ime passes by slowly as Ozlo remains in the forge. This gave Ozlo some time to gather his thoughts. "Huh this is..." Peaceful. Peaceful and... BORING. I hope all free days aren't like this. I don't know how I'll bear it."

Enough time passes that Ozlo has to use the restroom, grab some water, and contemplate his entire life. What little of it he remembers. Mostly just scrubbing floors, carrying buckets of water, and doing menial errands for Mother Patricia.

After a short while Burgin returns looking a bit red in the face and carrying large bag. "You still there lad?"

"Yes Master Burgin." Ozlo responds.

Burgin approaches Ozlo and says. "Great, great. Here, take this." Burgin hands Ozlo a bag and while he stands there numbly.

Confused, Ozlo says. "Where?"

"Where what?" Burgin asks.

"Where do I take it? The bag." Ozlo asked.

"Wherever you want lad, it's yours. Courtesy of the church" Burgin said.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Bewildered, Ozlo asked. "It's mine? Really?"

"Yes, some clothes, some picture books, the bare minimum that the church is required to provide. Take them to your room lad. And it wouldn't hurt you to read the books."

"Oh... Mother Patricia says I shouldn't worry about reading. It's a pastime for the wealthy and learned and that I should keep my-" Ozlo says, but is cut off by Burgin.

Burgin holds up a hand toward Ozlo, signaling him to be quiet. A dangerous look passes over Burgins face and he practically spits out. "Well, Mother Patricia isn't here now is she?"

"Uh... No?" Ozlo responded.

"No, no she isn't. And she isn't welcome in my establishment. You can rest assured you won't be seeing her any time soon." Burgin said.

"Oh... Ok." Ozlo responded. Ozlo thought to himself, "is that a good thing? She wasn't the nicest person but I did know her for a very long time... Do I miss her?"

Burgin, realizing the dark look that he was giving off, did his best to calm his face. "Good, that's a good lad. Now go upstairs and read, I'll bring you a snack in a minute."

Ozlo frowned. "Yes Master Burgin."

Ozlo heads upstairs and opens up the pack of clothes and books, along with a small purse filled to the brim with shards. "There must be... A bunch of shards in here." Unable to stop himself, Ozlo counts the shards in the small purse.

"Fourteen. Wait, no. Burgin gave me two shards earlier. Sixteen. I have sixteen shards. That's more than I've ever had before. Mother Patricia gave me a shard once, but when I put it in my mouth she took it away..."

Regaining focus Ozlo thinks. "Read. Right. Burgin told me to read. I better do as he says."