Bonded Summoner

Jake entered his new enchanting room and sat down at his workbench. They had purchased both this room and Ophelia’s smithy, as well as created a larger training room with tens of meters of space, a door that went downstairs with the funds they had earned for finishing the Queen Ant dungeon. For now, Jake’s enchanting room was simple with nothing more but a few cabinets and the workbench with a stool that he now half-sat in, but he knew it wouldn’t always stay this way.

Jake had finished reading the books on [Runic Etching] and [Enchanting] over the last few days since he bought them, earning him the Enchanting skill and the Runic Enchantment subskill that resided under it. There were many future tools referenced in the book that he knew he would eventually add to this room, but currently they were not yet available to him.

Jake’s Enchanting was now Level 1, but he had not yet enchanted anything. Now was the time for him to gain some practical experience, rather than just his book knowledge. He retrieved a small bracer he received from the gnolls from a cabinet.

As far as Jake could tell, it was made of some kind of animal leather. It had no magical enhancements, which is what would allow him to add his own. In addition to the [Runic Etching] to make [Runic Enchantments], he had the Framework method of enchanting. He would try this first.

The Framework method of enchantment was called [Investment]. Jake could buy small tinctures of stored mana that had different effects from the Alliance Shop. Then, by investing his mana and the tincture, he could get the desired effect on an item. It took a lot of mana, so for most enchanters this meant that it would take a lot of time. Jake was not most enchanters though, thanks to his mana core and the effect of the refuge’s hearth.

Jake infused his mana into the tincture, and pushed it into the bracer. The energy that was a result of the two energies combining wafted over the bracer in waves as he held the tincture above the bracer, and Jake continued infusing his mana, focusing it on joining the bracer rather than dissipating into the air around it. Jake watched the process using his [Arcane Eye], and found the energy slowly suffusing within the item, making it take on the color of the same energy that was being radiated over it. He had read that Investment was at least partially powered by the Framework itself, allowing the item to not exactly degrade over time, when done successfully.

Thanks to the Hearth provided by Hestia and Jake’s massive amount of mana regeneration, it only took him a few minutes to consume the contents of the tincture. Jake looked over the item, and triggered his Menu to give details on the item in his hands.

[Uncommon Wolf Leather Bracers of Strength - Increases Strength effectiveness Slightly]

So the leather was wolf leather. Jake found that putting them on, he did feel a little stronger. He can buy a few other tinctures, the effects limited at both his skill level and his Tier. For the most part, the enchantments provided by the Framework’s tinctures for sale were limited to small increases in attributes and durability, sharpness for weapons and similar. It was possible to create Jake’s own tinctures, or even have Fhesiah make them by extracting magical substances and essences with Framework Alchemy. If she would learn it, that is.

Jake was not interested in that aspect of Enchanting, however. Investment did not seem to be nearly as versatile as Runic Enchantment. Raising his effectiveness in Runic Enchantment would raise the overall Enchantment skill level, just like how Ophelia could raise her Melee Specialization by only using a Spear, if that’s what she chose to do in order to advance her overall skill level in melee capability.

Jake took out another bracer, and this time, he took out the [Magic Scribe] tool that he had purchased. He filled it with [Runic Ink], and rather than use a mana crystal like some enchanters may need to, he powered it with his own mana. It formed a thin blade at the end, as thin as a pen for writing, and Jake reasoned it was close enough to that same implement. He slowly etched out the Uruz rune, the bull. A symbol of strength, this single rune when made of the correct size, should increase the wearer’s strength ever so slightly.

As he finished the rune, Jake watched intently with his [Arcane Eye]. The runic ink and the mana he supplied into the blade of his etching tool started slowly suffusing the item similar to Investment, but the energy was of the white-blue generic color of mana. Just as he finished the rune, like him completing a runic spell, the color changed to a similar reddish color like the tincture. The item was gradually suffused in the energy in a very similar way to Investment, but it was like the runic ink continually supplied the item with its energy, the power of the magical language extracting mana in the air, powering it with the faith and conviction of those worshiping or following the Norse mythology and Gods.

