CH12

The next couple months were busy. Ben’s lessons were mostly split between blacksmithing and alchemy, with a bit of enchantment added here and there, while his free time was divided between reading from Falk’s books, practicing some of the hobbies he already had like drawing and sculpting, as well as occasionally hunting and dismantling some beasts in a nearby woods to use for his training or to sell to Falk for the materials.

As he was working at his forge, finishing up a staff enhanced with blood elk bone, a notification sprang up.

<CRAFTING LEVEL INCREASED>

His mind was suddenly clearer and his thoughts felt sharper, he looked at the staff he had just finished and could suddenly tell where he had gone wrong and how it could be improved upon, but that didn’t matter right now. It was his first level up since he was at the church and he couldn’t contain his excitement.

He ran out to tell the only acquaintance he had in the town about his good news.

“Hey Falk! Guess wha-” He stopped short when he saw his teacher was busy interacting with one of the regulars. “Sorry I’ll come back in a bit.”

“Hold up Brat I was just going to grab you. You’ve seen Thera before, havencha?”

Ben looked at the customer. It was hard to make out any details about them, they were a little shorter than himself and wearing a hooded robe and gave off a bit of an unapproachable vibe but they were definitely a frequent shopper here. The only distinguishing feature he could really see was a paper white hand grasping a new staff, which they would come in almost weekly to get. “We’ve never been properly introduced before, but I know they’re your favourite customer. Nice to meet you, I’m Ben.” Ben had never paid them much mind beyond wondering how they afforded to replace their equipment so much. He offered them his hand but not even giving it a second look they turned away from him and back to Falk.

“What’s this about uncle?”

Uncle? His favourite customer is his niece and he didn’t tell his wonderful student about this? What a no-good teacher.

<It’s not like you’ve made any effort to learn much about him outside what he has to teach you.>

No being right right now Myriad I’m being upset she ignored my super friendly greeting.

“What this is about is that I’ve gotten a job I can’t turn down so I won’t be able to make you any staves for a while. For the next couple months I’ll be leaving it to my apprentice.”

“What? Okay sure, I guess making a staff a week won’t hurt.”

“The staves I make can last a week.” He stressed. “You’ll be making one or two a day.”

“Jesus Christ! What do you do with them?” He asked Thera. He had made a few staves already and was told they should be fine to sell, how could they only last a day?

“That’s not my name, and I’m an adventurer, equipment breaks.” she said with an air of dismissal.

“Thera has more mana and less control than a staff can handle, they shatter after a week.”

“Uncle! He doesn’t need to know that.”

“He will if he’s going to be adventuring with you.”

“What!” Both Ben and Thera yelled in tandem.

“Falk, I’m not an adventurer, I’m a craftsman. If I’m trying to make her a good quality staff a day when am I going to have time to practice other things if I also have to adventure with her?”

“And why should I have to work with someone who even you think is a pain in the ass uncle?”

“Wait what? What terrible things are you saying about your wonderful apprentice behind my back?”

“Well first off I’m usually saying it right in front of you, you’re just too absorbed in your work to notice. As for why you should do it Ben, I won’t be charging you for any supplies you take to make her staves. She gets them for free but I’ll still give you the regular pay you would be getting for her work so it’s a good deal for you. As for you young lady, I know you haven’t been partying with anyone recently and you know that isn’t part of the deal. Party with my apprentice and I won’t be telling your parents.”

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it’s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“…Fine.” She unhappily agreed.

“Not fine. Falk I’m all well and good for making the staves but like I said I’m no adventurer, you know I don’t have a single useful skill. Why should I put myself at risk?”

“Boy don’t act like I don’t know that you hunt something once or twice a week, I’m the bastard you’ve been selling your catches to.”

“Sure trapping things is fine but hunting with a proper adventurer is completely different. I won’t be able to keep up.”

<Are you sure? I don’t think you would be too bad.> Myriad asked

If this girl has so much raw power that she keeps blowing up staves then yeah I should be fine. I just want to see how much more I can get from my dear teacher.