With three different scrolls before him Kairos got started immediately. He opened the first to learn the common language of Axis Mundi. Kairos quickly progressed from the alphabets to the different words. He learned pronunciation and the rules of the language to form sentence.

Speed reading through everything, in a few days, he could read and write equally well.

The second scroll taught him the forging techniques common to the dwarves.

Unlike Gaia’s forging techniques which revolves around Stratagems and Runes, Axis focuses on magic spells and Aura.

On Gaia, the weapons are called Engraved Weapons if they have runes or stratagems and higher grade ones are known as artefacts and treasures.

Likewise in the Axis, they are also categorized either as Magic Weapons, Enchanted Weapons, or Spirit Weapon.

Magic Weapons are mainly used by mages to channel spells, like wands and wizard staffs, but it can also be made into the shape of blades and daggers as long as rare magical ingredients are used in the forging.

Enchanted Weapons coats their blades with magic by sealing spells in special magic crystals. The gems do not have to be crushed to release the spell because of the forging method, instead they are refilled using mana. These items are created to be tough to see through the hardest battles.

The last type, Spirit Weapons, are forged from pure silver to amplify Auras but it makes the weapon too malleable for persistent combat.

Technically, spirit weapons can be enchanted or made to channel mana, or even turned into an all-in-one weapon, but because Aura Masters and Aura Knights are only from the human race it is often not practical.

Humans are not particularly talented with spells, therefore magic weapons with their mana-channeling abilities is usually unnecessary and will cost a lot more. Perhaps only the summoned heroes with powerful spells and Aura Arts favour this type of weapon.

Enchanting spirit weapons is also impractical given how soft and heavy pure silver is. Unless the warrior has an Armsmaster Aura or something similar that can protect the Spirit Weapon, it isn’t wise to clash blades with another using it.

Because of this, most Aura Knights and Aura Masters use a hybrid weapon, an enchanted blade adorned with pure silver and magic crystals. Although the aura amplification is dampened, the weapon is tougher and can be coated with spells.

The sword that Kairos made had incredible forging, but it did not fall into any of the three types. When he studied the manuscript he learnt that the dwarves used magic for every part of the process when making their weapons.

After going through the whole scroll, he had memorized everything perfectly and turned to the last.

When he opened the final scroll, his eyes were glued immediately.

The forging techniques he found inside can only be called an art form. Kairos quickly lost track of time as he studied it.

Every part of the process requires vast knowledge, even more so than what Kairos had been doing – and he already believed himself overly particular about the details. The amount of effort to make each part of the weapon interlinked perfectly with the rest is staggering.

There is a list of forging flames made according to their elemental attributes and efficiency.

Incidentally, the Beast’s Flame that Kairos owns – Surtr’s Breath, the Unknown Flame Sovereign – is rated rather highly on the rankings and often a prime choice.

So far, Kairos had only been using his alchemic fire when making pills and yet to uncover its full potential.

Many processes in the forging were also abstract to him. Some terms he could understand, like magnetic fields and electricity inhibitor. But what are Kinetic absorbers or energy converters?

There are components written down that are described to be so small that even his Veritable Sight cannot see, and there are strange forces to be harnessed that he had never heard about before.

Divine Energy, Sacred Light, and Gehenna’s Essence.

It makes him wonder if this forging technique really belongs in a higher realm than here. If Erichthonius is really the son of Hephaestus, then perhaps this truly is a forging technique of the gods.

Days passed as he studied the script. The scroll seemingly can never end no matter how much Kairos turned it.

It was no wonder that the dwarven master took a decade to learn a hundred and eight new forging concepts. Two weeks had passed and Kairos only uncovered three different techniques to hand in. The time is short, but Kairos remained confident. Besides, most of the time was spent on learning the ropes, and now that he is done, he can quickly scour through the scroll for what he wants.

Yet as the time became long, a dubious look appeared on his face. At first Kairos thought that the scroll might be incomplete, after all there are some parts that had been damaged over time and became unreadable.

But as his knowledge increased, he felt that more and more things does not make sense.

…..

