"Hold it steady Link!" Sparks flew as a hammer repeatedly swung down on the heated metal that would soon be a sword.
"Im trying Papa!" Link shouted as he struggled to keep the metal in place. "Youre hitting it too hard!"
After five more whacks, Links grip on the metal released and it fell to the floor with a muffled bang, warping and becoming disfigured. Link backed away, ashamed and embarrassed.
"Im sorry i didnt mean to, it was an accident i swear-"
"Link relax!" Seldons voice boomed throughout the workshop. "Its not the end of the world. Lets just take a break and pick up on this tomorrow, yeah?"
Link nodded, still not meeting his fathers eyes. He was about to walk out the door when Seldon called for him to come sit next to him.
"Link, blacksmiths are a dying profession here in Charsdon. With all the wonderful advances our cities inventors are coming up with, theres little use for a blacksmith in this town. Were just barely scraping by as it is. And ever since i lost my arm, things have been an uphil battle for us." He paused for a moment and turned Links face to look at his. "Which is why i need your help here.
"I know that Papa, but there has to be some other way to get by. Like you said, being a blacksmith is only barely keeping us from living on the streets. And soon enough even that wont be enough. And with your missing arm, and the fact that im just no good-"
"Hey!" The sudden outburst from Seldon made Link jump, wide eyed. "I dont EVER want to hear you say youre not good enough. Youre my son. You will always be good enough. Things like this just take practice, which we will get plenty more of tomorrow. Understood?"
Link nodded.
"Good. Now go get cleaned up and go find your mother. Were done here for today but go see if she needs help with anything. Once yourr done there youre free for today."
"Yes Papa," Link sighed, and he slumped out the workshops backdoor.
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Link swung open the door to the living quarters of the workshop. Inside he observed his entire life. To couldren where his father made his favorite meals. The chair by the southern window where his mother read him his favorite stories when he was younger. How long would it be before all this was taken away from him? Until their house was taken back by the town bank and his family was living on the streets?
He pushed these thoughts out of his head as he climbed the stairs to his mother's study. Even before he opened the door he could hear his mothers contraptions buzzing and flying about. Cautiously he opened the door to peak inside, and instantly was hit right between the eyes by some sort of flying contraption. Link was knocked back as gears went flying all about the room.
"Link!" His mother shouted as she threw off her goggles and rushed to help him up. "Oh my poor sweet baby im so sorry, i thought the door was locked!"
"Its alright Ma, im use to it" Link laughed rubbing his forehead. "What sort of invention have you concocted for us today?"
Links mother looked at him with sqinted eyes and a tilted head. "Who are you and what have you done with my son?" She asked through a poorly hidden grin. "The real Link would never ask his beloved mother about her insane inventions."
"Ive had a bad day Ma, just humor me for a bit."
"Alright well since you asked, ive begun making a prototype of a machine that will allow normal people to fly through the air!"
"Um, Ma? We already have those. Theyre called hot air balloons. People use them all the time."
Links mother looked flabbergasted. "No not a balloon. Balloons are so slow! Im talking about a fast flying machine with wings, powered by a propeller and -"
Link looked around his mother's study while she rambled on about something called "aerodynamics" and other stuff he has no clue about. Scores of gears and steam pipes lined the walls and desks. Blueprints and skematics of various inventions his mother created lay sprawling across the tables and desks . Some successful, others not. But none were enough to get them out of their current position by making it big. Not that he blamed his mother of course, she did the very best she could, and her inventions helped make chores around the house easier.
"And so i found out that when wind- oh honey youre zoned out, im boring you arent I? Im sorry" his mom spurted, clearly flustered.
"Hey ma thanks for sharing this with me, really. It was interesting. But you seem pretty busy and i dont wanna distract you anymore then i have to. Papa sent me up here to see if you needed help but.."
"Its alright sweetie i appriciate it. Youre a good boy but i think im fine here for now. Run along now and enjoy the rest of the day. Your fathers making pumpkin stew for dinner, so theres something to look foward to" she said with a kiss on the forehead.
Link nodded and pranced down the stairs and out the door. He decided to go to his favorite spot. Charsdon was located almost entirely inside a giant cavern, with giant walls blocking the way out for any unauthorized travelers. But through exploring he found a ledge that almost allowed him to see over the walls and what lay beyond.
"One day, im gonna get out of this town" he thought to himself. "Im gonna go beyond the walls, and find a way to make the money to keep our house. No, ill buy a better house. A bigger one where Ma's study is twice as big and Papa's kitchen can be stocked with the best ingredients."
"One day ill make get there. And my parents will have the life they deserve. If only i could get past those damn walls."
____________________________________
But if Link knew what was going to happen, he would have hopped down off his perch, went back to his home and never thought about it again. But thats not how life works. Link didnt know what was going to happen. The hardships he would soon endure, and the things he would lose along the way. No, instead he looked on, blissfully unaware of the events happening around his little cave dwelling town. But it wouldnt be long before he came to realize just how cruel the world can be.
