Gregor wasn't sure what to say, the human named Richard was weird. He used charcoal, something many blacksmiths stopped using once they found out what firestone did. Not only that, but he put it in the furnace with the iron he gave him. He was going to ruin the iron, Gregor could feel it in his soul. A perfectly good chunk of iron would go to waste. His money down the drain!

However, that wasn't the case. Instead, the iron was fine, and Richard even looked happy at what came out. Gregor could see that it looked a bit different from the iron he was using, but it was still iron. What else could it have been?

Bronze was plentiful, and easy to smelt but not the greatest to use for weapons or armor. Iron was better, and could easily crush bronze equipment. Obsidian was even better than Iron, but it was hard to work with, and not many blacksmiths had the chance to use it.

Between teaching Andy, crafting the weapon, and watching Richard time flew by. Every day Andy went out to fetch them food and something to drink. Gregor planned on letting Richard starve, but Richard paid him for some food. The man only ate once a day, which surely was not enough to live off of. But, Richard never complained or said anything about wanting more.

He also refused to drink alcohol. What respected blacksmith refused a good drink?

Gregor knew that Richard was crazy when he said the alcohol tasted like piss. The drink cost him five bronze tales! Any sane person knew that for that price the drink was on the high end. The most expensive could cost up to twenty bronze tales, but that was reserved for the lord. So, no one in the city truly had a chance to taste it for themselves.

On the sixth of Birghtforge in the year 120 UC, Gregor finished his work. A longsword of perfect proportion. One of his best works to date, and he even spent a week on polishing alone. Usually, he'd just polish it for a few days time then be done with it. It was the worst part of forging, and tiring. The blade was already sharp, so what was the point of polishing it?

But, when he watched Richard work, the man polished his blade for two entire weeks. At that time Gregor knew that Richard was crazy. No sane blacksmith would allocate so much time to that. However, the more Richard worked on his blade, the more Gregor had to give the man praise. His sword was turning out to be a real beauty.

That was something Gregor did not want to admit.

"What's her name?" Andy asked as he watched Gregor finish wiping down the blade.

"Wind Cutter." Gregor said as his eyes focused on the green jewel embedded into the pommel of the blade. It was a request, and one that he was willing to accommodate.

The pommel stood out a bit more than the blade, but anyone who had to face this blade of his would lose. It was sharp and powerful. He hoped the owner would bring glory to the blade and do it justice. It'd be a real shame if the fellow died on the battlefield.

"A good name!" Andy said as he looked over the longsword. He didn't learn much from this build, but Gregor was more chatty than usual so it was nice talking to him. The old dwarf was already in his eighties and grumpy, so it was nice to see this side of him.

On the other side of the workshop, Richard just finished putting the final touches on his longsword. It was one foot longer than Gregor's and a bit wider. He etched an R into the blade just for some flair, while the handle was black, long enough for two hands to grab it along with a silver pommel. Nothing too fancy, but it would get the job done.

Richard grabbed a piece of paper that he used weeks ago and did a cutting test. His sword cut the paper with ease, one straight line. This was good, a fine blade. Not his best work, but good enough.

"Looks like he is done as well." Gregor said as he watched Richard.

Andy nodded in agreement. He was jealous of Richard, the man was truly a blacksmith and the worst part was that Gregor did not even think he was but let him touch his tools in his forge. It sucked, but he held his tongue.

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"How do you plan on judging?" Andy asked.

"I'll know after a quick feel. We'll compare, but since he's bound to complain I plan to present the swords to Lord Kirk and let him decide. He's been in need of a new sword and asked me to make him one. It's what I was going to forge next after this one."

"A new sword? For what, he's inherited the black blade from his father didn't he? That blade's made of Obsidian, what does he need one made of iron for?" Andy asked.

Gregor nodded.

"It's not for him, but for his son. His personal guards have been teaching the lad so he can inherit once Lord Kirk passes on. He doesn't know when, but tensions with Thornhill have been high lately so war is always an option." Gregor said.

Andy gasped.

