"Wait." Bella’s voice had lost its edge entirely. "Perhaps I could demonstrate my abilities before you depart. I’m currently working on a project that requires mana infusion. It would take only a short ti to show you."
Grim paused, appearing to consider the offer. "A demonstration would be acceptable. Though I warn you, Mistress Cleanrott, my standards are high."
Relief flickered briefly across Bella’s face, quickly replaced by professional pride. "As are mine, Lord Ambrose. If you’ll follow , I believe my work will speak for itself."
She gestured toward the forge entrance, all hostility replaced with businesslike conduct.
Heat and humidity enveloped Grim as he stepped into the forge. Unlike traditional smithies that relied primarily on fire for their work. This space had channels of flowing water, creating a perpetual cloud of steam that hung near the ceiling.
"My standard forge is there," Bella explained, gesturing to a corner.
She moved to a workbench where a half-finished blade rested. Even incomplete, it exhibited remarkable craftsmanship—a shortsword with what looked waves on the blade.
"This is Count Dralven’s commission," she said, lifting the piece carefully. "A ceremonial blade for his son’s coming-of-age ceremony. Decorative, primarily, though fully functional."
"The patterns are unusual," Grim observed, studying the flowing designs that resembled water currents.
"They’re mana channels," Bella explained, professional pride overcoming her earlier hostility. "When complete, water mana will flow through these patterns, creating a blade that appears to have liquid rippling beneath its surface. Purely aesthetic, but impressive at formal events."
"Any actual use for this type of blade?"
A slight smile touched Bella’s scarred face. "That’s where my true expertise lies. Decoration is for nobles who want to impress other nobles. Functionality is for those with more serious purposes."
She set Dralven’s blade aside and moved to a locked cabinet near the back of the forge. From it, she removed a slender dagger in a plain leather sheath.
"This is a personal project," she said, returning to Grim. "No commission."
She drew the dagger, revealing a blade of unusual coloration—a deep blue-gray tal with faint patterns resembling frost across its surface. Nothing about it appeared obviously magical or special.
"Unimpressive at first glance," Bella acknowledged, noting Grim’s neutral expression. "But appearances can be deceiving."
She moved to a large stone basin fed by one of the water channels. She touched the dagger’s tip to the water’s surface.
Imdiately, the flowing patterns on the blade illuminated with a soft blue glow. The water in the basin responded, swirling upward against gravity to coat the blade completely. Within seconds, the dagger was enveloped in a sheath of water.
"Water mana infusion at its most fundantal level," Bella explained. "The blade calls to water, draws it in, holds it. The effect persists as long as water is available within approximately twenty paces."
"Interesting," Grim said, studying the phenonon. "Though I fail to see the practical application beyond novelty."
Bella’s confidence didn’t waver at his underwheld response. "Observe."
She moved to a rack holding various materials used for testing blade sharpness—wood, leather, and tal plates of different thicknesses. She selected a thick leather target mounted on a wooden fra.
With a swift motion, she slashed the water-sheathed dagger across the leather. The blade cut through with almost no resistance, leaving a perfectly clean cut that would have required significant force with a conventional weapon.
"The water sheath doesn’t simply coat the blade," Bella explained. "It creates a cutting edge of extraordinary thinness. It will cut through armor, leather, even so tals with minimal effort."
She demonstrated on progressively tougher materials, including a thin sheet of copper that the dagger sliced through with a little resistance.
"And the limitations?" Grim asked, his interest now genuine despite his asured tone.
"The effect requires water to be present, obviously," Bella replied. "In completely dry environnts, it reverts to ordinary blade. And maintaining the water sheath requires a small but constant mana input from the wielder."
"Can the principle be applied to larger weapons?"
"Certainly. Swords, axes, spears—any bladed weapon. Though larger implents require correspondingly more mana to maintain the effect."
Grim considered this, seeing imdiate applications for such weapons. "
Bella replaced the testing materials, her confidence was evident. "I can create similar effects with wind mana as well. Blades that cut at a distance, arrows that adjust their trajectory mid-flight. The possibilities are nearly limitless with the correct wielder."
