Page 29 of Savage Devotion
"We work with the metal's natural inclinations rather than forcing it into predetermined shapes. The final form emerges through cooperation between smith and material."
Interesting philosophy.
Also potentially useful.
"Show me."
He moves to the forge where a second ingot awaits transformation. His approach is immediately different from mine. He examines the metal's structure before heating, running his fingers along grain lines that are invisible to my eyes.
Reading the material. Understanding its inherent properties.
Clever.
When he places the ingot in the flame, he adjusts position based on how the metal responds to heat. Some sections glow faster than others, revealing internal stress patterns that will affect the final product's strength and flexibility.
I never noticed that before.
But then I learned Vaelmark techniques. Not Ironspine ones.
His hammer work is completely different from mine. Where I use controlled force to impose specific shapes, he applies pressure in ways that encourage the metal to flow toward optimal configurations. The result is still guided by his intention, but achieved through collaboration rather than domination.
Heldrik never understood that distinction either.
"Try it," he suggests, offering me his hammer.
The tool feels different from my own, heavier in the head, with a longer handle that requires different grip positioning. The weight distribution changes impact dynamics, requiring adjustment to force application and strike timing.
Adaptation. Learning. Growth.
Things Heldrik considers weakness.
I select a fresh ingot and examine it the way Kaelgor did, looking for structural patterns that will guide the forging process. The metal reveals secrets I'd never noticed the microscopic flaws that need accommodation, density variations that affect heat distribution, grain structures that suggest natural fracture lines.
How did I miss this before?
Because I was taught to overcome the material rather than work with it.
The heating process becomes a dialogue between smith and metal. I adjust position based on how different sections respond to flame, allowing natural stress patterns to dictate optimal temperatures rather than applying uniform heat regardless of local conditions.
This feels... collaborative.
Like partnership rather than conquest.
When I lift the heated metal to the anvil, Kaelgor positions himself across from me, his own hammer ready to provide supporting strikes that complement rather than compete with my primary shaping efforts.
Trust. Professional cooperation. Shared creation.
Dangerous precedent.
The first dual strikes ring through the forge like music of two hammers working in harmony to achieve results neither could accomplish alone. The volcanic ore responds differently to this collaborative approach, flowing into shapes that feel more natural than my previous solo efforts.
Better. Stronger. More balanced.
Why didn't anyone teach me this?
Because Vaelmark tradition emphasizes individual mastery over cooperative creation.
Another limitation disguised as strength.
