Chapter 35

In the morning, I went to the blacksmith's workshop to start my work . I was required to do 3 ingots a day and that was it . If I finished in 1 hour my day would be done . On the other hand if I had difficulties, then even staying overtime would be justified . I was being paid by quant.i.ty not hours of work .

I could easily finish 3 ingots in about 2 hours with my strength . The problem was, if I did it so fast then it would be suspicious . I didn't want that, therefore I set my work hours between 4-5 hours a day . If I went there at 7am then worked till 12 or 1pm I would have the rest of the day to myself and because I was no longer going around hungry, I didn't have to go to the river to fish . I did it anyway sometimes just for pleasure but that was only if I wanted to forget about everything and just rest .

At the workshop, I saw that Grond was already there working the ingots . It was probably his 1st ingot as he didn't seem that tired . When he saw me he said "You can start your work whenever you like but remember to create 3 ingots a day . You can use all the tools in the workshop . You will receive your lunch here at 11 am . Is all clear?" . I nodded my head and went over to the tool rack to get a hammer and couple of other tools, such as pincers and moulds .

The workshop had an area where all the ore was stored . There was iron, coal, purified coal used to create steel, copper and so on . I took couple lumps of iron ore and couple lumps of purified coal . I was supposed to create purified steel ingots, therefore I had to use specific technique which I learned long time ago and specific proportions .

First, I had to melt two lumps of iron ore and one lump of purified coal . Then pour that into the mould, flatten it and then melt again adding another lump of iron ore and lump of purified coal . I could never figure out why not put 3 lumps of iron ore and two lumps of purified coal at once and then melt it but that was all Grond showed me . I followed whatever were the instructions . I didn't care whenever if that would be better or not, I was asked to do this and so I did this . Besides that, I also learned couple of other things such as how to sharpen metal . Mind you, he didn't teach me that, I just saw him do it and therefore I could probably repeat the process or maybe it was just my imagination telling me that I could .

I finished my first ingot in an hour . Which would be normal because I was fresh . I had to rest not to arouse suspicion and started working at about 8 . 30 am . I finished my 2nd ingot at about 10 . 30am and rested for another 30 minutes . I wanted to eat lunch first, that is why I timed myself to be able to reach this hour after creating 2 ingots . After eating lunch which took about 10 minutes, I started my 3rd ingot and finished it by 12 . 30pm . Grond in that time created 2 ingots as he was much more lazy than I thought . After the first ingot he rested for half an hour and then went out for a bit . He started again the second one only at 10am . He didn't finish before the lunch and restarted his work at about 11 . 30 . He then finished at about 12 pm and again took 30 minutes break . In the same time I managed to create 3, a seasoned blacksmith only created 2 . That is why I a.s.sumed he must be lazy .

I told Grond that I was done with my work . He was slightly surprised and went back to work . I didn't have to stay there anymore and I had my training to take care of . At the end of the week I would get paid and I already had some leftovers . It was not enough to create even one dagger but it was something nevertheless .

I returned to my house and tried to train the last step that Nick told me about in art of stealth . He said to combine all my previous training and avoid the light . I thought about it for a while . 'My first training was balance and movement . My second training was instincts and senses and the last training was the behaviour' . Then I tried to figure out what would happen if I try and combine them . 'If I combine all of that, then what would I get? Balance and movement can be attributed to agility . This way, my 1st training can be referred as such . Next was senses and instincts . I can probably round this up to sensitivity of the environment . In other words domain . The last was behaviour but it isn't that simple to categorize . I would say that it is patience and observation . In other words vigilance' .

I had 3 categories of agility, domain and vigilance 'But how can I combine these 3?' . I was thinking on how to do it, yet no idea came to my mind . Agility and vigilance for example would make you slower because you had to pay attention . Domain and agility also contradicted each other . If the terrain was not suitable, I would have to slow down . The domain and vigilance could be categorised as one . Therefore in theory this could be taken as one category which would be stealth .

