The guard at the gate leading into the adventurers district was not impressed with the young mage trying to smuggle an underage child into the district.
"You know we keep kids out for a reason, Sir Mage." The guard said to Gerald, who had yet to plead his case.
"Yes," Gerald began in reply, "but I do have a way to prevent any mishaps while we are in there. We have an appointment with the guildmaster, afterall."
And before the guard could reply, Gerald produced what looked like a goggle-earmuffs combo.
"These are enchanted with muffle," Gerald began as he placed them on Jacob's head, who was just standing there watching the encounter with a quizzical look.
After placing the device on the young man's head, Gerald continued. "As you can see, we can now talk freely about," Gerald took a quick look around before continuing, "the system without any reprimand. The device allows him to see and hear normally, but voices are muffled, so it should be no problem to walk him to the guildmaster without causing several adventurers to break down, choking in the middle of the street without warning."
The guard nodded his head as he stroked his chin. "What the hell," he said, "I would rather not piss off a mage or the guild master, much less both in the same day. Go ahead. But don't blame me if you end up getting tossed by one of the higher ranks if your device fails."
"But of course," Gerald replied. "If this device were to fail, then I would only have myself to blame. Well, the academy would have to refund me as well, but that is neither here nor there."
Gerald then stepped through the door as the guard opened it for him, as he dragged Jacob along with him. "Thank you for your understanding." He said to the guard as he stepped through. Jacob was just tagging along for the ride, clueless as to what they were talking about.
The interior of the district was a stark contrast to the utilitarian markets of the city's main square. Jacob watched the scene through the glass of the goggles, noting how the voices were gargled in what sounded something akin to having his head underwater.
He saw groups of men and women carrying gear that would have cost several years' harvest at the Hemlock farm, their weapons radiating various shades of mana that he could sense through his own mana field.
Well, I guess that answers my question as to whether or not other adventurers were able to get enchanted items. The F-ranks at the Ruvka gate are quite weak compared to these guys. I wonder why Carlos was rocking bare gear?
He had no way to know how hard it was to come across a C-rank enchanter, or quests at the C-rank that rewarded C-rank enchanted gear.
He looked aside, and near a cluster of supply crates, he spotted Garrick, the warrior who had purchased the Earthshaper's Aegis. Garrick was gesturing toward Jacob while talking to a man in what appeared to be a high-grade iron cuirass.
He couldnt hear what they were talking about, but the larger man was looking back at Jacob with greed evident in his eyes.
Gerald and Jacob walked past the two men, but the larger man reached for Jacob after exchanging a few more words with Garrick. As his hand approached, a ring on Gerald's hand shone brightly as a resplendent barrier manifested between the boy and the large adventurer.
Jacob could see the man recoil as if a snake had bitten his hand, shaking it and then cradling it with his other hand as Gerald stepped between them, wearing a genial smile on his face.
As Jacob turned to look around at the rest of the Adventurer area, seeing that even reading lips was useless through the goggles, Gerald addressed the two men who were eying the young farmer.
"It seems the two of you were just about to introduce yourselves. I am Gerald Viscerent, a fourth year at the Central Academy. It appears you might know my young associate here, might I have the pleasure?"
He said this with a slight nod while his right hand was over his heart and his left hand behind his back, fingers together, while his right foot was perfectly placed in front of his left in a slight cross. The formal stance of nobility in addressing an equal.
It was also a slap in the face for anyone below their own station, yet it was one that a commoner was unable to address without breaching the etiquette of the Sinclair Kingdom unless they had the power to do so. And neither adventurer felt they were a match for a fourth year at the second-best academy on the continent.
Seeing as how they were drawing eyes from the adventurers and merchants within earshot, both men quickly stood at attention and slammed their fists into their chests while bowing their heads lower than Gerald. This was a way of saving face while showing respect for a noble.
Garrick was the first to speak up, "I am Garrick, and I purchased this fine sword from your associate, Sir Mage. I was just telling my acquaintance here about it when the two of you happened to pass by."
Gerald nodded and looked to the larger man, who responded with his fist still in his own chest.
"I am Rutherford, sir mage. I was simply inquiring about the make of such a weapon and if the creator could possibly make a higher-level version that could be used in a D-rank or possibly even a C-rank gate. I did not mean to startle the two of you; it just seemed that neither of you had heard me as I called out. Please, forgive my impudence."
Gerald waved off the apology, in a gesture that dismissed any wrongdoing on the adventurer's end.
"Worry not, the barrier was just a reflex of mine. This young man is to meet with the guild master, and I simply wanted to ensure he made it there in one piece. Seeing as how the two of you were simply inquiring about the make of a weapon, I completely understand your excitement in trying to gather his attention."
Then Gerald looked at the sword in question, hanging from Garrick's hip. With the switch of a skill, he was able to see that it was a pseudo-artifact with a stabilizing earth core that powered three separate enchantments.
Goodness, Gerald thought to himself, that is quite the achievement for a novice enchanter. This weapon could probably be used to clear normal floors in a D-rank gate already. No wonder Rutherford is so interested in acquiring one with better materials.
With an understanding gleam in his eye, he continued to address the adventurers.
"Ah, this is the weapon you speak of," He said as he motioned to the sword, "I remember this, I actually commissioned my young friend here to sell it to the adventurers in Ruvka to get it field tested. It is part of a series of weapons produced by the academy. If you wish to purchase another one, I am sure the academy would be willing to accept a commission at this point, as the field tests have all been completed by now. Unfortunately, neither my companion here nor I is an enchanter."
