Location: Starforge Nexus - Pavilion Crafting Workshop | Luminari Artifact Dimensional Fold
Time: Month One, Week Three (Day 17 of Training)
The workshop smelled like metal and possibility.
Jayde stood in the doorway, taking it in. Workbenches lined the walls—solid wood, scarred with burn marks and blade cuts. Tools hung in precise rows: hammers, chisels, files, things she didn't have names for. A forge burned in the corner, flames dancing without fuel, radiating heat that tasted like Inferno essence.
(This is different.) Jade's voice held curiosity. (Not like the training grounds or the garden.)
Crafting facility. Production-focused rather than combat-oriented. Interesting expansion of available resources.
"Welcome to where real power is made," Green said. She was standing beside one of the workbenches, a practice sword laid out before her. "Sparkcasting is flashy. Useful. But temporary. You throw fire, it burns, it's gone. Runeinfusion—" She picked up a chisel. "—is permanent. Or at least, more permanent."
Jayde approached the bench. The practice sword was identical to the ones she'd been using with White—simple steel, straight blade, leather-wrapped grip. Nothing special.
"Runeinfusion is the second magic school," Green continued. Her fractured emerald eyes caught the forge light. "Where Sparkcasting projects essence externally, Runeinfusion binds it. Carves patterns into objects that channel and contain Ember Qi. Creates tools, weapons, armor that carry cultivation power even when you're not actively casting."
She traced a finger along the blade's flat. Where she touched, golden light followed—thin lines forming complex geometric patterns that looked almost like writing.
Essence inscription. Physical medium for Qi storage. Clever workaround for constant casting requirement.
"This is a basic Radiance pattern," Green said. The lines pulsed gently. "Simple illumination. Blade glows when essence flows through it. Useful for fighting in darkness, tracking blood trails, intimidating opponents who fear magic."
The light faded as she lifted her finger.
"Your turn."
***
Green handed Jayde the chisel.
It was heavier than expected. The handle was warm—already holding essence from previous use. The blade was sharp enough to cut steel, narrow enough for fine detail work.
"First rule of Runeinfusion," Green said. "Never rush. Carving essence patterns requires precision. One mistake, one line slightly wrong, and the entire pattern fails. At best, it simply doesn't work. At worst—" She gestured at scorch marks on the workbench. "—catastrophic essence discharge that can kill the crafter."
High-risk crafting. Precision requirement similar to bomb disposal.
(Great. Another way to die accidentally.)
"Hold the chisel like this." Green adjusted Jayde's grip. "Firm but not tight. Let the tool do the work. You're guiding, not forcing."
She pointed at the practice blade.
"We'll start simple. A basic Inferno pattern called Flame Edge. Makes the blade retain heat, cuts through material more easily, cauterizes wounds it creates." Green's voice shifted to lecture mode. "The pattern has three components: a gathering rune that pulls Ember Qi from your Crucible Core, a conversion rune that transforms it to Inferno essence, and an output rune that directs the heat along the blade's edge."
Three-stage process. Input, conversion, output. Logical flow architecture.
Green traced the pattern in the air with her finger, leaving glowing lines that hung suspended for a moment before fading.
"Memorize this. You'll need to carve it perfectly from memory. No guidelines. No second chances."
The pattern was complex. Curved lines intersecting at precise angles. Circles within circles. Sharp points at specific locations. It looked like a cross between ancient calligraphy and mathematical proof.
Jayde studied it. Federation training helped—pattern recognition, spatial memorization, replicating complex sequences under pressure. She'd memorized orbital approach vectors more complicated than this.
Pattern recorded. Ninety-three percent confidence in accurate reproduction.
"I've got it," Jayde said.
Green raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
"Federation training. We memorized star charts. This is simpler."
"Confidence is good. Overconfidence kills." Green gestured at the blade. "Prove it. Carve the pattern. But first—" She held up a hand. "—feel the blade. Understand its essence."
What?
"Every object has an innate essence," Green explained. "Not Ember Qi. Not cultivation power. Just... nature. This blade is metal. Metallurge essence runs through it naturally, even before Runeinfusion. You need to feel that essence, understand how it flows, before you can impose your own pattern on it."
She placed Jayde's hand on the flat of the blade.
