After a couple of hours of working, Rylen finally completed the set of weapons according to our different preferences.
I didn't quite understand what he was doing throughout the process, and i didn't bother asking since it looked kindda stressful.
Well by the end of it all Karn got a short axe that fit his size perfectly, and i got my sword, which was just the perfect weight.
I tried my best to describe the one i had been practicing with, and this one is was almost perfect in that aspect.
"Now that we're done with that," Niko began.
"We must now focus on the task at hand. We are already somewhat behind schedule. As I mentioned earlier, a Mirage Shroud will be invaluable in navigating this environment discreetly and avoiding unnecessary confrontations. So, as the instructions stated, we all need to focus on the name of the trinket simultaneously to summon it. Are you all ready?"
Kael simply nodded.
Despite his confusion about some of the specifics, the idea of blending in sounded undeniably useful.
Seeing the others offer similar nods of agreement, Niko continued.
"Great. Then I want everyone to focus intently on the words Mirage Shroud."
A moment of silence descended as the six students closed their eyes, each concentrating on the name.
Kael focused with as much intent as he could muster, picturing a shimmering veil that would somehow conceal them from the dangers of this shifting zone. He wasn't sure what to expect, but a sense of anticipation, mixed with a healthy dose of skepticism, filled his mind.
"Okay, that's enough, everyone," Niko's voice cut through the focused silence, causing Kael's eyelids to flutter open.
His attention was immediately drawn to the peculiar device resting on the palm of Niko's outstretched hand. It resembled a smooth, obsidian orb, no larger than a robin's egg, etched with swirling silver glyphs that pulsed with a faint, internal luminescence. Tendrils of what looked like solidified shadow snaked across its surface, shifting and reforming in mesmerizing patterns.
"I don't know how familiar you all are with the Mirage Shroud," Niko continued, his gaze sweeping over the team, "but it requires a constant influx of mana to maintain its effectiveness. Ideally, this should be someone who won't be heavily engaged in combat. Rylen, given your focus on utility, I believe you're the most suitable for this role."
"Fine by me," Rylen replied with a nod, accepting the cool, smooth orb from Niko.
The moment his fingers closed around it, the silver glyphs on its surface flared slightly, and a low hum resonated from within. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer began to emanate from the orb, like heat rising from sun-baked stone.
Kael watched, half-expecting a dramatic transformation – a blinding flash, perhaps, or a tangible cloak of invisibility descending upon them.
While he was daydreaming on potential outcomes, Kael heard Rylen's voice again "Done."
huh
looking around nothing seemed to have changed at all.
He leaned closer to Theo, who stood just beside him, his expression as impassive as ever.
"Uhm, what exactly is 'done'? Nothing seems to have changed."
Theo gave Kael a withering look. "Of course you wouldn't notice anything with that fish brain of yours."
Kael's lips twitched . "Are you going to tell me or not?"
"The shroud is already active," Theo explained, his gaze flicking back to Rylen, who was now holding the orb steadily. "The instant he channeled his mana into it, the trinket began to analyze the immediate environment – the specific hues of the foliage, the play of light and shadow, the subtle shifts in the atmosphere, even the minute patterns of the breeze. It then takes all that data and subtly integrates it into the visual and even sensory perception of anyone within a few feet of the carrier. So, to an outside observer, those within the shroud's influence would perfectly match the stillness and quietness of the surrounding jungle."
"Okay…" Kael said slowly, trying to wrap his head around the concept. "But what if the surroundings are chaotic and, well… not stable?"
"Then the shroud adapts in real-time," Theo replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "It continuously reads the fluctuating environment and projects a corresponding camouflage onto us. If the jungle suddenly erupts in a riot of color and motion, we will, to an observer, appear to be part of that chaos – fleeting shadows, shifting leaves, momentary distortions in the light."
The explanation was concise and logical, even if the underlying magic remained a mystery to Kael. He glanced at Rylen, who held the obsidian orb with a quiet focus, a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer now surrounding him like a heat haze.