"Later that evening, after tucking the kids in, the adults gathered in the family room to continue their discussion. "Robert," Emily inquired, "are these items the best you can do?" "Not even close," Robert replied. "The issue lies in the materials. Oak has its limitations. I'd need more exotic materials and gemstones to amplify the power. Unfortunately, I don't have access to the right resources."
"What about the gemstones?" Emily asked. "Do they have to be real? Would glass work?" "No, they must be genuine," Robert explained. "Different stones are better suited for different types of magic. For instance, Blue Topaz or Aquamarine would be ideal for enchanting using magic from the Sphere of Healing, while Yellow Topaz or Chrysoberyl would be better for spells from the Sphere of Light." "That sounds quite expensive," Emily mused. "Is it worth the cost?"
Robert pulled out his phone and began researching. "I'm not certain," he said. "A 1-carat Blue Topaz, for example, would cost around $400. However, I have no idea how many charges it would provide, and Aquamarines are even more problematic. Chrysoberyls seem like a more promising option. I can get a 1.3-carat stone for about $260, which might be a good starting point for testing."
"What about Sapphires?" His mother asked, "I have that old ring I don't wear anymore, it's got that goddy stone on it, can we use it to test?" Robert thought about it for a second, "I remember that, It was grandma's ring, the stone is large enough if I remember." His mother continued, "Ya it's a little over a carat. How long would it take you to enchant something?" Robert thought about it, "I'd have to take the stone off the ring, I don't have the right tools nor the skill to engrave the runs on the ring, but I could mount it on a rod, better yet, silver." Robert got quiet for a few minutes, lost in thought. "I would have to mount the stone to a rod, and then if I carved the runes in silver and attached them to the stone, I would get a much better result. I can melt a few of my silver coins and use those and I have a few good pieces of Oak rods."
Robert continued, "Okay so I'll try it tomorrow, I might need to run to a hardware store and get a few things so I can melt the silver, but this is doable." Elizabeth left the room for a moment and returned with the ring, "Here you go, this is exciting, I hope it works."
The next day, Robert headed to a hardware store, purchasing a stone crucible and a blowtorch for melting the silver. Back home, he first removed the stone from its setting and selected an unused rod. Carefully, he carved the runes for his Tier 3 healing spell into the wood, followed by a cavity to house the gemstone. Placing ten coins in the crucible, he ignited the torch and melted the silver. Once molten, he slowly poured the silver into the carved runes, connecting them to the cavity. Finally, he encased the stone in silver, securing it with a silver strap. With the physical preparations complete, Robert began the enchanting process. Immediately, he noticed the increased Mana cost. While his previous rods required around 250 Mana, this one demanded a staggering 2000. As he finished the enchantment, he examined the completed rod, a surge of anticipation coursing through him:
Name: Silver Enhanced Oak Rod of Healing
Tier: 4
Rank: Epic
Description: This rod was made by an expert enchanter who used silver inlays and a Sapphire stone in its creation. and when used will expend 1 charge to heal up to 75 health points.
Charges: 100
Feat Unlocked!
Robert pulled up his new feat:
Name: Architect of the Arcane
Description: First person to create an enchanted item, of Epic Quality and at least Tier 4. Tier 5 is required for enchanting or Tier 4 for both the Enchanting Skill and the Sphere of Enchanting.
Effect: +4 levels to your enchanting skill, or if you have both +2 to each of your enchanting Skill and Sphere. You have a +5% chance of any item you enchant being 1 tier higher in rarity.
"Hal, what do you think the System would pay for this rod?" Robert pondered.
Based on the previous one, I'd estimate around 9 gold.
Robert's eyes lit up. "Even considering the cost of the stones, I could potentially craft eight of these from the money I would get from that. That's a gold mine!"
For now, yes. But remember, Tier 5 Enchanters have been honing their craft for 15 to 20 years. They're nearly masters. To them, 9 gold isn't much. You've created a Tier 4 Epic healing item, something many Enchanters can't do. A Tier 5 version might fetch 25 to 30 gold. Good Enchanters live comfortably; Great Enchanters swim in wealth.
"So, once I reach that level, I won't have to worry about money?" Robert asked, hopeful.
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The average worker on most System worlds earns 2 to 3 gold a year and lives decently. A high-level worker might make 5 to 6 gold annually and live quite well. A skilled professional with their own shop could earn 20 to 30 gold a year. At your current pace, you could leave Earth with a few hundred gold. Ask Elara about the cost of items on her world to get a better idea.
