A Serpent's Tale Chapter 67: First Creation

I was shocked and startled by the sudden request to make my own weapon out of nowhere, I didn’t even have a ny practice.

"Ah relax, would ya? Best way to learn is by doin it. Don’t worry, I’ll be here to help ya through it all and correct any mistakes ye make." He said.

I sighed and just decided to get on with it. There was just one problem.

"Where do I start?"

I looked at the station which had all the tools I needed but nothing to work on. Ah right, first I need sothing to actually work on.

’Can I have so tal to work with?’ I asked.

"Nahh, just use what I didn’t, there’s still so left... Right? Did I leave any?" He began doubting himself.

I went over to the crucible and found that there was barely anything left in there. I glared daggers Derik for not leaving any for .

"Ah... Ah haha... Uhhhhh... Let’s uh, let’s start with slting them I guess." He said embarrassedly.

He then shuffled around trying to find sothing for to lt up into molten liquid.

"Ah, here we go." He found an iron bar and tossed it over to .

I caught the iron bar and placed it into the crucible. I then grabbed the pole handle and placed the crucible in the furnace.

I slowly watched as the bar lted down into a molten orange liquid before picking the crucible up again and lifting it out of the furnace.

I carefully brought the crucible over to a mould that Derik had gotten out for , and poured the molten liquid inside.

Once that was inside the mould, I put the crucible back where I got it from and waited for the tal to cool down before I took it out and started to hamr away at it to reshape it into the form of a dagger.

It finally cooled off enough for to pick it up with a pair of tongs, which I did, and I went over to a small anvil that Derik kindly set up on the table for . I nodded in thanks and picked up a dium sized hamr than was laid next to the anvil also.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

I began hamring away at the heated tal, slowly bashing it into a standard four-sided, triangular dagger.

*CLANG* *CLANG**CLANG*

As sparks flew it took form on one side, I turned it over and began bashing away at the other side. I repeated this process several tis until it sowhat resembled the shape of a dagger. I stopped also because of the heat that had basically almost disappeared by now.

Since that was done, I lifted the tal over the water bucket and dipped it in, causing it to release so steam. Not nearly as much as when Derik dipped his dagger in there though.

I pulled the tal out and gently placed it upon the table and let it drip.

Derik ca over and inspected my work with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Hmm..." He seed to be thinking about the quality of my work and how best to tell . "It’s shit, obviously."

I frowned. I knew he would be harsh as dwarves aren’t known to be liars, but still, I didn’t expect him to be THIS harsh.

"Though, while it IS better than so of the other apprentices, tis also yer first go at makin sothin, so overall, I’d say it’s okay fer yer first creation."

That made feel a little better.

"Now, onto ya mistakes. Firstly, ya shoulda taken the tal off a bit earlier, but ye don’t know the right heats fer the tals so don’t worry bout that just yet. The mould could ’ave done with a little less liquid, but again, you’ll learn that sort of thing as ye grow."

’No need to state the obvious’ I though.

"Yer hamrin though was alrigh’ could use so more strength and a proper technique behind it, but aside from that, it’s okay. Oh, you’ll want to try and finish it a bit faster next ti as well, don’t want to let it cool off on its own, that’s bad fer the tals durability, specially fer most of the higher tier tals."

"Overall, I’d give ya first creation a four outta ten, which is good considerin that the average is about a two."

That at least brought a smile to my face, knowing that my first try was above average.

"Right, now that ye’ve gotten a taste of smithin, you get on with the real work."

My smile got wider as he spoke.

"Chores."

My smile plumted into despair imdiately upon hearing that.

"Gahahahaha! Sorry lass, but ye’ve got ya work yer way up and practice before ye can actually start makin stuff." He said.

I sighed as I knew he was right. I could only get better over ti, I can’t just beco a master overnight, I have to slowly work my way up.

"Ah, don’t look so sad lass, after what I’ve seen ye do, I reckon you’ll be able to make a proper dagger in bout a month or two if ya put yer mind to it."

That put a smile back on my face, knowing that if I tried hard enough and put enough effort in, I would be able to make quick progress.

"Anyways, you’ll be helpin out round the shop in a while, but first ye should read this." He said whilst handing a booklet of sorts. "This’ll help ya out when ye do yer chores, it just tells ya what goes where and how te do certain things."

I took the book which was titled, ’Apprenticeship for Dummies: Smithing Edition.’ Which was a very deaning title.

With another sigh, I sat back down at the workbench and began reading.

’Chapter 1: The basics.’

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’Chapter 2: Use and Storage.’

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’Chapter 4: ...’

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Eventually I finished the book and closed it up. I went over to Derik who was sitting on a stool holding the dagger he made earlier, and he looked to be contemplating sothing.

And I knew exactly what he was thinking about. The ’soul’ of the weapon, it was ntioned in the last Chapters of the book I just read. It stated that while the weapon wouldn’t actually get a true soul, it almost acted like it did, albeit a very, very primitive one that would only understand so basic commands.

I still didn’t quite understand it yet but I felt that I would in due ti.

*Cough*

I coughed to get his attention.

"Hmm? Oh, ye done are ye? Well, ye can go help out-"

*WHOOOOO!*

I heard I whistle going off, I think that ant that it was lunch ti?

"Ah, lunch already? That was fast. Huh, well, you should probably head back and co back in tommorah’ then, that’s what Harmur an I discussed. Oh, ye should probably take so books ho with ye, ye can go get them from Harmur and head ho. See ya!" He waved at .

I was confused as to why I was being made to finish earlier but since they knew better, I didn’t question it and just did what he sadi and went looking for Harmur.