“I suppose it’s time,” Maria sighed.

“That it is,” Hargrim said. “The rest is up to you. I can help you sort the ingredients, and what you’ll need for what, but after that, you need to enchant on your own.”

“Yeah, I know. Boy, am I looking forward to it,” she said tiredly.

“Now the three of you, help me haul all this junk outside.”

“What?” Tanalia spun around. “Why didn’t you just tell us to unload everything outside if we were just going to haul it out there anyways?”

“I didn’t think of it at the time, I’m old,” he chuckled and stepped outside.

The trio picked up the equipment and ingredients and brought everything outside to Hargrim’s backyard. The pile of loot only grew wider as Chariot and Tanalia changed out of their gear, and added it to the pile for Maria to enchant. Everything was all here, it was just a matter of actually enchanting her team with an entire set of gear. She could take other armor pieces they had gathered in the dungeon, and fuse them with their gear to further increase their stats. She pulled all sorts of ingredients from Hargrim's supply, from phoenix feathers to monster scales, and even her own Pythor King scales, and fangs she had left floating in her inventory all this time.

While Chariot and Tanalia rested, Maria got to work. Throughout the day she sat in the backyard, enchanting. One item after the other she worked on. Her hands would burn, and her eyes would dry up. The longer it went on, and the more she enchanted, the more her bones felt like they were turning to jelly. Her body was starting to reject the process by noon, but she had to push through and keep working on it. Every so often, she would give herself a small break, and eat something to replenish her energy, but even that was fruitless in the grand scheme of the process. By evening, she was growing starving after each enchantment. She was thoroughly drenched in sweat by this point, and not even the cool nightly air was enough to relinquish her of the burning feeling beneath her skin.

Every so often, Hargrim would come out of his shack, and inspect Maria’s work.

“You’re doing good, so far.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Maria chuckled.

At one point, late into the night, she collapsed, laying on the ground beside two piles, one being the original stack of loot and items she had to work on, and the other her finished pile of gear she had successfully enchanted. It had been steadily growing throughout the day, and she was nearly done. Thankfully, she didn’t need to use all the ingredients Chariot and Tanalia had brought, and they could hold onto them for later use.

Come dawn, Maria was finished. Her body was thoroughly worn out. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping her heart going. She lay there, breathing tiredly as she gazed up at the sky while it’s darker colors were smothered by the sunrise. Not shortly after that, Chariot and Tanalia returned to the backyard to check on Maria and found her passed out on the ground.

“Maria, are you okay?” Chariot asked, trying to shake her awake.

“Why can’t we just slap her?”

“We don’t need to do that, she’s not dead!”

Maria stirred and groaned. Chariot helped her sit up slowly. “What?” Maria asked tiredly.

“Are you alright?”

“No…”

“Oh… do you need anything?”

“Rest.”

“You heard her,” Tanalia said and pulled Chariot aside, letting Maria collapse again. She only managed to sleep for a short while before being awoken by the sounds of rummaging. Both Chariot and Tanalia were crouched over the pile of enchanted gear, silent, and with wide eyes.

Banished Knight Helmet >> Guardian Circlet

Defense: 40 >> 55

Physical Attack Boost: +4% >> +10%

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> 6%

Mana Boost: -12% >> -13%

Banished Knight Chestpiece >> Guardian Chestpiece

Defense: 180 >> 200

Physical Attack Boost: +12% >> +15%

Physical Health Boost: +13% >> +15%

Mana Boost: -12% >> 15%

Lightweight Scarf >> Azure Lightweight Scarf

Defense: 95 >> 105

Physical Attack Boost: +12% >> +13%

Physical Health Boost: +9% >> +12%

Mana Boost: -88% >> -89%

Guardian Chainmail

Defense: 80

Physical Attack Boost: +7%

Physical Health Boost: +5%

Banished Knight Greaves >> Guardian Greaves

Defense: 95 >> 120

Physical Attack Boost: +6% >> +10%

Physical Health Boost: +4% >> +9%

Banished Knight Leggings >> Guardian Leggings

Defense: 95 >> 110

Physical Attack Boost: +2% >> +5%

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> +8%

Banished Knight Gauntlets >> Guardian Gauntlets

Defense: 80 >> 100

Physical Attack Boost: +3% >> +6%

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> +7%

Crimson Petal >> Enchanted Crimson Petal

Damage: 120 >> 150

Perk: Summons a barrage of barbed vines to entangle and damage enemies.

