"What do you say, Boss? Wanna give me a try?" Gilgamesh looked down at Hank with a smile, but on the inside he felt as though he were looking up at the man.
To the trained eye, it was easy to see when someone gave their all in their work. Just by the way Hanks smithy looked, Gilgamesh could tell. Hank was a man that knew the work inside and out, and had perfected his craft through years of blood, sweat and tears.
If he was rejected by Hank, then he would abandon his idea of working as a blacksmith altogether. He did not think that he would find someone else like Hank in the city.
His gut told him so.
Hank sighed deeply before waving a short arm, "Fine then. I've some iron to spare and a few other materials that need using. You can whip me up something with those."
Gilgamesh was all smiles when he heard that, and hurried to offer his thanks.
"So, how long do you need?" Hank said, prepared to offer Gilgamesh use of his forge for a day or two.
With a confident smile, Gilgamesh straightened up and said, "Give me seven hours."
"Hah? Seven hours, you say? You sure about that, Mister..."
"It's Gilgamesh, and yes, I'm sure. If I don't have something to show you in seven hours, then you can forget I even asked for a job." Gilgamesh walked back to the door and waited for Hank to join him.
Hank, on the other hand, was still trying to decide whether Gilgamesh was the real deal or just playing a practical joke. In the end, he looked to the redhead behind the counter with pleading eyes. "What should I do, Val?"
The redhead shrugged, "Meh, give him a shot at least. As long as you're supervising, what's the worst that could happen?"
Hank nodded, "Got a point there, kid." Turning to look at Gilgamesh, Hank started walking to the door.
"Well then, Gilgamesh, let's see what you got."
As he opened the door, a young man was just about to come into the shop. Making way for him to get in, Hank greeted him.
"Hey there, Hank!" The young man waved as he walked to the counter, clutching a moneybag.
"Today's the day, Valerie! Gimme that Red Edge!"
Gilgamesh and Hank left the shop and went back to the smithy, where Hank got to work clearing away all his stuff to make room for Gilgamesh. Then, he got some of his old stuff that was recently replaced for Gilgamesh to use.
"These are old, but they're fine otherwise. The fire's always going, and there's coal if you need it, anything else just let me know."
Hearing that, Gilgamesh pointed at his head. Hank gave him something to cover it with, and Gilgamesh took his shirt off before putting on Hank's old apron. After that, he got his gloves on and started gathering everything he needed.
"It'll be a simple longsword, but with a thicker, stronger blade than most."
Hank nodded, then watched as Gilgamesh looked around before grabbing up some large stones that had been tossed aside. As Hank looked on, he saw Gilgamesh hammer the stones before looking around at their insides.
He tossed aside most, but kept a significant amount.
Hank nodded approvingly. 'So he's familiar with limestone, then. He's more experienced than I thought.'
Gilgamesh took up the iron with his tongs and put it into the heat of the forge. While it was there, he found a suitable piece of wood as well as some scraps of iron that he put together in a crucible.
Then, at a particular moment, Hank saw him fish out some of the coal from the furnace. In actuality, Gilgamesh was fishing out a particular kind of coal- coke- which he used in conjunction with the limestone.
Together with these two things, the iron would go through a type of reaction as it got closer and closer to melting. Hank was taken aback, and amazed at Gilgamesh's extensive knowledge.
Before too long, the iron he had placed in the heat was bright yellow, and he took it up with the tongs before beginning to hammer it into shape.
Constantly switching from one side to the next, Gilgamesh hammered expertly while also bearing in mind the image of the sword he was going for.
As he was going about the process, he felt a peculiar sensation spread throughout his body. At first, he assumed it was the satisfaction of being able to forge again after so long, but he soon came to realize that it was more than that.
He had been feeling a bit out of shape recently, despite following an even stricter workout routine, and the feeling had not really gone away.
Now, as he worked, he slowly felt like he was getting back into a state that felt more comfortable. It was like he was experiencing an almost instant sensation of growth.
