Chapter 2: ch 2 SHOPPING
As Arjun walked back to his dormitory, he noticed that his bullies were blocking his way. Rohan, the lead bully, was standing with a smirk on his face as if he enjoyed seeing someone weaker than him.
"Are you the ugly one, Arjun?" Rohan sneered. "Oi, piggy, where are you going? Come help us, will ya?" The gang laughed and jeered
Arjun, at first, didn't understand what was happening, but then he realized that he was being bullied. "Are you talking to me?" he asked. He had had enough of their constant taunts and decided to stand up for himself this time.
Rohan continued to taunt him, "Yes, who else is here like a pig's head?" Arjun felt his blood boil. He had had enough of being bullied and pushed around by these kids. Memories of his past flooded his mind. He had always been an outcast, and he spoke to very few people, including Grandpa Henry and the caretakers, but only when necessary.
He remembered the countless times he had been picked on, ridiculed, and made to feel small. But today, something in him snapped. He took a step forward towards Rohan, who was blocking his way, and said in a low voice, "Oh, am I?" Rohan and his gang looked surprised, taken aback by Arjun's sudden change in demeanour.
One of the smaller bullies asked nervously, "B-boss, he doesn't feel scared anymore." But Rohan shouted at him to shut up. Arjun continued to walk towards Rohan, his eyes fixed on him. Rohan gulped and looked straight ahead, feeling like a cornered animal facing a ferocious tiger ready to pounce on him.
Arjun's mind raced as he thought about what to do. He was tired of being the victim, tired of being made fun of, and tired of feeling helpless. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. Then, without warning, he lunged at Rohan and tackled him to the ground.
The other boys were taken aback by Arjun's sudden attack, but they quickly recovered and started to kick and punch him. Arjun was outnumbered and outmatched, but he refused to back down. He fought back with all his might, punching and kicking with wild abandon.
Eventually, the fight was broken up by the caretakers, who scolded the boys for their behaviour. Arjun was left bruised and battered, but he felt a sense of satisfaction. He had stood up for himself and had shown the bullies that he was not to be trifled with.
From that day on, Arjun became known as someone not to mess with. The other boys still teased him, but they did so from a safe distance. Arjun had earned their respect, and he felt a little bit more confident in himself. He knew that he still had a long way to go, but he was determined to make something of himself, even if it meant fighting every step of the way.
Due to every present mana. Creatures are stronger here on Cythorpia than on earth. In one night of rest, Arjun was healed. He was still injured but only if he overexerted himself. The next day, he was staring at the courtyard's small pond.
Then, suddenly a rough muscular hand was placed on his shoulder.
Old Henry: Boy, do you want to go shopping?
Arjun flustered first by hand, by instinct moved his head towards him(hand's face). At the first moment, he lay his eyes on him. His tensed body relaxed.
Old Henry:" Boy".
Arjun(excitedly): shopping? Oh! Ah, yes yay I would love to go.
Old Henry: come, let's go.
Old Henry led Arjun out of the orphanage and into the busy streets of the nearby town. Arjun's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the bustling marketplace, filled with vendors and customers haggling over various goods.
As they walked through the market, Arjun noticed something strange. He could feel a strange energy in the air, one that he had never felt before. He turned to Old Henry and asked, "What is this feeling? It's like something is alive in the air."
Old Henry chuckled, "Ah, you must be feeling the mana, my boy. It seems very concentrated. In this world, mana flows through everything, from the air to the ground. It's what gives power and magic to the creatures."
Arjun was fascinated by this new knowledge, and he looked around with newfound wonder. As they walked through the market, Old Henry showed Arjun various shops and vendors, introducing him to new foods, clothing, and supplies.
Old Henry placed a hand on Arjun's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, my boy. You have time to figure it out. Just keep your eyes open and your mind sharp. Who knows, maybe one day you'll become a great knight or mage."
After finishing their shopping at the butcher and grocery store, Old Henry and Arjun walked around the marketplace, stopping by various stalls to look at the wares being sold. They also went to a fruit vendor, where Arjun tried a fruit called "jamiune" for the first time. It had a sweet and tangy taste, and he immediately loved it.
As they walked towards the town centre, Arjun's stomach rumbled loudly. Old Henry chuckled and asked, "Boy, do you want to eat something?"
"Yes, I'm pretty hungry," Arjun replied.
"Shall we go to Sofia Inn then?" Old Henry suggested.
Arjun nodded eagerly, curious to see what the inn was like. When they arrived, they found it to be a rowdy place, with commoners chatting and adventurers bragging about their exploits. They found a table and sat down, and a male rabbit man came over to take their order.
"Welcome, what would you like?" he asked.
Old Henry turned to Arjun and asked, "Boy, what should we eat?"
Arjun thought for a moment before replying, "Maybe a sandwich or toast and curry or stew."
"Hmm, okay. Give us one serving of sandwich 'regular' edition and one 'adventure' edition. Also, one regular fruit ale," Old Henry ordered.
The rabbit man nodded and quickly went to place their order. As they waited for their food, Arjun looked around the inn, taking in the lively atmosphere. He had never been to a place like this before and was enjoying the experience. After finishing their shopping at the butcher and grocery store, Old Henry and Arjun walked around the marketplace, stopping by various stalls to look at the wares being sold. They also went to a fruit vendor, where Arjun tried a fruit called "jamiune" for the first time. It had a sweet and tangy taste, and he immediately loved it.
