Chapter 9: Shocking the Old Man
"Of course right now," Faron smirked, "You said you wanted to fight but that tiny snake won't do anything."
Tiny glared at Faron hearing his comment.
"I mean, I guess that's true," I responded.
Tiny glared at me now.
Petting his head to calm him I walked over to a rock to let him bask and not get hurt.
Faron threw me one of the swords, I tried to catch it but after some fumbling, it just fell. After an overdramatic disappointed sigh, Faron started laughing a little too hard.
"Oh hardiardhar," I laughed mockingly as I started picking up my sword holding it loosely. I tried mimicking what I remember from movies and shows.
Faron started examining my form as he walked closer and closer. He stood way too close narrowing his eyes toward my wrist than at me before back to my wrist.
I straightened out my slightly bent wrist making him smile.
"A bent wrist means a broken wrist," Faron advised, "Keep it straight and move from the elbow. Swords are too heavy for us to use the wrist effectively, so I'll smack you if I see it again."
"Yes, Sir," I yelled!
"Stop that," Faron said smacking my back, "and because we're such good friends we're gonna start with a trial by fire."
"NO!"
Faron only smirked before placing himself a few paces away holding out his sword. He stared me down before suddenly bursting forward stabbing at my chest.
I couldn't even move as a heavy stab hit my sternum sending me on my ass yelling, "Ow!"
"You didn't even try," Faron sighed.
"I'm sorry I don't have sword practice," I grumbled.
"If someone tries to stab you, either move or deflect the blow with your sword."
"Easier said than done," I exclaimed.
"Then learn," Faron yelled, getting back into position before going in for the stab again.
This time I was slightly more ready and was able to move my feet but before I completed the step he hit me.
"Fuck your fish!"
"What does that mean!"
"How should I know," We yelled back and forth!
"Again," Faron sighed!
This process repeated and repeated a dozen times before I could finally dodge his stab. The first time I started feeling cocky and went for a stab of my own. Sadly, reality is disappointing and Faron was able to deflect and send my sword flying.
"Good try but nope," Faron chuckled.
"I swear I'm gonna stab you."
"Not in a million years," He boasted, "Time for another one." This time he got in position and swung the sword from overhead down the middle.
I was able to react just enough to get my sword in the way, catching it. We struggled for barely a second but Faron was overpowering me. He pushed through causing me to stumble back.
"Don't catch, use your sword to move mine," Faron lectured, "Hold it diagonally so my sword will ride down the side. This will save you energy and you won't risk losing a battle of raw strength."
So we practiced this one move over and over again. Towards the 15th time I was moving my sword slightly faster and was able to get in the right position. His sword would slide down the side of my blade and when it got towards the hilt I was able to flick him off. This gave me a chance to reposition and move for another hit, which failed but I did get closer.
"There you go," Faron smiled, "You're starting to get the hang of this."
"Hell yeah I am," I smiled, "Let's keep this train going."
"Hold on hold on," Faron pointed towards the sky, "It's getting late, we can continue this tomorrow evening."
"Ugh ok," I begrudgingly agreed before walking over and grabbing a now asleep Tiny.
After we made our way through the door we saw Mr. Tann reading an old worn book.
Looking up he said, "Glad you two are done with all that yelling, Boy your room is down the hall next to Faron's."
"Thanks, Mr. Tann," I smiled realizing Faron and I got a little heated in our training.
"Yeah yeah just don't be loud," He waved me off.
Faron with a slightly embarrassed smile led me down the hall to a small room where
there was a small bed, desk, and a little window looking over the backyard. On the desk laid a little piece of cloth that I set Tiny on.
"Dang, this used to be a storage room, he must've cleaned it out earlier," Faron commented.
"Oh...that's nice," I honestly thought he would just stick me somewhere he had empty space.
"You shouldn't let his attitude trick you, he's really nice when you ignore what he says,"
Faron smiled, "also I have guard duty in the morning so you won't see me for a while. Goodnight."
"Ok, goodnight," I said walking towards the bed and sitting down staring at Tiny.
I still couldn't believe I was truly in another world. I thought it would just be some long dream or something but meeting Mr. Tann, Faron, and the rest of the villagers I know this isn't fake. No one could just dream of this whole world and all these living people.
With a sigh, I looked at Tiny before smiling knowing that I wouldn't be alone in this world.
I laid down drifting to sleep as I thought about everything that's happened since coming here.
Morning came the same as always with the morning sun waking me up.
"Ugh," I groaned, "These mornings still suck." I dragged myself out of bed looking around registering where I was again.
On the desk next to Tiny were another set of clothes which I happily put on. They matched with the same colors and similar style of what I was given before. I picked up Tiny as I started walking out towards the kitchen.
As I drew closer to the kitchen I could smell something good. I rounded the corner to see Mr. Tann, reading the same book as yesterday.
"Boy, go eat what's on the stove, and be snappy. We have work," He said, not even looking up.
