Cuprum: First pick the right alloy, then heat it until it glows orange, hammer it flat, fold it, test its flex, quench it in oil, temper it by reheating to a dull red, cool it slowly, grind the edge, polish the face, and finish it with a clean handle. Each step must be done with care, or the blade will crack in the heat of battle. Speed is a luxury, precision is the only way to make a weapon that will survive.

I mostly stick to the same alloy—steel with a precise mix of carbon and manganese that I’ve tested for years. The fire can reveal imperfections, but if the metal shows a flaw I’ll set it aside. It’s a ritual, not a whim; consistency keeps a blade from breaking in the heat of battle.