Vani sat down on the stool he was offered.
Which by itself made people panic, to think he would willingly sit down on something they had used.
In any case, as he was seated, he gave the wolf man time to thoroughly go through the process he had written on the tablet.
Vani had been reading the expression on the man's face.
No doubt he was intrigued with every line he read.
Soon after, the man raised his head to look at his lord.
"Iron, my lord? I have never heard of anything like that before," said the man.
"I am aware."
Vani leaned forward.
"Be that as it may, you are responsible for making most of the weapons my soldiers use in battle. You are an excellent blacksmith; I have no doubt you can pull it off."
A slight worry grazed the blacksmith's face.
"D-do you have a problem with the bronze weapons I make, my lord?"
This was where Alice chimed in.
With her arms in front of her, she replied,
"Lord Vani has said this method is more likely to produce better weapons and also a chance to increase our economy; it has nothing to do with your skill."
The man sighed.
"I understand," he drifted his eyes to Vani. "I can do most of what is here, but the making of coke is a bit complicated. Heating the furnace to 1200 degrees? I am quite uncertain of that…"
"I figured you would say that."
Vani stood up. "Worry not, I will be here to assist you in making your first steel weapon."
Vani did as he said.
While Alice was outside with the other workers, Vani and the blacksmith had the entire shop to themselves.
For hours they worked.
Heating the coal and removing all traces of oxygen soon turned it into pure coke.
And then adding it into the furnace along with limestone and iron ore, using about 1200 degrees of heat, while also making sure not to melt the iron ore completely.
This process took a long time to master, but by the time they were done, they were met with liquid iron ore in a kiln, ready to be forged and used.
The blacksmith stared at the boiling iron ore, sweating profusely while panting heavily.
"It looks the same as any other thing melted."
"That is what you think." Vani placed the molding stone on the ground.
He had drawn the shape of a weapon he already intended on forging with the melted ore.
A long sword.
"You'll understand the difference soon enough. Here, forge this." He pointed at the stone.
As soon as the blacksmith noticed what he was requested to forge—
"My lord, isn't this blade too long? It could bend easily and also makes it more likely to break."
Vani simply grinned.
"Steel is ten times stronger than bronze. Do you not trust me?"
"N-no, I do, my lord, I do." The blacksmith bowed his head.
"Good, then do as I say."
"Yes, my lord."
As ordered, the blacksmith began forging the long sword with the melted iron ore.
While Vani watched from the side, occasionally giving instructions.
After a few days—
"H-here you go, my lord."
The blacksmith was kneeling in front of Vani, who had once again come to check on him.
With one knee on the ground, he raised the long sword towards Vani.
Alice stood at the back, and the other workers watched with awe.
Actually, for the past few days, they had been seeing their master forging something for longer hours.
They didn't know what it was, only that it was a request from their lord.
That said—
"That looks long. Isn't it going to bend on impact?"
"Yeah, it looks whiter too. What did the master use for this?"
"You guys think they are inventing a new weapon for the upcoming war?"
The voices of the apprentices mumbling echoed slightly.
Vani paid it no mind; his eyes were on the blade itself.
'Impressive. To think he managed to get the shape and design on the first try,' he thought to himself.
Then, calmly, he picked the blade up by the hilt, eyes scanning all the way to the sharp end.
As he instructed, only one part of the blade was sharp.
Vani smiled.
"You are a talented blacksmith."
Hearing that, the man smiled.
"T-thank you, my lord." He then raised his head. "My lord, I have a question."
"Sure." Vani swung the blade slightly.
"I noticed the material we used was cleaner than bronze itself, so I was wondering, can it be used on every other thing as well?"
"Of course. But first, we need to prove why steel is far superior."
Vani turned his gaze to one of the apprentices.
"You there, bring a blade and come forward."
They all panicked.
Only one had the courage to step forward.
He grabbed one of the short swords and then moved towards Vani.
Short and brave, Vani couldn't help but be proud.
Then, with a single motion, Lord Vani pointed the blade at the man.
"Strike it with all your might," he ordered.
'He wants to prove how strong steel is? It can't be strong enough to withstand the full force of a strike, right?' Alice thought to herself, occasionally glancing at Vani's face.
The man gulped down his saliva.
"I shall do my best."
He moved to the side, grabbed the blade tightly, and then—
Crash!
Everyone's eyes widened in awe.
Upon impact, the bronze shattered like glass, leaving the boy to immediately let go of the weapon in order not to harm himself.
Despite that, Vani was still standing proud.
Not even a single dent on the steel sword.
"Incredible," the blacksmith blurted out.
"As you can see, steel is superior. That said, it takes a long time to make, and we don't have that."
Vani looked at the blacksmith.
"I need more than enough weapons before this week ends. Get your workers ready and sharp. I need arrows and shields forged of iron. Can you do this?"
"With great honor, my lord." The blacksmith bowed his head.
The other students bowed their heads as well.
That very day, they learned of something they had never ever imagined.
Steel weapons.