Chapter 30 - Blacksmithing

The next day, I was in the garden with my mother, listening to her descriptions of various plants and their uses. With LILY activated, it was easy to record her illustrations in her memory bank. I could retrieve these files as 3D rendered diagrams whenever I wanted. This made analyzing and comparing the biology of these plants much simpler.

Halfway through her explanations, a maid announced that my father wanted to see me in his study. My mother dismissed her and continued with her explanations as if the announcement was of no concern to her. I couldn’t help but be amused, pondering who the real authority in the house was.

But then, she stopped her explanations and sat down in the shade of the large tree at the center of the garden. I tried to follow her, but she waved me off with a smile.

“This will be all for today, Azalon. Go meet your father.”

I nodded with a smile and went to my room to clean off the garden mud and change into a fresh set of clothes. I reached the room my father called his study. The guard outside saluted me and opened the doors, announcing my arrival to my father inside. As I walked in, I saw my father sitting behind his desk, a smile spreading across his face as he saw me.

Opposite him, I noticed a figure in the chair with his back facing me. I recognized him as Mr. Feran, the blacksmith residing in the mansion. It was clear that the reason for this meeting was related to my request to learn blacksmithing from him. So, he had finally consulted my father. It took him long enough.

I took a seat in the chair beside Mr. Feran and waited silently for either of them to initiate the conversation. As expected, my father spoke first.

“So, Azalon, Feran here says that you made a request to him a couple of days ago. Is that right?” I nodded while glancing at Feran from the corner of my eye. I could see his unwillingness and a hint of fear in his expression.

“I want to ask you, Azalon, why do you need to learn blacksmithing? It’s not as if you will have the elemental affinities required to be a Spirit Blacksmith. Traditional Blacksmithing is no longer considered a profession. It involves physical labor with metals instead of the Spirit Energy manipulation used by Spirit Blacksmiths. Moreover, if you need something, you can simply order it. So why do you want to learn this?”

As my father spoke, I noticed the conflict in Feran’s eyes. Even I was surprised by how my father looked down on this skill. I didn’t understand this level of discrimination. I carefully phrased my response, sensing my father’s irritation over my choice.

“I understand, Father. That’s why I initially approached Mr. Feran for the components for the watch I showed you. My reason for this request is simple: I want to create things with my own hands. I don’t want to always rely on others for my needs. I also want to learn new things. I was just in the garden with Mother, learning about gardening, different types of plants, their uses, and other related knowledge. So what’s wrong with me learning blacksmithing? In the future, if my elemental affinity is suitable for Spirit Blacksmithing, this knowledge will be useful for advancing in my profession. Even if not, learning new skills is always beneficial for my future.”

As I made my argument, my father’s reluctance slowly faded as he saw that I was serious about my request. He made one last attempt to dissuade me.

“Learning something is not necessarily bad, Azalon. But you don’t understand the difficulties involved in Traditional Blacksmithing. The physical labor required is something your body might struggle with. Furthermore, once you begin cultivating, you won’t have time to practice blacksmithing diligently. It could take decades to master. So, think carefully about your decision.”

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t fully explain my situation to him. I wanted to learn blacksmithing simply to make my own components. This world doesn’t have concepts like patents, so I can’t just draw blueprints and take them to a blacksmith. If someone finds out about what I plan to make, they might go to extreme lengths to get their hands on them. So, learning the process myself is crucial to mitigate risks if I need to manufacture these items. However, I couldn’t reveal all this to my father. No parent would be calm if their child said they wanted to build potentially harmful things. Thus, I had to use persuasive arguments to make him accept my request.

After a lengthy discussion and some promises that I would only pursue this as long as it didn’t hinder my cultivation progress, he reluctantly gave his approval. I gave him a small hug with a smile and walked out of his study with Feran. I could hear a sigh and some light grumbling behind me, just before the doors closed.

Feran remained silent throughout my argument with my father and did not speak a word as we walked toward his cottage near the smithy. His serious expression made me feel slightly vexed. But I didn’t have time to worry about his feelings. I just wanted to learn blacksmithing and then move on from this brooding fellow.

“Mr. Feran, now that you have my father’s approval, when can we start our lessons?”

He seemed startled by my voice and jumped slightly. I was both amused and irritated. If he continued to be this absent-minded, he would certainly test my patience. In a low voice, he responded.

“Young Master, please be frank with me. Why do you need to learn the art of blacksmithing? I’ve told you this is not Spirit Energy manipulation but Traditional Blacksmithing, which is almost worthless for someone of your stature. If you get hurt while learning, I will have to face your parents’ anger.” His voice trembled with a mix of sadness and anger.

So, that’s it. It seems he has had similar experiences before with other noble children, which is why he was so reluctant.

“Mr. Feran, my reasons are the same as I told my father. I want to learn new things and explore different methods. Who knows, the knowledge you impart might be useful to me in the future. I don’t view this as a mere pastime. I genuinely want to learn blacksmithing. I leave it to you, Mr. Feran, whether you choose to teach me or not. I can’t say anything more than that.”

He studied me with a deep, scrutinizing gaze for a long time. I held his gaze the entire time. I don’t know what he saw, but his expression gradually relaxed, and he nodded slowly.

“Alright, Young Master. I will teach you everything I know. How much you learn depends on you alone. This art is similar to cultivation. I can only show you the way and provide some knowledge. You must walk the path yourself, and all the obstacles and rewards will belong to you.”

“But consider this a final warning, Young Master. The physical labor and dangers are not to be taken lightly. You cannot approach this art with a half-hearted attitude. If you decide you can endure it, come back here tomorrow morning, and we will start the lessons.”

“Thank you, Mr. Feran. As you said, blacksmithing is like cultivation. But isn’t cultivation also challenging and fraught with danger? It’s not a simple task. We must face trials and tribulations to reach the peak. So, please be assured, Mr. Feran, I will be here tomorrow.”

With that, I left the cottage, leaving behind a slack-faced man. But I was excited to learn something new in this world, different from my past life. I was eager to see how traditional blacksmithing compared to Earth’s practices and what new surprises awaited me.