Metalborn in Skyrim

Kael sat in the dining hall, absently swirling the contents of his cup, the warm liquid doing little to shake the chill that always seemed to linger in the College of Winterhold. Across from him, his classmate Jorlin, a Nord with a mischievous smirk and an unruly mane of blonde hair, leaned back comfortably, tearing into a piece of bread.

"So, Kael," Jorlin said between bites, "finally settling into College life, or still regretting your decision?"

Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "It's... different than I expected. I thought there would be more structure. The professors are helpful, sure, but they expect us to take a lot of initiative."

Jorlin smirked. "That's because they only really care about their own research. Teaching is just something they have to do to keep the place running. You'd be surprised how many students end up teaching themselves most of the magic they master."

Kael nodded, taking a sip from his cup. He had already figured out as much. The College of Winterhold was less of a school and more of a collection of scholars who happened to share the same space.

"You're doing enchanting, right?" Jorlin asked, tearing off another piece of bread. "How's that going for you?"

Kael exhaled through his nose. "Not bad, but I've hit a bit of a wall. We're only given five Petty Soul Gems per week, and that's barely enough to practice basic enchantments. If I want to make any real progress, I'll need stronger soul gems."

Jorlin leaned forward, his smirk widening. "Well, that's a problem a lot of students run into. Lucky for you, I happen to know how to get around it."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

Jorlin lowered his voice slightly, glancing around the hall before speaking. "Alright, you've got two real options. First, the honest method—you could go hunting for them yourself. Skyrim's full of them. Ruins, caves, old burial sites. Some of them are still sitting there, untouched for ages. You'd be surprised what you can find just lying around."

Kael frowned, briefly considering the idea. The thought of scouring old ruins for soul gems had its appeal—there was something undeniably thrilling about unearthing forgotten relics in ancient places. But he knew himself well enough to realize he didn't have the patience for that right now. His mind was already set on his next experiment, and he wanted results now, not after days of trekking through frostbitten ruins. "I don't have time for that. I need something I can use tonight."

Jorlin laughed. "Fair point. Not everyone's got the stomach for picking through old crypts. That leaves you with option two—the smart way." He leaned in further, his tone conspiratorial. "You go to Enthir."

Kael's eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard the name in passing but knew little about the man himself. "Enthir?"

Jorlin nodded. "He's a bit of an entrepreneur, let's say. Sells all sorts of things—most of which the professors would rather pretend don't exist. Spell tomes, Daedric relics, black market goods—you name it, he probably has it, or knows how to get it."

Kael leaned back, considering. "Sounds expensive."

Jorlin chuckled. "Oh, it is. Enthir isn't exactly charitable. If you want a decent soul gem, you better have deep pockets. He knows exactly how valuable his stock is."

Kael sighed. "Great. And where exactly do I find him?"

Jorlin's grin returned. "Basement of the Hall of Attainment. He's always there, running his little 'business' in the shadows. Just be ready to haggle. He loves to test people."

Kael nodded slowly, storing the information away. If he wanted to take his enchanting to the next level, he had no choice—he needed better materials. He drained the last of his drink, set the cup down, and leaned forward.

"Alright," he said. "Tell me more about this Enthir..."

Kael made his way through the College, descending into the dimly lit halls beneath the dormitories. The Hall of Attainment was quiet at this hour, the only sounds being the faint echo of distant footsteps above and the occasional flicker of candlelight casting eerie shadows against the stone walls. As he reached the basement, he spotted a Dunmer standing near a table covered in trinkets, books, and other questionable goods. Enthir.

The dark elf looked up as Kael approached, a knowing smirk on his lips. "Ah, another student looking for something extra?" Enthir leaned back, crossing his arms. "What can I do for you?"

Kael didn't bother with pleasantries. "I need a Common Soul Gem."

Enthir nodded. "Filled or empty?"

"How much?"

"150 septims empty, 300 if filled."

Kael scowled, trying to keep his frustration from showing. "I've seen filled Common Soul Gems go for 150 septims, not empty."

Enthir shrugged. "Then go buy one elsewhere." His smirk never faltered. "You either buy it, or you don't. Your choice."

Kael clenched his jaw, debating his options. He needed this Soul Gem, but Enthir was clearly gouging him. This wasn't just about business—this was a game to him, a test to see how much Kael would bend before caving to the absurd price. But Kael had an advantage that most others didn't.

