Immaculate

“Really? You’re still here?” Gatrick sounds both disappointed and surprised. “I really would have thought you’d have gotten bored and run back home by now.” There is a little bit of hopeful tone in Gatrick’s voice as he suggests that, but Alunya just perks up as he returns.

“Heya! I’m still learning all about your work, it seems really impressive!” Alunya states, acting as though he hadn’t caught onto the obvious aggression in Gatrick’s voice in hopes that he would just drop it.

“Ugh…” Gatricks eye twitches as he gazes at Alunya, as if debating whether to do something drastic. After a moment of contemplation he just sighs. “If you want to stick around, you’re going to make yourself useful. Lyrin, go fetch me a trough of water with your new ‘friend’. Nathi from up the hill needs a new scythe, apparently the corrosion on his old one has gotten so bad that the blade has thinned down from all the sharpening it needs.” Gatrick demands.

Alunya suppresses a squeal of victory with some effort. This was even better than he expected, not only would he get to watch Gatrick work but he’d even get to help out! “Aye-aye, sir, leave it to us!” Alunya salutes Gatrick.

Alunya is able to follow Lyrin without any further instruction to where the trough was, remembering where it was kept.

“Are you really going to stay..?” Lyrin asks Alunya once they were out of earshot of Gatrick.

Alunya pokes Lyrin in the cheek with his free hand and winks at him. “Of course, silly! How else am I supposed to learn how he makes things? He’s the only coppersmith in the village, after all.” Alunya pauses momentarily to think. “Um, present company excluded, I guess.”

Lyrin looks down and away. “Mhm… And what a shame that is…” He sighs and leans over with Alunya to fill up the trough with water from the river, just behind Gatrick’s house. “Not that I don’t appreciate the company. Father’s less likely to act up if someone else is around.”

The two boys trot back with the trough, to find Gatrick currently dumping a bag of charcoal into the smelter and grunting. “Lyrin, start up the bellows.” Gatrick demands, before turning to look at Alunya, a small amount of surprise that he was still present. “...You think you can stoke the fire, brat?” Alunya nods emphatically.

Wow, I didn’t think he would be this lazy. Alunya thinks to himself. Not that he was complaining- if anything it was convenient, since it gave him a chance to learn. Thankfully Lyrin had instructed him somewhat in how this worked before, so he is able to get the fire going inside the bloomery. The heat coming out from the front once the fire got going was intense enough that even Alunya had to keep some distance, laying down in front of the bloomery to stare into the intense flames. They were certainly brighter and more vibrant than the fireplace back at home, bathing the entire inside of the bloomery in a vivid orange light.

Meanwhile, Gatrick pounds a bit of copper scrap, including the corroded old scythe blade he was replacing, into pieces that would fit in the crucible, a ceramic cup that he held with tongs. Alunya watches him place it into the fire. It's a bit hard to see inside the crucible- if Alunya holds his head at a precise angle, he can just about see past the lip of the crucible through the narrow aperture that provided access inside the bloomery.

Alunya isn’t quite sure what to expect; he’d never seen anything melting in real time after all. But he was to be disappointed when Gatrick got up and headed back inside. “Huh? Why is he leaving?” Alunya asks Lyrin as he follows his father inside.

Lyrin pauses for a moment to explain to Alunya. “Oh, the copper will take a while to melt. Think about how long it takes to cook a hunk of meat, and how much longer it would take to heat it up a dozen times hotter.”

Alunya frowns slightly in disappointment. Watching the copper melt in real time sounded fun. But he doesn’t want to miss whatever was going on inside, so he hurries after the two coppersmiths, wheeling around the corner and skidding to a halt in the entryway to close the door behind him. As he hops back to the forge where Gatrick was settling down, Gatrick was shouting at his son who was sprawled out on the floor, cowering away from him.

