Walking up from where I was resting, I looked at the blade before me. From what I can tell, the metal has cooled just enough that it doesn't have a red glow. This doesn't make me feel any better about enchanting the workpiece being actively crafted, but some concerns need to be set to the side. It is my time to help out my friend.

As I get closer to the blade, the heat from the forge makes me sweat. Once I'm in front of the piece, it is entirely different than back in the enchanting hut. There are sounds all around me; people are calling out, and the smell of molten metal fills my lungs. Doing my best to focus on my task, I quickly pulled out the sigil and traced the pattern like I had been practicing. I often lose focus because of the environment, but I quickly buckle down and focus harder on the task.

The tracing is done slowly, within a few minutes, so as not to make a mistake. I can see Uxa holding the metal, shaking lightly from anticipation, or it might be because his arms are tired. Either way, I continue my work, grab the engraver, and start on that next. Again, the process takes a couple of minutes. Once that is through, I grab my pre-made mixture and pour it on like I had been practicing. Immediately, a sizzling sound comes from the blade as the paste-like mixture starts to rest in the groove I made.

Once the mixture is in the groove, I start the mana infusion into the sigil. Quickly completing that, I step back. And not a second too soon. Uxa wrenches the piece from the anvil and places it back in the forge. Looking at him, I am curious about what is left to do.

Seeing my curious gaze, Uxa shares, "After that, I need to heat the blade and then quench it in oil to harden it so it can be initially sharpened. Then I will need to heat the blade again to reduce stress in the metal, create the handle, and do one final sharpening of the blade."

"There are a lot of steps to go before we know if the blade was successful," I commented.

"While that is true, it means there are lots of points of failure, but just as many points to increase the tier of an item."

Grasping his point, I can't help but admire the positive perspective Uxa is showing. "I hope we succeed in this first attempt."

"I highly doubt it, but we will see."

After another 20 minutes, the semi-finished product is brought out of the quenching barrel. When I went to analyze the blade, I received the following.

- Enchantment: Failed -

With no other information, I can only sigh at the failure. Turning to Uxa, I shake my head.

"Nothing?" He asked.

"Nope, why does it show up now instead of when the final product is finished?"

"It's probably because it doesn't need to be fully completed for the enchantment to take effect. The blade needs its final sharpening, and the handle doesn't affect it much. It is possible for the final sharpening to cause the enchantment to fail due to grinding parts of the enchantment away, but this wouldn't be the case in this situation."

Understanding what he means, I ask another question, "Is it possible to get several pieces up to the point of creating the handles so I don't have to sit and wait for the process to complete each time?"

"Impatient?" He smirks at me. "Yes, I can start another piece and wait to finish this one. It means more work for me later when I want more completed products."

"Thank you," I say. "How long till you need me back here for the next attempt?" I ask as an afterthought.

"It shouldn't be more than an hour before I need your help again."

An hour gives me plenty of time to work on other minor things, such as improving my skills.

- Would you like to evolve your skill Arcane Shot? Yes/No -

Stepping out of the smithy and giving some space to the other buildings just in case something happens that could throw someone off when they are working, I select 'Yes.'

- Would you like to use a Skill Evolution Token or a Skill Fusion Token? Yes/No -

Again, I select 'Yes.'

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

- Which would you like to use:

Skill Evolution Token

Skill Fusion Token -

Sighing for having to go through all of the different notifications, I select 'Skill Evolution Token.' The moment I chose the 'Skill Fusion Token,' a surge of power courses came through me.

- How would you like your spell 'Arcane Shot' to evolve?

Multi-Arcane Shot

Arcane Spear

Arcane Push

Seeking-Arcane Shot -

Seeing the four options, I try to delve deeper and am rewarded with explanations for each evolution.

- Multi-Arcane Shot - Fires multiple shots at once, the spell's range is shortened, and the damage is spread between each shot.

Arcane Spear - Increased base damage while maintaining the range of the spell.

Arcane Push - Launches a wave of arcane force from your hands to push a nearby target. The target must be in the melee range for the push effect.

