(Riven POV – Hephaestus Familia Workshop)
The sword is taking shape.
Each swing of my arm sends the hammer crashing down with brutal force, the impact ringing through the workshop and rattling up my bones. Sparks scatter across the stone floor like dying stars as heat radiates from the blade in suffocating waves, while the metal is shaped with each blow.
My grip squeezes the metal, while the heat licks at my skin, but I ignore it.
I don't think about strength or technique—only timing.
GS supports me silently, a constant presence nudging me in the right direction. She adjusts my movements so minutely and perfectly, that it has allowed me to get this far.
A bit more force here, a slight change in angle, a delay or push here and there to catch the right timing for a strike.
I let it happen without resistance.
[Notice: Sword completion at 78%.]
'Good.' I slow my breathing, letting the rhythm settle into my body. The hammer rises, falls, then rises again. 'Let's not mess this up.'
[Answer: Affirmative.]
It would've been best if I let GS take control of my body and perfectly accomplish the task… but it would be way too obvious.
'My eyes turning red would be the biggest give away.'
Revealing Stomach was already pushing it. And that was only because Hestia trusts Hephaestus. At worst, it's a rare storage skill. Nothing too crazy.
GS, a sentient skill… isn't.
I'd never expose her to anyone, except Hestia, and even then, only if it was necessary or she asked.
The blade glows red as I slide it back into the furnace, watching it closely, and shifting my hand almost imperceptibly to ensure even heat distribution.
[Notice: Completion at 94%.]
'I'm almost there.'
I've long been aware of Hephaestus, frozen near the doorway, of Tsubaki's stiff silence beside her… but I don't let them distract me.
'This is the hard part.' My focus tightens until the rest of the workshop fades into the background.
The final quench.
According to GS's calculations, this is where I'm most likely to fail. Even the slightest mistake would cause microscopic warping inside the metal, and cause stress fractures that probably no one could ever find.
But they make all the difference between perfect and imperfect.
The water's ready.
I grip the sword with tongs, my free hand lifting a bucket packed with ice-cold water. The timing matters, and the temperature needs to be perfect.
I lower the blade into the quenching trough, and begin pouring the cold water, making sure they remain perfect in spite of everything.
Steam explodes upward violently, swallowing the world in a hissing roar. My vision's blocked, but my hands don't hesitate. GS ensures everything is under control, guiding the pour, adjusting the angle by fractions I can't consciously measure.
One breath.
Two.
Then I pull the blade free.
"Phew…" I exhale, rolling my shoulders as the steam clears.
The sword rests in my hands as the metal cools, its surface smooth and unblemished.
[Notice: Sword condition optimal. Maximum achievable quality reached.]
"Done." I appraise it, then shrug internally.
It's nothing special.
Unlike my GreatSword, it's made of iron. I didn't use Mithril, Adamantite, or any layering of different metals.
It's a plain, regular sword.
And even if that's what I believe…
"…Can you two calm down?" I say exasperatedly, turning and immediately realising my mistake.
Hephaestus and Tsubaki aren't looking at the blade.
They're staring at me.
Their eyes are glowing with something akin to hunger, like people finding a feast after starving for weeks. I take a step back without thinking.
They step forward.
"If you've got something to say," I frown, "just say it."
There's a moment of silence before Tsubaki explodes.
"You weren't kidding!" She grins, her words tumbling over each other. "What was that? What kind of technique even was that? You broke almost every forging rule in existence, and still somehow did it! Why did you heat it like that? And that quench—!"
Questions slam into me one after the other.
Why the rhythm. Why the timing. Why the lack of pattern. Why it worked.
Hephaestus doesn't interrupt, but I can feel her attention drilling into every answer I haven't given yet.
I raise a hand.
"Before that…" I say evenly. "We had a deal."
Tsubaki clicks her tongue. "Yeah, yeah. I'll sell you discounted ores if you actually forged a 'perfect' sword." She waves it off impatiently. "Just answer the questions first!"
I smile. "Alright."
I can explain it to them.
Whether they'll understand is another matter.
And whether they can replicate it…
That isn't even up for discussion.
(Hephaestus POV – Hephaestus Familia Workshop)
I fold my arms, staring at the sword resting on the anvil.
After two full hours of questions, clarifications, attempts at understanding his logic…
'This is where I've landed.'
"…Unbelievable." I murmur, breath leaving me in a tired huff.
It isn't that I can't understand what Riven did.
It's that there's nothing to understand.
No form, method, or sequence that could be written down and passed on. He hadn't followed a technique so much as… decided on an outcome, then used force and skill to achieve it.
