Aleyn was once again in front of the smithy, but this time she looked to be in better shape. She had gone back and forth from the blacksmith to the forest and collected Iron and other minerals while accumulating more than 3 Gold and this was her last planned patch of ore. She once again knocked on the office door and got the permission to enter.

"39kg of iron.." Cybil said with a low steady voice after weighting the newest delivery.

"Through out the whole day you've brought back five patches that total to roughly 150kg, that's more than we've gotten in the past two weeks."

He leaned back on his chair.

"I really don't understand what drives you, especially a little girl like you. There's so many ways to gain the means to live as a woman without physical labor."

Aleyn took a proper posture after trying to relax.

"What about you? I don't understand you. You seem rather biased towards women. Do you hate women?"

Cybil's eyes widened and he immediately refuted.

"I don't dislike women, I'm happily married in fact and love my wife."

He paused and sighed

"Though I'll admit that I've probably become untrustful towards women looking to work here. They have a habit of disregarding the amount of work you have to put in for the money."

"Being too biased isn't good for business, imagine if any of the other women who came to you did the same thing I did today for example." Aleyn said while leaning to the arm rest with her elbow.

"You're probably right on that." he scratched his head while avoiding eye contact with her.

"I'm glad you're understand. But why did I start mining while it's taxing and harsh on the body you ask? Exactly because of that."

"What?"

Cybil didn't understand what she meant.

"After collecting wolf hides and training with the bow I felt that I needed to do something to increase my own condition more."

"I went to the adventurers hall and looked through some of the requests and that's when I came upon your request. I had no idea about mining, but I was sure that it would only be good for my body and getting money while mining at my own pace didn't sound like a bad idea."

Cybil looked at Aleyn with a difficult expression.

"Wait.. you wanted to mine because you thought it would be good exercise?"

"Essentially yes."

Cybil stood still for a moment, but then started laughing.

"You really are something. You have a goal or something that needs physical strength?"

She started thinking and said "A goal?" in low voice.

"I don't really have a goal. Eventually I wish to leave this town and adventure but I'm in no real hurry."

The very frank claim made Cybil think for a moment "Maybe..."

"If you're not in a hurry, then I've got a proposition for you."

"And what's that?"

Cybil picked up a Hammer from the floor and placed it on the table.

"You stay here for a while and learn to be a blacksmith from us."

It was time for Aleyn to be surprised yet sceptical. For what reason would he give her such an offer all of a sudden?

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Well, let me ask you. What do you know about the art of blacksmith?"

She took a moment to think.

"Basically, blacksmiths mold metals in to something use able like weapons, armor or tools."

"And that's it?" Cybil asked calmly.

Aleyn shrugged and wondered why he was taking the situation so seriously.

"Blacksmiths forges weapons and armor yes, however there's much more to it."

He picked up the hammer and started started turning it around in his hands.

"I was taught how to work around the forge not here in the mountains, but in the city of dwarves, Dvalfgar. I was taught under a very strict and proud man Camedyr Tin-flame. "

"He taught me many things, but the most important thing that ever he said to me, was his answer when I asked him what makes him so proud of being a blacksmith."

""We use much strength, skill and magic to mold the metal, this makes us strong.""

""We draw from past knowledge and try to find new and better ways to improve our arts, this makes us researchers and seekers of knowledge.""

""We craft weapons which can cut a boulder in half and armor which not even an ogres strength can dent.""

""Which is more powerful to you. A weapon or armor that is capable of amazing feats, or a person who has the knowledge and power to make them?""

"After that speech I saw the profession in a whole new way, the amount of pride he had was not without cause as he was one of the most revered men in the whole continent due to his skills."

He put the hammer back down on the table.

"What I'm trying to say is, blacksmith work has far more dept than "we craft things" and as much as I don't live the life of a proud blacksmith that aims to craft a legendary item anymore it doesn't mean I don't take pride in being a blacksmith."

Aleyn was slightly stunned, as much as she didn't think her first answer was all that there was to it she didn't imagine it to be this prideful work.

"You've got my attention, but why would you want to teach me?"

Cybil smiled and replied.

"Thick skin, puts a lot of effort into work, has a will to improve. I could go on but you seem like a blacksmith to me."

"And you're willing to teach me out of good will? I don't believe that. What would it cost me?"

As much as she didn't feel like Cybil was out to get her, she didn't think he told her everything.

"Well of course I wont be teaching you for absolutely free, you have to get your own equipment and any material you miss use you have to pay for yourself."