"Impressive craftsmanship," Grim acknowledged, his voice carefully neutral. "Your reputation appears well-earned."
Pride glowed in Bella’s eyes, the earlier embarrassnt seemingly forgotten. "So, Lord Ambrose, what type of commission did you have in mind? Sothing for combat? Exploration? Perhaps ceremonial pieces to restore House Ambrose’s visual presence at court?"
Grim studied the water dagger for a mont longer before eting her gaze directly. "Tell , Mistress Cleanrott, do you typically ridicule potential clients before demonstrating your skills?"
The question caught her off-guard. "I... that was a misunderstanding. As I said, I didn’t—"
"Recognize ," Grim finished for her. "Yes, that much was clear. Which raises an interesting question: would your behavior have been different had you imdiately known my identity and position?"
Bella shifted uncomfortably. "Naturally, I would have shown appropriate respect to—"
"A noble lord," Grim interrupted again. "But not to soone you perceived as beneath your notice."
"I’ve apologized for the error," Bella said, her earlier confidence cracking slightly. "And I’ve demonstrated my abilities, which I believe would benefit House Ambrose considerably."
"Indeed," Grim agreed. "Your technical skills are remarkable. Unfortunately, House Ambrose requires more than technical proficiency from those in its service."
Bella’s expression froze. "What exactly are you saying?"
"I’m saying, Mistress Cleanrott, that character reveals itself most honestly when people believe no one of consequence is watching." Grim’s voice remained even, which sohow made his words cut deeper than if he’d raised it in anger. "You showed precisely who you are when you thought I was insignificant."
"That’s hardly fair," Bella protested. "One misjudgnt—"
"Was illuminating," Grim completed. "And sufficient."
He turned toward the door, signaling that the eting was concluded. "Your craftsmanship is indeed exceptional. I wish you continued success with clients whose station you recognize imdiately."
"Wait!" Bella abandoned her pride entirely now, recognizing the opportunity slipping away. "Lord Ambrose, please reconsider. Whatever commission you had in mind, I’ll offer a substantial discount. Twenty percent below my standard rates."
Grim paused at the threshold, looking back at her with cold eyes. "House Ambrose doesn’t seek discounts, Mistress Cleanrott. We seek craftsn who possess more than just technical skill—sothing you clearly lack. Your blades may cut deep, but your judgnt cuts deeper... into your own prospects. Perhaps if you spent as much ti refining your character as you do your tals, you wouldn’t be begging for commissions from those you previously dismissed as children."
The devastation on Bella’s face was complete as she realized the magnitude of her error.
"One last thing." Grim said coldly. "If your technique was good even the smallest amount of water mana would have destroyed any of those tals along easier. Good day, Mistress Cleanrott."
With that parting observation. Grim demonstrated knowledge she hadn’t expected and a final twist of the knife in her as he departed the forge. Huangyan and the guards fell in behind him, leaving Bella Cleanrott standing amid her impressive works, holding a masterpiece that had sohow proved insufficient.
Outside, as they walked back toward their lodgings in Silverdale, Huangyan ventured a question. "The blacksmith’s skills seed valuable, my lord. Are you certain about rejecting her services?"
"So skills, no matter how impressive, aren’t worth the character flaws that accompany them," Grim replied.
"Master Korin Silverscale, then?" Huangyan asked.
Grim nodded. "We’ll return to the capital tomorrow."
[An expensive lesson for the blacksmith,] the voice observed. [And a revealing one about your priorities.]
"House Ambrose fell once partly because it trusted those who were deferential." Grim replied quietly. "I won’t repeat that mistake, no matter how skilled the craftsman."
As they walked through the streets of Silverdale, word of what had transpired seed to spread quickly. rchants and locals who had barely noticed their arrival now watched the young noble lord who had rejected Bella Cleanrott. It was nof sothing that soone had done before.
By morning, when they departed for the capital, rumors would already be circulating throughout the eastern provinces about House Ambrose’s unexpected standards. Not wealth or ancient lineage, but character above craft, substance over appearance.
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