As they walked towards the town centre, Arjun's stomach rumbled loudly. OLD HENRY chuckled and asked, "Boy, do you want to eat something?"
"Yes, I'm pretty hungry," Arjun replied.
"Shall we go to Sofia Inn then?" Old Henry suggested.
Arjun nodded eagerly, curious to see what the inn was like. When they arrived, they found it to be a rowdy place, with commoners chatting and adventurers bragging about their exploits. They found a table and sat down, and a male rabbit man came over to take their order.
"Welcome, what would you like?" he asked.
Old Henry turned to Arjun and asked, "Boy, what should we eat?"
Arjun thought for a moment before replying, "Maybe a sandwich or toast and curry or stew."
"Hmm, okay. Give us one serving of sandwich 'regular' edition and one 'adventure' edition. Also, one regular fruit ale," Old Henry ordered.
The rabbit man nodded and quickly went to place their order. As they waited for their food, Arjun looked around the inn, taking in the lively atmosphere. He had never been to a place like this before and was enjoying the experience.
After satisfying their hunger, Old Henry and Arjun went to the blacksmith shop "Fabbro". "Old man, are you there?" Old Henry yelled upon reaching the entrance.
"Who is old?" a loud and angry voice responded, startling Arjun.
The blacksmith master, a short and stout gnome, emerged from the back. "Hmph, what?" he grumbled.
Old Henry chuckled. "Just checking if you were alive or not. Are the tools ready?"
The blacksmith master replied, "Yeah, they are ready. You even underpaid me."
Old Henry rolled his eyes. "Come on, how much more do you want? I already paid enough."
"Jerry, where the hell are you?" the blacksmith master shouted, summoning his apprentice.
Jerry came in a hurry, tripping twice but seemingly unbothered by it. He carried what appeared to be a 15 kg weight with ease.
"Oh, Jerry," Old Henry greeted him. "How have you been?"
"I'm fine, Uncle Henry," Jerry replied, flexing his biceps.
Arjun walked around the outer edge of the blacksmith shop with a curious expression on his face. He thought to himself, "I have finally found a way to survive in this world and hopefully, pick up some skills along the way."
After collecting the tools, they needed, Arjun and Old Henry left the shop. On the way, Arjun hesitantly spoke up, "Grandpa, I think I know what to do next." Old Henry raised an eyebrow and replied, "Oh, and what is that Ajju?"
Arjun replied, "Um, I can work for some shop like a bakery, inn, or bar."
Old Henry considered this and suggested, "How about a blacksmith or pharmacy?"
Arjun nodded, "I think you're right. I should choose blacksmithing.
Maybe I could pick up some skills." Old Henry smiled, but then asked, "Have you thought about how to convince the blacksmith to hire you?"
Arjun's expression fell as he realized he had not considered this He thought to himself, "In my previous life, getting a job was difficult even if you were graduated. How can I convince a blacksmith to hire me?"
Arjun sighed and said, "Forget it, Grandpa. I guess I will try my luck."
Old Henry chuckled, "Hahaha, don't worry, boy. Who do you think your grandpa is? I'll just pull that gnome's beard and convince him to hire you!"
Arjun smiled with joy at his grandfather's confidence.
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Old Henry chuckled at Arjun's response and patted him on the back. "That's the spirit, my boy! You don't have to worry about a thing. I'll go with you and help you out. We'll find you a good job at the blacksmith's shop. And if that doesn't work out, we'll try the pharmacy or any other shop that interests you."
Arjun felt relieved and grateful for Old Henry's support. He knew he still had a lot to learn about this new world, but having someone like Old Henry by his side made him feel less alone and more hopeful about the future.
Arjun may have not thought that his apprenticeship will be accepted due to his willingness and determination but due to an entirely different reason
SOME TIME AGO
When Old Henry went to convince the stout gnome to take Arjun as his apprentice, he brought a gift that he was sure would do the trick.
As he entered the shop and approached the gnome, Old Henry's entire aura changed. "Old man," he began, "do you remember that honeyberry wine?"
The mention of wine and the aged honeyberry variety caught the gnome's attention immediately. "Of course," he replied eagerly, "how could I forget that irresistible taste?"
As the gnome savoured the memory of the honeyberry wine, Old Henry revealed his true motive. "Do you remember that kid who came with me last time?" he asked.
The old than old man finally found something amiss. this old henry was not a saint. "That skinny kid? What about him?" the gnome inquired. Old Henry replied mysteriously, "Well, I thought I would give you a gift, you know. Ah, but he doesn't have a master, and I was hoping someone would take him as an apprentice."
The gnome snorted in response, "Hmph, that skinny kid, my apprentice? No way."
Old Henry feigned disappointment and turned to leave the shop. He purposefully walked slowly, hoping the gnome would reconsider. Finally, the gnome relented and called out, "Wait! Alright, I would take him, but no personal training."
Old Henry was overjoyed and replied, "Alright, come on. Let's meet your new pupil." But the gnome rejected immediately "No, tell him to come early," he said sternly.
Old Henry nodded and handed the gnome a crude glass bottle of wine. The gnome wasn't impressed, "What are you flaunting? I also have a spatial storage bag. Just because you have a storage ring doesn't mean you can brag, hmph!"
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