Onyx

[ CH 2 ] - Ignorant Ambitions

Grudges take careful planning. Fumbling over one's feet while moving forward would only lead into an irreversible disaster.

At least, that was how Jon defended his quiet actions for the month after the festival. He did all the chores he could find around the quiet smithy that connected to his home for his plans. Polish the blades and armor, sort the surplus, clean out any soot from the furnace, and his most recent achievement...

The straight sign above the door of his father's blacksmith.

"Welp." Jon grunted, hopping from his ladder to look back at his handiwork. "Roy's Smithy... real creative." He breathed, wringing out his shoulders before pushing up the new pair of gray glasses on his face. "Daaad, the sign's fixed." Walking into the building, he saw his father's face pop out over the front counter.

"Ah, finally! Thanks for that, Jon. I was planning to do it before, but had a lot to work on, so... you know?" His father, Roy, said, coming up to a stand behind the counter, straightening the black smithing apron he wore over his gray tunic and pants. "Is it straight? Like, actually straight now?"

"You can go check if you want. I just guessed, soooo..." Jon shrugged.

"I'll just assume it's good enough." Roy shrugged. "Not like it makes much of a difference if it's slightly off. It just needed to be nailed down again since it was starting to fall off."

"Mhm, so... anything else that you need done, or is the list empty now?" Jon asked, sighing as he brought the ladder and toolbox inside before shutting the door behind him. He walked in, seeing the various sets of armor and weaponry on display.

"Not much now." Roy answered with his arms crossed. "Just some more orders, but you don't know how to smith, so I can't have you do those."

"Ah, alright." Jon nodded.

"What's with your sudden enthusiasm though? You want to take over the smith at some point or what?" Roy laughed as Jon scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Like I'd want to. It's already a pain cleaning out the furnace for a new batch of coal. I don't want to deal with that everyday."

"Then?"

"I... wanted to help out?"

"You? Really?" Roy raised an eyebrow at his son. "The same person who hides in his room, reading books on magic all day instead of the studies I tell him to do?"

"Hey, I still finished them!"

"Yeah, a day late." Roy raised an eyebrow.

"Still finished it, didn't I?"

"I don't think you should be proud of that."

"Says who?" Jon crossed his arms with a huff.

"Says me, you know, the person teaching you?" Roy chuckled, shaking his head as he gestured for the boy to follow him into the smithy part of the building. A large furnace lay dormant while various ores and metallic parts remained scattered. "So, spill, kiddo. What's on your mind?" He idly leaned on a nearby workbench.

"Nothing." Jon pouted, looking away.

"Jon, the only time you ever did chores this much was because you were working up the courage to ask me something... like when you asked me if I could buy you a bunch of books." He chuckled, picking up a nearby metallic piece. He messed with it in his hands, waiting a few moments for a response.

"To be fair... they were expensive." Jon huffed.

"I know, so what's eating at you?"

"You'll get angry..."