Tale Of A Knight 7 Volume 1: Chapter 7- Blacksmith

"I think it's about time for you to get a real weapon" Mekros said to Bakit after a vigorous sparring session. Bakit over relied on his right arm for his attacks and was still lacking in defenses, but as the weeks of training have proved, Bakit was capable of improvement. He no longer was as sloppy, while still nowhere near the level required being a knight; he was at a point where he needed a real sword instead of a wooden one.

"Why the gloom face? Aren't you excited about finally getting a real sword of your own?"

"I suppose that would be good, but does that mean we are going to have to start sparring with real sword then?" Bakit was s.h.i.+vering all over. Several weeks of training with wooden sword gave him many bruises; if they start using real swords now then it would be a disaster.

"Do not worry. We will always use wooden swords for sparring; metal sword is for your self-defense."

"Oh, I see then." Bakit just nodded in response.

"According to the maid, Prince Sala wants you in a peak fighting condition, said something about keeping you safe from kidnappers…." Mekros wasn't completely sure what Prince Sala wanted with Bakit, but he knew for certain that Prince Sala wanted to keep Bakit close and make sure nothing happened to him.

"I see, young Prince must be looking at Bakit as a potential personal knight." Personal knights-the knights loyal to the ruler not the country itself, a kind of knight Mekros was before semi-retiring due to his injury. What Mekros did not know however is that Prince Sala wanted to prevent Bakit from leaking his secrets.

"We will be visiting a blacksmith I know, but a word of warning, he is quite eccentric."

"What do you mean he is eccentric?" They neared the entrance of the blacksmith's shop, the door was decorated with a pattern of three headed dragon, with a tail shaped like another head hanging off a tree like a monkey. It was clear the owner of the shop was someone very weird.

Bakit opened the door to the smith shop.

"WELCOME DEAR CUSTOMER!" the person inside ran up at top speed, dropping everything he was doing before. He was a person most easily resembling a giant square, not height wise, but width wise. It was evident that while he was stocky he was very muscular; his height was about a few inches taller than Bakit, but still shorter than Mekros. His entire face was concealed with a white moustache that resembled two giant tusks. Overall, his smiling expression and speed at which he came to greet his customers gave Bakit a very memorable first impression of him.

Bakit just stood there with his mouth open. "What the heck is this guy?"

"Long time, Rolgo" Mekros said while holding on to his crutches.

"Oh, it's you." Rolgo's enthusiastic expression dropped and switched 180 degrees to a prominent frown. "Would you kindly exit my shop?"

"No can do, Rolgo, I need your help."

"Says the guy who didn't even bother visiting me for months? Some loyal customer you are!"

"Even if I came here, how do you expect me to use any of your tools in my condition?" Mekros bellowed.

"I don't just make weapons you know! I also make tools to make people's living easier."

"Oh, please. If your non weapon tools were as useful as you say they are, then you wouldn't be having so much trouble attracting customers!"

Both of them stared at each other with frowns and then both smiled and shook hands.

"It is good to see back on your legs, so to speak." Rolgo smiled.

"Indeed, old friend." Mekros nodded.

Bakit was just looking around the room admiring all of the strange things in there. Metal statues of animals, talismans, bows and arrows, masks, boots, and even table ware. It is safe to say this shop had everything needed for life.

"So, what's up with the kid, is he with you?"

"Yeah, he is my apprentice. I need you to make a sword for him. Prince will send the payment…"

"No need to, you are one of my loyal customers, so I shall make it free of charge." Rolgo smiled with a chuckle.

Mekros thought in his head 'You are just using this opportunity to make him a regular visitor to your shop, aren't you?' If Bakit were to receive a sword free of charge, then he would form a good impression of Rolgo's shop, causing him to be a regular customer. It was a good business approach considering Rolgo was rather unpopular inside the city for his rather unorthodox non weapons.

"Really? Thanks, old man" Bakit said with a goofy grin, while eying the masks inside the shop.

"Think nothing of it. Humph, curious about the masks I see?"

"How much for the grey mask?" Bakit had only about 30 bronze coins on him, courtesy of Prince who gave him a meager salary.

"Mask of Calmness, About 20 silver coins."

"Oh, never mind. All I got are 30 bronze coins, sorry"

Rolgo thought 'This is not good, I don't get any customers these days, none knows what my magic tools are used for, partially for prices. If this continues I will go bankrupt, what to do, what to do?' Then an idea struck him.

"Lad, how would you like to be the beta tester of my products?"

Hearing that Mekros ended up gulping in surprise. Before he could tell him not to, Bakit nodded and said

"Ok, I can do that. But can you explain what beta tester is?"

Rolgo smiled. 'Good, I have got his interest.'

"Beta tester means you would be using my tools, advertising them by using them, all free of charge of course."

"I see, but how does that help you, old man?" Bakit asked confusedly.

"Oh, not the one to be taking favors for granted I see, very well." Rolgo smiled as if his plans were found out. "If you use my tools out in the open where many people can see, it would provide me much needed advertis.e.m.e.nt for my products, and all of my tools will finally sell!"

"So what you are saying is that none wants to buy your junk, right!" Mekros cut to the chase.

"They are not junk, they are enchanted magical tools!"

'Wow, he did not deny the part about none wanting to buy them' Bakit internally thought.

"Anyways, you can have the mask free of charge." Rolgo gave the mask to Bakit. "This will be first of many things you will get from me, so you might as well feel blessed…."

"What are the side effects?" Mekros asked with a blank expression.

"Well…It is the mask of Calmness, so it sucks away all the mental stress the user experiences during the day, but it releases them during the night, so it should never be worn past day time." Rolgo confessed with a downer expression.

"Hear that, apprentice? Still want to have the mask?"

"Of course, Mister Rolgo, this is so cool!" Bakit said while examining the mask, and putting it on himself. It was a half mask that adjusted perfectly on his face, then Bakit made a thumbs up sign. "I feel a lot cooler already!"

Looking at him posing, Mekros couldn't help but put his hand on his face, "Good grief!"

Afterwards, Rolgo took measurements of Bakit's body and recorded it in his notes. He said that he needed precise measurements to make the sword that would be proportionally perfect for the user. He said that he will make a right hand dominant sword.

Afterwards, as Mekros and Bakit proceeded to exit, Rolgo said "Lad, come by again, I will have more tools for you to try."

"Thank you, Mister Rolgo." Bakit bowed.

As they were walking along the streets, Mekros told Bakit."Don't forget, all of Rolgo's tools, as useful and convenient as they be, have a side effect, that is his strange quirk, there is always a catch."

"This mask doesn't seem too bad, I mean, I look awesome!" Bakit said while posing.

"I see, so another side effect of the mask is that it completely removes any sense of shame, huh" Mekros calmly noted. His student usually rather demure, but under the influence of the mask, all of his insecurities were gone, leaving a flamboyant weirdo in its place. Mekros just sighed in response. "Rolgo, you haven't changed a bit."