Limits Chapter 380

Irwin was a blacksmith, but an unconventional one. He specialised in weird varieties of ingots. What I was about to make, was not mainstream at all. I lted the Black Iron Ore and added Flash Tin to the mix. The ingot would be brittle because of that, but I didn't need to worry about it. I poured the molten tal into the ingot mould, and allowed it to cool down. When that was done, I took a hamr and smashed it into pieces. I repeated the process a few tis, until the ingot almost broke into fine dust. I collected that, and placed it to the side. I then lted more Black Iron Ore, but this ti I added Blurite Ore. The ratio was 5:1. Although it might seem small, those were the exact proportions I needed.

I repeated the process of lting, then smashing it into the shape of a mould. Black Iron Ore with the addition of Blurite, was a bit flexible. It wouldn't break like the previous mix, and was much more workable. I smashed it, and mixed the two ores together. There was a specific thod to it. I had to smash it towards the sa direction at all tis. It may seem simple, but it wasn't. The thod wasn't to strike towards south or north all the ti, but in the sa direction of that molten tal. This was confusing to at first, so Iwin used a different term. He told to strike with the grain. That I understood. It concerned an advanced blacksmithing technique, especially when creating weapons.

I repeated the process a few tis, until I received the desired effect. 'Ti to mix them together' I thought, and chucked the Black Blurite Ingot into the furnace. When that lted, I added the Black Flash Powder little by little. After everything mixed properly, I took it out and slamd it with my hamr. It was again the sa technique, I had to go with the grain. A while later, I had a black ingot, with blue veins running across it. There was a trace of silver thread like lines, surrounding the blue ones. This Ingot was called Flash Blurite Steel, and it was much better than simple Black Steel.

Not only was it a bit lighter than the normal Black Steel, it was much more durable and a bit more flexible. The brittlety disappeared when everything was mixed together, creating one piece of hard and durable steel. I had no idea why those ores worked together like this, but they worked. Irwin told about a few recipes, but this one was the most suitable, and the easiest to get in the North. Others were a bit more… exotic.

With one Ingot done, I proceeded to make another. I needed at least five Flash Blurite Steel Ingots. That was for my Stringed Hidden Weapons alone. I still wanted to make more, just to have a few daggers for throwing, as well as a few ingots for my armour. 'He will probably ask to make Azurite Ingots, or perhaps ask for more dicine. Maybe a bit of both, it's also a solution. After all, I will use a few of their resources' I thought. It didn't matter that much. I had dicine, and I could create a few Azurite Ingots for them as well.

I worked for the rest of the day. I managed to make 14 Flash Blurite Steel Ingots, but I had to rest a bit, and work on my daggers the next day. Before I left, I visited the old Lizard's office. Inside, I said "I'm done for today. I have all the ingots I need, but I used quite a bit of your resources. Tell what you want in exchange?". He asked "Can I see those Ingots?". I took out one, and passed it to him. He looked at it for a while, and then asked "Can you teach how to make it?". I smiled, and said "I kind of expected for you would say that. I don't mind, but I have to ask you not to make this widely available". He nodded and replied, "Of course! After all, the less people know, the better for us, right?".

I replied "Right. I will teach you tomorrow, keep this one for now. I will just keep the one from tomorrow. Anyway, thanks for letting use your stuff, I really needed an upgrade". He told not to ntion it, and I left. 'Hmmm… Should I use Lazar's place, or rent a room?' I asked myself. I had like one Black Hal left, which would be enough to rent a room and eat sothing. 'Crow must be wealthy by now. I will just mooch off of him when I get there' I thought, and decided to stay at the tavern. I could always sell my dicine and make so money, but I wasn't in imdiate need of them. I had enough for a room, even if I didn't, I could just sleep soplace else.

The Lizard behind the counter at the tavern, was different. She asked , "What can I get ya?". I said "A room and a al". She replied "What al would you like sir?". I replied "Just give whatever you recomnd. A few portions should be fine. I have a good appetite". She nodded, and said "Have a seat, and your food will be ready shortly". Before I sat down, I asked "Where are the previous people who worked here?". She turned around and said "You knew them? They moved to a different village... I guess if I work hard, I can also move up the ladder".

