Dominic and the research obsessed wizard sat across the bench from each other as they double-checked the plans for the magitech orbs.

Those were the first step in the design, before they started to make the shield and alter the magitech circuitry that would let the spell effect flow over the surface and through the user.

"It all looks fine, but we won’t know until we actually make one whether we missed anything or not." The mage finally decided after a few more minutes of final checks.

Dominic nodded and took out a sheet of copper, while the old man took out engraving tools for the both of them.

"Miss Amie, can you make the gems that we need? You have a fine sense for the facets and proportions." The Elder requested.

Amie smiled, and began to channel mana for the gems while the others began carving runes into their copper sheets, which would later bend into the shell of the orbs.

The only issue that Dominic could find was that with an orb this advanced, everything had to be done in nearly microscopic detail, Each rune was tiny, the pathways for the circuitry to link the layers were no more than a hair width wide.

But when the layers were assembled, it all had to line up perfectly, or nothing would work.

The level of precision was even less forgiving than making rifles, where proper fitment of the parts was essential not only for function, but also for accuracy.

Still, the more that he worked on it, using the old man’s magnifying glass to ensure there were no mistakes with the runes, the more comfortable Dominic got with the work.

It was not something that could be rushed or mass assembled like the rifles, it was the work of a true artisan. And not a short project.

The sun had long since set by the time that they had the first of the three orbs assembled, and the old man gestured toward a cot in the back of the room.

"We can sleep here and continue in the morning. But I suggest that we test this orb first, so that we know if we can move on, or if we need the night to think on where we went wrong."

Dominic laughed at the eager tone, despite the man’s knowledge that this experiment might just explode in his face after a whole day of work.

Or worse, it might simply fail to do anything at all.

The first orb that they had made was the Spell Amplification orb, as it was the most complex of the three. Flaming Blade was relatively simple, but needed a precisely cut gem, while the mana collection and orb that would reduce casting cost was between the two in difficulty, and relied on a higher grade but small mana gem.

Dominic gently poured mana into the orb, and smiled as it came to life with a gentle blue glow.

"Well, step one is a success. It activated. Now, to see if it actually works."

"Not an offensive spell." Amie reminded him.

"I do know other magic. Well, some other magic. Why don’t we test it with an [Area Barrier]?" Dominic suggested.

"Area barriers are an option, but not the greatest choice. They’re a bit of a pain to get rid of if the orb malfunctions and causes them to cast outside of your control. Especially when the purpose of the orb is to make them stronger than usual." The old researcher noted.

"Right. A super strong barrier in the middle of the lab would be a real pain, especially when it came time to try to safely remove it.

Dominic sighed as he thought about his options. He really didn’t have a lot of spells, and he didn’t want to cast it directly on himself, in case the spell didn’t work properly.

So he went with the best option that he had left. Clay to Steel.

The difference in the quality of the metal would be enough to tell him if the orb was working properly, and there was little risk to anyone else if it didn’t.

Dominic activated the spell through the amplification orb, and smiled as the metal began to transform. But then it just kept transforming, turning from shining steel to something faintly blue in colour.

"Oh, that is interesting. The orb worked, in a way, but not properly. Instead of upcasting the level, it increased the quality of the spell’s transformation effect. That should be mana steel, the lowest grade of magical steel.

Not as good as the dark iron that you got from the Minotaurs, but a magical metal all the same.

Now, where did we go wrong?" The old mage muttered to himself.

Dominic stared intently at the metal for a few minutes as it stabilized, then back at the blueprint.

"Could this be it? I think that we weren’t specific enough in what we wanted, so the effect might not be reliable. Try yours and see what happens." He suggested.

The second orb activated as planned, and a small clay bowl turned to a rich carbon steel, suitable for the finest of tools.

"Well, that one works. Or could it be random chance?" The old mage pondered.

Then, he picked up Dominic’s orb and tried it.

The effect was the same as his own had been, and then the same again on a third try.

Confused, Dominic picked up the orb that the mage had created, and cast it again.

The metal went from shiny stainless steel to faintly blue mana steel again.

"I think that the problem is with you. It’s not that we weren’t specific enough with the orb for most people, it’s that your understanding of metal quality is different. Try it with an Area Barrier this time, now that we know it won’t do anything extreme." Amie suggested.

Dominic cast the barrier, which looked normal enough to him. But he wasn’t an expert in barriers.

Amie took out a small box with a dial on it, and placed it against the barrier.

"Level eighteen area barrier. It worked exactly as intended. But what level is your base barrier at?" She asked.

"Level thirteen, almost fourteen now."

The old man nodded, then handed Amie the orb.

"Test that."

Her barrier went up, making Dominic’s look frail.

"Oh, nice. With this, my Area Barrier passes the level twenty mark, where there is a step-up in power. Not bad for a level zero unattuned orb."

That step up in power at level twenty had to be a rather significant one, Dominic realized as he mentally compared the two barriers. Either that or his was highly lacking for its level.

Either one was a possibility, given their backgrounds.

The old man shrugged. "These orbs don’t level up, they are based on the level of the spell being cast, a flat amplification that doesn’t attune to the user. You can make one that does, but it’s not this one."

They were also not nearly as efficient as this one, Dominic knew. Even if you did increase the level, it was more of a passive power buff than an increase in casting level.