Chương 14

"So I'm not allowed to enchant all my clothes." I explained to Kimi everything that had been going on since we last hung out.

"That's so cool. Enchanting, and magic! You're so smart Dorah. What enchantment are you going to do next?"

"I don't know." I admitted with a sigh.

"The problem is finding things to enchant, more than new enchantments." I admitted. And Kimi just tilted her head at me.

"What do you mean? Just… Enchant things."

"Things have to have a certain… I can't just pick up a rock and enchant it. I mean, I could, technically, but it wouldn't really be…" I trailed off, it just didn't quite work right.

"Hmm. What about a stick?"

"A stick?"

"Yeah! Magic stick." She said, and then burst into laughter, and I giggled along with her. A magic stick wasn't exactly going to help, unfortunately.

"How about you?"

"Oh! I've been helping with Fiko! She's been brooding! She doesn't let anyone come near, but because I've been feeding her for a while she lets me! So I get to check the eggs!" Kimi gushed, and I grinned, Fiyo was her family's DragonHawk. The big mother was well known for egg laying, and was Kimi's family's main job.

"That must be nice." I said, honestly I really wanted to pet the cool animals we had, but most of them were fairly aggressive unless you were bonded with them. I wanted a Chocob-I mean a Hawkstrider. That'd be cool… Could they survive on conjured food?

"Hey Kimi-""Huh, haven't seen you in a while." The call interrupted us as Sav'Kinara wandered over, looking at me for a while before smirking.

"Finally decided to come back to school?"

"Well, my six months of sword training is over, so I'm back, yeah."

"What, your teacher didn't want to keep you? Must not have been very good."

"He wanted me to go to the capital with him, bugged me about it a lot, but I said no." I said, and Sav'Kinara, made a tsk noise.

"Whatever. Going back to causing trouble then?"

"I don't cause trouble."

"Dorah doesn't cause trouble! Take that back Sav'Kinara!" Kimi demanded, and as she rose up and glared I realized that while Sav'Kinara had a good bit of height on me, Kimi was actually a lot closer to her size. I guess that's what an extra two years will do. Sav'Kinara, looked at Kimi and scoffed.

"As if I need to take orders from you. Whatever, if you want to do some chores for me, let me know okay?" She mocked and then started to walk away.

"Dorah doesn't do chores!"

"Hey I think it's useful, more useful than just playing with sticks you know?" She said, half turning and walking backwards. I don't play with sticks, I mean, sure my first 'sword' was just a wooden stick, but it was weapons training, and it's not like I could just get a sword, wooden swords were pretty normal. It would be nice to have a real one, that wasn't just a stic-"A stick?"

"Grrr! You're so mean Sav'Kinara! Why don't you go be a meanie somewhere else!" Kimi growled, stomping her feet cutely, but I was a bit distracted. A stick. My brain was swirling. I needed to enchant things, and to do that, I needed an object ready to be enchanted, and Kimi had said it. Magic Stick. A wand. You couldn't disenchant them in the game, but this wasn't a game, and that never made any sense. They were magical items, crafted through enchanting, but slightly different than a normal enchantment.

But that didn't mean I couldn't disenchant them! I could totally whittle a branch into a wand, and then enchant it, and then disenchant it. Wands were a bit dangerous, but there should be instructions in the Enchantment Book. I rose up and started running.

"Thanks Sav'Kinara! You're great!" I told her as I ran past her, leaving both girls in my wake. I needed to check my book, school could wait. —--"You ditched class. Ma'Rika talked to me."

"Sorry! I had, well, this could be huge!" I explained to Mama as I placed all the sticks and branches I'd found that should work on the back porch.

"Dorah, we let you miss out on your classes, for the tutoring… Well your father set that up, and you know he is, but class is important."

"I know! I do all the work right?" I offered, as I rushed around the back porch, gathering everything I needed, book? Check. Enchantment supplies? Check. I'd have to use my limited Magic Essence. The small glowing orbs of magical power were hard to come by, and I'd only gotten them from disenchanting the flowers after at least a week of gathering power. Such was the nature of enchanting, I wasn't clearing dungeons and disenchanting entire hordes of magical weapons, so I wasn't gathering tons and tons of supplies.

But that was okay.

"Dorah…"

"Hold on, one sec!" I begged, as I sat down, the skinning knife pulled out, and I took one of the branches that should need the least work. I quickly started clearing the bark, and whittling it down slightly, a very weak wand really only needed two things, an exit point, which tended to be sharp, but it didn't really need to be straight. And a bulb to store the Magic Essence, which was the part of the whole that would draw in the mana automatically and allow it to be released.

"Fine, since you obviously aren't listening, what are you doing Dorah?"

"I've been trying to figure out new enchantments to practice, but you know, stuff is hard to come by."

"Your shirts, yes." Mama grumbled, she had not been pleased finding me trying to enchant everything I owned. It wasn't that it really did much, but enchanted clothing was a bit more difficult to clean and maintain apparently. Oops. I'd actually sat with Papa as we stripped the enchantment out of the shirts without actually destroying the clothing, which had been a cool thing to see. I'd been allowed to keep one shirt though, mostly because the Minor Health enchantment would help keep me safe. Mama's words those.

