No? Did he hear Richard correctly?

This young man did not just tell him no. After all he's done? After how much he invested in him? He actually said no.

Gregor's teeth were clenched and he felt like he could grind them into dust. That is how angry he was at the moment. He mustered up a lot of courage to say those words, but it felt as if Richard was spitting in his face. Laughing at him for being so pitiful.

"Don't get too worked up, you already said you'd become my apprentice if I managed to forge a sword that could break the one Lord Kirk used. So asking me now just doesn't feel right." Richard stated as he could see the anger boiling up inside Gregor.

He would have said yes, but Richard did not want to. After being around Gregor for so long, he felt the red-haired dwarf had a lot of potential. Richard was even thinking of teaching him how to make steel, and he'd even do it for free. Gregor already gave him a lot and was helping him. Richard wanted to repay this debt.

Owing someone was not a feeling he liked to have. He always paid his debts, no matter how small.

There was also the problem that Richard had never taught anyone before. Sure, he's played around with children in the past and taught them some words or how to count. It was not anything major since their parents already invested in teaching them how to do that. Richard was just along for the ride.

But, teaching someone his own knowledge? No one has ever asked him before. No one has ever been interested in learning. This was a first for him.

He was confident he could do it, and if he had to have an apprentice then he did not mind Gregor being his first. It was just that he wanted to do it right if he was going to do it at all.

Before any of that, he wanted to see if the obsidian blade that was being praised as the end all be all metal, lived up to its reputation. It did not break or bend his steel sword. So, how would it stack up to a damascus steel one?

There was only one way to find out, and Richard wanted to find out. Not only did he want to know, he wanted to succeed in doing so.

"Ah." Gregor said as he looked a bit surprised by this.

He said that as mostly a joke, he never assumed Richard would take it to heart. Now that he knew, he felt a bit embarrassed.

Gregor coughed twice. "Well then, these swords won't move themselves." He passed the katana back to Richard and grabbed the handles of the wooden cart.

It was a small thing that he rarely used. Gregor only brought it out when he had to carry a large amount of items a far distance. And carrying fifty swords to the Lord's estate was quite a distance, he was not going to carry them by hand. That would take far too long.

"I have to be honest with you Gregor, I did not think you'd ask me that." Richard started.

Gregor shook his head, he thought Richard would drop the subject, but the young man kept talking. Now that they were traveling together, he had no choice but to listen.

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"I'm honored, and more than happy to teach you after I forge something that can beat the almighty black blade that you all praise so much. However, I have to be honest. I don't plan on being a blacksmith forever." Richard said.

This caught Gregor by surprise, he slowed in his steps and glanced at Richard.

"What? What nonsense are you speaking?"

To him, being a blacksmith was something he planned on doing until he died. That was how he felt, and how all the other blacksmiths felt that he knew. It was a path forged by fire.

Although not as famed or written in history books as many of the other professions. Blacksmiths were the backbone of any society, his name was etched into the walls. Somewhere in this town, there was a nail that Gregor forged. A piece of metal, a pan, a pot, and so much more. He was everywhere, and nowhere all at the same time.

Being a blacksmith meant a lot to him, even if he would never be in the spotlight. That was fine because he knew he was there with the people via the tools he made. Even on the battlefield, Gregor was there with them. His swords and armor, protecting and slaying.

Richard was too, and so was every other blacksmith out there. They were the true uncrowned kings of society.

So hearing Richard say he was giving it up was... strange.

"I've been a smith for a long time. I've created so much and learned so much. But, I don't want to do that again." Richard said as he was remembering his past.

For decades, he closed himself off to his own hobbies. He was a craftsman at heart, but Richard wanted more. If he had to pinpoint the one regret in his life, it would be that at the end he was alone. No family, no one to carry on his legacy.

He's never been big on romance, nor did he seek a partner. But, if he took the time to look back over his life, he missed out on a lot. How would have things turned out if before he left for war, he accepted that confession? Or even when he returned, he still had a chance to make things right.

But some of the things he saw disturbed him. He did not want to bring his baggage down on someone else, so he drowned himself in his crafts. Keeping friendships, but nothing more.

At the bottom of it all, a family was more important to him than wealth. But, the idea of having an insane amount of money did bring him some semblance of happiness as well.

As for Gregor, hearing Richard's words made no sense to him. While he was unsure how old Richard currently was, he was damn sure the boy was not past twenty. He didn't even have hair on his face yet, that's how young he was. So Richard saying he's been a smith for a long time was.... well Gregor wasn't sure what to make of it.

Was the young man smithing since birth?

"I want to try something else this time around. In all honesty, I want to start a business, make money, and meet people. Simple as that." Richard said.

"Being a smith is a business! You're making money now, and you can meet people!" Gregor argued.

All of this was true, but it wasn't the kind of business Richard pictured.

"Yeah, you're right. But that's not what I mean... anyway, I just wanted to let you know. You've helped me, so I thought it was only right you know what direction I'm heading in. If you still want to learn from me, sure, no problem. If not, I understand."

Gregor was silent for a while, and so was Richard. The two of them continued on their way to Lord Kirk's place without much left to say.

Richard had no idea what Gregor would do. He just did not want the dwarf to think he would do this forever, and have time to pass on all his knowledge. No, Richard wanted more out of this life.

While adjusting here was a bit rough, this was a second chance. He couldn't waste it.

Gregor on the other hand was debating on what this meant. Not only for him but the entire world at large. Losing a blacksmith like Richard was a disaster. But, he also had to have a bit of understanding.

After all, Gregor had no one in his life. Was devoting his entire life to blacksmithing worth it? Was the fame he'd have from creating a masterpiece worth the solitude?

When they arrived at the estate, they were greeted in a kind manner and shown inside. The cart was taken away by the guard, and Richard's katana was as well. Although, one guard went one way, while the other one escorted them into the estate.

The sight was still marvelous to Richard, but at least he did not have to wait outside this time. It still took a while for Lord Kirk to show his face, but his eyes lit up when Richard told him he had another weapon for him.