Arthur and Jacob stepped into the barn, the warm midday light filtering in through the gaps in the wooden walls. Dust floated lazily in the beams as if reluctant to settle, visible by the rays of light that they danced around.
The hammer lay right where Jacob had left it on the same workbench they had used the night before. The runes still glowed faintly, a soft amber color that pulsed gently, slowing with each pulse until they settled down and seemed to sink into the metal.
Arthur picked it up and gave it a slow swing through the air, testing the feel of it. Watching it arc through the air as if it swung itself.
His brows lifted.
"This is... different," he muttered.
He turned to Jacob, holding the hammer out flat on one hand.
"It's not just lighter . . . it feels like the weight's moving with you, not against you. Did you change the inscription?"
"No," Jacob replied, as he shook his head. "I just took a different approach to the visualization. I figured just thinking of something as lighter didn't fit the inscription, so I imagined something that moved the weight for the user."
Arthur gave the hammer another swing, then set it down and clapped his son on the back.
"Well, you're not forging swords yet, but I'd say you just leveled up in practicality."
Jacob grinned widely, practically glowing.
"Let's not use that one in the field just yet," Arthur added, a little more seriously. "We'll test it on something... less critical. Like maybe the old wheelbarrow. Though that will need to wait until later."
Jacob nodded. "Good idea."
Arthur looked at him for a long second, then ruffled his hair with a soft smile.
"You're growing into this faster than I expected. But you're still a boy, and I intend to let you enjoy that as long as you can."
They started walking back toward the house, the warm air heavy with the scent of hay and sun-warmed wood.
"So," Arthur added as they neared the door, "what do you think about enchanting a pair of boots next?"
Jacob blinked. "For speed?"
Arthur laughed. "For comfort. I'm not as young as I used to be."
Jacob laughed a bit, then thought about it.
"We can enchant clothes, too?"
Arthur nodded at this, smiling.
"There is not much we can't enchant. Have you had to actually etch anything into the metals so far?"
Jacob was a bit stunned, then thought about the inscription process. "Huh, no, I just attach the magic to the object . . . I guess I just assumed it had to be something hard like metal."
Arthur nodded his head as he grabbed a new pair of boots from his closet, bringing Jacob back into the dining room where the rest of the family was finishing lunch.
"It's best to put this one along the inside of the top of the boot, where the leather is thickest. I am not sure why, but it seems to take better here."
He then flipped the top of the boot outward, so it could be more easily inscribed.
"Go ahead and put the strengthening runes on the lower part, and hold it like this so it won't be upside down when we flip it back."
He handed the boots to Jacob with the top part facing down so he could inscribe them the right way.
Jacob got to work, placing each rune gently so he didn't mess up the leather. After the first few runes, he managed to pick up the pace, since he realized he really wouldn't destroy anything with the enchantment.
He used a more practical visualization for the boots, thinking of a tortoise shell, since they didn't need to be able to dig through solid earth or break apart rocks.
Seeing that Jacob was done, Arthur took one boot and started inscribing the rune for comfort on it.
"This is how the comfort rune is done. I am sure you can get it after one try. Just take it and continue the inscription process as soon as I am done. It goes here, right above the third strengthening rune, then you can add the lightness rune between them."
When he was done, he gave the boot to Jacob and took the other one to inscribe when Jacob was almost done with the first.
Jacob thought to himself as he was inscribing. 'Alright, the visualization for this one should be a memory foam bed with satin, silky sheets. Then the lightness should be more of a lever so the boots still feel like they are on his feet.'
After inscribing the first, he went on to the second after Arthur added his rune.
Once both boots had their runes carefully etched in, Jacob sat back and inspected his work. The inscriptions glowed for just a moment, then faded softly into the leather.
"Done," Jacob said, holding them out.
Arthur took the boots, looked them over like a farmer inspecting fresh crops, and gave a nod of approval.
"Let's see if they're good enough to keep my feet from barking."
He slipped them on, wriggling his toes a little before standing. He took a few test steps around the room. Then a few more.
"Well?" Jacob asked, leaning forward with eager eyes.
Arthur stretched his back, bounced lightly on his heels, then started pacing with a look of confusion on his face.
"This is so weird . . . it feels like I am walking on clouds. But it is like they are firm clouds, able to support me as I walk around, almost like they help lift my legs while they support my feet."
He looked over at Jacob with a big smile. "These are the best boots I have ever worn. Great job, son."
He walked over to Jacob and ruffled his hair again.
Jacob also smiled, then thought about the process before asking, "Can we enchant more clothes?"
May piped up from the table where she was trying to teach his younger sister to sew.
"You should make a broom that does some extra cleaning for me, my back would greatly appreciate it."
While she was joking, Jacob looked to Arthur with big, round eyes full of hope.
Arthur chuckled a bit, then nodded his head.
"Alright, let's learn another new rune."