Jake then wore the bracer and watched with his [Arcane Eye] as the energy in the bracer carried over into himself, making him stronger. Waves of the red energy from the item traveled into him like he had connected his body’s circuit into an electric outlet.

He then empowered the rune with his own mana, finding the energy given off by the rune to look more pervasive, more solid. He also could feel it affecting his strength a lot more, however marginal it was. He could tell that without the mana infusion, the effect of the single rune was actually weaker than Investment. It was just a single rune after all. He triggered his menu to see what it said about his new item.

[Uncommon Runic Wolf Leather Bracers of the Bull - Increases Strength effectiveness very slightly]

Jake experimented for a while, his Enchantment quickly reaching level 2 after just a few items. He got better at layering the runic ink, almost like tattooing items. Maintaining the proper levels of ink and mana helped him improve, as well as learning the rules as he used them. He found that simply doubling up or tripling the number of Uruz, or bull runes did sort of work, but it was much better to make a phrase using them similar to how he created his spells.

He found that if he put too many runes on a weak item, the magic would begin tearing the item apart. On top of that, the amount of material used in the item influenced this almost as much as the quality of the material. This hardly mattered for most things, but Jake could simply not inscribe small items such as rings with meaningful inscriptions. The tiny runes would not give the items much mana, enough to actually accomplish anything useful.

Jake now understood why jewelry was so rare and so expensive on the Market. They must be advanced materials, or items that had advanced, perhaps higher tier methods used on them to allow the item to sustain the magic and the effect. Jake did not think it was impossible for someone of a higher tier to both enchant the item while reinforcing it with their mana. This was quite possibly a technique he could learn later, but would simply be unavailable to him at Tier 0.

Jake looked over the items he made, when the door to his workshop opened. Fhesiah sashayed inside wearing her workout clothes with a wide smile on her face, probably finished with her practice of Winged Combat or other training for the day. Jake had shut out the bond so that he could focus on his task, though it was entirely possible for the girls to prod it from their side to let him know they needed something. Jake knew that look, but he was sort of busy–

“Aww, hubby, too busy for little ol’ me?”

She stopped and leaned forward across from him on the other side of his workbench, letting her cleavage spill out onto it. Her chest certainly looked inviting in her red sports bra, that left plenty of skin uncovered, including her navel. She picked up the magic scribe tool from the bench, looking at it. She dragged it up her bountiful chest making sure she had Jake’s attention, and tapped it against her plump lips.

“Wouldn’t you rather play with your other pen?”

Jake groaned, but he coughed. He did, but he also didn’t. He really needed to improve, but more importantly, he needed to talk to her about something. Something important.

She set down the pen, gave a disappointed huff and straightened her posture. While his thoughts were cut off now, most likely she had an inkling of thoughts that had gone through his mind the past few days. She knew Jake very well, and probably even if she never heard a thought of Jake’s again, just by his emotions and any conversations she’d had with him, she could practically know what he was thinking anyway. Like most women, Jake guessed, just magically reinforced. A scary thought.

“Yes, dear husband. What is it?”

Jake sighed. Once again, he knew she was calling him husband to get a reaction out of him, but he also knew she saw him as such. He knew this was still going to be a challenge, however. But Jake hardened his resolve. He would beg her if he had to, for the safety of their family.

“It’d really help Ophelia and I if you could take up Framework Alchemy. The Market is lacking on useful poisons for us leveling our [Purifying Flames], and–”

A frown had crossed her face as he mentioned Framework Alchemy, and she now interrupted him.

“I had already been planning on practicing my cultivator alchemy when we finished the Trial, is this not enough? I am not a fan of this Framework, its alchemy is not part of Heaven’s Path. Without Qi, or heavenly energy, it’s just children playing at being alchemists.”

Now it was Jake who frowned. Is this how she saw him? A child, playing with mana?

