Tizen picked up some ore lying next to the stove and placed it on a grate. He then pressed his hands against the ore and applied mana against it. Weed didn’t really understand what he was doing, till he noticed dirt and other non iron metals drip down through the grate.
Usually whenever Weed had to refine the ore, he would melt it on a pan and then pass it through a filter several times. The more he filtered the ore, higher was the purity level of the metal. To even reach acceptable levels of purity, 70%, he had to refine the ore at least six to seven times. As his level of skill rose in basic and advanced blacksmithing, he was able to use better filters or spot dirt easier. Even then he could never exceed 80% purity level for iron ore; the most basic type of ore. It was even harder to purify some ores which were not iron. Weed initially thought rarer the metal / ore. The harder it was to purify however he even had difficulty purifying some common ores; where purity levels never went above 60%. His research indicated an increase in basic and advanced blacksmithing would eventually enable him to filter better. Weed just accepted his level of blacksmithing as low and never gave it a second thought.
However, Weed was stunned to see Tizen not using any filter to refine the ore. If Weed were to normally melt ore over a grate, he would end up melting the ore, the dirt and the grate. Even if he didn’t melt the grate, he would have definitely melted the ore completely and only a pool of liquid ore would lie beneath the grate. Yet somehow Tizen was able to control the elements in such a way that even though the ore had completely melted, the liquid iron held itself together and all the other dirt slipped through the grate. It was almost as if the liquid iron was spitting out the dirt and refining itself.
When Tizen, finished with the refining, he picked up the liquid iron blob with his bare hands and transferred it into a vessel. He didn’t even flinch a little in pain as he held such hot iron. Weed stared as Tizen’s hands hoping to see the damage, however his skin reveal no change. There were no burn marks or signs of skin hardening. Weed then checked the iron ore; 100% purity. It was shocking, Tizen barely spent five minutes refining the ore and yet its purity was 100%. Weed would spend hours before he hit acceptable levels, and here the dwarf did it in less than 5 minutes. Weed could only stare at Tizen in envy; how he longed to master the dwarvish blacksmithing skills!
Tizen’s demonstration of the dwarvish blacksmithing skills didn’t end there; he then swooped a handful of iron and began stretching it with both his hands.
‘He possibly couldn’t hope to mold that without a cast?’ Weed thought as his eyes grew wider in anticipation.
Once long enough, Tizen then began shaping the iron with his hands. It would become thin where he pressed and curved where he rubbed. It was almost like magic (it is magic), little by little the long gooey metal started resembling a sword. The magic show didn’t end just there. The sword hardened perfectly when Tizen was done finishing it. In Weed’s case, molding was followed by several hours of cooling using both air fans and water. After which Weed would temper the sword several times and then finally sharpen it against the whetstone. Yet once again, Tizen demonstrated the shortcuts of dwarvish blacksmithing.
One would imagine at this point Tizen had completed the sword. At the very least this would be about where Weed would have stopped and appreciated his work. Even though, Weed’s swords already paled in comparisons to Tizens sharp and polished sword. Tizen’s eyes indicated he was nowhere near done. It was a matter of perfection; a dwarf trait. He dipped the sword in water for five minutes and pulled it out, dipped it again and pulled it out. He did this a few more times and then placed the sword in front of Weed; its sharpness had increased. It was also more polished, so much so, one might have confused the metal for a mirror.
“This is dwarvish blacksmithing.” Tizen said as he got up and ended the demonstration. “I used all the four elements; melting with fire, refining with earth, cooling & tempering with air and tempering and sharpening with water.”
Weed held the sword in his hand. It was incredibly light and well balanced.
Durability: 150/150. Attack: 100.
Crafted by a sage master blacksmith. This sword has immensely high attack and durability.
Requirements: Level 75.
Effects: Strength +50, Fame +20, AGI +15, DEX+15,Stamina Regeneration: +0.01
Though the sword and its effects were incredible, there was something that was bothering Weed.
“Master, this sword has no elemental properties…I don’t understand why, I thought dwarvish blacksmithing imbued the weapon with elemental properties?”
