Chương 41: Becoming A Blacksmith
The blacksmiths shop was a private property, two storeys in total. The ground floor was where all the craft was displayed for the customers to choose. The first floor was most of the smithing took place, mostly by the around apprentice. The second floor belongs to the owner of the smithy himself, Mr Grant.
Both Ben and Matilda made their way towards the smithy. Matilda proposed they take a carriage to the smithy which didn't bother Ben as he would be glad to take something any less bumpier than a galloping horse. This is one of the times he wishes he was still on Earth.
Matilda being the one taking Ben there, she stepped in first. Instead of meeting the receptionist first she took Ben to look round the ground floor. Many types of weapons were on display. Ben was amazed by seeing so many ancient weapons.
Thirty minutes later Ben was satisfied with the display. If there was one thing Ben was sure of was that all these weapons on display could be compared to trash in the blacksmith's eyes.
Going over to the receptionist Matilda said something to him before he hurriedly went to convey her message, she came back and waited. In a few moments later a man of about forty years plus came from upstairs.
"Matilda, long time no see, please, come with me!" the man was saying with a laugh as he walked up to the both of them
The man who can be called a bloke had red shoulder length hair and strong arms, they were almost the same with Lord Williams if not bigger. This were hands meant for hammering.
"Good morning uncle Grant. I've brought a... friend who would like to meet with you."
"First, first let's head to my office then we'll discuss later. we've got lots to catch up on." Mr Grant laughed heartily as he invited both Ben and Matilda to his office.
The three climbed up the stairs, bypassing all the youths hammering and arranging different types of ores, rocks, sands, and already shaped metal into various shapes and designs to their places.
Reaching the second floor Mr Grant brought them into a large room. He went towards his wine cellar holding up an old dark green bottle he turns to see that he has extra company, shaking his head he took out a different bottle, he came behind the rectangular table placing two bottles for the two and one for himself.
"Matilda, I see you brought someone, which I think is rare but you said you wanted to tell me something, what is it?" he gave her a wink.
"Yes, uncle Grant, this here is Ben, he wants to become a blacksmith. I was thinking if you could take him as a student?" Matilda explained carefully.
"Ha! Matilda, you have to be joking with me. You know being one of my students you have to meet my standards, while your friends looks able he will certainly be in need of serious brewing and let's not forget he's small."
"Sir, what are your standards? I'm sure I can reach it with the best of my ability." before Matilda could reply Ben spoke up.
"And a noble man at that, and what brings you here exactly?" Ben was surprised that the man was able to tell he was noble just after talking.
"I only want to learn the field sir."replied Ben.
"Really, what makes you think you're qualified to be a smith?"
"Well, I wouldn't know unless I try, no?"
"Alright then, if you able, you can, but if not just leave." Mr Grant said before shouting towards the door, "Willy!" In a short while a young man came walking... wait, that's a boy, no much older the Ben himself. He was black with brown short locks barely hanging over face, his build however was way bigger than Ben's, "Willy, this young lad here says he wants to be a blacksmith, what do you think?"
(AN: Ben is almost twenty years old, so yes he's a young man.)
The young man, Willy, looked Ben up and down as though appraising him thoroughly, turning to Mr Grant his words almost made Ben stumble, "But he's small sir."
Ben was quite annoyed they kept calling him small, well compared to those guys in the first floor there shouldn't be a gap, right?
Mr Grant sighed seeing the frown on Ben's face which was lased with determination, "Hah, come on then. Let's see what you've got." He stood up and walked out the office... room... whatever that was, while the three followed suit.
Mr Grant took them back to the first floor and made his way to a closed door. The youths who were around stopped all they were doing as they looked up to see Mr Grant being followed by Willy, miss Matilda and the visitor that came with her going towards the weight room. They got excited to see what was about to happen, some even began to spread speculations.
"Come on, let's go check it out."
"What do you think they what to do?"
"You haven't noticed! No wonder you're slow at learning..."
"Hey!"
"...see that guy brought by miss Matilda? Looks like he wants to become Mr Grant's student."
"Looks like? You're not sure yourself."
"So? At least I got an idea, what do you got?"
"Shut up you two and let's go see." With that they all followed. Mr Grant noticed his students following them but said nothing and allowed them join.
In the room there were different types of swords, bows, battleaxe, halberds and many more hung on the walls all around the room. On the floor Ben saw ten huge stone-rods laying there, what caught Ben's attention however wasn't just the rods but the numbers written on them.
