Matsurize buried his head in his breakfast, eating heartily for a while. Ayane had made a generous portion, and for the first time, Matsurize didn't finish his meal feeling like he hadn't eaten enough.
As Ayane watched him intently, Matsurize paused and asked, "Little Ayane, why aren't you eating? Why are you just staring at me? Do I have dirt on my face?"
As he said this, Matsurize patted his face, as if trying to brush away any dirt. Ayane laughed, finding his actions incredibly cute.
Not wanting to make him feel embarrassed, Ayane joined him and started eating her own breakfast. Their warm and peaceful meal continued in this harmonious atmosphere until they both finished.
Afterward, Ayane led Matsurize into the kitchen. She turned to him and said, "Little Ze, from now on, we have rules in this house. If I cook, you do the dishes. We need to divide the work, okay?"
Ayane demonstrated how to wash the dishes by picking up a small bowl and showing him step by step. Matsurize was quick to pick it up, and soon enough, he was washing the dishes efficiently. Ayane watched over him, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction. She thought to herself that it might not be so bad to spend every day like this with Little Ze.
Since Matsurize had lost his memory, Ayane hadn't mentioned whether she would let him stay or ask him to leave. Now, she recalled joking with Uncle Abin about taking Matsurize on as her blacksmith apprentice. She looked him over carefully, inspecting his build and hands, and realized that Matsurize had the potential to become a good blacksmith.
Ayane also remembered that it was nearly time to make a new batch of kitchen knives for the village. The knives she had crafted for the villagers previously were probably getting dull by now. This would be the perfect opportunity to teach Matsurize some blacksmithing skills and see if he was suited for the work.
As Ayane busied herself with these thoughts, planning out Matsurize's future as her apprentice, Matsurize had already finished washing the dishes and was waiting quietly beside her. Ayane suddenly noticed him standing nearby, and a faint blush crept across her face. Seeing that Matsurize had completed his task, Ayane made a quick decision.
Without pulling Matsurize along this time, she headed directly toward the blacksmith's workshop. Matsurize naturally followed her.
Ayane approached the forge inside the workshop. The forge was stocked with pine charcoal, made from dried pine branches—a secret family recipe that enhanced the process of refining metal objects.
Beneath the forge was a manual foot-operated bellows. Normally, when working alone, Ayane would operate the bellows with one foot while wielding a hammer with her hands to shape the iron, a labor-intensive process.
By teaching Matsurize blacksmithing, Ayane hoped to lighten her own workload and free herself from some of the physical strain.
Ayane picked up a few pieces of iron ore from the ground and placed them in the pine charcoal. She demonstrated how to use the hand-operated bellows, showing Matsurize how to control the airflow into the forge.
Considering Matsurize's current state—like a child in his behavior—Ayane was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly he learned. Despite his childlike demeanor, he had a sharp intellect, learning tasks quickly and applying what he learned immediately. He not only followed instructions but also showed an ability to improve on them.
This task was no different. Although simple, the bellows required physical strength to operate. Matsurize's job was to squat on the ground and continuously pump the bellows handle. When Ayane said to start, he pumped; when she said to stop, he stopped. The task was straightforward but physically demanding.
Ayane called out, "Begin!"
Matsurize pulled the handle vigorously, and the pine charcoal in the forge flared up.
Ten minutes passed, and the charcoal glowed red-hot, though the iron ore hadn't fully heated yet. At this point, Ayane noticed Matsurize's first weakness—his lack of stamina. He was already breathing heavily, his face slick with sweat.
This was hardly surprising. Matsurize's frail body, with its protruding ribs and gaunt appearance, was not built for endurance. Still, Ayane saw his determination as he persisted, and she said nothing. She knew he could hold out.
After another twenty minutes, the iron ore was glowing bright red. Ayane instructed Matsurize to stop and take a break, allowing him to watch as she forged the knives.
Matsurize exhaled deeply and leaned against the side of the forge, where the temperature was cooler, watching Ayane closely.
Seeing Matsurize's exhausted state, Ayane couldn't help but smile. She picked up a pair of tongs and extracted the red-hot iron ore from the forge, placing it on the anvil nearby. The anvil was an ancient, large, square block of black stone, heavily marked with the scars of countless hammer strikes—some of them so old they were nearly worn smooth.
These were the tools that had been passed down through Ayane's family for generations. Every sword she had ever forged had been made on this very anvil, though with higher-quality materials.
Setting the tongs aside, Ayane grabbed the large hammer. The hammer was enormous, especially compared to Ayane's small frame, making it seem even more impressive.
Matsurize, watching from the side, couldn't believe how easily Ayane lifted the massive tool. He compared the hammer's head to his own—it was roughly the same size.
The hammer's handle was as thick as Ayane's forearm, and the head itself was the size of Matsurize's head. Despite its bulk, Ayane swung it with ease, rhythmically pounding the iron ore on the anvil.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of hammer meeting metal rang out like music, each strike in perfect rhythm. Matsurize found himself unconsciously nodding his head to the beat as he watched.
After a while, Ayane swapped out the iron ore with the tongs, preparing for the next round of forging.
Matsurize, though still tired, was soon back at work, pumping the bellows with all his might.