"Well, that's reassuring. I'll never starve," Robert said, gathering the rod. "I'll go show the others." Finding his family gathered outside at the table, he put the new rod on the table. "Robert it's beautiful," Emily said. "The question is, is it better?"
With a smile, Robert pulled out a sheet of paper where he had written both the old rad's description as well as the new rods.
Name: Oak Rod of Healing
Tier: 1
Rank: Uncommon
Description: This rod was made by an expert enchanter and when used will expend 1 charge to heal up to 12 health points.
Charges: 20
Name: Silver Enhanced Oak Rod of Healing
Tier: 4
Rank: Epic
Description: This rod was made by an expert enchanter who used silver inlays and a Sapphire stone in its creation. and when used will expend 1 charge to heal up to 75 health points.
Charges: 100
"Well, these new rods are definitely an upgrade," Emily laughed. "But those stones are a bit pricey, close to $2000 each." Robert smiled. "Don't worry, they're a solid investment. The System Shop will pay 8 or 9 gold coins per rod, which is roughly $16,000 each. Even if I buy five stones at a time, that's a $6,000 profit per rod. Enchanters can make a killing." The room fell silent. "Son, if we ordered 10 stones, could you finish the rods before your next dungeon run?" Thomas asked. "Not a chance," Robert replied. "It'll take weeks to get the stones. But once they arrive, I can make two rods a day, so six to eight per run."
David stepped in. "I've got the money to order 20 stones. Just pay me back." Robert chuckled. "I'll give you 40 gold coins from the sale. Double your money back seems fair." Emily pondered. "Even with that, you'd still make over $200,000. You're right, it's a moneymaker." "Yes, but time is the issue," Robert explained. "It'll take 12-13 days to make 20 rods, including dungeon runs. After that, we'll make another 10 for the family. Hopefully, I'll learn something new and create something more powerful, like limb replacements." Emily's eyes widened. "Robert, if you could create limb replacements, we could help countless people. Forget money, we'd make millions!"
David set his phone down. "Good news! I found a gemstone shop in Atlanta. They have plenty of the stones we need. I’ll drive over tomorrow and pick them up. You should be able to start tomorrow afternoon." Robert grinned. “That’s fantastic! I’ll grab some extra oak rods and get everything ready. I should be able to make five rods before my next run, so I can pay you back. But it’ll be the run after that before you see a profit.” David shrugged. “No rush.”
The family spent the rest of the day discussing their future. A few hours later, Thomas asked, "Son, you said Constitution makes you tougher, right?" Robert pondered. "Yes, it increases physical resistance. I’m currently at 7.” “What does that mean? Are you bulletproof?” Thomas inquired.
Not quite. A 7 means you can withstand physical attacks like punches, but bullets are a different story. To stop most handguns, you’d need a score of 10. For rifles, you’re looking at 15. To get to 10, you’d need a Constitution of 50. For 15, it’s 90.
“So, not quite bulletproof yet,” Robert continued. “I could probably win a boxing match, but for handguns, I’d need about 21 more levels, or 10 with some strategic point allocation. For rifles, it’s 30 levels away.” Thomas nodded, understanding. “So, we keep this to ourselves until you reach that 10. Even if you can’t stop a rifle round, your high health would probably let you survive, right?” Robert laughed. “You’re probably right. And you could always heal me up.”
The next day David left early to head to Atlanta and Robert went to the hardware store to get more Oak Rods. Later that afternoon, he was able to start working again on the new rods. This continued for the next three days. By the time Robert's next run had arrived he had created 5 new rods to sell.
On the day of Robert’s next run, the kids were at Michael’s house, and the adults gathered at Robert’s parents’. Dressed in his armor and clutching his sword, Robert walked into the room. “Damn, Robert, looking mighty medieval,” Emily teased. Thomas shook his head. “So, what’s the plan, son?” Robert glanced at his father. “It’s time to tell Hal,” Robert informed Hal he was ready, and a portal materialized in the corner of the room. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the swirling portal. “So, that’s how it works?” David asked, surprised. “You just walk into that thing?”Robert chuckled. “Yep. Not sure how long this will take, but expect several hours, maybe even a full day.” With that, he stepped into the portal.