“No you daft guanaco! I said the scythe ingot, not the knife ingot. You’ve been living here your whole life and you still don’t know where things are kept?” Gatrick storms over to the storage next to the forge, replacing the ingot in his hands with another, almost imperceptibly larger replacement.

Alunya rushes over to Lyrin and helps him back up to his feet while Gatrick was going back to the forge. “Oh no! Did you trip, are you alright?” Alunya asks, noting a brand new bruise below his eye. Lyrin was tearing up, but held it in, putting his hand over his eye.

“...Yeah, tripped, lets go with that.” Lyrin utters.

“Enough, go get a fresh bag of charcoal for the forge.” Gatrick demands, settling down by the anvil. Alunya glares over at him. You’re on thin ice, mister. Your work might be really cool, but that doesn’t mean you can just act like a jerk all the time. Alunya pats Lyrin on the back, as Lyrin quickly rushes to go find a bag of fuel to start a fire.

Gatrick stares at Alunya for a long moment. “You know how to work the bellows?” Gatrick asks. Alunya nods; The bellows for the furnaces were just a larger version of the fire pistons used for starting fires, and were rather simple to use. Now we’re getting somewhere, I’ll get to actually help him make something! Alunya smiles eagerly.

“Mhm… I guess you can stay as long as you can pump the bellows. Lyrin! Get in here with the charcoal and break them up, I want to get a move on!” Gatrick shouts out.

Alunya helps break up some of the charcoal with a couple axes while Gatrick just watches. Good thing he’s so lazy, or I probably wouldn't even get to stay here. Alunya giggles to himself. Before long, Gatrick barks for Alunya to man the bellows instead, while Lyrin keeps breaking up chunks of charcoal, and Gatrick himself dumps small pellets of charcoal into the furnace. It takes a couple strokes of the piston bellows before the fire starts, the rush of compressed air igniting the charcoals in a bright flash.

Alunya watches on enthralled as Gatrick begins his work, heating the ingot in the furnace, and then begins striking it with his hammer; a misshapen lump of copper with one flat end, placed on a short oak handle. Alunya casually wonders how the hammer didn't bend when he struck the ingot beneath it.

Pumping the bellows is hard work, but Alunya quickly gets into a rhythm with it. Just like with the smaller fire piston, the trick was to slam it shut as quickly as possible to keep pouring more hot air into the fire, if you did it slower then it wouldn't produce as much heat. Soon enough the entire room felt hot, and sparks flew both from the coals in the furnace and Gatrick hammering the copper workpiece on his anvil- a cylindrical boulder of solid basalt with a flat top, convenient for hammering on.

Alunya grunts with effort. The piston was tiring to work, but at the same time it was somewhat exciting to him; Every time he snapped it shut, he could feel the pulse of heat and sparks in the furnace as the coals were exposed to a new burst of air. The furnace was not nearly as well insulated as the smelter, so it didn't get as hot, but instead the heat spilled out around the room. The charcoal in the air and on their skin made Alunya itch, but Alunya resists the urge to scratch with some effort- he had to make sure he kept pumping the bellows well, so that Gatrick wouldn’t kick him out.

The ingot in Gatrick’s grip heats to where it is hot, and much to Alunya’s surprise it glows with the heat just like the coals. With every stroke of the hammer, its form changes, the rectangular ingot becoming flattened and elongated, while Gatrick sometimes would use the tongs to place the ‘edge’ against the anvil and hammer it in, making the curved shape of the blade. To keep it all in one piece, the scythe blade was in an arc, which would later be transfixed parallel to the handle, simply curving forwards to form the characteristic scythe shape. And then, of course, he had to place it flat against the anvil again to flatten out the piece of metal once more.

When Gatrick finally tells Alunyathat he can stop pumping the bellows, Alunya’s eyes and arms were burning, both from the smoke and coal in the air and the ache in his arms. But even so, his eyes gleam looking down at the product of Gatrick’s work, the curved scythe blade, still glowing a dull orange-red. I helped make that! Alunya grins with pride, even though he hadn’t actually hammered it himself he still was involved.

