Chapter 15: Enchanting 101

I smirked back, steadying my grip as I poured the shimmering liquid into the mold. Using EXIRA helped maintain tabs on things.

The chain links began to take form as the Mitir flowed into place, the metallic surface gleaming under the flickering light of the forge. "Can't have Alice walking around with a crooked piece of junk, right?"

"Exactly," Aunt Nora chuckled, her voice rich with amusement. "And poor Edward... you know he'd never hear the end of it if his sister's jewelry looked like something a toddler slapped together. No pressure though."

I laughed but focused on the task at hand. As the Mitir cooled, it hardened into solid chain links, each one smooth and flawless.

The metal had a slight iridescent quality to it, catching the light and reflecting soft hues of blue and silver. Satisfied with the result, we moved on to the Sallowstone and Oretheon, both of which had slightly different textures and densities.

We heated them carefully, melting them down to form the sockets that would eventually hold the rubies and emeralds, the heart of the enchantments.

The Sallowstone in particular had a faint glow to it, even before being enchanted. Its natural energy resonated with something deep within me, as if it were alive, pulsing in rhythm with the forge's flames. Aunt Nora noticed it too and smiled knowingly. "Always love working with Sallowstone," she commented. "Feels like it's got its own heartbeat, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," I nodded, watching as the Oretheon and Sallowstone melded together in the socket mold. "Almost makes me feel like we're forging something more than just an artifact. Like it's alive, or something."

"Well," Aunt Nora said thoughtfully, "in a way, you're right. These materials have their own essence, their own life force. That's what makes them perfect for enchanting."

With the metalwork finished, we moved on to processing the magical silk. It was delicate work. We ground the silk into a fine, shimmering powder, its pale strands catching the forge's light like dust caught in a sunbeam. I took my time coating the chain and socket with the powder, carefully layering it until both pieces shimmered with a subtle glow.

"This stuff is amazing," I muttered, more to myself than to Aunt Nora.

The silk clung to the metal in a way that seemed almost supernatural, fusing with it, as if becoming one entity. "You'd think something like this light would just blow away, but it sticks like glue."

Aunt Nora gave a small, approving nod, inspecting the coated pieces with a practiced eye. "That's the beauty of magical silk. Once processed, it's not just for show it's highly attuned to energy flow. Perfect for enchantments. Now that it's bonded to the metal, this thing's going to conduct energy like a dream."

With the pieces left to cool and stabilize, we took a step back, letting out a collective breath of relief.

The hardest part was the physical crafting was done. We'd shaped the raw materials into the base of something powerful, something meaningful. The satisfaction of creation filled me, the forge's warmth fading as we let the pieces solidify.

Aunt Nora stretched, rubbing her arms as she eyed the work with an approving smile.

"Not bad, Lexi. Now, while these beauties cool down and settle, let's talk about the next step: enchantments. Got any brilliant ideas?"

I leaned back, thinking about the possibilities. The excitement of what came next was palpable, but I kept it cool. "Yeah, I've got a few ideas but let me think for a moment.

"So, I'm thinking the core enchantment will be protection, like a shield that can auto-detect threats and manifest when needed. I want it to be strong, with some mild healing and a calming effect for the mind as a bonus."

"Hmm, not bad," Aunt Nora mused, nodding thoughtfully. "That could definitely work. Now, tell me the specific enchantments. I'll apply them since you're not quite there yet with your skills. But pay attention when I'm enchanting, use EXIRA to get a feel for the feedback."

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I focused. I let my mind sink into the knowledge, recalling the lessons Aunt Nora had drilled into me over time. I could feel the threads of power slowly coming together, weaving themselves into a larger picture in my head.

After a moment, I heard Aunt Nora's expectant voice break through the quiet. "So, Lexi, what have you come up with?"

'Huu…'

I took a deep breath, calling upon EXIRA, focusing the energy to infuse my words with intent as I spoke. "Protego... no, that's not quite right... Aegis... yes, Aegis Sentientia."

"Aegis Sentientia for the core, and Sana…"

"Very good, Lexi!" Aunt Nora's voice rang with approval, slipping easily into her teacher mode.

"It seems all those lessons and books weren't for nothing. Aegis Sentientia will form an auto-shield, but remember, it's not just Sana, Lexi."

I smiled slightly, appreciating her praise as she continued, "Considering recent events and the fact that these are for your friends, I'll let you off easy this time. Watch closely, I'll finish them for you."

With that, I felt her EXIRA surge, filling the entire room with its powerful presence. The strength was unmistakable, but unlike Mom's raw dominance, Aunt Nora's EXIRA commanded a sense of reverence, as if it demanded respect rather than fear.

"Lexi! Focus!" Her sharp voice jolted me back, and I quickly directed my EXIRA towards observing, letting my awareness slip into a deeper focus. Everything around us seemed to fade away, leaving only her and the items she was about to enchant.

"Aegis Sentientia, Praesidia Inimicus, Sana Corpus, Serenare Mentem!"

Aunt Nora's soft voice echoed through the air as the energy around us converged, flowing towards the three pendants in front of her.

I watched closely, sensing the intent behind each word, each gesture, as she molded the enchantments with flawless precision, weaving them into the fabric of the items. I understood what she was doing, and felt the power behind it, but putting it into words was impossible. The glow around the items faded, leaving behind three pendants, radiating with immense power and purpose.

'Damn... even with subpar materials, she managed to turn these into A-Rank items.'

.

.

.