Grey stood by his anvil, exhausted but focused.
Resting on a cooling stone was his creation: a sleek, simple, double-edged dagger. It wasn't large or flashy, but the lines were incredibly clean, and the surface had a muted, dark luster, indicating superior heat treatment.
Ignis paused. He slowly reached out and picked up the dagger.
The instant his calloused, knowing hands gripped the hilt, his eyebrows shot up. He hadn't even looked at the blade, but the balance was immediate and perfect.
He then ran his finger—protected by his gauntlet—along the edge. He paused, inspecting the minute details of the grind and the final finish.
Then, he lifted the dagger to his eye and focused his own aura, looking deep into the steel.
What he saw was a revelation: the internal grain structure was incredibly fine and uniform, the sign of meticulous, repeated folding and perfect temperature control during the drawing phase.