Tizen smiled, most students would have overlooked this small detail while staring at the grand stats. “Weed do you understand how elemental properties are passed on to the weapon?”
“…”
“If a blacksmith is fire affinity based, he will have high fire affinity and lower levels in all other affinities. This creates a spillover effect of the fire affinity on the item being forged. That is how elemental properties are typically passed off. Now imagine a neutral blacksmith who is equal levels of affinity in all elements. The elements are in a state of stability (equilibrium). Such a blacksmith will be unable to add on any elemental properties.”
“Does this mean neutral players are unable to pass on any elemental properties to what they forge?” Weed asked as his heart began sinking; he was a neutral.
“Only if all their elemental levels are balanced. Most low level neutral blacksmiths you will encounter will possess equally balanced elemental affinities. However, as you progress, how life influences you, will determine the elements you are more attuned too.”
“Are there more ways to pass elemental properties on to a weapon?” Weed asked cautiously.
Tizen gave a sly smile; the elf was perceptive.
“You have keen senses, elf. Yes, there is another way to pass elemental properties on to an item, though few have ever ventured that far. Once you cross a certain threshold, as long as the elemental affinity is balanced, you can pass off any elements properties that you desire to the item. The one who is able to do so, is usually considered a true blacksmith; a sage master.”
Weed quickly opened the sword info window… “Sage Master?”
Tizen chuckled and left; leaving the young ones confused was most amusing.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Weed quietly stared at the sword Tizen crafted, it was beautiful. No other word could capture its perfection. He sighed as he stared at the swords he had been making; ugly, clunky, unbalanced, brittle…there was no end to the list of problems with them.
Weed opened his profession windows menu;
Professions
- Basic Blacksmithing Profession: (Beginner Level 4 – 15%) – Deactivated Profession: You have learnt a more advanced profession. All bonuses and skills unlocked have been transferred to active advance profession. Bonuses and Skills will not overlap.
- Advanced Blacksmithing Profession: (Intermediate Level 1 – 34%) – Deactivated Profession: You have learnt a more advanced profession. All bonuses and skills unlocked have been transferred to active advance profession. Bonuses and Skills will not overlap.
- Dwarvish Blacksmithing Profession: (Beginner Level 1– 0%) – Active Profession: Master this profession to unlock its secrets.
- Basic Elemental Blacksmithing Profession: (Beginner Level 1– 3%) – Inactive Profession: Enables all elements. Enables elemental spirits fusion stat. Master this profession to unlock its secrets.
Weed’s journey had only just begun. He picked up an iron ingot and began focusing on melting it. He tried to imitate Tizen movement to movement, but to no avail. Dwarvish blacksmithing was a matter of skill and not imitation, Weed’s progress was terribly slow if not considered at a standstill. However, he was determined to push on. He decided to master the four elements before Theodore’s final test; whether he would be able to do so would be an entirely different story.
Stolen story; please report.
-x-x-x-x-x
As the sun began to rise, Weed put away the swords he had been forging. Three weeks had passed in the blink of an eye. He wasn’t sure whether he was hired or not, but in case he was, he would still have to turn down the permanent employment. Weed couldn’t imagine himself spending the rest of his gaming life in front a fire stove hammering away swords and shields. The thought was too morbid for him. As he packed away the last of the ores into the shed, he heard two passer bys conversation who were on the other side of the fence.
“You sure this is the shop?” asked a familiar voice.
“Yes Mark Hyung. This was the shop, I clearly remember it!”
Weed didn’t recognize this voice, but the name sounded awfully familiar.
“This was the very shop where the elf dragged me into and forced me to buy this sword!”
“Elf you say? Twice have we been duped by an elf, I don’t trust them. But anyways, thank you, Michi. The information you provided will truly be beneficial to our distinguished party, the hundred blades of winds. I will be sure to recruit you as a member when we become an elite party!”
“Really Hyung? That would be awesome!”
“I should get Joe and Jeff here…”
Weed had heard enough. He feared that forcing a newbie to buy a sword would have repercussions and now his nightmares came true. He cursed his luck that the newbie chose to complain to three idiots of the winds. They were a huge headache for Weed. He didn’t even want to imagine what a hundred of them would be like. He put on his hood and jumped into the neighboring shops backyard and then crossed over to the next street. He wanted to get as far as possible as he could from Swords and Charms. It was likely, the longer he stayed the more ugly, it was going to get.
