Chapter 18: blacksmith

Fang walked towards a seemingly small Simithy, upon entering he found a small human boy sitting on the counter almost falling asleep. Ignoring the boy Fang looked around the shop inspecting the quality of the various weapons. To his surprise they were top quality goods some even comparable to his father’s works. Of course they were also made with lesser materials such as ordinary iron.

Upon further inspection Fang also found plenty of copper spears. Seeing that the quality was good and the smithy was small Fang decided to look around and see how the place worked, if possible having a sword made for him here would also help in his research into making magic tools comparable to the artifacts that others made using rare materials. Walking up to the sleeping human boy Fang knocked on the desk. The boy was startled as he had not noticed Fang come in and almost fell off his chair.

“ wel… Welcome to the Forged Boar. How can I help you?”

The boy stuttered at the start but presented a professional front once he regained his composure.

“Yes, I would like to see your smithing process if at all possible or have a copper swords do shield made by the master smith.”

The boy was about fourteen years old and had been working in the smithy for six years now but this was the first time someone asked to see their smithing process.

“... I'll have to ask master Dan, he is the smith. But the first request is unlikely. Wait one moment.”

The boy quickly ran off to explain the request to Master Dan. While waiting Fang continued to look around the storefront and found a spear made of copper that would be just the right size for him, normally these would be used as javelins but to him it was a good sized spear. Thrusting it a couple of times Fang nodded to himself thinking that this would also work for what he wanted. After only a short amount of time an old dwarf came out from the back looking upset.

“Boy do you know what you're asking?”

Fang looked at the dwarf and nodded.

“Yes.”

With just this one word the dwarf looked even more irritated.

“Children these day know nothing. Boy you're asking me to give up my secrets for what money? What I do and how I do it is more important to me than any amount of money.”

Fang nodded in understanding he would also feel the same way, giving up secrets and his methods simply for money was pointless. But in the first place Fang had no money as his parents never really gave him an allowance. Instead he came with something more important. Reaching behind his back Fang took out an ordinary piece of paper.

“Master Dan this is something I mad, but I need to know something. Can you use fire ki?”

The old dwarf, Master Dan looked confused but nodded while looking at the paper in Fang’s hands wondering what the child could possibly have. Without hesitation Fang threw the paper towards Master Dan while speaking.

“Please fill it with small amounts of fire ki”

From what Master Dan knew that would just burn the paper but as he did so the ki was being redirected without his control. As it moved about the paper it began to unfold and straighten, in the end it was perfectly flat.

“More ki.”

Listening to Fang Master Dan inserted more ki slowly, as he did so a small ember began to burn an inch above the paper. Master Dan was surprised from what he could tell the sheet of paper and the ink used to draw on the various arrays were just normal. There was no way he could mistake that but despite this it still produced the effect of a forged artifact.

“... Boy where did you get this?”

Looking at Fang who had handed him the old blacksmith couldn't help but be shocked. Seeing his expression Fang smiled.

“I made it. I've been working on a way to make new artifacts. And with some help I wanted to incorporate stronger spells into weapons and armor.”

Looking at the paper in his hand then back at Fang Master Dan seemed to have a complicated expression.

“Boy what your doing is for one unheard of and two ridicules. But if you can for something like this I'll give you all my secrets. Follow me to my forge.”

With this the two entered the back along with the fourteen year old boy who closed down the shop.

“That's my assistant and clerk Faren… Boy after I tell you everything there is to my skill I expect some compensation. But first what's your name?”

“Fange Fae… I'm going to set up a location outside the city”

Master Dan stop walking upon hearing Fang’s statement it was obvious from that that what they were doing would need to be kept secret and out of sight but he believed that that would be easier to accomplish by hiding in plain sight. Regardless first he would show Fang his smithing skills.

Four five hours Fang watched the old dwarf smith a copper sword with his greatest skill. Normally copper weapons were rather soft but the one made by Master Dan was different. The process was similar to making Damascus steel with many folds but each were made in perfect locations to creat a stronger frame, in the end the copper sword could match and average steel sword.