"So Kimi and Sav'Kinara, made me realize. Wood, and Magic Essence, sure the essence is a bit expensive, but-" I stopped talking as I finished whittling, and then checked the wand, checked the book, and nodded. Should work! The spiral I'd carved into one end of the wand was brought forward, and I grabbed the small wooden box I'd been storing my Magic Essence in. The half dozen little glowing lights wavered like flames when I opened it, and Mama looked over.

"You gathered those?"

"Yep! Made them from the flower trick I figured out." I explained, and then grabbed one, holding it gently, as I brought it up to the wand, and brought them together. The humming noise of magic infusing an object buzzed out, as I concentrated, focusing on the work of beginning magic to the material. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. And then it was done. I looked over my first Lesser Wand.

It didn't look like much, but I could feel the faint hum of mana inside it. I stood up and walked off the porch, and then swiped it towards a tree in the back yard. The blue light of arcane mana shot across… And missed the tree.

"Well that certainly works." Mama said, half teasing as I pouted at her.

"It doesn't matter if I can hit with it or not." I said confidently, heading back to the porch and crossing my fingers. It wasn't a magical thing, just needed some luck. Then I started disenchanting. The wooden wand shifted, as it almost curled, as parts of it disintegrated, slowly disappearing as I pulled the magic from the wand, and then it was done. In my palm rested a Magic Essence. It was what I had hoped for.

You tended to lose something in disenchanting an object, that was just the nature of the game, you destroyed the physical, and sometimes you lost the magical as well, but a wand wasn't a normal enchantment, and it also wasn't anything but a single magical element. As long as I focused on recovering that, it didn't matter if the wood disintegrated, that was always going to happen.

"You destroyed it?"

"Yeah, it's perfect for practicing though." I explained, and then grinned because I had a new grind! Wood! It's too bad I didn't get any sort of whittling, or wood working skill though, but that's okay, the important part wasn't the looks of the Wand, but just creating it and deleting it. Looking at my Enchanting skill I grinned. [Enchanting Lv. 12 21/120] [Apprentice] [Apprentice Enchanting: Reduce cost of Enchanting] A hundred Wands? For another level? A hundred sticks?

That sounded like a lot, but considering I was struggling to make anything that I could enchant I could deal with that.

"Well I'm happy your happy Dorah, but… School." Mama ordered pointing and I realized my little grind session was coming to a screeching halt…

"Okay." I pouted, but packed up my Essence, and ran back to the school house. I got a talking to by Ma'Rika as well. —--- Find sticks, carve them. Enchant, disenchant. The process was simple, but a bit time consuming but with something new to practice time flew by. Of course after months of hard daily training, I felt a bit… Wonky, not working on something. And Enchanting was so slow.

So I started casting spells in between enchantments, once I finished disenchanting the Wand, I would grab a rock and cast a spell on it, and then toss it, throwing Spell Steal at it, then practicing that, and enchantment all at the same time. Then one day while I was grinding my day shifted.

"Dorah!"

"Hmm? Yes Mama?" I asked, looking up to see her in her ranger garb. She looked me over and then slowly she grinned.

"Go get dressed up. Let's go."

"Go?"

"A trip. What? Don't want to come. What a poor Mama I am, my own cute daughter doesn't want to go on a trip with me!" She fake cried, then gave me a pouty look. I just sent her a grin, as I started packing everything up.

"Course I do. Going anywhere in particular?"

"Oh I just saw you looking bored and figured my little Sword Master can come and get some exercise. You've seemed antsy." I blinked at that, I don't think I've been antsy… Then again if you didn't know I was grinding two skills at once, while still going to school and everything it might seem weird for me to be whittling wands and throwing spells over and over. I jumped up carrying my Magic Essence, up to my room to put it away. I grabbed my gear.

Loading up, grabbing my bow and quiver, securing it to my tougher clothes, and grabbing my enchanted gear. Rabbit Cape, tied tight, and I quickly gathered a few extra things I would need for a trip, racing back down and stopping in front of mama. She looked me over, and I knew what to do. I clicked my heels together, and gave a Ranger Salute.

"Reporting for equipment check!" I called out like I was a soldier, and Mama's eyes instantly started shining, as she fought back a smile.

"Hmm. Let's see how you did recruit." She offered simply, going around, checking the straps of my quiver, and bow, making sure I had my skinning knife, and then my bag.

"No rations?"

"Haven't been issued to me Ma'am!" I said and that broke Mama as she started giggling her composure completely shattered as she pulled me into a tight hug.

"You are too cute."

"If you say so!" I said still trying to hold a soldier tone to my voice, and Mama just started laughing as she squeezed me tight.

"Come on you." She demanded, tugging me towards the kitchen. She already had a few wrapped packs on the table and she helped me pack it away in my backpack. Although like before she carried more than I did.

"So much?"

"Only for emergencies." She assured me, but I nodded as we prepared to get moving, but I frowned.

"Hang on." I said and turned from the door and hurried over to Papa's workshop, it was quiet inside so I knocked. Mama came to join me already smiling as Papa called out for me to enter.

