The next day arrived with my usual early morning routine, blood consumption, trait training, and academy classes. By afternoon, I made my way to the blacksmithing facilities for the optional crafting module that had beco one of my most valuable skill developnt opportunities.
The workshop was already heated when I entered, the massive forge radiating waves of warmth that made the air shimr. Several other students were scattered throughout the space, working on various projects with varying degrees of competence.
"Blackwood!" A booming voice called out from near the main anvil. "About ti you showed up. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned proper craftsmanship for those academy combat drills."
Jan, one of the kingdom’s master blacksmiths and our instructor for the blacksmithing class, was impossible to miss. The elderly man stood nearly as tall as Kojiro despite his advanced age, his fra still packed with the dense muscle that ca from decades of working tal. His long white beard reached nearly to his belly button, while his short white hair was perpetually dusted with soot and tal filings. Deep laugh lines creased his face, and his hands, scarred and calloused beyond belief - could shape steel with more precision than most could manage with delicate tools.
"Just had so matters to attend to, Master Jan," I replied respectfully, moving toward my designated workstation.
"so matters," he grumbled, though his eyes showed approval rather than criticism. "At least you have your priorities straight. Too many youngsters these days think combat prowess is everything, ignoring the fundantal truth that civilization is built on craftsmanship, not sword swings."
I couldn’t help but smile at his familiar lecture that he had been repeating for the past few days. Jan had been trying to convince to abandon combat training entirely since my second blacksmithing session, when he’d realized I possessed genuine Tier 1 capabilities despite being a first-year student in the first sester.
"Speaking of which," Jan continued, approaching my station with surprising speed for soone his age. "Show what you’ve been working on. And don’t think I didn’t notice those improved skateboard designs circulating through the student body. I asked a few students, apparently that was your work."
"Yes, Master Jan. I refined the propulsion system and durability-"
"Of course you did!" He laughed heartily, slapping the anvil with enough force to make it ring. "The boy has Tier 1 skills, a mind for innovation, and he wastes half his ti hitting training dummies during combat practice! It’s a tragedy, I tell you. A proper tragedy!" Jan nudged one of the other students who smiled wryly.
Other students glanced over at Jan’s outburst, so looking envious while others seed resigned to his un-filtered personality.
I laid out my current project - components for an improved crossbow design that would incorporate more sophisticated mana channeling. "I wanted your advice on the Orichalcum threading patterns. The current configuration works, but I think there’s inefficiency in how the energy flows through the curves."
Jan leaned in close, his experienced eyes imdiately identifying the issue I’d been struggling with. "Aha! See, here’s your problem. You’re treating Orichalcum like it’s just conductive wire, but it’s got properties that respond to geotric patterns enhancing its effect. You need to account for the internal structure when planning your threading paths."
He grabbed a piece of chalk and began sketching complex diagrams on the workbench surface, his hands moving with surprising delicacy. "See these angles? Orichalcum conducts mana most efficiently at thirty-seven and sixty-two degree turns. Your curves are creating resistance that bleeds off about fifteen percent of your input energy."
I studied his corrections carefully, imdiately recognizing the brilliance of his insight. "So if I redesign the channel pathways to incorporate those specific angles..."
"Exactly! Now you’re thinking like a proper craftsman instead of an academy brat who thinks everything is solved by throwing more mana at problems."
We worked together for the next hour, with Jan providing guidance that went far beyond standard instruction. Of course in this hour, he helped other students too. His knowledge ca from decades of practical experience with materials that most blacksmiths never even encountered.
"You’ve got a gift, boy," he said seriously during a break from the intense work. "Real talent that shows up maybe once in a generation. Most students struggle for a whole year to reach Tier 1 competency, whilst so never reach it, but you arrived already possessing those skills. It’s like you were born knowing how tal wants to be shaped."
"I had good foundational training" I deflected, unable to explain that the skills ca from a daily reward system.
"Foundational training my aged arse," Jan snorted. "I’ve seen dozens of students with ’good foundations’ who couldn’t shape a decent horseshoe after months of practice. You understand the material on an intuitive level that can’t just be taught."
His voice took on a more serious tone. "That’s why it pains to see you dividing your focus. If you dedicated yourself fully to blacksmithing, truly dedicated yourself, you could reach Tier 3 before you’re thirty. Maybe even Tier 4 in your lifeti. Do you understand what that ans? There are only three Tier 4 blacksmiths in the entire kingdom."
"I appreciate the confidence, Master Jan. But combat skills are necessary for survival in this world."
"Bah! Survival? You’re the son of a Duke! Hire people to do your fighting while you create masterworks that will outlast kingdoms!" Despite his arguntative words, his expression showed he understood my position even if he disagreed with it. "But I suppose youngsters need to make their own mistakes. Just promise you’ll keep working on your craft alongside all that sword-swinging nonsense."
"Of course. I promise, Master Jan."
Jan nodded his head in approval before turning to help a student that called for him.
Nearby, I could hear other students whispering among themselves, their voices carrying across the workshop despite attempts at discretion.
"Did you hear Master Jan praising Blackwood again? The old man barely acknowledges most of us here, but he treats Adrian like a prized apprentice."
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