The system notification flickered silently in Sellas's vision.
[New Skill Acquired: Forging]
[Skill Bonus: 20% efficiency when forging Items]
His heart pounded with excitement as he continued observing Lyra. Even though nothing in his expression betrayed the sudden flood of data in his mind, his muscles already felt as though they'd learned something new.
Patterns, techniques, subtle motions for gripping a hammer, the right rhythm to use with a heated ingot—all of it seeped into his awareness like a half-remembered instinct.
He had only learnt a little bit from watching but he now understood everything. He felt like he had mastered the skill, and all he had to do was pick up the hammer and start hammering.
Lyra didn't notice. She was too focused on prepping another piece of iron for a horseshoe order. Sellas moved about quietly, sweeping and organizing, all while running calculations in his head. He couldn't craft enchanted tools yet. He didn't know about the runes. But he could make something mechanical.
Something useful that could be sold to everyone, commoners and nobles alike. As he was cleaning around the he picked up a few pieces of scrap. It was a chunk of metal, a bit heavy and sturdy.
"Feels like Iron or maybe some other metal," he used his skill to check what it was.
[Material: Iron]
[Purity: 70%]
So, it is Iron. Purity? Does that mean there are some other things mixed in it? So, if we pure this iron further, we can also create steel from this. Interesting.
Sellas picked up a few more scraps from the floor, steel, copper and there were different metals with different amounts of purity. He also found a few more metals, which he had no idea of, but it was quite intriguing.
The temperature around the smithy room was quite high, as small beads of sweat could be seen on his forehead. He looked around and could see a there was enough ventilation but still it didn't decrease the heat around him.
The forge on fire continuously, generating massive amounts of heat.
I wish there was AC in here.
"Oh"
Sellas stopped, an idea, a design sparked in his mind—clear, practical, and distinctly modern: a hand-cranked vent fan.
It was a small, simple machine back on Earth, but here? It would be revolutionary. A device to move air in closed rooms, to provide relief in hot kitchens and smithies, or to push smoke out of cramped alchemy labs. He could already see the demand forming.
But before creating a needed to create the design on a paper before even attempting to start forging. Luckily, he had stored a few papers and ink before leaving his house and now it was going to come in handy.
When Lyra took a break, wiping sweat from her brow, he approached.
"Hey… I was wondering if I could try forging something small. Just to test what I've picked up."
She raised an eyebrow. "Already itching to get burned, huh?"
"Just want to test. Won't waste your materials, I'll only use from the scrap"
She studied him again, then gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. There's scrap metal in the bin out back. Use only that. And don't make a mess of my tools." She added. "You can use the forge, as I need to take some rest, but I'll be watching you in case you hurt yourself."
"Got it. Thank you so much," Sellas grinned as Lyra dismissed him with the wave of his hand.
He quickly fetched the scrap metal and approached the forge with care. The materials at hand were simple—iron, steel, copper, and brass. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself and recalled the steps Lyra had demonstrated.
Thanks to the system's newly acquired skill, Basic Forging, the entire process came back to him clearly. He selected a piece of iron, heated it until it glowed red, then used the tongs to place it on the anvil. With measured strikes, he began hammering, maintaining a steady rhythm as he shaped the metal.
As the hammer rose and fell, a strange familiarity settled over him. It felt as though he had performed this task countless times before—as if his very muscles remembered what to do. Guided by that instinct, he repeated the steps precisely, then quenched the piece in water to solidify its form.
Unbeknownst to him, Lyra had stepped closer and was now silently observing from beside the forge. Though Sellas lacked the raw strength to strike with great force, he felt a growing sense of power with each blow, as if his body was gradually adapting to the demands of the craft.
After performing the same act with the remaining metals, he stepped back and exhaled lightly, he felt stronger but also tired. But there was satisfaction written on his face, as he studied the materials lying there neatly.
[Your proficiency with Skill Forging has increased]
[Your strength has slightly increased]
[Your stamina has increased slightly]
Sellas was surprised as the continuous notifications of the system appeared in front of his eyes, one by one. As he read, he understood why he was feeling a bit stronger than before.
Does that mean, if I continuously do these types of heavy exercise, I can become stronger?
[Yes]
"That's amazing," he muttered softly, just loud enough for Lyra to hear.
"It is amazing, boy!" Lyra exclaimed, startling him into a small jump.
"Be honest—have you forged before and just come here to mess with me?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. Despite her suspicion, the surprise in her gaze was unmistakable.
"No, this was my first time handling a hammer," he replied innocently, blinking.
"Then you're a genius. Looks like I've picked up a real treasure this time," she said with a teasing smile, stepping forward to pull him into a big hug. Sellas froze, feeling her chest press against his face. Embarrassed, he didn't push her away but stood awkwardly in her embrace.
"Where are you staying in town?" she asked, releasing him from the hug.
"I'm at an inn, not far from the Adventurer's Guild," he replied.
"That won't do. You're staying here—from now on, you're living on the first floor. There's a spare room. Just clean it up, and it's yours," Lyra said firmly. Before he could protest, she grabbed his wrist and led him upstairs.
The first floor had a single room with a small kitchen and bathroom.
"This is your room. It already has a bed—you just need to clean it, and it'll be perfect for you," she said before leaving him to it. The room was dusty and clearly unused for a long time, but after some effort, he managed to get it into decent shape.
By the time he came back downstairs, the sun had dipped low. Lyra was cleaning up the forge, and it felt like she was getting ready to close for the day.
"Aah, there you are. Finished cleaning?" she asked, flashing a grin. "Anyway, it's time to close up shop—I'm heading home. Want to come with me? Big sister can make you a nice meal," she added with a playful wink.
He declined quickly, trying not to look too flustered.
Once she was gone, Sellas was left alone in the quiet forge. After glancing around, he headed back upstairs. Sitting at the small desk, he pulled out a pen and some paper, ready to sketch the blueprint for his first creation, Vent Fan.