Slowly, he burned brass, ever so slightly soothing Enthir's emotions. He kept the touch feather-light, just enough to nudge Enthir's natural greed toward something a little more agreeable. Too much, and Enthir might sense something was off—he was no fool, and Kael had no idea how well the Dunmer could detect magical interference.

Kael exhaled, forcing his shoulders to relax as if he had simply accepted Enthir's price. "Look, Enthir, I understand supply and demand, but you and I both know this is overcharging. I'm a student here, not some noble dripping with coin. You wouldn't want to drive away repeat customers, would you?"

Enthir's expression remained smug, but the sharpness of his gaze softened just a fraction. "You make an interesting point. Repeat customers are good for business. But—"

Kael pressed the moment, applying just a touch more Soothing to take the edge off Enthir's reluctance. "And if I start buying from you regularly, wouldn't it make more sense to establish a fair price now rather than bleed me dry on my first purchase? That way, I'd come back. I know I'll need more soul gems, and I know you have them."

Enthir tapped his fingers against his arm, as if considering. Kael could sense the shift in his demeanor—not much, but just enough. The Dunmer was thinking it over.

"Hmm. Fine. I'll give you a better deal—225 septims for a filled Common Soul Gem. That's as low as I'll go. Take it or leave it."

Kael fought back a grin. That was a win. He nodded, fishing out the coins and placing them in Enthir's waiting hand. The Dunmer tossed him the filled Soul Gem with a smirk. "See? That wasn't so hard. Pleasure doing business."

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Returning to the College's practice rooms, Kael found an enchanting table in one of the study chambers. The room was quiet, lit only by the flickering glow of the ever-burning sconces lining the walls. He placed a metal bracer on the surface, rolling his shoulders in preparation. This time, he was going to attempt something far beyond what he had done before—compounding Feruchemy with Enchanting.

He retrieved his steel metalmind, turning it over in his hands. This small bead of metal held an incredible amount of stored speed. Taking a deep breath, Kael swallowed and burned the steel metalmind, and the effects were immediate. His limbs felt lighter, more responsive, as if he had stepped outside the normal flow of time. Every motion was faster, more precise. He flexed his fingers, feeling the stored energy coursing through him like an electric current. This was his chance.

With the enhanced speed flowing through his body, he grasped the Common Soul Gem and began channeling his magicka into the bracer. His fingers tingled as the energy flowed, but this time, it was different. He wasn't just infusing raw magicka—he was pushing the very essence of Feruchemy into the object, fusing it with the bracer's structure.

The enchanting table flared with energy, glyphs along its surface glowing brighter, reacting to the sheer power he was pouring in. Kael gritted his teeth, sweat forming on his brow as he pushed harder, flaring his metal-burning while maintaining the enchanting process. The strain was immense—his magicka reserves drained rapidly, his vision blurred from exhaustion, but he refused to stop.

This had to work.

A final pulse of energy surged through the bracer, and then—

It was done.

Kael staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his limbs trembling from the effort. The sweat soaking his collar made the cold air of the study room feel sharper against his skin. He braced himself against the edge of the table, taking in the sight of his creation. The bracer sat motionless, unchanged in appearance, but he could feel it now—an almost imperceptible hum of stored power.

With a shaking hand, he reached out and slipped the bracer onto his arm.

At first, nothing happened.

Then, a rush of lightness coursed through his body. He inhaled sharply as his muscles seemed to wake up, his movements suddenly swifter, more fluid. He took an experimental step forward—and immediately noticed the difference.

He wasn't at full Feruchemical speed, but it was still significant. He estimated about a 25% increase, a permanent boost that required no active metal-burning to maintain. The enchantment had worked. His speed had been woven into the bracer itself.

But something still gnawed at him.

He repeatedly put on and took off the bracer, testing its limits. Each time he wore it, the effect was instant—a noticeable acceleration in his movements. But unlike traditional Feruchemy, he wasn't drawing from stored speed—it was static, embedded into the bracer's structure.

A thought struck him. What happens when the Soul Gem runs dry?

The enchantment was fueled by magicka stored within the gem, meaning at some point, it would need to be recharged. Would the effect remain, or would it be lost completely? If it disappeared, could he restore it just by replacing the Soul Gem, or would the entire process need to be repeated?