“I guess even a bastard can put in some good work now and then.” Gatrick grunts, reluctantly. “You hear that, Lyrin? If this scrawny kid can pump the bellows that long, what excuse do you have?” Gatrick grumbles, before dipping the blade in the trough of water by the forge, releasing the heat in a great hiss of steam.

Alunya sighs and leans back, his tired arms relieved from the break. Lyrin was similarly tired, having been cutting up pellets of charcoal for the flame- cutting up extra, for any further work that would need to be done later on. But the work was not done yet, as Gatrick takes the blade- little more than a flattened, curved piece of copper at the moment- and places it on the grindstone. There wasn't much in the way of additional help needed here, so Lyrin- without prompting- starts cleaning the area around the forge while Alunya watches the work. The inner side of the scythe blade was ground down to hone it to a fine edge, by placing it against a cylindrical mass of gritty rock and spinning it with a foot pedal. The sparks fly everywhere- one singes Alunya’s hand, and he resists yelping out with some difficulty.

At least Alunya is free to sit around and watch as Gatrick performs the final touches of more precision work, using an awl to pierce holes in the tang where the blade would later be transfixed to a pole. But before Gatrick could finish, he pauses in his work to look up at the two kids.

“Go check the copper.” Was the only thing he says, before dismissively going back to work.

Alunya frowns slightly in disappointment- he had hoped he would get to stay long enough to see the blade actually be completely finished, so he would have been there start to end. But, at least he’d get to see what the molten copper was like. So he jumps up to his feet and follows Lyrin outside.

It was starting to get colder, a welcome change from the blazing heat inside the smithy, though it was still quite hot in front of the smelter. Lyrin fetches the tongs and cautiously lifts then pulls the crucible out of the smelter. Alunya gapes in interest at the contents; Molten copper, brighter than the scythe blade had been when heated.

“Careful now, keep your distance.” Lyrin cautions, holding the tongs outstretched. Even Alunya was somewhat cautious with the blistering heat emanating from the crucible, as Lyrin pours the molten sludge- slowly- into one of the ingot molds, which were simply placed at the foot of the furnace. There wasn't much need for more than a single set of molds, given how little copper was usually processed at a time. Alunya couldn’t even tell which mold was supposed to be the mold for the ‘scythe ingots’ and ‘knife ingots’, as Gatrick had said.

“Wow… So that’s how you make ingots? It just um… Freezes there, like ice on the river in winter?” Alunya asks, crouching at some distance watching the ingot mold with curiosity. “Why is it glowing? Is it magic?” Alunya asks, curiously.

“Um, no, it's just hot.” Lyrin says, sitting on the other side across from Alunya and sighing. Both of them were incredibly messy, Alunya’s normally pristine hair and complexion covered over in a layer of soot and coal dust. Lyrin stares at Alunya in consternation. “...Why are you here, Alunya? I don’t have anywhere else to go, but why are you here working for my father?” Lyrin asks, wearily.

“This again? I thought I told you, I wanted to see how it was done! It looks fun! Maybe one day I can learn how to make something… I could make something cute for Antares, like a necklace or maybe a knife!” Alunya says, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Lyrin looks away, hesitating before responding. “I mean, I get being curious and all. But even when he’s barking orders at you, and doing all that hard work.” Lyrin sighs and rubs his face. “Well, I guess I should thank you… He’s less abrasive with you here. And it makes the work a bit easier. Thanks, even if it wasn't your intention.” Sighing heavily, Lyrin falls over backward, gazing towards the heavens. “You’d better get going soon, though. I’m sure your folks will be worrying about you.”

Alunya freezes up. He’d completely forgotten to go home at a reasonable time, it was almost sundown now! Ugh, now his mother would almost certainly ground him for at least a week! Well, he’d better at least get to see the scythe finished before he heads back for all his trouble, so he hops up to his feet. “Uh yeah, I guess so! Let’s go see if your dad’s done, I’d like to see the product of all our hard work before I go.” Alunya offers.