Seeing the process Fang had a great idea if the enchantment of the object could be added during the process and lined thigh out the interior then I would make it close to possible for anyone to research his techniques as the exterior would seem rather ordinary all that was left to do was teach the old dwarf the arrays and have him inject his ki into the metal during the process while simultaneously applying ki infused ink to the sword at the right moments to have a perfect core with and enchantment.

The only issue was that although this sounded easy it would be incredibly difficult and it even took Fang who had almost perfect control of his ki and East’s mana a week to master this for a simple spell like ember. Regardless however he was willing to try and teach the old dwarf how to craft artifacts.

“Okay then I will teach you how to make artifacts and set up something outside the city.”

As he said that he took out his eraser he journal that contained plenty of half truths.

“This has a lot of my research but since it’s late I'll go prepare a location and then teach you the whole methods tomorrow.”

Master Dan looked somewhat dissatisfied but reluctantly nodded while taking the book, the only reason he agreed was because it was unlikely that the child was a skilled blacksmith that could recreate his technique after seeing it once. Even if he knew the theory behind it, it was not something that could be replicated in one generation.

“Fine boy but be back here by morning tomorrow.”

With that Fang quickly left and headed to the city gate he planed to find a hidden and secluded area where he could set up a smithy to begin forging new artifacts. Of corse he would have Master Dan do the forging as he had no experience.

‘Look for an out of the way cave but not a high one something more inconspicuous.’

Following East’s instructions Fang found a nice spot at the face of a cliff, because it was covered with bushes it was well hidden and with Earth magic he would be able to creat a nice location for a hidden forge. Now he needed to prepare everything in a similar way to what was found in The Forged Boar. First however he had to make a cave and side rooms along with ventilation while keeping everything hidden.

Luckily this was accomplished quickly in only two hours through the use of a large amount of earth elemental mana. Sadly however this was all that could be done at the moment because East was feeling drained and hungry.

‘Master let’s eat after that you can come and finish the rest should be easy.’

Listening to her the two ended up finishing everything rather late and Fang was scolded by his mother for not showing up to eat dinner at the correct time. After hearing his reasons however she approved of his thoughts and actions as long as he informed her before hand.

With his mother’s approval which he had forgotten to get before hand Fang left early the next day to find Master Dan and take him to where he had completed the forge. Three people and one mana beast stood inside the new forge.

Master Dan was impressed that it could be made so quickly but didn’t ask any further on how he had done so. Without and hesitation he asked for the explanation of the note’s that Fang had given him.

“Boy I read all the note’s you left and although it has a feeling of being complete I can tell the most important parts are missing along with anything that would lead you to finding anything significant. Now explain everything.”

With that Fang explained the process and how it would have to be done. Master Dan was excited as he had a new project and even stated that his old bone were jumping with joy. Regretfully the first couple of experiments ended in the stomper meant for forging being destroyed when the ink was added.

Because copper contained small amounts of earth elemental mana harmonizing it with fire ki would not be easy. And seeing as neither had earth k they could only preserver.

The small assistant boy was worked harder than ever that day as he had to bring all the materials and keep the forge burning. In addition to that because Fang wanted to use mana beast blood as ink the process would not be done until they could harmonize everything. But this would be a later step when the old dwarf bettered his skills.

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While Fang was preparing everything many bandits, along with Lesser and his group of seven, we're waiting in a large courtyard.

“Greetings I know many of you have reputable statuses but today I ask that you work together and help this kingdom and for that many of you may die.”

Up till here Lesser had stopped paying attention he already had the information he needed on top of that he could sense Luna’s presence from where he stood all that needed to happen now was instruct his newly trained seven warriors to take the child in her home.

During this whole time he was also thinking of an adequate place in which he could start a fight with her. The city was out of the question as many incidents would get caught in the cross fire. Then a nice spot outside was the next best thing.

(Author's note: so this chapter is kinda short and well yea the next one will be better and more things will happen also if you could click on this link http://royalroadl.com/fiction/6227 then I would be greatful it's fun and has longer chapters although it's only a prologue and chapter 1 anyway thanks for reading.) :)