Tia and Ben left the two guarding the large marble stonewood door to the dining room, while they returned inside to join the rest of the family.
Once they were seated at the expansive handcrafted table made from dark tinted wood, they discussed among themselves the designs and specifics of the weapons based on the information they had gathered.
Neither of them noticed everyone seated around the table and the few servants standing by had stopped to focus on the two of them as they diligently worked on their projects.
Ben focused more on the structure and the materials to forge the weapons so they would be durable enough to last some time, while Tia would let her artistic side blossom as her creativity bloomed to create several drafts of each weapon iteration they'd somewhat agreed on.
She didn't want the weapons to remain plain or seem bland before a foe, since appearances could turn the tide in a battle, based on everything the Adventurers would say when visiting the workshop to repair the equipment.
Ben and Tia argued over different values in crafting and creative aspects until the others around the table felt they needed to step in once the argument heated up.
Before Liz, Gloria, Kaz or the others could step in, they were stopped by Val, who quickly assured them it was all part of the children's pathway as Blacksmiths and shouldn't be interrupted.
.
"Leave them be.
It's important to argue your values as blacksmiths, especially when working together like the two of them.
They need to define their own principles within the work they are crafting together since they can learn from each other's Smithing philosophy so they can meld their concepts together to forge an item together.
Hopefully they can also learn from this experience and improve their own Smithing skills.
It's an important step which typically occurs later in life as Blacksmiths don't often work together to forge equipment but when it rarely happens it turns out to be a great opportunity to develop one's own strength and creative ability."
The two of them continued to sketch away at the compromised design plan that helped ease the tension on Vals face, so much he was smiling brightly watching his daughter happily working away with his disciple, even if moments ago they were close to ripping each other's hair out.
Val felt a bit sad over the fact he could not give his daughter a joyful childhood without tension and carefree of any issues, but his past and work didn't allow for that to happen.
The guilt always ate away, even more so since his daughter started eagerly focusing on the same career path as himself.
Val never wanted her to experience the cruel side of humanity, especially its greed.
He'd suffered a great deal in his past, so Val hoped to prevent the same path for his daughter and instead let her study mostly alone, hoping she would eventually give up on the craft.
Val was close to achieving his goal…
That was until his newest disciple came and sparked her passion for the craft to greater heights than it had been before, pushing her to constantly strive to further her own Smithing abilities.
Val eventually realised he couldn't leave her to work alone anymore and that he needed to make more of an effort with his daughter, rather than ignoring her decisions and choices if they didn't go the way he expected or chose for her.
Watching Ben and Tia was plenty of evidence to showcase to Val that his choices were wrong to influence her on another path.
Instead, he felt glad to see his legacy pass onto Tia instead of Ben.
Val knew it would be difficult to even try and guide Ben onto this path as his Imperial Royal blood destined him for greater ambitions in life and goals than simply being a Smith.
His blood was far too potent to take on a lowly craft when Ben could instead train and study to lead the Plano Ranges and more.
Ben already had a legacy that he carried deep in his blood, so Val thought about his own blood and his beautiful daughter that was trying to forge her own future along the same path as his own, though a little skewed and safer.
Val was glad he finally made the right choice.
.
"Hey!
The both of you, show me what you have done so far…"
Kaz curiously asked as he felt intrigued by the overzealous Ben and Tia working on the pile of scrap sheets that laid around them on the dining table.
The City Lord of Alynthn randomly grabbed one of the scrap sheets across the table earlier to find random thoughts, details, and roughly sketched designs that left him with many thoughts which occupied his mind up until now.
Kaz couldn't quite understand everything written, therefore calling for the two to find some answers for the rumbling thoughts in his mind.
Ben and Tia decided to show Kaz some of their freshly sketched drafts for one of the Withering Roses guys based on everything they had found out so far from their interview with Lue and Drav, including their input on the other members of the Adventurer party group.
It helped the young Smiths achieve a basic idea on the direction they wanted to move ahead for the other members of the Adventurer party group they'd yet to interview.
.
After looking over the draft, Kaz still felt puzzled by the intricacies of the equipment and labelling done by the two young Smiths, leaving him to wonder if he should ask a question or not.
He really didn't want to say anything to only appear ignorant before the two young Smiths, only to be belittled by them for showing such lack of care and considering for their craft.
However, Ben was quite forthcoming with what they had designed so far, saving Kaz the loss of face.
"It's a wrist guard for Roth to use.
Since he is predominately an archer, he needs to be as lightweight as possible, especially since Roth's current attire is heavy plated armour, restricting his movements largely so he isnt able to make the most of his abilities.
