Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 175: Learning to Craft

“I’ve never seen something so amazing,” Brian muttered as he looked at the weapon in Max’s hand. “I mean, I’ve seen a lot in the half year I’ve been here, but that’s a totally different quality.”

The dwarf cleared his throat, and the young teen almost lept out of his boots, surprised that the shop's owner was so close.

“I’ll agree,” Zach said. “You told me you were traveling and wanted to practice, not show off. I have lots of questions, but I somehow doubt I’ll get answers to any of them.”

Shrugging, Max put the dagger into his storage and smiled.

“You would be right about that,” Max said. “I want to try a few more things, and then I’ll be gone for a few days. Maybe even a week.”

Stroking his beard, Zach stared at the boy before him, knowing that his appearance of youth, combined with a skill like his, wasn’t very common. Lots of questions came to his mind, but none of them had answers he really wanted to ask, knowing the danger in those truths.

“I don’t suppose you want to keep using the materials in the back with my daughter. Do you want better quality items or what?”

“You and I both know some of those ingots need a little more time to get all the impurities out,” Max said quietly, not worrying about being heard over the building's noise. “The wood handles have some flaws, too, but most should be able to learn that by now.”

Zach smirked and nodded. “So what are you wanting? Better bars? Higher quality metal? More expensive wood or tusks for a handle?”

Glancing at the boy waiting off to the side, occasionally giving the coals a breath of air to keep them warm if needed, Max scratched the hair on his face.

I know it's not there, but it itches like it is.

“That Brian kid, is he really going to be a weaponsmith?

Zach glanced at the red-headed teen and then nodded. “He’s been here almost every day almost since he could. The kid’s got dreams of being something famous, but I try to warn him this life isn’t like that.”

Max couldn’t help but chuckle and nod. The time it would take for a human to reach the level of renown as a weaponsmith was almost impossible. He would have to be leveled his entire life and have someone willing to invest in him.

“What kind of metal do you have that would make a good hammer for smithing? Something special for that boy?”

Zach studied Max for a moment and then cocked his head.

“Are you offering to make him a smithing hammer?”

“Maybe, would that bother you?”

Snorting, Zach shook his head in disbelief. “I just watched you make something I know I can’t make, and you’re offering to make a kid with no future outside of this profession a hammer. We’ll ignore my jealousy, and even if you make him one, are you sure it's worth the cost of items?”

Max nodded. “Something tells me that boy will be forever bound to you if you keep doing what you’re doing. He needs focus and a place. You’re giving him those things, even if he has to work by the sweat of his brow for it. Besides, I want to make sure the next generation of weaponsmiths has a good start if I can help.”

Roaring in laughter, Zach held his stomach and belly laughed for a bit. After wiping a tear away, the dwarf shook his head.

“Next generation… come on now son, you’re barely old enough to be off your mother's teat, let alone talking like that.”

“So tell me then,” Max said, ignoring the dwarf's joke or the fact that he was right about Max’s age. “What metal do you have I can purchase to make him something?”

Frowning, Zach rubbed his face for a moment as he thought.

“I got something, but it would cost you ten gold for the amount you need, and that’s just for the metal. You’d need something stronger than standard wood for the handle.”

Max nodded. “I got that taken care of. I’ll take the metal.”

The dwarf’s head snapped back so fast that Max was afraid he’d break it. “You want it?”

“I do.”

Reaching into his storage, Max began collecting coins, keeping them hidden in his hand till he motioned toward the bench.

With the two of them huddled together, Max showed Zach the coins and saw the dwarf start to sputter.

“Mah… why… uh… blast you fool. You’re serious!”

“Completly,” Max replied. “Do you have the metal on you?”

Nodding, the dwarf pulled from his inventory a pack and set it on the bench with a thud. He pulled out two large ingots, a blue glint to the metal, and set them down on the table. “Listen, if this doesn’t work out, don’t blame me, but please don’t tell that boy you’re doing anything until you hand him that hammer.”

Handing the money to Zach, Max picked up one of the ingots, his mind and skill already knowing what it was.

[ Blue Dwarf Steel ]

“Memories of your homeland?”

Zach was putting the coins away when he froze, turning his head to look at Max in surprise. “You know what that is… I… Can I trouble you by making me something down the road? No cost for ingredients?”

Stolen novel; please report.

Running his hands through his hair, Max nodded.

“Only if you don’t tell a soul who I am and why I’m here. Keep that a secret, and after I make your newest apprentice something, I’ll make you one, too.”

Faster than Max could blink, Zac spit on his hand and held it out for Max.

Repeating the gesture, they shook, and the dwarf appeared giddy as a kid for a moment.

“Anything you need, even my help, you ask,” Zach said. “I’ll keep the rest away.”

Nodding, Max watched as the dwarf took his sack and stored it.

Brian stood there watching Max, enthralled by how he and the dwarf that often made his life difficult had seemed so chummy.

“Brian, come here.”

The teen was standing by the bench in a moment.

“You see this? It’s not normal metal, and we’re going to do something different than usual. Are you up for that?”

Brian glanced at Zach, who was gone, checking in on the other forges. Looking at Max, who was smiling, he couldn’t help but stammer.

“Why do I have a weird feeling about that question?”

