The Last Rudra

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It was a bright day. The sun was up in the sky was witnessing the birth of the youngest master smith in history. An event that would raise storms in Varta. 

The entire smithy was stunned by the flawless smithing of the twelve-year-old boy.  The master smiths couldn't help but take a look at the gleaming blue blade with a dragon hilt. The ringing of the blade had a distinctive dragon cry.

It was the work on par with theirs. They gave the lad another appraising look. It seemed  Viswa's admitting defeat had some deeper meaning. 

"So, Master Lucas. What do you think? " Ishit asked smiling.

After finishing his morning drill with the castle guards and the wizard, which again was nothing but a disguised thrashing, Ishit had rushed here to prove his mastery over smithing. 

His school trial's result hadn't given Lucas, the Atlantian, any excuse to raise more trouble. The only thing he could do was to give him a hard-to-finish Astra. 

and the dragon-slaying sword was such an Astra. An evil smile had crept over the Atlantian's shining face when he saw Ishit's face turned surly after hearing the allotted trial. 

But now, it was Ishit's turn to give Aslan's puppet an arrogant look. The blade was really hard to forge, for unlike other one-star Astras , it needed infusing of dragon's magical core and its blood in the bubbling alloy. 

If Ishit's spirit sense hadn't been on par with a middle apprentice, there was no way he would've finished the task. 

"I really have made a fool out of myself," Lucas said, putting on his signature foxy smile. "But you can't blame me for doubting you. After none has become a master smith at such young age. I will immediately send this good news to his majesty. I'm sure he will more than willing to bestow a royal membership upon you."

Listening to the last sentence, Ishit noticed Nitya's smile fade away. 

"It's just one-star Astra, not a Pashu or  Nara one. I think every school -pass- out with an aptitude in smithing can make one. There is no reason to bother his majesty over this trifling matter."Nitya said with a scornful look.

"Haha, does Master Nitya jealous of our little brother? " Lucas chuckled, a glint flashed in his blue eyes. Lucas was not a fool. There was really something wrong with the boy.  First the report from the headmaster, and now this

Nitya's reaction. 

He needed to inform Tissa, the crown prince. It seemed the virgin land had birthed a new Ankha. 

Ishit shooked his head. It seemed his lord father's men were all like him, poor at politics and deceit. 

"So can I enter my forge now?" Ishit asked. 

"Of course, you can. however, I'm afraid there is a little problem in it " The Atlantian said, with an abashed face. As though he was ashamed of something. 

Ishit frowned, "May I know what it is?"

" Ah! It is just that ...as you know Master Viswa, the best smith of Garuna, of course, only second to your esteem self, is not an ordinary smith.  " Lucas said avoiding the eyes of the master smiths, who seemed offended by his comment. 

"He gave me a visit last night. He told me his forge is not like others. " Lucas said, giving the curious master smith's a mysterious look. 

"What do you mean? " Ishit asked with a wary look. He could sense trouble coming. It seemed Lucas had met hands with Viswa, his father's enemy. 

"Have you ever heard of a strange state called being with the forge? " Lucas asked. 

Last night he had visited Viswa (the old smith was too arrogant to respond to his call). Lucas couldn't make out why the old man had accepted the defeat without even putting in a proper fight. Was it because of  Lord Oman's threat or something else? 

But what Viswa told him made him realize why his majesty had wanted the old man in his royal society. 

Being one with the forge was not an ordinary state. Only one in ten thousand smiths could achieve this divine state. In this state, the smith became one with his forge. It was like having two bodies but a single soul. The forge became another body of the smith. Just like house anima, If the smith wanted he could control everything in the forge with his thought. 

However, that was not all. Once, a smith reached this state, no one would be able to work in his forge, at least not without him sitting there. 

Of course, Ishit had read about this legendry state, where a smith wouldn't have to anything. His hammer, his furnace, and everything obeyed his thoughts and worked for him as a submissive slave.

That was why he couldn't believe his ears.  He glanced towards Nitya, to notice he too seemed surprised. 

"Don't play with me, Master Lucas. Nirkarma state is not so easy to achieve. " Ishit said, 

"I'm not joking. I also didn't believe him. But then he pointed out his odd habits.  Like how he used to hole up in his forge for months with no apprentices or bear to aid him. And he would still finish his tasks on time. There was no way a smith could finish so many Astras, working by himself alone.  Not to mention, we don't have the strength to wield a hammer for months straight. " 

The other smiths nodded as they learned the explanation for his fellow smith's odd behavior. 

Now, Ishit realized why Viswa had said that he would need his help Ishit wanted to work in his forge.

What the hell? So all this was for nothing. There was no way he would share his knowledge with anyone, let alone with his father's enemy. 

" Okey, I don't need the forge," Ishit said helplessly.  He turned to Nitya, "Master Nitya,  can you let me work in your forge for a few days." he asked. Ishit thought he would think about the forge after Inna's feast. For now, he needed to forge his Astra, so that he could compete in the coming events. 

"yes.. " before Nitya could finish his sentence, Lucas cut in. 

"I think you've read Guild codes, Master Ishit. As a master smith, you can't work into another forge unless it is a combined project. Moreover, you have to finish your orders." 

Ishit now understood why he had felt that he had landed in a trap. Nitya's grim face had confirmed Lucas was not conning him. 

"Can I not annul my ownership of the forge?" Ishit asked though he had guessed the answer. 

"I'm afraid not, at least not before six months.  According to codes, a master smith must inform the guild of his resignation in advance. " replied the Atlantian. 

Ishit glanced at Nitya for his help. But the master smith shook his head. It was clear none could breach the codes. 

"Then what can I do? I mean, with Viswa gone,  I can't work in that forge now."  Ishit said.

"I have a solution. I will talk to Viswa and persuade him to work with you for six months. After six months, you can resign. " Lucas said. 

Ishit had seen it coming. It was what the Atlantian wanted to begin with.

"I'm afraid I can't work for six months. Perhaps I will leave Minaak after Inna's feast. " Ishit said, 

"You'll have to Master Ishit if you don't want the Head Guild to ban you.  These codes are made for some reason. If they can be breached so lightly, no one would take them seriously.  " Lucas said. 

"But ..."

"I might have a solution,  " Soma cut in, 

"If master Ishit accepts someone as an apprentice and promotes him to assistant smith, he can leave the forge under his assistant care. " 

Lucas gave piercing look to the young man. 

"Yes, you can do that too. But Let me inform you beforehand, not anyone can be appointed as an assistant smith. The person must have skills, and I will see to it. " Lucas said, " It is not that I want to create trouble for you, Master Ishit. As overseer of the guild, I must make sure everything is running perfectly. We can't afford any more loss."

Ishit's head throbbed. He had really got himself into a mess. It was all because of his rush action. He should have read this evil codes book first. He couldn't afford a ban from the head guild. And as for taking an apprentice, there was no way he could train an apprentice to assistant level in one or two weeks.  What should he do now? 

"If Master Ishit is accepting apprentice, please consider giving a chance to me, too." A familiar voice broke Ishit's train of thought.  Everyone turned to see the newcomer. 

A man with a grizzled head, wearing a plain grey cloak was coming striding towards them. Of course, he was Viswa. 

Ishit stared into the man's deep black eyes, they were twinkling with excitement. What did the man want from him? Ishit pondered for a moment. 

"Ok, I accept you as my apprentice.. "Ishit said, taking a deep breath.