I nodded, and sat down at one of the available tables. She brought my food a while later, and said "Enjoy". I was hungry, especially since I expanded my energy during that battle. I cleaned out the plates, and had to admit that her cooking was much better than the previous two. I ca up to the counter with the empty plates, and said "Your cooking is really great. Much better than the previous two who worked here". She smiled, and asked "Really? I try my best, is all". I passed her the one and only Black Hal I had, and said "I will rent a room for four days, the rest is yours".

She looked at for a while, and tried to give the change, but I told her to keep it after I took the key. 'After I'm done with my daggers, I need to think about breaking through' I thought. The 5th Diagram was not completely modified by yet. It wasn't the Aura that was lacking. It wasn't my Energy Control either. It was sothing else. 'I don't know whether it's the speed at which those positions change, or because of the positions themselves. I will need to figure that out, or perhaps break through naturally' I thought. The later option was not so simple. Specific conditions had to be t, or specific things had to happen in order for to break through naturally.

Either way, it was sothing I had to work towards. The next day, I returned to the workshop, and began making my daggers. I wasn't using a mould this ti. I already learned how to properly make weapons. The ingots were not for daggers alone. I wanted to use a few for the armour pieces, that would be attached to my new set of clothes. The old Lizard ca by to learn the process of making Flash Blurite Steel. I showed him how, and specified the proportions. He was surprised that it wasn't as hard as he imagined.

Because of what I showed him, he told I didn't owe them anything anymore. The ingots I created, were much better than normal Black Steel. If they issued weapons and armours made from that, the army would benefit. That was basically old Lizard's plan. He thanked , and allowed to make my daggers. It took another day to make 20 daggers, for which I used ten Flash Blurite Steel Ingots. For the rest of them, I planned to make armour pieces. I knew that Suly was working on that Domain Formation, so I was in no rush.

I wanted to grab sothing to eat, but then I realised I had no money. 'Lazar should have so' I thought, and headed towards Upper Olrad. Lazar was as usual quite busy. When he heard I was visiting again, he abandoned his work and ca to et . He said "I was quite busy with all the stuff, but I already heard that you helped us out. If not for you, that Eterian would create even more damage to us". I said "Don't ntion it. Lazar, give so money. I need one or two Black Hals". He laughed, and said "Only that much? I can give you a hundred if you need them". I shook my head, and said "Just spare change is enough. I will be leaving in a few days. My daggers are done, oh wanna see?".

Lazar looked at interested, and said "Sure, why not". I presented the new dagger to him. The design didn't change that much, although it was more optimised for my Arts. Lazar looked at it for a while, and said "It's weird… I see so kind of blue veins in this Black Steel. Where did you get such steel from?". I replied "I made it. Anyway, your blacksmith here knows the thod. Ask the old man if you need better weapons. He will make them from that". Lazar nodded while saying "Yea, this thing is lighter than normal Black Steel. What else is better?". I replied "Durability. For an army, those things are quite important right?". He nodded, and said "I will place so order then".

He then gave five Black Hals, and said "If you need more, co by". 'I only wanted one or two... Whatever, it's just for the food' I thought, and returned to the tavern. I noticed that the sa Lizard was behind the counter. When she saw , she asked if I was hungry. 'I'm but…'. I nodded, and said "Just give whatever you recomnd. The portion can be the sa as yesterday, or even bigger, I don't mind".

My al soon arrived, and the portion was indeed bigger than the last ti. I enjoyed my al, but the young Lizard was looking at for so reason. I turned towards her, and asked "Can I help you?". She quickly averted her gaze, and didn't reply. I didn't take it to heart, and simply finished my al. As usual, I ca back with empty plates. She said "You don't have to do that. I will collect them, it's my job". I said it wasn't much, and gave her a Black Hal. She shook her head, and said "You don't have to pay. You already left enough money to last you a few good als". I said "Then that's for you. You are a good girl, and you work hard. You deserve this. Besides, it's Lazar's money, so take it", and I smiled.

She stood there bewildered, while I retired to my room. 'She is a great cook, I wonder why she sits here in Olrad. Punishnt? Either way, tomorrow I will do the armour pieces, and then go to Sedon. I'm worried for Harlin and Crow' I thought.