Chapter 137: Blacksmithing
The next day arrived with my usual early morning routine, blood consumption, trait training, and academy classes. By afternoon, I made my way to the blacksmithing facilities for the optional crafting module that had become one of my most valuable skill development opportunities.
The workshop was already heated when I entered, the massive forge radiating waves of warmth that made the air shimmer. Several other students were scattered throughout the space, working on various projects with varying degrees of competence.
"Blackwood!" A booming voice called out from near the main anvil. "About time you showed up. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned proper craftsmanship for those academy combat drills."
Jan, one of the kingdom’s master blacksmiths and our instructor for the blacksmithing class, was impossible to miss. The elderly man stood nearly as tall as Kojiro despite his advanced age, his frame still packed with the dense muscle that came from decades of working metal. His long white beard reached nearly to his belly button, while his short white hair was perpetually dusted with soot and metal filings. Deep laugh lines creased his face, and his hands, scarred and calloused beyond belief - could shape steel with more precision than most could manage with delicate tools.
"Just had some matters to attend to, Master Jan," I replied respectfully, moving toward my designated workstation.
"some matters," he grumbled, though his eyes showed approval rather than criticism. "At least you have your priorities straight. Too many youngsters these days think combat prowess is everything, ignoring the fundamental truth that civilization is built on craftsmanship, not sword swings."
I couldn’t help but smile at his familiar lecture that he had been repeating for the past few days. Jan had been trying to convince me to abandon combat training entirely since my second blacksmithing session, when he’d realized I possessed genuine Tier 1 capabilities despite being a first-year student in the first semester.
"Speaking of which," Jan continued, approaching my station with surprising speed for someone his age. "Show me what you’ve been working on. And don’t think I didn’t notice those improved skateboard designs circulating through the student body. I asked a few students, apparently that was your work."
"Yes, Master Jan. I refined the propulsion system and durability-"
"Of course you did!" He laughed heartily, slapping the anvil with enough force to make it ring. "The boy has Tier 1 skills, a mind for innovation, and he wastes half his time hitting training dummies during combat practice! It’s a tragedy, I tell you. A proper tragedy!" Jan nudged one of the other students who smiled wryly.
Other students glanced over at Jan’s outburst, some looking envious while others seemed resigned to his un-filtered personality.
I laid out my current project - components for an improved crossbow design that would incorporate more sophisticated mana channeling. "I wanted your advice on the Orichalcum threading patterns. The current configuration works, but I think there’s inefficiency in how the energy flows through the curves."
Jan leaned in close, his experienced eyes immediately identifying the issue I’d been struggling with. "Aha! See, here’s your problem. You’re treating Orichalcum like it’s just conductive wire, but it’s got properties that respond to geometric patterns enhancing its effect. You need to account for the internal structure when planning your threading paths."
He grabbed a piece of chalk and began sketching complex diagrams on the workbench surface, his hands moving with surprising delicacy. "See these angles? Orichalcum conducts mana most efficiently at thirty-seven and sixty-two degree turns. Your curves are creating resistance that bleeds off about fifteen percent of your input energy."
I studied his corrections carefully, immediately recognizing the brilliance of his insight. "So if I redesign the channel pathways to incorporate those specific angles..."
"Exactly! Now you’re thinking like a proper craftsman instead of an academy brat who thinks everything is solved by throwing more mana at problems."
We worked together for the next hour, with Jan providing guidance that went far beyond standard instruction. Of course in this hour, he helped other students too. His knowledge came from decades of practical experience with materials that most blacksmiths never even encountered.
"You’ve got a gift, boy," he said seriously during a break from the intense work. "Real talent that shows up maybe once in a generation. Most students struggle for a whole year to reach Tier 1 competency, whilst some never reach it, but you arrived already possessing those skills. It’s like you were born knowing how metal wants to be shaped."
"I had good foundational training" I deflected, unable to explain that the skills came from a daily reward system.
"Foundational training my aged arse," Jan snorted. "I’ve seen dozens of students with ’good foundations’ who couldn’t shape a decent horseshoe after months of practice. You understand the material on an intuitive level that can’t just be taught."
His voice took on a more serious tone. "That’s why it pains me to see you dividing your focus. If you dedicated yourself fully to blacksmithing, truly dedicated yourself, you could reach Tier 3 before you’re thirty. Maybe even Tier 4 in your lifetime. Do you understand what that means? There are only three Tier 4 blacksmiths in the entire kingdom."
"I appreciate the confidence, Master Jan. But combat skills are necessary for survival in this world."
"Bah! Survival? You’re the son of a Duke! Hire people to do your fighting while you create masterworks that will outlast kingdoms!" Despite his argumentative words, his expression showed he understood my position even if he disagreed with it. "But I suppose youngsters need to make their own mistakes. Just promise me you’ll keep working on your craft alongside all that sword-swinging nonsense."
"Of course. I promise, Master Jan."
Jan nodded his head in approval before turning to help a student that called for him.
Nearby, I could hear other students whispering among themselves, their voices carrying across the workshop despite attempts at discretion.
"Did you hear Master Jan praising Blackwood again? The old man barely acknowledges most of us here, but he treats Adrian like a prized apprentice."