Putting a hand on the boy's shoulder, Max gave it a squeeze. “You want to be a weaponsmith, right?”

The boy nodded immediately. “All I ever wanted!”

“Good. I’ll help you as much as I can. Together, we’re going to make something, but in order for what I want to happen, you’ll have to trust me. Do you think you can do that?”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Joshua!” exclaimed Brian.

Laughing, Max pulled out the blade he had just made and smiled.

“Ok then. Let me see your hand. I need to make a cut.”

As the night wore on, the sun set, and the shop was empty except for Brian and Zach. The two worked side by side with Max, watching in awe as every time the hammer struck, it seemed to form the head of the hammer perfectly.

Zach had actually given Max more metal than he needed, obviously expecting Max to waste most of it. Instead, it would be just enough for two hammers, but first, Brian would get his.

Max’s skill told him how to hammer and where to hold it. He had already punched the spot for the handle, smiling to himself for keeping a branch from the drops in the tower. What he was creating would be something of legend one day.

With the hammerhead just hot enough on the side, Max smiled.

“Zach, hold this for me, I need to etch it. Brian, watch what I’m doing.”

The dwarf gasped for a moment, but he didn’t hesitate when Max handed the tongs off, returning to the table for a chisel and hammer.

With the head on the anvil, Max began working on the lines, carving a rune he knew in his mind. Somehow, knowledge he hadn’t known before was there, ready for him to draw upon.

Multiple trips into the coals were required before it was finished, and then Max took over, holding the piece once more and watching it.

It took a while, and Brian fell asleep while Max and Zach continued tempering before hardening the hammer. When it rested, Max got to work on the wood he was going to use for the handle. The knife he had just created worked perfectly for trimming the wood, whittling it down. In his mind, he saw how to prepare the last piece, taking the pin he had already created and preparing for the last part.

“Wake him up,” Max said, his eyes red, surprised at how well Zach was doing. It was hours past midnight, and yet the moment was almost done.

“Come here, Brian, I need one last thing. I have to cut you once more.”

The boy didn’t wince as Max cut his finger and drew on the rune and shaft of the handle. Like a sponge, the blood was absorbed by both, and Max took a cloth and wiped everything else off.

The hammer looked rough, like one that wasn’t designed for battle, but it was never intended to look like a work of art. Instead, it would pound metal into something better than itself.

[ 10 Experience Gained ]

[ Epic Hammer Created ]

[ Bonded ]

[ + 5 STR/DEX/CON ]

[ 20% Chance to create a weapon a grade higher ]

[ Indestructible ]

Max couldn’t help but smile as he held the hammer for a moment, feeling it pull itself toward the young man next to him.

“This is yours. Do not share it with anyone or ever sell it.”

Holding the hammer out toward Brian, Max waited.

The red-headed teen stood there in the light of the dying forge, seeing Max smile and Zach standing with his mouth open. His hands trembled as he tried to reach for it.

“You’re certain?” he asked.

Nodding, Max held it closer. This time, the boy didn’t hesitate, instead grabbing the hammer, and Max felt his hand almost blown off of the weapon.

He swung it around a few times, amazed at how balanced it was.

“Brian, listen to me,” Max said in a firm tone.

The teen turned his attention off of the item in his hand and to the man who had made it for him.

“No matter what, never share its stats. Do not tell a soul. Not even to Zach. Do you understand?”

The boy nodded, and Max couldn’t help but smile, realizing he still hadn’t checked the stats.

“Gods… that hammer looks plain, but I know it’s not… and that rune…” Zach said, shaking his head from side to side. “You’re far more talented than you told me.”

Chuckling, Max gave a wink and moved to the table, starting to put away his tools and items.

“I’ll be back. Maybe tomorrow or in a week, but just know when I return, I’ll make sure you get yours.” Looking over his shoulder, Max gave Zach a hard stare. “Remember what we agreed upon.”

“Absolutely!” Zach exclaimed. He moved to where Brian was, staring at the hammer as if in a dream. “Son, listen to me. How would you like to be my apprentice?”

Brian’s red locks of hair shook from the force of the boy's head snapping toward the dwarf. “Mr. Zach, you’re serious?! I’m not even been gifted–”

Holding his hand up, Zach smiled and nodded. “Listen, son. Something tells me that come choosing day, you’re going to find yourself given the weaponsmith skill. When that happens, you’ll have a place here for as long as you want.”

Grinning from ear to ear the boy forgot where he was and rushed forward, hugging the sweaty and soot-covered dwarven man, jumping up and down excitedly.

The older dwarf patted the boy on the back a few times and laughed.

“Go ahead and turn in, I’ll clean up the shop.”

Max smiled and moved toward the door that was still open, allowing a gentle breeze into the shop. “You two get some rest. I’ll see you soon enough.”

After Max was gone, both men stood there for a moment, staring at the one who had been there all day.

“Who was that man?” Brian asked.

Zach chuckled and scratched his beard a few times, shaking his head slightly. “Son, I have no idea, but something tells me a god was in our midst…” He turned to Brian and pointed a stubby finger at him, poking him softly in the chest. “You do what he said now. Never tell anyone where you got that other than it was a gift, and never tell them its stats. Not even me. Understand?”

Bobbing his head, Brian realized he felt amazing as he held his hammer.

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