> Quote:7.6k views on chapter 38? The hell happened there? This puzzles my little brain.

Aleyn focused on her palm as sweat rolled down her forehead. Line after line appeared on the plate, massive pattern  formed as her hand moved across the plate of steel in front of her.

In her head she was repeating the list of notes she had taken over the process.

"Curve left not right... Don't over do the circle... Don't rush after....."

She had made countless errors, countless miscalculations and numbed her whole arm more times she wanted to admit, but there was no error or mistakes which she didn't learn from. Through

countless errors her magic capacity also improved going from barely being able to draw a portion of the enchant to having the power to do the whole thing, however her technique was lacking so she could never do it before. That couldn't continue forever though, the enchant was amongst the least elaborate ones so it was not an impenetrable wall in her way.

A blanket of confusion enveloped her. She had the picture of the whole enchant in her head but she could not pinpoint where she was at the moment. Had she forgotten what she needed to do next completely? She had to concentrate on where her hand was and had barely any idea about the rest of her pattern and couldn't be sure.

Should she stop and check her bearings on the plate and take a note of it?At this point the idea was a bit dreadful to her as the enchant had to be done in one go or it wouldn't work at all and she had been working on it for a while already so she felt very reluctant to stop. There was another feeling along side the dread though, she felt she was close as her hand kept moving in a straight line. That straight line was coming to an end though, she had to concentrate on her hand but she could still vaguely see that there was something in the way of that line. If she continued to follow the itching feeling it right it could ruin some of the enchant.

In the moment of indecisiveness the line connected with the pattern. She had spent way too much time contemplating and lost her chance. A rush of disappointment filled her heart, but as she pondered over the whole thing and took a look at the plate her disappointment turned to curiosity as her eyes opened wide.

"Did I?... Did I actually?

Swiftly without any more consideration, she put her other hand on top of the plate and started focusing and gathering her energy towards her hand. The window of opportunity was not large after the pattern was made, the longer she waited the further that window would close. Magic poured in to the pattern and the plate started shaking lightly but as the process of enchanting progressed that shaking started to become more violent.

It had been quite some time since last she had attempted enchanting. She wouldn't be satisfied with failure this time either.

"Contain... Seal!"

The pattern on the plate started glowing, the glow intensified until it almost blinded her and then a single jolt ran through the plate which made her drop it on the table in front of her.

The plate no longer vibrated or glowed it was just a slab of metal as it was before. Aleyn picked the plate up and immediately felt it. It was the first time she had felt the presence of magic in an item and it showed as well.

Lines of light ran along the plate, never stopping at a single point as it cruised a long the pattern.

"I.. I finally did it?!" Aleyn cheered.

No, it wasn't the time to jump in to conclusions even if the results looked promising. She needed to test if there was an actual effect.

'Enchantment: Fortitude: Enchant the item to improve the wearers endurance.'

Her eye turned to her hammer on the table, she picked up the hammer and put her left hand on the table next to the steel plate and raised the hammer in to the air. If the enchant worked then it would definitely make her endure the impact.

She took a quick breath before slamming the hammer to her hand quite forcefully.

'Wack'

Her inquisitive smile grumbled very fast.

"Fuuck!"

A quick squealing pain ran through her left arm like electricity and made her drop her hammer. There was no effect.

"Shit... Why didn't it do anything? It's right there next.. to.. my...."

"Oh..."

She slapped her forehead and took some leather straps from her pocket.

Enchantment: Fortitude: enchant the item to improve the wearers endurance....The wearers. How would the enchant do anything if the plate just sat on the table?

Aleyn crudely tied the steel plate to her arm and immediately felt a change. Almost like a numbing feeling, she blew on her arm to see if the enchant had actually numbed her but she definitely felt a cold breeze. She ran her right hand across her left arm and confirmed she could feel her own touch and as she tried pinching her skin she felt slight resistance. It was an odd feeling as anywhere she pinched her body felt tougher.

After a little consideration she picked up her hammer again but this time she chose her right hand. She took a deep breath again and readied herself for the pain that was possible coming again.

'Wack'

"Tchhh....."

Her teeth clenched slightly as she felt pain run through her hand. The feeling of pain didn't disappear completely but compared to her left hand the right one got the better deal by far.

The enchant worked, though not as potent as she had originally expected it was still a massive improvement to not having it. Aleyn was filled with a sense of success, after months of trying her hard work had payed off. That sense of success didn't last for very long though.

She untied the leather straps and took a look at the steel plate. It was rather hard to concentrate on it with all the moving lights but she still kept doing so as she needed to find something. She rebuilt the pattern from scratch in her head and finally found the spot where she had lost her bearings and made a note of it. It wouldn't take her by surprise the next time that's for sure.

Happy as she might have been about finally finishing the enchant, one time success wasn't enough to convince her. She spent the rest of the time she had trying to replicate the results. Failing a few but ultimately managing to make a number of succesfull enchants, her energy was completely spent by lunch time.

