The morning Alchemy class ended, leaving behind a lingering scent of crushed herbs and faint mana residue. Jack brushed the green stains from his hands, the faint shimmer of crushed Glacier Poppy dusting his fingers like powdered frost. Despite the mess, a quiet pride glowed in his eyes.
Ding!
The bell echoed through the halls, signaling the end of class. Jack rose, slinging his satchel over his shoulder, and made his way toward the academy cafeteria. The corridor buzzed with life boots clacking on marble floors, students laughing, others deep in conversation.
Inside the dining hall, it was warm.
WHOOOSH!
Of mana-fueled stoves blended with the mouthwatering aroma of grilled beast meat, fresh-baked bread, and spiced stew.
Jack grabbed his tray and settled near a sunlit window. He tore into his meal juicy meat, roasted roots, and fluffy white rice that melted in the mouth. His appetite had doubled ever since he started practicing Ascendant Meditation. Every bite was fuel. Every breath preparation.
The sun climbed higher. Noon light gleamed off the steel-framed windows.
It was time.
Blacksmith Class.
---
Jack stepped into the Blacksmith Production Hall and paused.
Thud. Thud. THUD.
The entire hall felt transformed. The scent of molten ore and scorched leather hung thick in the air. Fresh furnaces lined the walls, glowing like beast eyes in the shadows. New workbenches gleamed under the light of flickering mana-lamps. Racks of glimmering ore samples stretched along the room's edge like the spine of a mountain god.
Jack took his place quietly among a mix of students, some older, seasoned, bearing calloused hands and battle-worn aprons. Their eyes sparkled with tempered experience, and a few sized Jack up with curious glances.
CREEEAAAAK…
The heavy oak door swung open with a low groan.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Iron-tipped boots slammed against the stone floor. A dwarf entered, wide as a forge and twice as fierce. His braided gray beard hung like a war banner, and a battle-scarred smithing hammer rested across his back like a knight's sword. Sparks of mana flickered faintly from the rune-etched gauntlets he wore.
His eyes locked onto the students sharp, burning, unyielding.
"Stand up, ya rust-faced rookies!"
CLANG!
Chairs scraped back as the entire class stood in unison.
"Good afternoon, Professor Borin!" they chorused.
The dwarf cracked a grin, beard twitching with amusement.
"Aye, good afternoon, ya bunch of molten rookies," he barked, voice like rolling thunder through a cave. "Welcome to Class A Blacksmithing. If ye ain't ready to sweat, bleed, and bang out your will onto iron, you best walk out now!"
Some students chuckled nervously. Others straightened with pride.
Borin's gaze swept the room again. Then it settled.
He frowned.
New faces.
Ding…
He tapped his hammer's handle lightly against his belt, a subtle gesture, but it echoed like a heartbeat.
"Hmph. I see some o' ye just earned yer Novice Master rank,"Borin grunted, eyeing the new faces. "Fresh flames, eh? Good… Let's see if ye burn bright or burn out with a hiss."
He turned and paced slowly.
"For those who don't know," Borin grunted, folding his arms, "the name's Borin Stonebeard. Master Forgewright of Ironhall. I don't care if yer da was a royal smith or just a coal digger in these halls out here, your work's what speaks for ya. Not your name. Respect the metal. Respect the flame. And maybe, just maybe... it'll respect you back."
CRACK!
He slammed his hand down on a workbench, sending a small jolt of mana through the wood.
"Class starts now."
------
"Today," Borin declared, striding toward the chalkboard with heavy, echoing steps, THUD… THUD…, "we begin Apprentice-Level Blacksmithing. That means you are now officially 2-Star Beginners."
He turned sharply, grabbing a thick piece of chalk and drawing a bold circle with practiced ease.
SCRIIIITCH.
Around it, he sketched runes symbols pulsing faintly with mana.
"This," he tapped the board, TAP TAP, "is where the real forging begins."
Borin turned to the class, eyes gleaming beneath his thick brows.
"2-Star Rank Ores aren't your baby metals like copper or pig iron. These beauties are dangerous, rare, and brimming with power."
CLANK!
He dropped a tray onto the front table. Ten ore samples sat nestled in velvet-lined slots, each one glowing or flickering with its unique energy.
"Behold, lads and lasses!"
---
BOOM!