"See these boy? Willy here is going to lift them up, if you can go as far as he can then you're in. Then again, if you can't you are gonna leave my smithy boy." Mr Grant said.
"Sure sir." Ben said looking intently at the stone-rods in the ground.
Mr Grant could tell Ben felt confident in himself so he decided to give him a little challenge first, "hehe, Willy! a fifty." Mr Grant ordered.
Willy quickly walked up to the stone-rod that has the number 50 on it, placing his hands and bracing himself he lifted the fifty pound stone rod then dropped it.
"Next!" Mr Grant barked.
Willy then went to the next stone-rod with the number 70. In fact all those stone-rods increased by twenty pounds each. With a pull of both his arms and his legs he lifted the stone-rod.
"Next!" Mr Grant barked again.
Willy went to the next stone-rod like ordered ready to lift it up, that was when Ben realized something about the way Willy lifted the stone-rods.
*Thud*
"Next!"
Standing before the next stone-rod with the number 90 on it, he was catching his breath. Everyone waited in silence so not to distracted him. Meanwhile Ben was a bit thrilled, this wasn't that different from weightlifting in his previous life, unfortunately or fortunately for Ben this world didn't have any technique used for weightlifting.
The people of this world only made use of the muscles in their hands and legs with no 'proper' preparations, this limits them from getting better result.
Willy got some rest to lift. After a few seconds of rest, he lifted the stone-rod albeit not smoothly like the rest. Lifting the stone-rod over his head a difficultly
"Next!" this was the only word heard asides Willy's ragged breathing and the dropping of the stone-rods.
"Ben, if you can't there's no need to do this. You could do something else." Matilda whispered to Ben who was watching the whole process.
"Oh no, don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure I can handle it." Ben answered with his signature smile. Matilda frowned thinking Ben was feeling too confident especially when he has never done such a thing, truth is those stone-rods weren't really exactly the numbers they portrayed them to be because they were 5 pounds heavier.
When Willy wasn't able to lift anymore he stopped and stepped back. "Boy, hope you saw well, now your turn." nodding to Willy Mr Grant turned and said to Ben.
Ben nodded and went ahead. He stopped a little farther than needed and was looking around for anything he could use as gymnastic powder.
"Ben, what are you looking for?" Matilda asks.
"How can I forget, can any of you help me with some cold ashes please." Ben asked the boys around. How can he forget he was in a place where ashes can be found everywhere.
They all looked at Ben dumbly, why should they listen to what he tells them? It was when Willy sent someone to get some cold ashes did he go forward and rubbed them on his palm, then Ben began.
'what's the use for ashes whence lifting?' Mr Grant couldn't help but wonder. Instead of asking it was better to see the result.
Ben widened his legs and straightened his back, standing before the fifty pound stone-rod he didn't use any other strength apart from his physical strength. Ben focused his muscles slightly on his lower back, shoulder and legs. With a swift pull he got the stone-rod over his head.
Thud
With a low thud it was dropped, without instruction he steps to the next one. Onto the next he made another pull and lifted the seventy pound stone-rod over his head and down. When he got to the ninety pound weight he stood to catch his breath. To those around it may seem he's able to lift them effortlessly, to him however it wasn't. Thanks to the method or technique he was using it looked easy to do.
While he stood to catch his breath those behind weren't just sitting to watch him but we're also astounding, this went especially for Mr Grant, Willy and Matilda.
'weren't the bodies of wizard's physically weak?' Matilda thought to herself.
'Hmm, haven't seen someone utilize their body to perform these feat. He is a brilliant lad.' thought Mr Grant.
'How is such a small body able to lift these?! Does it have something to do with the ashes.' Willy asked himself unable to get an answer the question.
And like that Ben had successfully lifted the ninety pounds stone-rod, Ben didn't stop there but instead went for the 110ld stone-rod. This was Willy's last attempt but not Ben's.
Ben's heart rate was increasing and this wasn't good for weightlifting. Taking a whole minute Ben used this opportunity to calm his heart rate and aching muscles.
Going to the stone-rod with the number 130lb. He prepared his mind then put his hands on the stone-rod "Ha!" Ben exerted a lot of his strength lifting the stone-rod. Ben was red when wasn't able to lift anymore higher than his shoulder so he dropped it and stepped back.
And like that he has gotten the job for himself. This was only possible with Lucy's help, since it could help him position his body accurately making him able to lift up the stone-rods, no one knew about this of course.
"Looks like you've found yourself a new apprentice uncle Grant." Matilda said in amazement.
"Yes, yes I have." Mr Grant could only mumble his answer.
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