'It's weird . The domain and vigilance categories make it a stealth skill already, so why agility is there as well? How can you be stealthy moving fast… Wait! That is why the 1st training is with the poles! I get it now . Agility is speed but the agility I learned was speed through minimal movements and concrete balance that can change on the whim . The agility I learned is different to the one people usually think of . Mostly people a.s.sume speed and flexibility but what about complete control of your body and balance? This can also increase speed but in a different way . '

'It's weird . The domain and vigilance categories make it a stealth skill already, so why agility is there as well? How can you be stealthy moving fast… Wait! That is why the 1st training is with the poles! I get it now . Agility is speed but the agility I learned was speed through minimal movements and concrete balance that can change on the whim . The agility I learned is different to the one people usually think of . Mostly people a.s.sume speed and flexibility but what about complete control of your body and balance? This can also increase speed but in a different way . '

My thoughts continued 'If such is the case, then my agility is different to what people a.s.sume and it can be incorporated to the stealth art . I can be stealthy and fast at the same time . This is the art of stealth not just stealth skill!' .

This thought alone blew my mind . 'I already know the art of stealth! If I incorporate all my previous training then even the guy who monitored my on Rand's orders would never find me! I could do all this stuff but I never thought of combining it' . There was one problem though . The last part that Nick said was "Avoid the light" . I thought even harder but I couldn't figure this out . 'How am I supposed to avoid the light?' .

I decided to test out my skills in the art of stealth that I managed to combine . I went outside and found a group of youngsters that used to chase after me . Now I was not a slave anymore but a worker, therefore the rules about not defending myself and having no possessions didn't apply to me anymore . Although I could crush them under my foot, I found them for another reason .

When they saw me approaching, one of them said "What do you want slave?" to which I smiled and said "Your mother was a slave last night, when she visited me . I mean woah, she was quite wild at times, I tell you" . The guy got so angry, I could see his face burning with rage . He shouted "I will kill you, you f.u.c.king slave!" and he rushed at me . His friends were no exception and went after me as well .

That was my real purpose . I wanted to test out if I could be stealthy . Running away from them was as easy as stealing an ice cream from a child . What I wanted to do was hide next to them and check if they could find me with my current skills .

That was my real purpose . I wanted to test out if I could be stealthy . Running away from them was as easy as stealing an ice cream from a child . What I wanted to do was hide next to them and check if they could find me with my current skills .

They soon lost track of me and searched around the area . I was many times next to them and they never spotted me . I followed them and even gave them hints . Yet they couldn't find me . The guy who I insulted said "I will get you for that, you slave!" and they left .

It seems my skills improved quite a lot when compared to the time I wanted to learn this by myself . Even when I was a breath away from them, they couldn't find me . Of course they were only kids of about 16 years of age and I would have to be more cautious against adults and skilled people, especially skilled people .

With that, I had an idea on what I could currently do with my skills . I still had loads of time on my hands which I was not really used to . I decided to go to the river and try to train the art of stealth more . 'Maybe I will get some kind of inspiration about this avoid the light part, while I train' I thought to myself and went to the river .

As usual it was all quiet there and I started to practise . I moved around the trees and rocks like I did in my 1st training with the poles but I could now combine other parts together to make my moves become even more intricate and stealthy .

I trained like this for couple of hours and decided to go fishing a bit . I had time and I also liked to do this because it was relaxing . I didn't have any nets or rods so I had to create one but because I did it so many times, I had no problem with that . I created a rod this time because I was not after the food instead I wanted to relax . I dug out some worms and used some metal sc.r.a.p as my hook .

Sitting like this and fishing, forgetting about everything, I stared at the water in peace . I observed the fishes in the water and their behaviour . It was natural for me to now calculate the behaviour of anything that moved . I could tell where the fishes would go next or whenever the fish would bite the lure .

I trained like this for couple of hours and decided to go fishing a bit . I had time and I also liked to do this because it was relaxing . I didn't have any nets or rods so I had to create one but because I did it so many times, I had no problem with that . I created a rod this time because I was not after the food instead I wanted to relax . I dug out some worms and used some metal sc.r.a.p as my hook .

Sitting like this and fishing, forgetting about everything, I stared at the water in peace . I observed the fishes in the water and their behaviour . It was natural for me to now calculate the behaviour of anything that moved . I could tell where the fishes would go next or whenever the fish would bite the lure .

It was still bright and the sun was shining . In this serene setting, I sat there with my rod and observed the fishes . Then I saw something weird . The sun rays when they hit the water sometimes illuminated the scales of the fishes swimming around . The weird thing was that when I could see a predator fish coming over the brightly lit scales of the fish turned dim . Not because the sun didn't shine, no . It was because the fish felt that the predator is coming and somehow made the glistering on its scales disappear .