"Close your eyes. Extend your awareness. Like checking your Crucible Core, but outward instead of inward."
Jayde obeyed.
Closed her eyes. Reached out with—what? Not her hand. Not physical sense. Some new awareness that came with cultivation, the ability to perceive essence beyond normal senses.
The blade was cold against her palm.
But beneath that—
Silver light. Thin threads of Metallurge essence woven through the steel's crystalline structure. Not strong. Not refined. Just present. The natural essence of worked metal, shaped and folded and tempered into weapon form.
(It's alive. Not really, but kind of.)
Essence signature detected. Weak but stable. Metallurge-aligned. Compatible with Inferno inscription—complementary essences, not antagonistic.
"Good," Green said. "You're feeling it. Now understand: When you carve runes, you're not just marking the surface. You're imposing your essence pattern onto the object's natural flow. Redirecting it. Enhancing it. Making it serve your purpose."
She opened her eyes.
"If your pattern conflicts with the natural essence, the infusion fails. Metal accepts Inferno well—heat tempers steel stronger. But trying to infuse water essence into metal? Disaster. The essences fight, the pattern breaks, catastrophic discharge."
Compatibility requirements. Material science meets cultivation mechanics.
"How do I know what's compatible?"
"Experience. Trial. Occasionally error." Green's smile was grim. "But for now, trust me: Inferno and Metallurge work together. Carve."
***
The first line went wrong immediately.
Jayde pressed the chisel to the blade's surface. Drew it along what should've been a smooth curve. The metal resisted—not physically, but essentially. Her Inferno essence wanted to flow through the chisel, but the blade's Metallurge essence pushed back.
The line came out jagged. Wrong.
Excessive force. Essence imbalance. Recalculate approach.
"Stop." Green's hand caught Jayde's wrist. "You're forcing it. Fighting the metal. That's not how Runeinfusion works."
She guided Jayde's hand back to the starting position.
"The blade doesn't want to accept your essence. Why should it? You're a stranger. An invader." Green's voice dropped. "You need to convince it. Show respect. Offer partnership rather than domination."
(How do you convince metal?)
"By matching its rhythm." Green pressed her hand over Jayde's on the chisel. "Feel the Metallurge flow. Find its pulse. Then align your Inferno essence to complement rather than override."
Jayde felt Green's Radiance essence flowing through the connection—not taking control, just demonstrating. Showing how to let her Ember Qi sync with the blade's natural pattern.
Synchronization required. Energy matching. Harmonics.
She tried again.
This time, when the chisel touched metal, she didn't push. She asked. Let her Inferno essence flow gently, finding spaces in the Metallurge structure where heat was welcome. Where fire could enhance rather than destroy.
The line carved smoothly.
Perfect curve. Clean edges. The metal accepted it like the pattern had always been there, just waiting to be revealed.
"Better," Green said. She released Jayde's hand. "Continue. The full pattern. Take your time."
***
Two hours later, Jayde finished the last line.
Her hand was cramping. Her Ember Qi was down to thirty points—carving drained essence constantly, even without active casting. Sweat dripped down her face despite the workshop's comfortable temperature.
But the pattern was done.
Three runes, interconnected in precise geometry, were carved into the practice blade's surface. They looked right. Felt right. The Metallurge essence in the steel had accepted the Inferno pattern, woven it into the existing structure.
Task completed. Accuracy uncertain. Require verification.
(Did we do it? Is it right?)
"Only one way to find out," Green said. She'd been sitting on a stool the entire time, watching in silence. Now she stood, examined the blade closely. "Runes are properly formed. Connections are intact. Depth is adequate. Theoretically functional."
She handed the blade back to Jayde.
"Activate it. Channel your Inferno essence through the pattern. Let's see if it holds."
Moment of truth. Potential catastrophic failure. Recommend minimum safe distance.
"What happens if it doesn't work?"
"Best case: Nothing. Pattern fails inert." Green stepped back. "Worst case: Essence discharge, blade explodes, you lose several fingers."
(WHAT?)
"Joking," Green said. Her expression suggested she wasn't entirely joking. "Mostly. Just channel carefully. If you feel resistance, stop immediately."
Jayde held the blade. Drew Inferno essence from her Crucible Core—gently, carefully, like approaching a nervous animal. Guided it through her meridians to her hand. Let it flow into the runes she'd carved.