It was time for a bit of rest and food but today she wasn't having her usual lunch at broken horn. Instead she headed for Kharis's Inn where Thess was working hard to show her gratitude. Earlier in the morning she had pretty much forced Aleyn to join her at the inn for lunch.

Aleyn sat in the dining area as Thess was busy in the kitchen. In a moment Thess emerged from the kitchen room with a large plate.

"Lunch is served!"

A large plate was shoved in front of Aleyn and she was in all honesty quite frightened at the sheer amount of food.

Three fine brown roasted steaks the size of her head covered in a sweet reddish sauce with a side of two corn cobs and some potatoes. On the plate there was also a big bowl filled with what seemed to be soup and  four loafs of soft white bread right next to it. It was enough to last her for two whole days at the very least.

"Enjoy." Thess said with a smile and sat down opposite of Aleyn.

Aleyn stared at her blankly.

"You really expect me to eat all of this?"

"Oh no, you're not the only one who's having their lunch. Just so you know, I'm a big eater." Thess giggled.

Aleyn let out a internal sigh of relief. If she had to eat all of that alone she would have burst in to tears.

The two started happily dining and enjoying the produce of Thess's cooking. Aleyn had no complaints about her cooking as the meal was simply divine. Broken horn had good food but Thess's cooking had a certain personal touch to it which gave Aleyn a pleasant feeling as she relaxed and enjoyed her meal.

She was happily eating but about half way through her eating was interrupted by Rylee who just entered the dining room.

"Oh Aleyn, I've been looking for you."

Aleyn turned around to face Rylee.

"Oh? What's up?"

"Earlier in the morning some residents were complaining about some, * ahem * 'noises' coming from your room. Next time you bring a guest over could you keep it down a bit?"

Aleyns head went blank for a moment. She took a quick glance at Thess who was frozen in place with a loaf of bread in her mouth as her face started to turn red. Rylee obviously didn't know much about what happened last night so she wouldn't know Aleyn didn't spend much time in her own room.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't think we were being that loud. " Aleyn replied with a cheeky smile.

Rylee gave a hearty giggle.

"It's alright dear... How was he then?" She winked suggestively.

"Oh that man kept me up all night. That's for sure." Aleyn winked back.

"Ahh. Youth." Rylee blushed.

She then took a look at Thess whos face was bright red as she tried to eat the meal in front of her. Rylee gave a smile as she mistook the sign of embarrassment as meekly innocence.

Suddenly the front door opened and a certain young man stepped inside, the young dragonkin Stevarth. Just as he did Kharis entered the room as well.

He took a quick look around the room but as he noticed Stev his mood turned sour.

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"What are you doing here?! Thess told you to stay away. Get out!" Kharis shouted.

"No no dad. It's fine, I'm fine." Thess quickly assured her father.

Kharis watched her for a moment but saw no abnormal reaction from Thess.

"Hmph, fine."

Without further discussion Stev bowed down in front of the irritated Kharis which caught him by surprise.

"I wish to take your daughters hand in marriage."

"What?!"

"I love her, I love her so much it pains for me to be apart from her. "

Thess gasped loudly while Kharis put on an annoyed expression.

"You have some nerve boy. You thought I would just give my daughter to you if you bowed in front of me?"

"No I didn't, but I value your opinion. Even if you dislike me I would rest easier knowing you aren't against it." Stev replied bluntly.

"Oh but I am."

"Father! But I love him too. Please." Thess yelled and shot up from her seat.

Kharis turned towards his daughter and gave a confused look.

"You can't seriously expect me to allow this and what do you mean you love him? You two are close but not that close. You can't make a decision like this on a whim."

"Actually... We've been dating for two years now dad." Thess muttered.

"What?!"

"We've been dating in secret for a long time. "Stev said.

Kharis's face grew angry.

"It wasn't really a secret though to be fair." Rylee refuted.

Stev and Thess quickly turned their heads towards Rylee who had sat down at the dining table next to Thess.

"You two were way too obvious. Though I did find it quite cute how you two were trying to hide it. Almost like forbidden love story."

Aleyn shook her head and sighed.

"Am I the only one who didn't know?!?" Kharis yelled.

"Probably dear." Rylee answered.

Rylee stood up and moved to Kharis side.

"You know Kharis... Stevarth is a nice boy. A well mannered young man who I've never seen do anything dislikable as well as someone dear to your daughter. You should be happy a boy like him wants to marry her."

"How can I be happy Rylee? This boy himself said he was flirting with other girls while my precious child was hurt. What sort of a father would let scum like that marry their daughter?" Kharis yelled angrily

"Actually. I never said I was flirting with anyone. I merely said I had to run away from women who tried flirting with me."

That was true. Aleyn was there so she vaguely remembered what Stev had said. Kharis seemed to remember it himself as his eyes widened in realization.

"Also, that was a lie. I was surprised you were so interested in hearing how my night had been so I tried painting the evening a bit more colourful. I actually spent most of the night moving washed out drunks out of the bar."

Kharis's anger started rising.

"You see this is exactly what I don't like about your kind! You spin lies to seem normal. To hide that  angry beast you house in that little head of yours. Forget it! I'll never give my daughter to.."

