Ch.13 - The One Armed Blacksmith

As Xavier's face deepened in horror after watching the man's arm crumble before him he fought with his mouth to speak. "Sir your arm just, what happened to it? I mean it. It's just crumbled to the floor." Xavier looked down to the pile of metal pieces on the floor the light of the forge shimmering off them. The man simply got up and walked to a rack where he returned the hammer and grabbed a pair of tongs. "Everyone knows my story kid don't act stupid to mock me."

Xavier watched as the man walked back over with the tongs and grabbed the still bright hot steel and picked it up. Using the tongs he carried it to a bucket that was filled with a liquid and he dipped it in the surface of the liquid quickly had flames dance across its surface before flickering out. As the blade was submerged the man looked to Xavier and now that he was a bit off to the side of the forge Xavier could finally make out some facial features. The man had deeply tanned skin that was covered in sweat and grime from working in the heat. His face was almost featureless otherwise aside from a small scar above his left eye that cut through his eyebrow.

Xavier noticed that the man shaved his hair as he could make out the stubble left behind from a fresh shave. "I'm sorry sir I'm new here I didn't mean to disrespect you I was just a bit surprised. I'm new here and I'm a bit intrigued by this place, almost like it called to me." The man locked eyes with Xavier trying to gauge if the boy was lying or not. After examining his face and seeing honestly in it the man relaxed and kicked a wooden crate over to Xavier. "Sit boy and I'll explain my story to you. Hopefully, this retired old man doesn't bore you." Xavier picked up the crate and faced the open end to the floor setting it down again and sat on it as the man continued to work on the blade.

"Let me start with the beginning of my story as I am a woken." Xavier was surprised to see that a woken was working as a blacksmith but kept his tongue still not wanting to interrupt the man's story. "When I was summoned here I was an earth-based elemental. I wasn't that strong or talented back then and I did stupid things. As I got lucky with my quests I became arrogant and big-headed. One day my party was to take on a razor horn boar. I was thoughtless and almost died. A friend saved me by giving their life in return and I was unharmed. In anger, I attacked the beast head-on and I killed it at the cost of my arm. I was then forced to retire and I was taken in by a blacksmith who used to own this forge. You've probably already read the sign. Anyway, I spent all my time focused on trying to get used to having one arm but I struggled greatly. Eventually, I began to feel a connection with the metal in the shop. As I practiced I could move it and eventually."

As the man finished that sentence the pile of scrap then piled up against the stub of his arm and slowly formed into the shape of an arm. It was proportionate to his actual arm and had proper joints and useable fingers. The man showed off the arm to Xavier as he then placed the blade into the forge with the metallic arm and was unharmed as the metal barely had time to heat up while he adjusted the blade properly inside. "This is why I am mocked boy. I am a woken who is reduced to poor labour. And my one saving grace was ignored by that bastard Archvald in the castle." Xavier realized what the blacksmith was talking about. "You mean the quartermaster?"

The blacksmith's eyes tensed as he started at Xavier. "Choose your next words wisely boy." Xavier began to explain that he too was a woken and had met the quartermaster. He then explained how he knew of the blacksmith's sword and he unsheathed it from his side. "The king granted it to me and told me he hopes I succeed so that we may get these approved. He wants more weapons designed by you but he needs this one to get favour first. But I have to ask why the gaps are against the curve?" The man spit off to the side and stood up again walking off to a cupboard. "That idiot only graded the weapon and didn't care for the safety measure I had planned in case someone untrained used the blade. Here try this on boy."

The blacksmith turned and tossed something across the air at Xavier having it land against his feet. Xavier picked it up and was surprised to see it was a pair of leather gloves but they felt a bit hefty for leather. He tried them on and was surprised that they fit well but felt a bit sturdy. "What are these?" Xavier asked the blacksmith. "Leather gloves made from the skin of a young dragon. Inside is a thin layer of mithril chain links that aid in keeping the hand protected. With this, it would be leagues easier to use the blade without fear of damaging the hand." Xavier was surprised at how well he could still move his hands while wearing the gloves and he began swinging the sword while wearing them. It actually felt easier with the gloves than it did without them.

"How much does these cost for me to buy them from you?" Xavier looked up meeting the blacksmith's eyes. The blacksmith scratched under his chin with the metal hand and made an awkward humming sound that was very deep and gruff. "Well since the king granted you the weapon I guess since the gloves are to be a set with it they would be yours as well. All I ask in return is you spread the name of this shop and the name of the blacksmith who made it. If you do that I'll call it fair." The large man held out his hand and Xavier looked at it for a moment before looking up at the man's face and grabbed his hand shaking it. "I'll honour that and thank you very much sir. Before I take my leave may I ask your name?"

The man shook his head. "I don't have one anymore I simply go by the one-armed blacksmith. Easy for people to remember you see boy." The man then got up and pulled out the newly heated blade and began hammering at it again. "You should leave now boy I believe your friends are looking for you." As he said that Xavier heard Tyler and Ethan calling his name. Xavier quickly rushed out of the building thanking the blacksmith again and ran down the alley almost colliding with Tyler and Ethan. "Where were you Xavier we thought we had lost you or something. Are you alright?"

Xavier did his best to calm him down. "I'm fine I just got interested in a place and checked it out. I even got something great out of it look." Xavier showed of the gloves he got from the blacksmith. "The man that made my sword made these for it as well. It was supposed to be a set apparently." They looked at Xavier and just began walking with him. "Next time at least say something before you walk away dude the girls are already at the castle and are waiting for us. Promise us you'll say something next time." Tyler then pulled Xavier's head under his arm holding him by the neck and dragging him as they walked. Xavier began to laugh as he was dragged. "Okay, I promise I promise just let go so I can walk straight."

Tyler let go of him and they all walked back to the castle talking about their day and were excited to get into the castle for some dinner. Meeting the girls at the gates Devi then waved goodbye as she was going to eat with her family at her house and the rest of the group all walked back up the steps to the castle. As they were about to enter Xavier turned around to get one last look at the city's full view and with the sun setting it made the lights of the festival below shine with a radiance that Xavier couldn't help but admire.

He then turned back to the doors and followed everyone else inside and they then made their way to the feast hall. They were surprised when they saw Rachel there and she almost seemed happy to see them but acted like she didn't notice. They made their way to her table and sat down without any arguments from her and when she realized they had brought stuff back from outside the castle she began to question them. "You all went to the festival without me? How could you all leave me here while you enjoyed yourselves?" Tyler was the first to remind her that she declined the invite to join them with getting gear earlier that day.

Ethan held up the voucher and offered it to her. "Want this it was a prize at a memory game but I don't think I'll ever use it." Rachel took it and looked it over gasping once she read it. "this is for that new bookstore that opened up by the Duke of Hinsdale, Those books already cost a lot so any discount is like stealing gold. You'll really give this to me?" Ethan nodded and as food was brought to the table everyone began to eat and Xavier noticed that for the first time Rachel didn't seem like she hated every moment of it.