Chapter 17

Forging

The two, mother and son headed into the woods. They kept an eye out for feathers, small and large. After several hours however, they couldn't find even enough to fill up a thin cushion. They searched all across the forest floor in the hopes of finding feathers. In the end, they had covered nearly five square kilometers.

Sai had begun to give up. He had wondered what rich city families would use on this world for clothing and bedding. Sai had imagined that they used silk for everything. Sai had given up. They both headed back to the house. The entire trip, neither needed to fight anything. The three and a half year old child did not deter any beasts, but the grown woman with a large spear had. It had grown dark when they reached the house.

Sai was determined that he would find both cotton and wheat for his home when he finished moving the river and working on the house. Although they had collected a small amount of feathers, Sai hadn't collected even enough for a pillow that he could use.

When the two walked in, Lavits was already at the table. Lilith began to cook immediately and Sai began to meditate across from his father.

“Sai, what is the gray colored specks?” Lavits asked noticing a difference in Sai’s energy absorbance.

Lilith turned around as well. “It had always been gold , light blue, dark blue and red, where did the silver come from?”

Sai had never before mentioned his past life nor Orza to his family. They merely thought him to be a genius rather than educated. “That is the element of steel.” Sai was concise, he knew that his father would want to know where he learned it, but he was stuck. He wouldn't lie to his father, but he couldn't tell him about his past. How would his family trust him if they had just found out after nearly two and a half years of talking that he had lived an entirely different life before?

“Where did you learn that?” A surprised voice from the side, Sai’s mother.

“I am also curious.” The deep voice of his father echoed his mother's curiosity. His brow was crumpled. Sai felt as if he were in Scotland yard again being asked who he bought mushrooms from.

“I picked it up. As long as you become exposed to an element you can use it. Magic is all the same.” Sai had answered the exact same way that Orza had explained to him.

“Really!” Lavits jumped up. His eyes were several times brighter. Sai had never lied to them before. So his father believed him immediately. Sai’s mother even seemed very startled at this news. “You must never tell anyone this. Even schools don't know this to be true. If you are able to use any magic then you will undoubtedly have a great future. The head of the school I went to could only use water, wind, and light. He was rich beyond our wildest dreams.” Lavits explained, he looked very stern. He was aware of the rigorousness of entering a school, in fact, he couldn't actually enter, he was an outer disciple, he had only even heard of the powers that the school head had. He had actually not even heard of the school head’s name, he had only heard a rumor of his strength.

“Really? It isn't like this for everyone?” Sai asked innocently. He had truly thought that his father had merely focused specifically on wind magic and his mother on fire magic.

“No, of course not,” Lavits said. “Most people only have an affinity with one, maybe two elements. We were extremely surprised before that you had an affinity with three.”

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“I can use five now including steel,” Sai corrected.

“Five! When we finally get settled in here I'm going to take you to my old school straight away. With your talent toy will become a core disciple and we will be able to save our tribe. Did you hear that Lilith, our son can use any element and he has already started learning five of them!” Lavits was bouncing in his seat. Lilith had completely forgotten about the food and instead just stared at her son wide eyed.

“I didn't know that I was that special.” Sai said honestly. This must be why Orza chose me. He must know that I could use any element. He must also be able to use any element. Sai thought, I don't know what he needs from me, but I know why me. Sai still worried about who could hear his inner monologue, so he continued to protect his mind.

After the shock and awe had finished, Sai began to test out his skill with his steel magic. He knew that t there was steel in the earth, so he first tried it with his shield. He laid one half on the ground feeding more earth into it then extracting steel out into the same shape as before.

It soon became clear that forging with magic was not Sai’s specialty. As a matter of fact, Sai had never forged anything before, he had only read about it a single time even.

Sai had closed his eyes and begun to put all of his strength into it. He hasn't seen as the sky turned bright, nor had he noticed when it darkened again. “What is he doing?” Lilith asked her husband.

“It looks like he is strengthening his shield,” Lavits answered her nonchalantly. He seemed to not put any thought into it as he ate. He knew that his son was fat more advanced than even many adults, his son always had a good reason for doing something, so he didn't worry about it.

By the second day, Sai’s forehead was drenched in sweat, his tiny body looked emaciated. His face was gaunt and his arms were shaking. Sai opened his eyes and they were both bloodshot. Sai looked around and noticed that his parents had also just gotten up.

“What's for breakfast?” Sai asked not realizing the amount of time that had passed.

“Get to the table and I'll fix you something, you must be starved.”

“I am, but I finished half of my shield. The other half will have to wait till tomorrow. I feel like I lost a lot of sleep.” Sai seemed genuinely happy about his shield, but his face only showed a lack of food, water, and rest. Sai was mostly happy because he could feel the steel in the earth now, while he wasn't an expert in forging, he was able to finish a half of a shield.

Sai had left the stone exterior on his shield. He was going to use the extra weight to help boost his martial cultivation. The heavier his shield, the more strength it would take to move it, the more he would have to grow to accommodate for it.

During the majority of the last couple days, Sai had barely gotten anywhere with turning his shield to steel. However, during that time he had noticed a subtle difference between steel and stone. He had realized that he could move iron like he moved stone then he created a small combustion reaction under the ground. Sai knew that steel was essentially forged iron with carbon in it, but he did not know how to put it in. Then, with magic, he had smelted steel. After that, Sai was set. He could move and mold it with a thought. Sai had realized that anything man made, he could manipulate to a degree with his affinity with steel. He just had to make it first.

“Waiting a bit is probably best. You were in some kind of trance for more than two days.” Lavits said, he was worried about his son. The two were just handed plates made of stone filled with meat and vegetables and the berries Lavits liked so much.

“Thanks mom,” Sai was truly hungry, he quickly ate his meal then went to bed. Sai proceeded to sleep for nearly twelve hours. When he woke up, it was night again. Sai had immediately begun to work on the other half of his shield. The second half required much less energy and time. It took only half a day. With his entire shield, Sai used practically all of the iron near his home, there was barely enough left to make even a spoon.

Sai was very excited. He had succeeded in forging a steel shield. He finally felt that his shield was proper, like it was a weapon that one could be proud of.