“Annealing is the process of heating, hammering, shaping, and cooling gold. Because gold can be ruined by too much heat, the annealing process isn’t a single step but a series of steps. the goldsmith knows what design and shape the finished product will have. He also knows that only simple, relatively invaluable results can be gained by a single annealing. He must take it one step further in each phase, getting the most from that heating, but never ruining the gold by heating it too high or cooling it too quickly. Think about it: multiple steps to become what the goldsmith wants; strength through a series of fires. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”