The pattern lit up.
Orange-red light blazed along the carved lines, spreading from gathering rune to conversion rune to output rune. Heat surged through the blade. The edge glowed, radiating warmth that made the air shimmer.
Successful activation. Essence flow stable. Temperature elevated approximately two hundred degrees Celsius. No structural failure detected.
"Well," Green said. She sounded surprised. "That actually worked. First try. Impressive."
(We did it! We actually made magic!)
The blade felt different in Jayde's hand now. Not just metal. Alive with essence. Eager. Waiting to cut, to burn, to serve its purpose.
"How much Qi is it using?" Green asked.
Jayde checked. Her Crucible Core was draining steadily—slower than active Sparkcasting, but continuous. "About three points per minute. Maybe less."
"Acceptable for a basic infusion." Green nodded. "Deactivate it. Reactivate. Practice the control."
Jayde cut the essence flow.
The runes dimmed. The heat faded. The blade returned to normal steel.
She activated it again.
Orange-red glow. Immediate heat. Three points per minute drain.
Deactivated.
Activated.
After the fifth cycle, it felt natural. Instinctive. Like flipping a switch.
Repeatable activation confirmed. Control established. Weapon enhancement operational.
"Now test it," Green said. She gestured at a training dummy in the corner—a wooden post wrapped in leather and cloth. "Cut through that. Compare to uninfused blade performance."
***
The difference was dramatic.
Without infusion, Jayde's practice sword required two solid strikes to cut through the dummy's leather wrapping. The blade bit, but the leather was tough. Required force and proper angle.
With infusion active?
The blade sliced through like the leather wasn't there. Heat seared the edges as it cut, parting material through thermal damage as much as a sharp edge. The dummy's wooden core beneath showed burn marks where the blade had touched.
Combat effectiveness significantly enhanced. Estimated fifty percent improvement in cutting power. Cauterization effect prevents bleeding—tactical advantage in extended engagements.
(That's amazing. We made a real weapon.)
"You made a temporary weapon," Green corrected. She'd moved closer, examining the dummy's cut. "Look at your runes."
Jayde checked the blade.
The carved lines were already fading. Not dramatically—still visible, still functional—but less. The edges were slightly blurred. The precise geometry marginally degraded.
"Infusions don't last forever," Green said. "Each activation degrades the pattern slightly. Metal shifts at the molecular level from heat stress. Essence pathways wear. Eventually—" She took the blade, ran her finger along the runes. "—the pattern fails entirely. Maybe after a hundred activations. Maybe a thousand. Depends on craftsmanship quality and usage intensity."
Planned obsolescence. Maintenance requirement. Continuous resource investment is needed.
"So I'll need to re-carve the runes? Regularly?"
"Or find a specialist Runeinfusion cultivator to do it for you. For a price." Green smiled. "This is how crafters make their living. They infuse weapons, armor, and tools. Customers return for maintenance. Sustainable economy based on impermanence."
She handed the blade back.
"For Dark Forest hunts, you'll want three or four infused weapons. Rotate them to distribute wear. Carry spares. Learn to do field repairs when patterns degrade mid-hunt." Green's voice was practical. "Runeinfusion is powerful. But it's not fire-and-forget like Sparkcasting. It requires investment. Attention. Care."
Logistical complexity added to combat operations. Resource management extends beyond Qi to equipment maintenance.
"How long to carve a pattern once I'm skilled?"
"With practice? Twenty minutes for basic infusion. Two hours for complex work. Full day for masterwork-quality inscription that lasts thousands of activations." Green gestured at the workshop. "This is why serious cultivators spend weeks in workshops between hunts. Preparing equipment. Maintaining gear. The actual combat is only part of survival."
(I thought cultivation was about fighting and getting stronger.)
"Common misconception." Green's smile was wry. "Real cultivation is ninety percent preparation, nine percent maintenance, one percent actual exciting combat. The fights are brief. The crafting is eternal."
Aligns with military operations philosophy. Logistics wins wars, not heroics.
***
Green led Jayde deeper into the workshop.
Past the basic workbenches to an area that looked like a museum. Display cases held weapons—swords, spears, daggers—each covered in intricate runic patterns that made Jayde's simple three-rune work look childish.