Gold Ear Ring >> Enchanted Gold Ear Ring

Defense: 1 >> 5

Mana Boost: +0% >> +12%

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Leather Jerkin >> Elven Jerkin

Defense: 100 >> 120

Physical Attack Boost: +10% >> +12%

Physical Health Boost: +11% >> +13%

Hooded Cloak >> Illustrious Emerald Silk Cloak

Defense: 80 >> 95

Physical Attack Boost: +13% >> +15%

Physical Health Boost: +10% >> +12%

Mana Boost: -88% >> -89%

Tight Woolen Leggings >> Forest Silk Leggings

Defense: 70 >> 85

Physical Attack Boost: +7% >> +10%

Physical Health Boost: +10% >> +12%

Icarus Boots >> Enchanted Icarus Boots

Defense: 50 >> 65

Physical Attack Boost: +80% >> +81%

Physical Health Boost: +90% >> +91%

Mana Boost: -12% >> -14%

Perk: Allows the wearer to jump once in midair.

Light Green Shawl >> Enchanted Light Green Shawl

Defence: 1 >> 5

Physical Attack Boost: +0% >> +15%

Edgecaster >> Enchanted Edgecaster

Damage: 60 >> 75

Perk: Weapon can swap between bow form, and duel blades form.

Feathered Witch Hat >> Phoenix Witch Hat

Defense: 15 >> 25

Physical Attack Boost: -5% >> -8%

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> +8%

Mana Boost: +10% >> +20%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 20%

Leather Chestpiece >> Chestpiece of Embers

Defense: 30 >> 45

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> +10%

Mana Boost: -3% >> -5%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 20%

Constellation Robe >> Feathered Phoenix Robes

Defense: 10 >> 35

Physical Attack Boost: -10% >> -15%

Physical Health Boost: +3% >> + 5%

Mana Boost: +7% >> +15%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 30%

Tailored Leggins >> Hardened Demon Leggings

Defense: 14 >> 18

Physical Health Boost: +2% >> +5%

Mana Boost: +2% >> +15%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 15%

Knee-High Leather Boots >> Blazing Knee-High Boots

Defense: 12 >> 15

Physical Health Boost: +5% >> +15%

Mana Boost: +0% >> +10%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 10%

Fingerless Woolen Gloves >> Charred Demon Gloves

Defense: 2 >> 10

Physical attack Boost: +2% >> +8%

Mana Boost: +2% >> +10%

Enchantment Acquired: Damage of fire spells increased by 12%

“You did all of this?” Chariot asked the tired witch.

“I tried enchanting them as best I could,” Maria yawned. “I didn’t increase the stats by much, but hopefully it’s enough to help us in our fight.”

“Don’t discredit yourself, you did fantastic,” Chariot said and knelt over the pile. She started picking up her armor set. “I mean look at this.”

Maria was slowly rising to her feet. “Go ahead, try it on.”

Chariot's silver armor gleamed freshly polished in the morning sunlight. Though it was tight against her figure, it seemed easy enough to move around in. The armor extended to her shoulders, forming strong, curving pauldrons that resembled the powerful maw of a lion. Their manes were made from royal blue rags that dropped over her shoulders, almost blending with the azure scarf she wore around her neck. Though her greaves and gauntlets were fittingly simple, they did carry some fancy embroidery. With each step, the steel armor resonated with a soft, rhythmic clinking sound. Chariot wore a thin layer of chainmail beneath the armor as well for a little added protection.

"I think it looks great," Maria said. "I thought you might like the blue."

"I do, thank you. But... what's this?" she held up the Guardian Circlet. What had once been her helmet had been transformed into a silver band with blue jewels encrusted into it.

"Oh, that..." Maria chuckled awkwardly. "Well, that was a bit of an accident. I didn't mean for it to come out like a circlet, but it still has the better stats."

Chariot pursed her lips, and slipped the circlet on.

"I think it looks nice on you."

Chariot smiled a bit. "It's not very defensive."

"Stat wise it is."

"I meant physically."

"No, but the helmet hid your face. I like you like this."

A blush rose on Chariot's cheeks. She glanced away and equipped her shield and sword. "It'd uh... them," she cleared her throat. "It's a shame my Crimson Petal doesn't match with the armor."

"Eh, I don't think the shield does a whole lot either, but I still like it."

Tanalia whistled from behind. Like Chariot, she had changed back into her gear. Though her golden hair was unbraided, she left it cascading over her shoulders where her new cloak, woven from threads spun by the rarest of enchanted silkworms, draped. Its emerald hue shifted and shimmered in the sunlight as she approached. Along its ridges, intricate silver patterns of delicate vines and leaves were embroidered. Her form-fitting jerkin hugged her petite figure in such a way Maria hadn't seen anything accentuate her elegant curves before, save for the elven dress she wore to the Greensbolt Theater. The leather was embellished with elven symbols, which glowed faintly with a subtle ethereal light. They were again another accident in the enchanting process, but she didn't think Tanalia would mind all that much. Tanalia's leggings bore intricate patterns reminiscent of intertwining branches, woven into the fabric with threads of silver and gold. Of course, she again tied her light green shawl around her waist, where it hung delicately.

