Drake finally stepped away from Master Lyraen's enchanting table, a deep sense of satisfaction settling over him. His [Initiate's Twin Blades] now hummed with a faint purple luminescence, as did his other equipment. The tangible stat boosts from the 90% CCR Minor Health and Strength glyphs were significant, a clear upgrade that hadn't cost him an exorbitant amount of gold in failed attempts, thanks to Lyraen's guided "welcome gift" and his own [Eidetic Execution].
"That's a solid power increase. Survivability up, damage up. And my baseline for those two Minor glyphs is now permanently 90% CCR. Master Lyraen's flexible apprenticeship and the [Echoes of Lost Arts] quest are long-term goals, but this immediate boost is exactly what I needed before heading out for the Echoing Forge."
With his gear enhanced and his enchanting skill at a respectable starting point for basic glyphs, Drake's focus returned to his primary class quest: [Legacy of the Twin Souls] - Objective: Locate the [Echoing Forge] using Elder Jian's guidance. Jian's clues had been cryptic – references to a remote, mountainous region, ancient Alvari energy signatures, and a path shunned by normal travelers. This wasn't something he could just find by wandering aimlessly.
He left the Enchanter's Guild and made his way towards Silverhaven's Great Library – not the restricted upper archives this time, but its vast, publicly accessible sections. If any institution held detailed historical records, geographical surveys, or lore pertaining to obscure Alvari installations, it would be here.
The public halls of the Great Library were awe-inspiring in their own right, filled with towering shelves, quiet reading alcoves, and countless scholars and students poring over ancient texts. Drake approached a main information desk manned by a stern-faced Senior Librarian NPC.
"Excuse me," Drake began, his [Known Hand] title perhaps lending a slight air of scholarly seriousness to his inquiry. "I am researching ancient Alvari installations, specifically one known as the 'Echoing Forge,' believed to be located in a remote mountainous region, possibly the Serpent's Tooth range or similar. Are there any public records, maps, or historical surveys that might shed light on such a location or how one might safely travel to such remote, potentially magically shielded ruins?"
The Senior Librarian adjusted his spectacles, looking Drake up and down. "The Echoing Forge..." he mused, tapping a long finger on a datapad. "A name that surfaces only in the most fragmented and apocryphal Alvari texts. Most official cartographical records of that era were lost in the Shattering, or detail only the major Alvari population centers. Remote installations, especially those of a... sensitive nature... were often deliberately omitted from public record, their locations known only to select orders."
He typed for a moment. "Accessing restricted historical travel logs... Hmm. There are mentions of heavily guarded Alvari survey teams and resource caravans venturing into the Serpent's Tooth range centuries ago, before its current state of wildness. These were not casual expeditions. They speak of 'stabilized passage routes' and 'shielded convoys' necessary to bypass extreme environmental hazards and potent residual Alvari defenses."
The Librarian continued, "If such a place as the 'Echoing Forge' exists and is still somewhat intact within those mountains, reaching it would not be a simple matter of walking. The dangers are considerable. Our records indicate that the only historically reliable method for civilian or non-military personnel to approach such deep Alvari ruin sites was via specifically chartered and heavily guarded caravans, sponsored by either the Explorer's League or a recognized Scholarly Expedition. These caravans possess the necessary warding technologies and experienced outriders to navigate the hazardous routes."
He made a final notation. "According to current schedules, the next chartered Explorer's League caravan with a route passing near the southern foothills of the Serpent's Tooth range – the closest any public convoy gets to the deep mountains – departs from Silverhaven's Eastern Trade Gate... in six days. They depart only once every seven standard days. Passage is, of course, not free and requires League vetting or a significant 'security deposit'."
"Six days?! A once-a-week caravan, and I just missed it by a day or so. Damn. That's a long time to wait in Silverhaven doing nothing. And 'near' the foothills isn't at the Forge. Still sounds like a long, dangerous solo trek from their drop-off point." This forced downtime was unexpected and frustrating. He needed to use the time productively.
"Thank you for the information, Librarian," Drake said, storing the details via [Perfect Recall].
