Enchantment Skill 3
Translated by: ME
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*****
Having witnessed Leon’s demonstration of Enchantment, I am overflowing with determination.
I sensed that my turn would come around soon enough.
「Since you should already be able to perform a basic Field Deployment, let's move straight into practical training. Deploy an Enchantment Field with the image of linking the materials together and migrating only the mana from the magic stone.」
「Understood. I'll give it a try!」
To challenge the creation of Holy Water immediately, I submerged a Sacred Mana Stone into magic-infused water.
Then, just as Leon instructed, I tried to link the materials as if I were deploying a Compounding Field...
「Ah! Mia-sama! Stop! That's a Compounding Field you're deploying!」
「Huh? Then, what kind of feeling should I be going for...?」
「Focus more on the 'Enchantment.' Your intent to 'Compound' is far too strong.」
Leon called out instructions in a flustered panic, but it was surprisingly difficult. In the sense of making two things into one, Compounding and Enchantment felt identical.
The sole difference was that while Compounding merges materials in their entirety, Enchantment merges only the mana of the materials.
Even though I understood it intellectually, I just couldn't visualize it properly—
「Please stop for a moment. If you continue, they'll end up compounded.」
Prompted by Leon, I deactivated the Field Deployment. The Sacred Mana Stone was slightly chipped; it must have started compounding into the magic water.
「This is much harder than I expected.」
「It seems the more experience someone has with compounding work, the harder it is for them to visualize this. Curiously, it doesn't usually work that way in reverse.」
No wonder Master Clein said he was bad at this.
「By the way, what happens if I actually compound a Sacred Mana Stone with magic water?」
「You get 'Contaminated Holy Water.' As an alchemical material, it's classified as inferior grade.」
So it really does turn into something else entirely. I'm painfully realizing that the road to crafting Magic Items is still a long one.
But I can't just give up here.
「Is there a trick or a specific mindset for Enchanting?」
「Let’s see. Mana is a delicate thing, so imagine moving it with a 'soft' touch.」
「S-soft?」
「Yes, soft. Gently envelop the mana and slowly peel it away.」
Hmm, so it's like extracting the mana from the surface of the material? That feels like I'd end up scraping the surface of the Sacred Mana Stone, though...
「Alright. I'll try again.」
Taking Leon’s advice to heart, I deployed the Field with a "soft" sensation—
「Awa-wa-wa! No! Like that, you're going to gouge the mana right out!」
My visualization was still off; I ended up shaving the surface of the Sacred Mana Stone.
「I thought I was being soft.」
「It needs to be even softer! Like a fluffy pancake!」
Even if you tell me that... While I was struggling, I caught sight of Master Clein watching us, letting out a little chuckle.
Instinctively, I cut the Field Deployment and shot him a chilly look alongside Leon.
「Please don't laugh. I'm an apprentice alchemist, remember?」
「Yeah! And it's my first time teaching someone!」
「My apologies. It’s just that this kind of banter is a rare sight in a Court Alchemist's workshop. It felt somewhat nostalgic, and I couldn't help myself.」
Normally, only the most elite are chosen as assistants to Court Alchemists, so I understood what he meant. Mastery of basic skills is a prerequisite; this is a place for learning much more difficult concepts and conducting high-level research.
While I realized I was a special case, I also felt this was very "apprentice-like" of me.
However, seeing Master Clein laugh so innocently was the real rarity...
「Did you have a period like this too, Master Clein?」
「...I'll handle the preparations for everything except the Holy Water. You would do well to learn diligently from Leon.」
「There was a weird pause just now! Don't tell me you actually did!?」
「There is no need to answer that. Focus on your Enchantment skill and produce the Holy Water.」
Master Clein began moving about busily, turning his attention back to the Knights' reports. The way he pointedly turned his back made it clear he was no longer listening.
「Ugh... Now I'm curious. Leon, do you know anything?」
「It's likely from before I met him. I've only ever seen him use Enchantment with a very grim look on his face.」
(Maybe even Master Clein has some 'dark history' from his youth,) I thought as I returned to my Enchantment practice.
All while thinking that, someday, I'd like to hear the story of those days.
*****
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