"All right, you young fools," the old man barked. "You might think you're hotshots just because you passed the written exam, but let me make things clear. The written exam was just something we created so we don't waste our time with lazy-ass motherfuckers."

"The practical exam is where the real test lies," the old man continued. "You can pass the written exam by studying your books and memorizing the answers, but the practical exam will show if you truly have what it takes to be a blacksmith. You'll be given a piece of metal, and you'll have to temper it 30 times to meet our standards. If you fail, you'll be out of here faster than you can say 'hammer and tongs'."

The room was silent as everyone listened intently to the old man's words. His presence alone commanded attention, for he was a bonafide Three Star Blacksmith, the highest rank in the town of Willow Field. In bigger towns, they had Master Blacksmiths, but here in Willow Field, the Three Star Blacksmith was the pinnacle of the profession.

"As a blacksmith, your skill in tempering a metal plate is critical in producing a quality sword," the Three Star Blacksmith continued. "If you use too much force, the plate will crack, and if you don't use enough, the sword will be dull. It takes a lot of control to get it right, and that's what separates the skilled blacksmiths from the mediocre ones."

Sid listened carefully, he knew that there was more to blacksmithing than just pounding metal. It was a delicate balance between strength and finesse, and he knew that he had to do his best to pass this test.

"Tempering is what gives the sword its strength and durability," the Three Star Blacksmith added.

"The more times you can temper the plate, the stronger the sword will be. As a Three Star Blacksmith, I can temper a plate up to 130 times before it breaks. But for the practical exam, you will only need to temper it at least 30 times to make it passable."

Sid nodded, taking in all the information. He knew that the practical exam would not be easy, but he was determined to do his best to ace it.

"Of course, if you have enough skill, then you can temper it to your heart's content," the old man said, giving a sly wink in James' direction. It was clear that the old man knew James, likely because his father was a colleague of his.

The old man then turned his attention to the other examinees. "But don't be fooled by the simplicity of the task. Tempering a metal plate requires not just control of fire and strength, but also patience and skill. Hammering it too weak would make the sword dull, and too much force would cause the plate to break," he explained.

"Blacksmithing is an art as much as it is a craft, and it takes years of practice to truly master it," the old man continued. "But don't be discouraged. Everyone starts somewhere, and today, you will begin your journey to become a true blacksmith."

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He paused for a moment before adding, "Remember, the number of times you temper the plate is not the only measure of your skill. It's also about the quality of your work. A well-tempered plate is not just strong, but also flexible and resilient. Keep that in mind, and I'm sure you'll do well."

As the old man finished speaking, the examinees nodded in understanding. The practical exam was about to begin, and they knew they had a lot of work ahead of them.

***

The air inside the forge was thick with heat and smoke as the examinees began to work on their high-carbon steel plates. They used the traditional techniques of blacksmithing, hammering the steel and heating it over the flames until it was red-hot.

As they worked, the instructors walked around the forge, watching each examinee closely to see how they handled their tools and materials. They checked the color of the steel plates, making sure they were hot enough to work with.

The examiners watched intently as the examinees began to work on their steel plates. They did not offer any advice but simply observed them.

It was a difficult task and required a lot of strength and skill. The examinees had to be careful not to apply too much force, or the plate would break, but also not to hammer it too softly, or the blade would be dull. They had to temper the plate at least 30 times to pass.

As hours passed, the examiners' expressions began to sour, and the fatigue they were experiencing was starting to affect their work.

"Everyone is getting tired except for James," the 3-star blacksmith muttered to himself, not surprised in the least.

"I think James will be the only one to pass," he continued.

But then, something caught his attention. A young boy was hammering away at the alloy with a smile on his face. The 3-star blacksmith couldn't believe his eyes.

"Who's that kid?" he asked, turning to the other examiners. "He's not even breaking a sweat."

Sid, for his part, felt a surge of adrenaline as he realized that the mysterious object in his pocket was currently aiding him. It was removing all his fatigue and enhanced his concentration.

"Thank you, mysterious object," he muttered to himself, a smile forming on his face as he continued to immerse himself in forging.

"The boy has stamina and determination, that's for sure," the 3-star blacksmith commented,

"but James has the experience and precision."

James had a more efficient technique that conserved his energy. It was a wonder to the other blacksmiths how Sid didn't seem to tire at all, especially when he was putting so much effort into his work.

"True, but the experience isn't everything," another blacksmith countered, "sometimes, perseverance beats talents."

They continued to watch as James and Sid both reached 55 tempers, then 60, then 65. It was a close match, and the tension in the room was palpable.

"I've never seen anything like this before," one of the younger blacksmiths whispered in awe.

"It's a rare sight, indeed," the 3-star blacksmith agreed, "two talented young blacksmiths pushing each other to their limits."

As the clock ticked on, they continued to hammer away at their steel plates, their focus unbroken despite the physical and mental strain.

Hours passed, and the look of exhaustion on both of their faces was evident. They pushed themselves to their limits, their muscles strained, and their energy depleted.

Finally, James' plate stopped tempering at 70, his body unable to continue.

Nevertheless, Sid pushed on, and he was able to temper his plate 71 times, surpassing James' record. However, as soon as he finished, he collapsed on the ground, completely drained of energy.

It was clear to Sid that the mysterious object was not a permanent solution. While it was able to temporarily remove his sense of pain and exhaustion, it was still taking a toll on his body.