"Papa! We're going on a trip." I told him as I hurried over and gave him a big hug.

"Huh? Oh, that's right, the trip you mentioned. That's today?"

"Yes dear. It seems our daughter refused to leave without saying goodbye."

"Oh… Oh yes that's nice. Goodbye my Light. You'll be safe?"

"Mhmm! I'll run out of Papa energy, so I'll need lots of hugs when I get back okay?" He blinked, trying to understand what I was saying, but Mama just laughed.

"Yes Dorah, I'm sure your Papa will give you lots of affection when you get back." He blinked hearing what Mama said and then smiling and hugging me tight.

"I'll miss you my Light."

"Hmm! I'll miss you too." —-- We raced through the woods, Mama moved like the woods were flat perfectly level terrain, while I had a bit more trouble jogging in her wake. It was starting to get dark, after running all day, and while we'd of course taken a few stops. My Holy Light trick let me keep going a lot further than I normally could. Thankfully Mama finally stopped, right next to a stream.

"We'll camp here tonight. Need to rest?"

"A little." I said breathing heavily as I carefully took off my backpack and placed it on the ground, and then shifted my bow and quiver, and some of the rest. I was sweaty and hot, and there was only one thing I wanted. I took off my boots and walked over with some wincing. My feet hurt, and then sighed as I dumped my toes in the water.

"That's what I needed." I sighed in relief, and Mama smiled at me, as I turned around and watched her finish preparing the camp.

"Should I help?"

"Not this time. I'll have you making the camp more later. But for now, I'll do it. I am pushing you hard."

"It's not so bad."

"Heh. I would have collapsed hours ago when I was your age."

"It's mostly the magic keeping me going."

"I know, it's useful." She said, and then while she was distracted I struck.

"So what's the real reason? This wasn't a surprise. You planned this. You even talked to Papa about it first."

"Hmm? What do you mean?" She asked, but she was faking.

"You said it was a surprise to bring me along, but you told Papa beforehand… So it wasn't. What's the deal?"

"It'll be a surprise, but for you. Later." She said, hesitating, and I narrowed my eyes but then just shrugged.

"Kay." I splashed my feet a bit in the water and sighed, laying back on the grassy bank and just resting.

"You'll like it."

"I believe you." I said fairly sleepy sounding, but I was confident. Whatever surprise Mama had planned would be fun. —--- We traveled a long way, but it was more northern than the first trip we had done. I actually was starting to get anxious. Mama was going to take me to Silvermoon for some reason. Just as I was working up the nerve to ask, days into our trek Mama suddenly stopped, giving me time to catch up to her. The forest was quiet, which my ears perked up at, realizing something was weird.

"It's quiet." I said, a little on guard because there wasn't anything here, and yet the bird song had cut out.

"She has good ears, Felomin."

"She does." Mama responded and I relaxed, as out of the trees, came High Elves. Not just one, but a dozen, all wearing the Ranger gear massive long bows carried with them easily as they landed, and then there were smiles and greetings.

"Felomin, you've been a stranger for too long!"

"Oh hush Liennar. You are just annoyed she's been ranging close to her home since she got married."

"Psh." The other ranger offered, and I just watched as Mama was greeted warmly. She walked into the group, and a few forearms were clasped among them, and more than a few eyes were on me. Then another voice.

"Who is the kid?" I turned around and well… When someone sets you up, you might as well take it.

"I was about to say the same thing." I offered to the snooty sounding teenager, and his face shifted into a scowl. He was probably about the same age as Sav'Kinara, just a teenager, and it was obvious he didn't like being questioned by a kid. Heh.

"Looks like they're getting along well!" Liennar? I think was his name, spoke, and then broke into bright chuckles. I felt myself scowling a bit and Mama was just amused. I definitely wasn't getting along with the broody edgelord teen. I could feel his emo vibes from here!

"Felomin, I know you just got here, and you want to settle in with your daughter but there is a messenger that arrived this morning."

"I see. Dorah, I need to hear something. I'll come find you after. Be good."

"Yes." I agreed instantly. Mama sounded serious, in her Ranger persona. So I wasn't going to cause trouble. Then she was hurried away, and I walked after, coming through the trees, and finding what what going on a tower. Right on the side of a river. But more interesting was all the Rangers wandering around. Even more than the dozen that had been waiting in the woods. The faint noise of camp fires, and chatter reached my ears now that I was through the final bit of trees. It was cool.

A meeting of rangers, everyone was obviously professional, but there were a few teenagers as well. Although I was definitely the youngest, but the problem? This wasn't normal. Rangers weren't an official military, despite me joking with Mama. They were mostly just random Elves that went off into the woods to keep things safe. Those that didn't tend to like working with others. The loners.

Mama did it as a family thing sure, and many others did as well, but this wasn't a meeting of some co-workers having a barbeque, it was too series. The air about it was all wrong. Everyone had weapons, and there were even fletchers working right now crafting boxes of arrows. Then I heard it, just a twitch on the wind but my ears caught it.

"..... Trolls?...."