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Hourglass News
September 18, 15 UE
BREAKING NEWS
One of the Titanium Rank Envoys that was sent to investigate the abnormal sightings near the Great Runic Graveyard has returned dead! The other two Envoys returned with severe and moderate wounds! No details have been given as to what happened to the Envoys and the Adventurer Guild is not releasing any information as well. We at Hourglass News, however, have managed to book a meeting with one of the higher-ups at the Adventurer Guild to try and uncover what happened. Stay tuned for the next issue of Hourglass News
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[Arius POV]
"...ennnnnn..."
Waking up to the extremely uncomfortable feeling of heat, I groan with annoyance and slowly open my eyes. After finding out that I can make Big Brother Jaque a new arm, I was so excited that I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep. Speaking of my newfound goal, I got to figure out how to become a craftsman, engraver and alchemist.
Bang! Bang Bang!
With my brain cells trying hard to figure out a plan, I'm interrupted by a melodic sound below me. Hearing the faint hammering of iron, I look out the window and see that it's still dark out.
'Who's up so early in the morning? Maybe Mr. Doherty.... maybe?...hmmmm'
With my brain on overdrive, I have a little eureka moment.
'Wait, I can learn how to be a craftsman from Mr.Doherty!'
"YES!"
*SnnnK!*
After shouting out with excitement from my 'genius' idea, I hear a loud snore that made me jump a little. Looking to my side, I see Lorraine peacefully sleeping next to me, still in her normal clothes. With her hair going everywhere while she was holding a pillow in a deadlock, I see a bubble expanding and shrinking on top of her nose. Looking at the bubble, I almost couldn't resist the desire to just go boop and pop it. But a memory stopped me in my tracks. It was a traumatic memory, probably the most traumatic memory of my childhood.
*Flashback*
"I'm bored, I'm done with playing with these squishy bugs. HMmmmm! I'll go find Sister Lorraine!"
Coming inside, I quickly rush up the stairs to go find Sister Lorraine. Arriving before her room, I start knocking on the door while shouting to wake up Sister Lorraine.
"Sister Lorraine! Its already the afternoon! Wake up already! Lorrrrraaaaiine!"
...
...
"Ok, since your not answering, I'm coming in!"
Frustrated that my calls were ignored, I open the door and storm into the room. Before me, I saw Sister Lorraine halfway off her bed with her blankets all on the ground. As my anger continued to increase seeing her still sleeping, I walk over the many different dolls and blankets on the ground until she was right in front of me. That's when I noticed the bubble coming out of her nose.
"Wooooah, how does this work? Why is it coming out of her nose? hmmm Boop!"
In my curiosity, I decided to give the bubble to a little poke and it felt really weird, almost like a soap bubble but harder. After a few more pokes, the bubble wobbled a little before suddenly bursting!
POP!
"Hhaaa, what is going on? *Sniff**Sniff* ggGGRRRRR! ARIUS!"
"Ummmm, Sister Lorraine, you didn't see anything. I wasn't here. Bye!!"
"ARIUS, GET BACK HERE! YOU MUST PAY FOR DISTURBING MY SLEEP!!!!!"
"AHHHHHHH!"
Rumble....Bang....Bang...Smack...Grab...SMACK...SMACK...SMACK...SMACK...SMACK!!!!
*Flashback end*
Even just thinking about what happened brings shivers down my spine. Never again. Never never again. Slowly and quietly, I made my way around Sister Lorraine, trying specifically not to even touch her body just to ensure nothing will happen.
After changing into a set of clothes I found in the closet, I quickly left the lion's den, quickly running away in fear of the lion's wrath. Phew! I make my way downstairs as I follow the sound of hammering. Enter the open workspace of the workshop, I winced as I get blasted by a sudden gust of hot air.
Raising my hand in front of my face, I vaguely see the silhouette of a person hammering on an anvil. Moving closer, I see that it's Big Brother Jaque. Shirtless with various parts of his body covered with black dust, he was slowly shaping a large piece of glowing metal with a hammer. Even as I got closer, Big Brother Jaque didn't seem to notice my presence with his gaze fully concentrated on shaping the metal.
"Big Brother Jaque? What are you doing so early in the morning?"
"Hmm, oh, Arius! You're awake. *Huff* I'm just working on a suit of armour right now."
"But you just lost an arm, you should rest!"
