Chapter 6 - An old friend

Several days had passed since Lilly's last lesson with Eldrin, and she had been diligently practicing the enchantment spell while helping out in the bakery. The process of enchanting the feather required a deep understanding of the item being enchanted, and Lilly was immersed in this learning experience.

As she practiced, Lilly focused on the first part of the spell, which involved channeling her mana into the feather to sense its shape and material. This step was akin to active internal meditation, something she had been practicing. It required her to control and feel her mana as it interacted with the feather, providing her with a deeper understanding of its complex organic structure.

The second part of the spell involved pushing mana into every part of the feather and maintaining it there until the spell stabilized on its own. The success of the enchantment depended on her control and understanding of the feather. Given the complexity of organic materials, this was a challenging task.

After a few tense moments, she sensed the spell taking hold, the feather taking on a slightly more rigid and robust appearance. 'That looks better than last time,' she noted, a small sense of pride welling up inside her.

Feeling cautiously optimistic, Lilly picked up an apple and positioned the feather. 'Here goes...' With a steady hand, she drew the feather across the apple's surface. To her amazement and delight, it sliced through cleanly, dividing the apple into nearly perfect halves. 'I did it!'

Eager to push her limits, she turned to the wood on the counter, attempting to cut it with the enchanted feather. However, as she applied a bit more force, the enchantment quickly faded, and the feather returned to its normal state.

Lilly let out a small laugh, mixed with a sigh. 'Progress, not perfection. Can't expect to master this overnight.' Despite the setback, she felt a surge of excitement for her journey in enchanting. Each attempt, successful or not, was a step forward, a learning experience that brought her closer to understanding the subtle art of magical enchantment. With renewed determination, Lilly resolved to continue practicing, ready for the challenges and discoveries that lay ahead in her journey as a budding enchantress.

Lilly, brimming with excitement over her achievement, eagerly approached Gramps to share her success. “Gramps, look! I managed to cut an apple with the feather!” Her eyes sparkled with a sense of accomplishment.

Gramps smiled warmly at her. “Well done, Lilly,” he said, his tone genuine. Yet, as he spoke, there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

Lilly, riding the wave of her enthusiasm, continued, “Thanks! Now I just need to get it hard enough to cut wood.”

Gramps’s expression shifted to one of slight frustration, and he seemed to weigh his words carefully before speaking. “Lilly, I understand that you want to do a good job and that you’re happy with your new goal in life. But you need to take breaks. Whenever I see you, you’re either enchanting that feather or meditating, even during dinner! You need to consider your own health, both mental and physical.”

Lilly paused, her excitement waning a bit. “But Gramps, I need to get better at this before I can start enchanting for real. And I can’t wait!”

“Think for a minute about where this complete disregard for your own wellbeing and social circle will take you, Lilly.” Gramps’s words hit home. Briefly, the image of Eldrin flashed in her mind – respected and skilled, yet solitary in his pursuits. Lilly admired him but realized she didn’t want to tread the same path.

Gramps continued, “Go see Mia. I’m sure she misses you after not seeing you for so long, and you have a lot to talk about. Heck, maybe you can even try enchanting some of her stuff.”

Lilly hesitated, the thought of reconnecting with Mia stirring a mix of emotions. It had been a while, and the longer she waited, the more daunting it seemed to be.

But then Gramps’s suggestion about enchanting convinced her. “You’re right, Gramps. Can I go right now?”

“Of course,” Gramps replied, a gentle smile on his face. “I’ll handle the shop. You're forbidden from practicing any more today, so don’t come back too early.”

Lilly’s hesitation melted away, replaced by a sense of relief and anticipation. She needed this break, a chance to reconnect with her friend and maybe even share her newfound passion for enchanting. With a lighter heart, she prepared to leave, grateful for Gramps’s wisdom and guidance.

Lilly's walk to Mia's house was a journey down memory lane. Each step on the familiar route stirred recollections of their shared childhood. The rhythmic clang of hammer on metal, growing louder as she approached, evoked memories of days spent in laughter and play, dreaming of grand adventures. These nostalgic thoughts filled Lilly's mind as she neared Mia's forge. She was a bit nervous to reveal that she had gone adventuring without telling Mia about it, but it had to be done.

