Evren had Joseph ask the townsfolk if anyone wanted to learn gem cutting and jewelry making. Evren would show the basics, but it would be up to the person to master the art. Evren had plenty of mana gems of various colors to be used as practice material. One person stepped forward; a man named Antrias. Fortunately, he was eager and quick to learn. One of the books was a catalogue of inventory for the jewelry shop in Plinth, done by the owner. It showed the cut on all the gems he had cut along with any special properties of the gem. Evren guessed it was a way of keeping accountability of the gems he cut. I didn't show how the cuts were made or describe them though.
It did give the names of the gems along with the picture. To give an example, and because he wanted to try himself, Evren cut the two gems he was going to use for Walter's sword with a simple 'emerald' cut with a flat bottom. Once Evren finished the two stones, he went over the engraving process using the reducer.
Once Antrias had been shown everything, Evren gave him half of all the mana gems of every color that he had and told him to 'have fun.' To help motivate the man he pulled some inspirational quotes from out of thin air, "Remember, you don't make mistakes, it's the gem telling you how it should be cut." The man's eyes sparkled when Evren said that, and it was all he could do to keep a smile off his face.
Before Evren left, Antrias asked, "Should I make a book like this one?"
Evren looked at the book and then at the excited Antrias and said, "Yes, definitely. I don't know if I have any blank books right now, as I still have to go through what people found, but if I don't have one, I'll try to find a way to make one."
The man said, "I don't know how to write though."
Evren shook his head, "You don't need to know how to write right away. Just draw what you cut and when you learn to write later, you can go back and write it in."
Antrias' eyes went wide at the brilliance of the idea and nodded. He started fishing through the piles of gems until he found a gem he wanted to start with. Evren had already been forgotten.
Evren left and headed to Levi. He wanted to get some of the clay he had used in the making of the forge's fire bricks to make a crucible. He wanted it to have runes on it so it would be able to withstand the high temperatures needed to melt adamantium. The runes would be similar to the ones used in the forge in that they would focus the heat further inward. The crucible itself would be enchanted to be tougher and resistant to heat.
Evren used celestial bronze to inlay the runes with, as even though it is soft and easily manipulated, it has an incredibly high melting temperature. He would also shave some of the celestial bronze off and mix it into the clay. When he was done, he would fire it in the forge and let it rest in the furnace as it cooled down. He needed Levi's help in this as he needed to get the forge as hot as it could for as long as they could stand it.
The first thing Evren would be making with the crucible would be the blanks for the chisels and files he wanted to make. Once they were made, he would do the casting for Walter's sword.
"Hey, Evren, are you paying attention?" Evren looked at Walter and said, "No."
Both got a laugh out of that and then Evren apologized, "I'm sorry, I was thinking about your sword."
Walter nodded and said, "I see, continue doing that, but also pay attention to what you're doing."
Evren shrugged and took up his stance. "Evren, have you thought about making another sword, one that can use two hands?"
Evren looked down at the sword in his hand, and said, "I've thought about making the handle on this a little longer, but that'd take a lot of work, and I may as well make a new sword. But I think I'm just more comfortable with one hand holding the sword instead of two. I suppose that goes back to my knife fighting roots."
Walter half nodded, half shrugged, and said, "I guess we can just keep converting my two-handed style to your one-handed style.
"Oh, since you were thinking about my sword, when do you think you'll start to work on it?" Walter asked.
Evren replied, "After I make the tools. I'll be starting them tomorrow afternoon when Levi's workload is less. Once I cast the blanks, I won't need to use the forge until it's time to harden them, so the only thing holding me up is the casting."
"Sounds good. I think tomorrow we should go to the dungeon to fight your skeletons for some practical sessions." Walter said.
Evren nodded, "Ok good. I've been wanting to get some combat practice in."
At training that afternoon, the two boys from town, Liam and Ethan, joined them for the first time. Today they would be reviewing the spells they've previously learned for the boys and teach them the light spell. The boys were eager to learn, and tried really hard, but their youth was the disadvantage in teaching. At least for Evren. He needed assistance from the others in the class to get the boys to learn how to cast the light spell.
Instead of going over words following the learning of the spell, Evren went into the practical uses of the spells, and the different ways in which the spells could be used. The scroll case flash light was well received by the others, as was casting the spell on a lamp or a candle so that it could be moved easily. Evren didn't go over combat situations with the boys in class though.
After the class was over, the boys said how much they wanted to continue learning spells and Joseph promised them as soon as they finished, they would go out and help the rest of the townsfolk who wanted to learn magic.
After class, Evren headed to Levi to talk to him about tomorrow's usage of the forge and to check on the crucible that had been left to cool down. It seemed the crucible was finished, but Evren wanted it to finish cooling down completely and rested before using. He spoke with Levi about miscellaneous things before heading home for the day.
The next morning, after their exercises, Evren and Walter headed down to the 20th floor. They left the boss's chamber and headed to the passageway leading to the 21st floor. As they proceeded and the theme of the dungeon changed to that of a cemetery, Walter said, "You're right, this gets eerie. Are all of the undead levels like this?"
Evren shook his head, and said, "No, it turns into a crypt when you get to the ghosts."
"Ghosts?" Walter asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to avoid those levels at all costs." Evren replied.
"That bad?" Walter asked.
Evren looked to Walter and said, "Not only could I not sense them, but they would also possess me and drain me of strength and stamina."
Walter stopped at the gate and stared at it for a moment then turned back to Evren, "Evren?"
Evren smiled and said, "I know what you're going to ask, no it didn't fit."
"Then how?" Walter asked.
Evren shrugged, "I had to empty it completely and then lift it over the fence."
Walter looked at the fence and then walked over to it, touching it. He shook his head in disbelief and walked back to the gate, "Amazing." He stepped inside the gate and looked around.
As Walter stood there waiting on Evren, Evren said, "Incoming." while gesturing with his chin over Walter's shoulder. Walter turned around and smoothly drew his blade. He cut the skeleton from shoulder to hip and watched as it fell to the ground. He turned around to Evren and was about to say something when he noticed Evren shaking his head. Walter turned back around and noticed the skeleton was dragging itself forward. He looked back to Evren surprised.
As Evren passed through the gate, he said, "Gotta take out the head." Walter nodded in understanding and swung his sword down behind him, shattering the skull of the skeleton. Evren said, "Get your mana gem." Walter turned around to see the skeleton dissolving and a milky white mana gem lying on the ground. He picked it up and dropped it in his pouch after putting his sword away.
"First, we need to find one with a sword, then you will spar with it. Try to keep your form and technique clean, and don't worry about the kills for now. Remember to tie your attacks into your defenses. Each time you move your sword, you should be able to counter attack. Feel the blade against yours and guide it to your next attack. Remember to protect yourself on your retreat.
Evren nodded and went to go find a skeleton with a sword.