-CLANG!
-CLANG!
Sounds of hitting metal filled the auditorium. Everyone was doing their best to hit the piece of metal that was in front of them, applying every bit of knowledge they had about smithing. Not me though.
'If such a person tells you to do it with your heart-'
-CLANG!
'That means forget about everything you know. Forgo your logic, go with your feelings. At least how it sounds to me. It also makes more sense with his background, though I doubt common people would have as much info about it as nobles do.'
There were a few witful who caught on, but they were still doing it half-baked. It is not just the timing, you must also hit as hard as you feel right and where it feels right. Although it sounded easy, it only sounded easy. It was hard for mortals to separate their logic from their feelings. For some people, it wouldn't even be something different. It was similar to a cultivator's 7th sense in a way, where the cultivator would feel that some event or item would be beneficial to their path with no logic behind it, but for a craft this time. One could also mistake it as a master's intuition, having done their craft for a long time. What the Instructor asked for wasn't any of that. He was simply looking for people who were passionate about what they do. He expected us to forge the metal like a mother who was making dinner for her kids.
'Such a sentimental technique he created.' I brought down my hammer again.
-CLANG!
'It may turn out to be a scrap, but let's give it my all.' As I had a pseudo-divine sense, I could see how the metal was taking shape more than I did with my eyes.
'It's kind of relaxing if I'm being honest. He may be a sentimental old man but he surely has taste, who wouldn't enjoy this?' I kept bringing my hammer down and heated the metal again when it got cold. Eventually, I felt that it was enough. The metal right now was flattened, and I was getting bored. There was no need to continue doing something when you were not enjoying it. This was something we had to give our hearts to while doing and I had given mine, it was over. Seeing me standing still, Instructor Blazing Forgeheart came near me.
"Why did you stop? You could've continued going on."
'You want me the one to give the clue to the class? Alright then'
"I felt I was getting bored, hitting the same piece of metal for so long for nothing. I gave it my heart as you said, sadly I can't give it anymore.'
"Heh, but you didn't seem so passionate to me, are you sure you gave it your heart?"
"I gave it what I could. I'm passionate about many things, but refining is not the thing I'm most passionate about. Don't get me wrong. It was relaxing at first and I enjoyed what I was doing, and I do want to be a refiner. I'm just not passionate about it as you are."
"Hahaha! Maybe I should have accepted that invitation after all." He mumbled. "You may stop, now I will review your works."
Everyone dropped their hammers, but Cerys was still continuing.
-CLANG!
-CLANG! THUNK!
A smile crept on the Instructor's face, leaving her to herself. He then checked other's works. He did not give any comments as to what they did right or wrong and definitely did not give any pointers. This made some of the students restless. Some noble finally couldn't stand such an attitude.
"Excuse me Instructor, could you please tell us how good we did? I think I'm speaking for everyone when I say that we are curious as to which metrics you are using when reviewing our work." Instructor Blazing Forgeheart did not say anything, he only raised his finger to shush the noble.
-CLAANG! CLAANG!
The sounds from Cerys' hammer got louder, it seemed that she was finishing it soon. Everyone stood in absolute silence, waiting for her to be done.
-THUNK!
-CLANG!
-THONK!
-THUNK!
-CLINK!
She finished forging after a while. When I saw what she forged, I was baffled. 'Why did she forge these, could she be also a protagonist template, instead of a harem template?' She had forged 9 silver needles, each with different length and width but still of high quality. I was no stranger to needles. They were either hidden weapons or medicinal tools depending on who had them. If the person was not a protagonist they would never be used as medicinal tools, always being a hidden weapon. In the protagonist's hands, they were both. For female protagonists, it was one of their primary weapons.
'Normally you would expect from someone with Iyana's setting, but it's evident from her healing herself that she has enough medical knowledge. But she had neither the matching roots nor personality. Sure, she is a bit strongheaded but that is something every cultivator has to a degree. So she is another girl boss? No, I'm too obsessed with these settings. She could have simply made those because it was easier to do with a single material. Let's wait a bit before drawing any more conclusions.' While I was lost in thoughts, Instructor Blazing Forgeheart neared Cerys' seat.
"What a fine piece you have forged. What were you thinking when you were doing so?"
"I did not think anything other than giving it my all, Sir. I always liked flames, so I mostly played around the blacksmith my village had. It was enchanting to see how flames changed the materials."
"Alright, today's lesson is done. For the remainder of your period, I will be giving two separate lessons. First will be open to everyone that will take refining as a course. The second one, on the other hand, will be a special course and I will be personally tutoring Cerys Xin and Axel Lin. Depending on your performance in the former I may include you in the latter, so work hard everyone. Dismissed."
'As I thought, he was looking for disciples.'
"Cerys and Axel, you stay behind." We did as we were told. It didn't take long till everyone emptied the auditorium.
"I believe you know why I asked you to stay behind and only you two in the special course. I'm thinking of accepting both of you as disciples. Of course, it is only for Refining, and with your Master's approval if you already had one." I did not have any masters, and it would only be for his technique's succession so I readily accepted.
"It's an honour, Master," I said while saluting with my fists cupped. Meanwhile, Cerys seemed conflicted.
"I- I don't know if I am fit to be your disciple, Instructor." 'Not a protagonist alright.'
"And why you wouldn't be? Do not have unnecessary doubts, as I chose you first."
"If you are fine with having me... Then, greetings to master!" She said, getting ready to kowtow.
"No need for those kind of things. I'm too old to care about it." He raised her, and then he continued.
"You will be receiving lessons from me every week at this hour, come to Refining Peak then."
With that he also left, leaving us behind.
"Can I see your needles?" I asked.
"Huh? S-sure."
I gave it another look from up close, examining the needles.
"What a pity. If they weren't made of mortal metals, you could get quite the sum for them at the market. Though they could be considered a treasure in any mortal settlement."
"T-thank you."
"By the way, where did you learn blacksmithing? I won't buy it that it was a rural village blacksmith. Do you have any connection to the Xin Dynasty south-west from here?" I was familiar with the style, as it was the same as my mother's homeland. Xin Dynasty was an Empire that was subservient to the Lin Clan, located at the southern edges of the Lin Clan territory. 'I hadn't thought much of it at first as Xin is a rather common surname but it seems I was wrong.'
"That... That does not concern you Young Master Axel." She gave a resolute answer.
"Alright then, see you later." I did not care much, if she didn't want to talk about it I would not force her. Instead of returning to my cave, I went to the mission hall. I needed more resources if I wanted to cultivate both my Body and Qi. There I met someone unexpected.
"Going out already? And here I thought you would at least stay the first week."
"Fortuitous encounters don't wait, you know."
"Are they still considered encounters when you know when and where they will happen?"
"They are if there isn't anyone to prove otherwise." I felt a chill creeping up on my spine, so I changed the topic.
"So, any mission you would suggest to me?"
"You can tend to the barns; it gives good rewards." I instantly regretted it.