Enchantment Ink

To perceive special enchantment ink, one must possess an exceedingly rare ability known as Enchanter's Sight. Out of tens of thousands of people, only a handful—perhaps one or two in a lifetime—ever awaken this talent.

Yet, despite its rarity, here I am, staring at the glowing ink as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

But the truth is, I don't possess Enchanter's Sight at all. Instead, I have something entirely different—something no one in this world could possibly fathom. A gift from Earth, a marvel of science: Ultra-Violet (UV) vision.

Magic and science may seem like opposing forces, but sometimes, they intertwine in the most unexpected ways.

But what exactly is UV sight, and why does it allow me to see the ink?

The answer lies in the nature of light itself. Light exists as a vast spectrum of wavelengths, measured in nanometers (nm). The human eye, limited in its perception, can only detect a narrow band of this spectrum—approximately 380 to 700 nm—known as visible light. Beyond this range lies an entire hidden world: ultraviolet light with shorter wavelengths, infrared radiation with longer ones, and even X-rays, which can penetrate through solid objects.

Though humans are blind to these invisible wavelengths, many creatures have evolved to see them. Butterflies, for instance, possess UV vision, allowing them to detect intricate floral patterns invisible to us. Snakes, on the other hand, perceive infrared radiation, enabling them to track the heat signatures of their prey even in complete darkness.

And enchantment ink?

It isn't some mystical substance accessible only through divine blessing. It's simply ink that reflects UV light.

Which means… Mirabelle's hypothesis was spot on.

In a way, butterflies can see enchantments.

And now, thanks to her insight, so can I.

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As I stand marveling at the array of enchantment inks, the dwarf merchant approaches, his heavy boots clicking against the stone floor.

"Young man, do you have the Enchanter's Sight too?" he asks, stroking his long, silver-streaked beard as he notices my intense scrutiny of the inks.

"Yes, I do," I reply, meeting his gaze.

His bushy eyebrows lift slightly. "Haven't seen you around before," he muses. "Are you new here? And are you an enchanter?"

"Yes, but I'm just starting out, still learning the craft," I admit.

"Hah! That's good!" the merchant booms with a hearty laugh, clearly pleased. "Name's Lucas! I've been selling these inks for over fifty years!"

"That's a lifetime of experience," I remark, shaking his calloused hand firmly. "I'm Edward, and this is my wife, Lisa."

Sophia bows politely before shaking his hand as well.

Lucas nods in approval. "Well then, Edward, Lisa, welcome to my humble stall."

I glance back at the collection of ink bottles, curiosity burning in my mind. "So, these inks… do you extract and process them yourself?"

"Of course!" Lucas puffs out his chest with pride. "Every single one here is handmade using my old man's recipe—passed down for generations!"

"That's fascinating," I say, genuinely impressed.

This is because enchantment ink isn't something that can be easily obtained. There are two primary sources: minerals extracted from deep underground and monster-derived substances, such as blood or saliva from highly magical creatures. However, even with the raw materials, the quality of the final product depends entirely on the enchanter's expertise. Processing the ink is an intricate art—one that demands patience, precision, and skill. That's why some enchantment inks are insanely expensive.

For example, that glowing vial over there? It's likely crafted from the blood of a powerful dungeon beast. The price tag? Three hundred thousand crowns.

It makes sense. The stronger the monster, the rarer the ink.

"Alright," I say, after some careful deliberation. "I'll take one bottle of this… and one of that as well." I point to two mid-tier enchantment inks, reasonably priced but still of excellent quality.

Lucas grins, clearly pleased with my choices. "A fine selection!" He swiftly packs the bottles, placing them in a small leather pouch before handing them to me.

I pass him two gold coins—equivalent to two thousand crowns—and tuck the pouch into my bag.

With that, I now only need one more thing before I can officially begin my journey into the world of enchantment—the pen.

And Lucas, ever the perceptive merchant, seems to have already anticipated this.

"By the way, lad, do you need an enchantment pen?" he asks.

"Oh? Do you know where I can find the best ones?" I ask, intrigued.

There are dozens of merchants here selling various pens, but if anyone knows where to find the best, it's Lucas. He's been in the trade for decades—his knowledge should be invaluable.

But to my surprise, instead of pointing me toward another vendor, Lucas simply reaches behind his stall and pulls out a finely crafted pen.

"Here, take this," he says, handing it to me with a small grin. "Consider it my gift to you. Good luck with your enchantment."

I blink, taken aback. "Wait… you're giving this to me for free?"

"Aye, I am," Lucas chuckles. "Call it a little encouragement for a budding enchanter."

His generosity catches me completely off guard.

"Wow… thank you so much!" I exclaim, deeply grateful.

I inspect the pen closely. It isn't overly extravagant, but it's finely made—perfect for a beginner like me. The body is crafted from smooth, polished dark wood, its slender design fitting comfortably in my grip. The tip gleams with an iridescent finish, reflecting the ambient light like the surface of a still lake.

Not bad at all.

Now, with both ink and pen in hand, I'm finally ready to take my first step into the world of enchantment.

Turning to Lucas, I give him one last nod of appreciation before heading straight for the enchantment room, eager to begin my first real attempt at the craft.