The fish was not invisible but it surely didn't stand out from the rest . It was like it wasn't there . I thought about the "Avoid the light" part that Nick talked about and realised something . Maybe humans were not the first to create such arts . Fishes existed for a long time maybe even longer than humans did, so what if humans actually copied these arts from other animals and just converted them in such a way that humans can use them .

'If it's true that animals were the original creators of fundamental techniques, then that means if I learn from animals, those primitive methods and apply them to my art of stealth . Wouldn't that give me clues or maybe even complete the art?'

With that thought in my mind I started to look at the fishes in greater details . I wanted to learn or at least know how the fish was able to hide from the rays of light and become less attractive to the predators in the water . As the old saying goes "Secrets hardest to unveil are held by nature" .

In the morning, I went to the blacksmiths workshop to start my work . I was required to do 3 ingots a day and that was it . If I finished in 1 hour my day would be done . On the other hand if I had difficulties, then even staying overtime would be justified . I was being paid by quant.i.ty not hours of work . I could easily finish 3 ingots in about 2 hours with my strength . The problem was, if I did it so fast then it would be suspicious . I didnt want that, therefore I set my work hours between 4-5 hours a day . If I went there at 7am then worked till 12 or 1pm I would have the rest of the day to myself and because I was no longer going around hungry, I didnt have to go to the river to fish . I did it anyway sometimes just for pleasure but that was only if I wanted to forget about everything and just rest . At the workshop, I saw that Grond was already there working the ingots . It was probably his 1st ingot as he didnt seem that tired . When he saw me he said You can start your work whenever you like but remember to create 3 ingots a day . You can use all the tools in the workshop . You will receive your lunch here at 11 am . Is all clear? . I nodded my head and went over to the tool rack to get a hammer and couple of other tools, such as pincers and moulds . The workshop had an area where all the ore was stored . There was iron, coal, purified coal used to create steel, copper and so on . I took couple lumps of iron ore and couple lumps of purified coal . I was supposed to create purified steel ingots, therefore I had to use specific technique which I learned long time ago and specific proportions . First, I had to melt two lumps of iron ore and one lump of purified coal . Then pour that into the mould, flatten it and then melt again adding another lump of iron ore and lump of purified coal . I could never figure out why not put 3 lumps of iron ore and two lumps of purified coal at once and then melt it but that was all Grond showed me . I followed whatever were the instructions . I didnt care whenever if that would be better or not, I was asked to do this and so I did this . Besides that, I also learned couple of other things such as how to sharpen metal . Mind you, he didnt teach me that, I just saw him do it and therefore I could probably repeat the process or maybe it was just my imagination telling me that I could . I finished my first ingot in an hour . Which would be normal because I was fresh . I had to rest not to arouse suspicion and started working at about 8 . 30 am . I finished my 2nd ingot at about 10 . 30am and rested for another 30 minutes . I wanted to eat lunch first, that is why I timed myself to be able to reach this hour after creating 2 ingots . After eating lunch which took about 10 minutes, I started my 3rd ingot and finished it by 12 . 30pm . Grond in that time created 2 ingots as he was much more lazy than I thought . After the first ingot he rested for half an hour and then went out for a bit . He started again the second one only at 10am . He didnt finish before the lunch and restarted his work at about 11 . 30 . He then finished at about 12 pm and again took 30 minutes break . In the same time I managed to create 3, a seasoned blacksmith only created 2 . That is why I a.s.sumed he must be lazy . I told Grond that I was done with my work . He was slightly surprised and went back to work . I didnt have to stay there anymore and I had my training to take care of . At the end of the week I would get paid and I already had some leftovers . It was not enough to create even one dagger but it was something nevertheless . I returned to my house and tried to train the last step that Nick told me about in art of stealth . He said to combine all my previous training and avoid the light . I thought about it for a while . My first training was balance and movement . My second training was instincts and senses and the last training was the behaviour . Then I tried to figure out what would happen if I try and combine them . If I combine all of that, then what would I get? Balance and movement can be attributed to agility . This way, my 1st training can be referred as such . Next was senses and instincts . I can probably round this up to sensitivity of the environment . In other words domain . The last was behaviour but it isnt that simple to categorize . I would say that it is patience and observation . In other words vigilance . I had 3 categories of agility, domain and vigilance But how can I combine these 3? . I was thinking on how to do it, yet no idea came to my mind . Agility and vigilance for example would make you slower because you had to pay attention . Domain and agility also contradicted each other . If the terrain was not suitable, I would have to slow down . The domain and vigilance