Craftsman of Steel

The sound of hammers smashing irons, and the heat of the fire in the furnace. There were some crackling sounds of each strike of the hammer.

"master I'm back, now this is the girl you ask me to and this guy don't want to be left behind... since I'm done here can I go now?"

"brat your not done yet, do you want to waste this opportunity to learn how to make magic spears using a tough material and embedding it with a rune gem? But it's ok if you go now unless you want to learn it"

"isn't it supposed to be hard? With a rate of 30% that it will explode and the fact that the embedding process takes longer but the synchronization rate when it didn't reach at least 70% the magic power contained in it might get release into a big storm? And don't give me that crap, last time you said the same thing, but did you even teach me? While you quietly working and you only spoke when you need me to to handle the bars and hand you the tools"

"what? That was last time, don't think of the thing of the present and what are you worried for? Equipment here are of high qualities and the smithy is sturdy that it can dispel chaotic mana energy don't you even know as basic as that? Where did that brain of yours been wandering for the past years you've been here"

"hmmph. Just admit it my grampa is a better teacher than you.. But I guess you got a point, you better not lie to me, Then I'll sta-" before he could finished his words, the door opposite to them opened.

"father is raen there?"

"ahh he is, are you done with your work?" the old man replied.

As soon as she came out, a girl slightly shorter than raen but taller than the two came out. She was sephira, berham daughter and also an half elf, she was a beauty with orange hair and a blue eyes similar to berham eyes and has a short pointy ears similar to sheera's ears.

"h-hello sephira, how are you today." greets raen with a slight blush but he was calmly speaking.

"oh, you've arrived.. Sorry dad, I'm going to borrow him a bit" she rushed towards raen and grab him by his hand.

"let's go, good thing you came in time"

's-she held my hand, but thank God I'm saved from this old man's schemes' said raen blushingly while clenching his teeth.

"sorry master, maybe next time." spoke raen with a big smile in his face before they exited the room and left the scene.

"wait! You still have a work... Ahh that damn brat escaped again.. Next time I'll give you a harsher lesson, dare skipping again this time... Well, anyway what do we have here." berham caress his beard while looking at the two kids who were left behind.

"little brat, what's your name?"

Mark replied confidently.

"I'm marcheon everleaf and this is sheera, young master Raen brought us here but what for?"

Sheera hides at mark's back yet again.

"i only suppose to bring her here originally, since this little lady is a little shy then can you do the talking?" his presence seems have unleash a heavy aura, pressuring him.

"y-yes" this was the first time mark felt a heavy pressure, but he didn't waver, he uses his internal energy to lessen the pressure and slightly relieved it and it seems didn't affect sheera to much.

"hohh so your Sheera, you don't have to fear me. hmm I can sense the bloodhammer clan bloodline within you although it's slightly weak but it's enough to be able to master and use the clan secret weapon making arts"

"bloodline?" questioned Sheera

"hmm. Now little lady do you have a father? Is he a dwarf from my clan? Where is he now? Is he also a blacksmith?.... " barrages of questions being thrown at sheera which put her into a difficult situation.

Lundel, sheera's guardian was only a pure mascular elven blacksmith who has a passion on making weapon. His bloodline is difinitely the normal forest elves bloodline.

She hesitated a bit but sheera still answered.

"no, no my adoptive father wasn't a dwarf but a pure elf, he was just mascular with a beard in his chin and yes he is a blacksmith to. As for my biological parents... There gone, only this pendant with a hammer crest in it is what they left to me" sheera feel gloomy all of the sudden, Mark sympathize with her.

"a pendant? Can I see it? "

Sheera took out a pendant from her pocket, it a pendant with a shimmering lights permeating around it.

"ohoho, aren't this the bloodhammer clan heritage, the bloodhammer?hmmm... this magical pendant with crest belongs to the clan chief... Are you really perhaps her daughter? " spoke berham.

"clan chief? What are sir berham mean? Yes, my father is in fact a dwarf and my mother is an elf but they already left this world, sir can we please not talk about it? " said sheera while slowly withdraw to mark's back.

"Ok... Ok. I won't ask you further. 'I see so my brother is gone, huh'... So by the way how about you stay here? this place is not that much different from being accepted into one of the 10 top school in the empire, since those who got pass from blacksmithing test will be sent here to spend 9 years of learning. Since your going to attend the test exam, the. I'll have to invite you directly I stead. Don't worry about the expenses."

Mark spoke up on behalf of her.

"but aren't that too good to be true? Will you really going to take her in immediately? I would be thankful if its that the case."

The old man caress his beard and spoke.

"yes, now don't worry brat, your girlfriend will be fine"

"but we're not really in that kind of relationship" Mark flustered since he has yet to have that kind of a relationship, specially in his previous life. Sherry on his back was silent but her face also has a hint of slight disappointment.

"OK... OK quit chattering, don't you see I have still something I have to do here so quit wasting time. Will you accept or not little lady?"

Mark turn around and talk to sherry about it.

"sherry, what do you think?"

Sherry spoke with determination.

"if I could create great armor that could protect march from harms way, then I'll accept! "

"are you sure? "

"yes! " her eyes was glimmering with determination.

"well, it settled then" mark said wih a smile.

"OK then, here young lady" the old dwarf berham gave the her a letter, a badge and the facility map.

"give the letter to raen from the iron research facility 01 from here, I know they goes there" he pointed a District 1 level higher than there floor.

"there's a stair on the otherside of the corridor here and the badge I gave you means your already a member of bloodhammer guild"

Sherry holds the letter and the map, mark helps sherry put the badge next to her chest.

"OK, you too can go now and sheera, you will come back tomorrow to start." the old dwarf shifted his attention to the unfinished arrowheads and he continued to hammer it.

The two left the room, and was about to head to the room were the old man pinpoint to. When mark saw a blurry green glass pane halfway of the corridor. The time must be approaching the evening and he suddenly remembered why he leaves the Inn.

Now the remaining time he has is now barely enough to search for the remaining material but he could atleast do it with the material he has and it seems enough to create two futon, he then talks to sherry about it and part their own separate way. Mark uses the elevator to go down and leaves the guild building immediately.

......

The bearded old dwarf was about 67 years old bladesmith who had just escaped from the grasp of the humans who invaded their land, a mountainous plane and captured them, shoving them into a life of slavery. After an arduous escape he took refuge at the elven empire.

It was take place three years ago, at first he was suspected to be colluding with the invaders but when he showed his skills and willingness to help, they allowed him to become a free person in the empire if he helps the front line by creating weapons for the soldier and help out with the carpenter in creating ballista's turrets for defense.

Because of the crafts and achievements he amassed and by helping the empire holds there ground.

They have appointed him as one of the royal craftsman and berham had accepted 4 unique disciples including the eager marquess belden second son's - Raen alleaus.

........