Drake stood before the rune-etched enchanting table in a quiet corner of Silverhaven's Enchanter's Guild. The temporary, if unsettling, fame from his Rank 1 ASCR position was pushed to the back of his mind. His immediate focus was the daunting task ahead: wrestling with the notoriously difficult Enchanting profession. He had his [Runed Copper Rod], a fresh supply of [Lesser Magic Dust], [Faint Essence], and [Basic Vellum Rolls]. He also now possessed the [Recipe: Glyph of Minor Strength], purchased moments ago alongside the materials.
"Okay. [Glyph of Minor Health] is locked at a pathetic 63% CCR. Let's see if I can get a baseline for Minor Strength. Based on the forums, just succeeding once is a victory for most people with these basic glyphs."
He selected the [Recipe: Glyph of Minor Strength] in his crafting interface. A new, complex pattern of Alvari-like runes shimmered into existence above the vellum sheet he placed on the table. It was similar in complexity to the Minor Health glyph, requiring precise tracing with his Runed Copper Rod while simultaneously managing a fluctuating Mana flow indicator.
He took a deep breath, trying to recall the feel of the Minor Health mini-game. He began, attempting to trace the first rune for the Strength glyph while channeling Mana. His hand, still more attuned to the gross motor skills of sword combat than the fine precision needed for enchanting, slipped on an intricate curve. The Mana flow indicator, which he'd momentarily neglected while focusing on the trace, spiked erratically.
<< Craft Failed! CCR 41%! Rune Path Deviation! Materials Lost! >> A wisp of smoke, and the vellum sheet and consumed materials vanished."Damn. Just as unforgiving as Minor Health was initially. Okay, focus. Trace, then Mana. Or Mana, then trace?"
He tried again, focusing first on getting a smooth trace, then trying to match the Mana flow. << Craft Failed! CCR 35%! Mana Imbalance! Materials Lost! >>
And again. << Craft Failed! CCR 52%! Unstable Resonance! Materials Lost! >>
Sheet after sheet of vellum, handfuls of dust and essence, turned into disappointing puffs of smoke. His gold, already diminished, felt like it was actively bleeding away with each failed attempt. The forum complaints about Enchanting being a "gold sink" were proving painfully accurate. He wasn't just losing materials; each failure felt like a setback, a reminder of how far he was from the 100% CCR perfection he envisioned.
He forced himself to slow down, to analyze each failed attempt using [Perfect Recall]. He replayed the phantom rune paths, his own hand movements, the fluctuations of the Mana bar. He started breaking the process down: master the trace for the first rune segment, then the Mana flow for that segment, then try to combine them. Then move to the next segment. It was laborious, frustrating, and incredibly slow.
After nearly an hour of this painstaking, material-consuming effort, focusing all his will on one particular attempt at the [Glyph of Minor Strength]: Trace smooth... Mana steady... Transition clean... Hold flow... Discharge. FZZT! A faint red glow emanated from the vellum.
<< Craft Successful! [Glyph of Minor Strength] created! CCR 64%! >> << [Peak Performance Replication] active. Best recorded CCR for [Recipe: Glyph of Minor Strength] updated: 64%. >>
A wave of relief, mixed with exasperation, washed over Drake. "Sixty-four percent. Barely better than the Minor Health glyph. And that probably cost me another 50 Gold in materials just to get one success. But... it's locked."
He immediately placed another vellum sheet, selected the Minor Strength recipe, and initiated the craft. This time, his hands moved with the familiar, guided certainty of [Eidetic Execution]. The rune paths were traced, the Mana flow managed, all at that exact, mediocre 64% quality. << Craft Successful! [Glyph of Minor Strength] created! CCR 64%! >> He crafted another. Same result. Perfect consistency, perfectly average.
He then switched back to the [Glyph of Minor Health] recipe, crafting one just to confirm. << Craft Successful! [Glyph of Minor Health] created! CCR 63%! >> His talent flawlessly replicated his previous best for that glyph too.
He stood there, crafting one 63% Health glyph, then one 64% Strength glyph, then another Health, then another Strength. Each attempt was a guaranteed, identical success at its respective low baseline. No wasted materials now, but the resulting glyphs were weak, offering minimal stat boosts.
It was this unnatural, metronomic consistency – switching between two different, complex rune patterns and Mana flows, yet achieving the exact same low-quality result for each respective glyph every single time without a single failure or deviation – that eventually drew attention.
An elderly Enchanter NPC, who had been quietly observing other (mostly failing) apprentices from a nearby workbench, his tag reading Master Enchanter Lyraen, slowly approached Drake's table. Lyraen had a stern, deeply lined face, but his eyes held a keen, analytical light. He watched Drake craft three more glyphs – Health (63%), Strength (64%), Health (63%) – each one a perfect, unvarying echo of the last attempt for that specific recipe.
