Arc Steel

Grenta quickly sped off, leaving Yunil with no choice but to follow orders. With a gesture she led him to the warm feeling living room. It was small and cozy, a single couch faced a fireplace. A small end table stood between the couch and wall.

Yunil leaned against the wall near the entrance to the living room, "My apologies, Master is a bit overbearing at times."

"She just seems excited."

"Well I was too, being able to see one of the Twelve is a massive thing to celebrate as a Blacksmith. It's essentially like seeing the God you worship personally visit you. Usually it's a good omen."

"Usually?"

"There has been times that some Blacksmiths grow too confident in their abilities and overwork themselves. Sometimes causing personal injuries, even death."

Akiol's mind flashed to the one Blacksmith who created Stars' scabbard. It was alarming to hear such news now.

Grenta entered the living room with a large book, "I have it here, take a look through it."

Accepting the book Akiol opened it and was pleasantly surprised by the neat handwriting, "This is neatly organized!"

"Besides my practice to make sure I don't lose my edge, I spend most of my time copying down my old notes to be easier to read."

"You said they were all failures once right?"

Akiol rapidly skimmed through the lists, each material was unique but unheard of to him. He only spotted a few familiar ones, and others which were self explanatory.

Grenta nodded but then paused, "There was one which I can't really call a failure, but certainly wasn't a success."

"Oh?"

"A young boy, he came to me saying how he was going to start adventuring. He claimed that he needed a weapon in order to start his adventure, and wanted me to make it."

Grenta laughed as she remembered the memory, "I told him that it would be expensive to make one, but when he showed me the bit of Arc Steel I was certainly more willing to make it. Back then I didn't have a lot of money on hand and Arc Steel was expensive.

"So I accepted it, but the boy was insistent on watching the process. Determined to see how the weapon that would be his partner would form. Again, I was a bit desperate at the time to work with Arc Steel so I accepted."

Yunil sighed, "It's this moment."

"Yeah, the very same moment."

Akiol looked up to see them both reminiscing. Not wanting to interrupt he used the opportunity to flip through a few more pages.

Grenta snapped out of her trance, "He wanted a sword, said something about it being the best choice. When I asked him the size for it he said he wanted it to be as large as possible. I knew a boy like him wouldn't be able to carry a weapon like that, so I figured I would make it smaller.

"I carefully crafted the weapon, and the boy watched my every movement. Once I finished the weapon something strange occurred. It suddenly grew larger than I had formed it. Once it was complete the boy exclaimed that it was perfect. But alas he couldn't wield it."

'Wait, that sounds familiar.' -Stars

Akiol stopped at the last page, "This result here, what's this about?"

"A girl wanted a dagger, but said she absolutely must have her favorite plant in it. She paid a lot of money at the time, so I figured I would do it."

"Why is the result unknown?"

"The Arc Steel didn't reject it, but the weapon itself was ineffective. I wasn't sure what exactly to call the result, but the girl was happy about it. . ."

'It's that metal! It wasn't called Arc Steel back then though!' -Stars

'You know about it?' -Akiol

'It was considered the best treasure you could get your hands on! A material meant to shape to your desires!'

'I had a suspicion too.'

Akiol lifted the book, "How many of these had the requester present during its creation?"

"Only the boy I spoke of, why?"

"Then I believe you've been using the material wrong this whole time."

"What? I've dedicated my life to this!"

"Between the two uncertain outcomes, what do they share?"

"They were only partial failures."

"Not quite, it was the fact that the one who requested it liked the outcome."

Both Grenta and Yunil came to a realization. Grenta suddenly countered, "But the process between the two was different, that just means I have to form it to the desires of the wielder?"

"Rather, I think it needs to have a connection with the wielder. For the boy, it was his dream of the perfect sword to be his partner as he adventured. For the girl, whatever reason why she wanted to plant to be involved."

"A material that grows alongside its wielder, naturally it would be better if it had a connection with its wielder! Why didn't I think of that?!"

Yunil answered, "The timeframe between the requests. The boy's was when I first asked to be your apprentice. The girl's was far after. I wouldn't doubt you teaching me was distracting enough for it to slip your mind."

"Then why else hasn't this been tried?!"

"I believe it has, that one success that is known right?"

"Incredible! But, why would you want to use the Arc Steel? You already have an Upper Four Sword!", Grenta asked Akiol.

"The weapon isn't meant for me, rather I had hoped something this large could merit me two."