This caused Rutherford to become a bit dejected as he thought, Damnit, Garrick is a lucky bastard. Commissioning a weapon from the academy is like trying to buy something from the damned royal treasury! Sure, it's possible, but only with the right connections and merits!
Garrick's thoughts mirrored Rutherford's as he smiled smugly.
"Well, gentlemen," Gerald began as he turned to continue on his way, "if that is all, then we still have an appointment to attend."
Both men simply nodded in thanks as the mage directed Jacob to continue walking toward the large building at the end of the road. The adventurers stayed behind, seeming to resume a previous conversation after the mage and farmer left.
While walking down the main path towards the large building in the distance, Jacob noticed that he could feel his surroundings quite well with his mana field due to the concentration of magical items. It helped to keep him occupied during their mostly boring walk, as he was unable to snoop in on any of the conversations happening around him.
The Guild Hall sat at the end of the cobblestone path. It was a massive structure of grey stone and dark timber, looming over the adventurers district as the overlord of the area.
Two guards stood by the heavy oak doors, both men were taller than average and wearing what Jacob could feel was well-enchanted armor. Each of them also possessed a weapon of considerable power that caught Jacob's attention, but he was unable to fully assess their power as Gerald quickly pushed him through the doors.
Jacob could see that there were clusters of adventurers inside the building, some in a line leading up to a counter, while others were getting a drink at the tables. Gerald led him past the adventurers who were staring at the muffled child at this point, and they went up the stairs.
They eventually came to a large reception area at the topmost landing where a door led into a meeting place with a desk. Once the door was closed, Gerald allowed Jacob to take his muffling gear off.
"So, this is the runt you told me about, is it?"
Jacob looked over to a sofa where a large man in combat attire was relaxing while smoking from a pipe. He had a scar over his left eye and a sword leaning on the sofa next to him, but on his hip was, surprisingly, a wand.
"What," the man said as he noticed Jacob eying his wand, "you never seen a combat mage?"
Gerald chuckled as he began the introductions, "Jacob, this is the guildmaster of the Thornhold branch of the Adventurers Guild. He is a mage of the academy, like me, but he graduated many years ago and became an adventurer."
Jacob noted how that last part was said with a bit of disdain.
"Gerald here," the guildmaster said in retort, "is just a wee pup that has his uses, but he will find the right way to power as I did before long. I have to admit that he is smart enough to figure that out for himself."
"Anyway," Gerald began as he ignored the guildmaster's quip, "this man will teach you magic legally, if you can convince him. I will be taking my leave. Just let me know if you have any trouble. The guildmaster can secure your passage out of this area. Don't forget to stop by the shop to enchant a couple of things before you leave. I forgot to have you do that in my excitement."
Gerald scratched his neck as he turned to leave.
"Thanks, Gerald," Jacob said as the mage made his way for the door.
That caused the mage to look back, seemingly remembering something.
"Oh, yes, Jacob. Don't hold back, ok?"
Then he turned and walked through the door, shutting it tightly behind himself before Jacob could respond.
He turned to the guildmaster, who was watching the scene with interest, blowing smoke from his pipe lazily.
"I suppose," the guildmaster began, "we should probably test those enchantments first. Gerald said you might have learned something about density if he brought you here, so lets see if you applied it to your first line of defense."
And, without further warning, he punched the air in front of himself. Jacob could feel the spell form, but it was much faster than he had thought possible. Before he knew it, he was being impacted by a shockwave of pure force that slammed him into the back wall.
The attack caused the breath to be knocked out of his lungs while the runes holding his enchantments together flared red-hot and appeared on the surface of his coat before shattering and allowing a small dent to form in the metal plate on his chest.
Fuck! I think I broke a rib!
Jacob was unable to speak as he focused all of his attention on trying to breathe. But his lungs refused to respond as he sucked for the sweet sustenance he would find in a breath of air.
With a flick of his hand, the guildmaster caused a wave of golden light to envelop Jacob for a split-second before it vanished. Jacob could breathe normally once again, and the rib he thought had been shattered no longer felt out of place.
"Hmm. I guess you have forgone updating the basic enchantments that protect your life in that armor. And why no core? I know you can use them, so why is there not a single piece of armor on your body with a core?"
"Uh," Jacob stammered a bit as he answered, "I-I never thought I needed a core since the enchantments worked so well without them. They have never failed me before."
The guildmaster tisked. "Even if you are somehow able to stabilize an enchantment without a core, it's not going to work as a defensive item for long. At best, it could be used to keep clothes clean and warm. Trying to get that enchantment to protect you for more than a couple of D-rank hits is just going to get you killed."
"Oh," Jacob replied, "But when I did an enchantment for Carlos, that held up against the gate boss and he didn't think it was strange that I didn't use a core."
That caused the guildmaster to laugh heartily.
"Hahaha, youre the one who enchanted that breastplate for that idiot? I broke that apart with one flick! That idiot was lucky he used it in an F-rank gate, or he would have never lived to make it to B-rank. Cheap enchantments on armor are just a hazard. And he didn't know about the need for a core because he is no enchanter. Just a bullheaded idiot."
Jacob felt a bit offended that his enchantment was called cheap, but he knew it was the truth. A casual punch and even a flick from the guildmaster were able to forcefully remove his power from the metal.
"Don't worry about it too much, kid." The guildmaster reached out and patted Jacob on the shoulder. "It is actually quite impressive that you learned all this on a farm. And any weapon or armor you use a core with could survive those attacks, just remember that in the future."
Then, he returned to his sofa and sat back down.
"Now, we got a bit off track, but show me what you can do with magic. I need to see what you figured out with density."