Its an element; enchanters need those to increase the power of weapons
for example this sword: https://www.lordswm.com/art_info.php?id=mif_sword&uid=1109420
you see " modifications (...)" that are the enchantments.
In order to start enchanting you need the blacksmith, which you can build at combat level 6.
(but its very expensive to enchant artifacts)
