Strength and Rivalry 1.109

After Viggo recovered from training, Hera took him along with Semiramis and Scheherezade to Kain's house.

Once they arrived at the house, Kain took them to the first-floor library and closed the door. Only Viggo had to be present, but Hera was curious to see Kain make jewelry. Something she asked him many times about, but he always refused. On the other hand, Semiramis and Scheherezade wanted to see if they could learn anything from experience.

Kain sat at the desk, and Viggo sat next to him so that he could look at him closely. The three women stood behind them as they watched as Kain began to leave on a desk several glass boxes with small precious stones inside. Then he takes out tools such as tweezers, files, pliers, and some glass bottles with liquids. Finally, he takes out a box with several gold rods 15 cm long.

Kain started with a small introduction while taking a gold rod and molding it with various tools until it took the shape of a ring. At the same time, he was telling Viggo his appreciations of what it means to make jewelry. Explaining concepts such as fashion, the seasons, societal trends, and logistics. Learning these concepts set you apart from a simple merchant and elevated you to the status of a jewelry professional. Anyone could sell a diamond, but few could multiply its value by incorporating some contraption such as a necklace or a ring. A queen would always take fashion trends ahead of society and would only buy something old if it had some historical significance that enhanced her beauty. Things like "such a queen who was loved by the whole world and conquered the most distinguished knights, possessed this ring."

-That's why you needed an aesthetic sensibility to make jewelry- Kain said as he finished making some little ones in a gold ring. There was a big saccade in the middle of the ring and five small ones on each side. In total, eleven.

Kain took a glass box that had small diamonds inside. Once he opened it, he took a tweezer, took out a small diamond from the box and embedded it in one of the ones taken out of the ring. One by one he placed them until he completed the first five.

-That's why thinking about fashion, seasons and trends helps a jewelry salesman multiply his sales- Kain said, looking at the ring he held between his index finger and thumb of his left hand. He turns the ring in different positions and nod -for example, a flower-shaped ring will be popular in the spring, while a ring shaped like a sun or star will be popular in summer. Winter is a slow time for selling jewelry, but there is always jewelry that no matter the time of year, they are always sold. For example, heart-shaped jewelry; the favorites of young people in their early years of romance. Making that kind of jewelry year-round will give you a name and make you popular, but it won't set you apart. For that you must look for something that differentiates your store from others. For my part, many years ago, I had a store. I just added a little spell that showed if the other person was telling the truth, but it had enough charm to make my shop the No. 1 in the whole city. Most of the young couples came to check if their love was real. Many times, there were broken hearts, but other times happiness was eternal. The rumor spread among the young women and attracted great attention-

Kain paused for a moment and smiled remembering the city of Millis, the beautiful summers on the coast and his family in that world. The smile took a touch of nostalgia as he stopped his hands. He let out a sigh and left the ring on the table. Then he looked at Viggo next to him, who looked at him totally concentrated. His son was already big, he measured more than 1.6 meters and his red hair reminded him of Hephaestus. Then Kain looked behind Viggo's seat, where Semiramis and Scheherezade were standing. Kain's smile became more nostalgic, attracted his son, and brought his head closer to touch his forehead with his. Then he let out a chuckle and stirred his hair.

Kain resumed his work with the ring and continued to put the other diamonds, leaving the one taken out in the middle empty. Then he put his hand on top of the desk and from his ring he extracted a burgundy wooden box. He opened it and inside was a large diamond the size of a little fingernail. Hera, Semiramis and Scheherezade opened their eyes wide, all evaluating the stone.

Kain took the diamond and embedded it in the central saccade of the ring. With that done, the making of the ring ended and showed it to Viggo who took it with his fingertips just like his father did. He looked at it from all sides finding it refined and delicate, with small runic engravings on the gold surface that gave it its artistic touch. Viggo returned the ring to Kain, and he nodded.

After receiving the ring, Kain stood up and pushed the chair away. He stretched out his hand to Hera and she stretched out her hand. Then Kain took her hand, kissed her back and looked into her eyes. Hera blushed and looked at him full of expectations. Of course, Kain didn't let her down and took the ring to her ring finger and put it on. The ring fit perfectly, without having to make force and being adjusted to the width of the finger. Hera smiled in wonder and raised her hand to look back at the beauty of the diamonds. She had many bigger and more beautiful. Even a diamond from the collection she got from Semiramis was ten times larger and more beautiful than the diamond in the center of the ring. However, this ring was made by Kain, so it had no value in this world. At least for Hera, no one would ever have the wealth necessary for her to want to sell it.