"Advanced Runeinfusion," Green said. She opened one case, carefully lifted out a blade that seemed to burn with internal fire. The entire surface was covered in runes—hundreds of them, maybe thousands, woven together in patterns so complex they hurt to look at.
"This is a Flamewrought-tier weapon. Created by a master crafter who spent three months carving. Each rune connects to dozens of others. Self-repairing patterns. Adaptive essence flow. Heat regulation that prevents user injury." Green held it reverently. "This blade could cut through Inferno-tempered tier cultivator defenses. Would last ten thousand activations before requiring maintenance."
High-end equipment. Significant force multiplier. Estimated cost: Prohibitive.
"How much would something like this cost?"
"More than your clan's entire annual revenue." Green returned the blade to its case. "Master crafters can name their price. Everyone needs weapons. Only a few can create weapons worth having."
She closed the case.
"But that's the beauty of Runeinfusion as a cultivation path. Crafters advance by creating. Each successful infusion teaches control. Each complex pattern develops precision. Each masterwork pushes limits." Green's expression was distant. "Some of the most powerful cultivators never fought a single battle. They just sat in workshops, perfecting their art, growing stronger through creation rather than destruction."
Alternative advancement methodology. Crafting as a combat equivalent.
(That sounds peaceful. Nice.)
"It's not," Green said. "Crafting demands sacrifice, too. Memories of inspiration burned for breakthrough insights. Emotions sacrificed for steady hands during critical work. Physical vitality consumed by years hunched over workbenches." She gestured at her own hands—delicate, steady, but scarred with old burns. "Every path costs something. Even the peaceful ones."
No escape from the sacrifice requirement. System-wide constraint.
"But for you—" Green turned to Jayde. "—Runeinfusion serves a different purpose. You're not becoming a specialist crafter. You're learning combat enhancement. Practical field maintenance. Enough skill to keep yourself armed in the Dark Forest when patterns degrade."
She pulled out several blank practice blades from storage.
"Three more infusions," Green commanded. "Same Flame Edge pattern. Build muscle memory. Reduce carving time. By the end of today, I want you completing each blade in under ninety minutes."
(Three more? But my hand hurts already.)
Pain is temporary. Skill is permanent. Continue training.
"How many infusions will I need for the Dark Forest?" Jayde asked.
"Ten weapons minimum. Primary blade, backup blade, three spares, two daggers, hunting knife, skinning knife, utility tool." Green counted on her fingers. "Each needs basic Flame Edge at a minimum. Better weapons get advanced patterns—heat regulation, essence channeling, self-repair if you're skilled enough."
Significant time investment. Days of workshop hours.
"How long will that take?"
"At your current skill? Two weeks of intensive work. Four hours daily in the workshop, between combat training and cultivation sessions." Green's smile was sharp. "Welcome to real cultivator life. Where magic is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent tedious manual labor."
She pointed at the blank blades.
"Now carve. You have three infusions to complete before dinner. White wants you for sparring afterward—something about 'testing your new toy against real opponents.'"
(Of course he does.)
Anticipated. White enjoys combining new skills with extreme stress testing.
Jayde picked up the first blank blade. Felt its Metallurge essence. Reached for the chisel.
Two hours per blade. Six hours total. Achievable if no catastrophic failures.
"One more thing," Green said. She was already heading toward the exit. "If you do manage to explode a blade—and statistically, you probably will—try to throw it away from your face first. Facial scarring interferes with essence channeling. Very inconvenient."
The door closed behind her.
Jayde stared at the blade. At the chisel. At the forge burning merrily in the corner.
(She was joking about the explosion, right?)
Probability uncertain. Recommend extreme caution.
"Great," Jayde muttered. She positioned the chisel. Drew Inferno essence. Began the first line.
One rune at a time. One blade at a time. One skill at a time.
The metal accepted her essence.
The pattern began to form.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, Jayde understood:
This was cultivation, too. Not flashy. Not exciting. Just patient, precise work that turned blank metal into deadly tools.
Six hours until dinner. Three blades to complete. Zero explosions permitted.
(Let's not die to our own crafting.)
Agreed. That would be embarrassing.
The chisel moved. The runes formed. The workshop was filled with the quiet sound of essence binding to metal.
One line at a time.
One blade at a time.
Building power through creation rather than destruction.
Just like Green said.