"Well that’s my story, young master"
"Hopefully it didn’t bore you too much"
Rex waved his hand.
"It didn’t, you don’t need to worry"
He confird a few things from this. The first was the fact that Cedric’s wife indeed had a background.
"Since you have explained, let answer your question as well"
"You have a talent, Cedric"
"Young master, you don’t need to encourage "
"I am just a country bumpkin who only knows how to farm and manage a farm"
"What profession do I have a talent for young master"
"Co with "
Cedric was already discharged. He was entirely healed since it was just skin injury and was only in a coma.
Inside a room, there was man whose head was fully white, it wasn’t it’s natural colour rather he was just that old. His na was John. He was the head of the blacksmithing departnt that worked for the city lord. He knew about the recent changes that had happened which included the fact that the city lord of his city as well as two others city lords would have a lord to serve from now on. The party was a baron who had gotten the permission to rule these regions which includes three cities and so towns and villages.
He was inford that the baron was a young man and that he wanted to bring a person for him to train. If situations were normal that is but in recent years, he wasn’t able to catch a break due to politics that is the situation between their city lord and Drakenshire. Because of the trades being higher than it was years ago, not only was he under pressure for supplying his n, he was also unable to train new blacksmiths for handling the increased pressure of the amount of tasks that were needed to be done. That is not including so of his experienced n getting snatched with generous offers.
But now he had gotten good news that at least the situation between the two city lords were being dealt with by the Lord. That Lord was coming to him to let him train soone. To the person who had helped him of a big problem, he was naturally willing to help. Even without his willingness, he would have to help. Afterall the other party was a baron and as a person who was working under the city lord.
And soon, the person whom he was waiting for arrived. One of his n arrived informing of the arrival of a person and John imdiately rushed out.
"Sir you should have told if you were coming"
"I would have co to greet for your arrival"
"No need"
"Let’s get on with it shall we"
"Sir, who do you want to test and train"
"Cedric, co here"
Cedric who was behind Ayana and Rex ca out and seeing him surprised John. He thought it would be either the young lady beside the Lord or the Lord himself. He didn’t expect it to be an old man though he didn’t know the age of the old man, he knew that the person was younger than himself based on the aura of the person which was none which ant that the person was a moral. He didn’t know why the lord would bring such a person but he didn’t want to question him so he could only only stop his interest and do what he was intended to.
"Son, co with "
John led Cedric into his personal blacksmithing room followed by both Rex and Ayana as well. The space was filled with the scent of coal burning even though there wasn’t even forging going on yet. The walls were lined with tools of various shapes and sizes, and John started the furnace and instantly the heat from the furnace made the air thick and heavy. Cedric could feel the sweat forming on his brow before he had even done anything.
John turned to Cedric, his experienced eyes scanning the man before him.
"You ever worked with tal before?"
Cedric shook his head.
"No, sir"
"I’ve only ever worked on a farm"
John scratched his head knowing that he needed to teach this beginner from start up. Hopefully it won’t be too bad. Cedric was also embarrassed just awkwardly laughing in order to ease his red face.
"Farming and smithing aren’t so different"
"Both require patience, hard work"
John could only complint Cedric in a way he could. John pulled out an iron ingot and placed it on the anvil.
"First, let’s test your hamring strength"
"Pick up that hamr and strike this iron"
"Try to keep your strikes even and controlled"
Cedric hesitated for a mont before gripping the hamr. It was heavier than he expected, but not unbearable. As a farr boy though he has beca old, his strength was still good. He raised it and brought it down on the iron with a solid strike. The sound rang through the forge, and the vibration travelled up his arm. He struck again, finding a rhythm.
"Hmm... not bad"
"You’ve got strength, but can you control it?"
"Try tapering the edges of the tal"
Cedric followed the instructions, adjusting his grip and force. As he worked, he felt sothing awaken inside him a deep focus, a connection between his hands and the hamr. He adjusted his strikes instinctively, as though the hamr itself was guiding him.
John watched closely, his expression turned from scrunching his eyes to becoming more and more surprised.
"Most beginners either hit too hard or too soft"
"You... you’re finding the balance naturally"
Cedric wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Is that good?"
John didn’t complint him not wanting him to take pride too much or else it might be detrintal to him.
"Let’s take it up a notch"
"Heat the tal and try forging a simple blade"
Cedric carefully placed the iron into the furnace, watching as it glowed red hot. Using tongs, he pulled it out and placed it back onto the anvil. John handed him a smaller hamr.
"Now, shape it"
"Make it resemble a blade"
Cedric nodded and began working. With each strike, he saw the tal shift and bend under his control. He didn’t know what he was doing at the start but as he hit it each ti, he seed to feel sothing in his heart and he entered a trance. Ti seed to slow, and soon, the rough shape of a blade began to form.
John leaned forward, rubbing his chin. Without even explaining much, Cedric was able to take the forging as if he had been doing it for a while. When he was about to comnt on so things to help him, sohow Cedric had already done them. Did he ever forge before, no he was just improving at an incredible speed.
"Good... very good. You’re learning too quickly for a first tir"
"Let’s see if you can finish it"
But Cedric couldn’t hear it anymore, he was in a trance. John looked up from the forging into the eyes of Cedric and beca surprised at the form he was exuding and the state he was in.
"Wait, this is molten state"
"What is this molten state"
Ayana asked John, a little bit interested. Her master had brought her a surprise again. Though she had heard from her boss, Rex’s mother that he was able to see the talents of people, she thought it was a taphor for him having good talent in distinguishing people till now. She saw it first hand.
"It’s a state of mind which even fourth grade blacksmiths rarely enter"
"It’s not sothing you can force, and it’s even rarer to see it in soone who’s never touched a hamr before"
"When a blacksmith enters this state, they almost seem like they’re no longer in control like the forging process is guiding them, not the other way around"
"It’s similar to enlightennt in cultivation"
Cedric refined the blade, shaping the edge, flattening imperfections, and eventually quenching it in oil. A hiss of steam rose as the hot tal t the liquid. He then polished the blade, smoothing out its surface. Finally, he attached a makeshift handle, completing his work.
John picked up the blade, examining it closely. His eyes shone with admiration.
"This... This is incredible for a first attempt"
"The balance, the edge, the shape..."
"You worked as if you’d been doing this for years."
John let out a long breath.
"So, what do you think? Is he worthy of your training?"
"Is he talented enough"
Rex asked knowing that John would have so scruples at first when he saw Cedric.
"Talent? This isn’t just talent, this is a gift"
"I’ve trained many blacksmiths, but I’ve never seen soone pick it up this quickly"
Cedric looked down at his hands, disbelief filling his heart.
"I... I just followed what felt right."
John clapped him on the shoulder.
"Son, you have the hands of a smith"
"If you train under , you’ll beco one of the best in no ti"
"I wished I could have t you even earlier so that I could have had a better apprentice"
Cedric turned to Rex, though he looked calm as he didn’t know what he had just done, hearing the words of John, the head of the blacksmiths, he knew he had done sothing spectacular.
"Young master, is this what you wanted to show "
"Yes, you have a talent in blacksmithing, do you want to learn"
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