His angry rambling was interrupted by a swift slap from his wife. The whole room went quiet as the echo of that slap disappeared.

"Kharis..." Rylee sighed.

You could see that her eyes were starting to become teary.

"Ah.. This brings me back.. "

Rylee sat down while everyone attending just stared at her as she wiped her eyes.

"Dear.. Do you remember... when you asked my fathers approval to marry me all those years ago?."

Kharis hurriedly tried answering.

"Of course I do, it was the happiest day of my life Rylee."

"Then you would remember it wasn't the happiest day for me..." Rylee sighed in sadness.

"'An elf? You can't marry an elf! I'm not letting my daughter be just one conquest on the road of an elfs life time!'" She reminisced

Kharis's face lit out in shock as he remembered. Her father had indeed been very cross about their marriage. The reason was that Elfs far out lived humans so their sense of time was a bit different. One human woman for 60 or so years wasn't much for an elf and after they died the elf could just move on to their next partner.

"That night. I escaped through my rooms window and we ran away. I never talked to my parents again. They're most likely dead, never to see their daughter again, never to see their grandchildren."

"I like to think my father regretted his decision as I regret never speaking to him again, but I will never know now. I should have tried to contacting them, they probably missed me as much as I missed them. Knowing they newer got to see their beautiful grandchildren... " Rylee paused as she wiped her tears away.

She turned towards Kharis and looked him in the eyes.

"Kharis.. My dear husband. Do not make any decisions you will regret in the end. I support their marriage, I feel you have no reason to not do so as well.

Kharis after listening to her story couldn't muster a word. He had never realized how much in pain she had been over this, their love had brought much happiness to them but also grown roots of sadness in her mind which he had never realized existed.  

If Thess ran away and never spoke to him again he would be devastated, but he shouldn't just give away his daughter to someone he didn't feel was suitable.

Kharis sighed deeply.

Problem was, he couldn't deny that Stev was a good kid. The only thing he had against him was that he was a dragonkin. Fate was cruel in how it played its tricks.

He had to make a decision, but he knew he couldn't be the deciding factor of it.

"Thessalia.. Do you truly love Stevarth?"

Thess smiled as she stared at Stev.

"I do. I want to marry this man."

Kharis sighed and looked towards Stevarth concedingly.

"You can have her hand in marriage."

Thess cheered and threw herself in Stevs embrace. Rylee broke in to tears of happiness as she watched her daughter. Stev smiled and as a tear fell down to his cheek while he held Thess in his arms.

He then turned to Kharis with a smile.

"Thank you Kharis.. Or should I say father in law?" He asked.

"You are to call me Kharis. I still don't like you boy, you have to work hard to gain my approval."

He replied slightly annoyed.

Rylee and Thess sighed deeply but were ultimately content with his decision. Stev would surely gain his approval in due time.

Rylee congratulated and hugged her daughter in tears but couldn't stay for more as she saw Kharis leave the dining area.

"He must be feeling quite emotional as well, I better go and comfort him a bit." Rylee smiled.

"Yeh, you should mom."

Now with just the three of them left Stev joined Aleyn and Thess as they finished their lunch, but as the plate emptied Aleyn was more than ready to return back to the workshop.

She stood up from her seat and brushed the crumbs from her shirt.

"Ahh that hit the spot. Thanks Thess and congratulations to both of you."

"It's all thanks to you Aleyn." Thess smiled.

"How can we ever repay you?" Stev followed up.

"I'm sure you'll find something. I have to get back to work now though, I'll be leaving."

"You really love your work don't you?" Thess asked with a smile.

"Well I do, but it's mostly a means to an end."

"Oh? So you have a different reason?" Stev asked.

"She wants to travel the land." Thess answered.

"Oh? Why are you working with blacksmithing then?" Stev asked again.

Aleyn raised an eyebrow.

"The world is a dangerous place. I want to go to the most exotic of places that this world has to offer and for that I need to be able to defend myself. Armor and weapons are a good first step don't you think?"

"There's no point in having a weapon if you can't use it though." Stev snarked.

"That is true. I've been meaning to look for someone who can teach me."

Thess after hearing that had a surge of realization. She leaned over towards Stevs ear and whispered something which made Stevs face light up.

"I think we might have found a way to repay you." Stev realized.

Aleyn could only ponder what he meant but she was interrupted before she could ask.

"Could you come with us tomorrow when we go meet my father and tell about our engagement?"

"Shouldn't you be doing something like that today?"

"He isn't back home until tomorrow, he went out of the city to find some inspiration for painting." Stev shrugged.

"Okay then, but why do you want me there?"

"It's a secret. It'll be worth your time though if everything goes according to plan." Stev explained vaguely.

""What's with all the secrets these two need to keep?"" Aleyn thought.

She wasn't tied up with anything other than her enchanting but that could wait a day if needed. There was no real reason to decline their show of gratitude whatever it might be.

"Okay then fine. Just tell me when."

"We'll pick you up tomorrow." Thess concluded.

With everything settled she then returned back to the workshop and spent the rest of the day with enchanting.