Hikari sat down in the middle of the ritual circle. She was surrounded by a ring of glowing mana crystals slotted into the circle.
An outer ring with swords in their molds and musket balls in shallow containers with dormant runes etched into them.
Beyond that, a metre tall concentric wall of depleted mana crystals. Illenium. Both a conduit and an insulator for mana.
She focused in. Her mana races through her body.
The seams in the circle glowed with mana.
Standing outside her chambers, Ria could feel a surge of mana coming from within.
It felt as though needles were piercing her skin.
"Ahaha! Don't worry, she's only using a fraction of her mana, it's quite harmless." The drill master laughed.
"Hikari's enchanting weapons? I thought that it was done at the RazenHeir Arcaneum in Moradale?"
"Well, giant enchantresses are so rare that none of the equipment at the Arcaneum fits her. Plus, there are always some Ahem* issues whenever she goes to Moradale."
"I see. How many can she enchant in one go?"
"Well, this batch she's doing, it'll be enough to break through the enemy lines."
Ria was astonished.
"Thats amazing, an Enchanter could work for days on a single sword."
The mana presence from within the chamber dissipated.
"Oh, looks like she's done. That was quick."
The Burly Knight walked up to the curtain entrance. "Can we come in now?"
"Sure" The reply came from inside.
"The maiden needs another minute lads. Unless of course you have spare underwear for a boner."
"What a shameless brute you are, drill master." The maid scoffed.
"Haha! I take that as a compliment. It does make me feel young. It's not my fault that sorcerer silk costs an arm and a leg."
"She's probably done now so you can get your steel asses in there and out of my sight. "
"Alright! Alright! Not even the Madam RazenHeir would chew my head out like this."
Ria followed the knights into Hikari's chamber.
"Hello there Hikari! How are you doing!"
Hikari has finished assembling her usual white cotton shirt and pants.
"Good. Drillmaster"
"Haha! Good to hear! Now, let's take a look at your good work!"
The drillmaster rolled his belly over the Illenium wall into the ritual circle. He picked up his enchanted sword.
Three runes. White, Red and Purple. Hikari's own enchantment which hardens the blade and reduces the weight for the wielder. The other were flame runes.
The drillmaster slotted a mana crystal into his gauntlet. The sword burned with brilliant RazenHeir flame. "Ah! Excellent. I bet I can cleave those flesh abominations now!"
With a click, the mana flow into the sword was cut. But the flames persist. "Oh darn! I forgot, now I have to hold this for another fifteen minutes."
Hikari bent over, pinching his sword with her fingers, snuffing out the flame.
"Ahaha! I never get tired of seeing that! Sure wish I can do that too."
The drill master walked over to one of the musket ball containers and picked one up.
"Oof. Hot! Hot! Hot!"
He loaded it into his musket through the breach along with a gunpowder cartridge in the back.
A knight pushed a straw dummy into the chambers and leaned it against the wall just beside the entrance.
Bang! The drill master fired. The musket ball went right through the straw dummy and set it on fire.
"Oho! A normal ball wouldn't even pierce the dummy. Excellent work as always Hikari."
The knights keep their freshly enchanted swords into their scabbards.
More men entered the chambers, bringing more crates containing the next batch of rune etched weapons to be enchanted.
"Well! Rest up now. Tomorrow, the first column will march. Word is that the first shots have already been fired. "
.
All of the men left the room, leaving Ria and Hikari alone.
"Oh my. This was quite the shipment of enchanted weapons you just finished. You must have a really deep mana pool."
Ba dum! Ba dum! Hikari could feel Ria's heart pounding.
"It's nothing."
"It's definitely something alright."
Ria notices a slight upward curve in her lip movement.
Then she sat down and pulled her short sword that was strapped to the wall to her.
She placed it just in front of her lap and pulled out the scabbard.
"Come here."
Badum! Badum! Out of a strange habit, Ria dropped to her hands and knees and began crawling.
"No, just walk."
Ria blushed. She quickly got back onto her feet and dusted herself off.
She knelt in front of the giant sword.
It was almost her height, its broad face wide enough for her to stand on and several times her weight in steel.
The runes on the sword were the size of her head.
There were three rows of runes. For the top two rows, she vaguely recognizes some of the runes from when she watched her mother work.
At the end of the row, she recognizes the most basic RazenHeir rune she had been practicing.
"Would you enchant my sword for me?"
"That would be an honor! I didn't think a basic training rune would be of any actual use."
"It does"
"Really? That's good to hear. Oh, this rune is a tad bit too big for me."
"No problem."
"Thanks. I'll give it my best shot then."
Ria placed both hands on the rune.
Hikari gently covered with her finger. Taking a deep breath, Ria channeled her mana, the huge rune barely glowed at first. Then, what seemed to Ria to be a torrent of mana from Hikari's finger caused the rune to glow brilliantly.
"Arrggh.." Ria groaned in pain as the intensity of Hikari's mana burned her hand.
"Don't let go"
"Yes.. Hikari… argh..!"
After a few grueling seconds, the rune's power subsided. Ria's hands were numb.
"Hmm.. bad idea."
"It's alright. I'm happy to help. I'm the one who should apologize for my own inadequacy."
Hikari stared at Ria, seeming contemplating over something.
A pause. Ba dum! Ba dum! Ria's heart pounded as she tried to read Hikari's mind.
"I'll be leaving for the front."
There was a mix of adoration and disappointment on Ria's face.
"I'll be praying for your safe return. I'm not strong enough to join you there yet. But one day I will."
"My Lady..."
"But you won't be alone out there. I'll be working my hardest to make sure supplies get to you."
"Thanks."
"Speaking of which, that should have arrived. I'm sure you'll like it."
Hikari looked over and saw a huge crate at the corner of the room.
It was the width of her chest.
She opened the lid.
Neat stacks of wyvern skin. Their black smooth polish.
The telekinetic rune freshly etched into the wyvern skin.
"A new pair of boots. They are finally done. Your old pair is in need of some repair. I believe you feel the runes etched into the skin are not as sharp as before."
Hikari waved her hand.
The pieces of wyvern skin floated into the air in a smooth vertical motion.
The boot soles were at the bottom.
She placed them on the floor and placed her sock feet on them.
She could feel the elasticity in the new pair of boot soles.
It might not last under her weight, but for the moment it felt nice.
"It's good."
"I'm glad you like it. I hope these boots serve you well."
The rest of the piece floated towards Hikari's feet, assembling themselves into her boot.
"Your old pair will be at the Moradale workshops for refurbishing. They'll be ready again in a few days should you damage your new pair at the front"
Hikari walked around. It fit her nicely. Someone had been very meticulous with her measurements.
Ria watched as her giant knight strided in front of her.
The force of each of her boot steps was hundred times what her petite arms could muster.
Her heart pounded as she witnessed the giantess's power.
Thud. The giant boot landed in front of her.
Hikari carefully inched the boot closer to her so as to avoid hurting her.
Badum! Badum! Ria's eyes were drawn downwards to the polished boot tip that was to her knee caps.
She could feel Hikari looming over her.
"There's a bit of dust."