The Blacksmith's Shop

Late at night, Jonathan and Sally grew increasingly anxious. Nathanos still had not returned. There had been so much fruit today that it was already very late by the time they had turned it all into jam, yet Nathanos had still not come back. Sally was so worried that she began to cry. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Jonathan immediately went to the church, but it was already closed and empty. Jonathan searched for a long time without finding Nathanos. He searched several streets in a row before finally spotting him on a quiet street. Something had clearly caught his attention.

Jonathan immediately ran over, grabbed him, and shouted, "Where have you been? Nathanos, I've been looking for you everywhere. Do you know how worried your Aunt Sally has been? What are you doing here?"

Nathanos was startled by Jonathan's violent shaking and was too nervous to speak at first. Jonathan felt that he had gone too far. He sighed. As long as Nathanos was safe, that was all that mattered. He smiled and patted the boy's head, calming the atmosphere. Only then did Nathanos's ragged breathing slowly ease.

Jonathan suddenly remembered his earlier question. What exactly had caught Nathanos's attention? Looking over, he saw a blacksmith's shop that was still open. A dwarf stood at its entrance. Lordaeron was very welcoming toward foreign races, especially Elves and dwarves. There were many Elf and dwarf shops in the city. This blacksmith's shop was one such example.

The dwarf looked at the uncle and nephew in surprise. He wiped away his sweat and walked over to them.

"I'm very sorry my nephew caused you trouble, sir," Jonathan said, assuming the other man had come to complain. He immediately gave a deep bow.

Nathanos watched the dwarf approach him. The dwarf was only a head taller than him, with a large brown beard—perhaps a symbol of his age.

"There is no need to blame yourself, sir," the dwarf replied with a smile, his mustache twitching as he spoke. He extended his cleaned right hand. Jonathan reached out as well. After a friendly handshake, the dwarf introduced himself. "Hello, my name is Gudul."

"Jonathan Marius. This is my nephew, Nathanos Marius."

Gudul nodded. At last, he knew the boy's name. Nathanos had stood outside his shop for more than four hours, staying in the same spot and keeping his distance. When Gudul had first noticed him, he thought the boy might be hungry or thirsty. But no matter what he offered, Nathanos only shook his head and refused. No matter what questions he asked, Nathanos remained silent. At first, Gudul had thought Nathanos had never seen an "uncle" shorter than himself, which was why the boy had kept standing outside the blacksmith's shop. But later, Gudul realized that it was not him who had attracted Nathanos's attention. It was the hammer in his hand and the pig iron in the forge.

"You seem very interested in blacksmithing, lad," Gudul said. Jonathan also looked at Nathanos. The little boy hesitated for a moment, then bravely nodded.

"Sorry. It's his first day in Lordaeron, and he's curious about everything."

Gudul shook his head and countered, "I've seen many children like him. Most of them are more concerned with whether the sparks from the fire will set my beard alight. Not one child has been like him, standing here for hours and watching me forge with complete focus." The dwarf stroked his beard and asked the little fellow with a smile, "Tell me, kid. What did you see during those hours?"

Nathanos looked at his uncle, silently asking whether he should answer.

"The dwarf asked you a question, child."

After receiving permission, the boy answered clearly, "You're... left-handed..."

Gudul and Jonathan were both startled. Their eyes turned in unison toward the hand holding the hammer. What Nathanos had noticed was actually...

The dwarf burst into laughter and clapped his hands. "What a clever little fellow." He truly was left-handed and was accustomed to wielding the hammer with his left hand. Such a detail was obvious, yet not easy to notice. On one hand, people simply did not pay attention. On the other, their eyes were focused on the iron and the hammer.

Jonathan felt a little embarrassed, clearly thrown off by his nephew's answer as well. Rather than looking at the hammer and iron, Nathanos had been watching the other man's hand. Jonathan casually explained to Gudul that Nathanos merely thought differently.

As his uncle and the dwarf chatted happily, Nathanos did not stop analyzing Gudul in his mind. He simply had not finished speaking earlier. There was a white marking on the dwarf's right arm. A scar was hidden among the wrinkles beneath his left eye. His boots were old, and the metal plates on them were worn down. Put together, these clues seemed capable of proving Gudul's identity, but Nathanos had no way to reach an answer. There was much he could see, but even more that he did not yet know.

After chatting briefly, they went their separate ways.

The blacksmith's shop closed, but it had captured Nathanos's heart. Though Jonathan understood why, he still scolded Nathanos on the way home. He told the boy that curiosity was no excuse for making his family worry.

The lessons at the church were simple: the way of the Holy Light and human writing. Nathanos was very interested in the second subject, though he did not show it. As for the Holy Light, even if it did not interest him, he still had to understand what it was. Kana paid particular attention to Nathanos, but compared with Gray and Kasha, he was far too quiet. He did not say a single word or ask a single question, as though he did not exist in the chapel at all. However, the child sitting beside Nathanos was the opposite. Kana noticed that this child liked talking to Nathanos. Although the only answers he received were nods or a quiet "Mm," he never gave up.

"My name is Larein. What's yours?"

"Nathanos."

"Nathanos?" Larein repeated, then said, "That name sounds like the name of a hero, don't you think?"

Nathanos seemed not to hear the question. His attention remained on the Holy Light Handbook in his hands. His ears might even have shut out Kana's teaching entirely. Larein was not angry that Nathanos ignored him. On the contrary, he became even more curious about him.

After class, Kana had already left. Nathanos closed the book in his hands, planning to rest for a while before continuing with Kaishius's lesson. The other children had already put away their Holy Light Handbooks, but he was still holding his, along with a pen.

The tall Elf instructor entered the church and exchanged greetings with the children inside.

Nathanos opened his book. Every page was filled with various markings, waiting to be interpreted like his questions.