The dungeon's stale, damp air clung to Robert like a shroud, but it couldn't dampen his thrill of victory. He had conquered the grueling test and emerged victorious.
As he stepped into his home, the warm embrace of his family washed over him. Sara, her brow furrowed in concern, rushed to meet him. "Robert!" she exclaimed, relief and worry etched across her face. "You're back! Are you alright?"
He returned her hug, squeezing her tightly. "I'm fine, love," he reassured her, his voice hoarse and his body aching. "Just a bit worn out."
The children, John, Richard, and Stacey, entered the room, their eyes wide with curiosity. "Dad, you look worn out," John observed. "Daddy, are you okay?" Stacey asked, her voice filled with worry.
"I'm fine, princess," Robert replied, ruffling her hair. "Just a little tired."
He then began to regale them with tales of his adventure, pulling out a picture of the eerie graveyard and a chilling image of the skeleton he had encountered.
Stacey gasped, covering her mouth in fright as Robert recounted the perilous final battle. "Dad, Are you sure you should be doing these dungeon runs?" John asked, concern evident in his voice. "I don't have a choice," Robert replied, "If I don't do two runs a week, the System will force me to back-to-back runs on the last day."
"That's not fair," Richard stated, his voice filled with frustration. "I know, son," Robert replied with a heavy sigh. "The System is inflexible. It has its goals and will stop at nothing to achieve them, regardless of the cost."
"But I did get some good rewards from this run," Robert said, pulling out the items he had received from the rare chest. John picked up the sword and examined it closely, "This is beautiful."
"Yes, and it was perfect timing," Robert explained. "My old sword was starting to show its age, and neither my mending spell nor my ability could repair it." He continued, "But the best part is the gold. It's enough to buy one of the Tier 2 spell books, and I desperately need the power boost."
"Which one do you think you'll get?" John asked. "I'm leaning towards water," Robert answered. "I wish one of the books was healing; that would help me craft more powerful items. But if I'm lucky, one of the water spells will have healing properties."
After spending quality time with his family, Robert retreated to his spare room to organize his inventory. As he sorted through his belongings, he was struck by the fleeting nature of items in this world. Many had become obsolete in a remarkably short time.
Returning to his office, Robert turned to the internet for inspiration for his next enchanting project. A thought struck him.
"Hey Hal, can I enchant cloth?" he asked his AI assistant.
Certainly, however, enchanting cloth requires a higher level of skill and precision. You'll need to be meticulous in your stitching. Given your current skill level, you should be able to handle it. The only caveat is the potential for accidents. If you use low-quality thread, the enchantment could destabilize, releasing its energy unpredictably.
"Can I use something stronger than cloth thread?" Robert asked.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Absolutely, as an expert in sewing, you could use silver thread, which is ideal for enchanting clothing. While you can purchase silver thread, ensure it's of the highest purity.
Robert began researching online and was pleasantly surprised by the affordable options. "A hundred feet of 99.99% pure silver thread for only forty dollars? Not bad," he muttered, placing an order.
His mind raced as he considered his next project. "Cloaks," he mused. "A cloak with an air shield enchantment would be incredibly useful. Or perhaps a cloak of speed, powered by a basic time spell."
Both would be good ideas, don't forget to order a set of needles to go with the thread.
"Thanks for the reminder," Robert replied, a smile spreading across his face.
Turning his attention to cloaks, he found a few promising options and promptly ordered a dozen heavy cloth cloaks. As he was placing the order, Sara entered the room, her gaze drawn to his screen.
“Cloaks?” she questioned, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Why cloaks? Aren’t they a bit outdated?” “They’re a simple, classic garment,” Robert explained. “Perfect for testing my enchantments. Once I’ve mastered the basics, I’ll move on to more complex items like shirts and jackets.”
"I suppose that makes sense," Sara conceded, though a small frown creased her brow. "But couldn't you just use a piece of cloth?"
“Not quite,” Robert replied. “I need to test the enchantments on something I can actually wear.”
The next day, a shipment arrived bearing Robert's supplies and cloaks. With practiced precision, he began the intricate task of enchanting the first cloak. Using a silver thread, he carefully inscribed the runes of the air shield spell onto the fabric. After an hour of focused concentration, the enchantment was complete. He cast the Identify spell to reveal its properties.
Name: Cloak of Shielding
Tier: 1
Rank: Uncommon
Description: This cloak, crafted by the hand of an expert enchanter, will expend 1 charge to cast a Minor Shield of Air spell upon the wearer.
Charges: 15
Pleased with his first creation, Robert turned his attention to the second cloak. He imbued it with the runes of the minor movement spell, carefully weaving them into the fabric. Once the enchantment was complete, he cast the Identify spell.
Name: Cloak of Minor Movement
Tier: 1
Rank: Uncommon
Description: This cloak, crafted by the hand of an expert enchanter, will expend 1 charge to cast a Minor Increased Movement spell upon the wearer.
Charges: 15
Satisfied with his work, Robert carefully stored the cloaks away and went to spend some quality time with his children.
The next day, Robert delved into his inventory, discovering a stash of nearly 400 silver coins. Intrigued by their potential value, he ventured to a nearby pawn shop, a well-known establishment in the area. As he waited in line, he approached an employee, inquiring about their interest in purchasing a collection of silver coins. Eager for a potential profit, the employee immediately expressed interest. Robert presented a single coin as a sample.
Examining the coin closely, the employee questioned its origin, puzzled by the unfamiliar script. Robert explained that the coins were inherited from his father's estate and that he possessed limited knowledge of their history. After testing the coin and confirming its purity, the employee offered to purchase the collection at a price of $5 below the current spot price, contingent upon the quantity.
Robert inquired about the specific price, and the employee revealed that the current spot price for silver was $30.47 per ounce. They proposed a price of $25.47 per coin, accounting for their necessary profit margin. Robert countered with a price of $26.00 per coin, a compromise that the employee ultimately accepted.
Returning to his car, Robert retrieved 199 coins and brought them back to the pawn shop. After a thorough examination of the coins, Robert walked out with $5,200 in hand, ready to return home.
Upon returning home, Robert shared the news of the silver coin sale with his wife, entrusting her with the earnings. While he was pleased with his newfound ability to contribute to their family's finances, he recognized the limited potential of such ventures. With renewed determination, Robert returned to his office to continue his enchanting endeavors, focusing on completing the cloaks.
Several days later, Robert prepared to descend into the dungeon once more, this time venturing to the sixth floor.