Limits

I asked Paul "Can you give us a minute?". Paul shook his head, and replied "Sure, go ahead". When he left, I said "I want to learn from him, and improve my smithing skills. I know we came here together, but he will also help me search for my sword. If you are not bored to death, you are of course welcomed to stay here with me. if you want to leave, or do something else, that is fine as well".

Fox thought about it, and said "If you promise to go out sometimes after your work, I will stay and keep you company". I laughed "Of course. After all, we have that battle to see tomorrow. Besides, don't you have any hobbies? Stuff you like to do?". She thought about it, and replied "No? I usually went outside to shop. When travelling, I just talked with people around or trained. At home, father made me study Formations…". I felt a bit bad for her. I had loads of things I could do in spare time. Fish, if I was near the water. Carve something, if I had wood, or even cultivate a field.

I thought about her situation, and came up with something. I said "You like clothes, right? Why don't you learn how to make your own clothes? You could make whatever you like, instead of buying whatever someone else created". She considered that idea seriously, but answer "I'm no good… Who would teach me anyway?". I replied "Don't act as if you are useless. You want to learn? then you will learn. If you think like this, you will never break through to your Inner Limits. Don't think like that, be a bit more positive".

She nodded, and replied "You are right! How would I know if I don't try it?". I nodded, and called over Paul. He asked "You two are done?". I replied without a care for his comment "Do you know any tailors? If one of them could take Fox in, and teach her how to make clothes, that would be great". Paul nodded, and replied "I do know a few tailors, but why should I help her? Help you was never a problem, but…". I looked at Fox, and motioned for her to speak. Fox nodded, and said "I want to learn, and I will work hard. If someone is willing to teach me, I will give it my all. I only want a chance". Paul thought about it, and replied "I guess I can introduce you to someone. Wait here for a while". He then turned towards me, and asked "What are you waiting for? Make at least 20 Purified Steel Ingots, for your weapon smithing. Did you think I will be making ingots for you? Move your ass!".

He was my teacher after all, so I went to work. I could hear Fox's quiet giggle, and I hoped she gets someone even worse to teach her. I didn't mind Fox anymore, and focused on creating Purified Steel Ingots. The first thing I noticed, was the quality of the ore the smithy offered. It was exceptional, there were very little impurities inside the ore. 'I can easily make High Grade ingots from this' I thought.

I grabbed all the materials and tools needed, and began pounding away. With my strength and stamina, I was able to make one ingot after the other. It took me a while to finish all twenty of them. When I stopped and looked around, Fox was no longer around. Paul on the other hand, stood to the side. He probably watched me as I created the ingots. With the initial work done, I said "I've created twenty Purified Steel Ingots. What now?". Paul replied by asking, "Can you tell me the Grades?". I nodded my head, and said "Most of them are of High Grade, there are a few of Perfect Grade". He was stunned a bit, and replied "A few of them? It's most of them that are of Perfect Grade…. What teacher taught you such strict grading?". I was confused, and said "Does it matter who? The Grades are determined by impurities inside, not by who taught you. Most of them are top notch High Grade ingots, but still possess impurities. The few Perfect Grade ingots, contain none that I can see".

He replied "You can see that well? No wonder your grading is so strict. I can't see any impurities in most of them. Either way. You are very good at creating ingots, but not good at making weapons or armours. This is actually very good. Since you have already learned how to make ingots properly, there is nothing stopping us from moving towards weapons and armour. Let me show you, how to make a sword". He then took a hammer, one of my ingots, and began hammering it.

"This is a simple method. You have to visualise a design in your head, and work towards that. For now, we will focus on different shapes. You have to get accustomed to that, then we can move on to the technique". I nodded, and watched. Soon the sword was finished. It looked rather plain but sturdy and well made. Paul told me to repeat that process, and make a sword. He also mentioned not to simply copy him, and make a different sword. I nodded, and began my work.

I've made a few swords, daggers, axes and whatnot, throughout the day. I was spent in the evening. Fortunately, the smithy had to close for the night, in order to let people sleep. Paul told me to come back tomorrow morning, but I reminded him of the fight in the Arena. He reluctantly agreed, but mentioned that I had to return as soon as it was over.

When I left the smithy, Fox was waiting outside. She said "You look tired". I smiled, and replied "Yea. He knows that I broke through to my Inner Limits, therefore I got no rest. He pretty much worked me like a dog... How was your day?". She replied "Very nice actually. Old lady Mirabel is a skilled tailor. She teaches me and a few other people. Although it's hard and all, I enjoy it. Knowing that I could make some clothes…".

She changed the topic, and asked "Hungry?". I nodded, and replied "Sure, I didn't eat anything. Although, I don't have much money… Right, I forgot you are wealthy". She laughed for a while, and said "Let's go eat something". We entered some sort of restaurant, and a waiter sat us at the table. He gave us a menu, and left. When I looked through it, I was shocked. 'What type of prices are those?' I asked myself. A simple dish was priced at around 1 Gold Coin. Some of them were priced at 10 Gold Coins and upwards.

'I know she is wealthy, but why pay so much for food?' I thought, and I said "You know, we can eat somewhere else". She placed down the menu, and asked "Is it about the money again? Why do you always worry about it so much?". I shook my head, and replied "I was never wealthy, and I don't fit in those types of places. I'm a simple guy, and I'm alright with this. Paying that type of money for this amount of food, is like daylight robbery. I know you have money, but no one has an infinite amount of money. It doesn't feel right to me… Especially since you can cook".

She seemed surprised, and asked "You'd prefer to eat my cooking, rather than the dishes made by an experienced and professional chef?". I nodded my head, and replied "In those types of places, although food may be good, but you always overpay for it". She laughed a bit, and said "Alright. If this will make you less worried, I will cook for you, instead of eating out". I shook my head, and replied "You don't have to do that, I was just saying". She insisted "Well, your "just saying", just became reality. I never considered my cooking to be great, but since you like it so much…".

'She seems to enjoy that… I wonder why? Her cooking was very good… Does she plan to make it worse now? Oh well, I can eat anything as long as it's edible' I thought. Fox continued, "But for today, we stay here and eat. Alright?". I nodded, and then realised something. "Wait! How are you going to eat with that mask on?". She laughed, and said "You know my father is a Formation Master, right? Did you think this is just some simple mask? It's much better than what you have, although it doesn't improve my sight… I will have to ask father to add that in the future".

I was still confused, because this didn't answer my question. 'So what if it has Formation? Will the food simply pass through the mask? Why didn't she use that earlier?' I asked myself. She called over the waiter to make an order. This meant, I would soon find out.