Reaching the furnace, Artanis clasped the old rusty blade with the thin, yet long tongs she had picked on the way, the only tool which looked light enough for her to wield with ease. The small blade shoved inside the furnace was engulfed by its flames, which slowly changed the metal's color, from a rusty brown to a bright cherry red.
Droplets dripped from Artanis face, slowly following her body’s curves since she was not accustomed to this kind of heat. The blade at the furnace, once again changed in color acquiring the orange-yellow tone she desired. Noticing the change, she pulled the blade off the furnace and moved it into an anvil.
For a while, the sound of a hammer clashing against metal was the only sound that could be heard inside the workshop, aside from the crackling of the flames and its inhabitants' breathing.
Wystan observed it all from a safe distance, close enough for him to be able to help her, should she commit a dangerous mistake. But far enough for him not to hinder the progress of his newest project, the training of his new apprentice Artanis. Since rarely an elf showed interest in his craft, Wystan was interested in what kind of objects that would be made by this elf lass hands in the future.
"It’s finally done!" Said Artanis after having struck the blade countless times, creating sparks each time the hammer borrowed from her master clashed against the blade.
As she saw the blade’s color returning to a faint cherry red as it cooled down, Artanis immersed the blade at water bucket, conveniently placed near the anvil.
As she did so, steam rose from within the bucket as heat left the blade. When Artanis pulled it out from the bucket, instead of the brown, rusty blade she had started with was a dim metallic grey one. While she observed her work, a system message appeared before her.
You have learned the skill: Repair.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:RepairBasic10%Enables you to repair weapons and armors, the use of proper tools improve its effects. At Intermediate Lv. 1 enables the learning of Blacksmithing
‘There’s one last thing to do.’ Thought Artanis as she took the iron blade towards the whetstone wheel, copying the actions her master had done before.
The iron blade being ground against the whetstone caused sparks to fly, as the friction between the blade and the stone thinned out both, making the blade sharper with each passing moment. With great care, Artanis grinded every inch of the blade, when she finished doing so she received another system message.
You have learned the skill: Sharpening.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:SharpeningBasic10%By the use of a whetstone, a bladed weapon can be sharpened increasing its attack power, higher skill levels further improve its attack power increase as well decreasing the durability loss from using this skill.
Having used an high-quality whetstone when sharpening, its attack receive an extra increase of 5%[/b]
“Let me see it.” Said Wystan inspecting the blade’s every inch, as slowly a smile formed in his face, due to her having done a proper job.
“There's much room for improvement, but I’d seen worse.” He said, handing the blade back to her before pointing to the stack of rusty and damaged weapons, shields and armor at the workshop’s corner.
“Feel free to practice on any of them. As long there are no customers in the shop.” He then pointed towards the store's counter; on top of it rested a small notebook.
“On that book is the price of all the store wares, remember to greet each customer properly.” Having said so, he went towards the stairs on the workshop's back leading to the store's top floor, which he used as his house.
Artanis decided to continue her practice, picking a copper shield from the damaged ware's pile. The shield was not rusted, but its deformed shape made it look like something heavy had danced over it.
So, she guessed all that it needed were a few hammer blows to return it into its proper shape. When Artanis finished restoring it to its former shape, it still looked rather dirty and old. So she grabbed a nearby rag and carefully polished it. Receiving yet another skill, which would normally only be learned after acquiring higher craft skills levels.
You have learned the skill: Polishing.
Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:PolishingBasic10%By slowly polishing an armor, a clean reflective surface is created, which in certain situations can be used to confuse and dazzle enemies. Increasing its defensive power, higher skill levels further improve its defensive power increase, as well as making its clean appearance last longer.
She kept working for hours, repairing, polishing and sharpening a third of the damaged equipment pile, which increased her repair to 4, her polishing to two, and her sharpening to three; as well her strength by one. Having finished the repairs of a bent iron breastplate, she polished it, causing both of her skills to rise at nearly the same time.
Repair skill level increased to basic level 5.
Polishing skill level increased to basic level 3.
"Artanis, come here." Said Wystan opening the workshop's door and calling her over to the shop, where she received a basic training of how to run the store.
Left alone by Wystan, who wanted to rest upstairs where he lived. Artanis training was soon put to test as the bell attached to the door ringed as it was pushed open.
“Welcome!” She said, to the customer who had just entered the store, with a bright smile on her face.
Being welcomed by a beautiful elven girl, whose pleasant voice and advantaged physical attributes, made the young human male who had just entered Wystan’s store blush immediately. Sadly for him, that came at a price as an also human female entered the store a few seconds after him. And noticing his cheeks and blank expression, decided to punish him with a quick jab on his back.
"Dear, didn't you say this shop's owner was an old man?" The girl asked with a face clearly showing her displeasure with her boyfriend, who was nearly drooling over the shopkeeper. He had promised to buy her a present for her birthday, which was today and to fulfill his promise, they had came to Wystan who was known as the most expensive blacksmith store in the city of Rockheim.
Although his wares were among the most expensive, save for some sold by traveling merchants, their quality surpassed anything sold in other NPC’s stores. In fact, their quality also surpassed almost anything made by many players that lived on Rockheim, which like it name implied housed many rocks and minerals along its borders.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"I swear, last time there were an old man tending the shop." He had come here once before, after having cleared a difficult dungeon alongside his guild. Having decided that his old iron sword, the reward for his effort in the completion of the basic sword training, was beneath his skills.
"I was recently hired by the owner." Explained Artanis after seeing the costumer’s confusion, hearing her explanation the young man’s girlfriend spoke.
