Oren examined the now-named Felinblade. It was significantly stronger than before. Von was learning not only smithing, but metallomancy enhanced smithing as though it were second nature. While the weapons weren't quite what he could make at their base, the final product would make a mastersmith cackle with glee. He was not going to let it go to Von's head. Instead, he simply said, "Nicely done, Von. Do you feel you are ready to do the sword?"
Von beamed with pride at the transformation of the dagger, marveling at the newfound power and potential it held. The process of naming the weapon had been a revelation, unlocking a deeper connection between himself and the magical artifacts he created. With his metallomancy skills elevated to a new level, he felt more confident than ever in his ability to harness the elemental forces of the world.
"Absolutely," Von replied eagerly, his excitement palpable. "I'm ready to tackle the sword."
Under Oren's watchful eye, Von began the process anew, channeling his aura into the green sword. He poured his focus and concentration into the task at hand, concentrating the magical essences into a weave to imbue the metal with the desired affinities. With weaves of air, water, plant magic, protection magic, and healing magic added to his metallomancy, he began the process. He then wondered if he could add the name all in the same process.
Instead of attempting to imbue then name, he decided to try to name and bring out the magic all at once. He could already feel the magic of the cross guard being similar to the dagger just not as strong, so he concentrated on the remainder of the sword. He would name it "Marshfang." Swirling his aura into the sword, he focused on infusing it with the essence of the swamp dragon, drawing upon the latent magic inherent in the beast core. With each pulse of his aura, he wove intricate patterns of magic into the metal, guiding the elemental energies to imbue the sword with the desired affinities.
Instead of pulling out the essences from the core, the sword began drawing from his aura as he attempted to imbue it with the essence of the swamp dragon. Von felt a sudden surge of energy as the sword reacted to his magic, its surface shimmering with an eerie green light as the enchantments took hold. However, he soon realized that something was amiss – the magic seemed to be draining his own essence rather than drawing from the beast core as intended.
Panic began to rise within Von as he struggled to regain control of the enchantment, but the magic seemed to have a will of its own, inexorably siphoning his aura with each passing moment. Desperate, he tried to sever the connection, but it was like trying to stop a flood with his bare hands – the magic surged onward, consuming him from within.
In a last-ditch effort to save himself, Von focused all his remaining strength on cutting off his connection to the sword, attempting to sever the flow of magic between them with a surge of willpower. While Von struggled to sever the connection, the sword's grip on his aura tightened, feeding voraciously on his essence with each passing moment. Despite his efforts, the magic seemed to grow stronger, fueled by his own waning strength. Von could feel his consciousness slipping away, consumed by the relentless hunger of the enchantment.
With a final surge of willpower, he summoned all his remaining energy, channeling it into one last desperate attempt to break free. Gritting his teeth against the overwhelming pain, he focused every ounce of his being on cutting off the flow of magic, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion in his efforts to regain control.
For a heart-stopping moment, it seemed as though his efforts were in vain, the sword's grip on his aura unyielding in its grasp. But then, with a sudden surge of clarity, Von felt the connection begin to fray, weakened by his relentless determination. With a primal scream of exertion, he summoned one final burst of energy, in an attempt to tear himself free from the sword's grasp with sheer force of will. Failing, the sword continued to siphon his energy like some sort of vampire until just before passing out, the flow of essence going to the sword inexplicably stopped.
Gasping for breath, Von collapsed to the ground, his body trembling with exhaustion as he struggled to regain his bearings. The air around him crackled with residual magic, the aftermath of his harrowing struggle with the enchanted sword. But despite the lingering sense of danger, he felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash over him, grateful to have escaped the sword's grasp with his life intact.
With this final surge of energy, the enchantment completed, sealing the magic within the metal and binding it to the essence of the sword. Marshfang now pulsed with a vibrant green aura, its blade humming with the power of the swamp dragon and ready to unleash its potent magic upon the world.
Oren rushed to his side, concern etched upon his weathered features as he helped Von to his feet. "Are you alright, lad?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.
Von nodded weakly, his body still wracked with the aftereffects of his ordeal. "I... I think so," he managed to reply, his voice hoarse from exertion. "I, I tried to.... just wanted to see... to imbue and name at the same... I just... I lost control of the magic. It... it nearly consumed me." With these words, the young boy slumped to the ground.
Oren's worry deepened as he saw Von's condition worsen, his heart heavy with concern for the young apprentice. Kneeling beside him, he placed a gentle hand on Von's shoulder, offering what little comfort he could in the face of such distress.
"It's alright, lad," Oren said soothingly, his voice calm and reassuring. "You pushed yourself too hard, that's all. It's a common mistake, especially when experimenting with new techniques. But you're safe now, and that's what matters."
With a practiced motion, Oren helped Von sit up, supporting him with a steady arm as he checked for any signs of injury or lingering effects of the magic. Finding nothing immediately alarming, he breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that Von had escaped serious harm.
"Take a few deep breaths, lad," Oren advised gently. "Let the magic settle and gather your strength. You're going to be alright."
Von nodded weakly, his breathing still ragged as he struggled to regain his composure. Slowly, he followed Oren's instructions, focusing on each breath as he willed himself to calmness. Gradually, the tension began to ease from his body, replaced by a sense of weary resignation.
"I'm sorry, Master Oren," Von murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to... I just wanted to..."
Oren cut him off with a gentle shake of his head, his expression softening with understanding. "There's no need for apologies, lad," he said kindly. "You were experimenting, trying to push the boundaries of your abilities. It's a commendable pursuit, but one that carries its own risks. Just remember to pace yourself next time, alright, and not try combining the steps...."
Von nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite his exhaustion. "Alright," he agreed softly. "Thank you, Master Oren. I'll remember."
With Oren's help, Von slowly regained his footing, his body still weak but his spirit undimmed. As they made their way back to the forge, Von couldn't help but feel ashamed because he had tried to create a shortcut and it could have killed him. Looking at the sword, he did notice its name etched along the fuller. Unlike the bright etching on the dagger, this was a darker more menacing looking green.
Despite his physical weakness and lingering shame, Von couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity as he examined Marshfang, the sword he had crafted with such effort and determination. The darker, more menacing green etching along the fuller spoke volumes about the nature of the weapon, hinting at the powerful magic contained within.
With a deep breath, Von focused his attention on the sword, Analyse. Using his system's ability to discover its properties.
What he discovered left him both awed and apprehensive. The combination of the alpha swamp dragon and bogstrider cat cores had created a truly unique weapon, one with properties that defied easy categorization.
As he pondered the implications of Marshfang's mysterious abilities, Von couldn't shake the feeling of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He had been reckless, attempting to push the boundaries of his magic without fully understanding the consequences. The near-disastrous outcome served as a sobering reminder of the dangers lurking within the realm of magical creation while using metallomancy.
The weakness which overcame him left him feeling like he would be unable to continue his lessons for today, but Master Oren spoke at length between the differences in armor smithing and weapon smithing. At the end of the lessons, he finally asked Von, "Do you feel up to seeing what your first sword can do?"
Von placed his hand upon the grip but found his aura too weak to try to send it into the weapon. Shaking his head in defeat, he said, "I don't know."