"Apprentice," Master Lyraen finally spoke, his voice quiet but carrying authority. "You have been at this table for some time. Your initial attempts... were as expected for a novice. Full of failure." He paused, his gaze sharp. "Yet, these past dozen crafts... you have not failed once. Not a single mis-traced rune, not a flicker of Mana imbalance. And your results, while… modest in their potency, are identically modest, for each specific glyph, every single time. Such… unvarying precision, even at a lower quality, is… unusual. Highly unusual."
"He noticed. The robotic consistency. Knew this might happen eventually if anyone watched closely enough." Drake simply nodded, waiting.
Lyraen continued, "Most apprentices, even skilled ones, experience fluctuations. A good run followed by a string of failures. A lucky high-quality craft, then back to mediocrity. You, however… you seem to have found a specific… level… and you adhere to it with a perfection that is, frankly, unheard of for such basic results. It speaks of an extraordinary focus, or a unique affinity." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Such dedication, such potential for flawless repetition, is wasted on these minor glyphs if it cannot be guided towards true mastery."
A quest notification appeared before Drake.
<< Rare Quest Offered: [The Runesmith's Path] - Master Enchanter Lyraen recognizes your unique potential for consistent execution and offers you personal apprenticeship in the deeper arts of Enchanting. Rewards: Access to advanced Enchanting techniques, unique recipes, [Title: Lyraen's Apprentice], significant Silverhaven Enchanter's Guild Faction. >>
Drake read the offer. A Rare quest, advanced techniques, unique recipes… it was precisely what he needed to make Enchanting truly viable. But then he remembered his primary objective.
"Another master offering apprenticeship… This is tempting, very tempting for my long-term Enchanting goals. But Elder Jian… the Hilt… the Echoing Forge… that has to take precedence. I can't commit fully to two masters right now, especially if this Runesmith's Path is demanding."
"Master Lyraen," Drake said respectfully, "I am deeply honored by your offer. Your insight into my… method… is keen. However, I am already bound by a significant prior commitment to another master, Elder Jian, concerning matters of ancient Alvari legacy. His quest will take me far from Silverhaven soon, and for an unknown duration."
Lyraen listened patiently, his expression unreadable. "Elder Jian?" he mused, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "A name spoken only in whispers these days, tied to forgotten arts indeed. A weighty commitment, certainly." He paused. "The Runesmith's Path requires dedication, yes. But true talent is rare. It would be a waste to let yours go unguided simply because your immediate path lies elsewhere."
He considered for a moment. "Perhaps a flexible arrangement, then. Accept my apprenticeship. I will impart what foundational knowledge I can when you have time in Silverhaven. Pursue your quest with Elder Jian. When you return, or when your travels uncover insights relevant to the enchanting arts – particularly those of the Alvari, which are the true root of all our craft – bring them to me. Your progress on your primary quest may, in fact, accelerate your understanding of enchanting, and vice versa. What say you to such terms, apprentice?"
"A flexible apprenticeship? That... actually works. I can still focus on Jian's quest, but have Lyraen as a mentor for Enchanting when I'm in Silverhaven or find something relevant. And he specifically mentioned Alvari enchanting knowledge... that ties into my [Echoes of Lost Arts] quest from the other Master Enchanter in Oakhaven! This is perfect synergy."
"Master Lyraen," Drake said, a genuine smile on his face this time. "Those terms are more than generous. I gratefully accept your apprenticeship."
<< Quest Accepted: [The Runesmith's Path] (Flexible Apprenticeship) >> << Title Acquired: [Lyraen's Apprentice] (Inactive - Can be displayed) >> << Silverhaven Enchanter's Guild Faction Increased! >>
Master Lyraen gave a rare, slight smile himself. "Excellent. We shall speak more on the fundamentals later. For now..." He glanced at Drake's current, low-quality glyphs.
Drake, now juggling two major master-level quests, felt a renewed sense of purpose regarding Enchanting. The Echoing Forge journey was still his priority, but a thought struck him. "Wait. Jian's quest is sending me into dangerous, unknown territory. Even a slight improvement to these Minor Health and Strength glyphs, applied to my gear, could provide a crucial edge. My current baselines are 63% and 64%. If I could just push them into the 70s, or even low 80s... the stat gain would be noticeable."
His earlier decision to postpone Enchanting practice wavered. The journey to the Echoing Forge might be long and arduous. Going with slightly better personal enchantments felt like a wise, if time-consuming, investment. The gold cost would be painful, but the potential survivability and damage increase might be worth it.
"The Echoing Forge can wait just a little longer. I have materials. I have a Master here now. Time to grind these CCRs. Every percentage point counts."
Putting travel preparations temporarily on hold once more, Drake turned back to the enchanting table, a new determination in his eyes. He selected the [Recipe: Glyph of Minor Health], ready to begin the painstaking, gold-consuming grind of pushing his abysmally low Craft Completion Rates higher, one agonizing percentage point at a time. The road to perfection was paved with such efforts.