Creation system
Chapter 26: Socket

Chapter 26: Socket

[Tier 2 Bear Leather Boots – Resilient leather boots crafted by an experienced artisan using hide from a frost-touched bear. The enchanted leather possesses remarkable durability and self-restoration properties.

When the wearer channels mana through the specially treated material, the material gradually mends itself, returning the boots to their pristine condition. The leather maintains its supple texture while providing excellent protection against harsh terrain.] 35 gold coins.

Without hesitation, Mitch purchased them immediately. His modern sneakers had been deteriorating rapidly since his arrival in this world, the synthetic materials couldn’t withstand the magical energies and the rough medieval conditions.

Surprisingly, the locals paid little attention to his strange footwear, likely assuming they were some obscure drop from a dungeon.

As he laced up the new boots, Mitch marveled at their perfect fit and immediate comfort.

The leather seemed to respond to his touch, and he could sense the dormant enchantments waiting to activate.

The self-repairing capability alone made them invaluable, no more worrying about torn soles or damaged boots in the middle of hostile territory.

If I could find clothing or armor with similar enchantments, I’d be set for any adventure, Mitch thought, already imagining a full set of self-maintaining gear.

His next stop was the apothecary section of the marketplace. Despite possessing healing abilities, Mitch understood the wisdom of preparation. He carefully selected high-quality medical supplies: clean linen bandages, a bottle of concentrated disinfectant that smelled strongly of medicinal herbs, tweezers, and several vials of healing salve.

Magical healing wasn’t always available or appropriate for every situation. Sometimes, mundane medical care was exactly what was needed.

With his shopping complete, Mitch set out to locate a blacksmith. The task proved simple enough; he merely followed the rhythmic symphony of hammer strikes against anvil that echoed through the crafting district.

The sound grew louder as he approached a sturdy stone building with smoke billowing from its chimney.

"Welcome to my forge! What can I do for you today?" called out a burly man with soot-stained arms and a welcoming smile.

"I’m interested in having sockets added to some of my equipment. What would that cost?" Mitch inquired.

The blacksmith stroked his beard thoughtfully. "That depends entirely on the quality of your items. My skills are sufficient for tier two equipment, but nothing beyond that level."

"What about tier one items? Can’t those be socketed as well?" Mitch asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

The craftsman shook his head firmly. "Afraid not, lad. Tier one materials simply lack the structural integrity and mana conductivity to properly sustain a socketed gem.

The magical stress would cause them to fracture or crumble within hours."

"I see. That makes sense," Mitch nodded, filing away this important information about equipment limitations.

Mitch carefully withdrew his tier two armor from his storage space. The white bear hide showed several clean cuts and minor damage from recent encounters, but the overall construction remained solid.

The blacksmith examined the armor with a professional eye, running his fingers along the damage and testing the material’s flexibility. "Quality craftsmanship here. I can add a proper socket for 25 gold coins, and restoration work for the damage will run another 10 gold coins."

Mitch quickly calculated his remaining funds, just over 65 gold coins remained from his dungeon earnings. The investment seemed worthwhile for such crucial improvements.

"Excellent! I’ll take both services," Mitch agreed readily. Then, struck by curiosity, he added, "Would it be possible for me to observe the socketing process? I’m fascinated by magical crafting techniques."

The blacksmith raised an eyebrow, clearly unused to such requests. "Ugh... well, I suppose there’s no harm in it. Follow me to the workshop."

They moved through a heavy wooden door into the heart of the smithy. The workspace had a massive anvil, a glowing forge, and racks of specialized tools. The air shimmered with residual magical energy from countless previous projects.

The blacksmith placed Mitch’s armor on the anvil and selected a hammer whose head gleamed with embedded runes. "Watch closely, this requires precise mana control and timing."

As he worked, the smith channeled mana through both his hands and the enchanted hammer. Each strike sent controlled pulses of magical energy into the armor, gradually creating a perfectly circular depression in the chest piece.

Mitch observed intently with his enhanced mana senses, noting how the existing magical pathways within the armor were being carefully redirected and strengthened to connect with the new socket location.

The process took nearly thirty minutes of concentrated effort. By the end, sweat covered the blacksmith’s entire body, and his breathing was labored. The skill clearly demanded tremendous physical and magical exertion.

"Now for the restoration," the craftsman announced, placing his hands directly on the damaged areas. "Mend thy armor, and make it pristine!"

Mitch watched in fascination as mana converged around the armor like visible threads of light.

The cuts and scratches began knitting themselves back together, the bear hide regenerating until it appeared newly crafted. The magical display was both beautiful and practical.

That skill is incredible! I need to find a way to learn similar restoration techniques, Mitch thought enviously.

"Finished!" the blacksmith declared with evident pride in his work. "Your armor is now properly socketed and fully repaired."

"Will the gem stay secure in the socket, or do I need additional fastening?" Mitch asked, examining the perfectly smooth circular depression.

The blacksmith’s expression darkened immediately. "Are you questioning the quality of my craftsmanship?!" he demanded, his voice rising with indignation.

"Not at all!" Mitch replied hastily, raising his hands peacefully. "I’ve simply never used socketed equipment before. I wanted to understand how it works."

The craftsman’s anger deflated as quickly as it had risen. "Ah, forgive my reaction. Many customers do question my methods." He gestured to the socket.

"Once a gem is properly seated, it becomes permanently integrated with the item’s mana veins. The connection is absolute, the gem will never fall out or come loose."

He paused, his expression growing serious. "However, you must choose carefully. Once socketed, a gem cannot be removed or replaced, even if it becomes damaged.

Should the gem crack or shatter, the socket becomes permanently unusable. No other gem will ever bond with that socket again."

"I understand. Thank you for the explanation and the excellent work," Mitch said, genuinely appreciative of both the craftsmanship and the warning.

Returning to his inn room, Mitch retrieved his collection of gems from his dimensional storage. These precious stones had been among his most valuable loot from the hidden underground chambers, and he had resisted selling them despite their substantial market value.

He’d observed similar gems selling for upwards of 200 gold coins each in the marketplace.

He spread the gems on his small table, carefully examining each one as he considered his options.