Tec Mage Chapter Nine: The 4Th Apprentices

"WHAT, say that again" Atlas was shocked with the answer he was given

"I'm in the forge" replied the voice

"What, how, why" Atlas had many questions

"Roark, him, he's the one that did it" said the voice

"I don't understand start from the beginning" asked Atlas

"Where is Roark" asked the voice

"He has left, he looked a bit worried and jumpy" answered Atlas

"GOOD, if you can't tell i despise him, i'm basically a prisoner" the unknown voice explained "that's the reason i haven't spoke in till now, i just refuse to speak when he's around also normal people can't hear me"

"Before you go any further, what are you" Atlas was curios and had to know

"mmm, i don't know, you see me and my kind are born and left to look after our self and only if and when we have gain enough strength we take a sort of apprenticeship from a older one of our kind and learn from them, so before that happened me and my brother's and sister's were taken from our home and i was placed in here" answered the voice

"Apprenticeship?, that sound like a very human thing" asked Atlas

"I learnt how to talk common from listening to Roark

"How long have you been here" asked Atlas

"I don't know but what i can tell you is that after i was taken from my home this forge was the first place i was placed and i've been here ever since" said the voice

"Why don't you just leave" asked Atlas

"There's three reason, the first is that i'm just a child and i need some kind of heat out side my self to survive, two, my understanding is that humans consider my kind as monsters and i would be killed on sight, and three i just can't leave, there's some thing on the forge walls that stops me from leaving"

Atlas was very interested about what the voice was saying, and spook with the voice for the rest of the day while working, then the dwarf busted back in to the store huffing and puffing, the voice stopped, "well, the day is up and we will be leaving Mr Roark" Atlas reached out to collected the bag of money that was owned to him for the 2 days of work that was left beside the door and was almost at the door when the voice called out to him

"Don't leave me, take me with you" said the voice

"Hmm, what, what do you say" asked the dwarf, he was detracted and didn't hear who had said it

Atlas had to think on his feet but also answer the voice with out rising the suspicions of the dwarf "i said,ok i'll see you tomorrow" Atlas was sure that the dwarf didn't hear what the voice said but didn't know if the voice understand that what Atlas said was directed at him, he had to leave it at there, he couldn't ask for a answer back it was obvious that the dwarf could here the voice but because the voice had never talk to him before he didn't recognize who had said it

Before Atlas went home he needed to get the bricks for the forge, and so he headed to the architect guild " Atlas, i need to do some thing, can i leave" asked Dracken

"Of course, but be back before bed" Atlas asked "in fact why don't you all do your own things" Atlas was talking to Mary and Kevien "here is 50 silver a pieces for you to do some thing with

As Dracken, Mary and Kevien left Atlas went in to the guild, it was a grand hall way with marble flours and granite pillars, at the left was a receptionist sitting behind a huge oak desk and to the right was door ways and a great stairway, looking up Atlas saw a ma.s.sive chandelier

"How can i help you" asked the receptionist

Atlas attention was drawn back to her "ah yes, i'm looking for stones to build with, how much" Atlas was still under the restriction of the month ban from going out of the city so couldn't go and get them him self

"None guild members have to pay normal prices, which is 4 copper per stone" replied the receptionist

"What skills do you gain in the architect series and how do you gain them" asked Atlas

"To gain the skill of architect you need to be able to read blue prints and show me two different wood joints, later you will be able to use stone and when you hit intermediate you will gain gla.s.s moulding" explained the receptionist

"How long will it take" asked Atlas

"Depends on how quick to learn you are" replied the receptionist

"What if you know how to do the things you describe already" asked Atlas

The receptionist looked up and raised her eye brows at Atlas "if you know how to do it you should just demonstrate it", she pointed to a room "in there is a instructor that you have to impress"

Atlas had a little time to spare so decided to give it a go, when he entered the room there was a table with tools and blocks of wood on top, in the corner was a old man with a thick beard whittling a piece of hard wood while sitting

"Yes?" the old man looked up from his whittling

Atlas looked at the old man's face, he knew that the old man was a simple man and with he's one word question Atlas released that he was straight forwards as well

"I'm here to take the test" short and sweet Atlas thought

The old man got out of his chair and moved to the shelves, he pulled a scroll from one of the shelves and unrolled it out on the table "read this and explain it to me"

Atlas had a look and was surprise how simple the blueprint was, he went on to describe the type of building what each line meant and where the best place to place the building was, without wires for electricity and plumbing pipes the plans looked a bit bare

"Good, now move on to the joints" the old man had replaced the scroll back on the shelf and sat back on his chair

Atlas moved on to the joints and with in a 30 minutes had made 8 different types, Atlas called over the old man, he started to check the work, he stopped and asked Atlas about his wood joints

"What is this joint called" the old man was pointing at Atlas work

"That's a miter with wood spline and that's called dovetail" said Atlas

"Good, you've pa.s.s" said the old man

Ding

Architect skill

This skill includes architect and construction, level 1 gives the creation of simple wooden building such as huts and sheds, able to create the building within seconds