During this time, a lot of things had happened.

Outside of the study, the disciples of Edgar Silverforge, Glittersprout and John Doe had already investigated Kairos’ background, at least they tried to do so, but there was too little to work on.

However, they did discover one thing useful. The unpaid tax for bringing alcohol into the city.

The two poured in their efforts to remove Kairos from becoming the eleventh other-race disciple. Or if they fail, at least they can destroy his reputation and thus protect their current influence.

At the same time, things had not been quiet on Gaia either.

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When the Snowdrifts Army moved deeper into the northern reaches, Saint Empire immediately commanded them to return or be deemed as traitors.

Over a month had passed and eight such orders were sent with no reply from Tommy and the group. However, despite the obvious resistance, Saint Empire seemed hesitant to declare them as traitors.

At the same time, the Devilheart family that gave the return order as regent did not involve those allied with the Snowdrifts.

The Northern Cross family, Blue Frost family, Resounding Thunder family, Light Rose family, Angelheart family, White Snow clan, Mountain Cat clan, Autumn Blossom clan, Hidden Blades clan, Dark Sword clan, are all top among the ranks of the Hundred Nobles. The Solitary Blades which is one of the Ten Great Clans is also of similar strength, and perhaps even trickier given that it belongs to the Neutral Faction. Unlike a noble family that is rooted to the empire, clans like the Solitary Blades that avoid joining the political parties can act unexpectedly.

The Trade Federate also openly show their support and announced that the businesses ran by the Snowdrifts will be protected regardless of the result via the merchants code.

To pursue matters too much may cripple Saint Empire and if things get too out of hand, the Devilheart family that caused such a chaos will not be able to escape unharmed.

Besides that, from the three Great Nobles, the Steel Rose family and Dark God family are also involved, and the last group – the Sun and Moon clan – had split into two with the Sun clan taking a neutral stance. Only the Moon clan is supporting the Devilheart family’s position as regent.

Although the Devilheart family seemed domineering as the crown’s regent, they have to properly reconsider before taking on this new massive conglomerate with the Snowdrifts guild at its center. With so much at stake, the Astroire’s mansion remained untouched. Just a couple of villagers working for Kairos, is still beneath the notice of the Devilheart family.

Of course, this did not mean that they will take no action. In politics, those that are not moving will drop out of the race.

The Ku Kang plateau that is protected by Esley Restrio’s army had already handed command to Calculus Devilheart.

He immediately sent Esley back to Saint Empire and replaced the commander with someone from the Devilheart family. Many of his loyal soldiers returned with him and the upper echelons on the Ku Kang plateau had completely fallen under Calculus’ command.

The next thing he did was to form a search team that sweep across the lands looking for the Snowdrifts’ tracks.

It wasn’t difficult to quickly find the direction they headed, and immediately assassination squads struck.

Calculus will not tolerate the existence of anyone who will threaten his position of power, much less a rival group.

Of course, he has already ordered the Dark Hall to destroy all the Soul Slips of the members of Snowdrifts, but unfortunately, the Dark Hall responded that there had been a theft in their storage lockers and all the slips were replaced by fakes.

The Jade Hall’s master, the Yellow Ghost, had disappeared and were nowhere to be found. The ghost’s Jade Slip that was in the Dark Hall master’s hands was crushed and afterwards matters became uncertain. Who stole the Soul Slips and where they are now remained unknown, except that it is definitely done by the Snowdrifts.

Of course, the Yellow Ghost is not really dead. He is very much alive and travelling together with the Snowdrifts because his actual Soul Slip was not destroyed. The Dark Hall had long prepared their betrayal against the Devilheart family. Technically, they are loyal only to the throne and was never truly on the Devilheart’s faction so it should not be called a betrayal.

And according, to the imperial degree by the missing emperor, Galahad Vestimore, the crown now belongs to Relestia; if anything, they are removing the enemies of the throne as the Dark Hall is made for.

Unfortunately, the roots of the Devilheart family runs deep. They are like a gigantic parasite firmly planted upon the heart of Saint Empire, if carelessly yanked out, the entire nation may shrivel and die.

