Chapter 14: Lexi and crafting 101

Crafting 101

"Alexis, that's why Pariah is a class S priority threat. You don't even realize it, but you're thankful and glad for the item you received those are the karmic threads holding you."

"Lexi!"

A shiver ran down my spine as Mom's words echoed in my mind, a chilling reminder of how easily I had been manipulated. The most frightening part wasn't the Pariah's deception, but my own reaction, being grateful for his 'gift.' Manipulated by fate itself, and bound by threads I didn't even know existed, all because I hadn't repaid the price. The hold it had over me was firm.

"Lexi!"

I jolted awake from the spiral of thoughts haunting me since that encounter. How could I have let myself be so easily fooled? How had I fallen into his web so unknowingly?

"Ouch!" I muttered, rubbing my temple as Aunt Nora's fingers snapped against my forehead. The sharp flick pulled me out of my daze.

Her eyes were sharp and stern only when talking and working at her craft did she take on this persona, as she sighed and crossed her arms. "I've been calling you for a while now."

"Ouch!" she flicked again.

'Damn that stings…'

Her piercing gaze met mine, arms crossed as she exhaled sharply, clearly losing patience.

"Lexi, I need you to stay focused," she said, her tone a blend of reprimand and concern.

"I know your mind's been elsewhere, but we're here for a reason. You can't let yourself get lost in those thoughts forever, not with what we're doing today."

I blinked, slowly pulling myself from the lingering shadows of the Pariah's manipulation. Aunt Nora always knew how to cut straight through the fog in my mind, even when I didn't realize I was stuck in it.

She tilted her head slightly, eyes softening for a moment before her voice regained its no-nonsense edge.

"Now," she continued, "do you even remember why we're here together? Or were you too busy thinking about that cursed earring?"

I let out a sigh, I didn't even bother to reply knowing that would lead me into more trouble, and to her credit no one, not even her, had been able to figure out these earrings.

I can't take them off, and neither can I use them yet I think. I did get the feeling that in due time I'll be able to use them.

This led to the trouble that I now realized fated item or not I was supposed to have the accursed earring right now. The feeling from the earring was difficult to explain but with EXIRA I get that they are waiting for some trigger, what exactly no idea.

Not to mention the weight of recent events still clinging to me, but I forced myself to refocus.

"Yeah, I remember," I replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite everything. "We're here to craft those artifacts... for Edward, Alice, and Aunt Mel and possibly one more if any materials are left."

Nora's expression softened slightly, though a hint of a smirk played at her lips.

"Good. That means I haven't completely lost you to your brooding." She stepped forward, uncrossing her arms and gesturing to the materials spread across the workbench.

"Let's get to it. I'm not going to do all the work while you sit there sulking."

Aunt Nora leaned against the table, crossing her arms with a knowing smile. "Alright, Lexi," she began, her voice teasing but with a touch of challenge, "since you've been so deep in thought, let's see if you can still remember why we're here. What's the crafting process I taught you again?"

I blinked, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts of the Pariah.

Aunt Nora's sharp gaze was on me, and I knew she wasn't going to let me off easy. Scratching the back of my head, I smirked. "Pfft, come on, Aunt Nora. You're really testing me now?"

"Maybe I am," she replied, her smile widening. "Or maybe I'm just making sure you didn't lose any brain cells during that... incident."

' Ouch, she is really savage…'

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help grinning. "Alright, alright. First, we make the mold. That's the blueprint, The shape and form of whatever we're crafting."

"Good, go on." Aunt Nora nodded, her eyes glinting with approval.

"Then we move to the forging part, actually crafting the item into that desired shape. That's where it gets tricky depending on the material."

She leaned closer, mockingly serious. "And after that?"

I raised a brow, pausing for dramatic effect. "Activating the material so it can be receptive to the enchantments. You coat it with an energy-conductive layer."

Nora chuckled. "Not bad, keep going."

"And finally, you lay down the enchantments we want on the artifact." I gave her a look half-relieved I'd remembered everything.

She gave me a small flick on the arm, smiling. "Well done, Lexi. Looks like there's still some hope for you after all."

Aunt Nora tapped her chin thoughtfully, eyeing the materials they'd gathered. "So, Lexi, what exactly do you plan to use these artifacts for? What's the purpose behind them?" She glanced at me, her curiosity genuine.

I leaned over the workbench, thinking for a moment before answering. "I'm aiming for something defense-based, like shields at their core, but with a little extra. I want them to have healing properties, maybe some mind-calming or relaxing enchantments too." I shrugged, feeling a bit unsure. "

You know, something that could keep the people I care about safe and in good shape, They are workaholics and outright refuse any extravagant help one of the reasons the materials are of only decent quality"

Aunt Nora smiled, nodding approvingly. "A thoughtful approach some people have their own pride and their lives are entirely different than yours give them time. Lexi not like you accepting gifts from random strangers with criminal vibes."

I could feel my eyes twitch, 'she is not gonna let this go…'

" Shields with healing and mental protection, huh? That's a nice combination. Sounds like you're looking out for them in more ways than one."

"Exactly," I replied. "Edward and Alice... they're going to need something like that. And Aunt Mel works too hard at her diner. I don't want to just protect them from physical harm, but also from, you know... stress, mental strain."

"Wise choice." Aunt Nora's eyes twinkled with approval. "Alright, so what shape are you thinking? A bracelet? A ring? What?"

I glanced at the materials I'd picked up earlier from the bazaar, recalling their qualities. "I was actually thinking of making them into necklace-like pendants. Magical silk for the activation base. It's got excellent energy conductivity, right?"

She raised an eyebrow and quickly appraised the silk. "Hmm, you're right. This stuff has good conductive properties. It'll serve nicely as a base for the activation layer. What about the metals?"

I pointed to the pile. "Mitir, Sallowstone, and Oretheon. All good conductors, and they're durable too. For the enchantments, I'll use two rubies and an emerald as the cores. They should bind everything together pretty well."

Aunt Nora's eyes lit up, impressed. "Looks like you've put some thought into this. Good choices all around. Let's get to work on that necklace pendant, then."

We got to work as the forge blazed to life, its intense heat filling the room until the air itself seemed to ripple and distort. The light from the molten flames cast dancing shadows across the walls, creating a warm, almost hypnotic atmosphere. Aunt Nora, ever the professional, handed me a sturdy pair of gloves, their thick leather worn with use. I slid them on and grabbed the pieces of Mitir, feeling the weight of the metal even through the gloves.

"Alright, let's get this right," I muttered, placing the Mitir in the crucible and watching it slowly liquefy under the heat. The once-solid, silvery metal glistened as it began to melt, pooling at the bottom like quicksilver, every ripple of molten material mesmerizing to watch.

"Steady now, Lexi," Aunt Nora's voice pulled me back to focus, a calm but firm reminder. "When you pour the metal into the mold, keep it even. You don't want uneven links, or else someone's gonna walk around with a lopsided necklace. That'd be tragic."

She shot me a teasing grin, but there was real craftsmanship behind her words.

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