He stood before the enchanting table in Master Lyraen's section of the Silverhaven Enchanter's Guild, a fresh supply of vellum, dust, and essences neatly arranged. His [Glyph of Minor Health] was locked at a dismal 63% Craft Completion Rate, and his newly learned [Glyph of Minor Strength] was only marginally better at 64%. He knew, with absolute certainty thanks to [Eidetic Execution], that he could now produce these weak glyphs endlessly without material waste. But the thought of manually grinding those CCRs higher, percentage point by agonizing percentage point, through hundreds or thousands of individual crafts, each requiring intense focus on the complex rune-tracing and Mana-flow mini-game, was daunting. The gold cost for the materials alone, even without failures, would be substantial just to practice.
"Grinding these CCRs from the low 60s to something decent, say 80% or 90%, just by sheer repetition... it's going to take days, maybe weeks of dedicated effort and a fortune in materials. There has to be a more efficient way to get a better starting baseline."
His mind immediately jumped back to the Verdant Threshold, to Master Kallan and the [Focusing Incense]. That brief, incense-aided session had allowed him to experience, and thus permanently lock, a 100% Perfect SCR for his [Basic Slash] and [Defend] skills in mere minutes. It had been a monumental leap, bypassing countless hours of frustrating incremental grind.
"Kallan's incense... it provided a 'glimpse of perfect execution'. If I could get a similar guided experience for enchanting, even just for these basic glyphs... If Lyraen could somehow show me what a 100% CCR feels like to execute, my talent would lock it in instantly. That would save an incredible amount of time and resources."
The idea was bold. Master Lyraen had just accepted him as a flexible apprentice, impressed by his unusual consistency. Perhaps he would be receptive. Drake took a deep breath, gathered his thoughts, and approached the elderly High Elf Enchanter, who was meticulously examining a complex runic diagram on his own workbench.
"Master Lyraen," Drake began respectfully, waiting until the master looked up. "Forgive my forwardness so soon after accepting your tutelage, but I have a question regarding the… nature of my learning process."
Lyraen raised an eyebrow, his keen eyes studying Drake. "Speak freely, apprentice. Understanding one's own path to mastery is the first step."
"During my earlier combat training," Drake explained carefully, choosing his words to avoid revealing the full nature of [Eidetic Execution], "I found that experiencing a moment of heightened focus, a brief sensation of perfect execution guided by an external aid, allowed me to internalize and then replicate that higher level of skill much more rapidly than through simple repetition alone. It was as if seeing the pinnacle, even once, set a new standard for my own efforts."
He paused, then continued, "I find myself facing a similar challenge with Enchanting. My current Craft Completion Rates for the Minor Health and Strength glyphs are… functional, but far from optimal. The mini-game is complex, and achieving significant improvement feels like a monumental task of incremental gains. I was wondering, Master, if there might be a technique or method you possess – perhaps similar to the focusing incenses some martial masters use – that could allow me to experience, even for a single craft, what a truly high-level execution feels like for these basic glyphs? To understand the flow, the precise Mana control, the perfect rune trace required."
Master Lyraen listened intently, steepling his long fingers, his expression thoughtful. He remained silent for a long moment after Drake finished, his gaze distant as if pondering ancient secrets.
Finally, he spoke. "An interesting proposition, apprentice. You seek not just instruction, but a direct impartation of experiential mastery. Most novices are content to stumble through failures for months before grasping even basic competence. You wish to glimpse the summit before undertaking the climb." He gave a slow nod. "There is wisdom in that, for one who can truly learn from such a glimpse."
He stroked his chin. "The 'focusing incenses' you speak of are crude, often unreliable tools, more for calming the mind than truly guiding the hand in intricate arts like ours. To demonstrate a Perfect 100% CCR execution of a glyph is simple enough for a master. But to allow you to feel it, to guide your senses through the precise motions and Mana attunements as if they were your own… that requires a deeper, more resonant technique, a form of sensory linkage that is not easily achieved or taught. It draws upon principles of Alvari sympathetic magic, methods I myself have not fully… perfected for tutelage."
Drake's heart sank slightly. "So, no magic shortcut to 100% CCR then. Figures."
"However," Lyraen continued, a slight smile touching his lips, "while a direct impartation of perfect execution for a novice is beyond my current pedagogical methods without significant preparation and rare catalysts, something less… absolute… is perhaps possible." He tapped the runic diagram on his workbench. "I have been experimenting with a focusing technique, a way to temporarily attune my senses to an apprentice's, guiding their hands and mind through the intricate dance of rune and Mana. It is not true sensory linkage, more a… guided puppetry of intent, shall we say. It cannot guarantee perfection, as your own underlying skill and Mana control still play a part. But it can certainly elevate your execution to a significantly higher threshold, allowing you to experience the flow of, say, a 90% CCR execution quite clearly."
Drake's eyes widened. "Ninety percent?! That's a thirty percent jump from my current baselines! Even if it's not 100%, locking in 90% CCR for these Minor glyphs would be a massive improvement! The stat bonuses would be nearly doubled!"
"Master," Drake said, his voice filled with eager anticipation, "to experience a 90% CCR execution, even once, would be an incredible boon. I would be immensely grateful for such an opportunity."
Lyraen chuckled softly, a dry, rustling sound. "Eager, I see. Good. Enthusiasm, when tempered with focus, is a vital ingredient. Very well, apprentice." He held up a hand. "Consider this a… 'welcome gift' to my tutelage. A one-time demonstration of this technique to set a proper foundation for your future efforts. It is taxing for me, and not a method to be relied upon regularly. Any future direct guidance of this nature must be earned through significant progress on the [Runesmith's Path] and perhaps by bringing me new knowledge, as per the terms of your flexible apprenticeship."
"One-time gift. Understood. Can't abuse it. But one time is all Eidetic Execution needs to lock it in."
"I understand completely, Master Lyraen, and I am deeply grateful," Drake said sincerely. He then hesitated for a moment, a hopeful thought occurring. "Master… if it is not too much to ask… this guided 90% CCR experience… would it be possible to attempt it for both the [Glyph of Minor Health] and the [Glyph of Minor Strength] recipes I currently possess?" He knew he was pushing his luck, but the potential payoff was too great not to ask.
Master Lyraen looked at him, a twinkle in his ancient eyes. "Ambitious as well as eager, I see." He gave another dry chuckle. "Two basic glyphs… the strain is comparable. Very well. Two demonstrations, then. One for Health, one for Strength. Prepare your materials, apprentice, and clear your mind. We shall attempt to attune your hands to a higher calling."
A surge of exhilaration shot through Drake. This was it. A chance to leapfrog potentially weeks of frustrating, expensive grind and elevate his basic enchanting ability to a genuinely useful level, all thanks to a moment of inspiration and an understanding Master. He quickly gathered fresh vellum, dust, and essences, his mind already focused on the feel of a 90% Craft Completion Rate, ready to permanently etch that sensation into his talent's perfect memory.