Her face softened, her eyes looking into his meaningfully. “No, husband, I do not see you that way. Not only is it not your fault, but you are strong and amazing in your own way. You use the tools that are available to you, and I know that if you had been able to properly cultivate you would have shaken heaven and earth, but that was taken from you. Well, I’m not convinced you’ll never be able to, but I’ll be there to help you do it.”

Jake still felt something was off there, but he saw his foot in the door. “That’s what this is about. I need your help, and I need it soon. The Trial could be more challenging than we think, and we need to gather all the strength we can, and Ophelia and I can’t do it without you. Can’t you please put some effort into it, at least for the poisons? Then when you can purchase cultivator materials, you can stop using it and focus on your cultivator alchemy.”

She now frowned again and said, “I don’t know, husband. I understand it is important to you, but I really do not like what the framework does to me, how it influences or changes my soul to help improve the skill. It would be one thing if it was like Winged Combat or my other skills, where at least heavenly energy could be involved…”

Jake walked around the desk, and wrapped his arms around her hips, pulling her close as he looked into her eyes. He gave his best pleading expression, “Please, can’t you just do it for me? I’ll make it worth your while…I can give you a whole afternoon into the evening, and there were those things you were wanting to get in the shopping cart...”

Fhesiah’s eyes flashed, “Almost a whole day, you say? Hmm…I did want to try out those feathers on you, your expressions will be positively delicious. Then, there was these magic oils, that make your skin practically vibrate–”

Jake interrupted, “L-Let’s not get too carried away. It’s a deal then?”

Fhesiah sighed and said, “I know it's important to you, and I did promise Ophelia that I would do my best to make her the best she could be, after all. It’s a deal. I will do my best for you both, husband.”

Jake pulled away and went back to the other side of the bench and sat down. He then said, “Great. I’m really glad you’re wanting to do your best for me. Now, I’ve been working on enchanting this armor, and I think that the benefit of having a higher defense that has no resource cost for you will make you significantly safer and stronger. Now, I was thinking for you that is more of a martial artist type, could go with more of a medium–”

Fhesiah interrupted, sounding a little unhappy, “Armor? I’ve already had this conversation with you and Ophelia, though? I am wearing my cultivator robes when fighting. It can be infused with heavenly energy making it stronger than any of this armor. Cultivators do not wear armor, relying on other things than Qi is outside of Heaven’s Path. I only wear the claws because I don’t like getting my enemy’s blood under my nails. It’s filthy. I agreed to the Alchemy, but this I will not do.”

Jake was stupefied, that was why she was willing to wear the claws? But he rebutted, “But without Qi, they are barely better than scrap cloth. Armor can provide sufficient protection without costing you any resources, other than the preparation for us to collect it and enchant it, which is not a problem. In a long fight–”

Fhesiah interrupted, her voice taking a slight edge, “In a long fight I will have long-since crushed our enemies. Up to now most of our enemies have been ill-equipped or hardly better than enlarged woodland creatures. The challenge is based on the number of party members and level, yes? I am more than carrying my weight around here, husband.”

A new voice entered the conversation, “You make a good point, but how about this? If I defeat you in a duel, you’ll wear whatever armaments necessary.”

Ophelia spoke from the doorway surprising Jake, but Fhesiah was not surprised at all by her entry, Jake guessed due to her divine sense.

Fhesiah had a wide smile, very interested in this situation. “Hoh? Little sister wants to test her mettle, is it?”

Ophelia smiled, but she shook her head. “I do, but that’s not the only reason why. You using armor and better weapons means that Jake would be safer. If beating you in a fight accomplishes that, then I’ll just have to do it.”

“You’ve said a lot, but power speaks louder. So? When are we doing this?”

Ophelia looked at the equipment Jake had scattered over the table.

“How about in two weeks? Our equipment and skills will be near their peak then. We’ll fight with only our equipment and Qi or Mana and if I win, we’ll make you some armor that even fits your sensibilities. If I lose, you’ll have proven yourself right.”