"We can't go to war! Can we? I thought after the last skirmish with Dustwell our forces have diminished. It's only been five months since then, surely Lord Kirk isn't thinking of going to war again this soon." Andy felt a bit scared at this prospect.

War was terrible, and for him who came so far away from home it was even worse. All the blacksmiths in the city worked until exhaustion, meaning he was worked until his bones ached. All this for little pay!

Every piece of equipment they made and poured their souls into came back as scrap metal. The soldiers never took care of their equipment, leaving it to them. Not to mention the price of food skyrocketed then too.

Surely their food stores haven't recovered so much to allow them to go to war again.

"War? This city is going to war?" Richard asked as he walked over to the two men.

Gregor fanned his hand. "Don't mind the boy. I said it's always an option, not that we are. Besides, that's not something for us to decide and it's not like we'll be called to the battlefield." Gregor said.

Richard nodded once. Seems like he came here at the wrong time. Being caught in the middle of a war in a time like this? Richard would rather not. He's been in one war, and that was enough for a lifetime.

"Here, see for yourself." Richard said as he handed Gregor the longsword.

Gregor took it and studied the weapon. Thinking it would not be anything special, but the more he looked the worse his expression became. From a glance, his sword and this one did not look that different, but he could feel it. Especially in the weight. The two weapons should never be compared to one another.

Richard's bladesmithing was master-tier, Gregor admitted it. Better than his own.

But how? Richard's techniques weren't better than his own. Were they? It did not look as if he did anything different than him. Gregor made sure, he was watching him!

Andy seeing his master's look couldn't help but look at the sword in his hand. Gregor sighed and passed him the blade, and even Andy could see that this sword was better. Was his master even a master? Andy doubted Gregor for a moment but quickly recovered his thoughts. His master was an excellent blacksmith. He knew that the entire city knew that.

Heck, Andy's even heard that from other blacksmiths not in the city. So if they told him that, and everyone agreed, what did that make Richard?

"What sorcery did you use?" Gregor couldn't help but ask.

There had to be an explanation for this. The quality was just too good for Richard not to have done something mystical to this blade.

Richard laughed. "What sorcery? You watched me work, didn't you?" Richard asked, but he already knew the answer. He saw the short man monitor him every day. Richard was used to it, especially when Anitta's mother, Valery was little. Valery used to watch him work all the time. Even Anitta did.

Thinking about them for a moment, Richard wondered what they were doing. Would they be sad that he was not around anymore? Maybe, he wasn't so sure. Was his body even there still? It's been so long now that he almost forgot he was in another world.

Whatever, they'd just file a missing person's report if his body vanished. If not, then oh. Anitta was going to visit him. If Richard was dead in the other world then... oh god. He hoped she wouldn't be the one to find him, but out of anyone that was bound to visit him Anitta was at the top of the list.

Gregor was watching Richard, and that is what bothered Gregor so much.

"You can have it if you want. It's good, but not my best work." Richard commented, but he didn't sound as cheerful as before. Almost sad.

Now Richard was just throwing it in his face. This behavior was shameless, but Gregor found it acceptable. Richard should be proud of his work, and show it off. Gregor would do the same!

Gregor doubted any of the ten master smiths that lived on the continent could contend with Richard's work. He should know, he used to be the student of one!

"I cannot accept this!"

"If you can't I will!" Andy commented as he hugged the blade.

"It's fine, really. You let me use your workshop, so call it even. If you really want to, you can pay me five silver for it."

"Five silver?" Gregor asked.

Richard nodded.

"That's too little." Gregor said.

He had to think about this for a bit, but he finally decided. There was only one thing he could do.

"You said you were new in town yeah? That means you don't have a place to live, do you?"

"No, I don't."

"Alright then." Gregor clapped his hands together creating a thunderous boom that pain Richard's ears. "I know just what to do. Andy watch the workshop, I'll be back. Richard, follow me." Gregor motioned for Richard to follow him.

Before he left Gregor grabbed the sword from Andy, and his own creation.