"Uh, sir. You missed a spot on the right. It might make the sword uneven and in the end ineffective." The man looked at the boy once before looking at the sword once again, and to his surprise, there was unevenness on the right side. He somehow had missed it but it wasn't so noticeable that a child would know.
"You're right it seems. You have keen eyes I see." He just gave a soft smile to the reply of the blacksmith. Even he was surprised at himself that he was able to catch that unevenness. Then he remembered one of his abilities called (The Eyes of an Eagle). 'So it must be the ability at work. This is gonna be use-'
He was stopped midway thinking as he accidentally looked at the fire produced by the blacksmith. He barely kept his face straight, while sweat dripped from his forehead. "Are you okay?" said the blacksmith, seeing the weird face that Clyde made. "hmm? Oh yeah," he said, breaking out of the trance he was in. "I'm fine, I just zone out sometimes, haha!" he said, getting a weird look from the blacksmith he ignored.
"So what brings you here?" asked the blacksmith looking now at the boy getting up from his crouched position. "huh? Oh yeah right, I was looking to be your apprentice. Of course, I'll also work for you for less than the usual amount of money taken. Even do anything you ask of me." Clyde said to the old man with a black beard and also a blacksmith gown looking at him in a thoughtful expression.
"Why should I take you as an apprentice and hire you? What's in it for me?" "I can make tools with blessings for you to sell," he said, getting a surprised look from the Blacksmith. While coming from the bread shop he once again checked his stat screen. Where he asked the system assistant for more information on his abilities. And then he was told "Bless Thy Creation is an ability which lets you enchant/bless your created tools with magical attributes and much more. This is an ability only given to the apostle(of Cetalus Tinker) and the ones close in rank to him."
"Show me proof." The Blacksmith said with now skepticism in his eyes, why would such a what he could only consider a 1 in 100 kid have a want or need to work for him? Clyde happily complied with the blacksmith's request. He went up to the workstation where the newly made sword was placed, still expelling smoke cooling off. Clyde glided his hand over the still-hot sword as he closed his eyes. Soon, his hands glowed a goldish hue as the system assistant said, "Ability Bless Thy Creation has been used. A random ability is being chosen for the designated tool… The ability has been chosen! Ability Fast Swish is given to the sword, the sword now swishes faster than other weapons, making it effective against hordes of beasts or enemies."
"It's been enchanted," said Clyde to the blacksmith. "Okay let me check." He took a thick piece of cloth as he picked up the sword up to his eye. Soon, his inspection ability came into action and he saw all the details about the sword.
"Blessed Sword"
Type: Iron Sword
Attribute: None
Enchantment/Ability: Fast Swish (Allows faster motion than other weapons, in return effective against hordes of beasts or enemies.)
Side effect: It's much heavier to hold, but once one gets accustomed it's a very effective weapon in most situations.
Created By: Constantine Belware.
Enchanted By: Clyde Walker.
Constantine looked at the boy as he said, "Fine, you can be my apprentice in exchange for this. You'll do small jobs here and there if you want to earn money. You can watch me work and learn." "Thank you master." said Clyde, getting a disgusted look from Constantine "Come on, that's too much calling me master Euhh." He said with a disgusted expression. "Then what do I call you?" Asked Clyde. "Just call me Constantine. You can come and learn from tomorrow, you can also start work from tomorrow."
Clyde ran out of the room with excitement like he just won some big prize, and oh he had Constantine was a very renowned blacksmith at least in their area, so learning from him was like striking gold. "Kids are so disrespectful these days," Constantine said with a sigh. The boy didn't even tell his name, the only way he knew was through the mark left on the sword by him. That was still acceptable but not even bowing or saying something before leaving, this generation is doomed.
***
[The Next Day]
Clyde woke up early. He freshened up with the water from the river nearby as he started running to the blacksmith. He didn't have food today, unfortunately, all the money he earned ran out yesterday. He soon reached the blacksmith only to find it not opened yet, "I'm early? Damn never thought I'd wake up so early that the blacksmith would be closed." He said, even though the light of the sun still was not reaching earth profoundly.
Clyde, despite his hunger disturbing him, waited for about an hour or so. And finally, after one grueling hour, his master had arrived. "You're here!" said Clyde very happy to see him, hopefully his wait wouldn't be wasted. "When did you even come here?" asked Constantine, "Like an hour ago." replied Clyde, "Have you eaten?" asked Constantine. "Yes, I ha-" he was mid-sentence just when his stomach grumbled in hunger.
Constantine almost laughed at this but somehow managed to control himself. "I see. Well, you can't work nor learn with an empty stomach, let's go get something to eat, I haven't eaten as well." Clyde was about to refuse just when Constantine started dragging him to the market to eat something. Soon, once they reached the market, they went to a fruit store. Constantine bought fruits for both of them as he took them to sit under a tree to eat at a field near the market.
Even though Constantine seemed like a cold man from the outside, truly he was more human than most people of the Damiliyan region. Most people didn't care for others, but Constantine was always selfless, which led to him being backstabbed and betrayed many times. Which is why he wasn't as big as could have been. He was an excellent blacksmith and even had the inspection ability making him absolutely a gem. Unfortunately due to his selflessness, he was taken advantage of many times, and ultimately landed him here in this backwater village where no one would recognize his feats nor would he be someone special.
But he still never stopped being selfless, although now also thinking of himself, which is why he accepted Clyde's offer.
Clyde felt something he had not felt in 4 years. Call it care, call it love, made no difference to the feeling he felt. It was so distinct he could never forget it, it was always with him and he always remembered it. And now that he was feeling it once again, but a single tear left his eye.
Constantine, seeing this, asked, "Are you okay?..."