In the northern city, a workshop was embedded into the cliffside at the edge of the nascent town.
Smoke and fumes came out of the chimney embedded in the thatched roof.
On the inside stood a bowl-shaped structure made of clay.
The top part was blocked, trapping the heat on the inside.
Within the clay bowl were hot coals, visible through the opening in front.
The floor of the furnace was tilted and led to a second opening, which was currently sealed.
A billow was attached to the side of the furnace, an ingenious invention, which could supply a steady air supply to the furnace, as long as someone was there to operate it.
There were two people in the workshop.
"Alright, make sure to keep the airflow steady."
Inpar instructed Dolo.
Dolo was one of the hundred people who left with the first party to establish the northern city.
The size of the city had swelled to about 500 people.
Dolo was currently operating the billows, his naked upper body glistening with sweat as the heat and exercise made him perspire.
Next to the furnace were piles of raw ores and coal.
Inpar took some copper ore and threw it in the furnace.
He then covered the ore with a new layer of charcoal.
Dolo operated the billows for the next hour or so to heat the furnace.
Once the temperature within the furnace was right, the copper, which now turned into a liquid, slowly dripped down and pooled at the bottom of the furnace.
When the majority of the copper was already melted, Inpar threw in a handful of tin ore.
This ore quickly melted in the heat of the furnace and joined the liquid copper at the bottom of the furnace.
Once everything was melted, Inpar opened the stopper at the side of the furnace, and the glowing liquid flowed out of the furnace and down the specific grooves prepared for this purpose.
At the end of this groove, lay a mold, resembling a knife. The hot liquid filled the mold, and after settling for a few seconds, a few impurities floated to the top.
Inpar was quick to pick these impurities with his powers up and place them to the side. Now he simply had to wait until the metal cooled.
"You can stop heating the furnace, Dolo."
Inpar wiped the sweat off his brow while turning to Dolo. Dolo mimicked Inpar's action while showing a broad smile.
"This batch seems to be very good. We should be able to make some high-quality blades with this bronze."
Inpar followed Dolo's gaze and looked at the slowly cooling bronze puddle, shaped to be a knife.
"Hmm, I have a good feeling about this next experiment. I feel like we are close to a breakthrough."
Inpar then turned to the diagrams he had drawn with coal and, using his powers, carved into the wall.
It was a complex pattern in the vague shape of the water droplet.
The base of the droplet was a full circle, with the tip added on top.
The line of the circle wasn't straight, however, as the lines had many small deviations.
These were shaped similarly to spirals, zigzags, and even certain letters used within the written language.
Dolo joined him next to the wall and looked up at the diagrams.
"Do you truly think it will work this time, sir?"
Inpar let out a light chuckle and smiled slightly.
"I told you not to call me that. As for your question, in theory, it should. All the designs are in place. All we need to do is implement them and hope they'll work."
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Dolo nodded silently while gazing at the complex diagrams.
Certain details were so small and complex, that he almost got dizzy simply gazing at them.
They had spent the last few months trying to create an "enchanted blade".
It started when Inpar was sharpening a blade and accidentally cut himself.
Inpar reported feeling the metal absorb his divine blood.
Since then, Inpar and Dolo have been ceaselessly experimenting with bronze and its special properties.
They had discovered that one could inscribe certain patterns into the bronze, imbuing it with special properties.
Until now they have discovered three patterns.
One pattern that gathered the energy stored within the atmosphere, something Inpar referred to as Mana.
The second pattern stored this energy within the metal and the last pattern would discharge the stored energy all at once.
"Come on, the metal is cold enough. It's time to shape it."
Dolo was shaken out of his stupor and hurriedly went back to billowing the furnace.
The coals needed to remain hot, as Inpar would regularly reheat the bronze within the furnace.
Inpar took the proto knife with his powers and grabbed a bronze hammer with his hands.
He brought the knife to a large flat piece of granite and started to hammer upon it.
The rhythmic sound of metal hitting metal resounded within the workshop.
Every few dozen strikes, Inpar would place the metal back into the furnace, ensuring it always remained hot.
After some time, a tough and rough knife took shape.
Once Inpar was satisfied with the knife, he took it and dunked it into a water bucket.
The water hissed as it evaporated after coming into contact with the hot metal, cooling it quickly.
After the metal was cool, Inpar sharpened it, while Dolo cleaned the workshop.