"I think you look great too," Maria said.

"I look better without it all on, but yes, I think they're quite beautiful. You did a good job."

"Thank you," Maria smiled.

"Yes, thank you, Maria," Chariot added. "Now come on, put on your new gear!"

"Right, right, just give me a moment to change into them." Maria quickly stripped and swapped her outfit for her gear. Maria stood with her hands proudly on her hips. Her new cloak was elegantly fashioned from phoenix feathers sewn into a material that shimmered in the light, and that almost made the cloak appear as if it were on fire. The interior of it was heavily adorned with golden embroidery resembling fire. She had swapped her tunic for a long-sleeved, form-fitting dress that hugged her figure like the molten core of a blazing inferno. It was colored in a blend of deep reds and fiery oranges, overlayed by a chest piece of charcoal black demon scales. Her knee-high boots were made of supple, flame-colored leather, with the collar of the boots wrapped in a band of shimmering gold. Just above the wide, and slightly curved brim of her witch hat, was a small, intricately crafted emblem shaped like a phoenix in flight. It appeared to be intricately embroidered in shimmering golden thread.

"Woah," Chariot looked Maria over. "You look... hot."

Maria blushed. "Oh, I do, do I?"

"Er, I mean like physically, with all the fire and stuff, not the... other thing."

"So you don't think I look pretty then?"

"I- I'm not saying that either, I'm just saying—"

Maria giggled. "I know what you mean." she waved her hand dismissively. "Hey, you want to see a cool trick?"

Chariot shrugged and nodded her head. Her cheeks were still rosy.

Maria cast {Firebolt}, propelling the spell into the air. In the wake of her cast, her outfit came to life. Beneath the phoenix feathers of her cloak, a bright, magma glow emanated. As she stepped forward, wisps of ephemeral fire trailed in her wake, leaving no mark upon the ground, but radiating the warmth and energy of the element. Her dress seemed to come alive as if the fire within her was trying to break free and dance around her. Trails of golden light snake around the fabric, taking the shape of flames in the form of invisible embroidery.

"What the hell is that?"

"It's reactive!" Maria squealed excitedly. "Apparently the demon's heart I used for the enchantment made it so that when I cast fire magic, the outfit reacts to it!"

“That’s fairly interesting,” Tanalia said. She opened up her stat page and smirked. “You two should check these out.”

Name: Maria Marigold

Lvl: 26

HP: 1644 >> 1767

MP: 317 >> 476

Total Defense: 83 >> 148

Total Attack: 45.8 >> 83.1

Name: Chariot Crowhaven

Lvl: 34

HP: 2454 >> 2704

MP: 52 >> 48

Total Defense: 585 >> 690

Total Attack: 166 >> 240

Name: Tanalia Taymore

Lvl: 38

HP: 4821 >> 5109

MP: 59

Total Defense: 322 >> 375

Total Attack: 144 >> 221

“I’m so far behind,” Maria pouted.

“Well, you were busy for a month,” Chariot said. “I think it paid off. Look at these stats. They’re pretty good.”

“But is it enough for us to stand a chance against the Ringleader?”

The trio fell quiet. Even after all the work she had gone through, Maria could read it in their faces. It wasn’t. Maria had seen Eardwulf’s stats before, and they were nowhere near comparable to anyone in her party. The Ringleader had nearly killed him without breaking a sweat. The gear was only going to get them so far. If she wanted to take down the Ringleader, she needed to think outside the box and come up with a serious plan.

“Ah, look at you three,” Hargrim said. The old dwarf had come out of his cabin and looked upon the trio with their shiny new equipment. “I’d say you look like real adventurers now.”

“Did we not before?” Maria asked.

“Compared to what you’re wearing now, you looked like homeless vagabonds before.”

“I’ll take the compliment,” she chuckled.

“Damn right, you should and be proud of it. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone else other than me excel at enchanting. Keep this practice up, and I’m sure you’ll go far with your ability.”

“Thank you,” Maria smiled.

“Now, take a break for crying out loud! You look terrible, and smell even worse.”

The trio couldn’t help but chuckle as the enchanter retreated inside.

“You know, I know the perfect thing we can do to relax,” Maria said.