The forge glowed with the lingering warmth of morning fires, the air heavy with the scent of molten metal and oil. Hunnt wiped soot from his brow, eyes still fixed on the steel he had just shaped. Sparks glimmered as he set the piece aside, giving a small nod to himself—everything aligned, balanced, precise.
Coerl cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Hunnt, Elara," he said, voice steady but firm, "today, your lessons will diverge."
Elara blinked, stepping closer, curiosity mixed with nervousness. Hunnt didn't look at her, hammer poised over his next piece of steel, waiting. The quiet tension in the forge felt almost physical, the contrast between Hunnt's focus and Elara's cautious energy palpable.
Coerl moved between them, gesturing to two separate workstations. "Hunnt," he said, placing a fragment of monster bone on his bench, "you have mastered basic steel forging well. Today, you will begin working with advanced materials: monster bone, scales, and hide. Each material is unique, and you must learn their properties—how they bend, break, or reinforce steel. Treat them carefully; force them incorrectly, and they fail. You've already combined these before, but now I expect you to push further. Learn how to integrate their strength into your weapons."
Hunnt's dark eyes flicked to the fragment, his fingers itching to pick up the hammer. "Yes, sir," he said quietly. His movements were controlled, precise, and calm, a stark contrast to the almost bubbling curiosity in Elara's gaze.
Coerl turned to Elara. "You, my granddaughter, will focus on the fundamentals today. Rhythm, hammering, and precision. Every strike must be deliberate, controlled, and confident. You will not touch monster materials yet—you need a foundation first. Strong hands, steady eyes, and correct form are essential before you can shape bones or scales into a weapon. One day, you will handle them—but not yet."
Elara's shoulders stiffened. She wanted to protest, wanted to try her hand at the exotic materials Hunnt had already handled, but Coerl's tone left no room for argument. She glanced at Hunnt, sparks flying from his bench, and a flicker of envy passed through her. One day… I'll be able to do that, too, she thought.
Coerl placed a set of steel bars and small tools on her workstation. "Listen to the rhythm of the hammer," he instructed. "Feel the steel, feel its response. Every strike is a conversation. Understand it, or you will break more than the metal."
Hunnt lifted his hammer over the bone fragment, striking carefully. Sparks flared, reflecting off the steel and scales. He bent, tapped, and shaped the material, learning how the bone absorbed and redirected force when fused with steel. Each strike was purposeful, each movement calculated to reinforce his understanding of both materials and technique.
Elara mirrored the motion at her station, hammering iron bars into shape under Coerl's watchful eyes. Her movements were careful, rhythmic, and precise. Though she didn't yet touch monster materials, she could feel the foundation being built in her arms and hands, the steady beat of learning becoming ingrained in her muscles.
Coerl moved between the two of them, offering a word of advice here, a small correction there. "Hunnt, notice the angle, the absorption of impact. Elara, keep your wrist straight and your strike consistent. One day, both of you will forge weapons that others only dream of wielding—but it starts with respect for the basics."
Hours passed in quiet concentration. Hunnt's station glimmered with fragments of bone and steel fused together, each piece a testament to control, strength, and careful experimentation. Elara's workstation, while simpler, was alive with the rhythm of repeated strikes, each one honing her steadiness and skill.
By the time the afternoon sun filtered through the forge windows, both were absorbed in their respective tasks, side by side but worlds apart in focus. The forge hummed with energy—different sparks, different lessons—but all under the same roof.
Coerl stepped back, observing them with pride. "Remember this: one day, your paths may cross again in ways you cannot yet imagine. For now, respect your own path, strengthen your hands, and understand the materials you touch. The forge teaches patience, discipline, and foresight. Ignore that, and your weapons—and yourself—will falter."
Hunnt bent lower over his integrated materials, sparks dancing across his determined features. Elara's hammer fell in steady rhythm, her eyes narrowed in concentration. Two students, different lessons, one forge. And in that shared space, the foundation for extraordinary skills—and perhaps extraordinary teamwork—was quietly being laid.
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✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm excited to share my brand-new novel with you: Final Fantasy: The Unwritten.
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