It was the afternoon. The streets of the [Astral Sky Sect] were filled with people of all kinds of races, humans included. In an area dedicated to the low-level cultivators, there was a very popular blacksmithing shop.
It was not because the wares were incredibly good or something similar; it had yet to sell anything. However, this shop was personally set up by Yasenia Dravory, the Sect Master of the Astral Sky Sect and Alliance Leader of the Astral Sky Alliance. She was a living legend who managed to unify the World at 60 years of age.
Inside this shop, there were three people: a powerful-looking fire spirit, a tall and tanned woman with an exquisite body that seemed crafted for war without losing an ounce of femininity, and a red-winged, beautiful Phoenix beast human.
The people in the shop were looking at the tanned and tall woman with all kinds of eyes. Everyone knew that she was Andrea Dravory, one of Yasenia's Dravory's mates. By Andrea's side, a World-level powerhouse, Embera, stood. She was also globally known as the most powerful fire attribute user.
Both powerhouses looked at the Phoenix Woman with serious faces, while that woman held a hammer and a few chunks of metal. Andrea Dravory spoke to the woman. "Flame, you are going to craft your first sword now without any assistance. I will not even give you vocal hints. You will do everything from start to finish, okay?"
Flame, the beautiful and now mature woman, nodded. "Okay, Aunty Andrea."
Embera smiled. "Don't be too nervous, child. Your control over fire is superb for your age. Just do it as usual, and a sword will appear before your eyes even before you realize it."
"Thank you, Aunty Embera."
Flame laughed, her beautiful face nurtured by the Dravory Family's nourishment, looking radiant and gorgeous enough to make a few young men blush.
Andrea smiled and patted her shoulder. "Go. You can do it. Also, if you feel a bit bothered by the gazes, tell me."
Everyone outside tensed, but Flame shook her head. Her face glowed with determination and confidence. "It doesn't matter. The eyes of other people should not affect my performance, so I don't mind them looking."
Andrea smirked and caressed her head. "Good. That's a perfect answer."
A few older people outside nodded with approval. "A good young woman indeed. It seems that the Dravory family will welcome another genius to their ranks."
"Indeed. I would love to ask how they do it."
"Right? Everyone in that family is gorgeous to the point that they seem like another species altogether."
A woman said admiringly. "Even Lady Evelyn, who at first didn't seem that outstanding, has become increasingly gorgeous. The other day, I almost couldn't recognize her."
Andrea looked over and smiled. "Be careful about Evelyn's comments. Our resident dragoness is very sensitive to those kinds of words."
That woman paled and placed her hands over her mouth. Andrea laughed. "Don't worry, nothing will happen for a few comments. Moreover, I can tell the intent behind them is good-natured."
The woman saw Andrea's smile, and her paling face flushed with incredible swiftness. "Y-Yes, Lady Andrea. I'll be careful."
Meanwhile, Flame had ignored everything around her and focused on hitting the metal with her hammer. Instead of an oven, Flame took a deep breath and blew, releasing a powerful flame that illuminated the workshop.
"Woah!"
"She is using her own flames to heat up the metal!?"
An older blacksmith who had come to see muttered. "Incredible. To do that, being talented is not enough. An absolute genius!"
Andrea nodded to herself. For herself, before she got the [Star Born Searing Flame], doing what Flame was doing was impossible. Her control over her Sun element was not nearly enough.
Flame was a pure fire-attributed Phoenix beast human taught by a Fire Spirit since she was a child. For her, controlling her flames was easier than breathing. Her fire control was completely off the charts. It was to the point that Kali wanted to teach her alchemy because she would become extremely talented in the craft.
Still, ultimately, Flame chose blacksmithing. Both were completely viable paths, so nobody opposed her choice, even if Kali sent Flame a few sad glances, which almost made her will bend.
As Flame worked on the sword, her body began sweating. Controlling the fire with the precision needed to craft a Spirit-Ranked sword for someone her age was incredibly exhausting.
Even when her movements were clearly not smooth, and her technique needed a lot of refinement, the people outside who knew about blacksmithing were stunned.
"Isn't she just 20 years old?"
"I heard that she had been practicing blacksmithing for less than two years."
"She already has this level of technique at 20 years of age? When she reaches 200… Wow, I can't even imagine it."
A keen blacksmith squinted and asked. "Have you noticed her hammering technique? While it is rough, look closely."
The blacksmiths looked closely and were surprised. "Her accuracy is incredible. How many times has she swung the hammer?"
The process continued for a while, and after 4 hours, Flame finished. She was breathing roughly and was drenched in sweat, making her look like a rose that had been recently watered.
Many couldn't help but gulp.
Andrea looked at the sword and smiled. "What do you think, Flame?"
Flame looked at the sword she created with large, blinking eyes. "Um… I don't know. L-Let me analyze it."
Flame focused on the sword's aura, and she looked at Andrea with a questioning gaze. "U-Um, it is middle-level Spirit Rank?"
Andrea grinned and stepped forward, hugging the phoenix girl and laughing. "That's right, you little girl. You've done an excellent job!"
The blacksmiths outside exclaimed. "Hey, the first sword is middle-level Spirit Rank!?"
"Impossible!"
"I couldn't reach the spirit rank in my crafts until ten years into blacksmithing!"
"She is incredible."
