Gorzoc grunted a few times; thinking over the proposal.

"Boy, because of your father, I'll give you a chance. Let me ask you a question then... If your answer is to my liking, then I'll take you on as my last disciple." Gorzoc squinted his eyes and craned his neck to look better at Xa'Gun, as he spoke.

Xa'Gun grunted in agreement.

"Alright, boy. Let me ask you then... What is best in life?" Gorzox folded his arms over his butcher's apron and drew himself up, as he stared down on the top of Xa'Gun's head.

Xa'Gun looked to the ground in deep thought. He pondered the question. He hadn't had much time to think about it, but he had a few ideas. He looked to Jukzuk, as Jukzuk looked into the sky, as if not to sway his son's answer.

After a few minutes of pondering and silence in the backyard, Xa'Gun spoke, "To find a wife, settle down, and have young. To watch them grow old, and to die in peace."

Gorzoc raised both brows as he listened. Slightly surprised, he looked to Jukzuk, who in response shrugged.

"Boy... I have to tell you, that was not the answer I was looking for..." Gorzoc unfolded his arms, as he propped them on his hips, in a wide stance.

Xa'Gun grunted while he thought about how can you get an answer to just an open-ended question.

"What I wanted was to see your enemies crushed, to see them fall at your feet. To take their possessions, and hear the lamentations of their Orcess. That is what I believe is best."

Xa'Gun didn't make any sounds as he heard these lines.

"BUT... I can not say you are wrong... Because I am doing exactly what you said. I've retired from the battlefields... I found my wives, and I had my young... I watched them grow with pride, and I run this shop with my family. So, you are right. Perhaps, even a warrior needs a rest at the end of his days." Gorzoc grunted a few times.

"I should write that down, 'Even a warrior needs a rest at the end of his days.' I'll put that in my next book." Gorzoc turned around and walked away, presumingly to write down what he just said.

Xa'Gun watched him leave in the distance, as he turned his head to Jukzuk, "Did he just leave?"

"Gorzoc is very eccentric, but if you ask me... He's the best Axeman anywhere you can find. I think he's going to agree to take you on. This would be a boon!"

Xa'Gun grunted again, as Gorzoc came out from another door to the side. It seemed he went inside and came back around.

"Alright, boy. I've decided, I'll take you on. I'll teach you what is best in life in your early years. Remember what you just told me for the last of your life. Understand?"

Xa'Gun grunted per usual.

"You should thank your father. If I had known he was going to con me into taking a new disciple, I would have turned him down." Gorzoc looked up to Jukzuk.

"And I knew, you wouldn't necessarily turn down my son, seeing his condition.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Right, right, right. I would have refused to even see him. You got me this time, but you still owe me." Gorzoc continued.

"Wouldn't Gun-Gun here be better to spout your name be payment enough?"

"You know as good as I do, it would only cause people to give him more respect to drop my name... Payment Zukky."

"Fine, fine... We'll work something out." Jukzuk sighed and agreed.

Gorzoc grunted a few times in agreement, as he turned his head back to Xa'Gun. "Alright boy, Did your father ever tell you what you were going to do here today?"

Xa'Gun grunted a no.

Gorzoc shook his head, "Figures. Your father is a great Orc, but he loves to be mysterious. But, be that as it may, he tells me that you killed your first enemy a few days ago on your first arena match. Is that right?"

"Yes," Xa'Gun answered officially.

"How'd that make you feel?"

"...Sick..."

"I've heard that you performed the Speartooth Chopping block, and bisected the enemy. I take it you got a good feel of those inners, huh?"

"...Yes..." Xa'Gun felt queasy remembering the scene.

"Yes. That's life. This skin that binds us to form, holds much blood, bile, tissues, meat, and organs. It's sometimes hard to look at an Orc, Human, or animal to only know that under that skin is the same as everyone else... Meat, blood, and bone. Nothing more... Nothing less." Gorzoc rambled on in poetic tones.

This didn't help Xa'Gun's sore taste in his throat.

Gorzoc noticed that Xa'Gun's skin took a sickly tone to it, and nodded his head while looking at Jukzuk. Jukzuk nodded back silently.

Gorzoc looked back to Xa'Gun, "Alright boy, what you're here today is to get used to the smell, the feeling, and the sight of blood, meat, bone, and death."

Xa'Gun grunted in confusion.

"This is a butcher shop... Meat doesn't just spout from the ground. We raise livestock and butcher them. Come with me. I've got three pigs left to slaughter today. We need to get going, while it's still cool. We don't want to butcher them in warm weather." Gorzoc turned and walked further back.

Jukzuk got up, and placed his hand on Xa'Gun's shoulder, as he spoke, "This will be hard on you, but do the best you can. This will make your next match easier... Remember son... If you falter... Even for a second... that's all that it takes for your enemy to kill you." Jukzuk patted Xa'Gun on the shoulder again and walked forward.

Xa'Gun thought for a moment, then followed behind.

*******

Gorzoc led the way, followed by Jukzuk and Xa'Gun into a large back courtyard. Xa'Gun could only wonder just how large this compound was as it was a moderate-sized storefront... Seeing a small farm of hogs behind the large skeletal looking barn, Xa'Gun wondered what they were coming to do.

After walking a large ribbed barn, Xa'Gun was hit by the pungent smell of metal.

"What's this barn for???" Xa'Gun asked.

"This is no barn, boy. Hahaha, this is a slaughterhouse. I've been told you spent time among the Humans. Surely, you've seen these among them." Gorzoc laughed while he explained.

"Can't say that I have... I worked in fields and loading shipments mostly... Some tavern work and cleaning duties... Took care of horses, too."

"Husbandry of horses is a noble job, even for Orcs. I, myself, prefer raptors over horses, but horses are indeed elegant." Gorzoc grunted while he spoke.

The proclaimed slaughterhouse had a dirt floor and contained many hooks that hung from the ribbed ceiling. The sides of the walls were large ribs that looked to be bones of some large creature. The walls appeared to be stretched leather that covered them from the outside. It seemed much cooler inside than outside. In fact, Xa'Gun could see his breath when he breathed, like in the winters of the north. There were a set of poles that drove into the ground that were taller than both him and Gorzoc, with chains hanging from them.

Gorzoc stopped, and turned to Xa'Gun, "You may have guessed by the name and what I said earlier, but today We are going to slaughter some hogs and process the meat."

Xa'Gun grunted as he wasn't exactly sure what to do...

"Old Jukky, you want to help, or are you going to watch." Gorzoc looked over to his old-time friend.

"I'll watch over my son for now. I'll be there to catch him if his knees give."

"Ah. You dote on him too much, already! Hahaha." Gorzoc laughed.

"I don't want to hear that from the Orc that faced down a Double-Mouth Rex for his Oldest Daughter's Dowry." Jukzuk laughed as well, but with a different purpose.

"..." Gorzoc shut his mouth, "In that case, Old Jukky, can you at least fetch the hog for us? I've already cut three from the sound waiting. Send one in, and I'll execute it to show the boy... After that, It'll be his turn." Gorzoc asked, as he walked to the side and picked up a large Executioner's Axe.