Ander began inspecting the equipment Derek had made. This was more to determine the quality than to check for success. The fact that Derek had received the blessing of the god of the forge was proof enough that his work had been successful.

The armor was of quite a high grade. The armor provided a basic defense that would even be hard for someone of peak tier one or low tier two to penetrate with strength alone. Furthermore, rune armor is designed to accept elemental energies to boost its defensive properties. Ander could tell that this set could accept a level six defensive spell. With this level of defense he would be safe against all but the most exceptional tier two and against most middle or low tier three opponents.

The armor was black, with plating and chain over tough black padding. It included a helmet to protect the head. The lines of the runic symbols on the armor shone in a dazzling rainbow color when exposed to light. This glittering was typical of runes created by mixing all of the elements and could be suppressed when worn but was quite eye catching on that dull black background.

He inspected the blade for the warsword next. It still lacked a hilt guard and pommel but he could tell that it was of high quality. The design of the typical warblade was to enable the user to put as much force as possible on the edge of the blade to shear through armor and tough demon hide. This coupled with the quality of the work allowed Ander to see that the blade could defeat even mid tier two armor. The obsidian and jade used in the creation of the blade would allow it to potentially harm a demon while the design and quality would likely allow Derek to harm or potentially kill even a least demon without having to use magic.

Similar to rune armor a rune weapon is designed to enable the user to cast magic through the weapon. Ander could see that this and all the other weapons could also accept a level six offensive spell. This level of power could defeat the defenses of all but the strongest tier two and most middle and low tier three opponents.

The warsword was also a dull black with some hints of green and shinier black near the edge from the jade and obsidian. The sword also had rainbow colored shine from the runic inscriptions. Ander chose a grey shagreen and sword knot and a common pommel and crossguard for the weapon.

The glaive and bow were also well made, both of which were designed for use on foot as well as horseback. They matched the armor and sword in appearance. Primarily dull black with the glimmer of inscription.

The final piece was the medallion. It appeared to be a simple design but that appearance was deceptive, the telltale glimmer of runic inscription could be seen from it and the further it was studied the more complex it appeared. This was the case for all medallions of the god of the forge but was even more so the case with this particular medallion as the hearth goddess’ own runes intermingled with the others. Inspection revealed that eight tiny sprites had taken up residence within the medallion, one of each element.

These sprites would help with rune smithing as the elder ones had done during the dedication ceremony, but they would also assist in enhancing the elemental attributes of the wearer. The sprites were young and weak and could only provide so much help for now but they would grow, providing a greater enhancement later.

The utility of these intelligent spirits of the elements themselves was only limited to the creativeness of the user. At the very least they also served a supporting role in casting magic and in essence growth, collection, and distribution in the schema, though their own growth is also tied to the absorption of essence they must do so in their own way, which is not the same as the human method.

The medallion was also tied to the blessings that Derek had received. It is possible that losing the medallion or destroying it could also cause Derek to lose his blessings. He had no intentions of testing that out.

After inspecting the equipment, Ander was most pleased with the results. Derek had his first set of equipment and the blessings he had gained were tremendous. There was little doubt in Ander’s mind that if faced with the trials again Derek would have easily seized victory.

As they finished up their inspection, the sun rose for the new day. Ander led his apprentice and Rebekah back to their cottages and returned to his smithy while they lay down for some sleep.

Shortly after Ander left, Ovid led the exhausted Eona and Alicia down the mountain. Though they were quite tired it could be seen that they were pleased with their success from the night before. Ovid saw them into their cabin before he went to feed his horse.

When Eona entered her cabin she sent Alicia to bed before checking on Derek. His new armor and weapons were stored on the racks in the corner of the room and his medallion was around his neck. She sat next to him for a time, tracing those patterns, before delving his schema. She could clearly see all the changes from the night before. She was surprised at how much he had gained.

She spent some small time adjusting the schema and interacting with the sprites she found playing there. While she was a powerful Grand Mage, her illness had long sapped her of her vitality and she could not stay awake the long hours the others of her tier could. After adjusting her son’s bedding she went to her room for some sleep of her own.

Ovid noticed the others start to move around close to noon so he prepared some lunch for everybody. They shared the results from the night before while eating contentedly around the table. Alicia also had some success, having also tiered up and receiving the Moon’s Blessing as well. Derek couldn’t help but notice that her looks had become even more bewitching but that couldn’t overcome his jealousy of the girl who dared steal his mother away from him on his birthday.

The Moon’s Blessing was more than a mere enhancement to her beauty. The appearance change was merely the superficial effect of the blessing. It also provided a tremendous boost to elemental attributes and affinities, mind attribute, mana regeneration and essentia pool size. A mage that received the Moon’s Blessing could be considered as powerful a spellcaster as many mages one or two tiers above her.

Of course, Derek was pleased with the success of the ritual. Not because of its great benefit for Alicia, but because it was proof of how powerful his mother was after all. Ovid sensed his resentment and determined to prevent Derek from ruining the mood of the ladies at the table, “Come boy. Now that you have tiered up, we must take this opportunity to see if we need to modify your forms to match your new attributes.”

There was no attribute for weapon skill. You were either skilled in a weapon or not. Degree of skill could also determine life or death even against foes with much higher attributes than the user. For Ovid to be considered a master of weapons, and not just a master but a genius among masters, meant that Ovid possessed an understanding of weapons and the way to use them that was truly uncanny.

Ovid had been an orphan in his hometown before being taken in by his master. That old man had sought out a student to carry on his knowledge of weapons and Ovid had soaked up that knowledge like a sponge, even improvising new forms that were superior to even his master’s teachings.