"Is that so?" She said looking at the elven maiden. From her platinum long hair, and lightly tanned flawless skin, to the tips of her toes.
‘She clearly edited herself.’ She thought as to protect her pride, it was quite clear to anyone who looked that elf before her was a player. The proof being her clothes, anyone could recognize that ugly looking traveler's garb. Since she had until not long ago, used the same dusty rags as a beginner.
"We are looking for a weapon." She said wrapping herself in the young man's arm, Artanis wondered how old that woman was, but knew better than to ask.
Just like Artanis, she used to be a poor beginner. But that changed during a hunting expedition to the nearby mountains, which had been infested by orcs. During the clash she stumbled, one of the orcs warriors seeing it went to kill her, only to be cut apart by the man now beside her.
"What kind of weapon are you looking for?" She asked, her smile giving a warm and yet reliable look, courtesy of her time working at a nearby Burger Queen restaurant to raise funds for a school trip to Rio de Janeiro. Having received proper training, this kind of work was far from difficult to her.
"Her strength is rather low, so it cannot be heavy. Oh and she like daggers, a light dagger would be perfect." And if possible, the cheapest thought the young lady’s boyfriend. The girl beside him nodded in agreement.
“Then how, about this one?” Said Artanis as she grabbed the most expensive looking dagger she could find, showing it to the couple.
"That's perfect!" The girl screamed. Having seen the beautiful dagger at the elf’s hands, her eyes shined. The dagger had a gleaming rose shaped silver guard and at the guard's base, were a straight blade with edges that resembled thorns of a rose. Seeing it, the young male started to worry about its price.
"It costs 130 gold, but thanks to your fame I can sell it as low as 122 gold." Said Artanis, her smile seemed to shine even brighter.
"Wait, wait. Shouldn't you at least check its stats?" The panicking young man said, in an attempt to stop her from buying it. Not pleased with the prospect of expending so much money, he sincerely hoped for it to be something she couldn't equip, effectively forcing her to pick something cheaper.
"You’re right my dear, it was so pretty that I had nearly forgotten to do so." Hearing so, Artanis brought the dagger closer towards the customer, who started inspecting the dagger.
The couple left the store; the young man's pouch lighter by 122 gold holding back his tears as the dagger had great attributes, making it impossible for him to prevent its purchase.
Having no other clients to attend Artanis closed the store, after waiting for hours for another customer to arrive, but none did before the store's closing time arrived.
After locking the store's door Artanis, returned to her training. Unknown to Wystan, or the couple which had came before, inside the store’s counter drawer laid a dark secret, in a small notebook the price of the silver rose dagger was listed, just 98 gold coins.
The ringing sound of metal clashing against metal was heard, the sound came from a hammer held by a beautiful elf, which currently was hitting a blazing sword’s blade. After just a few more hammer blows, she immersed it in a water bucket.
It had taken her hours of work, but finally, Artanis had repaired the damaged pile of goods left on at the workshop's corner, the long sword blade now held by her being its last piece.
Strength has permanently been increased by 1.
Repair skill level increased to basic level 6.
"Artanis, are you busy?" Edward asked, using Gold Tree's guild chat channel. After the meal at Rock Soup, he had set to Roald Halstein's Public Library, to research about a tip he had received after the completion of a certain quest at this city's magic guild.
It seemed to be a simple task, having done the same task a few times before; sadly, contrary to his experiences it had proved to be far more difficult than he expected. After Six hours of constant reading, he had made almost no progress.
Edward had come to this city alone to deliver a book he had found among a pile of stolen goods inside a bandit's lair, near the town of Eldgad, about a week worth of travel by horseback from Rockheim's north gate. The book marked as propriety of Rockheim's magic guild; gave him a quest to return it as soon he picked it up.
That was how Edward ended in his current situation, having no one to ask for help, he was nearly giving up. That is until he recalled the pretty elf girl he had recruited earlier today.
Perhaps she could help him, he thought while secretly hoping to see her again. Edward was after all not opposed to being in the company of eye candy, even if her presence might distract him from his task.
"Not really, do you need something?" Replied Artanis, since she had no customers, or something else she could repair.
"Is that so? Would you mind helping with my research?" Asked Edward, since Artanis enjoyed reading to a certain extent, although her grades were at best above average. She had no reason to refuse.
"Are you at the library?" At the real world, something like a libraries and books was considered relics of a bygone era.
Being replaced by tablets and e-readers. That had become so cheap that the act of printing a book had become meaningless, since rather than printing a dozen of books hoping for them to sell, one could publishing a book in a digital format which were cheaper and more profitable.
"Yes, at a reading area at the library's back." Said Edward while flipping another page of the book he was currently reading.
"I will see you soon." Said Artanis, climbing the stairs to the workshop's second floor. There sitting by a sturdy wooden table Wystan was drinking a mug of coffee.
"Need anything?" He asked. Normally he would have offered her some of his beverages, but all he had was the half drank mug he was holding. Approaching him Artanis started talking.
"Excuse me Wystan, I was wondering if you would let me take a break from work, I still have to take that sword back to its owner." Said Artanis, since she had yet to finish the quest given by Hilliard and doing so was one of her objectives. Hearing that, he left the table and downstairs opened the drawer built into the store's counter, grabbing the book inside reading it.
"Here's the payment for today's work." He said handing her a handful of coins, 98 silver coins in total, her commission on the sale of the dagger.
<<< Last ChapterTable Of ContentsNext Chapter >>>Spell Checked