In fact, everyone is quite restricted in their specialties, either by the lack of movement the equipped armour affords them, or the quality of the materials used to forge their weapons lacked the strength and capabilities to last, instead of causing a continuous burden on finances."
Ben calmy explained the draft sketched onto the scrap sheets in Kaz hands before Tia pinched him to quieten up.
"*Mmhm* That's right, so we decided to rebuild their attire from the scratch up.
With Roth, we are focusing on lightweight armour that allows for as much movement and flexibility as possible, while protecting all the key parts of his body."
The young Smiths didn't go into too much depth during their short explanation since their minds were focused too deeply into their work.
Neither knew it just yet, but their words were enough to cause Kaz and the others to reel back in their seats, astonished at the vision of the kids.
It was both earthshattering with tremendous benefits, but dangerous enough to possibly leave the Withering Rose party members in a precarious situation if the equipment wasn't up to the standard to protect them.
Worst case, the attire could hinder the progression of the strength enhancing or improving, leading to even greater consequences.
.
Unsatisfied by Ben and Tia's answer, Kaz wanted to ask another question, but Gloria interrupted his train of thought and spoke ahead of him.
"How could Roth possibly afford that?
I do not mean to stop you two, now that you're on a roll, but to procure the required materials to create a lightweight armour for example isn't quite possible.
Even for Baronies throughout the Kros Empire, much less for an adventurer or their party group, materials aren't easy to find especially with the nobles' tight hold on resources.
Regardless of the cost, lightweight materials aren't easily bought from the market districts you see in the city or acquirable in any other market around here.
Instead, you need to deal with a third party that can get the materials or go to the source itself and get it yourself.
Unless you have found someone who will sell those materials to you at an incredibly low cost, I really don't know how it's possible to follow plans of your design draft."
Tia really wanted to rebut Glorias words, but she froze…
She didn't want to reveal Ben's ability.
The sudden change of her mood and expression made Gloria think she had broken her spirit.
Gloria moved over to Tia's side and held her in caringly in her arms while she tried to cheer up her mood.
"I'm so sorry honey, I didn't mean to crush your project, but we don't have the current capabilities to buy those materials.
I promise we can try and find some way to ge-"
"Actually, Lady Byazan -"
"Please, Val just call me Gloria.
We are all family now, after all."
"*Mmhm* Ahh yes, of course.
Um what I wanted to say was that we have a source that can get us those materials at a low cost."
Awkward silence filled the room, as Gloria stared suspiciously at Val.
She felt a little puzzled how Val had a source who was so idiotic that it made Gloria feel a little tense all of a sudden.
By accident and shock and moderately strangled Tia in a tight hug.
Tia fought and squirmed as much as she possibly could until Gloria realised what she was doing and immediately calmed down.
As she continuously apologizing to Tia until the poor child's ears went red, Gloria tried her best to process Val's words.
.
"If you don't mind Val, can I ask who the source is and how did you achieve a connection with such an individual?
Especially since we are out here on in the Plano Ranges, where the likelihood to find lightweight materials is near impossible.
Ever since I've been the City Lord, I have tried mercilessly to find someone who could supply our Noble House directly and the city itself.
You, Val, know better than anyone how vital it is for us know someone of such value who could kickstart the future development of the city and possibly the rest of the Plano Ranges."
Kaz spoke, leaning closer and closer to Val.
He already knew of Val's possible capabilities as a Smith, but he always felt it was a lost cause to try and bring the Smith over to his side since he arrived in the city mentally and physically broken with a small child in his arms.
Kaz still kept tabs on him from time to time, hoping Kaz could find his old form again, that's why he felt a little puzzled as Val hadn't met anyone or gone anywhere beside staying in his workshop or visiting the market to purchase supplies.
Other than that, Kaz informants long told him that there wasn't anything else to the Smith nor any significant connection with a powerful individual who could in turn be a rare materials supplier.
"I can't say anything without their permission Kaz.
Even you know that.
Regardless of our current standing and association, I won't give out their name."
"But the possibilities would be endless!
Not only for the city but imagine what it could do for 'His' Household!
You can't tell me you're against helping-"
Ben interrupted Kaz suddenly after noticing the anxious faces of Tia and Val.
He originally thought about hiding his ability from the rest once Val and Tia knew somewhat about his Transmutation ability, but Ben really wanted to be open with everyone that had gathered around the dining table.
Ben trusted them enough to believe none of them would harm him or tell others of his secrets, so he decided to tell everyone before Kaz pushed Val too far.
.
"Uncle Kaz…
Ahh I don't know how to say this, but I've got this special ability…"
Ben went on to explain the current capabilities of his Transmutation ability with everyone, as Val and Tia both pointed out certain details and functions they'd come to discover through trial and error the night before.
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