Chapter 29: Test: Stage Smithing
Beginning the third stage was easily understood. Listen to fake customers, then proceed to smith what they want - with the help of a better smith teaching me.
Wouldn't be any test if there wasn't a special thing, making it different from learning smithing usually. I got to determine, whether the one I smith for had good intentions - and to be strong enough to use leprechaun metals.
Mythril was the best human material, but it was way easier to smith with than any of the magical ores the leprechauns had. Those were hard for me to bend, even with utmost strength.
Without the tools the smith gave me, I would stand no chance of completing a single order. If I took one.
The first three orders were all declined, all concealing their real intentions. I doubt any of them have good intentions, if they don't want to tell me. The first order taking my interest was to craft a pickaxe, able to mine... the equivalent would be enchanted glass, I suppose.
It was a clear metal, very hard and unbendy - not really good for mining. It was way too fast in breaking, due to it's lacking stability. I didn't believe the 'customer' obviously, so I asked further details to get a better impression what he really wanted. After around five questions, Laurin stands in and asks me directly.
L:" Would you smith a weapon for him?"
Ce:" No. His real intention is hidden, even though he might say he wants to mine. The ore isn't any good for a pickaxe."
Laurin nods respectfully and calls the next one in. As every one I served sits down in the room I'm in, it is getting kind of full. And warm, we had no windows after all. The winds would make some of the metallurgy done here porous. So it does make sense to shut them down.
There were a few more customers trying the same thing, asking for a hoe, a pickaxe, a hunting bow and butchers knife. The one asking for a hoe wanted it to be... trapped lava, a very bendy, but also unstable material. It would burn the plants in the first place, instead of actually helping the field.
The chrysalis pickaxe would've been understandable, but the use he told me was bullshit. Mining simple enchanted glass ore, god that sounds awful, with such a high grade material was dumb. But I did smith his order. There was nothing for him to get for lying to me, so I just did it.
The bow and knife order were actually both placed by the same guy, calling it for hunting and self nourishment purposes. The material he chose was very easy to process and actually useful in hunting, as it was easy to poison. But it was just as good in poisoning people so I was careful.
I asked for more details once again, like his hunting targets, his hunting grounds and who he had to nourish. He started to sweat slightly as I asked what he was hunting.
No one else noticed, but I could smell it. I didn't proceed with his order and got him out. This time Lauring asked my why I didn't take the order. I explained my thoughts, he didn't seem to really understand.
Apparently, he placed this order to be done and wanted to see my reaction on a bad roleplay. He wanted the customer to instantly feign to stab him, just to see what I would do.
I obviously prevented that, so they had no real way to blame me. They didn't need any further testing, I suppose. I mean, Laurin almost dragged me along to the festival.
The festival was pretty long, aroundfour hours of drinking, laughing and eating - for others. I was forced to answer the kings questions about my home and my family. He meant the capital and the royalty, not the village, so I wasn't too happy to talk about it.
Questions like: How mighty was your family? What was your own abilities at? How many servants did you have? How did you treat your servants? And more detailed ones got thrown at me.
I answered honestly, not hiding my brothers doings. I also explained what I did and Laurin began to whisper to a musician. He got them to play a sad story for me. Damn, no! My life wasn't sad, but furious!
Ce:" I wasn't really sad back then. I was angry, with a slight touch of hatred. A sad song doesn't suit my story."
The sovereign looked perplex, but did indeed change his wish. The warsong he brought up was about mighty warriors, their losses and their inacceptance towards defeat. The song got louder and happier, the stronger the warriors got the better the song sounded, until one of the warriors had their final defeat.
After that, the sound changed slowly. The story now telling about the kingdoms of the warriors. The dead warriors kingdom fell, slowly corrupting the others from the outside and the downfall of civilisation. The song got slower and slower.
I looked at Laurin, asking myself if this was the end, but he shook his head.
Later, the song was completely silent. The last warriors kingdom was corrupted. But the descendants such as followers and their decendants from the old warriors were still alive.
The song swung up again, now painting pictures of revolution, hardfought fights and at the end, a wonderful kingdom without a king. Society was able to deal with their problems alone.
I didn't really realise, but the song might have applied to the current situation. What I didn't notice awell was that I started crying. Like actually crying. Laurin got me away to the residence area. He got me inside of... my? house and laid me down. He told me that he understood, and to rest.
Weekly Power Status
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