54. Taking Advantage of Mistakes

Jake reviews Arnold’s meticulous notes on the arcane gloves and realizes a powerful unattuned Crystalized Essence was embedded, yet wasted by attempting to mimic Jake’s unique arcane affinity. Recognizing the Essence’s potential, he commits to a full transmutation using Touch of the Malefic Viper.

Entering meditation, Jake directs the chaotic internal energy, aligning it with his will. After thirteen hours and several potions, he completes the process, upgrading the item to Gloves of Quintessential Arcane Manifestation (Epic) and gaining a profession level.

Jake equips the gloves and evaluates their features: significant stat boosts; storage and rapid release of arcane energy; improved potency and duration of hand-channeled arcane constructs; and greatly increased durability when fed mana. He confirms small but meaningful effectiveness gains on hand-formed skills and discovers a summoning trick to let Explosive Arcane Arrow benefit from the gloves.

Further testing shows stamina cannot be converted as hoped, but glove durability under stable mana is exceptional, resisting his scimitar. Satisfied with performance, Jake ends his experiments.

When Hank and four Fort officials approach, Jake remains in the arcane-soaked meeting room, using the oppressive atmosphere to project power. Hank greets him as Lord Thayne; the others are frightened. Jake offers curt acknowledgment and departs via teleport, reinforcing his enigmatic-defender persona and leaving them to find another room.