The enchantment rooms are small, private spaces that the guild provides for enchanters to use. It costs ten crowns per hour to rent, equivalent to about ten dollars. It includes a big table, lighting, and other essential equipment. This seems expensive at first, but after considering all the utilities of the rooms, it turns out to be quite reasonable.
I walk up to the table and see two old books, their pages yellowed with age and tattered.
The first book is "Basic Guide to the Enchantment Art." As its name is self-explanatory, it details the history of how enchanting was discovered and the nature of Arcanum, as well as instructions for performing some basic enchantments. I already have its contents memorized back in the library, so I don't need it.
The second book, "Enchantment Codex for Beginners," is a large binder containing common enchantment blueprints. Essentially, enchanters are like fantasy programmers, so they basically 'copy and paste' the enchantments from blueprints into items. Every enchanter would first consult this codex for the specific enchantment they intend to perform, memorizing it as much as possible before proceeding. However, as expected, only lower-grade common enchantments are found in this book. The higher-level ones are actually the ones I read in the upper library floors, and of course, I have already memorized all the blueprints I have seen.
With that, we move on to doing the actual enchantments immediately.
But first, I want to see how Sophia does it. Enchanters are divided into four ranks: Novice, Apprentice, Master, and Grandmaster, based on their ability to read and write Arcanum. Sophia is already a Master Enchanter, so needless to say, she's an expert. And as she told me earlier, her father was also once an enchanter, and even reached the highest rank..
"Sophia, can you please show me the enchantment process?"
"Sure! Which enchantment do you want me to do first?" Sophia replies.
"Let's start with Sharpness."
I then take out a simple dagger that I had bought for ten crowns. It is just a basic weapon with nothing special about it, but it is perfect for beginner enchanters to practice on. I give it to Sophia, and she places it under a device called the appraisal lens. This microscope-like tool consists of multiple lenses that are enchanted with two different enchantments: Magnifying Vision and Common Item Appraisal. It is a useful tool used by enchanters to evaluate items.
Sophia takes a look first, adjusting the lens and securing the dagger on its tray.
"Hmmm, let's see… you just leave the item like this. Once you look into the scope, wait for about five seconds for the text to come up, and voila! Easy!"
It is then my turn.
As I look through the device, a table of text appears in my vision.
[Steel dagger]
- Weapon Rating: 24
- Weight: 512 grams
Attributes:
- Sharpness: 10Durability: 144/145
Special Ability:
- None
Enchantment
- None
- Enchantment points: 26
"Can you see it? Do you want me to go over the basics again?" Sophia asks.
"Yes, I can see. But there's no need to explain the basics to me. I've already memorized them from the books I read," I reply.
"Well, if you say so…" Sophia sighs, seeming pretty skeptical since I have not explained my AI chip to her yet.
Anyway, as the dagger's status is fully displayed, I focus on the two most important things: the item's rating and enchantment points. The higher the rating, the more powerful the item is. This dagger's rating is only 24, so it is not particularly strong. The enchantment point is 26, so the number of enchantments we can put on it will be very limited.
Still, I am very curious to see how much it will improve.
"Sophia, you may begin now," I say, taking out the ink and pen.
"Wait! If you already know all the basics, do you even need me to teach you now?"
"Of course!" I reply. "All I know is the theory part. But when it comes to actual experience, I have zero!"
"Oh! That makes sense," Sophia exclaims, her eyes instantly lighting up. "Then watch closely! As a master enchanter, I will show you the proper way of enchanting an item!"
"Yep, you're the teacher now!"
"Alright," Sophia dips the pen in ink. Then, "Enchantment Sight, activate!"
As she speaks the words, her eyes glow faintly, her pupils dilating. Sophia starts, holding her breath and writing the first enchantment letter on the dagger. Slowly, she evokes the true language of the gods.