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Chapter 34 Carving/Casting Enchantments

Chapter 34 Carving/Casting Enchantments

During elemental studies, we were given the last quarter of class to practice, and Sakura came up to Anne and me. We all practiced some water magic and I helped Sakura to modify a couple of white level spells to use less mana, which seemed to make her happy.

After class, Anne and I met up with the rest of the party at the front gate. Colna and I have another lesson with Herrero today so once everybody came we all headed out towards the guild. When we got there Colna and I went to the smithy to find Herrero.

When we got to the smithy Herrero was waiting. This time though he didn't have any crafted items. He was sitting down next to a stack of metals and large unprocessed bones.

"First off, Congratulations kid. I hear yah will be marrying the princess. However, that don't mean I'm gonna start going easy on yah now." Herrero greeted us with his usual gruff voice.

"Thank you, I wouldn't expect anything else Master" I reply casually

"Good afternoon Master, what is with all the raw material?" Colna asked politely

"Today's enchanting lesson also begins yer lessons on crafting artifacts. I am going to teach you about carving and casting. While I'm at it, I will also teach you the formations that seal the magic circle into the artifact so it affects the artifact instead of casting the spell. Now Kid, tell me if you remember the difference between enchanting and enhancing?" Herrero explains before asking me

"Enchanting an artifact allows someone to cast that spell that has been enchanted while enhancing an artifact affects the artifact itself," I answer back

"Correct, las what are some of the advantages for both?" Herrero asks Colna

"Enchanted artifacts increase the user's versatility and spells they can use while enhanced artifacts increase the user's power." Colna answers confidently

"Correct. However many enhancements eventually wear out the artifact which is why people made temporary enhancements but we'll go over that at a later time." Herrero answered. "Now the basis behind carving and casting enchantments is crafting a magic circle directly from a material. It is the most time-consuming form of enchanting. Like with engraving enchantments the material you use will aid in certain spells, however unlike engraving where you are working with a finished product with carving/casting you are shaping the raw materials themselves into an artifact with the magic circles. The difference is how you are shaping that material. Carving you are shaping raw materials into artifacts with special tools, and/or whilst pouring your soul energy and mana into the material. Casting is heating a material until it is liquid while pouring soul energy and mana into it then pouring that liquid into a mold with your magic circle. In some cases, you could even just carve or cast the spell circle's shape as the actual artifact. Then it can be made carefully into a pendant or coin-like object to carry around or in some other cases of talented craftsmen they can insert a cast or carved circle into a new artifact." Herrero explained. He then pulled out a paper and quickly drew two new formations. "The one here on the right is an artifact seal formation. You put it around a magic circle that is engraved, carved, or cast. This is so the magic is used on the artifact itself, making it an enhancement. This other formation is an auto draw formation. This allows a formation to self activate in the presence of mana." Herrero explains

"Does self-activation require extra mana?" I ask

"That depends, usually yes, but it is normally pretty negligible anyway," Herrero explains. Herrero then goes over how to specifically carve and cast enchantments with different materials. He doesn't have a specific commission today so he gives us some different materials to work with.