"Well*huff*, I noticed that I was rusty so I decided to craft something."
After some more hammering, Big brother Jaque let go of his hammer seeming happy with the shape of the metal so far. Using a rag to wipe off his sweat and drinking some water, he sits on the ground looking at me with a grin.
"I'm glad to see that you aren't too affected by me losing an arm."
"No, I was but I will make a new one for you!"
"Really? Alright, when I'm older I'll be waiting for that arm to be made."
Despite not explaining how I'll make him an arm, Big Brother Jaque still wholeheartedly believed that I'll do it. That's why he is family to me.
While Big Brother Jaque and I were talking, I slowly hear very familiar footsteps coming closer.
"Crybaby, seems like you have plenty of time on your hands."
"No, not at all sir! I'll get right back to work!"
Seeing Mr. Doherty walk over and Big Brother get back to work, I realize that it's the perfect time to start my master plan. Walking up to Mr. Doherty, I gather my courage to talk to a person who was three times my height.
"uhhh, Mr. Doherty, can I learn how to become a craftsman?"
"Hmmm. Little one, why do you want to become a craftsman?"
As soon as Mr. Doherty answered my question with another question, he released the aura that made my legs go wobbly. Gritting my teeth while struggling to form words, I knew that if I didn't respond now I probably wouldn't be able to become a craftsman for a long time. As time ticked by and Mr. Doherty still expecting my response, sweat was dripping down my face and my vision was getting increasingly hazy. I start to move my mouth, trying with every last bit of energy to push the air out of my mouth.
"a...a....I..."
Smack!
I feel myself going over the limit. With everything going black, I feel my face hitting the ground.
...
"HA! hahahah"
Jolting awake with the feeling of cold water on my face, I look around to see Lorraine smiling at me while holding a cup of water.
"Arius, whatcha doing sleeping on a bench? And why do you have a bump on your head?"
"Lorraine, um, where am I? What time is it?"
"We're still in the workshop silly! It's already the afternoon! It's time to eat!"
"Oh, ok..."
As I was being pulled by Lorraine, I was deep in thought remembering what happened. I fainted before I could say anything. I failed to become his student. I felt down and eating the meat stew and bread that was given to me didn't help soothe the gloom.
"Arius, Arius! Why are you so sad? The food is good!"
"Yeah, the food is good, Lorraine. I'm sad about something else."
"What is it?"
"*sigh* I tried to become Mr.Doherty's apprentice but I failed."
"Well, that's tough. BUT! Stop being sad. If you're sad, you'll become more sad. So sad that you can't even enjoy the good food! If you really want to become his apprentice then don't give up! Try again, if that doesn't work, think of a way to try try again!"
"You know what, I try again Lorraine. Thank You!"
"No problem, just enjoy your food, also... can I have a bit of your stew?"
With my hopes raised in exchange for some(all) of my stew, I quickly get up to go find Mr. Doherty again. Running into the workspace, I see him in the same spot as Big Brother Jaque huffing and puffing on the ground with a helmet and chest plate on the ground. Walking up to him, I once again asked my question.
"Mr. Doherty, can I learn how to become a craftsman?"
Seeing me in front of him again, he smiles and responds to me with the same question and aura.
"Little one, why do you want to become a craftsman?"
The same as last time, my body went wobbly. But this time, not wasting my time, I quickly go to push myself to form the words I needed.
"I-I...w-want to...."
Smack!
Darkness enveloped me again.
...
Splash!
"HA! hahaha..."
Woken up once again by Lorraine with her cup full of water. She looked at me weirdly as she commented about my face.
"Arius, why did the bump on your head get bigger."
"I fell on my face. Thanks for waking me up Lorraine. I'll be counting on you to wake me up again"
"Wait, Arius!"
Without wasting a minute to spare, I quickly return back to find Mr. Doherty. This time I had a plan that might work.
"Mr. Doherty, can I learn how to become a craftsman?"
"Little one, why do you want to become a craftsman?"
"I want to make a..."
Smack!
Darkness
I tried to say my response as fast as possible before my body crumble under his aura. But it seems like if I don't focus on actively resisting the aura, my body nearly instantly goes to sleep. Maybe I could respond away from his aura. Maybe?
...
Splash! Cold! Run!