Seeing Andrea's proud face, Flame felt a rush of joy and laughed. "Thank you, Aunty Andrea!"
Then, she took the sword and placed it on one of the stands. She paused and asked Andrea. "Um, what about the pricing?"
Andrea was about to speak when one blacksmith walked forward. "Miss Flame! I am willing to buy it for ten mid-ranked Parus!"
The heroic woman blinked a few times. 'Ten mid-ranked Parus for a Spirit-rank sword? That's like 10,000 times its price.'
Spirit Swords were a little better than mortal-ranked swords. So, usually, they sold for 100 Flawed Parus. Those of middle-level quality could reach around 1 Low-ranked Parus. Ten mid-ranked Parus were 10,000 Low-Ranked Parus. So, it was 10,000 times their worth.
However, before Flame could react, another person said. "That's the first sword created by a future blacksmith master, and you offer ten measly mid-rank Parus? I offer 1 High-Rank Parus!"
Andrea almost choked. 'T-That's what low-level Earth Ranked items go for!'
Flame was stunned and stuttered. "S-Sir, this is a mid-level Spirit Sword. U-Um, are you sure? That kind of money is quite a fortune."
The man nodded with a sincere smile. "Of course! While it is indeed a lot, that sword is a treasure crafted by Miss Flame! The first one at that!"
Flame looked down at her sword and pondered. "Sir, how about I sell it to you for the standard price? I don't want my crafts to be treated that differently because they are mine until I become a blacksmith who deserves that kind of money." Flame looked at the crowd with a smile. "I can understand that many of you want this sword. However, I want the items in my shop to be sold at their actual value. To be honest, I lack no money, so I am doing this shop as a way to make affordable wares for everyone."
Flame laughed. "If I wanted to sell it for a lot of money, I could give it to Aunty Yasenia, hahaha."
Andrea lifted an eyebrow from the back and commented. "Flame, while those intentions are good, that man's intentions are similarly good. He must've seen what kind of tools you were using, and this extra money is like a little help for you to buy better equipment. You asked Yasenia and me that you wanted a real start, so we've given you spirit-ranked tools."
Flame frowned. "But, isn't this using my fame?"
Andrea shook her head and looked at the man. The man who offered it laughed. "As expected of Lady Andrea." He looked at Flame and commented. "Miss Flame, I am a merchant! While relations are important, I seek profit overall. When I saw the tools you were given, I understood the intent behind this blacksmithing shop."
He then commented. "If Miss Flame wasn't talented, I wouldn't have interrupted. Lady Andrea, and even more so, Lady Yasenia could've seen my greed for connections with them at a glance. However, I want a connection with a talented and starting blacksmith, and that's you, Miss Flame. This is my investment for future partnership!"
Flame blinked and tried to understand it. "So, you are helping me get better tools so that I become a better blacksmith and then have better deals with me in the future because you helped me now?"
The man burst into laughter. "That's a blunt way to say it, but yes. That's the general idea."
Flame nodded and picked the high-level Parus. "Hm. I see."
Andrea smiled. "Being humble is good. Being honest is good. However, giving up opportunities because you feel like you are using things that are… not yours? That would be stupid. For example, Flame, what if I said 'No' to everything that Yasenia tried to give me?"
Flame laughed. "That's silly."
Andrea laughed. "Right? I wouldn't be nearly as strong or as good at blacksmithing as I am right now without Yasenia's support. Her support is as good as my own efforts." Andrea commented. "The only help that you should say not to is the help that comes with future bad consequences. In our example, if this gentleman would want to connect with us instead of you, I would've told him off even before you. Hahaha."
The man chuckled and bowed to Andrea in respect. "Thanks for lending a hand to this old man, Lady Andrea."
Andrea shook her head. "Don't worry. This was a good opportunity to give Flame a lesson. That's enough for me to owe you one. I know it wasn't your intention, but if you ever need one piece of equipment of the Low-Level Heaven Rank, I'll do it for free for you. Just send the request to us."
The man blinked a few times and then smiled so widely that his cheek muscles hurt. "I-I'll certainly do so, Lady Andrea! Thanks a lot! Hahahaha."
He then left with light steps while many others snorted in envy.
Flame coughed. "Well, as I said, the prices will be affordable for everyone. I hope everyone is understanding and allows those in need to buy. The objective of this shop is to make affordable items." She bowed and smiled. "From today on, [Flame's Star Sword Shop] is open!"
Everyone present clapped, and Andrea looked around, her gaze analytical. 'Hmm… I'll need to ask Tatyana when those maid groups will be ready.'
She looked up and spoke to the maids guarding them from a distance. 'In the meantime, Leila, can you check on Flame and keep her safe from scammers? Oh, don't stop the scams. When Flame realizes she has been scammed, give her a hand at punishing those who scammed her. Being scammed is a good lesson that will help Flame mature.'
A communication reached her from a distance. 'Understood, Madam. We'll keep an eye on Miss Flame.'
Andrea nodded. 'Also, notify Kaleina about this shop.'
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Author Note: Remember, the P.a.t.r.e.o.n is full of images! There is an enormous gallery of 50+ completed images and 140+ sketches! OwO. Up to 15 advanced chapters as well, and there are polls from time to time as well~. Thanks for the support to all the 258 dears supporting me~. <3