The days following Daedren’s hypnotherapy sessions settled into a rhythm, though the intensity of the sessions had lessened. His control over the Sus-an Membrane had reached a point where he could now enter and exit suspended animation with relative ease, but the therapy continued, albeit less frequently. The apothecaries insisted on ensuring that his progress remained steady, and so every few days he would return to the cold, sterile chambers of the apothecarion to undergo additional conditioning. It was part of the routine now, though the sessions no longer dominated his existence.

With the freed-up time, Daedren found himself drawn back to the forges, the rhythmic sound of hammers striking metal filling his days with a sense of purpose. The forge was his sanctuary, a place where his mind could focus completely on the task at hand, where the weight of his transformation was less pressing. Steel had become second nature to him now, the feel of it in his hands, the way it heated, bent, and solidified under his touch.

Over the months, Daedren had developed a mastery over steel that felt as natural as breathing. He could shape blades, basic armor plates, intricate components, anything required of him. His confidence in his abilities had grown, but so had his desire to move beyond the simplicity of steel.

The forge-masters, recognizing his progress, began to introduce him to more advanced materials, materials essential to the creation of Space Marine armor and weaponry. Plasteel and ceramite. Though he would not be forging them directly, the study and understanding of their composition was an essential part of the craft. These materials were far more complex than steel, each with unique properties that would challenge him in new ways.

The first material Daedren was introduced to was plasteel, a hybrid of plastic polymers and steel. Plasteel was used in countless applications across the Imperium, most notably in the construction of Astartes power armor, as well as in the fortification of spacecraft and war machines. It combined the strength of steel with the flexibility and versatility of plastics, creating a substance that was lightweight yet incredibly durable.

Daedren’s lessons began with the theory of its creation. Plasteel was not forged like traditional steel, it was created through a complex process of chemical bonding. He spent hours poring over tomes and hololiths, absorbing the intricate details of how different molecular chains interacted with metal alloys, how the heat and pressure needed to synthesize plasteel required immense precision.

The chemical process fascinated him. Plasteel was formed by blending steel molecules with long chains of carbon-based polymers, heated until the metal and plastic fused together. The result was a material that retained the tensile strength of steel but was far more flexible and resistant to heat.

He learned how plasteel was shaped not with hammers and fire, but in vast industrial facilities using injection molding and compressive techniques. Machines controlled the temperatures and pressures needed to form plasteel into armor plates or reinforced infrastructure. While Daedren did not wield these machines himself, understanding the intricate balance between heat and material science gave him a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the materials that surrounded him.

He studied its crystalline structure, how the carbon polymers wove into the molecular lattice of the steel to provide flexibility without sacrificing strength. Each page of his studies brought him closer to understanding the material, someone who could look at a piece of armor and understand every layer of its construction.

Days in the forge were now spent observing the massive machines that synthesized plasteel, watching the glowing metal being poured into molds, the chemical processes taking place under controlled conditions. Daedren studied every detail, the temperature readings, the speed of the mixers, the cooling rates, all with the intent to someday apply this knowledge when it came time for him to craft more complex pieces of equipment.

After mastering the theory of plasteel, Daedren was introduced to the creation of ceramite, the ceramic-based material used in power armor and vehicle armor that provided unparalleled heat resistance and durability. It was said that ceramite could withstand the heat of a plasma gun blast, something no ordinary metal could achieve.

Ceramite was more than just a material, it was a marvel of molecular engineering. Daedren learned how it was created through a process called sintering, where powdered ceramic particles were heated to such extreme temperatures that they fused together, forming a solid mass. This process was intricate, requiring the precise application of heat and pressure, and it was carried out in clean rooms where even the smallest impurity could ruin an entire batch.

The purity of ceramite was paramount. Daedren was taught that the ceramic particles had to be perfectly uniform in size and composition, and even the slightest deviation could cause weaknesses in the final product. The material was created in layers, with each layer adding a new level of strength and heat resistance. It wasn’t just heat that ceramite resisted, it was also incredibly dense, capable of withstanding enormous kinetic forces.

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As with plasteel, Daedren would not be forging ceramite by hand, but the lessons he learned in its creation were vital to understanding the materials he would work with in the future. He spent hours studying the sintering process, learning how different temperatures affected the bonding of the ceramic particles, how the cooling process had to be carefully controlled to prevent cracking or warping. He memorized the molecular composition of the ceramic powders used in its creation, understanding how silica, alumina, and other compounds were combined to create the perfect balance of strength and flexibility.

