Mizu does not brush the fact in further. It is what it is, and Mizu has neither interest nor the character to hide the fact she's getting paid for her work. It inherently brings up what Vergil's doing, and well, it is amusing. She's not sure there is the same demand for poetry... or that Vergil writes it. Interaction is not easy for either of them, or it would not matter.
The question is simple but difficult at the same time. No matter how many times Master Eiji explained it or how many swords she saw made, it's not so easy to define. It requires a deep understanding of the warrior, while a swordsmith also will not observe them live in combat. Master Eiji cannot see at all but manages to understand simply touching someone as they go through their moves, an ability Mizu could not match. He is incredible, far beyond anything else she has seen.
"In its most basic form, you need to understand how a blade will be used," Mizu explains, "You have to observe their techniques. Master Eiji refused to make a sword for anyone who would not demonstrate each and every one of his techniques, even the secret ones. Some refused, so they did not get swords." That's the simplest most basic level. A sword must be suited to the ways it will be used. However, that could lead to the same sword for every student of the same dojo, a most laughable idea.
"Those observations also reveal temperament, preferences, ticks, and other expressions of who a warrior is. Though in truth, every interaction with someone before making them a sword feeds into the understanding of them and what suits them." That's only the observations, not how it comes out in the sword.
"There are hundreds of decisions that go into making a sword, and each of them affects the outcome. Even what wood you burn to heat the metal, each piece of wood I mean, not only the kind of tree or the dryness of the wood. I don't know that I could explain each decision I make throughout the process, but attuning yourself to it and ensuring your mind is in the right state. You have to empty yourself and..."
Mizu doesn't have the words. She knows when it's right.
"You let the sword be what it should be."
A wholly unsatisfactory answer, she is sure. No one asks Master Eiji how he does it, only satisfied that he does. She learned from him, a thousand little lessons along with the larger ones. Mizu shrugs.
no subject
The question is simple but difficult at the same time. No matter how many times Master Eiji explained it or how many swords she saw made, it's not so easy to define. It requires a deep understanding of the warrior, while a swordsmith also will not observe them live in combat. Master Eiji cannot see at all but manages to understand simply touching someone as they go through their moves, an ability Mizu could not match. He is incredible, far beyond anything else she has seen.
"In its most basic form, you need to understand how a blade will be used," Mizu explains, "You have to observe their techniques. Master Eiji refused to make a sword for anyone who would not demonstrate each and every one of his techniques, even the secret ones. Some refused, so they did not get swords." That's the simplest most basic level. A sword must be suited to the ways it will be used. However, that could lead to the same sword for every student of the same dojo, a most laughable idea.
"Those observations also reveal temperament, preferences, ticks, and other expressions of who a warrior is. Though in truth, every interaction with someone before making them a sword feeds into the understanding of them and what suits them." That's only the observations, not how it comes out in the sword.
"There are hundreds of decisions that go into making a sword, and each of them affects the outcome. Even what wood you burn to heat the metal, each piece of wood I mean, not only the kind of tree or the dryness of the wood. I don't know that I could explain each decision I make throughout the process, but attuning yourself to it and ensuring your mind is in the right state. You have to empty yourself and..."
Mizu doesn't have the words. She knows when it's right.
"You let the sword be what it should be."
A wholly unsatisfactory answer, she is sure. No one asks Master Eiji how he does it, only satisfied that he does. She learned from him, a thousand little lessons along with the larger ones. Mizu shrugs.