"I could definitely make a few weapons with that! I certainly want to try as well! Who's it being made for? I must try this theory out!"

"They're on their way."

. . .

"Hello!"

"A pleasure to meet you."

Givale and Mira introduced themselves. Grenta inspected them carefully, "So these are the ones you want weapons to be made for?"

Akiol confirmed, "These are the ones."

"Very well, but what about the material that's close to them?"

"I figured you would need time to prepare so I wanted to use that time to discuss it with them.", Akiol replied while handing over the Arc Steel.

"I haven't booted up the forge in a while, Yunil come along!"

"Yes master.", Yunil responded as she dragged herself along.

Mira tilted his head, "Weapons?"

"I figured if I'm going to train you, you would need weapons to use! So I'm going to try having some made for you."

Mira's expression brightened, "I want an axe!"

Akiol smiled, "I figured as much. What about you Givale?"

She crossed her arms as she thought, "I use mana to make a bow for my training. If I make a legit one then I won't use mana. Then I would have to make something else, but what?"

"What would you feel comfortable with?"

"Something easy to use incase I can't use my bow. Hmmm."

Her face frowned as she thought long and hard. Akiol watched patiently, choosing a weapon shouldn't be interrupted.

"A dagger! I want to use a dagger!"

"Are you sure? A dagger is going to be a lot more different to learn than a bow."

In truth Akiol had thought she would pick the bow. The sudden change was worrying, but he hoped it would work out.

"A dagger would fit much better with my bow! I can keep it for when they get close!"

"You're absolutely positive?"

"Wait no, I want two daggers! That way I can grab either of them!"

"And you're absolutely completely sure about this?"

"Yes!"

"Alright, next we need something precious to you. A material preferably."

"Oh that's easy! Stars give them to me.", Givale commanded.

'Yes yes princess.' -Stars

"I'm a Dragon not a Princess!", Givale objected as she held out her hands.

Two scales plopped into her hands, looking mighty similarly to her own, "These fell off while I was experimenting. I wanted to keep them since they're my first. But if I can use them for something that would be even better!"

Mira on the other hand was struggling. The only things he kept dear to him was the animals in the forest. But now he knew they weren't actually animals.

He placed a hand to his chest, "Would my blood work?"

Akiol raised an eyebrow, "Hm? What do you mean?"

"My blood, it's a Hydra's right? Surely that would be a good material. It's been with me all this time. . ."

"Well if it doesn't work I will be sure to find you a good weapon."

"Thank you Akiol Sensei."

"Let's go inform our Blacksmiths then!"

Akiol followed the path the two Blacksmiths took and was stunned to see a whole smithy behind the home. It certainly wasn't there before!

Grenta spotted him and noticed his stunned expression, "I can't have people snooping around, so I hid my smithy behind some magic!"

"So that's where my strange feeling came from. The two have decided!"

"Leave them in our care, we'll guide them through the process! I'd rather you not stick around incase you or Stars messes with process somehow."

'My presence will make the weapons feel sad in comparison.' -Stars

'Let's not get cocky here.' -Akiol

Raising a thumbs up Akiol told the two, "Listen to their instructions and follow it, I'll be around once your weapons are done okay?"

"Okay!"

"Yes Akiol Sensei!"

Akiol slipped away and Grenta approached the two, "He fill you in on what's going to happen?"

"Yes!", the two answered.

"Excellent, now I will need those materials you chose."

Givale handed over the two scales. Grenta inspected them and exclaimed, "Dragon Scales?!"

"They're my first!"

"Not many can get their hands on one, yet you have two! Brilliant choice. And what about you young man?"

"My name is Mira! But I don't know if my choice will work. . ."

"Go ahead and say it, we're willing to use anything you know?"

"My blood!"

Grenta first frowned, but then a thought struck her, "A bond with its wielder, it could also be literal."

With a smile she nodded, "Excellent choice! Now we're going to start forging your weapons. You're going to help alright?"

"What are we supposed to do?", Asked Givale, who was brimming with curiosity.

"Just follow our instructions, I was told you're really strong right?"

They both nodded. Grenta pointed towards a large hammer, "Can you lift that?"

Mira lifted it with ease, "It's lighter than I thought!"

Givale was impatient, "Lemme try!"

Mira handed it over and Givale lifted it easily as well. Grenta nodded in approval, "In that case you can help us with a lot of stuff. Listen to our instructions carefully okay?"

"Okay!", they both responded.

"Let's begin Yunil!"

"Roger!"