Once that rune was engraved, every time the blade struck a blood-bearing creature, it would permanently siphon a small portion of the target's magic capacity. And that absorbed power would continuously strengthen the sword over time.
Alex had wrestled with the decision to use that rune. After all, once it was in place, the sword would become a true killer. It wouldn't just wound, it would cripple. A single strike could drain part of someone's magical reserves permanently. If word got out, the sword might gain a fearsome reputation, and so would its wielder. It wasn't the sort of thing people just ignored.
But the more he thought about it, the more he leaned toward doing it. If he was going to craft the most powerful, most complete weapon he could imagine, then leaving that rune out would only be a compromise. And compromises had no place in what he considered a masterpiece.
As for the fallout? Well, if he ever had to face weaker opponents, he could always choose not to use this sword. And if the enemy was strong enough to require it, then there was no need to hold back.
Just take them down cleanly, leave no witnesses, no questions. It wasn't like the average wizard had the kind of magical sensitivity to detect their own dwindling reserves anyway.
With that decision made, Alex gave the design one last thorough check. Satisfied that everything was in order, he carefully rolled up the parchment and stored it away.
Then he washed up and turned in early for the night. He needed to be in top form for tomorrow, the enchanting process required intense focus, and he couldn't afford even the smallest mistake.
For the next two days, Alex remained locked away in his room, wholly dedicated to enchanting the sword. He deliberately conserved his energy, never pushing himself too hard.
Every rune had to be perfectly inscribed, no flaws, no rushed strokes. He treated the process like a delicate art, each line etched with care.
Finally, after two full days of meticulous work, Alex emerged and sought out Brand once again, this time with the completed, enchanted sword blank in hand.
Now came the second stage of the process: reforging.
This part would involve reshaping the sword using intense magical heat and, more importantly, a direct infusion of magic throughout the entire process.
Only then could the weapon truly be considered a fully realized piece of magical equipment, more than a sword, something closer to a bonded artifact.
But there was a catch. Once the reforging was done, the sword would become completely fixed. No more enchantments, no more adjustments. Any future upgrades or changes would require the entire reforging process to be repeated from scratch.
So with everything ready, Alex, Brand, and the others made their way up the mountain to the forge once more. Each of them understood their role without needing to say a word.
As the forge roared to life and the temperature in the furnace climbed, Alex pulled out the completed sword blank. With steady hands, he placed it carefully into the flames using a long pair of tongs, then began channeling his magic through the metal directly into the blade.
The sword responded instantly. It lit up with a soft magical glow, and the runes he had painstakingly etched across its surface shimmered to life, one by one.
Everyone had been standing around the stove for nearly an hour, waiting patiently, until Brand finally pulled the sword out. He ran his hand over the blade, but all he felt was a faint warmth, not even close to hot.
"It's no good," he said with a sigh, shaking his head. "The furnace just isn't hot enough to finish the forging. Looks like we'll need to move on to our backup plan." Thankfully, they had come prepared.
Alex nodded in agreement. "Once the magic is injected, all the runes on the sword blank will activate. But yeah... using normal flames just isn't going to cut it."
"Then we'll use Fiendfire," Alex decided, scanning their surroundings as he stepped out of the felt tent. "But we can't do this inside, it's too dangerous." He pointed toward a flat, open area near the mountaintop. "Let's move everything out there. We need to reforge it in the open."
Brand agreed and began instructing a group of centaurs to carry the forge tools, anvil, workbench, quenching sink, everything they needed to the designated spot.
Once everything was set up, Alex turned to the group with a serious look. "For safety, I'll be handling the smelting alone. Everyone else, stay back. No exceptions."
With that, Alex pulled out a specially-prepared brazier and lit it by chanting a spell.
A wisp of Fiendfire rose, flickering ominously in the air. He focused intensely, keeping the inferno contained within the brazier's walls. This was his first time using Fiendfire to forge equipment, so he wasn't taking any chances.
Just in case the flames got out of hand, he uncapped a silver kettle from his bag and carefully poured a glowing liquid around the brazier in a circle. It was a replica of Newt Scamander's "Water Bottle."
While Newt's version was made with Ulim steel and Iser Mithril, Alex had crafted his from Agrippa Alloy and Iser Mithril. It might not be quite as powerful as the original, but it would still do the job if the fire turned wild.
"I'm starting now," he warned, casting a glance at the others. "If anything goes wrong, keep your distance."
With deep focus, Alex held the sword blank in one hand and slowly lowered it into the brazier. His other hand gripped his wand tightly, channeling precise control over the Fiendfire.
At the same time, he had to keep feeding magic into the sword blank, a process that demanded intense concentration and stamina.
The Fiendfire reacted almost immediately. It snarled and twisted, forming into the shape of a tiny beast that snapped its burning jaws at the sword. But the sword blank, glowing with runes and enchanted materials, held firm. Not a scratch.
Slowly but surely, the heat increased. The dull metal began to change, its surface glowing red and softening, finally, signs of melting.
Seeing the perfect moment, Alex pulled the sword from the flames. Instantly, the ring of enchanted water surged upward and drowned the fire, extinguishing the Fiendfire before it could escape.
Without wasting a second, Alex rushed to the anvil and slammed the softened sword onto its surface. Brand joined him, and the two of them began the second round of forging.
This part of the process couldn't be delayed. Alex had to keep injecting magic into the sword even while hammering it, making sure the enchantments took hold as the metal shifted.
Compared to the first attempt, the forging went faster this time. The sword's general shape had already been formed, the runes now responded more naturally to Alex's magic, and the materials had fully bonded with the enchantments. Everything aligned beautifully.
But even though it didn't take long, both Alex and Brand could feel the difference. Each strike of the hammer felt heavier, as if the sword was now resisting them more. It took more effort, more strength, and more magic than before, but that only meant the forging was working.
The blade was becoming something truly powerful.