“Indeed. Aether shapes the metal as I forge it so even if it chips later, It chips in the form of a sharp edge. This is particularly useful for blades of heavy duty like the ones of plows. Take swords as example. They need a more complex structure, as they need to handle instant shocks not constant strain. Now get back to work. A single scratch doesn’t justify slaking off!”
‘So aether flow shapes matter.’ I thought. ‘If that is so it means that aether experiences resistance in its flow… I thought it was intertwined with jing to make people healthier, but if it’s like this and it actually reshapes matter through its flow so that it meets less resistance, then… Then it means it will crystally? It will turn the structure of any matter crystalline through its existence. But then that means I must check which materials oppose the least natural resistance to aether as well…’
I used aether to hold the cut tightly together and started taking off the blades again. It wasn’t a particularly hard job and with all I heard I just couldn’t help but stare at and try to probe the blades. Unfortunately, my perception through aether wasn’t good enough. Perhaps I’d really be able to gain insight into the atomic or the crystal lattices. Perhaps after I form the golden core, I will be able to read better with less interference.
Soon all the blades were taken off and taken inside the forge using crates. This removed the risk of cutting ourselves. Soon all those on duty, but Stig, gathered as Fjorn was preparing to give me the introductory lecture. Why they gathered? Because he was bound to tell me more from the start since I understood more. As such the rest wanted to hear everything even if it didn’t help them.
“Y’all ready?”
“Yes” A unanimous answer was given to master Fjorn.
“Good then! First thing you little rascal should remember is that as you know aether is in everything. Yet you’ll hear of treasure swords or other such weapons made to sustain and resist the growing strength of their users. You’ll wander how this is achieved…”
“I thought you’d start with that always sharp blade forging, or it’s details.” I interrupted since I felt the discussion was going in an entirely different direction.
“I’m getting there! Just shut your trap and listen if you don’t have actually smart things to say! Anyway, In short similar to how those blades are made, during casting or due to a constant flow or pooling of aether over the years the materials turn better conducting and become capable of storing larger quantities of aether. The strength and grade of any artifact is determined by its capacity and by the highest flow of aether it can endure without breaking or heating. This however requires the blacksmith to learn how to hammer the material to achieve the best flow and to be able to manipulate the aether within the artifact as it’s cast or forge in order to turn it in either a densely packed system of aether channels or to make it into a very large channel. Both have their uses that you’ll learn about later, but the essence method is the same. Only difference is in difficulty. However, be it the intricate vein system or the singular vein they all can qualify as a certain grade of power based on the speed of the aether and pressure as it passes through.”
“Is there no concept for the quality of aether? Such as the density of aether that one can release so he can push through the artefact? Or a higher-grade artefact will just display the level of power that is imbued with by the user?” I asked feeling that it is a point that must be clarified.
“This is what I’ve been talking about! Good question! Yes and no. While the realm of the person using the artifact matters, a weapon of high level can pretty much exert power one or two levels below its actual realm no matter what. So, a domain grade weapon can be wielded by even an awakening level person to display power akin to a core condensing. Aside from the fact that the person might not be able to bear the potential recoil, there will be no drain on the person.”
“How does that work? It makes no sense…” Brynjar said his brows furrowing. He had this expression that made me see the gears turning in his head when he thought deeply. Too bad that his intuition and ability to infer possibilities was small.
“Does the weapon draw and create its own flow of aether which is used to display that strength?” I asked. “Meaning that not only do they have the resistance to sustain the power of their level, but they can also increase the strength of the abilities or spells unleashed using them, no?” I asked, explaining the result of my train of thought.
“In short yes. The factual result depends on the artifact itself but overall, that is how it is...” He paused a little. “Now, you should understand that in theory any mundane tool is equivalent to awakening grade. Can you tell me why?”
“Cause aether is in anything? And an awakening level person can’t stir too great of a flow so they can’t break the metal with it anyway?” Answered Oskar.
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“Close. Oskar, you rock brained fool, is this how your father teaches you? It’s because no matter what a blacksmith moves aether through the blade. Even if he’s not an awakening level person just the focus placed on the object forged refines it slightly. A person with a knife made by a very good blacksmith without any aether senses has a higher chance to grasp aether just because of the object. It’s the reason why most blacksmiths are at the very least at sensing stage.”
Oskar sunk down. Or rather it was him dragging his neck between his shoulders and lowering his face. It was a funny sight. Somehow this Oskar had a very turtle like personality. He was still braver than a turtle, but I felt that neither Stig nor Fjorn were actually compatible with him as teachers. Stig pressured to much since he was his child, while Fjorn was too rough. If it kept going like this then it was possible that Oskar’s spirit would really be hacked to nothingness and he’d really turn into a turtle. But what could I do… I understood the why and the how, especially since Stig was only becoming more problematic as I showed my ability to comprehend and remember especially with my talent for aether.
