76 - Copper Age

  Nexha left Krahs and Lilay at the nest, watching over the sleeping baby, and headed to the makeshift forge. The smell of cooking fish still lingered in the air, but his mind was elsewhere. He sat in his wheelchair, resting his arm on the side as his eyes became lost in the glowing embers of the stone furnace.

  The heat wavered in slow waves, making shadows dance along the uneven walls of the forge. The reddish light flickered in Nexha’s eyes as he massaged his temples, feeling the weight of new responsibilities pressing down on his shoulders.

  — Someone else to protect… more pressure to evolve technologically.

  His gaze locked onto the burning embers, the intense glow reflecting the turmoil within him. He picked up a piece of dried eel-seaweed and poked at the coals, carefully stoking the flames. The fire crackled, filling the silence with a hypnotic rhythm.

  — I'm starting to look like a brooding old man… — he muttered. Then, he lifted his chin, determined. — Well, it’s time to become something more.

  With a swift motion, he opened the shop interface.

  (\Store/) (\MD 10,084/)

  Welcome to the store, user. Here you can buy everything you need for your world conquest. Are you going to lie again about evolving?

  -Food/Medicine - Slaves

  -Skills - Magic Items

  -Miners - Animals/Pets

  -Plant Materials - Accessories

  -Clothing/Armor - Technology

  Nexha let out a snort as he read the store’s provocation.

  — Even the AI doesn’t believe in me… hahaha.

  He scrolled through the interface, opening the skills tab. The prices were still absurd. He looked at the options, desiring each one of them, but hesitated.

  Stolen story; please report.

  — Could be useful… but right now, I need something that will truly change my life.

  Switching to the technology tab, he slid through the items until he found what he was looking for. The moment he saw it, he didn’t hesitate. He confirmed the purchase, watching his balance drop instantly.

  5,000 MD—gone. But what he had just obtained? That would make a difference.

  A thrill ran through his body.

  — Forging… this excites me more than before.

  With his eyes shining, he pulled the now-cooked fish from the oven. That was when his vision trembled—a buzzing sound filled his mind, and a sharp pain pierced through his head. He clenched his teeth. The sensation was familiar—knowledge settling inside him, a surge of information burning through his brain like live embers. He took a deep breath, waiting for the pain to pass.

  Once he felt steady again, he carried the fish to Lilay and Krahs. Leaving them to enjoy their meal, he returned to the forge.

  Without wasting time, he added more fuel to the furnace. The dried eel-seaweed wasn’t ideal, but it was what he had. He crouched, watching the flames grow. Orange mixed with blue, spiraling in ever-intensifying patterns.

  He opened the store again and purchased a new type of mineral. While waiting for the fire to reach the necessary temperature, he grabbed his bone chisel and, with patience, began shaping the newly acquired stone. Carefully sculpting, he transformed it into a small, sturdy pot. There was no rush. Each strike was calculated, each scrape refining its form. When finished, he placed the pot in the center of the flames.

  Inside the small container, two smaller stones—also bought from the store—were added. Slowly, the heat began to envelop them.

  — It’ll take a while… not ideal, but it’s what I have.

  As he waited for the metal to melt, he prepared the mold. Taking some eel-seaweed bamboo, he assembled two rectangular frames, filling them with fine sand. With his obsidian knife, he pressed the blade against the sand, carving out a detailed, solid cavity.

  He examined his work carefully, ensuring the mold wouldn’t collapse. He carved a channel leading from the cavity to the edge, creating a path for the molten metal to flow and fill the space. Carefully, he removed the knife and joined the two frames, forming the complete mold.

  The scent of hot metal began spreading through the forge. Nexha glanced at the pot in the furnace—the ore was now liquid.

  Grabbing two bamboo sticks as makeshift tongs, he swiftly removed the pot from the flames and poured the glowing metal into the mold. It flowed smoothly, filling every crevice with an intense shine.

  Now, all that was left was to wait.

  Silence returned to the forge, broken only by the distant sound of waves crashing against the base of the platform. Nexha watched the mold, resisting the urge to rush the process. He knew patience was a crucial part of forging.

  Slowly, the daylight began to fade.

  Weariness weighed on his shoulders, but he refused to leave.

  When he finally stood, he cast one last glance at the still-warm mold.

  — It’ll be worth it…

  Turning away, he headed home, leaving behind the copper knife solidifying in the sand—the first piece of a future he would forge with his own hands.