He says he planned everything from beginning to end. Down to the smallest details…
'Is that even humanly possible?'
And somehow, he executed it despite all the environmental variables that would render it impossible.
"…So that's the gulf, huh?" I mutter, a quiet chuckle escaping me. "Talent that doesn't even leave room for imitation."
I glance at Tsubaki. She's still staring at the anvil, brows furrowed in deep thought, still trying to come to terms with it.
She's reached the same conclusion I have.
This path is his alone. No one else can replicate it.
The realization doesn't sting the way I expected.
If anything, it leaves me… energized.
I turn back to Riven.
"Riven." I say, keeping my voice even. He looks at me calmly. "Are you actually interested in forging?"
It's something that's been gnawing at me for a long time.
It seems to come so easily to him. He even has a skill that circumvents much of the difficulty… but he carries no pride or satisfaction despite his feats. He treats it almost like a chore, rather than an achievement.
'Either forging has long since stopped exciting him…' I think. 'Or it never did in the first place.'
He considers the question for a few seconds.
"Forging's more a means to an end. I like fighting and exploring." He says finally. "Weapons and armor are useful to achieve that, and it'd be stupid not to have them if I can. But while I don't hate forging, I don't particularly like it much either. It's just part of the process."
I nod slowly. 'What we call our purpose… what we strive our whole lives to achieve, is merely a step along his path.'
I find the idea both amusing and intriguing.
"That's a shame." I admit. "With your ability, I'd gladly welcome you into my Familia."
"That almost sounds like you're trying to poach me." He says with a teasing grin.
"If I were…" I reply mildly, tilting my head, "What would it take to have you?"
He laughs softly, shaking his head. "Sorry. I'm loyal to my Goddess, though I appreciate the offer."
Of course. We both know it wasn't serious, and I'd expect nothing else from him.
Hestia's first child, and her only one. I wouldn't want to hurt my friend by taking him from her, even if I could.
Still…
"Even so…" I continue. "Would you be willing to develop your skills further?"
His gaze sharpens. "In what way?"
I smile to myself.
"I can tell you've never had formal training." I say. "What you're doing works, but you could do much more and go further if you improved your skills."
He doesn't answer, so I add the hook. "And I can teach you how to give weapons attributes. There's a lot you can't learn by yourself."
That gets his attention.
"…I'm always happy to learn new things." He grins, before his smile fades to a calm one. "But I doubt you're offering this out of charity. What do you want in return?"
I meet his eyes without hesitation.
"I want to watch you grow." I say honestly. "And to learn from you while you do."
He studies me, clearly unconvinced.
"That can't be all."
"You underestimate how rare your perspective is." I reply, my voice steady. "I've spent millennia refining my skills, perfecting every smithing skill I've come across. But you don't follow any of them."
I let out a quiet breath.
"Seeing where you end up… that alone is worth my time. After all, we gods descended to have fun and learn new things. To see the boundless potential of mortals." I smile fondly. "And I've finally found a mortal I can learn from."
A long silence stretches between us.
Then he nods.
"…Alright." He says. "I'd like that."
He extends his hand, and I clasp it firmly.
"Good." I say, a smile tugging at my lips. "I'm looking forward to it."
And I mean it.
Because for the first time in a long while—
I don't know where this road leads, or where it'll end.
And that's far more exciting to me than any perfect blade could ever be.
***********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
Sorry for the delay, today was hectic🫠, and after finishing, I wasn't happy with how this chapter turned out initially, so I had to do some rewriting 😭. Originally, the forging scene felt too much like me just listing things. Wanted it to feel more lived in, if that makes sense? And hopefully it worked.
Actually, I'm quite happy with the decision. Especially Hephy's POV. Feel like I did her character justice. And I've set her up for her inevitable fall... Heh heh...
But, beyond that, GS was pulling in clutch. Although, I feel I should clarify, it's Riven doing most of the work in a sense. Consider it AI assisted forging💀🤣. GS is more showing him how to do stuff, he does it, and she adjusts it perfect. Auto-Battle or forge in this case would make his eyes red, and I wouldn't want to expose GS to anyone. At least, not anytime soon.
With this, the slice of life will be over soon. I'm thinking of arming him soon, especially armour. Any suggestions for designs? I plan to have different loadouts, but let's go with everyday armour and heavy armour. As for weapons, there'll just be a bunch for different scenarios.
But, that's all for later. Looking forward to any suggestions you guys come up with😁.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead, and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
But that's all from me. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day/night😁😁😁!