Tracking-Arcane Shot - Fires a shot that tracks its target, dealing slightly less damage than a typical Arcane Shot. -

I consider the options placed in front of me. My style will tend to be at a range, but it would be nice to have something to push those that get too close so that I can prepare myself for melee. Seeing the Tracking-Arcane Shot gives me many ideas, but the damage reduction is probably because it now tracks its targets. Wanting to know how much it tracks its targets is the only issue I have with that spell. If someone can avoid it and can't make a 180-degree turn, it won't be as valuable as pushing someone, having a spray of bolts, or even just increased damage for the spell. Immediately ruling out the pushing option leaves me with three other viable options. Between all of them, Seeking-Arcane Shot is the next one I cross off of my list of options. It's not that it wouldn't be helpful, but if I could substitute skill for lower damage, I would instead work on making it so my shots hit.

There are only two options: I must decide whether I want multiple shots with spread or higher damage. After flipping back and forth between the two, I finally make up my mind, and the moment I select my option, another notification appears.

- Congratulations, you have evolved your skill from 'Arcane Shot' to 'Arcane Spear.' By using a Skill Evolution Token, this skill has further evolved and has instead become 'Arcane Lance.' -

Shocked that evolving to 'Arcane Spear' wasn't the extent of the token, I looked into the skill I just received.

- Arcane Lance Tier 2 Level 1: Launches a lance of arcane force at a target. This lance deals 8 - 16 (Neutral Damage) to a target within 60 meters. -

Seeing this evolution makes me glad I took the option I did. Curious why it states that this spell is a Tier 2 spell and not just the level, I take another look at my skills and spell list. The one change in the list is now every spell and skill has an associated Tier next to it. Seeing that none of my abilities have a higher tier than Tier 2, courtesy of my new 'Arcane Lance' spell, it only excites me to start tiering up my abilities. With a gleeful smile, I continue to evolve the other two skills on my list. I combined the two skills since I don't have another evolution token. While having them separate is excellent, I wonder what would happen if they were fused.

- Which skills would you like to fuse?

Mana Meditation

Mana Control -

The one question I had about fusing skills gets answered in this notification. Since no other skills are selectable, I can only choose the two. Upon selecting them, I get the same evolution screen but with mana options instead.

- How would you like your skills 'Mana Meditation' and 'Mana Control' to evolve?

Lesser Mana Manipulation

Lesser Mana Condensation

Lesser Mana Deconstruction

Lesser Mana Augmentation -

Seeing something utterly different from what I am used to, I look closer at these various options.

- Lesser Mana Manipulation: Allows for faster mana regeneration while allowing for a better grasp of mana internally and externally.

Lesser Mana Condensation: Condense mana inside their body to allow for more potent spells.

Lesser Mana Deconstruction: Focuses the mind and allows for deconstructing the enemy's spells.

Lesser Mana Augmentation: Helps to augment mana inside of the body. -

When I consider these options, I can only think of one that would benefit me in my current situation. With the four options arrayed in front of me, I take a second to consider these options. The manipulation upgrade will potentially allow me to have an easier time with all of my spells and has the potential for creating new spells. Condensation will make my current spells more powerful. It could also increase the power of my enchantments because I can put more mana into them. Deconstruction, as the skill says, will let me destroy an enemy's spell; while it doesn't seem practical right now, once I work on the skill, I should be able to unravel spells thrown at myself or others. The only one of the four that eludes my understanding is augmentation. Would this allow me to have more heavily augmented mana? Or is it a skill that would allow someone to fully augment their mana to one type, causing it to be more potent?

I do not want to take the risk since I have four different affinities that I would need to augment my mana with, so I choose to drop that as an option for now. Next, I don't think having the ability to destroy incoming spells will be helpful for me in my current predicament. The amount of time I would need to practice it doesn't seem to be coming, and I could use something more potent or control-focused. Weighing the pros and cons of which skill I should take takes longer than anticipated. Of the two options, mana manipulation is on my list. The increased mana regeneration and mana control internally and externally would be a great boon for me. My mana pool is relatively high for someone of my level and any increase could increase my staying power, which could lead to fewer deaths on our side.

Making my choice, I select 'Lesser Mana Manipulation.'

- Congratulations! Your skills, 'Mana Control' and 'Mana Circulation,' have been fused together to create the skill 'Lesser Mana Manipulation.'

Lesser Mana Manipulation Tier 2 Level 1: Regenerates mana at a rate of 20 per hour while in meditation. Increases control of mana internally and externally by a slight amount. -