After the memory faded, the duo took some time on their own to process what they learned. Gene had picked up a whole new perspective on the beginning years of his life and Synexus had learned a great deal about his class. His Mana Sense skill had levelled up multiple times just from watching a master mana weaver, so when they fell back into their regular training schedule, Synexus made a declaration.

  “I believe it’s time for me to attempt an enchantment on my katana.”

  Gene turned his head to stare at him. “Are you sure? We don’t want to rush this foundational learning.”

  “I’m sure. After watching your creator, I think I had a breakthrough. Seeing him do so many amazing things put making an enchantment into perspective.”

  “If you’re sure then we can try, but don’t be discouraged if you fail. Sure, my creator did amazing things, but you saw how long that took. He lived for hundreds of thousands of years.”

  “I understand. I won’t get discouraged.”

  “Then let’s head out to the ponds and clear our heads. Have you given thought to the enchantment you want to add to your katana?”

  “Well, I decided that to have synergy, I want an enchantment that could feed off my skills. Would it be possible to make an enchantment that would allow my katana to pull from my collection skills? For instance, I could pull a certain foundational element from my collection skill, so my katana would only target that element, but be more effective against it.”

  “Hmmm. Fascinating idea. It would make your katana much more flexible if you were to choose what it would target. Metal, a specific gene, or even mana. I suppose that it’s possible although I have no idea what that would look like. It’s possible that the enchantment will modify the ancient bamboo itself to change into the ideal material for that specific target. I think you can do it.”

  With a nod, Synexus started to make his way to their vehicle of choice to get out to the ponds. Once there they both started to meditate to get a feel for what kinds of mana he would need in order for his enchantment to work. To do this, Synexus activated his skills and watched what mana got pulled in and out of his body. The mana inside your body was pure and basically attracted outside mana of the types you needed. Your soul could filter pure into the right kinds needed, but it was easier to pull it in from the atmosphere especially for something like Mana Weaving.

  Once they identified all that Synexus would need, he began. A rainbow of light formed around him, and he began pulling it into himself. His katana lay on the ground before him, and he could feel his connection with it.

  Gene observed their new friend and knew this first attempt would fail. Will was not something easy to work with. It took practice and patience to master weaving especially for a complicated enchantment like this that would tap into multiple skills. Still, they watched on hoping for the best outcome.

  Days passed before enough mana was inside his body that he couldn’t hope to contain anymore. His eyes shot open and focused on the katana. With a flowing motion of his arms, he began to direct the mana into the bamboo blade. His will would shape the pathways, but he still needed to make a steady stream of mana to make sure the balance wasn’t ruined. Intense focus made the world disappear. To him, his katana and his body were the only two objects in existence. Mana burned through his body like a raging furnace of pure energy, but he would not let go.

  All this effort and the mana simply washed over the bamboo without leaving a single mark. Exhaustion found him once again and he passed out.

  His vision returned and Gene informed him that it had been two days since his attempt. Synexus had mixed feelings because he knew that this was next level for him and he couldn’t expect to get it right away, but on the other hand, he really thought it was working. He didn’t do anything wrong; his will just simply couldn’t form the pathways he wanted.

  Gene was extremely impressed. They said he was extremely close. It looked like it was seconds away from working. It had just taken him too long to get to that point. Apparently, when he started directing the mana and found himself removed from reality, he had spent three whole days in that state before he passed out.

  They both agreed that Synexus needed to take it easy for a few days but then could get back to training. In a week’s time they would try again.

  ***

  Second attempt. Failed.

  Third attempt. Failed.

  Fourth, fifth, sixth attempt. All failed.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  A year and a half passed when he failed the eleventh attempt and frustration started to take hold. Gene kept saying that he was close to achieving his goal, he just couldn’t get over that final bump.

  Each attempt had provided him with greater insight into the process, however. He was now much faster at drawing in the mana. His Mana Sense even levelled up to twenty, and he had refined his idea for the enchantment itself.

  His determination to finish this first part of his mana weaving journey was what kept him going. He even searched out locked memories that could lead to a few more demonstrations which had been instructional. Seeing a master weaver create an enchantment was an extraordinary sight. The precision was incredible and the enchantments no doubt were of the highest quality.

