While the examinees chatted amongst themselves, Sid listened quietly, not wanting to join in on their speculation. He knew that he had done his best on the exam and that was all that mattered to him. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous though, as the stakes were high and he was eager to prove himself.

"Do you think we'll find out the results soon?" someone else asked.

"I heard they're going to announce them immediately," another person replied.

"Who do you think got the highest score in the written exam?" One of them asked.

"What kind of question is that? Of course, it would be James, the son of the head blacksmith of Emerald Workshop," another replied.

"James is a genius, I heard he was already working on creating his own unique metal alloy when he was just 10 years old," a third chimed in.

' So his name is James. No wonder everyone is talking about him,' Sid thought to himself.

"But I shouldn't worry about him. I just need to focus on doing my best and showing what I can do in the practical exam. If I pass, that's already a big accomplishment."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, visualizing himself in the forge, working on the anvil, heating the metal, and shaping it into the desired form. He felt the excitement building within him, the thrill of the flames, the pounding of the hammer, and the satisfaction of seeing a piece of metal transformed into something beautiful and valuable.

"Yes, I can do this," he said to himself, feeling the determination and confidence welling up inside him.

"I will show them what I am capable of. I may not be as experienced or as talented as James, but I have something to offer, and I will give it my all." He gripped his fist in excitement.

He couldn't help but feel the tension in the room as the examiners entered. He wasn't worried about his own score because he was confident that he will pass.

As the examiners began to announce the results, Sid's heart began to beat faster. The scores were being read from the highest to the lowest, and he had to wait patiently for his own score to be called out.

"First place, with a score of 95, is James from Emerald Workshop."

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There was a smattering of applause, and a few people nodded in agreement.

"And in second place, also with a score of 95, is Sid from Ben's Workshop."

The room fell silent, and Sid's heart skipped a beat. He had tied with James for first place. He looked around and saw that James was just as surprised as he was, but the expression on James' face quickly turned into a scowl.

Sid couldn't blame James for being upset. After all, James was the son of a head blacksmith and had probably been training for this exam his entire life. Sid, on the other hand, was just a young kid who stumbled into the world of blacksmithing by chance.

"Who's Sid?" One of them asked, looking around the room for the mysterious person who tied with James.

"I think he's that young kid over there," another examinee pointed his finger at Sid.

"He looks so young, I don't think he's even 15," someone else chimed in.

For a moment, Sid became the topic of discussion among the examinees, which in turn made James more angry. He stood up and walked towards Sid.

"You're Sid, right?" James sneered, looking down at him with contempt.

"I hear you managed to tie with me in the written exam. But don't get too excited, kid. The written exam is only the beginning. Let's see if you can back that score with your forging skills." He scoffed.

Sid remained calm and collected despite James' bad attitude. He knew that the James was just trying to intimidate him, but he refused to let it affect him.

"I'll do my best," Sid replied with a small smile. "I'm just happy to have made it this far."

James rolled his eyes and turned away with a dismissive snort, leaving Sid to his own thoughts.

"To think that I managed to tie with a genius?" Sid muttered to himself, feeling a newfound sense of determination. He was satisfied with simply passing the written exam, but now he felt a need to bring glory to his workshop, even if it wasn't expected of him

They had provided him with work and home despite not knowing anything about his true past. He had never felt so alone and hopeless before, but they had shown him kindness and had given him a sense of belonging.The least he could do was to bring glory to them, even if they didn't ask for it

' I'll do my best ' Sid muttered to himself with determination in his heart. The thought of bringing glory to his workshop and making his fellow blacksmiths proud filled him with a sense of purpose

The names of those who passed were announced, and only six of the twenty examinees made the cut. The passing rate was already considered high, given how difficult the exam was. The instructors then led the successful examinees to the guild forge for the practical exam.

When Sid was about to leave the room, the instructor called out to him and gave him a smile of approval. It was as if the instructor was telling Sid that he had done an impressive job, especially for his age. The smile was a small gesture, but it gave Sid the confidence he needed to face the practical exam ahead.

The instructor's smile was warm, and it made Sid feel appreciated. It was a stark contrast to the negative attitudes he had experienced before. However, he knew that people tend to appreciate those who have potential like him, and he couldn't help but wonder if the instructor's smile would disappear if he performed poorly or barely passed the exam.