Soon, a finished sharp blade emerged. Now, the real challenge started.
Inpar took out a sharp piece of bronze, shaped similarly to a nail. He used it to carve into the side of the blade.
He carefully carved the pattern on the wall into the blade, ensuring that every detail was correct and accounted for.
Once he finished, he exhaled a pent-up breath and wiped the sweat drop that had climbed down to his brow.
Dolo, seeing Inpar finish, approached him from behind.
"Sir, was it a success?"
Inpar revealed a broad smile and didn't even bother correcting Dolo.
"It should work. All it needs is my blood to activate."
Saying so, he pricked himself on the finger and squeezed out some blood droplets.
He then dripped them onto the blade, the miniature grooves directing his blood flow.
Inpar could feel a certain innate connection with the divine cells located within his blood.
However, as soon as his blood came in contact with the metal, the connection was cut off. Inpar dripped blood on both sides of the knife, making sure that all grooves were filled.
After a certain time, Inpar lost all connection with the divine cells hidden in the blood spread out on the knife.
He took a cloth and wiped the knife clean of blood.
Touching the blade, he felt like a deep connection had suddenly formed between him and the blade.
It was like he lived his whole life with a limb tied to his back, for it now to be released.
He let go of the blade, and it remained hovering in the air.
This was not the same as him grabbing the knife with his powers, and wielding it.
This was more like raising his hand. Suddenly a sound bubbled out of him.
One would be forgiven if they were to mistake it for a cough.
But it was soon followed by second and third. Soon Inpar was laughing a deep belly laugh while marveling at his creation.
The knife floated in the air holding perfectly still.
Dolo looked over to Inpar from his work cleaning the workplace and smiled proudly.
Inpar manipulated the knife to move at incredible speeds.
It danced through the air, making spins, flips, and barrel rolls.
A crisp clap resounded within the workshop.
"Congratulations sir, you have created the world's first enchanted blade."
Inpar looked to Dolo and revealed a wide-eyed smile.
"Yes, we have made it. I won't forget your contributions, Dolo."
Dolo placed his hand on his chest and performed a small bow.
"I only did what I was told. The credit for this invention belongs to you, sir. If I may ask, what can this item do?"
Inpar waved off Dolo's compliments.
"Don't sell yourself short. You were crucial in inspiring me, like including the collection array or using a looping spiral for the storage array. Now as for what it can do... it can do this!"
The knife suddenly stabbed into a crack at the side of the slab of granite and embedded itself ever so slightly in it.
Just as it seemed like nothing would happen, a pushing force exited the blade and drove deep into the boulder.
The force had nowhere to escape, so with a bang, the boulder split in two, sending small spilters flying everywhere.
Dolo slowly emerged from behind the coal pile and spoke in a trembling voice.
"The weapon is as powerful as expected, sir."
Inpar let out another deep laugh and hit Dolo on the shoulder.
"Don't be so afraid! It is fully under my control. In fact, it feels like it's part of me, so it's as easy to control as my arms or legs."
Dolo let out a dry cough and chuckled slightly.
Suddenly for a brief second, he narrowed his eyes while a sneer seemed to flash across his face.
"Yeah, good thing it's you here and not anyone else. I wouldn't trust anyone else as much as you... not even God."
Inpar seemed to be taken aback for a quick moment before he laughed once more and gave another firm shoulder pat.
"I feel exactly the same. There is no one I trust more than you. As for the others... let's not talk about them. And let's not start with God."
Inpar's expression and tone took a dark note at the end of his sentence.
The edge of Dolo's mouth curved ever so slightly, but it seemed Inpar didn't notice.
"Very well. Nevertheless, sir, you should inform the Princesses of your invention. This is the weapon that we have all been waiting for. With this, we will finally be able to take revenge."
Inpar subconsciously touched his lower stomach while nodding his head.
The scar from their first encounter with the drake was still there.
It also reminded him of his failure during their second encounter.
Inpar's gaze darkened for a second, before clearing up once more.
"Yeah, you're right. Very well! I shall be on my way. In the meantime, you can prepare the workshop. After I come back, we will surely need to produce many more of these weapons."
Saying so, Inpar left the workshop, making his way to the center of town.
Dolo watched him exit, a meaningful gaze hidden within his eyes.
It was unknown what kind of thoughts he had.