could be categorised as one . Therefore in theory this could be taken as one category which would be stealth . Its weird . The domain and vigilance categories make it a stealth skill already, so why agility is there as well? How can you be stealthy moving fast… Wait! That is why the 1st training is with the poles! I get it now . Agility is speed but the agility I learned was speed through minimal movements and concrete balance that can change on the whim . The agility I learned is different to the one people usually think of . Mostly people a.s.sume speed and flexibility but what about complete control of your body and balance? This can also increase speed but in a different way . My thoughts continued If such is the case, then my agility is different to what people a.s.sume and it can be incorporated to the stealth art . I can be stealthy and fast at the same time . This is the art of stealth not just stealth skill! . This thought alone blew my mind . I already know the art of stealth! If I incorporate all my previous training then even the guy who monitored my on Rands orders would never find me! I could do all this stuff but I never thought of combining it . There was one problem though . The last part that Nick said was Avoid the light . I thought even harder but I couldnt figure this out . How am I supposed to avoid the light? . I decided to test out my skills in the art of stealth that I managed to combine . I went outside and found a group of youngsters that used to chase after me . Now I was not a slave anymore but a worker, therefore the rules about not defending myself and having no possessions didnt apply to me anymore . Although I could crush them under my foot, I found them for another reason . When they saw me approaching, one of them said What do you want slave? to which I smiled and said Your mother was a slave last night, when she visited me . I mean woah, she was quite wild at times, I tell you . The guy got so angry, I could see his face burning with rage . He shouted I will kill you, you f.u.c.king slave! and he rushed at me . His friends were no exception and went after me as well . That was my real purpose . I wanted to test out if I could be stealthy . Running away from them was as easy as stealing an ice cream from a child . What I wanted to do was hide next to them and check if they could find me with my current skills . They soon lost track of me and searched around the area . I was many times next to them and they never spotted me . I followed them and even gave them hints . Yet they couldnt find me . The guy who I insulted said I will get you for that, you slave! and they left . It seems my skills improved quite a lot when compared to the time I wanted to learn this by myself . Even when I was a breath away from them, they couldnt find me . Of course they were only kids of about 16 years of age and I would have to be more cautious against adults and skilled people, especially skilled people . With that, I had an idea on what I could currently do with my skills . I still had loads of time on my hands which I was not really used to . I decided to go to the river and try to train the art of stealth more . Maybe I will get some kind of inspiration about this avoid the light part, while I train I thought to myself and went to the river . As usual it was all quiet there and I started to practise . I moved around the trees and rocks like I did in my 1st training with the poles but I could now combine other parts together to make my moves become even more intricate and stealthy . I trained like this for couple of hours and decided to go fishing a bit . I had time and I also liked to do this because it was relaxing . I didnt have any nets or rods so I had to create one but because I did it so many times, I had no problem with that . I created a rod this time because I was not after the food instead I wanted to relax . I dug out some worms and used some metal sc.r.a.p as my hook . Sitting like this and fishing, forgetting about everything, I stared at the water in peace . I observed the fishes in the water and their behaviour . It was natural for me to now calculate the behaviour of anything that moved . I could tell where the fishes would go next or whenever the fish would bite the lure . It was still bright and the sun was shining . In this serene setting, I sat there with my rod and observed the fishes . Then I saw something weird . The sun rays when they hit the water sometimes illuminated the scales of the fishes swimming around . The weird thing was that when I could see a predator fish coming over the brightly lit scales of the fish turned dim . Not because the sun didnt shine, no . It was because the fish felt that the predator is coming and somehow made the glistering on its scales disappear . The fish was not invisible but it surely didnt stand out from the rest . It was like it wasnt there . I thought about the Avoid the light part that Nick talked about and realised something . Maybe humans were not the first to create such arts . Fishes existed for a long time maybe even longer than humans did, so what if humans actually copied these arts from other animals and just converted them in such a way that humans can use them . If its true that animals were the original creators of fundamental techniques, then that means if I learn from animals, those primitive methods and apply them to my art of stealth . Wouldnt that give me clues or maybe even complete the art? With that thought in my mind I started to look at the fishes in greater details . I wanted to learn or at least know how the fish was able to hide from the rays of light and become less attractive to the predators in the water . As the old saying goes Secrets hardest to unveil are held by nature .