Upon stepping into the blacksmith shop, she was greeted by the sight of Mia, hard at work at the anvil. Mia's appearance reflected years of dedication to her craft, yet her essence remained unchanged. Her chestnut hair, bright green eyes, and sun-kissed complexion, framed by her practical blacksmith attire, spoke of strength and skill.

Mia's reaction to seeing Lilly was one of surprise and delight. "Oh! Lilly!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing slightly in the forge. "It's been a while! What brings you here?"

Lilly, feeling a mix of nostalgia and happiness, replied, "I just wanted to catch up. We haven't talked in a bit."

As Mia set aside her hammer, her expression shifted from professional focus to warm recognition.

Lilly felt a twinge of guilt, realizing how much she had missed sharing her life with her friend. "Sorry about not coming over for a while. I've been sort of busy," she said, a bit sheepishly.

Mia brushed off the apology with a smile. "I know how you get, Lilly, don't worry about it. I could have come over too, but the forge has kept me busy. So, what have you been up to?"

Before Lilly could answer, Mia's father, Mr. Gorton, entered the smithy and noticed Lilly. "Oh, Lilly, I heard you went adventuring a while ago," he commented with a hint of surprise in his voice.

Mia's reaction was immediate. "What!? Lilly, without even telling me?"

Lilly turned to Mr. Gorton, slightly annoyed at missing the opportunity to reveal that in a more tactful way. "Hello, Mister Gorton, thank you for letting me explain that—"

"Lilly!" Mia interjected, her tone a mix of betrayal and outrage.

Mr. Gorton, sensing the tension and perhaps looking for an escape, quickly chimed in, "Uh, I'll just... I forgot something in the bathroom." With that, he hastily exited the room.

Lilly turned back to Mia. "I thought you didn't care about adventuring anymore Mia. You seemed so happy just smithing."

Mia hesitated, then admitted, "I enjoy smithing a lot, but it's our dream to be adventurers! I know I haven't said so in a while, but... Our childhood dream, Lilly. It doesn't just evaporate."

Feeling a pang of remorse, Lilly apologized. "Okay, I'm sorry about not telling you. I discovered something that I thought would help me a lot in becoming an adventurer, so I kind of jumped the boat."

Mia's expression softened, though she still feigned indignation. "You should be sorry. I feel betrayed!" she said dramatically, clearly putting on an act. "But what did you discover?" Her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity and a hint of the adventurous spirit they had both shared as children.

Lilly eagerly shared her discovery with Mia. "Oh, you know the amulet I have? I had this dream about it, and after researching in the library for a while I discovered a way to awaken it. I just had to spill a bit of blood on it, and now it can empower my magic by an incredible amount!"

Mia's eyes widened in amazement. "What, for real? That's amazing!" She paused, then remembered her feigned annoyance. "Hmph, that's no reason to keep me out of the loop. But I take it that's what sent you out of the city?"

"Yeah," Lilly replied, her voice tinged with regret. "I had to argue with Gramps for a while before he let me, and I brought a few adventurers with me. It went horribly, so... I think my adventuring days are over. Sorry."

"That bad? What happened?" Mia's concern was evident.

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Lilly recounted her experience in the Eldorian forest, describing the staged attack by the adventurers and how it had shaken her resolve.

"So if they weren't such amazing adventurers, we might all have died, and they made sure to let me know..." Lilly concluded, a hint of resignation in her voice.

Mia shook her head, "That seems excessive. I get why they did it, but... Are you okay?"

"I am now, mostly. But since that didn't work out, I decided to learn some other form of magic instead. The mage that came with me, Eldrin, offered to teach me a lot of the basics. So that's what I've been doing lately."

Mia nodded in understanding. "In that case, I can see why you would be busy. You probably do nothing but practice."

Lilly chuckled. "Heh, well, I might have overdone it a bit. The reason I'm here now is that Gramps got worried about me focusing too much on it. But he's right, I'm glad I came over."

"Me too, Lilly," Mia replied, her voice warm.

Lilly leaned against a nearby workbench, watching Mia with a mixture of admiration and nostalgia. "So, becoming a mage, huh? That was always your role in our adventuring party, so it makes sense," Mia said, wiping her hands on a cloth as she moved away from the anvil.