Lyrin lets Alunya go in ahead, and they enter just as Gatrick was screwing in a rivet to affix the scythe blade to it's handle, leaving the scythe completely constructed. Alunya eagerly stands before Gatrick, expectantly, eyes shining as he stares up at the gleaming blade of the brand new scythe. The brand new metal of the blade gives it a sheen not seen on any other piece of copperware around the village.

Gatrick looks down at Alunya, almost suspiciously. “What in Hylicia’s name are you still sticking around for?”

Alunya shakes his head. “Oh, don’t worry, I was just going to go home for dinner! I just wanted to thank you for letting me help out, mister Gatrick sir!” Alunya announces.

Gatrick stares at Alunya for a moment, then shakes his head. “Whatever you say, you brat. At least you made yourself useful. If you want to work more, then you can pump the bellows some other day. But for now, scram, I’m not feeding a bastard.”

Undeterred, Alunya simply hops back on his foot, bows slightly, then turns around and prances off…

[...]

…Immediately into his brother Antares, who was just around the corner outside the smithy.

“Oh, hi Ari! I was just on my way back! What are you doing here?” Alunya asks cheerfully, feigning obliviousness to how long he was gone.

Antares gives Alunya a deadpan look and, placing his hand on his head, ruffles his hair. “You’re such a troublemaker, little bro. I'm here looking for you." Antares explains, tapping Alunya on the nose. "Come on, let's hurry back home. Preferably before mom pops a cork." Antares takes Alunya’s hand in his. Alunya was already heading up that way, so he dutifully follows along as Antares starts heading back.

"How did you know where I was?" Alunya asks ponderously.

Antares glances back. "Oh, that was easy. As soon as I saw the ruptured pan was gone, I knew where you'd gone. You're so predictable."

Alunya giggles a little. Heh, guess I can't pull a fast one on Ari. He willingly trots along with Antares back towards home. "Well, I was coming home now! I promise!” Alunya exclaims.

“Uh-huh, I know. Doesn't mean you wouldn’t have gotten distracted by ten things on the way back, though.” Antares flashes a bit of a coy smile back at Alunya, and winks. “Need me to keep you on track.”

Alunya blushes a little and he rubs the back of his head. “Eheh… Maaaybe you have a point.” The tip of his tongue sticks out of his mouth playfully as he prances after Antares.

As the two brothers get near home, Antares turns to Alunya. “Let me do the talking, alright?” Antares asks Alunya, and Alunya makes a zipping motion over his mouth to signal agreement.

Reia was standing on the footsteps leading up to their home, her arms crossed sternly as she had her characteristic lecturing stance fully deployed. As her two sons approach up towards the entrance, her voice issues from the huts door. “And just where have you been?”

“He just went down to the smith to drop off that pan you said you wanted repaired.” Antares affirms, hopefully.

But Reia just shakes her head and taps her foot. “I asked Alunya, not you. Thankyou for bringing him back in one piece, but he’s the one who ran off, not you.”

Alunya looks at Antares as if seeking permission to respond, and Antares just gives a nod of his head, sighing. So much for getting Alunya off the hook that easily.

“Um, I just went to go get your pan all fixed up! I know you said you needed it fixed so, I thought I’d do it for you!” Alunya offers, taking after Antares’s lead. Reia was unimpressed, crossing her arms and looking at him pointedly.

“And how did you get coated head to toe in soot and ash, then?” Reia inquires.

“Um, he just wanted to help out to repay Gatrick for his work” Antares pipes up again, trying to cover for Alunya.

Reia just shoots a glare at him. “I said I want to hear from Alunya.” She says, crossly.