A couple of weeks passed, and Daedren’s opportunity finally came. One of the forge-master's replacment teachers, a grizzled veteran named Barenthor, who had been keeping a close eye on Daedren’s progress, approached him during one of the observation sessions.

“You’ve been watching long enough,” Barenthor said, his voice rough but not unkind. “You think you understand how these machines work?”

Daedren nodded, the weight of the moment sinking in. He had been waiting for this chance.

“Good,” Barenthor grunted. “Let’s see if you can handle them.”

The older man led Daedren over to one of the smaller plasteel machines, its mechanical arms resting in an idle position. It wasn’t one of the larger forges used for creating power armor plates, but it was still an imposing piece of equipment. Barenthor tapped the controls, and the machine whirred to life with a low hum.

“This machine is for shaping smaller components, plasteel blades and reinforcement pieces. It’s more precise than the larger ones,” Barenthor explained. “Now, take control.”

Daedren stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He had spent months preparing for this moment, but standing before the machine, the weight of responsibility settled over him. He carefully placed his hands on the controls, feeling the cool metal beneath his fingers. The screen in front of him displayed the current temperature, pressure levels, and material readiness.

“First thing you need to do,” Barenthor continued, “is check the material feed. You can’t start without making sure the plasteel is mixed properly.”

Daedren nodded, his fingers moving over the controls with careful precision. He activated the material feed, watching as the liquid plasteel began to fill the molds. The temperature gauge fluctuated slightly, but he adjusted the heat settings, keeping the flow steady.

“Good,” Barenthor said, his voice approving. “Now shape it.”

Daedren activated the shaping sequence, watching as the mechanical arms moved into position. The machine hummed louder as it began to mold the plasteel into the pre-programmed shape. It wasn’t a complex piece, just a reinforcement plate used in smaller armor components, but the precision required was immense. Any slight deviation in the temperature or pressure could ruin the entire piece.

Daedren’s eyes were fixed on the screen, his hands making minor adjustments to the controls as the machine worked. He could feel the tension in the air, the pressure to succeed. Barenthor stood nearby, silent now, letting Daedren take full control.

Minutes passed, and finally, the machine’s arms retracted. The plate was finished.

Daedren exhaled, stepping back from the controls as the machine cooled. The process had been nerve-wracking, but he had done it. The plate, still glowing faintly from the heat, was perfectly shaped.

Barenthor inspected the piece, nodding in approval. “Not bad for your first time. You’ll get better with practice.”

Daedren couldn’t help but smile. It was a small victory, but it was a significant one. He had crossed a threshold, moving from observer to active participant in the creation of plasteel.

The days that followed were a blur of activity. Now that he had proven himself capable, Daedren was allowed to use the machines more regularly. Each day, he would spend hours working with the plasteel and ceramite machines, shaping small components, refining his technique, and learning the intricacies of the process.

Slowly, plasteel became second nature to him. He learned how to manipulate the temperature and pressure settings with ease, how to adjust the material composition to create different grades of plasteel depending on the needs of the project. Some days, he would work on reinforcement plates, while on others, he shaped blades or small structural components used in larger projects.

Ceramite, however, was a different challenge. The sintering process was far more delicate than plasteel molding, requiring an even greater level of precision. Daedren spent countless hours learning how to manage the sintering machines, how to control the heat and pressure to ensure the ceramic particles fused perfectly.

There were failures, of course. Some days, a batch of ceramite would crack during the cooling process, or a plasteel plate would come out warped. But each failure taught him something new, something vital about the materials he worked with. Barenthor and the other forge-masters were always there, offering advice, correcting his mistakes, and pushing him to improve.

Days turned into weeks, and Daedren’s skill with the machines grew. He no longer felt the same nerves when taking control of the forge, his hands moved with confidence, his eyes sharp and focused. He could shape plasteel and ceramite with precision, adjusting the settings of the machines without hesitation.

But it wasn’t just the machines he mastered. His understanding of the materials deepened as well. Daedren began to think about the properties of plasteel and ceramite on a molecular level, how the bonds between metal and polymers, or ceramic particles, could be manipulated to create different effects. He found himself fantasizing about new ways to blend materials, to experiment with compositions that hadn’t been tried before.

As the time passed, Daedren could feel the progress he had made.

But even as he grew more confident in his abilities, Daedren knew there was still more to learn. The forge was a place of endless possibilities, and there were always new techniques to master, new materials to explore.

And even though he missed the camaraderie of the other neophytes, the solitude of the forge began to grow on him. It gave him time to think, to reflect on his journey so far and to plan for the future.