That discussion had place three days ago the Vice Chief strengthened the night patrols and even thought some people still disappeared they were a lot lower in the number. Conrad tried to assure the citizen that they will soon find the perpetrators and will bring back peace to the town.
John woke up early as usual. In the three weeks since Rowan the town's Master Blacksmith started teaching him for real how to smith his progress could be seen already as he could already smith some small things . He began with things like horseshoes,
hinges, nails and other common things that people used daily. Rowan said that his talent is average but his dedication helped him overcome that gap. He would overwork himself daily to make his quota and learn the techniques presented by Rowan.
The day flowed like usual smiting at master Rowan's Blacksmith helping the nannies then some strength and sword training. He trained even more rigorously than usual knowing that kidnappers appeared in town and his orphanage was in a quite remote corner of the city making it an easy target if it wasn't for the kidnappers not wanting to attract attention John was sure that his brothers and sisters would have been kidnaped already. Unfortunately his older brothers were not in town anymore and it will take probably another week until they will find out about the town's situation.
So right now he is the only one who can protect his home. Exhausted to the core he had barely any energy to bath himself and eat and slept the very second his head hit the pillow.
The next morning John overslept and the sun was already more than a quarter up.
-Oh nooo, master Rowan had probably already started working on the commission I need to get going fast.
He dressed up really fast then sped towards the smithy. While running after taking a corner John bumped into something then fell down face flat on the road.
-Ouch, what the hell. Who put something in the road people could get seriously injured.
-AAAAAA, RUMMMM IT CAME AFTER MEEEEEEE.
Silence again. John was watching the startled Chief long faced not having any energy to even think what this moron was thinking.
-Yawn , Yo little fella why did you startle me so badly my pure heart wasn't made for this kind of treatment I was just sleeping peacefully can't you watch your steps??
"How can this guy be so shameless pure my foot you fought beast all year round and now you are pretending to be scared, and how could've known that you were sleeping in the middle of the road, sigh a truly unlucky day." John thought while looking at the whining chief.
-I'm sorry sir I'm late at my job so I was running and didn't had time to see you ,now if you could excuse me I'm hurrying towards master Rowan's smithy.
-Aaaa. You are Rowan's apprentice I see he found quite the dependable fellow.
What's your name brat?
-My name is John Milican sir and I'm thirteen this year.
-You probably know but my name is Robert Cromwell.
You seem to train your body for becoming a knight aren't you?
- Yes sir Robert since I'm an orphan of a destroyed village I swore to get stronger and protect what' dear to me and make those beasts pay.
-I'm quite sorry to blow your dream young one but you simply don't have the talent to become a knight probably Rowan didn't told you because he didn't want you to suffer but your body can't accommodate mana at all.
Everybody when it's born a trace of mana can be found in their body based on how much mana they hold at birth you can tell the level of their talent. Even for knights or body practitioner this thing is true. Even if no mana at all resided in your body you could still train and get impressive results as you would not be the first one who does it a lot of known heroes started from nothing.
But o dear you couldn't be unluckier your body is a one in a billion body with the constitution of mana ruin. No matter how much mana you are trying to pour in your body it will get repelled and never accumulate. You won't be able to reach even the most basic stage of body forging.
What a cruel fate on you little one sigh.
The world around John started to spin around how could he take revenge how could he protect he believed that even thought he wasn't brilliant he could at least pass the admission test get a basic body forging formula and work towards building his strength. He could get strong and defend his family kill vile beast protect people. The chiefs words couldn't be true there is no way that they were true.
-What a drunkard like you could ever know I don't believe you there is no way that somebody like you could spout anything else than nonsense.
-Sigh, ok I understand your pain go and ask Rowan then.
John sped up with tearing eyes towards Rowan.
-Masterrrrr, please tell me that chief Robert is lying I don't have a mana ruin constitution I can become a knight I can protect my dear ones I can be somebody who can fight please tell me masterr.
-Oh, dear John unfortunately Robert is true I tried to teach you how to smith so that you can make something out of your life even thought you can't become manasmith you can still earn enough to live a happy life as a normal blacksmith.
John collapsed on his knees with a devoid of life look fallowed by some moments of silence.
-Hey, master can I take today off I need to clear up my mind.
-Sigh, sure John go calm yourself down you can take this week off.
After that John stood up and walked slowly out of the smith. In the fallowing moments he found himself at his usual training spot.
-Huh seems like I instinctively walked here.
What's the use of training now.
John crouched down near a nearby tree and sat down contemplating no sound could be heard.
After some time a nanny came towards him.
-John I heard from Rowan that your body is a little special. You don't need to feel down even though you won't be able to fight you can still become somebody great like and administration official.
Silence the wind was blowing slowly and no animal could be heard no word from john either.
nanny Elisa pursed her lips.
-John we are not disappointed in you and your parents for sure wouldn't want you to be sad over this I'm sure they are watching you and are real proud of you so please stand up and continue living become somebody who wouldn't shame them.
-How can I? I betrayed everybody I swore to protect everybody from the orphanage I swore to avenge my parents who sacrificed for my sake I bragged about protecting people about becoming a great knight. But now what am I? Even the lowest mana beast would be able to kill me I will need to be protected. I'm a failure and a disgrace.
Roared John with tears flowing like rivers.
-If I didn't own my life to my parents I would have committed suicide and make your life easier by taking a weight out of you.
Pah.
Elisa the kindest from the three nannies slapped John.
-How can you say something like that, how can you believe something like that, a weight?
Do you know how much me and the other nannies would suffer if we lose you? do you know how much your brothers and sisters would cry for you and they will feel guilty for the rest of their life that they made you feel like that.
A stream of tears started to flow from Elisa's eyes as well.
-So don't ever say something like that not even as a joke we are your family and we are really proud of you as the hardest worker of our family.
Realization hit hard John. His tears stopped flowing and he ran toward Elisa to hug her thighs.
-Forgive me I was lost in desperation so badly that I said something that shouldn't be said. Thank you very much Elisa for making me realize that and for making me feel better.
Even thought I can't become a knight or any mana related occupation I vow to become somebody dependable and not shame my family.
Then they hugged and come together to the orphanage.