It had been a few thousand years since the devils had caused problems in the world. Due to this there were not many records on how to deal with them or what sort of powers they had.
What was known was similar to legend or myth instead of fact. The records that were left attributed monster tides, natural disasters, mind controlling nobles, horrific soul-destroying spells and all sorts of other powers to them.
They couldn't be certain that a blessing would help defend against the devil, but it was a good place to start.
And if those defenses were never needed then that was even better in Gregory's mind.
Chronos decided to use what time remained to try and turn [Isolate] into an enchanted item that he could give to his friends. He wasn't sure if it would block mental magics or soul attacks, but it had blocked everything else he had thrown at it.
Maybe his bloodline power could protect them better than other magics, maybe that was why the tears petrification didn't work on him? His bloodline might block the tears power using instinctive spatial magics.
Either way he first needed to learn more about enchanting and the merfolk singers often used enchanting to enhance their magic.
Making his way through the camp he asked around for the craftsman's quarter's only to find that it was back in the inner camp. After arriving at their quarters, he started asking for an enchanter.
"Excuse me is there a skilled enchanter here? I would like some advice about a rather unique form of magic."
"If you're another one of those idiot orca's than get lost!" Came a voice from a nearby tent.
Walking over Chronos yelled back, "Not an orca, just an idiot wolf. Do you have a moment to speak with me?"
A mermaid stuck her head out of the tent flap to give him an appraising look.
"At least you don't look like you'll argue with me. What do you want?"
As she stepped out of the tent, Chronos noticed several belts adorned with shells, each radiating a distinct elemental power. He knew at once he had found a truly skilled enchanter to converse with.
"Thank you for hearing me out. What I want to do is turn my [Isolate] bloodline ability into an item that my friends can carry. Is it possible? And what sort of problems can I expect to face when trying to make it?"
He cast an [Isolate: Shield] for her to examine, as she looked at it, she became more excited with each second.
"This is going to need experimentation. How long do you have?" She asked as she brought him inside of the tent.
Inside was a large harp that had runes moving over its strings gently plucking a tune at a sword on a table in front of it. Next to the sword was a scribe stylus made of coral with a tuning fork next to it.
In a corner of the room was a rack with several similar swords on it and next to the rack was a large hand press that seemed to have a preset enchantment on it.
"I'm Chronos it's nice to meet you and we leave at noon."
"Aelira, head of military enchanting, this ability of yours is spatial in origin? Are you able to change its size or shape? What else can you do with it?"
This was the beginning of a series of experiments that lasted for several hours before they realized how difficult doing this really was.
"It's not possible, not with the materials we have here." Aelira stated.
"Are you sure? We could do a lot with even a minor control over space." Chronos pressed.
"Look I'll explain it one more time. To make an enchanted item you need to possess the elemental affinity of the enchantment, know the spell or technique you want to enchant, and have a material that can remember the glyphs or runes applied. The first two requirements are a must have but the third one can be replaced with an item that has structural harmony.
You have the affinity and know the spell but there is no material in this camp, and maybe not even in this entire swamp, that can hold a spatial enchantment. That means that we have to know the structural harmony to build an item that can hold your spell, which we don't know.
And that's not even considering the step-by-step methods you need to learn to place the enchantment. Honestly, I don't think it's possible to learn the structural harmony necessary for spatial magic even if we have an entire year."
Chronos' eyebrows knit together, "Is it really that difficult to learn the shape we need?"
"When I was younger, I had the opportunity to do some repair work on a teleportation platform. The core was a void pearl that had a strangely twisted metal loop around it, that loop was called the infinity loop and it could channel energy in a constant circle without end. Even though I saw the loop myself I'm not sure I could recreate it.
Spatial shapes are incredibly difficulty to create; without proper training or special techniques it won't be possible to make them. If you really want to turn these spatial powers into enchanted items, then you need to become a full enchanter. I don't think anyone could teach you how to enchant spatial magics." Aelira said.
"I see, we don't have time for that right now. Once the war has calmed down, I can start studying but until then I'll just have to do my best. Thank you for teaching me today." Chronos bowed as he left the tent.
He made his way to the sealing theater to meet with the tear team. On the way he bumped into Gregory who was leaving the priests area.
"Hey, find what you were looking for?"
"Yeah, they sent me back with a whole load of necklaces for Varkesh's team. Here take one."
Putting on a necklace Chronos could feel magic settle around his head like a helmet, but it was too faint for him to tell exactly what was done.
As they approached the seal theater, they could see 30 orca guards standing at attention and waiting for orders to enter the tear. Beside them were 10 singer's and 10 deep priests looking over the materials they believed would be the most useful within the tear.
Captain Varkesh was standing in front of them giving a short speech about what they were going to do and what they could expect within the tear.
Sariah and Lyla were both standing off to the side waiting for them.
"Chronos, Gregory, you almost didn't make it in time."
"We've still got a few minutes; besides I thought we were going to eat lunch first?" Chronos said.
"We are but the merfolk are bringing us a military lunch. We'll only have 15 minutes to eat before we leave." Lyla responded.
"Better pass out the protections first then." Gregory walked over to Captain Varkesh and waited for him to finish instructing the troops.
Turning to Gregory, Varkesh motioned for him to bringing the box over.
"Men we don't know what sort of powers the devil has so the priests have prepared protective necklaces to defend against everything they could think of. Take one and pass the rest to the person behind you."
"Yes, sir."
As the singers took a necklace, they shook their head a little when they put it on. Apparently, they could also feel the magic settling around their heads just like Chronos but only Gregory could sense it amongst his friends.
Warriors had weaker senses then magic-users making it difficult for them to feel magic that was already cast.
Lunch arrived just as Varkesh finished going over the emergency plans for if they met a devil.
It was rather luxurious meal with silverfin broth infused with spices he was informed were sacred to the merfolk. The deep priests said that the meal was called The Deep's Final Blessing and that it helped strengthen your spirit as a traditional military meal.
Chronos didn't know if that was true, but it was delicious and he felt much better after eating it.
Once the meal was finished Varkesh shouted for attention.
"Stand at attention! You will now be blessed before you enter the tear. Enter in groups of three and do not separate from each other until all of your brothers arrive. Forward march!"
With that all of the troops stood in line as the priests cast a blessing on them three at a time, stepping forward they touched the tear and vanished. After ten castings the orca guard were all inside then the singers entered next followed by the priests.
Varkesh had entered with the first three to secure the area and the last ones to enter were Chronos' group.
"Everyone ready?" Looking at his friends they all nodded with excited expressions.
"Then let's go in." Touching the tear Chronos felt a pulling sensation despite standing still.