Alunya pouts a little, but tries to keep up the cheerful look. “Um, there was a nice boy who offered to show me around the smithy while I was there.” That’s basically true, right? Alunya thinks to himself. Somehow he figures that if he reveals all the work he’d done, Reia would be more upset.

Reia sighs heavily and touches her hand to her forehead. “Ugh, enough out of you. I don’t want you talking to that man any more, ok?” Reia demands. “And I certainly don’t want you running off all day again. You’re grounded.”

Alunya whines, pouting. “But moooom!” That was so unfair! Just because he’d helped someone from the village with their work?

“Don’t ‘mom’ me! It’s for your own good, anyhow.” Reia insists. “Now go get inside and clean up with the wash basin. It's too late to take a bath today but you’re at least going to scrub your face and hair before dinner.”

Alunya grumbles and pouts as he enters their home, slumping dejectedly.

Antares looks after him , worriedly, and makes to follow but before he can enter, Reia wraps him up in her arms. “Thankyou for bringing Alunya home, safe and sound.” She offers.

Antares frowns. “Did you really have to ground him?” Antares asks unsurely.

Reia tuts in annoyance. “When did you learn to backtalk me..? Honestly, you’re getting as hard to manage as Alunya these days.” After a moment, Reia sighs and her expression softens. “I’m just worried about him, honey. You know how reckless your brother can be. It's for his own good. Now, you need to go wash up yourself, you look at least half as filthy as your brother, and I’m not having two dirty rascals at my dinner table. Move along, now.”

Reia lets Antares go, and he hesitantly steps inside. It was probably for the best, right? After all, his mother knew more than him. If she said it was for Alunya’s own good…

Antares finds Alunya haphazardly trying to scrub away the charcoal dust and soot all over himself. Antares stares down into the wash basin, skeptically; he had to question if the water, already dirtied from Alunya, would actually clean him at all. But there was nothing for it but to do his best, so he took the soap and did his best to tidy himself up as well. Certainly both of them would need an actual bath tomorrow; it was a good thing that it was summer, and the river’s temperature was a bit more bearable than the rest of the year.

Alunya was in quite the mood, from how he was sitting over at the other end, staring down into the soapy, now-muddied water with his still partially stained skin sudsy and glistening. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you out of trouble, Alunya. What were you doing down there to get so filthy, though, anyhow?” Antares asks.

Alunya perks up when Antares asks. “Oh, the coppersmith let me help out around the forge, so I got to help him make a scythe blade! He might be a huge jerk, but his work is really cool!” Alunya exclaims.

Antares raises one brow skeptically. And by ‘let you’, you mean he took advantage of your enthusiasm to get free work out of you, I assume? Antares decides to keep that thought inside rather than ruin the boys enthusiasm again. “Well, I’m glad you had fun. Hope it was worth it.” Antares replies dryly.

Alunya scrunches up his face, looking frustrated. “Man… I’m not allowed to talk to him anymore, mom says. How else am I supposed to learn..? Nobody else in the village does copperwork. As if it wasn't bad enough that she gives me trouble whenever I try to practice my sewing.” Alunya laments, flicking water off his hands as he finishes cleaning as well as he was able- the wash basin is now dark with soot and ash, but Alunya was at least somewhat clear, though his hair in particular still was a nest of particulates.

Once the two boys were suitably clean- at least, as clean as they could be given the circumstances- they sit down at the table with Reia. The mood is rather dull as they eat, Alunya moping from being grounded. Antares wants to ask Alunya about what he learned, but doesn’t want to with Reia present.

Oh well. Maybe another day. Antares laments internally, taking another bite of dry cornmeal. After dinner, the two boys are made to head to bed early.

The following weeks are dreadfully boring for Alunya, though he does at least get to entertain himself sharing his experiences with Antares. After a few weeks, Reia relents and Alunya is free to wander once more. Not that his grounding was particularly enforceable; All Reia really had was her word, since nobody was home with him most of the time. Normally, a boy’s father might beat the rules into him, but Alunya had no father.