Fjorn took another short break then continued.
“You would imagine that this makes for a problem where the objects forged by a blacksmith is always at the level they are at. But that would be wrong. It does require more skill compared to simply forging, however the blacksmith can remove or stop aether from flowing within the blade. This makes it that every blacksmith can earn a keeping. No one would buy kitchen knives at the core forming grade as it could directly cut the table…”
This also meant that one can shape actively the lattice using aether with no drawbacks. With enough focus, just as one keeps the aether away, one can create a flow inside and increase the power and flow shape over time to achieve the desired product… Well not hard to imagine. The problems arose exactly with blades. The crystalline geometry would not allow perfect flow especially after quenching or cooling as the crystal geometry changed. This meant that the overall flow structure received significant damage while creating the effect Fjorn described, that perpetual sharpness was hard to maintain. I waited patiently for him to continue, after all he already promised to explain.
“Now, the more important for forging part. A constant flow of aether not only creates channels in the metal, but it also shapes it. Through this, various attributes are given to items forged. For example, the plow blades that Cato so nicely demonstrated that are still sharp despite their worn state. That is because I used aether to shape the inside while hammering the blade. Afterwards sharpening is merely the process of bringing out what aether already did. It comes more easily.”
“But doesn’t the metal change its inner structure when cooled? Especially when quenched? We’ve had wasted knifes before and other such things because upon quenching they bent, cracked or fissured…” I asked unable to bear with his slow pace.
I was soon made aware that my try to make him speak faster and in a more concise way was not taken kindly by the other two. I could feel their gazes bore into the sides of my head. The hostility was more than apparent. I’m sorry, okay? But I can’t just stand here like an idiot. I need answers faster! Besides you two will have me reexplain everything anyway! What’s there to be mad about?
“Ho ho! Good, very good!” Fjorn’s eyes lit up at my question. “Yes indeed. That is a problem, but the solution is simple. Push more aether as you cool the weapon. This ensures that the alignment stays the same even if the form is the same. Furthermore, you have to control aether around and in the item to press towards it’s center to keep the metal bonded. This however results in the fact that a blacksmith can only produce items a level below their own.”
“Doesn’t that mean that there would be only manifestation grade items available in the world?”
“Indeed. However, one can use additional items such as beast cores and organic materials in order to increase the actual level of an artefact. Besides reshaping aether refined ores is easier as well. Also, one can build an extraction system over an aether spring to allow himself an aetheric pressure and flow he doesn’t have to control to press on the item and stabilize it from outside so the crafter can focus on what is inside.”
Seeing me ready to ask something else Fjorn frowned and spoke.
“Enough for today! Kid you haven’t even hammered a single weapon and yet you keep asking and disturbing my lecture! You are forcing me to explain stuff that is outside of smithing. These rascals next to you are going to get confused because of you! If you want to know more prove you can handle the knowledge by taking care of some requests in the forge first. Also, don’t wait for me to gather the others. Come and ask yourself, these guys aren’t in need of that knowledge. Erland is similar to you however; he has the potential for power so what I’ll tell you may help him as well. Regardless of to work you go. Oskar handle the preliminary grind of the blades, Brynjar you re-quench them. Cato will handle polishing and final adjustments and report to me how many of them got ruined by you two so I may make new ones to replace them. Get to work.”
We took care of the plow blades by the end of the day. Only about twenty out of one hundred eighty had been ruined, a pretty good result all things considered. Of course, Fjorn did not miss the opportunity to scold the hell out of us. He really does not know anything about being sensible and understanding towards young people. But I guess this also makes the few times he throws a praise really valuable to the one who receives it.
It was honestly boring, just polishing on stone and checking under light then change to a different stone to polish again… I really wanted to just hammer metal, but I guess Fjorn will decide when that happens. My mind spun the entire time… If metals were forged to be stronger and better like that, then to make a better body and grow increasingly stronger shouldn’t the same process be followed? Allow aether to flow through the flesh and bones to establish pathways and create continuous flows even if my reserves are emptied? My musings however had to wait. I needed to first grow old enough. I could cheat in training but that didn’t mean I could risk actual internal injuries. Those could stop me from progressing my nei dan.
I walked on the narrow pathway between the bushes and saw my home bathed in the last dying rays of light. My father was outside working out with his bow. I couldn’t wait to have a peaceful evening with only my parents today.
!
[Cultivation] [Progression] [Fantasy] [Action] [Anti-Hero]
Synopsis (Click to Expand)
Two paths define the world: The Arcane and the Auric. Damon walks a third: The mind.
But a unique power is not a gift. It is a curse.
“Pain is the chisel. Will is the hammer. Mind is the stone.”