The blacksmith examined his collection of tea leaves, contemplating which blend to brew. He tended to be particular with tea—his selection usually mirrored his mood. Today, he wondered which one might feel the most welcoming.
"I guess this one will do," he muttered.
He set the teapot on the stove and waited patiently for it to brew. As the water warmed, his thoughts drifted. What was he supposed to do in this situation?
"The place looks ransacked. Don't you tidy up for guests?"
The voice came from behind. A young man with golden-blonde hair lounged at the dining table, resting his head in one hand as he scanned the room. William sighed. He had expected this reaction the moment the young man stepped through the door. He never had visitors, so cleaning had never been a priority.
"Excuse the mess. I'm not used to company. In fact, you're the first person who's ever visited," he said, pouring tea into a cup and handing it to the young man.
"For real? Heh, then it must be destiny," the young man grinned, winking.
"Sure..." William replied, taking the seat across from him.
"You know, I imagined it would be a bit more luxurious. I heard a rumor the walls were made of gold."
"Whoever told you that was way off. It's nothing special. And you shouldn't believe everything strangers say—it's how people get scammed."
The Jaeger household, nestled in the Lost Forest, had two levels. The main entrance sat on the upper floor, accessible by stairs leading to a porch. The lower floor housed the forge where William worked. The home had everything essential: two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room. Cozy enough for two—any more and it'd feel cramped.
"I see..." The young man's disappointment showed. "Say, don't you get lonely, being by yourself?"
William didn't meet his gaze. He sipped his tea. "I could ask you the same thing."
The young man pouted at the deflection, took a sip of tea—and immediately spat it out.
"Ugh! What is this? It tastes awful."
"Chamomile. You'll get used to it."
The young man eyed the cup suspiciously, sniffed the tea, and took another tentative sip. "It smells floral… kinda sweet. Still bad, though."
William smiled faintly, remembering his own first taste of tea. His grandfather had introduced him to it. He'd thought it tasted like boiled grass. Over time, though, he grew to like it.
William set his cup down and got to the point. "So, how did you end up here, exactly? This forest is dangerous enough in daylight—let alone at night. Not many people wander in, much less make it this deep."
The Lost Forest was perilous from the moment one stepped into it. Especially after dark. Creatures of all shapes and strengths lurked in the shadows. Even the pixies had tried to study the place, only to be driven off by the Drakon tribe. Then there was the night fog… and the ever-changing terrain.
"That's easy," the young man said. "I followed you."
"You... what?"
He shrugged, as if it were no big deal. "Yeah, I saw you eavesdropping on those merchants. Who knew you liked gossip? Not that it's my business. I've got my own goal."
William scowled. "I was checking to see if Paul needed help. Not that he ever really does."
He'd known Paul since childhood—had seen him make business deals with William's father. Later, he'd run into him again in Aoba. Paul was always the same: confident, unyielding, and surprisingly moral. What William witnessed that day wasn't idle talk—it was a challenge. Intervening wouldn't have changed the outcome.
"Paul, huh? So that's the evil man's name..."
"He's not evil. If anything, he was the one most concerned about you."
The young man slammed the table. "Ha! Don't feed me lies. A guy like that doesn't have empathy—probably doesn't even have a heart."
William sighed. Paul was kind—stern, sure, but kind. Becoming a father had changed him. When he saw the young man alone and unconscious, William was sure Paul saw his own children in that situation. He couldn't help but care.
"You're stubborn with your ideals," William muttered.
"Hmph! Unlike you, I stick to my morals," the young man huffed, arms crossed.
"What do you mean?"
"You seriously forgot? You promised to take me in."
After the chase through town, William and Paul had discussed what to do with the unconscious boy. Paul didn't want to leave him alone. They were out of ideas, so William offered to take him in—until he realized he'd have to carry both the boy and a ton of food home.
"Oh… right. I forgot. Wait—how do you know that?"
"I was there, remember?"
"But you were unconscious… Wait. You're saying you were awake the whole time!?"
"A hero must know when to pick his battles."
"I had to carry you to the bar!"
"And you left me there to rot!"
William had prioritized the food. He'd taken the boy to the bar where Lucy and Marla worked and asked if they had a spare room. Fortunately, they did. He figured it was safe to leave him there.
"Oh please, Marla's capable. I'm sure you were treated like royalty. I bet you've eaten more in the past few days than ever before."
"And how would you know that?"
"Because I've been paying for it."
"Aha! So you didn't forget about me."
"No. But I figured you'd eventually go back home."
He had planned to return, keep his word—but the cost of feeding the boy added up fast. The kid ate like a starving soldier.
The young man arched an eyebrow. "How do you know I'm not from here?"
"When I chased you, you ran straight for the gate."
"That doesn't prove anything."
"It was the necklace. Looks expensive. Doesn't exactly scream 'street rat.' I figured you came from a noble family. Just a hunch. Still, might want to tuck that thing in if you don't want to get mugged."
William had noticed the necklace—an emerald stone, valuable on its own, but there was something else about it. Something subtle.
"A noble family..." the young man murmured, clutching the necklace and tucking it beneath his shirt. "Thanks for the tip. Still, I'm not leaving this town until I reach my goal."
"Right… you mentioned something about me making you a hero. What's that all about?"
The young man's eyes lit up. "Aha! I'm glad you asked." He stood, energized. "I was told a renowned blacksmith lived near this town. If I wanted to achieve my dream, I needed your help."
"You're saying I can make you a hero? How?"
"Isn't it obvious? By making me your apprentice!"
William frowned. "How does that help? Wouldn't it make more sense to go to the capital and enroll in training?"
"I did try. They told me I was too young and would have to pay a monthly fee for training."
That didn't sound right. William had never heard of such a fee. Then again, the boy did look young and small for his age. Probably didn't believe he was fourteen. The fee was likely a bluff.
"Then, when I thought all hope was lost, I met someone. They told me to find a blacksmith in Aoba. Said you'd help me become a hero."
"Who told you that?"
"Sorry. I promised not to say. Not yet."
William had no clue who would tell such a thing. He was just a blacksmith—no combat skills, no grand wisdom. All he had was his craft.
"Me of all people... it's insane."
The young man nodded. "At first, I didn't believe it either. I thought, 'How could he help me?' But then I met you. And we had that chase. That's when I knew—you'd make a great master."
"You didn't even know who I was?"
The young man shook his head. "Not at all."
"...I see."
It was rare for someone not to recognize the name Jaeger. But in a strange way, it was refreshing.
"So…" The young man extended his hand and looked him dead in the eyes. "Will you teach me?"