Crimson Iron Ore – "Glows like magma from the heart of a mountain. Found near volcano slopes. Makes sturdy blades and boosts fire damage. If you ain't careful, it'll burn your eyebrows off."
CRACKLE…
Frostglass Crystal – "Frozen mana trapped for centuries. Found in glacier caves. Armor forged from this laughs at Cryo spells."
BZZZZZT!
Arcane Tin – "Tingles with mana. Perfect for mage gear reduces casting time and increases stability in enchantments."
RUSTLE…
Verdant Stone – "Looks like vines twisted into stone. Excellent for crafting nature-aligned equipment, especially for beast tamers."
TWINK!
Moonsteel Shard – "Only found under the moonlight. Gear made from this is favored by assassins, quiet, fast, and nearly invisible."
ZAP!
Thunderbite Ore – "Touch this raw and you'll feel the gods slap your hand. Unstable, but powerful. Perfect for lightning-infused weapons."
WHOOSH!
Sandspire Iron – "Light and sharp. Dug from ancient desert ruins. Used for speed-focused weapons and armor."
WHISPER…
Phantom Quartz – "Looks haunted, doesn't it? Enchanted jewelry crafted from this enhances illusion spells. Trickster's favorite."
GLIMMER…
Dusksteel Ore – "Forged in twilight. Boosts stealth and defends against dark magic. Shadow knights crave this stuff."
FIZZLE!
Emberroot Fragment – "Found under battlefields long forgotten. Infused with war's fury. Enhances fire spells when set into wands."
---
Jack's eyes widened with each explanation. His quill danced over parchment, recording every word, every flicker of possibility. His mind was already at work imagining the hum of Thunderbite fused with the speed of Sandspire, forming a blade that struck like a bolt from the blue.
Then came the next bombshell.
TAP TAP!
"2-Star recipes," Borin continued, tapping the board again, "require more than brute strength. You gotta understand the metal. Speak to it. Shape it with your will."
He passed around recipe sheets, the pages filled with stunning blueprints:
Moonfang Dagger. Phantom Token. Emberroot Ring.
Each one buzzed with potential, their outlines glowing faintly under the classroom's enchanted lights.
Jack ran a finger down the list, heart pounding.
Ding…
A call to creation. A spark.
---
Hours passed in a blur of theory, sketches, and or inspection. When the class finally ended, Jack wiped the sweat from his brow, packed his notes, and stepped out of the hall into the late afternoon.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, bathing the streets in amber light. Leaves rustled in the wind. The academy bell tolled softly in the distance.
Dong… Dong…
He walked home with a quiet sense of accomplishment glowing inside him.
---
After a quick wash and change of clothes, Jack stepped into the backyard.
The trees whispered as a gentle evening breeze swept through. The air shimmered faintly charged with mana.
Jack moved to the stone platform at the center of the garden, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.
WHOOOOH…
As he inhaled, faint rings of light began forming around him. Threads of elemental energy red, blue, green, gold spiral toward him.
His aura pulsed softly.
Thump… thump… thump….
His breathing slowed. Time still stands.
Ascendant Meditation.
---
DING DONG!
At 8:30 PM, a familiar voice rang out from the house.
"Jack! Dinner's ready!" Emma called, cheerful and warm.
Jack opened his eyes, the circle of light fading into the dusk. He stood, stretched with a soft groan, and headed inside.
At the dining table, laughter already echoed.
"I told you not to eat the whole bag of spirit beans!" Emma laughed, wiping her eyes.
"They were too good!" Ava protested with a sheepish grin.
Jack sat down, greeted by the warmth of family and the scent of freshly baked bread and beast-bone stew.
"Had a good day?" James asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Jack nodded and began recounting his journey, his potion success, the rare ores, the thrill of seeing Thunderbite arc across a student's fingers.
Everyone chuckled.
Sofia jumped in next. "Ava and I went to the market. We tried every food stall: spicy skewers, fruit ice, grilled beast buns. It was wild!"
"There was this soup that made our mouths go numb for five minutes!" Ava exclaimed.
HA HA HA!
Laughter roared through the room like a festival flame.
Jack smiled.
Outside, night had fallen. Stars twinkled across the velvet sky. A quiet wind stirred the world.
And in the heart of it all, a young boy named Jack took another step one spark, one blade, one moment at a time toward a future forged by fire, magic, and destiny.
--------
To Be Continued…!!