“What did you do?”

Amos was currently standing before a demon in human form, or more commonly known as, Marclyn, his mother.

“You signed a deal with a merchant to make 30 gold in two years?! Are you crazy? What were you thinking?! We only make 10 silver a week! There is no way that we can pay off this debt, even with Anise’s family helping us, we would still be short 10 gold! Starge can’t even make any money, with his sick body! You should have just let him go with the merchant! Then he would be looked after you wouldn’t be in this mess! I mean you’re only ten! If you leave and have to fight in two years then you would have to fight all throughout your teen years!”

Silent under the verbal barrage coming from his mother’s mouth, Amos stood there, waiting for a chance to explain his actions. Right behind him, Anise was also standing, head down, silent and scared of Marclyn’s wrath.

“I couldn’t just leave him there!”

“So you went and said you would pay off his debt, Securing your position as a merchant slave?”

“He would have died if he had to fight, I can still make enough money in two years.”

“How so? In what way could you, a ten year old boy, make 840 silver in two years?”

“I’ll find a job”

“What job?!”

“Any job”

“Ok then, if you got a job, you would have to earn 8 silver a week to get the money. Do you know a job that could earn you that much? Any job?”

“No, but Barse earns 5 silver a week from the country for becoming a knight’s apprentice.”

Marclyn’s face froze as she heard Amos utter these words.

“What. Did. You. Say?”

Under his mother’s glaring vision, Amos muttered again under the pressure

“Barse became a knight’s apprentice…”

“”And when was anyone planning to tell me, that he became a knight’s apprentice?”

“Anise only told me today...”

“Anise!”

“Yes!”

Anise jumped and went stiff as Marclyn’s gaze was moved onto her.

“What’s this about Barse becoming a knight’s apprentice?”

“He told me that a knight came when he was practising with his sword and asked him to become his apprentice.”

“And where is he now?”

“I don’t know.”

“What did you say?”

“I don’t know”

Anise’s voice became quieter and quieter under the terrifying focus of Marclyn. No one said anything for about two seconds, causing both Amos and Anise to tremble under his mother’s gaze.

“Ahhh… i guess there’s nothing we can do now. All right. You need to find a job. You’ll have to find something that pays well here… and the only things that i can think of, are a blacksmith’s apprentice, and knight’s apprentice, or an apprentice magician. Barse has already become a knight’s apprentice, to you will have to choose between and magician or a blacksmith. What one suits you the best?”

Seeing that his mother had calmed down, and was thinking about what jobs he could get, Amos started to think, what type of job would suit him the best.

“Blacksmith wouldn’t work out well, i don’t think that i have the strength to be able to do that all day. I think i would have to become an apprentice magician.”

“Well, that all depends on your talent.”

Looking out the window, Marclyn stared out into the distance.

“Seeing the time, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to test your magical talents. So, in the meantime, you better start getting into shape, in case you have to become a blacksmith. It’s a good thing that i got you to help in the field along with Barse, or you would have no hope of becoming an apprentice.”

“Mom, you make it sound like I have no chance of becoming a magician.”

“Just being prepared.”

As she said this, Marclyn’s voice changed slightly, seemingly like she knew something, but didn’t want to say it.

Raising her hand, Anise’s voice interrupted the little discussion.

“Um… i think i’m being left out…”

“Don’t worry Anise, you are going to become a magician's apprentice, and if you can’t then you can help me sew some clothes, with you helping we could probably make a silver or two extra per week.”

“Ok. Um… can i go home now?”

“Yes Anise, you can go home now. Make sure that Starge is alright, i think his eyesight is getting even worse now. You have to make sure that he’s still well. After all, you don’t want to leave all the work to your parents do you?”

“I’ll make sure to help. Bye Amos, see you tomorrow.”

As Anise walked out the door she turned and waved her hands at the mother and son, before running of to her house next door.

“Now then Amos. you get to help me with dinner, and then we can discuss a training routine for you in case you fail the talent test. It will be something similar to Barse’s but will focus more on physical strength.”

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“Mom. You really make it sound like i have no talent in magic at all.”

