“Whoa,” Adam whispered, staring at the large shrine ahead of him. The shrine was tucked some ways away from the town, through a winding tunnel in its own intimate corner.

The shrine was made of sturdy standing stones, encircling a large patterned floor. The entire area, not just the stones, ere engraved with ancient symbols Adam couldn’t comprehend. The sun shone from above, providing them with light and warmth, and its power.

“To use the shrine you must place the gems on the stone,” Zijin said, patting a stone, “and must remain within the with the weapon touching the altar at all times.”

“Right,” Adam replied, nodding his head. “Seems simple enough.”

“Someone will check on you every short while to make sure you haven’t killed yourself,” said the orcish Iyrman.

“How lovely.” Adam stepped up towards the shrine, rubbing his hand all along the stone. Though it looked rough, it was smooth to the touch, like a pebble. “How old is this?”

“As old as the Iyr,” Zijin replied, simply.

“How many shrines are there?” Adam asked. There was no way a place like this only had one shrine, not when there were so many Iyrmen with tons of magical weapons.

Zijin smiled a toothy smile, but did not answer the half elf’s question.

‘Right, what a stupid question.’ Adam just nodded his head in understanding. “I’ll be sure to leave it as I found it.”

“Many thanks, son of Fate.”

“I guess I should get to enchanting then.” Adam stretched his neck, readying himself for a long day of enchanting.

“I will bring a stool.”

“A stool?”

Zijin smiled. “It would be best.”

Adam raised his brow towards the orc, who left. He placed the gems down on the stones, each worth at least fifty gold pieces, one on each of the six standing stones, and a seventh on the floor, right at the centre. Zijin returned, placing down the stool, before leaving Adam be.

Mana: 3 -> 2

Enchanting

D20 + 4 + 2 = 14 (8)

Omen: 7, 12 -> 7

12 + 4 + 2 = 18

Adam sat on the stool and gently rested the axe head on the gem. He inhaled deeply, before channelling his Mana into the axe. As the sun beat down from above, he could feel the heat fill him, before the runes around him glowed gently.

The gems began to crackle with might as the glowing runes pulsed like a heartbeat, light rippling through the runes towards the axe. The rhythmic pulsing continued, filling the axe with great power. He clutched the weapon tight within his hand, feeling the strength within it.

‘Whoa.’ The magical power surged through him and the axe.

He remained on the stool for hours, concentrating on the axe, though it felt like only moment passed before the gems cracked, turned to dust, and followed the light of the runes, before engraving itself on the axe. The gem dust settled on the dark steel of the axe, almost invisible.

“Whoa.” It was the only word he could think of as he stared down at the axe. “Wait, did I just spend three hundred and fifty gold and not make an enchanted weapon? What happened?”

A moment of silence passed.

“Hey, Bell?”

[Yes?]

“Did I just waste the three hundred plus gold?”

[No. You must concentrate for a few more days and expend more Mana for the gem dust to settle deeper within the weapon.]

“Oh,” Adam said.

He stepped out, almost walking into an Iyrman. She was tall, wearing the heavy furs of the Iyr.

She grunted at him and nodded. “Did you enchant well?”

“I think so,” Adam replied. ‘Ah, she must have been checking on me to make sure I didn’t die.’

“Many fortunes, elf.”

“Half,” Adam replied, “but you too.”

The Iyrman nodded, escorting Adam away from the shrine and towards the town, back to the Rot family.

“You been here for long?” Adam asked, casually.

The Iyrmen threw him a confused glance. “What?”

“I mean, you know, in the Iyr.”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“My entire life.”

“Have you ever left the Iyr?”

“Yes.”

“To adventure?”

“Yes.”

“What rank did you become?”

“Steel.”

“Oh, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m Adam, son of Fate.”

“Shazel, daughter of Hazel.”

“Oh, I knew a Hazel,” Adam said. “She was nice.”

The Iyrman nodded her head.

‘That was so awkward,’ Adam thought. ‘I’m never going to make small talk with an Iyrman again.’

They walked back in silence for the rest of the journey.

Adam walked up to the Rot family door, knocking on it. He knocked twice heavily and once lightly.

“You’ve returned,” Sonarot said, looking through the window. She disappeared and opened the door, inviting Adam inside. “How did you do?”

“Well.” Adam turned to thank Shazel, but she had disappeared. ‘She must not like me.’

“May I see it?” Sonarot asked, sitting down on her chair. She had been knitting a blanket, one with the symbol of her family at the edge.

Adam handed the axe over to Sonarot, carefully, not wanting to drop it on the heavily pregnant woman.

She held it in her thick fingers tightly, admiring the look of the axe once again, before taking in the sight of the faint magical runes. They, like the purple of the puthral, could only clearly be seen when the light reflected off the axe head.

“Let’s hope I don’t ruin it,” Adam said, only to realise he probably jinxed it. ‘Whoops.’

Sonarot smiled, noting the look in his eyes. “I’m sure you will do well.”

When evening came, Sonarot pulled out a large blanket for him. “You may sleep in our home.”

The room was large enough to have ten people sleep side by side in relative comfort.

“Oh, uh, right. Thank you.” Adam had completely forgotten that he didn’t sleep the night before. Since they had invited him, he had no reason to refuse. He found his own little spot opposite the pair, with Jurot sleeping on the ground near his mother, making sure he was in between the pair of them.

Omen: 11, 18

Adam awoke the next day, full of confidence. Even if he rolled so poorly that he’d cut himself, he could replace the roll with his Omen.

