Convincing his father had been the first step. Implementing the idea meant rewriting tradition. In Navaleon, blacksmiths passed knowledge to apprentices through riddles and rituals. Trade secrets were guarded with blood pacts. Sharath wanted to undo that—not to dismantle tradition, but to democratize creation.
He called it the Open Forge Compact.
Under his guidance, scribes began writing technical manuals—simplified diagrams, instructions, and calibration benchmarks. It was the first time in Navaleon's history that a noble house codified trade knowledge not for exclusivity, but for distribution.
"You're giving away secrets," one elder blacksmith growled during a meeting.
"I'm giving away potential," Sharath replied calmly. "You can choose to keep your secrets and remain stationary—or join us and ride with the future."
The room fell silent. It wasn't just a speech—it was a fracture line. And many chose the side that moved.