“Well, both me and your father never had any talent, so i don’t have much hope for you in this regard.”

“Huh… i guess i’ll have to go for a blacksmith apprentice then.”

“We’ll find out tomorrow. For now, you can help me make dinner, and then when Barse gets home, he can explain what he meant by him getting picked up by some random knight.”

1 hour later…

“And this is my home, it’s doesn’t have everything, but it will do for now. Until I become a Master knight and buy a house in the city.”

Those were the first words that came out of the mouth the blonde haired blue eyed Barse, as he entered the house, followed by a middle-aged man wearing a suit of armor. With a new short sword resting in a sheath on his belt, he proudly walked into the living room, while showing the man around.

“Ah. Here is my mother. They are the people that i talked about. Mother this is Barneby, he will be my master until i can become a famous knight. He’s an advanced knight, so he is someone eligible to teach me the knight’s way. Master, this is my mother, she has looked after me every since i was born, and it was due to her that i was able to become a knight.”

Barse introduced his new master, Barneby to his mother, and introduced his mother to his master, failing to mention his younger brother who was sitting off to the side of the room.

“Welcome to our home. My name is Marclyn, and i am the mother of Barse, your new apprentice.”

“Greetings to you ma’am. My name is Barneby Elvins, Soldier of the Arogian Knights. I was visiting this town, looking for a place to stay for a few days, when i noticed your son practicing his swordsmanship. I was rather impressed with his stature, and his talent, so I asked if he wanted to be my apprentice. Before he officially does however, i need both your permission and his father’s permission.”

“Did Barse not tell you? He doesn’t have a father. He died 2 years after Amos was born. He went missing after going out hunting alone.”

“I am ever so sorry to hear that ma’am. I wish you good luck in your future life.”

“It’s Ok. I’ve already lived 8 years without him. I can live a few more.”

A sad smile formed on Marclyn’s face as she thought about her missing husband. The atmosphere turned solemn as they sat there, waiting for Marclyn to continue.

“Well, let's not stay like that, as his father isn’t here, is it alright for me to give permission for him by himself?”

“Yes, that should be fine ma’am. When i return to the city, i will officially accept Barse as my apprentice. According to the law, your son shall receive a weekly payment of 5 silver, when he reaches the realms of an apprentice knight.”

“Wait, he’s not yet an apprentice knight?”

“No, he’s still a beginner, but it should only take two to three months for him to become an apprentice knight. Is there a reason for the concern ma’am?”

“Nothing, we're just a little bit tight on money at the moment.”

“Oh? How much? Maybe I can help lessen the load.”

“30 gold.”

“Huh? I’m sorry, i thought you said 30 gold”

“Yes. 30 gold.”

Clearing his throat, Barneby looked at Marclyn, with an unbelieving look in his eyes.

“Ahem. Pardon my intrusion, but how did you manage to fall into such a huge debt? Even i would have some trouble paying off that large of a debt, let alone a small family like yours.”

“We only fell into debt today. My son tried to help his friend’s brother, a cripple, but ended up signing a soul contract. Now, we have to try and earn as much money as we can, within two years.”

Ahhh. Your really have it tough don’t you.”

“Well, my son has to try and earn 840 silver in two years, so as long as he can become a knight, magician or a blacksmith’s apprentice, we should be able to pay off the debt.”

“Well. I’ll try and get Barse to the apprentice level as soon as i can, so that should lessen the load a bit. If he trains well, I expect him to reach the level in a month or two.”

“Thank you. That will help a lot.”

“Well then. I’ll be off now, me and my new apprentice need to head off the the city now. I’ll have his government payment sent to you every month, along with a letter from him. Thank you for having me ma’am, i hope the next time i see you, you’ll be doing better off again.”

As Barneby said this, he bowed to Marclyn, before walking out the door, with his new apprentice following right behind him.

Turning to Amos, Marclyn sighed, before telling him to go off to bed for now.

“Come on, you need to have plenty off sleep so you look the best for tomorrow. It won’t do if your dead tired during the test tomorrow.”

“Yes mom. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”