had a reason to look at it this closely. Lets see if this thing will turn.
After concentrating on the tool, he did manage to get the pseudo-core to turn, and quickly managed the second and third turns once he got the hang of it.
Alright, that is fine for the inscription process. But extracting cores is some sort of spell but where would the core of the spell be?
He set his inscription tool down and grabbed the core. Then, he interfaced with the geometric shape in the core by wrapping it with his magic and watching where his GentleHand spell, as he had named it, came from.
After searching the various places in the ethereal plane of magic, he realized where the physical location would be.
Huh, it's in my head.
Once he knew where the core was, spinning it up to the third turn was as simple as any spell, and it allowed him to safely remove the complex geometric shape from the C-rank core, which he promptly placed into the ring.
He finished the enchantment by holding the core in place with Gentle Hand while he used his inscription tool to write the runes he utilized for his burlap sack. With that done, he fully connected the core to the runes with his intent magic while carefully letting the core stretch its mana tendrils into the ring as it pleased.
When he was done, he had sweat on his brow, and he realized that he had actually consumed a large chunk of the magic in his core.
"Wow," Gerald said as Jacob handed him the space ring. "I can't believe that actually worked!"
Jacob was a bit confused. "You sounded so confident in the instructions you gave me?"
Gerald laughed a bit. "Haha, I have no clue about any sort of enchanting method! I was just giving you advice based on things you told me. At this point, I don't think it would hurt your path to tell you this, but I have never heard of someone making a distortion band out of a water core. What the hell does water have to do with stretching space?"
Jacob was dumbstruck. What have I been doing to these poor cores? How does it even work if it's not supposed to work?
"Don't worry about it," Gerald said as he patted Jacob on the back, "Your path is specific to you, magic just works that way. I have learned that there are dozens of ways to craft a spell, and the core components used are not always important."
"I suppose that kinda makes sense," Jacob replied as he nodded his head in confusion.
"Of course, it makes no sense! That's the whole premise of magic! Why do you think I spend so long studying weird enchanted objects? They make no sense!"
Gerald huffed a bit as he seemed to be venting a bit before returning to his relaxed and serious self.
"But this ring, it is better than anything I have ever seen. It could be called a C-rank artifact all on it's own. You should never reveal your ability to make one of these. Not until you have the power to defend yourself from an army. I am serious. They will come for you."
Jacob stood up straight as he also took on a serious demeanor. "Who will come for me?"
"Everyone," Gerald replied while looking Jacob in the eye. Then he stopped looking so serious. "Now that the dark stuff is aside, how about one more enchantment for me?"
Gerald had a bit of a twinkle in his eye that made it hard for Jacob to say no. Before replying, Jacob pushed magic into his head and took a look around.
I am not sure, but this feels like mind magic or something. Why would his puppy dog eyes make me feel like... oh, here it is.
With a flex of his magical power, he snuffed out the invading magic, causing Gerald to flinch.
"I didn't know you were a mind mage," Jacob said as he looked at Gerald wearily.
"Gah," Gerald rubbed his temples before replying. "What the hell is a mind mage? That was just a glamour. Just a smidge of suggestion to point you in the direction you were already going. 'Mind magic' is not a real thing as far as I know."
Jacob furrowed his brows. "Oh, well, don't use that crap on me. It felt weird."
"I know that now," Gerald replied, "It's just a habit I have, sorry. Most people don't mind, but I guess it can be seen as invasive if you have never encountered it before. I apologise. But do remember in the future that it is seen equally as rude to do what you did in social situations. Most people just ask politely in the more civilized areas of the kingdom."
Jacob nodded his head as he started to see the bigger picture. "Thanks for letting me know. Now, what is the second item you wanted, and how are you going to pay for such valuable items?"
Gerald was pleased with Jacobs' developing business outlook.
"I have this wand that I want to have enchanted, but it is made of a special material. The academy has offered to do the enchantment for me, but the price they are asking for is too high for a peak C-rank item. So, I would like to see if you could infuse this C-rank fire core into the material. Any enchantment you manage to put on it after that is just a bonus, as the core itself will elevate my fire casting to the next level."
Jacob looked at Gerald with narrowed eyes. "What kind of special material?"
That caused the mage to smirk before pulling out a wand that looked very similar to the dagger old Thom had given him several months back. The one he still had no idea how to enchant.
"This material has a special name, and it has special properties that amplify magic. But it takes a peak C-rank enchanter to be able to enchant it. Or, someone like you who can boost their enchantment core, or whatever you did to the distortion band, to the third enhancement with tier-0 magic."
That caused Jacob to open his eyes wide as he accepted the wand and the fire core.
As he began to extract the complex geometry, he thought to himself about the dagger back home.
I can add this to the list of things I can do before leaving home for the next several months. I wonder what he plans to give me after I enchant the dagger?
While thinking he managed to merge the geometric shape into the wand with just a bit of concentration. It was much harder than the void gauntlet, but he managed to push the core in.
Then, the fire geometry seemed content in staying inside the core of the wand without interference, but Jacob kept his Gentle Hand spell on it to make sure the enchanting process was not interrupted.
He then used his inscription tool in the same way as with the ring and inscribed a few runes that would replicate his fireball spell and enhance the durability of the wand while allowing it to self-repair. He also managed to use a self-healing rune.
Then, he utilized his intent again to guide the tendrils of the geometric core to the runes, but it also connected seemingly random parts of the wand to other parts in a complex river of pathways.
He felt a sort of resonance with the fire element at this pivotal moment, but as he tried to focus in on the feeling, it faded without fully revealing itself.
He furrowed his brow before looking up at Gerald. "It made many more paths than the water core did."
Gerald nodded. "That is one of the special properties. It can greatly boost fire spells and slightly boost other compatible spells now."
Then he reached out to grab the wand as Jacob handed it to him. He held it for a while before his grin widened.
"Ah, you did not have to make a true artefact out of it, Jacob. Still, you have my thanks. It will truly be an aid in battle. As for the payment I had in mind."
His new distortion band shone for a second before a large sack filled with round objects was in his hand.
"I think a few of each of the D and E-rank cores would help you in your enchanting endeavours. There is also some gold in there for your family farm and a couple of C-rank cores that I think make up for the value you have added to these items. Again, thank you for your help today."
Before Jacob could reply, Gerald scrunched his eyebrows before continuing. "Oh, yes. I almost forgot. Some free information about the guild training your new master is having you take part in. The grove you are going to is filled with excessive life energy, which is transferred to the natural fruits and vegetables present there. This is something they will tell you, as it will speed up your recovery from their training."
Jacob nodded his head as Gerald continued.
"Well, for your particular circumstance, I think it would be best for you to also practice turning your core after you load up on excessive life energy from the fruits. When you do this is up to you, probably best to figure out the normal training schedule. But I would suggest doing it as often as possible, as it will greatly speed up your training, but it will hurt."
"Master did hint at something like that," Jacob said as he stood up to leave. "I feel that your payment is sufficient considering how valuable the information you gave me is. But do keep that glamour to yourself for now on. While I may have to deal with it in the future, I would like to keep our transactions more friendly. You seem to know my master fairly well, so I think we should stick to friendly terms."
This caused Gerald to grin. "Then, my friend, I wish you well over the next few months if I am unable to see you off."
The mage then got up and shook hands with his friend.
Jacob was content with the progress he was making with Gerald.
I just hope he is honest with his words. That glamour thing really freaked me out.
After shaking hands with Gerald, Jacob slowly made his way back to the blacksmith shop.
Frank was already working hard at the forge when Jacob arrived, but he noticed his wagon was already loaded and his mule was chewing on fresh provender.