‘Omen is going to carry me through life.’ He smiled, glad that he picked a feature which would structure his days.

Mana: 3 -> 2

Enchanting

D20 + 4 + 2 = 17 (11)

Omen: 11, 18 -> 11

18 + 4 + 2 = 24

Since enchanting took hours and he could only manage a single roll without exerting himself too much, he could freely utilize Omen to its full effect.

He stared at the runes, which seemed to hold more power. They were a faint silver, like the day before, and didn’t seem to change at all.

“Is this even working?” Adam wondered aloud. ‘I hope I keep rolling well.’

Omen: 7, 15

After another night full of rest, he awoke to Jurot and Sonarot getting up for the day. “Nice,” he whispered, checking his Omen.

“Feeling lucky?” Sonarot asked.

“Yes,” Adam said. “Hopefully my luck continues.”

Mana: 3 -> 2

Enchanting

D20 + 4 + 2 = 24 (18)

This time, when he was done, the weapon glowed and flashed yellow and orange for a moment, before it went back to being dormant. Before he could think about what happened, text appeared ahead of him.

Would you like to spend XP to empower the weapon?

‘Hey Bell, how much XP can I spend?’

[A maximum of 500.]

‘500 it is.’

XP: 1200 -> 700

Enchanting successful!

Handaxe

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

Deals 2D3 slashing + 1D3 fire damage.

Quest Complete

Lanarot’s Gift

XP Gained

+600

XP: 700 -> 1300

First Weapon Enchanted

+200

XP: 1300 -> 1500

Would you like to name the weapon?

“Oh,” Adam said, staring at the text for some time. ‘Damn it. I suck at names.’ He thought long and hard, thinking about what he could name it. ‘It has to be something cute. Something like… like…’ He smiled. “Little Paw.”

Little Paw (Handaxe)

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

Deals 2D3 slashing + 1D3 fire damage.

Adam had no idea if the enchantment was any good, but he smiled wide. He quickly rushed back to Sonarot, alarming the Iyrman who was keeping an eye on him, though they quickly followed behind to make sure he wasn’t going to cause any trouble.

“Sonarot! It’s done!” Adam declared, knocking on the door.

“Oh my,” Sonarot said, staring at the handaxe, taking it from Adam to admire and appraise it. “This axe is…”

“Good? Bad?” Adam just smiled, figuring it was fine at least.

“It’s very good.” Sonarot hadn’t expected Adam to be so good at Enchanting. “This weapon is worth at least one thousand five hundred gold, perhaps more with the right bidder.”

Adam whistled. “Whoa.” Adam held onto his chin and smirked. “Damn, I’m really talented, aren’t I?”

“You are,” she said. “Very.” She pet his head gently.

“I’ll keep it until it’s time to gift it.”

“Yes.” Sonarot smiled. “If you are this good, would you be willing to create magical weapons for Iyrmen?”

“Oh?” Adam had taken the axe, which still needed a sheath of sorts. “Well, I wouldn’t mind at all.”

“I’ll go speak with a few people,” she said.

When Jurot returned later that afternoon, having played with his friends, he noted the axe.

Adam smirked at him and held it out. “It’s finished.”

“Can I swing it?” Jurot asked, excitedly. His fingers were twitching, eager to grab the axe.

“Sure.” Adam chuckled.

Jurot grabbed it and started to swing it within the room, as though he were warming up his shoulders. He could definitely feel its power through his swings, noting the flames which sparked between each swing. “You made this?” Jurot asked.

“Yes.”

Jurot nodded his head slowly. “You are very good at Enchanting.”

Adam smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “I am.” He was rather proud of the axe. ‘It’ll be hard to beat.’

Jurot spent the evening swinging the axe, until his mother finally forced him to return it.

The next day, when he awoke, he ate breakfast with Sonarot. Jurot ate with some other Iyrmen opposite them in the courtyard, with a devilkin within arms reach.

However, Adam was distracted by another Iyrman who approached them as they ate their steak and vegetables. He was an attractive Iyrman, who carried at his side a pair of shortswords, and a small pack on his back.

“Many greetings,” the Iyrman said. “I am Sodul, son of Sadul.”

“Adam, son of Fate,” Adam replied, certain he would be forgetting all these Iyrmen names.

“I have heard that your Enchanting skills are great. Are you willing to enchant a shortsword?”

“That depends,” Adam said, clasping his hands together, licking the meat juices off his lips greedily. “Can you afford it?” He smirked.

Sodul looked to Sonarot for a moment before he looked to Adam. “Ah! This must be an elven joke, to ask an Iyrman if they can afford a price.”

Adam laughed. “Well, it’s half a joke. What kind of enchantment are you looking for?” He quickly moved on from his terrible joke, wondering if Jurot and Sonarot caught it. They had heard it plenty of times already, but he felt proud of this one.

“A similar enchantment that you have made recently. A Minor Grade enchantment and fire damage.”

‘Minor Grade? I guess that means a +1?’ Adam nodded his head. “I can do that.”

“Depending on its strength, we will pay you more for the enchanting.”

“Sure,” Adam said. “I’ll get right to work then.”

The man bowed his head, handing over one of the swords. It was made of dark steel, with small orange flecks within the darkness. He also handed over seven tiny rubies, each the size of Adam’s pinky.

‘Damn, that sword is nice.’ Adam admired it for a moment. ‘Is this the start of my Enchanting arc?’