Holf's blacksmith was quieter than usual now, and there was no longer the sound of the iron striking.

He selected iron ingots according to the calcination pattern on the surface, melted them in a stone cup for a long time and did not pour them out, only took some small samples and put them on the stone slab, added different amounts of hay ash, and tested the hardness of the small pieces of metal after cooling, so as to judge how much carbon should be added to the molten iron this time to be perfect.

After the molten iron was mixed with carbon, Horf began to take out a new stone cup and melt the magic stone as well.

The magic stone is similar to a crystal, but the melting point is much higher than that of ordinary crystals, and even higher than that of iron.

For this reason, Horf had not had so much trouble stepping on the blower and feeding oxygen to the stove, and the fire was so hot that sweat ran down his beard and soaked his clothes.

Finally, he melted a little magic stone liquid, and spontaneously emitted a faint purple light, which he mixed into the molten iron in the same way as the last time, and selected the most suitable ratio after cooling.

The fusion of magic stones is for a special kind of enchantment, and by carving a fire-attribute spell mark on the weapon, you can make the sword body full of magic energy stones infused with fire damage when slashing.

The enchantment of weapons infused with magic stones is more direct and depleting than the usual enchantment, and the consumption of magic stones is equivalent to consuming the sword itself, and Horf is very determined to do this.

He didn't have much talent for learning magic, but he still had some of the enchantment methods, and if he didn't even use them in normal times.

"Father." A faint voice rang in Holf's ears.

But he was still concentrating, and his idle thinking was full of the impression of Xia Zuo's forging of a one-handed sword before.

"Father?"

“... Well? Holf was finally called out to find his son standing beside him, "Ola! Where did you go at noon? Why are you only coming back now!? ”

Young Ola was a hybrid of dwarves and humans, with a sturdy build, taller than dwarves, even reaching the height of ordinary humans, and a face very similar to that of a dwarf, with a large nose and a thick brown beard following his father's.

Aura showed helplessness, "Didn't I tell you in the morning, the chimney of Claire's house is in disrepair, I'll go and see, aren't the houses in the village built by us?" Of course, we also have to take on the daily work of improvement. ”

"Hmph," Holf turned his head disdainfully, "I still know what the houses are like in the village, Claire?" You deliberately wanted to go to her house, most likely because you said that her chimney needed to be repaired, so she couldn't see it! ”

"Hey, hey, hey..."Ora scratched her head in embarrassment.

Most of the people in the village know that Claire is Ora's sweetheart.

Ola is also getting old, and Horf knows that he has someone he likes, but he will act a little worried every day.

"You know that, right? Ora, your identity is special, whether you are with the human race or with the dwarf, you will not give birth to offspring. ”

"Of course I know," said Ola, crouching beside her father, patiently, "but if, I mean if, Claire and I can grow old together, I'll be satisfied." ”

Horf let out a long breath, he knew very well that this was the fate arranged by nature, half-dwarf, half-elf or even half-orc, these offspring produced across races were not fertile, this was a compatible barrier between races. Otherwise, after thousands of years, or even tens of thousands of years that cannot be studied, the intelligent races, bloodlines and appearances that are still alive in the world will be greatly fused, and there will be no more human races, no more elves, and no more dwarves...... It's a unique race that mixes all bloodlines.

"Sometimes I'm really sorry for giving you such a background."

"What are you talking about?" Ola patted Holf on the shoulder, "I wouldn't have anything without the chance you gave me to survive." ”

"Hmm... I don't mean that way, I occasionally wonder if I can't give you such a background, if your mother and I are dwarves......"

"Shh Aura solemnly stopped him, "This can't be heard by my mother, although she is not in the blacksmith now, and besides, my mother can only be a human race, are you old and confused, my birth, you two are indispensable." ”

"Why are you so lonely today?" At this moment, a shout from the door interrupted the conversation between father and son.

Holf and Ora discover that it's Grim, the village's stinking swordsman, and two of his loyal henchmen.

"There's no sound of iron, and when I come in, I hear the dwarf father and son talking about something profound and difficult to understand, and this is really not suitable for philosophical discussion." Grim, who entered the house, sarcastically looked around, not like he was looking for the goods he wanted. The swordsman who followed him too, synchronized with Grim's movements, surprisingly consistently.

"Grim, didn't you come to sharpen your sword just last week?" Ola wondered, not at all like welcoming guests, "What are you doing here?" ”

"If you're looking for Rebecca, she's not here yet." Horf said as he saw through the other party's intentions.

"And where is she!?"

"Has Rebecca been here? Father"

"Ahem... Now that Uncle Holf knows, where did Rebecca go? Then please tell me "Grim's demeanor," the village chief is too, it's too tiresome, he just went to collect beetles for him, and then asked me to send the backpack left with him back to Rebecca's house, and Mr. Andrew, who was bedridden, still wondered where Rebecca had gone~"

After leaving the village chief's house, Rebecca has been following Xia Zuo, and the backpack for collecting medicine has also been left at the village chief's house, politely saying that she will help Rebecca send the backpack back to her house, after all, the distance is not far, let Rebecca help complete the promise to Xia Zuo first.

After Grim returned, the village chief handed over the errand to him naturally, and Grim was also very happy to help Rebecca's family do something, as if he was helping his own family, so he nervously met Rebecca's father, Mr. Andrew.

"She'll be back in a moment, be patient, young man," Holf saw the opportunity to get up, and took the molten iron that had almost fused into the fire, and used the fire tongs to pinch out the stone cup, and poured it into the groove of the mold that had been placed in front of him, "ready to help, Ola." ”

"Father, what are you—" Orah was confused when she returned to the blacksmith's shop, distracted by the conversation.

It's been many years since I've seen my father forge so seriously, because no one in the village can use too sophisticated weapons, and now, he even uses the magic energy stone of fusion, and the father who hates enchanting weapons the most on weekdays actually relies on magic.

"You'll see the details, Ola." Holf concentrated on not letting a drop of the precious molten iron flow out of the edge of the mold until it filled, "Just remember that I'm giving a good craftsman a testament to our family's sword-forging skills." ”

"Proof? Why? Aren't those on the shelves your perfect masterpieces? Although there are also high and low among them. ”

Lay down the tongs and wait for the metal in the mold to cool. Holf raised his hand and pointed to the table, where there were two swords, one broken in two, and the other, very neat, but there was a fly in the ointment, there was a gap.

"Isn't it?!" Aura walked away, and at a glance recognized that the severed sword was forged by his father, and the other was not at all.

Aura gradually understood what was happening, and the two swords fought, and his father's work was broken.

"This sword... Who made it..."Aura picked it up, looked at it carefully, and asked unwillingly.

Because it was Ola himself who was inspired to be the first to surpass his father's skills.

At this time, the sound of a rail trolley was heard outside.

"It's Miss Rebecca." Grim's attendant reminded at the door.

Grim was so excited that he rushed out of the door, and then his face sank, because he saw that on the rail car, it was still the man from outside the village in the morning, riding with Rebecca.