Lilly nodded, her gaze drifting to the various tools and pieces of metal around the forge. "Well, we knew you were going to be a warrior with your height and strength, and so mage just felt right for me. You're getting some nice muscles, by the way," she added, gesturing playfully towards Mia's arms.

Mia flexed her arm, showing off her toned muscles with a proud grin. "Heh, working the forge has its advantages. But what are you learning exactly?"

Walking over to a stool, Lilly sat down. "At first it was just meditation, with the four different types training different things. Then I got a brief lecture in the basics of magic, and now I'm practicing enchanting."

"Enchanting? Like making magical items?" Mia leaned in closer, her interest clearly piqued.

"Yup, I’ll be making the greatest swords and shields in the city in a few months, I expect," Lilly replied, a twinkle in her eye.

Mia laughed heartily, shaking her head. "Hah, I'm sure you will. But, erm, do you need someone to make those swords and shields before you do the enchanting stuff?"

Lilly pretended to ponder, looking around the forge as if considering her options. "Oh yeah, I can't just make a sword out of thin air. I was thinking of asking some random smith somewhere, do you know any?"

Mia rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "... Lilly."

"Sorry." Lilly’s grin widened. "I would be happy to try using your work, Mia."

Mia's face lit up with a wide, genuine smile. "I kinda felt jealous hearing about your life lately, but joining you in this would be really exciting!"

Lilly stood up, her expression earnest. "I'm all for it, Mia, but I don't know how far into the future we're talking here. I can barely enchant a feather at this point."

"That's fine, just remember me when you get to the next stage."

Lilly reached out, placing a hand on Mia's shoulder. "I promise I will, Mia. In fact, we can try enchanting something right now, just to see what happens."

The excitement in Mia's voice was infectious. "Oh, I'm suddenly so excited about this! It's any smith's dream to have their work be used by the greatest warriors, and now that's suddenly not a distant dream anymore."

Lilly chuckled, her eyes shining with a mixture of enthusiasm and realism. "I'm loving the enthusiasm Mia, but again, I'm barely an apprentice enchantress at this point."

"But you have the amulet. Doesn't that give you an edge over other enchanters?" Mia asked, her eyes reflecting hope and curiosity.

Lilly thought for a moment before replying. "I haven't gotten far enough to be sure, to be honest. It does help with this basic enchanting spell I have, but there are so many variables to enchanting that it's hard to say anything for sure, especially at this point."

"Okay, you've dampened my expectations enough now. Let's try enchanting this dagger," Mia said, her excitement undiminished.

She handed Lilly a well-crafted dagger. Lilly held it in her hands, closing her eyes to focus her mana into the dagger, feeling its shape and structure. Compared to the feather, the dagger was simpler in shape and complexity, making the task seem more straightforward.

Concentrating, Lilly pushed her mana into the dagger, waiting for it to settle properly. The process drained her more than usual, but when she opened her eyes, she felt a sense of accomplishment.

"That should be good. But... How do we test it?" Lilly asked, looking at the enchanted dagger.

"It's done already?" Mia seemed surprised at the speed.

"Yeah, the basic spell is easy to do. When you get to carving runes and infusing materials and stuff, it's probably a much longer process."

Mia nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, I guess we could try a basic sharpness test, but it should be pretty sharp already. I'll try carving some wood."

Taking the dagger, Mia selected a piece of wood and began to carve into it. The dagger moved smoothly, its edge seemingly enhanced by Lilly's enchantment. Both of them watched intently, witnessing the melding of their respective crafts – blacksmithing and enchanting – coming together in a tangible way.

Mia's excitement was palpable as she continued to carve the wood with the newly enchanted dagger. "Wow, it's much sharper than usual! That's amazing!"

Lilly watched, a mix of pride and surprise evident on her face. "Are you sure? It felt pretty good, but I've only been able to cut an apple so far."

Mia looked up, pausing her carving. "What did you use for the enchantment then?"

"Uh, a feather," Lilly replied, realizing why a dagger would perform a lot better.

"What!? Well, obviously something that makes a feather able to cut an apple will have a bigger effect on something actually made to cut stuff, Lilly!" Mia exclaimed, her tone a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense..." Lilly said, feeling a bit foolish for not realizing it earlier.

