Exiting through the back door, Lucas entered the forge and located the shovel, beginning to load the hearth and furnace with coal. Taking pieces of tinder, he fed the flame and gradually worked the bellows to breathe life into the furnace. As the fire reached its peak, the crystal lights began to shine, and the array emitted a green glow, sealing off any sound from escaping.
With the furnace now roaring to life, Lucas prepared to smelt some iron ore. Drawing from the lessons he learned during his visions, he opted for the traditional method, considering it the easiest for new blacksmiths. He grabbed a nearby basket and made his way to the stockpile. Lucas recalled that the iron ore in this pile was of the 'High' grade, as he had ordered it previously.
Returning to the awe-inspiring sight of the blazing furnace, Lucas took a few of the largest ore pieces and tossed them into the coals. The first step in smelting iron was to heat the ore to the right temperature, allowing the initial layer of silt and impurities to separate. However, overheating the iron would cause it to fuse with slag, so he had to carefully maintain the temperature within a specific range.
Lucas reached for the bellows and began infusing air into the core of the furnace at a measured rate. His training had emphasized the importance of maintaining the correct temperature for extended periods, rather than simply making the ore glow.
Time passed as Lucas watched the ore glow, waiting for the right moment to proceed to the next phase. When the time came, he used a sturdy pair of tongs to remove a large piece of ore from the furnace and grabbed a nearby, hefty hammer. Holding the ore securely with the tongs, he began hammering it, breaking off pieces of slag and rock from the iron.
Once the ore no longer glowed red, Lucas returned it to the furnace to be reheated. After reaching the proper temperature, he once again hammered the ore, removing additional slag and rock pieces. He repeated this process again and again until no more bumps protruded from the ingot. Though the shape was not yet perfectly square, Lucas was excited to see the result of his first smelting attempt.
Holding up the ingot and trying to examine it based on the instructions in the book, Lucas focused on the angled edge and the spotted coloration. Suddenly, he found himself frozen in place for only a second as a red-tinged window opened before him, capturing his attention completely.
<< Congratulation! You have learned the skill – Observe (Blacksmith) >>
As Lucas delved into his newfound skill, he discovered that he had acquired "Observe (Blacksmith)" at the "Notice" rank and level 01. He was taken aback by this unexpected development, as the smelting book had led him to believe he would gain a smelting skill instead. Nonetheless, Lucas's curiosity piqued, and he was eager to explore the capabilities of this new skill.
Directing his attention to the iron ingot he had just smelted, Lucas focused on it and mentally commanded, "observe." As anticipated, a red-tinged window materialized before him, presenting information about the ingot.
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Upon seeing the "Failed" rating, Lucas's eyes narrowed in confusion. He had followed the instructions in the smelting book, and everything seemed to have gone according to plan. He stretched his tired arm and pondered what could have gone wrong.
Faced with this unexpected setback, Lucas decided to leave the forge and return to the storefront, carrying the failed iron ingot with him. He located the "Science of Smelting" book and began flipping through the pages, searching for the section where the instructor described a well-done ingot. As he focused on the words, Lucas found himself transported into a vision showcasing a high-quality iron ingot, as if he were witnessing it firsthand.
As Lucas examined the first ingot and compared it to the example in the smelting book, he noticed a few key differences. The ingot he had smelted was not perfectly rectangular in shape, had spots mixed into its sides, and lacked the desired shine. Recognizing these shortcomings, Lucas realized what his smelting process was missing. The question now was how he could address these issues and improve the quality of his ingots.
With no instructor or guide to provide specific instructions, Lucas decided to take a trial-and-error approach. He resolved to make more ingots, introducing small changes each time and observing the effects on the final product. Taking a deep breath, he returned to the forge and began smelting another batch of iron ore into ingots.
The second batch yielded almost perfectly shaped ingots, but the increase in quality was minimal, only rising by one point. Lucas deduced that while shape had some impact, it wasn't the sole determinant of quality.
On the third and fourth attempts, Lucas focused on heating the iron for longer periods and hammering it more vigorously. He noticed that these adjustments resulted in fewer spots on the finished ingots, and the quality increased by eight points. However, even with these improvements, the quality only reached seventy-three points, falling short of being rated higher.
By the time Lucas finished the fourth trial, his arm was throbbing with exhaustion. Glancing at the system notice, he wasn't surprised to see that his 'hard work' had increased his strength by one point. Recognizing the need for a break, he added more coals to the furnace to sustain the fire and headed inside for some respite.
