Opening the door to the blacksmiths, I see it’s completely empty inside and even Samantha is nowhere in sight. Making my way to the back I see that while everything is on it’s empty.

“Hello”

Hearing no response I walk over to the whetstone and pull out my little dagger, Having had this dagger for nearly two years its been made blunt a couple times in the past and, while I’ve never been interested in the forging process, Dastreal has advised me that it’s not a bad Idea to learn how to sharpen the blades myself.

Sitting in front of the whetstone I first apply some oil to help with the friction, then I begin to draw my dagger along the stone, somewhere during the process I feel a presence behind me but decide to just continue as Rafael is on guard for any trouble.

After some time the dagger was as good as new, but I'm still a bit unsatisfied. Unable to clear my head properly I look behind me to see the dwarf standing there, a big smile on his face.

“You seem lost, Joseph”

“Hmm, I just need more knives.” I’ve recently loved being in here, since my father banned the forest, the heat and the atmosphere would always help me relax. And, in the end, I don’t want to stay cooped up in the mansion my whole life.

“haha, I wonder what the lord would do if he found out you were working in the forge for free. Nevermind, I think it’s time for you to advance in the forge.”

“Dastreal, I’ve told you many times, I have no interest in the forge.”

“ I know, you just want to release stress and relax. But I think you’ll at least enjoy this process a little bit.” With an unfitting wink he ushers me into a different part of the factory.

Being led over to the hottest part, the forge, I begin to sweat heavily. Looking back at Rafael I see that he is a comfortable distance away, relaxed and fanning his face. Honestly I can’t wait for the day I reach B rank to teach him a lesson.

“There are many ways to make a weapon and to become a master you have to learn them all, but instead I’ll just teach you the technique that I find the most relaxing.” I watch as he pulls out a metal beam and puts it into the forge. “Now we wait until the metal is hot and malleable, then we remove the metal, reshape it with our forging hammer until it cools. After that it’s just rinse and repeat.”

I know I can’t keep the look of stupidity off my face, but really, it just seems so inefficient. “I know what you’re thinking brat, yes this takes a lot of time and that's why we have other methods that are quicker, but why do you think this is the first method taught?”

Noticing my blank face Dastreal continues his lecture, “*sigh* I guess you just weren't meant to be a blacksmith, this method allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the material you’re using, its strength, its flexibility and so on. That's also why it’s what you should learn, after all you need to know your own weapons breaking point no?”

Listening to Dastreal I begin to see the meaning behind his words, and as if on cue he removes the metal and I can see it’s bright yellow. “ Now Joseph, pick up the hammer and shape the metal.”

With the hammer in hand I move over to the forge, taking over from dastreal I grip the tongs with my left hand and raise the hammer above my head.

*Clang*

*Clang*

*Clang*

I feel like time slows down with every slam, I begin to understand my strength. How much power to put into every strike, not too much to deform the metal and not too little to do nothing. I feel the limits of the metal, how far it’ll stretch before breaking and how brittle it becomes the more I shape it.

Feeling the pain in my hands and arms from this process isn’t enough for me to stop, I want to change it more. Turn the steel into a weapon, a piece of kitchen equipment or anything. I just wanted to feel the result of making something, I could feel my face beginning to morph in a mixture of a smile and strain as I pushed myself to the limits.

QI, I need to use QI. Using my QI I hit harder and more precisely, the metal doesn’t shake as much and the hits don’t damage as much as change. I smell the forge up close now, it’s much stronger right above the forge but I still somehow smell fresh, I can even taste the Iron in my mouth. I see the sparks of light that are coming with the bang of the hammer sounding like thunder and lightning, in normal circumstances I would flinch away, but I don’t want to miss a second of this. I can feel the weapon, my weapon, It’s not much, a long bit of steel that has been hammered into a sword like shape, no bite at all.

Almost by instinct I take my weapon and put it into the water bucket nearby, and in a haze take my now cool metal over to the whetstone to pick up where I left off. In a trance I sharpened my weapon to completion. Staring at my now shining weapon I know it’s probably not going to last long in combat, but I’m proud, turning to face Rafael I see an unusual shocked expression on his face alongside dastreal who just has a relaxing grin.

“What’s wrong?” voicing my concern I don’t think it’s that impressive what I’ve just done.

“Joseph congratulations on becoming an E rank.” Almost like it was his own achievement Dastreal stands straight and proud, while Rafael looks to be deep in thought. I’m just a bit confused. It didn't feel like my usual advancement, the feeling of being able to use QI more effectively in a specific part of the body is different from this as I feel like my whole body is QI.

“OK, Joseph we need to leave, Dastreal I thank you for your guidance but we have to return to the house.” With a more stern look on his face Rafael calls for my return to the house, unable to refuse such an order all I can do is comply.

“Sorry Dastreal, I’ll be back another day, we'll go for a drink.”

“ hahaha, you brat wanting to drink with a dwarf, I’ll give you the honour just tell me when and where, till the next time.”

Quickly leaving the blacksmiths, I stare confused at Rafael, I’ve just advanced and he ushers me out of there to take me back home.

“I know you’re confused, but, upon advancing into QI teacher you need to get used to having QI circulate throughout your whole body and there are things I need to teach you in private while everythings fresh.”

Quickly walking through the rain, I feel the cold overtaking me, the sound of rain hitting my coat is vibrating through my ear. I think I understand his thoughts, after all, my senses are in overload now and I feel like my QI is shooting throughout my body uncontrollably. With my QI being used up so quickly I know it’s only an amount of time before I’m empty and I’ll soon faint after that.

*splash*

Hearing something to my left I see a man dressed in a black overclock, with long black hair draped down his hidden face, walking with a slight limp in his left leg, he seems to be making his way into the slum district. Something like this wouldn’t usually catch my eye but there was something different about this man, alongside the fact I could see that he was carrying a sword in the streets. Something about him seemed familiar.

“Rafael”

Feeling my strength slowly leaves me. I know I can’t even ask Rafael to grab the stranger, I really want to know what he’s doing. Lifting my hand to point at him hoping Rafael will get the hint but it seems pointless as I feel him pick me up and as soon as he’s carrying me I feel sleep take me.