At fifteen he competed in a tournament held in Windreach, winning it handily. In this tournament he proved his status as his master’s true heir and it was there that he was selected to be Eona’s armsman. It had been twenty years since that tournament and Ovid’s understanding of weapons had only grown more formidable, especially in the fifteen years he had taught Derek.

Derek had been a fine student, soaking up and applying every lesson. If Derek had the inclination he already had the skill to become a weapon master in many of the most powerful courts in the continent. Derek brought his recently crafted weapons out to begin testing their forms. The two of them spent several hours adjusting the stances and discussing the optimal uses for the weapons and forms, heading back to the cottages shortly after nightfall.

While the two of them were practicing in the training yard Alicia and Rebekah were assisting Eona. The day before, Derek had given Eona his precious vial of Wyvern’s blood. It was known to cure illness and to enhance the body attribute of the person who imbibes it. In fact it was considered one of the strongest curative medications available. It was, after all, the blood of a beast descended from dragons.

The only problem was the side effects of wyvern’s blood. It truly was powerful and had a caustic effect. If consumed by someone with a weak vitality it could harm them tremendously, causing injury, crippling them, or even killing them. For Eona, whose vitality had been injured greatly by the backlash of Jared’s death, this medication was quite dangerous for her. Fortunately, Rebekah’s understanding of Holy magic rivaled her own understanding of schema and natural magic and her beloved apprentice was there as well to help out.

Eona had grown to love this little girl who had depended on her since she arrived in her care. Her love for Alicia was second only to her love for her son and that love was reciprocated by Alicia, who felt rather isolated here in this backwoods place so far her home. The only people who interacted with her regularly were her mistress and Rebekah, and Rebekah’s own student, Belany. Ovid, Derek, and Hector were also around but Ovid and Hector never talked much to her and Derek was always mean to her.

With Rebekah and Alicia’s help, Eona prepared to take the Wyvern’s blood. First she consumed an herb and cast a spell that mixed water, air, and light element to reduce the harmful effects of the Wyvern’s blood and to reduce the pain. Then she gave over control to that spell to Rebekah and lay down on her bed before drinking the Wyvern’s blood.

She felt an instant burning sensation from her mouth, then her throat and abdomen as she swallowed the contents of the vial. It was quite painful in spite of the anesthetic she had prepared. The pain continued and spread as her body digested the Wyvern’s blood and spread the medicinal effect throughout her body. The pain never grew too great under the constant watch of Rebekah who managed her spells deftly. Alicia used a towel to cool her mistress’ forehead and wipe the sweat from her as the process continued.

In the early evening the process was complete. Rebekah delved her daughter in law and determined that the Wyvern’s blood had been successful. Not only had the effects of her illness gone but her body attribute had been enhanced as well. Eona smiled bitterly as she thought of the sacrifice her son had made in giving this medication to her, but felt joy as well as she discovered that her vitality had been fully healed and with the enhancement to her body attribute it was more robust now than ever before. The boost to her fire and earth attributes were not insignificant but were nowhere near as important to her and her family as the healing of her ailment.

Once the danger had passed Rebekah had left to prepare a celebratory meal for them all. Alicia drew a bath for Eona and waited on her while she bathed, even helping her to put on her clothes afterwards. Alicia was quite happy for her mistress. This was the first time she had ever seen her mistress in good health and it was quite refreshing.

She couldn’t help but praise Derek for thinking of his mother first when he acquired the Wyvern's blood. Deep down she knew that in spite of how rude and mean he was to her he was actually a decent kid but that only made how he mistreated her hurt more. She couldn’t understand it.

When they sat down to eat the mood of the cottage was quite joyful. They were not wealthy but Rebekah pulled out all the stops for this meal, using her best ingredients and even opening the bottle of wine Ander had given her this year. That night they were all able to relax and enjoy themselves in a way that they had not in many years. Derek could not remember a time when he was happier. This was the first time he remembered seeing his mom in good health.

Derek Thorne-

Class

Rune Smith

Elemental Attribute

Elemental Affinity

Point Value

Spell Level

Tier

1

Order

Supreme

16 + 5

High 5 (46)

Level

2

Water

Supreme

11 + 5

Low 5 (41)

Light

Supreme

16 + 5

High 5 (46)

Basic Attribute

Point Value

Wind

Supreme

11 + 5

Low 5 (41)

Strength

15

Chaos

Supreme

11 + 5

Low 5 (41)

Body

17

Fire

Supreme

16 + 5

High 5 (46)

Agility

13

Dark

Supreme

11 + 5

Low 5 (41)

Mind

15

Earth

Supreme

16 + 5

High 5 (46)

Essentia Pool

High t2 Mage

Previous Classes-

Magic Warrior

Permanent Enhancements-

Rune Smith, Tier One: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +2 Agility, +2 Mind

Disciple of the God of the Forge: +2 Strength, +2 Body, +5 Fire, +5 Earth

Blessed Child of the Hearth Goddess: +2 Body, +2 Mind, +5 Order, +5 Light

Equipment-

Forge God’s Armor, Tier 1: basic protection low t2, maximum defensive spell level 6

Forge God’s Warsword, Tier 1: basic offensive mid t2, maximum offensive spell level 6

Forge God’s Glaive, Tier 1: basic offensive mid t2, maximum offensive spell level 6

Forge God’s Bow, Tier 1: basic offensive low t2, maximum offensive spell level 6

Talisman of the Forge and Hearth: eight juvenile sprites +5 to all elemental attributes, other assorted benefits