The forge felt hotter than usual now that everyone was inside, and the space that once seed large now felt tight with movent and noise. The fire burned steadily in the furnace while the sound of hamr striking tal echoed again and again. Horg stood at the anvil like always, focused and firm, but this ti he wasn’t alone. The girls stood nearby, watching closely at first, unsure where to step in, while Dory remained a little behind, observing everything with careful attention.
Horg didn’t waste ti acknowledging them properly. He spoke while working, his voice rough but clear.
"Don’t stand around. If you’re here, you work."
Maya raised a brow but didn’t argue. "Then tell us where to start?"
Horg pointed toward the bellows without looking up.
"You. Push air. Keep it steady."
Lola hesitated for a mont before stepping forward. "I’ll do it."
She grabbed the handle and pushed, a bit too fast at first as the fire flared unevenly.
"Too fast," Horg said imdiately. "Control it."
Lola adjusted her pace, slowing down as she watched the flas carefully. "Like this?"
"Better. Don’t lose it."
Dory stepped closer, watching how the fire responded to each push of air. His eyes followed the small changes in the fla, the way it grew and shrank, the way the heat shifted slightly around the furnace.
’So this is how it works in practice.’
He adjusted his glasses slightly, thinking as he observed Horg’s movents and the timing behind every strike.
’The system could give full knowledge instantly if I bought a high-rank package... but I don’t have that yet.’
His gaze shifted again, taking in every step without missing anything.
’For now, I learn from this... slowly... piece by piece.’
"Boy."
Dory looked up at Horg’s voice.
"Co here."
He stepped forward without hesitation, stopping beside the anvil.
"Hold this," Horg said, handing him the tongs and pointing at the heated tal.
Dory gripped the tongs firmly and locked onto the glowing piece, holding it steady in place. The heat pushed against his face, but he didn’t react.
"Don’t shake it," Horg added.
"I won’t."
The hamr ca down again, heavy and precise, sparks flying with each hit while Dory kept the tal steady. Behind them, Lisa and Lila stood near a pile of raw tal, looking unsure of what to do next.
"What about us?" Lisa asked.
Horg answered without turning.
"Sort them. Clean ones on one side, bad ones on the other."
They moved quickly, picking up pieces and examining them one by one. So were smooth, others cracked or uneven.
"This one looks damaged," Lila said.
"Throw it aside," Horg replied.
Dano joined them quietly, already moving faster than both as she sorted through the pile with sharper focus.
Maya stood near the anvil, watching the process with interest.
"So this is all there is?" she asked. "Heat it and hit it?"
Dory shook his head slightly. "There’s more to it than that."
Horg gave a small grunt. "At least one of you understands."
Maya smirked. "Then teach us properly."
Horg didn’t answer her directly. Instead, he stepped back slightly and pointed at a smaller hamr nearby.
"Take that."
Maya blinked. "You’re serious?"
"Yes. When I stop, you hit. Not before."
She picked up the hamr, testing its weight before stepping closer. "Fine. Don’t bla if I ss it up."
The hamring continued for a few more seconds before Horg suddenly paused. Maya stepped in and struck the tal, her first hit slightly off.
"Harder," Horg said.
She adjusted and struck again, this ti cleaner.
"Better."
Maya smiled faintly but didn’t say anything.
On the other side, Lola let out a small groan as she kept working the bellows. "My arms are already tired."
Lila glanced at her. "You just started."
"It’s heavier than it looks."
"Keep pushing," Horg said. "Fire drops, everything slows."
Lola sighed but kept going, forcing her rhythm to stay steady.
Dory stepped back slightly, watching how everyone moved now compared to before. Things were still rough, but there was already a difference. Work that once depended on one person was now being shared.
’This is slower than the system... but it’s real.’
He narrowed his eyes slightly as he focused on the process again.
’If I understand this fully, I won’t need to rely on it every ti.’
Horg suddenly stepped back and handed the hamr toward Dory.
"You. Try."
Dory passed the tongs back and took the hamr without hesitation. He stepped forward, facing the heated tal, and adjusted his grip before striking.
The first hit landed clean.
"Again," Horg said.
Dory struck again, this ti adjusting slightly based on the feel of the impact.
"Don’t think too much," Horg added. "Feel it."
Dory didn’t respond, but his next strike was smoother.
Horg gave a short nod. "Good enough."
Lisa wiped her hands after sorting another batch. "How long are we doing this?"
"All day," Horg replied.
She paused. "You’re joking, right?"
"No."
Lisa let out a long breath. "Great."
Liam walked back into the forge at that mont, looking tired but curious. He stopped when he saw everyone working.
"What is going on here?"
Maya didn’t look at him. "We’re working."
"I can see that," Liam said. "But why does it look... organized?"
Dory answered without turning. "Because it is."
Liam stepped closer, watching the flow of work. "So what do I do now?"
Horg pointed without hesitation. "Bellows."
Liam froze. "Again?"
"Yes."
He groaned but moved into position beside Lola. "Move. I’ll take over."
"No, you won’t," Lola said. "I finally got the rhythm."
"Then we share," Liam muttered, grabbing the handle anyway.
Dory looked around again, taking in the changes. There was still room for improvent, but the difference was clear.
"We can make this faster," he said.
Maya glanced at him. "How?"
"Less movent," Dory replied. "Everything should be closer."
Horg looked at him briefly. "Then fix it."
Dory nodded and pointed toward the tal piles. "Bring them closer to the anvil. Don’t make him walk back and forth."
Lisa and Lila quickly moved the sorted pieces nearer.
He turned to Dano. "Once one is ready, pass it imdiately."
She nodded. "Okay."
He looked at Maya. "Watch the timing. If he stops, you move."
Maya gave a small grin. "Already doing that."
Horg grunted again but didn’t disagree.
The work picked up again, this ti smoother than before. The pauses beca shorter, the transitions cleaner. Each person began to understand their role better, adjusting without needing constant instruction.
Liam worked the bellows with Lola, both trying to keep the fire steady without arguing too much. Lisa and Lila made fewer mistakes while sorting, and Dano moved between tasks without slowing down.
Maya stayed close to the anvil, stepping in when needed, while Dory shifted between roles, sotis holding, sotis striking, sotis just watching.
Ti passed without anyone noticing.
The sound of hamring continued, steady and controlled, as the forge stayed alive with constant work. Dory stood still for a brief mont, observing everything again as it ca together in a way that made sense.
’This works.’
He adjusted his glasses once more.
’Not perfect... but it works.’
"Don’t stop," Horg said suddenly.
Dory picked up the hamr again.
"I’m not."
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