Chapter 32 - Making gifts

"Has anyone seen Ryu?" Akina inquired after not seeing Ryu all morning.

"I haven't seen him, but he left a note saying not to look for him and that he'll be back in a couple of days. I guess we'll see what he has up his sleeve," Daisuke informed her.

"That kid will be the death of me..." Akina grumbled.

---

In a small, dimly-lit workshop nestled in an underground space, Ryu prepared to forge a scalpel as a goodbye gift for Arakan and Akina. During his time in the clinic, he noticed that they lacked medical equipment, so he thought that a set of excellent scalpels would help them.

As Ryu stoked the flames of the charcoal furnace he conjured, he carefully selected a small piece of high-carbon steel, perfect for creating a scalpel. Holding the tongs securely in his calloused hand, Ryu carefully placed the steel into the roaring fire, watching the colors dance and meld as the metal began to soften.

Ryu's movements were deliberate and fluid, a testament to his years of experience and skill. As the steel reached the perfect temperature for forge welding, he removed it from the flames and began to fold and hammer the metal, driving out impurities and creating layers that would imbue the final blade with strength and flexibility. Each strike of his hammer resonated through the workshop, the rhythmic pounding echoing his unwavering focus.

With the steel prepared, Ryu began shaping the small, delicate blade of the scalpel. His hammer's precise strikes tapered the steel and formed a rough edge that hinted at its future sharpness. The blade's size and shape were carefully crafted for surgical precision, showcasing Ryu's attention to detail.

Once the blade's form was established, Ryu prepared for the critical process of heat treatment. He coated the blade's spine with a thin layer of clay, ensuring a differential hardening that would result in a hard, sharp edge and a softer, more flexible spine. He then heated the blade in the forge, his eyes keenly observing the subtle changes in color that indicated the perfect temperature for quenching.

With swift, confident movements, Ryu plunged the glowing blade into a container of oil, the liquid hissing and steaming as the blade's temperature plummeted. The quenching process hardened the blade, locking in its potential for unparalleled sharpness. Ryu could see the distinct curvature that had formed, a product of the differential hardening.

Now came the complicated and time-consuming part, sharpening. While creating the scalpel's shape wasn't an issue, with the standard that Ryu wanted the scalpel's sharpness certainly was.

As Ryu prepared to embark on the time-consuming and delicate process of grinding and polishing the blade, he carefully laid out a series of water stones before him. Each stone had been meticulously chosen for its specific grit, ensuring a progression that would transform the blade from its current rough form into a work of art.

Ryu began with the coarsest stone, immersing it in water to allow the stone to absorb moisture. Once the stone was ready, Ryu held the blade in his left hand, angling it slightly to ensure the proper bevel. With a steady, controlled grip, he glided the blade across the surface of the stone, applying even pressure as he moved from the base to the tip of the blade.

Each pass of the blade over the stone removed minute amounts of steel, slowly revealing the scalpel's true form. Ryu's movements were methodical and deliberate, his years of experience evident in the fluidity and precision of each stroke. He would periodically dip the blade into water, washing away the metal particles and keeping the edge cool. As he worked, he checked the blade's progress, ensuring that the bevel was even and the edge was beginning to take shape.

Once Ryu was satisfied with the initial sharpening, he moved on to the next stone in the series. This finer-grit stone would continue to refine the edge, honing it to a level of sharpness that was approaching its final form. Ryu repeated the process, adjusting the angle of the blade as needed to maintain the proper bevel. With each pass over the stone, the blade's edge grew thinner, the once rough surface transforming into a smoother, more reflective surface.

Ryu continued to work through the progression of water stones, each one finer than the last, bringing the blade closer and closer to its ultimate state. As he reached the finest stone in the series, Ryu's movements became even more deliberate and controlled. The scalpel was now incredibly sharp, and even the slightest mistake could have marred the edge or damaged the blade.

With each pass over the finest stone, the scalpel's edge approached the pinnacle of sharpness, the metal becoming so thin that it appeared almost translucent when held to the light.

Finally, Ryu turned his attention to the handle. He selected a piece of oak wood, its natural grain and color accentuating the scalpel's overall design. He carved the handle meticulously, ensuring a perfect fit with the blade and adding delicate engravings that spoke to the scalpel's purpose and the artistry behind its creation.

Ryu secured the handle to the blade using traditional cord wrapping, the final step in bringing another masterpiece in his scalpel set to life.

With another one of his scalpels done, Ryu smiled proudly as he conjured another piece of iron to begin working on another one.

---

'Now all that's left is to give these to Arakan and Akina, I can't wait to see their reaction!' Ryu thought as he looked proudly at the finished set.

================================================================

I received several comments telling me that the first blacksmithing scene I did was pretty horrible, so if one of the guys reading this understands the field, please tell me how I did. If there were any fuckups, I'll edit the chapter. Please do it nicely though, I'm sick of every reader with a complaint cursing the ever-living hell out of my novel and me. I'm sad that this is the internet culture that we have, and I won't accept it here. I'll gladly listen to any feedback, I really like to learn from my mistakes, but I'm a human and not an object so treat me with the bare minimum of respect. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.