"MR. DOHERTY, I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BECOME A CRAFTSMAN!! I WANT TO BECAUSE-AEKK!"
"Learn to wait for a response and don't talk to someone from across the room."
Smack!
Darkness
I didn't work. As soon as I tried to shout my response, the response I got was the handle of a hammer hitting my face.
...
Splash! Cold! Run!
Ask!
Question!
Respon-
Smack! Darkness
...
This cycle continued for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. I tried many different ways to overcome the aura that Mr. Doherty emitted but nothing seemed to stick. At this point, my motivation was running low and I found myself sitting my Lorraine as my face ached from the many bumps and bruises it has.
"Um, Arius. You've tried everything you can. I think you can wait a year and try again when you're stronger."
"Yeah, maybe your right."
As I felt defeated, I looked outside to see the sunset. I was ready to give up. It's not like I have to start with being a craftsman, maybe I can find an alchemist or engraver to teach me. I was trying to make excuses for myself, I already checked to see if there were any alchemists or engraver in town and there wasn't. I had to go to the next town over, plus to learn alchemy and engraving which takes a lot of resources. Resources I didn't have, nor the money to buy them. Becoming a craftsman is really my only choice to make money. *sigh* This really feels like a dead end. I want to go home now.
'Really is this all you can do? I'm disappointed.'
'Dakria, I know. You don't have to rub it in.'
'No, you don't know! How can you give up simply for failing to succeed, you're will is stronger than that. You're actions disappoint your people!'
'My people. MY PEOPLE, I don't even know who my people are! I'm an orphan! No one, no book, no person ever told me what race I belong to. I've never seen anyone that looks like me. Everyone, even my family, says they don't know what I AM!'
I felt myself crying. I was disappointed in my actions but I was more disappointed in myself. Just because I was frustrated, I let my anger out on Dakria. After a few moments of silence, I hear Dakria respond to me in a low voice.
'You want to know what you are. You want to know your race. Fine, I'll tell you what you are! Arius! You're a Dwarf!'
'A dwarf?'
'Yes, you are from the race known as dwarfs, the Mighty Ones. Known for their unmatched technology and unwavering pride and will. Your actions have brought shame on our people's pride!'
'Pride? Shame?'
'...'
Seeing that Dakria no longer responded to me, I let everything settle in my head. I felt joy. Possibly the most joyful, heartfelt moment I've experienced, there are others like me. As I started to cry tears of joy, I kept thinking to myself about the answers to my deepest questions.
'I am not a nobody, I'm a part of a race. I'm a DWARF!'
Thinking about the last sentence Dakria said, I brought shame. Shame to my people. Shame on our pride. The first thing I did leaving home was bring shame. I felt anger and guilt boil in me. I felt I had to undo the shame. Even if I've given up, I have to keep going so that I can face my people, Dakria and myself in the future.
"Arius, why are you crying? It's not that bad, you can try again some other time."
"No, Lorraine. I'm going to try again now!"
"But I thought you'd given up."
"I have but I must accomplish this. For me, for Big Brother Jaque, for my people."
"Alright! That's the Arius I know! Show him how strong you are. As your Big Sis, I will always cheer you on."
Getting off the bench for a final time, I slowly walk towards the workspace once more. Once again, Mr. Doherty was in the same spot looking at Big Brother Jaque slowly hammering at another piece of metal.
"I will learn how to become a craftsman."
Sensing that there was something different about me, Mr. Doherty looked toward me with a look of respect before responding.
"Little one, why do you want to become a craftsman?"
Feeling the aura come down on me, I stop resisting it with my body. Channelling my will and feeling the foreign feel of my race's pride, I stare at Mr. Doherty directly in the eyes.
"I WANT TO BECOME A CRAFTSMAN TO MAKE BIG BROTHER A NEW ARM!"
Hearing my voice nice and clear, Mr. Doherty gives me a wide smile as the aura disappears.
"Alright, you may learn."
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Dakria's Fun Fact: Natural Awakenings
While the knowledge of Natural Awakenings is widespread, the actual understanding of how it works is safely guarded by clans, races, nobles and royalty. The only known way is to defy your mortal fate. You must overcome a deadly challenge, even though you weren't supposed to. Very few have managed to do this and Lorraine only managed to due to special factors.
Usually, the natural awakening that others refer to is actually Semi-Natural Awakening, which is achieved via certain special methods.