The top strategists of the Snowdrifts, Luciette, George and Kairos, along with their teams of tacticians headed by Snow, discussed in elaborate for a cure.

None of the factions allied with the Snowdrifts want to turn things into a power struggle, every move must be made carefully.

However, the best solution came from the Dark Hall, an unexpected source.

Their three top brains: Dark Hall Master, Silver Ghost, and Gold Ghost, were no help this time. Instead, it was Purple Ghost – master of the Dance Hall - that gave the idea. She asked them why they don’t find a doctor to safely remove a parasite; an outside help that can remove the Devilheart from power.

Pointed in the right directions, the Snowdrifts turned their eyes towards Avalon. The birthplace of Tommy Styrkur.

This day, after a month’s travel, they have arrived.

The valley of kings, the land of demigods, the otherworld. Avalon, a place steeped with myths and legends, and to Tommy… it is home.

…..

The month-long period quickly come to an end. When Kairos stepped out of the study, only Edgar was awaiting him.

The dwarf looked at Kairos eagerly, hopeful that there may be new forging techniques that the boy discovered.

Kairos gave the master blacksmith a smile and then asked for some water and a meal.

Later that night, the two of them sat around a table with three scrolls before them.

Without waiting, Kairos opened the last one that contained the legendary forging techniques and said, “I believe this is a copy of the real thing.”

The dwarf’s eyes grew wide, and then realisation came a second later.

Kairos continued, “It seemed authentic at first. At least it seemed ancient enough, but the concepts inside are too disarrayed and rough.”

“Just like a student’s notes,” Edgar said.

As a teacher himself, he is sensitive to the work of a student. If not for the forging technique recorded on the scroll being too complex, Edgar would have come to this conclusion himself.

The more the dwarf thought about it, the more certain he is.

A lot of the strangeness he encountered while studying the scroll now became clear.

Edgar felt thankful towards Kairos for resolving his problems, but the test must be fair. The dwarf looked at Kairos with appreciation in his eyes, and then said, “About the hundred and eight forging techniques and concepts, even though I am thankful to you, I cannot give you any leeway for your test.”

Kairos nodded. After studying the dwarven’s forging techniques, he knows that spells and magic are used from beginning to end, and having displayed none of that during his first exam, he should be failed.

This place is where the top blacksmiths of the dwarves learn their skills, and not a magic school to teach someone from the beginning.

Yet, because of his performance and his exceptional comprehension ability, Edgar must have felt it a waste to let go of such a talent and thus arranged for this second test.

That is why, to find a hundred and eight forging techniques within a month is demanding beyond the norm, even for dwarves, but the passing bar must not be compromised.

Otherwise, the other students will not be convinced, and Kairos’ abilities will be doubted.

Kairos knew this well, and then he said, “After studying the scroll, I have filled up some blanks, removed the ones that are too incomplete, and remedied the mistakes. Although it is not the original knowledge retained from Hephaestus or his son, it should be usable now.”

Edgar jumped up from his seat, unfurled the scroll and stared at it, only to realise that his copy was unmarked and Kairos took out a fourth scroll.

When the dwarf received it, he looked at it carefully only to stop every now and then to think deeply on it. A smile appeared on his face quickly.

What Kairos penned down is not among the ranks of the divine realm – given that it is a simplified version of the actual celestial forging technique – but it is very close to it and immeasurably more than anyone on the Axis.

After a while, Edgar Silverforge sat back down heavily on his seat. All his boundless energy seemed spent... satisfied by what he had read.

“About the test,” Kairos said, intending to go through all the new techniques and concepts he had discovered, only to see Edgar wave a hand at him.

“There’s no need to care about that anymore. You passed. Incidentally, there are four other masters with four other scrolls: Art of the Master Sculptor, the Metalwork Emperor’s scroll, Doll Master’s Relic, and the Gemstone Dictator’s Secret.

They are records of the techniques from forging masters of the same level as Erichthonius, each specialising in a different area. If I ask the masters to come over, can you help take a look at their scrolls as well?”