The world of Aragor is cruel and unforgiving those with strength abuse their power and those without are bound to the whims of their betters.

Atop a mountain of corpses stands a lone figure drenched in blood and viscera his long black hair flowing in the wind as he gazes to the heavens and breathes his last breath...

Konrad never had much growing up as the second son of the towns blacksmith but he was happy. His future was set as he would inherit his fathers forge after his passing as the sole male heir of his family. So he spent most of his days helping his father in the forge,today was one such day as he woke early to kindle the flames of the forge in preparation for another day of work it has been 3 years since his apprenticeship with his father began and he was finally ready to forge his first tool.

'Finally after so long today is the day' Konrad thought merrily as his anticipation grew not long after he finished setting everything up for the day did his father joined him in the forge.

"Someone woke up early are you excited for your first craft?" His father asked Bjorn was a tall man 6ft3 with a bulky frame his short black hair and brown eyes marked him as a Northerner.

"Yes! I've been waiting for this moment for so long I could hardly sleep last night" Konrad replied just like his father he had black hair and brown eyes although he wasn't as tall he had room to grow as he was only 13 standing at 5ft7 although he had a more wiry frame.

"Well then we better not dawdle as your mother made me promise not to spend your entire birthday in the forge" Bjorn replied as he started gathering his tools to prepare. Konrad started by picking out the metal he would use and placing it in the hearth of the forge to start heating.

"We're not going to do anything complex for your first time only a simple horseshoe will suffice" Bjorn started as the metal had already turned white Konrad took the tongs and carefully positioned the hot metal on the anvil.

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"Use slow and measured strikes to bend the metal not to much or it will warp thats it keep going till you have the desired shape" Bjorn instructed as Konrad got to working on the horseshoe as the metal started to cool he placed it back in the forge to reheat.

"Now that you have the desired shape its time for the final details" Bjorn said as he observed Konrad working and after an hour of hammering and heating the horseshoe was finally done and Konrad couldn't be more proud as he watched his finished creation.

"That's enough for one day lets go clean up before your mother starts to get agitated" his father said so they made their way to the river behind their house to wash themselves of.It was noon when they finally finished and made their way home to clebrate Konrads birthday.

"I see you finally decided to show up the food has already started to get cold" his mother scolded with a stern expression Cila was a petite woman with a fierce temper so her tone sent chills down their spine,"Sorry darling we got a little carried away in the moment it wont happen again" Bjorn said apologetically with a grimace.

"Happy birthday Konrad" his sister Gema said as he intered the house she was petite like her mother and had the same brown hair and brown eyes as her aswell.and as his mother saw him her expression softenee as she beckoned him closer "Come darling I prepared your favourite meals so sit and enjoy" she said so Konrad and his dad made their way to the table to enjoy their meal.

"Heard an envoy of the Empire will be holding a testing tomorrow for all the boys from the age of 12" his mother shared while the family ate their meal of roasted boar and bread with beans."what are they testing?" Konrad asked curiously while munching on a piece of bread "magic of course the war seems to have no end in sight so they decided to start recruiting younger the bastards" his father responded with venom in his voice while his mother gave him a menacing glare "Language dear" she said with her cold glare as his father choked on the meat he was eating and went into a coughing fit "sorry dear" his father responded meakly.

'Magic huh never thaught about it before' Konrad thought as he helped clean up the table before going to bed.