Now working on flattening the blade, Gilgamesh worked to bevel the edges with the hammer, then flipped it over on the anvil before doing the same to the other side, ensuring they were even.
Reheating then continuing as he desired, Gilgamesh eventually heated the iron that had, through the addition of the coke and limestone, become something closer to steel.
Once it was hot enough, he took it out and left it to cool on its own, then repeated the process a few more times before he started to sand the blade. At this time, he put the crucible with the scraps of iron into the heat, and then sanded the blade a bit more.
While doing so, and without looking up from his work, Gilgamesh asked, "Oil?"
Hank grunted, "Just behind you there." Part of him expected Gilgamesh to go over to the water, but he asked for oil instead. After seeing him go to such length to improve the iron, he wondered whether or not Gilgamesh would use water.
Now, he knew that Gilgamesh was quite experienced. Far more so than any other youngster he had ever seen or heard of.
Gilgamesh heated the sword once again, then placed it into the large container of old as quickly as he could. Leaving it there until he was sure it was cool, Gilgamesh then placed the sword in a less heated part of the forge, slowly reheating it.
At the same time, he got the crucible out and got to work on the wood. The metal he had melted down was to be used for the pommel, while the wood was for the hilt.
In the end, Gilgamesh put everything together expertly, and then got to work sharpening his longsword. When he was finished, it was just about to cross he seven hour mark.
Hank was astonished. This was just understanding of the craft, it was experience. Years and years of experience that shone through in how Gilgamesh handled himself in the forge.
Despite it being an all new environment, he adjusted accordingly and did what he had to do in exactly the way he had to do it. It was a marvel to witness.
When Gilgamesh was finished, he brought the sword over to Hank for him to look at. Despite his own self confidence, he needed Hank's approval. Such was the level of respect he had for the man and his work, and he had only just met Hank that same day.
It was closer to nighttime now, and the shop was closing up. The fires in the smithy had been going since daytime, so it didn't really seem to get much darker in there.
The young redhead, Valerie, came in to check in on them, and saw Hank inspecting Gilgamesh's work.
"The thickness of the blade would require a bit more strength than a regular longsword, and the wielder would definitely have to adjust their technique a bit, but its a good sword. Might I ask why you decided to go thicker?"
Gilgamesh finished a drink of water that Hank had prepared for him beforehand, then wiped his face. "This is the way I've always made sword for myself."
"I was hoping you would put the sword on display. If someone buys it, it will be because their technique is closer to mine, which might just help me out."
Hank handed the sword back to Gilgamesh, looking puzzled. "How do you mean?"
Gilgamesh chuckled, "I'm not just looking to put my smithing skills to use. If I can find a good sprout in this city, I might just be able to train them up into someone decent."
Hank, realizing what Gilgamesh's intentions were, could not help but laugh out loud. "You have all the makings of one of those arrogant nobles. If you weren't so darn respectful, I'd peg you for a prissy rich type."
Gilgamesh returned a hearty laugh while removing his apron. He did not even notice that Valerie gaze seemed glued to his torso from that point on.
"So, Hank? What do you think? Could I work here at the forge with you? At least two days a week?"
Hank didn't immediately reply, but not because he was unsure. It was because he was considering how much of his work he wanted to give to Gilgamesh.
"I can even just help you out as an assistant, if you want. I can clean the shop, or help with the materials. Anything at all, I'll do." Gilgamesh practically begged, although he was sure to keep his composure.
Hank raised a hand to put him at ease, "Don't worry, Gilgamesh. You've got the job for as long as you want it. You can come in three days a week to work here with me, and you can either have the other two off or help Valerie out in the shop."
"That part's up to you."
"Alright," Gilgamesh made a fist in celebration, laughing to himself. He did not even care about the pay, even though he was sure Hank would afford him a far salary.
All he cared about was getting to work at a forge again, while also keeping an eye out for anyone that might purchase his sword.
Hank had Valerie put it on display the very next day.
As for Gilgamesh, he went home feeling accomplished, took a bath, had dinner, and slept like a baby.
Early the next morning, he officially started working at Hank's Forge.