He left the Great Library, his mind already working. Six days. He couldn't just sit idle. His weekly Mirror Duel trial was also roughly six days away now, after completing the last one.
"Okay, forced downtime in Silverhaven. What's the best use of it? I could try to grind more gold for Enchanting materials, but pushing those CCRs higher without more guided help or specific Alvari schematics from Lyraen's quest feels inefficient right now. My combat skills... Parry is 85%, Twin Fang 83%, Blade Dance 81%, Left Hand basic 82%. They're functional, but not perfect. The Echo in the Mirror Duel will be based on these plus 1% next week. I need to improve them, especially if I want to keep that weekly trial manageable, let alone master this class for the Echoing Forge."
The decision was clear. The most valuable use of this unexpected week in Silverhaven was to return to the Warrior Training Hall and dedicate himself to intensively practicing his new [Twin Soul Bladesworn] skills. He needed to push those SCRs higher, especially his Left Hand basic and his core defensive [Parry].
He made his way back to the Silverhaven Warrior's Proving Ground. The place was as busy as ever, the clang of steel and shouts of exertion filling the air. He found an unoccupied training dummy in a slightly less crowded section and drew his [Initiate's Twin Blades]. He began the now-familiar process: focusing on one skill, executing it repeatedly, analyzing the phantom guides and his own movements via [Perfect Recall], striving for that fractional improvement that [Eidetic Execution] would then lock in permanently.
He started with his [Basic Attack Combo R/L], specifically focusing on the Left Hand's 82% SCR. R(100%)-L(82%)-R(100%)-L(82%)... The rhythm was there, but the slight imperfection in his off-hand still capped his combo length and the peak of its stacking +5% damage bonus. He drilled it relentlessly.
As he practiced, deeply engrossed in his own focused grind, he became vaguely aware of a conversation from a nearby group of three other players, also dual-wielding what looked like standard (non-class-specific) swords. They were taking a break, leaning against a weapon rack, their voices carrying.
Player 1: "...tried that new 'Flurry' skill? Supposed to be high DPS if you can keep it up." Player 2: "Yeah, 'if'. My off-hand SCR is garbage. I land the first two hits, then the third whiffs or hits like a wet noodle, breaks the chain, and I'm stuck in cooldown. Dual Wielding is such a noob trap in this game, man." Player 3: "Totally. The idea of high attack speed and dual damage is cool, but in a real fight? Trying to maintain decent SCR on both hands while dodging and blocking? Impossible. And the penalties for failing a combo skill are brutal. You're better off with a two-hander for reliable burst or sword-and-shield for consistency." Player 1: "For real. I saw a guide that said unless you have god-tier reflexes or some way to guarantee your off-hand doesn't suck, just don't bother. The theoretical damage is a lie because you can never actually achieve it consistently in combat."
Drake listened with a barely suppressed smirk. "'Noob trap'... 'impossible to maintain SCR on both hands consistently'... 'penalties are brutal'..." Their complaints perfectly, unwittingly, highlighted the almost ludicrous advantage his [Eidetic Execution] talent provided. For them, dual-wielding was a constant battle against fluctuating execution and harsh penalties. For him, once he achieved a baseline, that baseline was his unwavering reality, regardless of combat pressure. His 82% Left Hand wasn't great yet, but it was a guaranteed 82%, every single time, allowing him to reliably execute his current 17-hit combo. And he could improve it, permanently.
The other players' struggles, their dismissal of the entire playstyle as unviable due to the very consistency issues his talent negated, only fueled Drake's motivation. He wasn't just learning a class; he was mastering a style deemed impossible by the general player base.
"They see a noob trap. I see untapped potential, a path to perfection only I can truly walk consistently. Let them struggle. I'll grind."
His smirk faded, replaced by renewed, intense focus. He turned back to the training dummy, the other players' words acting as reverse psychology. He would master this "impossible" class. He would push every skill to its absolute limit. He had six days before the caravan, six days before the next Mirror Duel. Time to make every second count. He redoubled his efforts on his Left Hand [Basic Attack Combo R/L], the image of the perfectly coordinated Alvari warriors from the Hilt's vision burning in his mind.