Kain took Hera's hands and kissed them -a jewel made with dedication can make love happy- he said -it can pave the way between two hearts, or it can be the sweet poison that blinds a person. That's why I told you: to make jewelry, you must have an aesthetic sensibility to know what it combines and for the type of person it is directed. If the jewel is not for the person, it will look as ugly as a ring that squeezes the finger until it becomes bruised or it will be so loose that it will fall and break on the ground.

Viggo nodded to his father's words and could only see jewelry making as another similar challenge to drawing. He had already been drawing for two weeks and his progress had grown by leaps and bounds. However, was not satisfied and wanted to see how to improve to do justice to the beauty of Semiramis. At the same time, if he made a jewel for Semiramis, Scheherezade, Sakura, Ana or Tsubaki, he would like them to feel comfortable and beautiful. Even Tsubaki, living a rudimentary life between blacksmithing and exploring the dungeon, must want to look pretty.

On the other hand, Semiramis seeing that Viggo became tense, remembered when he could not draw her as he wanted and worried. She put her hands on Viggo's shoulders and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. Viggo smiled, looked back at her, and patted her hands to insinuate that he was fine. For some reason, Viggo felt in complete control when he struggled, even if he was losing. However, when he drew or towards something else that was delicate and had to do with creating something, he felt totally out of his element. Even if he had good instincts, these would only lead him down the road and in the end, he would have to walk the road on his own. Fighting was given naturally, but drawing, drawing...Viggo let out a sigh of just thinking about it.

After explaining a few other concepts, Kain asked the women to leave the library as a way to lower the stress on Viggo. Kain was fine even if a crowd watched him, but Viggo was young, inexperienced, and in the process of moving from a boy to a man. So, his concentration would be easily disturbed.

Once Viggo and Kain were left alone, Kain took out a box with copper rods measuring fifteen centimeters. He passed his tools to Viggo and told him to start molding rings. Something that would be easy like creating the links in a chain, but less problematic.

Once Viggo began molding the copper rod into a circle, Kain was by his side giving him advice. Viggo put all his concentration, but his motor skill was far from acceptable.

-Calm down, no one rushes you- Kain said -take your time. Mastery is based on performing a process in the shortest possible time without making mistakes. First it will take you an hour to mold one or two rings. Then it will take you less and so on. So, do not worry, take your time and work at ease until you achieve what you want to do. One step at a time-

Viggo let out a sigh, stopped for an instant, and continued to mold the copper rod with a plier with round tips -How many lives have you had father?- he asked without stopping his hands.

-Many- Kain replied without being disturbed by the question, for him, this conversation would come to the surface sooner or later -I have been a prince, a blacksmith, a merchant, a warrior, I have loved a lot and I have had an equal number of losses. However, what has never changed is that I have always been Kain-

-Always?-

-Well, no- Kain said with an uncomfortable smile -one day I was reborn as Tytos Hill, the bastard son of an influential nobleman. However, this happen because my soul was very weak-

-I wonder if I have always been Viggo- Viggo murmured.

-Does that matter?-

Viggo stopped his hands and looked at his father -but you remember your experiences- he said.

Kain smiled and replied -It's like I'm a gifted child, too smart for his age. However, the brain and body continue to develop at normal speed. That means that no matter how much you are reborn with knowledge, you continue to learn things, shape your character and have feeling. On the one hand, it's refreshing, as you feel each emotion again as if it were the first time. You see; living for a long time makes you insensitive-

-In that case, I wonder if I will keep these memories-

-You have a high chance, after all, you're somewhere in the middle just like when I was reborn as Tytos Hill- Kain said with a smile, stirred his hair and continued -but no matter who you've been before. Now you are my son and nothing will change him. Remember it-

-Thank you father- replied Viggo with a broad smile and took up the copper rod again and continued to mold it to take a flat shape inside.

-How are you doing with the touki?- asked Kain.

-It's super difficult- replied Viggo without stopping his hands as he smiled.

-Hehehe, enjoy this moment, because in the future you will not return. One day you will have the knowledge and mastery and you will be able to master any skill without any effort-

-Although I'm being beaten by the three idiots, I'm having fun. In the world of Semiramis there were not many challenges-

-Mmm? Tell me what that place was like-

-You see...