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Chapter 119: Learning Blacksmithing
Duke Valiard’s face froze, his smile becoming rigid as he looked at Aldrian.
"Excuse me?" he asked, incredulously.
"Yes," Aldrian replied. "Teach me how to be a blacksmith. I want to learn, and maybe—just maybe—I can also create my own weapon."
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Duke Valiard. His face, which had been full of excitement moments ago, now reflected pure disbelief as he stared at Aldrian like he was mad.
"Are you serious, young master? We’re talking about blacksmithing here—one of the most demanding professions. It requires years of training and commitment! You want to become a blacksmith? If you’re only interested because you want to create your own sword, then forget it. Blacksmithing isn’t something you choose on a whim. It’s a lifetime commitment," Duke Valiard said, his voice solemn.
Aldrian smiled slightly. "I think you misunderstand me. I’m not interested in blacksmithing because of some passing fancy. I’m genuinely fascinated by the craft. I don’t mean to sound arrogant, but I have a knack for absorbing knowledge quickly and applying it almost instantly. I don’t want you to feel insulted—I know blacksmithing is no easy profession. Quite the opposite, actually. It’s a complex and intricate field of study, which is exactly why I’m interested."
What he said was half true. While Aldrian was indeed curious about blacksmithing, the frustration of being unable to obtain a Divine-grade sword had sparked this idea in his mind. If they lacked the help to create the sword, perhaps he could be that help. And where better to learn the craft than in this very city? Of course the duke himself!
But Aldrian’s desire to learn blacksmithing wasn’t solely due to his frustration. He truly had a thirst for new knowledge. His curiosity was never satisfied, always seeking out something new to learn. He wasn’t lying when he said he was genuinely interested in the blacksmithing profession.
Duke Valiard looked into Aldrian’s eyes and saw no hint of doubt or jest.
"How about this, Duke Valiard, Let me watch you create an artifact, and you can explain each step to me. I’ll only ask this once. I know you’re a busy person, so I won’t take up much of your time. Afterward, I’ll try to replicate your process on my own. And, of course, I won’t ask for your knowledge for free. Even if you’re not satisfied with my performance, I’ll still give you a small portion of the Divine Iron." Aldrian said.
Duke Valiard’s expression grew conflicted, but after another glance at the Divine Iron, he finally sighed.
"Alright," he agreed, "I’ll let you try this once. But remember, young master, this will be a one-time demonstration. You’ll have to work on your own from there. Also, I’ve never had a disciple, so I’m not used to teaching."
"Thank you for agreeing. Don’t worry—I’ll pay full attention, and you won’t need to keep helping me after. I just need you to show me the way of blacksmithing."
With a nod, Duke Valiard activated the mechanism, returning the hall to its original state. They could now see the private workshop in the adjacent building. Duke Valiard pointed toward it.
"Let’s go to my workshop," Duke Valiard said, leading Aldrian. Once they entered, Aldrian saw various tools neatly arranged for tempering, forging, and melting, all organized to make the work easier. He also noticed several forges, their heat palpable even though the forge lids were closed.
On one side of the workshop, Aldrian noticed several unfinished artifacts—swords, shields, and armor. Despite their incomplete state, he could already sense the distinct aura of Middle Earth-grade artifacts emanating from them.
"Amazing. Even his unfinished works are already exuding the power of graded artifacts. Truly a remarkable blacksmith," Aldrian thought, marveling at the craftsmanship. His attention then turned to Duke Valiard, who had stripped off his outer garments, revealing his toned, muscular physique.
"I’ll show you how to make a simple dagger. I think that’s a good place to start. Pay close attention," Duke Valiard said with a solemn expression, and Aldrian responded with a nod. Unbeknownst to the duke, Aldrian discreetly extended his domain to observe and absorb the process more thoroughly.
"Since you’re new to blacksmithing, I’ll provide you with a simple dagger blueprint. It’s a basic artifact that can be completed quickly—less than half an hour. Take a look at it first." Duke Valiard handed Aldrian a drawing of the dagger, and Aldrian examined it carefully, memorizing its shape, composition, and key features.
He then watched as the duke picked up a long, dark iron bar and placed it on the table, showing it to Aldrian.
"This is dark steel, a common material for crafting artifacts. You can find it in many parts of the continent," Duke Valiard explained, lifting the steel bar. "First, you must heat it in the earth flame—a kind of flame that hot enough to melt this kind of steel. What I have in these forges is blue earth flame, the highest quality of earth flame. I was lucky enough to acquire it during one of my adventures, so shaping the steel with this will be easy." He opened the forge lid and carefully placed the steel inside. 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
After a minute, the steel emerged glowing with red and a faint blue hue, radiating heat nearly as intense as the forge itself. Using a pair of tongs, Duke Valiard placed the hot steel onto the anvil and grabbed a hammer that was also an artifact in itself. With steady, rhythmic strikes, he began to shape the steel.
Clang, clang.
"To taper both sides evenly, you need constant strength—neither too strong nor too weak," Duke Valiard instructed while hammering. "Too much force, and you’ll crack the artifact; too little, and it won’t take the proper shape. You must keep the pace steady to ensure the dagger’s durability is same throughout. And, of course, we insert our energy into the steel as we shape it."
Aldrian watched with deep concentration, observing not just the hammering but also sensing the flow of energy around the steel and the hammer. To him, every movement seemed to slow down, revealing subtle patterns that gave him insight into how blacksmiths infused energy into their work.
Each hit carried the same amount of power and energy, and the duke’s energy seeped into the heated steel. This infused energy helps the steel attune to the Heaven and Earth energy, preparing it to become a container for energy during the finishing phase.
After nearly ten minutes of intense hammering, the steel began to take the shape of a blade, complete with an area for the handle. Duke Valiard reheated the steel in the forge for about fifteen seconds before lifting it again and moving it to a special sanding plate, designed to smooth the edges of the steel.
Once satisfied with the edge, he reheated the blade and began hammering it again, this time with a gentler force. He channeled his energy through the hammer with each strike, creating intricate patterns on the blade’s surface. "The energy pattern is crucial in crafting artifacts," Duke Valiard explained, not breaking his rhythm. "It directly affects the grade of the artifact. The more complex the pattern, the higher the grade. It’s similar to formations, but in this case, we embed the pattern within the artifact itself."
After a few more minutes of precise work, he completed the pattern and swiftly dipped the blade into a special oil. When the blade was lifted from the oil, Duke Valiard examined it for a moment, then infused his energy into it. Instantly, the aura of a Middle Earth grade artifact radiated from the blade, filling the workshop with a potent energy.
Aldrian, having watched the entire process without blinking, nodded in realization. "It’s not that different from formation work, but the pattern here ensures the energy is distributed evenly across the blade, making it more durable and able to withstand powerful techniques," he thought.
"This is how you create a simple dagger," Duke Valiard said, holding up the finished blade. "For your first time, you’ll need to at least manage to craft a low Earth grade artifact. But remember, one wrong step, and your dagger will turn into nothing more than a piece of scrap." His tone carried the weight of experience.
"Now, why don’t you try it yourself?"
Without hesitation, Aldrian picked up a piece of dark steel, feeling its weight and sturdiness in his hands. He followed Duke Valiard’s earlier steps, placing the steel into the forge. As the heat began to engulf the metal, Aldrian’s thoughts something.
"I’ve grasped the basics, but it would be much faster and more efficient if I could use my Eyes of the Heaven to guide me."
Suddenly, as if responding to his thoughts, he felt something through his eyes. A screen materialized in his vision, revealing the intricate structure of the dark steel in front of him, every weak point, every section that required more attention, was highlighted clearly.
"Oh?"
