[Gift] CRAFTING: Iron Statuette - Khal/Zanril

They weren’t forging weapons or armor today. This time, the group followed Dhaoragan to the smelter. A round, tall, stone structure with smoke billowing from the top, and a sizeable pile of coals beside it. From the open hatch, to the stone drip trail off to the side, Khal and Zanril had a pretty good idea how the thing worked. Coal goes in, fire melts the metal, and out comes mouldable product. Though many weapons were made this way for ease, it wasn’t a sword they were making today. Instead, the lot got to pick and choose their own moulds to smelt into statuettes. Nothing fancy, just iron, but they’d make for a nice bookweight, or something to put ona shelf. Or a doorstopper. Zanril actually had no idea what she would use one for, but maybe she can simply give it back to Dhaoragan to melt over again. 

“We will work in turns and take pairs, this old girl is the only one in this lot and I can’t have you all flocking around it when the iron’s melting.” Dhaoragan separated the group into sections, with Zanril and Khal being a pair second in line. The puller had no complaints, though the Haedian eyed her partner. Maybe they’ll make the best statuette of them all, with her artistic vision and his calm experience, it was bound to turn out great. 

“Alright, take the iron and put it here,” Dhaoragan guided the first pair along as they set up their materials and mould. “The iron will melt in here, and trail all the way down here, where the mould will catch it and cast it into shape.” He pointed over here and over there, explaining about the smelter’s mechanics and how hot this thing goes. Apparently, given the stone walls that encase the flames, the thing burns even hotter than a forge. Nothing just softens, but melts entirely into liquid when put into it. 

Zanril and Khal followed keenly throughout the process as the first pair scooped over their coals, making a mess of them while being at it, but it got the smelter going. Dhaoragan helped them latch the hatch closed, and explained some more about the billowing smoke and light that came from the top. After a short moment, the dark metal began pouring out and cascading down to the mould. Many oohs were given at the sight. 

An easy enough process to memorize, so now it was Khal and Zanril’s turn. Their chosen mould was a mystery, as they did not open the stone case to look inside. Zanril gayged the size of it, and the many tunnels she saw inside to fit her vision of a pleasant surprise. It was something with multiple limbs, likely a Vayron if she had to guess. Maybe someday they’ll have Haedians to turn into statuettes instead.

The old puller let Zanril handle the shovel with her dexterous hands, so she got to scooping another feed for the flames. The air was so warm coming from the smelter, her fur wanted to curl into itself when she scooped the shovel too far in. Dhaoragan watched keenly at their work, but didn’t interrupt while everything looked to beunder wraps Khal closed the hatch to the smelter with his mage hand, before picking up chunks of iron. He handed a couple to Zanril to put into the smelter, and the Haedian fed the metal to the furnace eagerly. It should melt so quickly now that the thing had been running hot for a while. 

Looking over the trail the metal would pour down, Zanril’s tail swished eagerly, waiting for the process to continue. Khal was more calm about it, but even he was watching intently for the iron to show. 

And there it was. Glowing so bright the yellow hues almost looked white, as it poured down the stone path and into the mould in a steady stream. Air warbled from the heat, with some sparks of burnt dirt specks still leftover in the mould. Zanril knew their mould would turn out good, it had to. 

Watching the other students take their turns and waiting for their mould to cool off enough was the most painstaking wait yet. Khal sat quietly on the side, while Zanril stared over their mould with a sigh. 

“I wanna see it already.. How long do we have to wait?” She groaned when Dhaoragan walked by. 

“It’s already well enough solidified, so we’ll de-mould them soon,” he assured, “The last pair was done a few minutes ago, so we’ll do that in a moment.”

Those moments felt so slow, until finally they were allowed to open up the moulds. Khal unclasped the bind on the stone, and Zanril pushed apart the sides to open the finished product. Black as pitch andwith some surface imperfections, their Vayron statuette was finished and revealed. A bit underwhelming, but Zanril was happy of the finished product either way.