After a bit more cutting, Mia suddenly stopped. "Oh, it stopped suddenly."

Lilly nodded. "It stops after a minute or two when it has spent all the mana used in the spell."

"Still, that's amazing. With such a simple spell, you can make it that much sharper. How does it work with permanent enchantments if it spends mana all the time?"

Lilly thought for a moment. "... I'll ask Eldrin next time. Hey, let me try it again while using the amulet."

She took the dagger back and began the enchanting process again, this time holding the amulet in her hand. The difference was noticeable; the mana flowed more smoothly, and the dagger's structure was easier to comprehend. As she infused the mana into the dagger, it felt more solid and stable during the second step.

"There you go," Lilly said, handing the dagger back to Mia.

Mia eagerly resumed her carving with the newly enchanted dagger. As the blade effortlessly glided through the wood, her eyes widened in amazement. "Oh wow, that's like butter now. That's a bit scary, honestly."

Lilly, intrigued, reached out to take the dagger. "It's that much? Let me try." She carefully began to carve the now considerably smaller piece of wood, her movements gentle and precise. The ease with which the blade cut through the wood left Lilly both impressed and a bit apprehensive. 'Wow, that really is like cutting butter.'

"Do you have any metal we could try cutting?" Lilly asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Mia raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her lips. "... Does enchanting consume brain power or something, Lilly? Where else would you find that?" She handed Lilly a thin plate of iron. "Try this," she said, excitement evident in her voice.

Lilly, feeling a bit sheepish at her own question, blushed slightly. 'Maybe Eldrin was considering my intelligence when he didn't suggest I try formations after all,' she thought to herself.

Taking the iron plate, Lilly positioned the dagger and applied a bit more force than before. To her astonishment, the blade sliced through the metal, cleanly cutting off a corner of the plate.

Mia's reaction was immediate and enthusiastic. "... Wow... Wow! Lilly, that's amazing! You can cut iron!"

"Yeah, I'm scared now," Lilly admitted, a mix of awe and concern in her voice. "Eldrin said a great enchanter could make a feather cut steel. What could their swords cut then? Or not cut, I guess is a better question."

Mia's eyes sparkled with excitement, the possibilities racing through her mind. "Can you imagine? Enchanted weapons like that... they'd be unstoppable."

The successful test of the enchanted dagger opened a new realm of potential for both Lilly and Mia. The idea of combining their skills to create such powerful enchanted items was thrilling and a little daunting.

Mia leaned back against her workbench, her gaze still lingering on the enchanted dagger with a mix of awe and anticipation. "What are you doing here, Lilly? You need to be home training," she said half-jokingly, eager to see more of Lilly's enchanting skills.

Lilly laughed, shaking her head. "Hah, well, I've been banned from practicing any more today, so I guess you'll have to wait."

Mia nodded in agreement, her expression turning more serious. "Yeah, you really should take it easy, Lilly. Like I said, I know how obsessed you get. I expect to see you at least two times a week from now on, otherwise, I'll come eat your cakes again."

Lilly smiled, touched by Mia's concern. "You're welcome to come over, Mia. Gramps still puts your favorite cake up for sale in case you come over."

Mia's face lit up at the mention of her favorite cake. "He's too good for this world. In that case, I'll come over in a few days."

"I'll look forward to it. Can I see some of the stuff you've been making lately?" Lilly asked, her interest piqued.

"Sure!" Mia replied enthusiastically. She led Lilly around the forge, showing her various projects she had been working on – intricate designs, innovative forging techniques, and some experimental pieces.

As they moved around the forge, their conversation flowed easily, bouncing from their recent endeavors to reminiscing about old times. They discussed everything from the latest town gossip to their hopes and dreams. It was a comfortable, familiar exchange, filled with laughter and shared memories.

The evening passed quickly, and before long, it was time for Lilly to head home. As she made her way back, she felt a sense of contentment and rejuvenation. The time spent with Mia had lifted her spirits and reminded her of the importance of balancing her magical pursuits with the relationships that mattered to her. Walking home under the starlit sky of Thundrel, Lilly felt a renewed sense of purpose and connection, grateful for the friendship that had endured and evolved over the years.