The cave once again quieted down. Gabriella continued with her meditation and Qian Jin also slept wearing that hat. Sophia was left to herself, looking at Qian Jin blankly while their previous conversation echoed in her head.
"No one has given up on you. It’s you who gave up on yourself." Sophia murmured and the memories of how she had become a warrior in the first place overwhelmed her. "I gave up on myself? What has this young man been through? How can he say this at his age?"
The village in the morning was full of life. As Qian Jin reached Blake’s Blacksmith Shop, he heard waves of noises breaking out in this quiet little courtyard.
"Blake, has that kid still not forged his own weapon? You aren’t playing tricks with us so you can keep the apprentice to yourself, right?"
"I bet he is. You just don’t want us to have your apprentice, so you are holding him back from weapon forging. You did it on purpose."