"Yes, Sir," I cheered, happy to start doing something. Running towards the kitchen I quickly grabbed a plate and piled on some kind of meat with some rice from a bowl. With a hefty pile, I sat next to Mr. Tann and started filling my famished stomach.
After finishing up my plate, Mr. Tann cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen.
After coming back he said, "Get up, we got work to do." Then he headed towards the back of the house waving for me to follow.
I got up following him to a big room piled high with boxes, containers, and a desk with scattered materials.
Mr. Tann sat down quickly organizing his desk. Scissors went to a corner, needles in a jar of some sort, and cloth stacked up and placed into a corner. Finishing up, he appraised everything before turning and facing me.
"We're filling an order for a set of leather tunics for the hunting party, "Mr. Tann said before pointing towards one of the boxes, "Right there is where I keep the necessary leather, bring me a couple of pieces." He turned back around getting a pair of scissors ready.
I ran over and picked up some of the pieces that could easily cover my chest. Looking at it closer and feeling it I could tell this was nothing like the cattle leather from leather. It was thicker, with a slightly tougher feeling. I just stood there thinking about how weird it felt before Mr. Tann coughed loudly, Breaking my thought process I ran towards him and plopped the leather onto the desk.
He examined it closely, bringing it closer as to study every detail of the leather. He studied it for quite some time before picking up a pair of scissors carefully cutting in a certain pattern. I looked like a normal t-shirt shape but the sides and the shoulder areas looked stretched out. Then he did the same to another piece but this time he didn't leave extra on the sides or shoulder.
Without looking up he pointed towards a box on a different wall saying, "You'll find leather strings I prepared before, bring me a good amount."
Following his orders, I quickly got the materials he asked for.
He took a sharp narrow tool and poked ten holes into each of the leather pieces, three on each side and two on each of the shoulders. Then he laced the strings through the holes of the leather on each of the tunics matching hole for hole. He tied them loosely together.
After finishing he spoke, "Look at this. It's a nice basic tunic we use the strings to tie them together so whomever is wearing them can adjust it to fit them. Got it?"
"Yes, Sir," I exclaimed ready to get to making things.
"I like the spunk but don't mess things up."
"No promises," I smiled.
Mr. Tann opened his mouth to say something but gave up and let out a sigh handing me some scissors and pushing a stool towards me.
Sitting down I eagerly started cutting a piece of leather. It took me a minute to get the scissors into a groove they cut into the leather. Quickly a slightly wonky leather piece was made.
Mr. Tann took one look before critiquing, "Nope, unless it's for a giant you gotta trim up those sides."
So I started trimming it down closer in size to the one he made.
"Make it even."
So I carefully made the sides more even.
"Better, now do the other one."
Using the first piece as the outline I cut another piece without the extra length on the sides.
"Good job, now take the awl and poke some holes."
Taking the pointed tool he used before I tried my hardest to pierce holes into the tough leather an even distance from each other. Then I tried to match the first holes to the ones on the other piece.
"Decent enough but you gotta make em more even to each other but for now that's fine. Just tie them up."
So taking a few leather strings I tied em together and boom I made another thing.
"You did a decent enough job so make three more. This time try to find something you can improve on."
"Got it," I smiled as I studied my first tunic looking over everything that was wrong. I thought about everything and tried thinking about how I could fix it. At least ten minutes passed before I picked up the scissors to start cutting.
I followed the same steps as before but I took things slower. I made the sides closer to the right size and made the sides more even. Then I slowly worked through making the holes, measuring to make them more even. With a little bit more time I tied them together and Mr. Tann appraised it.
"Much better but needs some improvement."
I smiled and studied this one thinking about what I could do better. Taking even longer than last time before I settled into working. This time I made a few minor changes in how I cut the leather and tied it.
"Very good, now do one more."
This time I studied the leather, examining how the natural grains flowed and how the natural lines moved. I slowly added in my mana letting me get a closer feel for it.
Time ticked past before I took up the scissors and started cutting letting my mana guide me through. This time the scissors cut through much better than the past few times and it felt more natural. Soon I cut out the shapes, pierced the holes, and tied them together. Then there was a ding.
[-Through repeating action the skill [Basic Leatherworking] is made]
[-Due to learning common skill 5% exp]
[Item Completed]
[Common Grade Leather Tunic]
[A leather tunic with poor craftsmanship, peak common grade materials, and imbued with mana of someone who has gone through the first metamorphosis of affinity creates common grade leather tunic.]
[Effect Leather Tunic is 5% tougher.]
I smiled really wide as I handed over my tunic.
Mr. Tan took it and his face went from confusion to downright awestruck. He looked at the tunic then at me with my stupid smile, then back to the tunic, before back at me.
"Boy…" His voice quivered, "Can you use mana...but...enhancements too?"
"Yeah," I cheered.
"WHAT," He yelled!
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FoxKing
FoxKing I hope everyone enjoys this week's chapter.
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