Tizen walked into the shop expecting to be greeted by the stupid elves smiling face; however he got a rude shock to see his shop unmanned during opening hours. He checked the backyard of the store. Just in case Weed was packing away his practice material. But there was no sign of Weed anywhere in or around the store. Tizen felt heartbroken, just like all his other students, once they learnt dwarvish blacksmithing they would abandon him without a goodbye or a thanks. He expected Weed to be different but in the end Weed to betrayed his expectations (Betrayal Skill: +1 level).
‘Probably would have fired him today anyways, elves have no talent in blacksmithing.’ Tizen thought to himself as he took out a shield and began polishing it. It would be just him alone in this shop once again…“TING TING TING”
The door bell of the shop rang, at the door stood four human warriors.
Tizen never forgot a customer’s face; one of the four warriors was the one who bought a sword recently.
“Welcome customer! Why have you returned? Have you broken your sword?”
“No..You see about the sword…” Michi began to reply.
“We offer no refunds or exchanges on our purchases!” Tizen angrily interrupted the newbie player.
“No…actually we just wanted to know whether you manufacture these weapons or outsource them from someone else?” Jeff asked as he pushed Michi away. Jeff was a high level player and with high enough fame, NPCs would become more courteous.
“We always make our own weapons.” Tizen replied with a completely different more polite mannerism. “Would you like to see some?”
“Yes, something for beginners.”
Tizen removed a sword from the display. “Only for 44 Silver! Same sword as the gentleman over there bought last time. I even give you 6 silver off.”
Jeff looked at the sword and frowned.
Durability: 10/10. Attack: 6.
A good sword for beginners.
Requirements: None.
“This is not the sword. Michi show him your sword.”
Michi hurried to the cashier desk and with Tizen’s permission, handed Tizen the sword he bought.
Durability: 100/100. Attack: 12.
A highly durable and good sword for beginners.
Requirements: None.
Tizen squinted his eyes and stared at the sword info for a minute. “I know each and every sword in the store, yet I don’t ever remember crafting such a sword or any of my students…”
Tizen paused. He had given up on students and also discriminated against the elf. Never once did he see the elf’s finished product. His hands were trembling…the weapons license grade was a terrible benchmark for talent. A sage master yet so blinded by prejudice! Tizen was bitter towards himself; he had given up on his students and blacksmithing! The elf was a prodigy and one hungry to learn. How he wished he could turn back time and teach the elf more!
“Unfortunately, this is something my student made. He no longer works here.” Tizen proudly replied. He was proud to be an elf’s teacher. “He quit this morning”
“Would you know where this student is now?” Jeff asked impatiently, hoping catch up with the blacksmith and recruit him into his party.
“No.”
“Has he made more such weapons? I would like to buy every weapon he has made.”
“One moment please, I need to check the shed. He might have left some there.”
Tizen opened the shed door and stood in shock. He shout out, “I don’t think you can buy everything…”
In front of him, lay thousands if not hundreds of thousands of swords and shields. Tizen was mistaken, the elf was not only a prodigy but also very diligent at practice…the shop went on to become a very popular destination for purchasing durable weapons for beginners. Players would flock at it's doors all day long to be able to purchase the weapons the dwarf made and while waiting to buy their weapons they would often wonder why was it called “Elvish Swords and Charms” when a dwarf makes them?
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Authors Note:
1. Edited by Knaivvs.
2. I extended the training montage chapter...was going to write it longer...but then decided to speed it up and cover the important points here. So I hope the notes, I use (images below), are good reference for understanding the profession. Please do find errors, so that I may make corrections accordingly.
3.http%3a%2f%2fi894.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fac145...a%2fIMG1.png [http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Siddhant_Saxena/IMG1.png]
4. http%3a%2f%2fi894.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fac145...a%2fIMG2.png [http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac145/Siddhant_Saxena/IMG2.png]
5. A short chapter, but i can finally move past the training >.<
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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo
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