Grandpa told me an intriguing, if partial, narrative, and then I went to work. I took a small hammer and began pounding the knife to heat it up and get rid of as much rust as I could before I scrubbed it. Grandpa Kaewon paused what he was doing and studied me, his weathered face, which was often a mask of hard concentration, melting with my growth.
"Am I doing it right, Grandpa?"
Kaewon laughed heartily and profoundly. "Dajit, you're doing more than fine. In my day, I was considered a genius, but you might become a professional before me."
His words were hard for me to digest. Praise was unusual in my prior life since I was always thought of as a late bloomer. Even though I understood that this seven-year-old was unlike any other, having Grandpa recognize my skills gave all of my hard work meaning.
I returned my attention to the knife, my resolve resounding with every blow of the hammer. I heated the blade carefully, observing the metal flare, and then I quenched it in oil. The sizzling served as a pleasant reminder of my advancement. The dull, rusty knife had sharpened to a brilliant sheen.
"How am I doing, Grandpa?" I asked once again.
Grandpa Kaewon gave a nod of approval. "Dajit, good job. This blade now has life again, thanks to you."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
He grinned, which was unusual because I couldn't remember ever seeing him so joyful, not even in a previous life. "But keep in mind that mastery of the sword involves more than simply skill. It's important to recognize that each blow from the hammer determines the metal's past and future functions."
I raised the knife against the waning light as the sun began to set, creating deep shadows around the workshop. It was a promise that Grandpa was proud of and proof of my potential. I had developed a new passion in the craft of producing blades, a talent I never would have imagined mastering.
As I stood outside, I saw Butler Hideo with the horse carriage coming towards Grandpa Kaewon's workshop to pick me up.
Grandpa Kaewon placed a hand on my shoulder. "You've done well today, Dajit. Tomorrow, we begin anew. There's much more to learn."
I grinned as I felt the challenge and comfort of his weight in my hand. "Yes, Grandpa."
Now that the workshop was empty, I packed up the blades and headed home. The forge's heat was greatly contrasted with the cold, delightful evening air.
The butler spoke to me as I was seated in the carriage, "Young lord, the yellow grass has been delivered and is being kept in the storage house near the stable."
"Okay, I will look into that."
The welcoming aroma of my mother Lina's cooking welcomed me home. Her eyes softened when she noticed me when she looked up from the kitchen.
"You're back, Dajit. How was your day with your grandpa?"
I moved to the table and set the freshly-forged knife down. "Mom, that was incredible. In addition to teaching me a lot, Grandpa Kaewon handed me this knife, which was my first hammer.
"Wow, on the first day, you built your own knife! But use fire with caution. Though I'm sure Grandpa Kaewon can handle it, use caution."
"Yes, Mother, but where is Luna?"
"Oh, she's sleeping already. She was exhausted from the journey."
I inhaled deeply and collected my thoughts. "Mom, I have another question for you. I'd want to study alchemy with you as well. Will you teach me?"
She hesitated, her look changing from one of surprise to careful deliberation. "Dajit, alchemy is a difficult skill. It necessitates accuracy, endurance, and a thorough comprehension of magic and science."
"Mom, I understand. However, I'm eager to learn whatever I can. I want to be able to create and heal, to understand the world around me in every way possible," but I was really hoping to use the Black Death cure as a cover to make a lot of money.
After examining me for a while, she nodded. "I'll teach you if you're genuinely interested. But never forget that alchemy is just as much about the time you spend watching reactions occur as it is about getting the desired outcome."
"I will, Mom."
Her eyes softened as she grinned. "We'll cover the fundamentals in your classes tomorrow. Since you had a busy day, let's just eat supper and relax for the moment."
I nodded, exhausted from my job today. I couldn't resist asking my mother, "Mom, what will I learn first in alchemy tomorrow?" while we were finishing our meal.
"It's just a basic health potion, Even if it's not much, it will nonetheless take time. It will be an amazing sensation to create your first potion."
"I am happy that I would love to experience that too," I remarked as I hurried to bed after dinner since I knew I would be learning a lot in the next few days.