It was too early for lunch, so Lucas opted for a cup of water to quench his thirst. Before settling down, he prepared a hot towel in the bathroom, which he applied to his arm to soothe his aching muscles. As he sat at the kitchen table, he tried to clear his mind of smelting and instead pondered the dish Amber had made the previous night. He started wondering if John and she had discovered its secrets or if it contained special ingredients that granted temporary stat boosts.
Lucas's train of thought was momentarily interrupted by the memory of the new high elven book he had purchased at the bookstore. Curiosity sparked within him as he wondered if the book held some rare and valuable knowledge or if it was just a common book. However, his focus was abruptly shattered as the pain in his arm resurfaced, reminding him of the strain from his intense smelting session.
Letting out a sigh, Lucas decided to refresh the heat in the towel. While it wouldn't help his arm as much the second time, the heat was still better than….
Lucas abruptly stopped moving, his hands still raised to bring the towel to the sink. He closed his eyes and his whole body went still. A rush of memories flooded his mind before his eyes opened suddenly as a sense of clarity washed over him. Without hesitation, Lucas dropped the towel and raced back to the forge.
Entering the forge, Lucas seized the shovel and filled the furnace with coal. He quickly threw a medium-sized piece of iron ore into the furnace and began operating the bellows. As he observed the ore heating up and surpassing the point of simply glowing red, he started to slow down the airflow, preventing the ore from reaching the next heat stage.
Using the tongs, Lucas carefully retrieved the heated ore from the furnace and began hammering it, his arm lost in the rhythm of the process. However, as soon as the ore cooled down enough to be only glowing red, Lucas swiftly returned it to the furnace. While working the bellows again, he smiled, confident that he had solved the problem.
The instructions had emphasized the importance of maintaining the heat of the ore within specific ranges. However, Lucas had believed this was only necessary during the initial heating stage. Nowhere did the instructor mention that the ore could cool down before being finished transforming into an ingot. Lucas realized that the third and fourth batches had turned out better because the ingots had retained the heat for longer periods compared to the first batch.
If Lucas was correct, by consistently keeping the ore within the proper heat range until the end, he would produce a better product. However, accomplishing this proved to be challenging. Each swing of the hammer introduced cool air onto the ore, reducing its temperature. Lucas needed to find a way to keep the ore hot enough while still being able to work it effectively.
Lucas experimented with taking his time to heat the ore and maintaining its heat while hammering. Although he didn't achieve perfection in this technique, he could discern that the finished ingot looked superior to all his previous attempts without utilizing observation.
Taking a deep breath, Lucas focused his attention on his newest ingot and silently actived observe.
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Letting out a satisfied breath, Lucas couldn't help but grin and perform a celebratory dance in the solitude of the forge. Just as he finished his impromptu celebration, he noticed several red-tinged windows appearing at the edge of his vision. Excitement welled up within him, hoping that one of these windows would unveil a new skill related to smelting. He focused his attention on the windows, summoning them up.
The first window revealed that his "hard work" had increased his endurance stat by one. The previously aching arm, which had been on the verge of exhaustion while he finished the ingot, now seemed to regain its strength. Though Lucas knew the pain would likely return to remind him of his exertions, for now, he appreciated the respite.
The second window, however, brought more questions than answers. It indicated that the quality of his product did not meet the required standard to unlock a new skill, urging him to try again. Lucas couldn't quite comprehend why a higher quality was necessary to unlock the skill, but at least the message specified that the target was eighty for quality.
As Lucas turned his gaze back to the forge, contemplating the modifications he could attempt to raise the quality of his ingots, his previously numb arm began to throb, serving as a stern reminder that he had reached his limits for the day. With a sigh of resignation, Lucas conceded that the quest for a better ingot would have to continue tomorrow. Glancing at the time, he realized it was already lunchtime, and he needed to open the store.
Before leaving the forge, Lucas carefully banked the coals into the hearth, ensuring they would remain ignited for his return the following day. He then tidied up, returning all his tools to their designated places. Stepping into the kitchen, Lucas was greeted by the enticing aroma of the new soup Rabbie had recommended. Eagerly grabbing a bowl, he savored the delicious meal without having to leave the store.
After finishing his lunch, Lucas washed out his bowl and made his way to the front of the store. He swung open the front door, letting in fresh air and signaling that he was open for business. Taking a seat on his stool behind the counter, he reached underneath and retrieved a new book to read. With the afternoon sunlight streaming through the open windows, Lucas immersed himself in the pages of "Hammering for Stoneheads."
However, nothing could have prepared Lucas for the vision he experienced. On feeling the familiar haze as he entered the vision, Lucas found himself standing in some kind of cave. Worst of all, he was suddenly four feet tall. How did this happen?