Each building created by architect skill cost 400 mana and all building resources

With each new level in architect mana will increase permanently by 200

+2 wisdom +2 intelligence has been gained for the quickness of the skill learned and the huge amount of knowledge the owner has with this subject

Atlas also thought about the promise he made to instructor Borin, the promise made invoked the modification of the dojo and only when Atlas had earned the blacksmith skill and the architect skill could he change things to the dojo, "one down one to go" Atlas said out loud

With that skill learnt Atlas shook the old man's hand said his thanks and went back to the receptionist

"You leaving already" there was a sickly smile on the reception face

Atlas was annoyed that this women was taking a pleasure in what she thought of as Atlas fail in learning the skill "No, i've gain the skill and what to know the price of the materials now"

She looked surprise and started to stutter " w..w..what, i don't believe you"

Atlas was tempted to roll his eyes at the women but started to treat her with the respect she failed to show him "no madame, look at this, show the skill Architect"

She read and reread the skill "that was so quick, by far the fastest in this guild"

Atlas didn't say anything about being the quickness of the skill learnt but asked again about the price

"Well like i said none guild members have to pay normal prices, which is 4 copper per stone but seeing as your an architect it's 3 copper per brick" replied the receptions

Atlas was wondering if the women had realized that he wasn't in the guild and only had the skill, maybe she was a bit shocked that Atlas had gained the skill so quickly or there was a reduction in price if you had the skill, he decided to take advantage ether way

Atlas calculated that with 2 gold he could buy 6666 stones, it was more than enough for his purpose "does that include delivery" asked Atlas

"Yes, but only with in the city" replied the receptionist

"That's good i would like 6666 stones and i also want 2 bags full of slaked lime, 4 bags of sand, 6 bags of gravel, 100 planks of wood and 3 boxes of nails and screws a piece please" asked Atlas

"That's fine..... the total is 3 gold 2 silver" the receptionist hand was out awaiting the cash, Atlas checked the bag the dwarf gave him, but to his pleasant surprise there was more than he expected, there seemed to be 5 gold in silver and copper with 2 gold coins in the mix, Atlas handed over the 3 gold and 2 silver

"can you delver the items, in the back of the training hall, to make it easy i will mark the ground where i would like it with chalk" Atlas said, he also knew how hard it would be to move the stones into the dojo area by hand "and here is 50 silver for the extra hard work it will take to get the items in there"

Atlas left quickly and was laughing softly when he left, he was getting tired of people just messing with him but messing with them made him feel a tiny bit better, perhaps it was time to treat people the way they treat him

Atlas did a spot of shopping and went home, he dropped off to tell Borin the training hall instructor about the building materials and asked if he had any messages from the city watch, the answer was a no, at the dojo he was the only one there, the kids hadn't got back yet, with nothing to do he marked the ground with chalk where he wanted the materials to be placed, just when he was going to log off for a couple of hours Mary, Kevien and Dracken entered the grounds

Mary seemed to have a new hammer, tongs and a file, Kevien had three books but Dracken just had a smile on his face

"Hey Atlas i've got something to tell you" said Dracken

"I'm listening" replied Atlas

"The reason i've been away for two afternoons is because i've been asking questions about Tiny's partner" explained Dracken

Atlas was listening hard, any info would help in the future

"Well the guys name is Roger and his nickname is Rabbit, the reason is that he spends most of his cash on hookers and he hangs out in the club called eager beaver, that's all i got" said Dracken

Atlas was thinking how to use this info "good work Dracken this info will help me with the dwarf, did you use your 50 silver"

"Yea, i had to buy some info and give some cash to my friends to keep a look out, all in all i spent 35 silver" said Dracken

Atlas gave Dracken 35 silver to reimburse him "we may have found your future"

Dracken was looking pleased with him self "al right kids i think a early night tonight, tomorrow will be our last time working at that blacksmith" with that the kids got ready to go to bed and Atlas log out

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next morning Atlas and the kids entered the dwarf's blacksmith for what they hoped to be the last time only to be greeted by... nothing no one was there "h.e.l.lo.. h.e.l.lo" said Atlas, no answer came back

Atlas walked to the forge and started to talk to the voice "are you awake.....", no answer came back, "Roark isn't here"

"Yes i'm awake" the voice said, the voice sounded exited

"Have you heard from Roark" asked Atlas

"He left earlier it sounded like he was in a rush" said the voice

"Well, that doesn't really matter, today will be the last and we won't have to deal with it any more" said Atlas

"You will take me with you?" said the voice with hope in it's voice

Atlas wanted to take the voice with him but he was thinking could this be seen as theft "first i need to ask some questions"

"1: how do you fell about living things" asked Atlas

The first question was to see what the voice feeling were, being treated like a slave and the isolation of no one to speak with

"What can i say, my hate for him has kept me alive but i can't say that i hate all living things, to be blunt, i don't know of anything else apart from my brothers, sisters and Roark" the voice explained

