"You can do it, don't give up, nice and steady." As Ozlo smacked the hot metal into the rough shape of a small knife his master pointed out the various flaws in his technique and taught him how to fix them. "No no, I keep telling you, grip the hammer higher. The closer to the tip of the shaft, the more control you have. Grip towards the base when you want power, up top when you want control."

Ozlo did his best to follow along with his masters advice and soon enough, he found himself finishing the blade. "Good work boy, now I'd teach you how to make a nice handle for it, but that can wait. What can't wait, is your apprenticeship. Have a seat son, we need to talk." Burgin gestured to the chair, as he was accustomed to doing so.

"Alright, do you like it here boy? No major complaints?" Burgin asked while looking into his apprentices eyes. "Uh, I guess. This is better than the orphanage, back there Mother Pat-" Ozlo stopped himself before continuing, knowing Burgin grew angry and distant when he mentioned his former "Mother". "I like it here. It's... It's better."

Burgin stood up and slapped his knees. "Welp, that settles it then. You're staying. Not that you had that much say in the first place, it's not like you can pay off your apprenticeship from the church or what you owe me from your upgrades. But I'm required to do the evaluation, it IS the end of our first month together after all."

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Ozlo thought to himself. "Really... A month already? It seems like only yesterday that Mother Patricia was pulling me out of bed and putting me to work scrubbing the floor, or cleaning the chamber-pots or, or... Or something." Ozlo, doing his best not to think about his previous life, shook his head to snap him out of his thoughts and stood up.

Burgin found something interesting to look at on the floor, refusing to meet Ozlo's eyes. "Boy. I think by now you've realized I'm not one to mince words, so I'll put it bluntly and fairly. You aren't a complete and utter waste of space. In fact, every day that you're here you become more and more useful. Keep it up boy, I believe in you."

This put Ozlo in a predicament. Receiving compliments that were sincere and weren't some back-handed insult in order to make him feel bad about himself was rare. Unheard of even, from Ozlo's caretakers. In fact, before he came to be Burgins apprentice, Ozlo could scarcely remember even a few kind words that weren't tinged with sympathy or thinly veiled disapproval. This could be why Ozlo reacted so poorly. "Thanks uh, master. I have to pee. Goodnight!"

"Ahh, uh, nature calls I guess..." Burgin dismissed Ozlo and went up to his room where he slowly began prepping for bed. Off came the clothes, then the small clothes. Then he carefully, but thoroughly washed his body with damp cloth. Finally, he got down on his knees and prayed. The well worn floor had a small indention from the big mans knees worn into it from constant use. After a few moments had passed Burgin stood up, crawled into bed, and with a heavy heart, entered a deep slumber. As he did every night.