Word: Impervious

impervious

[im-pur-vee-uhs] / ɪmˈpɜr vi əs /

adjective

1. not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable.

   The coat is impervious to rain.

2. incapable of being injured or impaired.

   impervious to wear and tear.

3. incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected.

   impervious to reason; impervious to another's suffering.

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                The wall was a towering structure. Thirty feet tall and half as thick, and perfectly solid. No bricks, no mortar. The wall looked like it had been grown out of the ground instead of built. It was thanks to the many earth mages that had been employed in making the stones merge together around the thick metal core. It was also impressively sized in circumference. It had to enclose an area of land five miles across, well beyond what was needed for the town it enclosed. To give the place room to grow into a proper city was the reason given.

                It looked strong enough to last a thousand years, even without Miles doing anything to it. The problem was that the man in charge of the city wanted it to last longer than the sun. Miles was not sure he could do that.

                “Are you really sure you want me to do this? There are lots of better enchanters out there.” He asked.

                “And none of them are here. You are.” The city lord, Leon Hempwood, said. He was a towering man that looked almost as solid as the wall itself. “But even if they were, I would still put my hopes in you, Miles. I’ve seen your work. Your method is unique and has potential beyond anything I’ve ever seen. That’s why I want you to be the one to make this wall last longer than anyone living in its shadow.”

                The young enchanter was not sure if his city lord was serious or not. But he also knew better than to question the words of a man who could probably kill him by breathing too hard. Miles looked at the words he had written on the wall. The outline of his method of enchanting. Literary Enchanter was an odd class, but he thought it was decent.

                “But shouldn’t I have more time to practice? I mean, I’ve only ever done this with paper. I barely even know how to hold the chisel.”

                “You’ve been practicing stone masonry for two months. I’d say your stonework skill is at least Journeyman rank. That’s more than enough. Besides, we’ve set out so many skill boosters, mana recovery arrays and focus enhancers that even an apprentice could do the job as well as a master.” Leon said.

He waved his arm around. Just as he said, the area was littered with magical boosters that would likely give him the skills of a grandmaster Enchanter and Stonemason. If only for a few hours. And that was even before the additional materials that would be used the seal his work permanently.

“But I—“Miles tried to protest.

“No buts.” Leon said. “You can do this. Everyone that worked on this project believes it. Everyone here knows it. Now get up there and show the world what you can do.”

Miles swallowed a lump in his throat. He looked up at the words again.

This wall shall never fall.

No beast or man shall break it.

The stone shall be as a thing alive,

Any breaks that should be caused shall be healed, stronger than before.

Any that should break it should beware,

For the wall shall bring its wrath and vengeance upon those who do.

And then shall it be repaired, stronger than ever before.

Those who guard this wall shall share in its impervious might.

Those who are protected by it shall take comfort in its presence.

For this wall shall never fall.

Was it the best piece of writing out there? No. Absolutely not. Maybe if he was better at his job, Miles would have been able to make it better. Turn it into a real poem, or even a full story. But it was the best he could come up with after weeks of agonizing writing and re-writing. Maybe once he was more experienced, he could come back and make it better. But for now, he just had to do his job.

 He climbed up on the ladder, up to the first letter. Magical lights filled the area, and Miles felt his skills and magical power practically overflow. He knew exactly what to do. How to hold and use his tools to bring out the most in his work. How to fill each letter with his intent and mana to make the words real. He knew what was needed of him.

Miles set chisel to stone and got to work.