Vicente's expression changed when he heard his master's words. He hadn't realized this after his evolution and testing that pentagram a few times.
But then Torne commented in his mind. 'This old blacksmith must be right. In fact, it explains why the mana changes in your surroundings when you use your new skill.'
Torne wasn't a blacksmith, so it wasn't so easy for him to notice certain details. But he was a powerful Sovereign who had lived long enough to understand certain things and see sense in Benson's words.
'But if that's true, why isn't the effect permanent? If it's only temporary, it won't help me at all with my weapons.' He commented to Torne.
'You'll have to ask this man, master. Perhaps he can explain and find a better solution than I can.'
"That... Master, are you sure about this? I've used this skill several times and haven't noticed anything like this." Vicente said. "I noticed that it can change the weather in my vicinity and also alter the configuration of the minerals in the ground, forcing the free mana in the air closer to the surroundings altered by me. But that's only temporary."
"Oh?" Benson heard that and thought for a moment about Vicente's description. "What you just said agrees with what I said. But Vice, you've probably used your new power on a grand scale. There is a balance in all things.
When you fly at high speed, you can't make certain movements. By seeking more speed, you give up other things. But when you give up speed and accept flying slowly, you can make more precise movements.
That happens in all things. When you pursue one extreme too much, you give up many other qualities.
In the case in question, I believe that because you tried to change the nature of the metallic minerals in your vicinity in large quantities, you 'gave up' on changing them permanently. But if you focus on altering small quantities of ores, you could achieve a different effect."
"I see," Vicente murmured as he looked down thoughtfully.
As much as he didn't have Benson's experience, he could see the reason behind those words and felt it was indeed possible for that to be the case.
"Try practicing that while you master your 4th stage forging skills. That will be good training for you now that you've advanced and gained a new skill." Benson instructed.
He had nothing but his experience to teach Vicente. As such, he had a way of guiding this young man who had run very fast to the position he was now in.
"Hmm, I'll do that." Vicente agreed.
"When you finish this training, you'll be able to do wonderful things, Vice." Benson's eyes sparkled. "As I've already taught you, artifacts are only as strong as the materials that make them and the skill of the blacksmith who created them.
Your new skill raises both your forging skills and the quality of your materials, Vicente. If you use the same materials you used before to make weapons and armor, you'll get better results now. But if you use even better materials, your results will be even more incredible.
The artifacts you create after becoming a 4th stage blacksmith may actually turn out as good as those of the 5th grade!
Do you know what that means? Our robotic armor will become even more efficient when you finish this progress!" Benson said with a tone full of eagerness to see his disciple produce something like he had in mind.
Vicente's results when it came to robotic armor were already extremely fantastic. But seeing his current improvement, Benson was sure it could improve.
"All right, I'll train on that over the next few weeks." He said while also feeling anxious.
The better the items he produced, the better his chances of rescuing Lauren and protecting his family from the consequences of The Purification.
With this in mind, he changed the subject and soon spoke to his master about some of the problems he had to overcome and the fact that he wouldn't be able to return much of his attention to the forge immediately afterward.
He would dedicate part of his days from tomorrow to studying the forge, but he couldn't devote himself exclusively to it as he had done in the past.
After hearing about the vampire who was hunting his disciple, Benson was naturally concerned, understanding that Vice's situation was not so easy despite how far he had come.
"... Sigh, your life is full of bumps, Vice." He sighed after hearing everything. "But don't worry, this old man here will help you produce items for your family and take some of the weight off your shoulders," Benson commented.
He already knew how to produce 3rd-grade firearms with characteristics related to his elemental affinities. That was good enough to help the family members who were at the end of the 2nd stage and the beginning of the 3rd.
Vicente thanked his master, who, since their reunion in Saltstar City, had been part of the Fuller family, helping a lot with the forging part of the family.
"Anyway, what about you, master?" Vicente asked after all this serious talk. "How's your progress?"
"Sigh! Not as good as yours. I'm already an old man. It's harder for someone my age to understand new things and get stronger. However, I'm still evolving consistently. I don't know if I'll be able to become a Sovereign before your eventual departure from the kingdom, but with all the opportunities you've been giving me, I don't think I'll be so useless as to not have the prospect of one day reaching the 4th stage." He said sincerely.
Vicente had never talked about leaving the kingdom with anyone in Saltstar City. But all his family, friends, and local contacts expected him to leave before long.
He was already a Sovereign, and only the capital had things to attract him. But even that place wouldn't be enough for him for long, so the kingdom shouldn't be in Vicente's future plans.
Vicente said to Benson. "Improving little is better than improving nothing.I'll still be in the kingdom for another three or four years, master. That's a long time. Many things will happen before Nina awakens."
"Hmm. How is she? Every day, we get closer to discovering the truth." He commented on the situation of that girl, who still had a high chance of failing at the moment of her awakening.
"She's growing and seems stronger. I will intensify her treatment from now on to try to improve her chances. But that's all I can do for her." Vicente sighed as he thought of his sister's future and also of Newton, who could speak better of her to him after these months away.
"I see."
"You can meet me at the Fuller estate whenever you want to see me. I have to go and sort out some business, master."
"See you later."
Vicente left, heading for the local Royal Academy, where he intended to see Newton.