  When they sat down at the ponds for his twelfth attempt, something felt different to him. His mind felt clear and somehow the mana was already being attracted from the atmosphere like it wanted to be formed into something greater. All he had to do was reach out and welcome it in.

  A flood of multi-colored light rushed into and filled his mana pathways until it felt like he would burst. Looking down into himself he found that his insides were as bright as the sun and yet, he felt good. Peace and calm fell over him as he motioned his arms to start the steady stream of mana into his bamboo blade. A gift given to him by the very being who saved his life as a baby. This artifact had been with him since the first second of his journey and now he would help it reach its potential.

  Mana started burning the blade. Small grooves started to turn black at first and then the pathways got bigger. His will building upon the instructions as the mana followed to imprint them in the ancient bamboo. More mana followed to refine the pathways and fill them with magic.

  Synexus had his eyes closed still and felt the process happening right in front of him. His will was leading the mana, and the mana was taking hold. The blade burned with power and didn’t stop until the slow stream of mana ran out.

  When he opened his eyes, he saw Gene looking at him in utter surprise and then he saw why.

  Laying before him on the ground where his katana was supposed to be, was now something new. A katana, but where there was once smooth bamboo, there was a blade etched with circuit patterns attached to a double helix handle. A perfect weapon for his class. Notifications started to pop up, but he immediately reached to inspect what he had created.

  Progress, Answer to All (Unique): An indestructible weapon made from a will that wields progress. This blade has the ability to target a specific material chosen from the wielders collection skills. Damage to all other materials will be nullified when this enchantment is active, however, damage to the chosen material will be devastating. The better understanding of the material that the wielder possesses, the more damage Progress will do.

  Complete astonishment ran through him as he read the description. This is exactly what he needs in battle to make his combat effectiveness come alive. Now the blade would automatically be able to target what he needed and do so with ease. Of course, he could turn his arm into a material that would counter what he wanted to target, but this would be much quicker and much more powerful. He was extremely happy with the final outcome and couldn’t wait to see what it could do in battle.

  You have successfully enchanted a weapon!

  Progress, Answer to All has been created and is now tied to your soul.

  Mana Weaver achievement fragment has been unlocked. (1/3)

  Those were not the notifications he was expecting to see. It made sense there is no mana weaver skill since it’s kind of outside the system. Synexus did, however, expect to get some sort of enchanting skill. Gene said it was possible, but would probably have to do a few enchantments before unlocking it since it wasn’t on his will pathways for his class. Still, he got a mana weaving achievement fragment which he had no idea what that was. Okay, he obviously knew it was a piece of an achievement, but why only a piece and would he get the other two for completing Gene’s tests?

  On top of that, Progress was now tied to his soul. Does that mean no one else can use it?

  “Hey, Gene. What does it mean if an item is tied to your soul?”

  The owl laughed. “Well, you wove it into your soul by tying the enchantment to your skills. That means it will only work for you, and you will be able to tell where it is at all times.”

  “Incredible! I also got an achievement fragment.”

  “Ah, yes. Some bigger achievements require multiple stipulations in order to unlock. The System likes to let people know they are on the right track to encourage a push in that area.”

  “That makes sense. Hopefully that means it will be a powerful achievement bonus.”

  “It will be. I assure you of that!” Gene inspected Progress up and down before hooting in an impressed way. “You’ve outdone yourself on this one, Synexus. This will be amazing with your skills. Named items are hard to come by and even harder to make. To think you made this on your first go, is almost impossible to believe except I saw it myself. Your will literally altered the blade itself and shaped it into a class weapon. Truly incredible.”

  “Thank you! It was weird. It felt different this time like the mana knew exactly how it wanted to be shaped and my will just had to give it a path to flow into. I can’t wait to move to the second step and come up with a skill of my own making.”

  “Interesting. Your will developed over your failed attempts and this time the vision must have been perfect. The mana reacted in that way because of how confident your will was. Remember that feeling. As for your second step, we will train for a bit longer and travel out to your new personal memory for your trial before we attempt it. You need to rest a bit and start to develop the skill within your will.”

  “That makes sense. I’m excited to see what this big memory is out of the city, although, I’m also a little nervous. I haven’t seen a memory with my parents in it for a while now. It has to be something with them.”

  Gene nodded in agreement, and they both headed back to the forge in order to sleep before starting for their new destination the next day. Synexus proudly walked with Progress in his hands.