Chapter 3: Chapter 3 : Skia’s Apprenticeship

The workshop was a small, cramped space filled with tools and equipment. Kaela, or Ela as she was known to her family and friends, sat at her forge, the heat from the fire warming her face as she worked. She had been smithing for as long as she could remember, and the process was second nature to her.

She started by heating a piece of metal in the forge until it was red hot. Using a pair of tongs, she carefully removed it from the fire and placed it on the anvil. With her hammer in hand, she began to shape the metal, striking it repeatedly until it took on the desired form. The sound of the hammer striking the metal echoed through the workshop, a steady rhythm that was both soothing and invigorating.

As she worked, she kept a close eye on the metal, checking its color and texture to ensure that it was at the right temperature and consistency. She knew that the metal had to be heated to the perfect temperature, otherwise it would not take on the desired shape.

Once she was satisfied with the shape of the metal, she cooled it in a bucket of water. The metal hissed and steamed as it cooled, and Ela knew that this was the critical moment. If the metal was cooled too quickly, it would become brittle and break easily. If it was cooled too slowly, it would lose its shape.

Once the metal was cool, Ela used a file to smooth out any rough edges and a chisel to create intricate designs.

Suddenly, her middle sister, Skia, appeared in the doorway. "Ela, can I help you with something?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Kaela paused, looking up at her sister with a smile. "It is okay, dear" she said, gesturing to the workbench.

Skia's face lit up with excitement as she eagerly made her way over to the bench. "I've always wanted to learn how to forge a sword," she said, her eyes shining.

Kaela nodded, showing her sister how to hold the hammer and use the tongs to shape the metal. "It takes a lot of skill and practice, but I know you can learn it," she said, encouragingly.

She took and reheated the unfinished sword. "The first step is to heat the metal until it's red hot. That's when it's malleable enough to shape into the sword." Skia nodded, scribbling down the information.

"But you have to be careful," Ela continued. "If you heat it too much, it'll become too brittle. And if you don't heat it enough, it'll be too soft." Skia nodded again, her eyes never leaving Ela's hands as she worked.

"Now, watch closely," Ela said, picking up a pair of tongs and carefully placing the blade back into the forge. "See how I'm turning it? That's so it heats evenly." Skia leaned forward, her eyes wide with interest.

Ela took the blade out of the forge and placed it on the anvil. "Now we're going to hammer it into shape," she said, picking up a hammer. "But you have to be careful not to hit it too hard, or you'll crack it." Skia watched as Ela expertly shaped the blade, the sparks flying.

"Now we have to quench it in oil," Ela said, taking the blade and placing it in a vat of oil. "This will cool it down quickly and make it hard." Skia watched as the blade hissed and steamed in the oil.

Ela pulled the sword out of the oil and held it up for Skia to see. "And there you have it," she said, smiling. "A brand new sword." Skia's face was filled with awe. "Wow, Ela," she said. "I can't wait to make my own sword."

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