Going over to one of the tables, Hepha picked up a bottle of alcohol and began to drink, while watching the two boys talk about the flying sword project.
'Ezra really grown up quickly, my little lonely smith. Fuck I'm talking like an old lady.'
She then gave a warm smile observed the two so dedicated. With a feeling of pride in her chest at the dedication of the little blue brat.
*
The planning of the weapon took some time. Although they had not progressed that far with the diagram of the flying sword, the three were now visualizing what Luke's new sword might look like.
Ezra was eager to make this new piece of equipment, while Luke was interested in finding out how skilled the little blue-haired boy was. Hepha eventually gave that answer just before he said goodbye.
"Anyway, it's fun here but, I need to leave. Those men aren't going to organize themselves, they need a woman yelling how to forge right" Hephaestus said.
She then stood up, and after a sigh, opened the door.
Before she left, she decided to give the blue brat one last lecture.
"Ezra, don't forget that you are rank 4! You can use our materials and call me without bothering, if you finish this weapon without calling me even once, I will beat you up" Hepha said, in a slightly more serious voice. Only to resume her laughter as she walked out of the room.
Now was the time to discuss the new sword, however, Luke was still interested in finding out more about how the blacksmiths at the academy were organized, as well as getting more information about Ezra.
"Why are you always so isolated? Even if you are such a skilled blacksmith, you should get hundreds of orders" Luke said.
Little Ezra then let go of the pen and stretched, stretching himself. Looking up at the ceiling, a complicated expression appeared on his face.
"You know the reason, Luke, everyone does. My body is too small to be a blacksmith. I've been dealing with hot iron since I was born, but that doesn't change my natural unfitness... The one who guided me to learn how to control golems was Master Hepha, she was the only one in all these years who was willing to watch me work" Ezra said.
The little boy turned around a little embarrassed, as he scratched his cheek.
"Well, that's before you of course. I have tried several times to ask to create equipment for other students, but never succeeded before, they just looked at me and laughed... I am really grateful to you for agreeing to come here" Ezra concluded.
The blue haired boy's face was a little red with embarrassment, but hearing these words made Luke somehow empathize with the little blacksmith.
He remembered how he was judged for being a half-wolf. How they often refused to listen to him or even try to understand what he had to say.
Luke had also always been used to being belittled, and after hearing all this, a hard feeling came over his chest.
'I almost took the same attitude, I didn't believe that this boy was capable of forgery'
[Don't worry about it wolf brat!]
'That's a new one, learned from Hephaestus is it?'
[Yes!]
'You're too annoying to be a Goddess'
[LUKE! That's pretty mean to say to a beautiful woman like me]
'I'm sorry, hahaha'
[Anyway, Luke, don't worry about it. You at least tried to recognize little Ezra, that already makes you much better than all the people he turned to before]
*sigh*
Luke sighed and looked at Ezra, it was better to be honest with the little blacksmith.
"You know Ezra, I too have been belittled several times" Luke said, pointing to his ears.
"I'm sorry, I too imagined that you were not capable of forging. But the way you came to me for help, I thought I would at least try to get to know your work" said Luke.
Ezra then stood up with speed. Standing up and pushing his chair back.
Ah, he was annoyed with me,' thought Luke.
The boy then turned to Luke, his eyes watering.
'No sir Luke! You were the first person who at least tried to get to know me! I'm very grateful for that!!!" cried Ezra.
Placing one of his hands on his chest, the boy spoke with conviction:
"Let's go to my room! I'll show you some of the equipment I've made! Meanwhile, tell me about how you want your sword" Ezra said.
*
The small blacksmith then guided Luke to a room across from the workshop where they met. It was a room of a rather vast size, surprisingly it was packed with swords and equipment of all different kinds.
"What is this place?" Luke said, startled by the amount of blades that room possessed.
One of the bookshelves caught the half-wolf's attention. It was packed with different swords and daggers, each of the weapons had a distinct color, with a surprising glow.
"Ah, this is where I keep my equipment. A few months ago I was in the habit of forging at least five pieces a day" said the boy, who had his arms crossed as he was rummaging through a strange pile of daggers.
"Master Hepha said that I made too many swords, and that I would end up crowding the equipment area of the forge. So she let me use this small room to store my old projects.
"Why is there a bed in the middle of the floor?" Luke said, while looking at a small mattress that was positioned in the corner of the room.
"I sleep here sometimes, the student dorm is too far from the forge" Ezra said, with surprising naturalness.
'Does he really think this is normal?'
[This boy really is dedicated at work]
''Isn't it dangerous for a sword to fall on you?" Luke asked.
"Hmm, you're right. It would be dangerous, I usually leave their edge perfect like a razor before I put it away... Well, I'll start sleeping in the center of the room, that should do it" Ezra replied.
"I don't think that changes the situation that much, ideally I wouldn't sleep here" Answered Luke.
"What's the problem?" Ezra said.
"You'll never get a quality night's sleep. Orion said forge works all the time, you'll always have sound of hammering" Luke Answered, crossing his arms and judging the little blacksmith.
"Hahaha! I was born in a forge Luke, don't worry about it, I'm used to sleeping with the noise of the beats on the metal" Ezra said.
"You know that people who sleep little don't usually grow much in height, right?" Luke said.
The little blue haired boy turned to Luke, with a panicked face and tear filled eyes.
"Is... is that why Luke? I will never grow up because I sleep too little?" said Ezra, the boy was almost starting to cry.
Luke gave a small smile, and ran his hand through the boy's blue hair.
"Try to rest properly and eat well! You still have plenty of time to grow up," Luke said, laughing.
Ezra lifted his head, his eyes filled with determination.
"I'll grow up enough to master Luke! I promise!" Ezra said.
'You don't have to promise me that.'
"Master?" Answered Luke.
The little boy then blushed and looked down.
"Yes... I thought I could be your personal blacksmith, since you don't have one. It is - it is common for formidable warriors to have personal smiths" Ezra said, his cheeks reddening.
'Mister Luke seems to be very strong, I'm sure he'll have a smith working exclusively for him soon' thought Ezra, a little nervous by the half-wolf's answer.
'Hmm, I don't see a problem. From what I've seen here, you are really quite skilled" Luke said.
The half-wolf was holding a medium purple dagger. Analyzing the edge of the blade with his finger.
"Great! But how do you desire your sword? We didn't go into detail about your personal one" Ezra replied.
"Hmm, I fight like an assassin. I would need a weapon with a black blade, do you know how to make katanas?" Luke said.
Ezra ran to one of the shelves and picked up a small knife. He then held out the item to Luke.
"I'm not big on blades Zhao faith. But I can ask Hepha for help in how to perform, I hear that new diagrams and forging books have arrived from the far east" Ezra said.
Handing Luke the knife to analyze, Ezra began to explain the peculiarities of the equipment.
It was a kind of small dagger, with a square blade and an extremely sharp edge. The blade was completely black, looking a bit like obsidian armor from Broteforge.
"That is one of my last knives. I used an alloy called Midnight Metal. But we can use Adamantine refined with Mana and create a magic circle at the base, you seem to have a lot of mana, so a magic sword will be practically indestructible in your hand" Ezra concluded, the boy was completely excited.
"Indestructible?" Questioned Luke.
"Yes, if you channel your mana into a sword, it will definitely make it indestructible" Ezra replied.
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