The head blacksmith gestured for Sid to take a seat. As Sid sat down, he noticed that the head blacksmith looked serious, which made him feel uneasy.

"Is something wrong, sir?" Sid asked, trying to keep his composure.

The head blacksmith looked at him intently, as if trying to read his thoughts.

"I have been observing you for some time now, Sid," the head blacksmith said. "And I must say, I am impressed with your skills as a blacksmith."

Sid felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been worried that he had done something wrong.

"Thank you, sir," Sid replied, feeling proud of himself.

The head blacksmith cleared his throat and began to speak, "Sid, I wanted to talk to you about becoming my direct disciple. With your talent and potential, I see no reason why you shouldn't be given the opportunity."

Sid looked at him with surprise and anticipation. He had never considered the possibility of being the head blacksmith's direct disciple, let alone the potential benefits that could come with it.

"As my direct disciple, you will have access to all of my knowledge and experience. I will personally teach you everything I know about blacksmithing and help you develop your skills even further. And with my recommendation, you could have the chance to attend the Royal Craft Academy in the capital."

"The Royal Craft Academy?" Sid asked, feeling his excitement growing.

"Yes, the Royal Craft Academy is a prestigious institution where all the most talented craftsmen in the kingdom gather. It's the perfect place for you to showcase your skills and learn from the best. With my recommendation, you will have a better chance of being accepted and advancing your career as a blacksmith."

Sid was taken aback by the offer. It was a dream come true. But then he remembered his true goal, and his expression turned serious. "B-before I accept your offer, sir, I need to tell you the truth."

He cleared his throat and explained how his grandfather had been killed and how he wanted to take revenge. "But my ability to fight is not enough," he admitted. "I need to become stronger first."

The head blacksmith nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, as your mentor, I want to support you in any way I can. I will hire a retired One Star Knight to train you. It's better for you to finish your business first so it won't hinder you in the future."

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Sid felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been afraid that the head blacksmith would be disappointed in him or not understand his situation, but he was grateful for the support. "Thank you, sir," he said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

The head blacksmith smiled kindly at him. "No need to thank me, Sid. You have a bright future ahead of you, and I'm happy to help you achieve your goals."

***

"So you're Sid, the young blacksmith genius of Willow Field," he said with amusement.

Sid politely bowed his head, feeling a bit intimidated by the man's presence.

"Talented and humble. Now that's what I call a true genius," Vincent chuckled.

"You can call me Master Vincent " He then introduced himself to Sid, explaining that he used to be a Two Star Knight before getting wounded in battle and retiring.

Vincent's appearance betrayed his age, but his posture was still remarkably good. Sid could see the bulging muscles beneath his white clothing, evidence of a lifetime of training and battles. Despite the wrinkles on his face and the thinning hair on his head, Vincent's eyes were still sharp and full of life, like a seasoned warrior who had seen and experienced many things in his long years of service.

"By the way, do you know what distinguishes a One Star Knight from a Knight Candidate?" Vincent asked, his tone carrying the weight of his long years of experience.

Sid shook his head, curious about the subject.

He then closed his eyes, and the veins on his body started to bulge like they were pumping too much blood.

"This is what we call Ignite," Vincent explained. "It's a pre-requisite to being considered a One Star Knight."

Sid listened with rapt attention as Vincent went on to describe how Ignite worked.

"It's like its name suggests," Vincent said. "It means igniting your heart's potential by focusing your life energy on it. By doing this, a person can double their strength and speed for a limited amount of time."

"When a One Star Knight ignites his heart, it allows him to tap into his potential and double his strength and speed, giving him a decisive advantage in battle. But it's not just about winning fights," Vincent continued.

"The process of igniting your heart also directly trains your lungs and inner organs, making a knight far stronger than normal humans even without using ignite. It's a fundamental part of knight training, and something you should strive to master."

"Are you following me, lad?" Vincent asked, his voice steady and strong despite his age.

"Yes" Sid nodded.

"Typically, I would advise my student to focus on training their body first, but it appears that your body is already well-toned, so we can skip that part. Instead, I will teach you a breathing technique that I acquired during my adventures. Unfortunately, I cannot teach you the Royal Breathing Technique because of our contractual obligation to never disclose it," Vincent explained. His tone was calm and measured, but there was a hint of regret in his voice.

Vincent reached over and passed a worn-out book to Sid, the title etched onto its cover read "Wind Breathing Technique."

"This book contains the breathing technique that I learned from my travels," Vincent said. "It's not as powerful as the Royal Breathing Technique, but it should be enough for someone like you to start with."

Sid took the book and opened it, finding pages filled with diagrams and instructions. He couldn't wait to start practicing it.

"Thank you so much, Vincent," Sid said, bowing his head. "I will study this technique diligently."

Vincent smiled. "I know you will, Sid. And when you're ready, we will begin your training."