Atlas decided to take what the voice had said as truth

"2: What will you do when you leave" asked Atlas

"I don't know, see the world, build up my strength, have a family" replied the voice

Atlas was happy with the answer he was given, the answers to the question showed that the voice was a sentient intelligent being and in Atlas opinion should be free to do as he feels like, just as long it doesn't hurt anyone for no good reason

"My 3rd and final question is this, would you like to become my 4th apprentices" Atlas said, Atlas original plan was to gain 4 apprentices and he felt so very sorry for the beast

"But i'm weak, i don't have the strength to learn" explained the voice

"We are all weak in the beginning and some times we need some help, i don't think there is weakness in asking or receiving help" explained Atlas "so do you want to be come my apprentices"

"YES YES, just get me out of here" pleaded the voice

"At the end of the day when we leave i will take you with me" said Atlas

For the next 6 hours the kids finished the swords while Atlas made iron and copper pipes with the iron and copper he bought yesterday

"How big are you and what's your name" asked Atlas

"I don't have a name and i don't have any ideal what length is" replied the voice

"Lets fix that now, your name, pick one for your self" said Atlas

"I don't know, i just don't know, all i've ever know is the forge and my brothers and sisters" replied the voice

"Well for now why don't we call you Forge" said Atlas

"Fine" the voice sounded a bit annoyed

"Don't worry it can be changed later when you have more experience of the world to reflect who you are" said Atlas

Atlas was going to make a bowel of iron but didn't know what size to make it, and so he made a bowl about 1 foot wide

Ding

You have learned the skills of a blacksmith.

Depending on the skill level, the requirements on equips go down by 2 percent or more. If you have mastered the skill of a blacksmith to master level, you can wear the items of other professions despite limitations.

Ding

With the completion of 1000 swords blacksmithing skill has increased to level 7

Atlas was amazed about the boast in blacksmithing skill "hey, guys did you get the blacksmithing skill"

"Yea" all three of them answered at ounce

"Mine is at level 7" Mary said

"Me two"replied Dracken

"Me three" answered Kevien

"All 1000 swords had been made, we owe the dwarf no further business, lets get out of here" Atlas picked up the iron bowl and shovelled some blazing coal in to the bowl

"Are you ready Forge" Atlas asked

No reply came back, then a sudden burst came out

"I'm sorry, i forgot about my name, but yes i'm ready"

Atlas prepared him self, he activated his mana deflection and plunged his hand deep in to the fire, he pushed past the coals to get to the bottom, by only using one hand he could concentrate all of the mana deflection to one hand

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING" Mary screamed

"Not now" answered Atlas

Atlas was groping in the coals searching for... anything alive, in till he brushed against something soft

"Gotcha" Atlas grabbed a hold of the softness and started to pull it up but for some reason it started to get harder, Atlas pushed his other hand in to the flames to get a better hold, with a final hard pull Forge jumped out wrapped around Atlas hand

Atlas stood up quickly and placed Forge in to the bowl

"FREEDOM, YESSSSSSSS" screamed Forge

Atlas, Dracken, Mary and Kevien looked over the bowl, Forge was a red long thin snake with missing scales and two small fang like bones pointing out from his back, Forge had black eyes, it was very cute but it also looked sick and malnourished

"What's that thing" asked Kevien

"This is the 4th apprentice and he's name is Forge and i hope you treat him as you new brother" said Atlas

"But he's a monster" said Mary in shock

As soon as Mary had said the words Forge looked a bit hurt and tried to hide him self under the coals

"Mary, in my opinion you should never judge a person by what they look like but on there action" explained Atlas

Mary didn't look impressed

"Ok let me give you a example, for the past 10 days we have been working for the dwarf and he has been a great example of a monster, a person that cause harm and pain for no good reason, even though we have worked diligently and treated him with respect, he's tried to harm us" said Atlas

Mary looked a little bit ashamed, she had her head down and her hands behind her, Atlas thought she was trying to make her self look smaller

"Mary, your not totally wrong to judge like that but just try to keep a open mind, any way you do trust me, Mary" asked Atlas

"YES i do, there no question about that" said Mary

"That's good, well i trust Forge and i hope you treat him well" said Atlas

"mm uaa ok" said Mary very quietly

Forge had repapered from the coals, he's tail was shaking and he was looking directly in to Atlas eyes with respect and happiness, he really did look very cute

"Lets get out of here" Atlas packed the pipes he had made and picked up the bowl using mana reflection, half way home Forge was shacking and didn't look to good

"Atlas, i don't feel to good, i'm so very cold" said Forge

Atlas was worried, the coals were cooling down and the heat was going down with every second, one of the main reason Forge couldn't leave the fire at the dwarfs was because Forge needed the heat to live

"I'm so cold" Forge voice was getting quieter

"Don't worry i'll help you" some how Atlas thought

End Of Chapter Nine: The 4th Apprentice