“I suppose using spells would both be unfair but also make us unsafe. Perfect. Well, I will still work on the alchemy, as promised. Why, it should be fun. I wonder what kind of side-effects I can add for you two to ‘train’ your purifying flames? There might even be a few that could be useful in the bedroom. Look forward to it.” She smiled, and gave Jake a predatory look, “Just like I will look forward to this afternoon, right husband?”

“O-Of course.”

“Do have fun playing with your pen by yourself for now. I do not mind, but save plenty of stamina for later.” She winked at Jake, and sauntered away.

Fhesiah left, Ophelia standing aside for her to leave from where she was standing at the doorway. Jake knew it was a touchy subject for her with her cultivator and dragon pride, but he was still surprised things took such a turn.

“You don’t have to look so worried, Jake. This is a fight between women. Whoever wins, there will be no bad feelings. Might makes right when it comes to something like this.”

Jake couldn’t help but wryly smile at the line about the fight between women. Did she mean between warriors? Jake guessed that those two were one in the same, in her mind.

“I suppose at the end of the day, either you win and she wears the gear, or you lose and she doesn’t, the same as things are already. It will be a useful experience for you both. But we fight together all the time, and usually it takes both of us to really keep her under control. You think you can win?”

Ophelia looked excited, and Jake had seen that look many times when she knew a fight she’d enjoy was coming. But she sighed, “I don’t know. I was hoping with what I read about Advanced Melee Specialization, that I would stand a chance.”

“Isn’t that a Tier 1 skill? Can we receive that skill even at Tier 0?”

“Some skills, and some classes can. I’m not sure of all the rules of it, but because reaching the advanced tier is merely adding mana into the attacks or empowering my body with the mana I already have, it will let me learn it. One could say that the first level of the skill is more of a half-step Tier 1 skill. This isn’t very different from Fhesiah adding Qi into her body to make her stronger. We should be able to advance our dismantling skill to [Looting], as well.”

Jake thought about this, and put his theorycrafting hat on. His class was Summoner, so most likely the only skill that might be able to reach Tier 1, Advanced, might be his Summon Beast spell. But this spell did not have a level, and was influenced by his Mana Control, which was almost level 5 already. Ever since Hestia’s divine spark entered his core and it became a Hearth Core, his mana moved easier and easier. Jake wasn’t sure that the framework would allow Mana Control to proceed to Tier 1, but perhaps with level 5, the framework might grant the advanced summon beast skill when he was high enough level.

Perhaps, a full wizard or mage type could in fact learn Advanced Mana Control, thus allowing them to learn Advanced Runic Magic or similar. It is also possible that it was limited by his race of human.

Ophelia interrupted his thoughts, “So, I’m going to go back to training, trying to earn the skill and improve my Mana Control and Hearth Core.” She rolled her eyes and said, “I take it you will be gone most of the afternoon, you just had to sweeten the pot a little bit to get her to agree to the alchemy, huh? You know, she probably played you on that. Her seeing how important it was to you was enough for her to agree, but she wanted to see if she could get more out of the deal.”

Jake blanked at that, but he walked up to Ophelia and wrapped his arms around her hips in a hug, bringing her close to him and making her blush.

“Well, whatever happens, I appreciate you. I’m glad that I have you to be my protector. I’m happy to know I can always count on you to do what it takes to keep me safe. Even fighting a dragon.”

She smirked at this, but Jake kissed her before she could speak on the subject. The kiss lingered, and Jake pushed his feelings for her over their bond. He could feel that she enjoyed it, but there was a feeling of mirth coming from her.

“That was nice. But I don’t need to save you from this dragon, do I? You’re more like the donkey from that one movie with the ogre. Still, I’m going to enjoy fighting this one. Sparring and training is one thing, but this will be different than that. I am very much looking forward to this duel, with something on the line. I’ll do my best, so do try to get good at Enchanting for me, would you? We’ll do our best to beat her together.”

“You got it.” Jake would ‘play with his pen’ for a few more hours, and try to figure out how to give their team an edge in the Trial and keep his family safe.