Learning a new technique is never easy and takes incredible amounts of practice and focus. However, for our prodigal Loki, he learns incredibly fast.
"Good, hammer those edges down thin, the sword isn't going to shape itself" Ignatius points as he speaks.
"Yes, sir" Loki responds as he focuses even harder on learning the technique.
He started strong which impressed Ignatius, however, as time went on to complete the more complex points, Loki wavered. It gets harder and harder to manipulate no matter how hot the ingot is, as it's a delicate touch to guide the metal to a sharp point and a wide base.
"No, no, all wrong. When you take on the edges, you have to balance both sides, like a grid, you can't make one side complete without the other" Ignatius said.
'Urgh, this is hard, but I've been through worse, if this will hurt me then how am I going to even touch the rest of the world'. Loki thinks while also building determination to survive anything as his goals feel like an infinite distance away from where he currently is.
"Oi, kid, what are you daydreaming about? Your metal is cold; put it back into the forge and continue, money won't make itself either" rebukes Ignatius
"Alright let's do this!" shouts Loki with sheer determination to improve
As Loki starts again, his movements begin to flow, his mind clear as his plan can't end so early from something so small. He starts to gain momentum with the sword as it starts to take a clear shape. Finally one last hammer, *TINGGG*, completed, now just to put it together and check the stats of the common sword.
Or so he thought...
Instead of a Gray glow that common weapons have, a new glow that seems a little shinier appeared. A GREEN GLOW, meaning uncommon.
"WHAT? How on Earth did you make an uncommon sword from a common sword design?" Ignatius asks, puzzled.
Loki opens the stat panel while looking just as confused..
[Refined Military Sword]
Level: 5
Grade: Uncommon
Attack: 10-14
Loki just stares with pride, while Ignatius stares at Loki confused, then begins to ponder. Then, as if it all clicked, his eyes shone with excitement. His eyes practically glowing with gold at his only thought.
"Good job boy, I'm not sure how you did it, but you seem to be a natural behind the smithy too. You would make for a perfect assistant until you reach my level" said Ignatius as if he was hoping Loki would agree to stay a blacksmith
"Well-" just as Loki was about to respond, he receives a notification out of no where, his first ever.
{Blacksmithing Leveled Up!}
"Huh? It says my blacksmithing leveled up, I didn't know blacksmithing had levels" questions Loki.
With a puzzled look, Ignatius responds "Of course it does kid, everything you do has levels, didn't you know that? However, it is surprising you leveled up so quick, but it makes sense that you did considering those that level up for the first time are only making common grade. While you have made an uncommon one, gives more experience"
"The more you level up your skills/trades, the better grades you'll be able to make easier. Let's say you were to make an epic grade sword, you couldn't, it would require 100x the strength and skill than you have now, while you could barely make an uncommon." Ignatius continued.
"With skills and trade skills, they all have levels, but no tiers, yet you could say they are tiered in a sense where it's known when it's easier to make the next grade of equipment and weapons.
Pretty much every 10 levels it gets easier to make the next grade, with every 25-50 levels making you confident in your current grade. Although, it does get harder as you increase in levels and each grade has varying difficulties to master.
Once you have a 60% success rate in your current grade, you'll be considered the next "tier" of the trade and they go from: Basic, Intermediate, Expert, Master, Legendary, Divine"
"So does this make me an intermediate blacksmith?" asks Loki excitedly.
"Ignatius began to laugh at the boy for believing he is at an intermediate level. "No, no it does not, boy. You may have succeeded in making one uncommon sword, but you are far from consistent"
"Hmm, that sucks, but I'll keep working on it. How many orders do we have for swords, master?" asks Loki ready to get to work
"We have 12 orders for military swords and 3 orders for chest plates. Let's get these done; we have 4 days, you take 4 swords and a chestplate" orders Ignatius.
As Loki and Ignatius get to work, they feel the heat and gain momentum working side by side. Their bond being built will be the strongest in history, a boy, lost and alone, and a blacksmith, isolated and Wise. Together they mix strength and tenacity, the future will know of them as they work more together.
4 days pass by in a flash with focus and a goal of making money.
"Phew, good work kid. You've got spunk. You did your part of the orders, lets see how they come out" Ignatius checks them.
[3x Basic Military Swords]
[1x Refined Military Swords]
[1x Basic Iron Chestplate]
Level: 1
Grade: Common
Defense: 6
"Good job Loki, you even forged another uncommon grade sword, you may really be close to an intermediate blacksmith. However, I would give it another 50 swords before we can really tell." Ignatius praised yet humbled Loki
"Thank you Sir. It was a lot of fun, it's the first time I had a clear mind in a long time" Loki said
"Ah, that is the beauty of Blacksmithing; it clears your mind and challenges you enough to leave all stress behind. It would do you some good to get in the forge as much as possible to make me more mon..." Ignatius began to cough, hoping Loki didn't catch his little slip before beginning his sentence again "I mean, to help me out every so often".
"Now, time to sell these to the people who ordered them, and don't worry, you'll get the money from the swords you made" Ignatius said while bundling the swords up and packing up the armor to bring out to the shop.
After putting all the swords together to make sure the customers get what they ordered, Ignatius now just needs to go out to send word to the customers their swords are ready.
Before leaving, Ignatius turns to Loki and says "wait here and man the fort, I'll be right back and then we make money"