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A deal was shaping up and didn't sound unreasonable.

"Well lets say I did take you up on your offer, what sort of a commitment is it?"

"I'm of course making it sound like an easy thing with the "Come learn from us." but no you're right in assuming its not that simple. It is hard work, it takes a lot of patience and stamina just to work with metal for a long period."

"So basically I need to work hard? I've had worse, I'll take it."

"Wonderful, I need to make some preparations but we can start tomorrow. Come early if possible."

He took out a piece of paper and started thinking on things while writing them down.

"You're going to need these."

She went through the list. Everything written down seemed simple to get from the general store and if not she could just order them.

"Until tomorrow then."

They exchanged handshakes, but after Aleyn had left the room Cybil was still in thought.

"That girl sure is something. Even when a deal is stupidly good she doesn't let it stop her from asking for clear details."

He laid back in his chair as he thought to himself.

"If she can survive through the training she will be a force to be reckoned with."

He left his office to prepare and inform the whole smithy about what was going to happen and started planning on how to mold this girl into a blacksmith.

Meanwhile Aleyn was already heading out of the general store with her newly acquired supplies and tools. The list had included pretty much everything from things to wear up to sharpening stones and other tools. She didn't have to spend that much in the end as she bought everything from the list.

It was getting dark. There was no real point to do anything so she returned to the inn with her things and decided to just retire for the day.

After waking up and having her ordered breakfast she had head directly to the smithy. As she entered the house she was met with the usual workers and Cybil who was overseeing everyone working.

She walked up to Cybil who looked like he wouldn't notice a giant approaching.

"Morning."

Cybil didn't break his concentration but replied.

"Morning."

"Am I too early? I can come back a bit later."

She thought maybe the morning was a rush hour period for smiths. It didn't seem like she could be taught much with all of the hassle going on.

"No no, your timing is quite perfect."

"You're gonna be helping and listening to Tavin over there in the corner. He is going to be making some tools and utensils for most of the day. I've already told him you're coming so just go there."

He never even gave a look at her, but the order was clear.

She went to Tavin after changing her clothes to what she had bought yesterday, a thick apron, thick leather gloves and pants and a sleeveless shirt.

He was the Dwarf she had met the first time she came to the blacksmith. He was currently working with some heated Iron rods on the anvil. She wanted to introduce herself but the atmosphere around the smithy felt like no one wanted to hear any of it so she stayed out of the way and observed.

He had just started to make a knife blade and was explaining some typical methods he was using currently. Like drawing, which basically meant to make it longer and thinner by hammering it.

After a while of drawing the rod, it started to shape up slightly.

"Give me a chisel from the wall."

She looked behind the dwarf. The whole wall was filled with tools that mostly looked like they were meant for delicate work, the chisel stood out as the most unrefined tool.

She handed the chisel to the dwarf and he proceeded to cut pieces off of the rod while in turn molding it by hammering. The knife blade at this point was shaping up but it was blunt.

"At this point I need to sharpen it. Hand me a Sharpening stone."

She looked around and found a stone like bar which she handed to Tavin.

"Now sharpening has a few tricks to it, you can start by imagining the whole stone is a piece of wood and you're trying to carve it. Start from the bottom of the blade and carve across the stone while moving through the whole blade."

Tavin swept the blade across the stone for a few minutes. It was a part of the process which seemed to require a lot of patience if anything. In the end the blade had a proper sharpness to it.

"And the last thing that's needed is to polish and clean it. Take a rough rag and do that while I move on to the next one."

He handed the freshly sharpened blade to Aleyn and she started polishing it while Tavin picked up another Iron rod and started heating it in the forge.

The process continued through out the whole day. She helped Tavin make tools and gradually worked up from polishing to actually drawing the metal. She had pretty much grasped the process they worked on for the whole day and at the end she could make the utensils and tools Tavin was making almost independently as he observed her and gave pointers.

Eventually the day was over and it was time to call it quits. However Cybil still wanted a word with Aleyn.

"Nice work today. I kept an eye on you and it seems you picked up quite fast as expected."

"Thank you."

"But that's not why I called you here, I'm going to be heading to Dvalfgar tomorrow so I'm not here for a day or two. The smithy is still going to be working, but you don't need to come tomorrow unless you want to work on the same things as today."

"Well actually I might have something I need to do tomorrow and it could take the whole day. I will definitely come if I find the time though."

Cybil Nodded.

"Regardless, great work. I'll see you in a few days again."