Smith

"Hey kid, you still here?" Hermon walked into the room. "Didn't the doc say you could leave if you wanted?"

Gruff rolled his eyes. "Not like there's anywhere for me to go."

"What about Smith? He's wanted to see you since he heard you came back."

"The blacksmith?"

"He feels bad he couldn't convince you to live with him when you were younger."

Gruff smiled. Smith always tried to lure him into an apprenticeship using h food. Gruff often took the food and ran.

"Well, he never got any customers when I lived there. The village kids always told me he would die because of me."

"He had a strange connection with you and your mother. When you disappeared, he went door to door, yelling at everyone. I'm ashamed to say he was the only person in this village who truly cared for you. The rest of us were so worried about that blasted prophecy that we blinded ourselves to a woman and child in need."

"I'll go see him. He is the only person in this village I have fond memories of, after all."

Hermon shifted uncomfortably. "I think he would like that."

The villagers crowded the streets around the hospital. As Gruff walked out, many of them averted their gazes from him. Gruff walked towards a group, and it parted. Ignoring their pleading eyes and ashamed glances, Gruff made his way toward the building that smelled of burning metal. Heat scorched his nostrils as he walked into the shop.

"Kid!" A burly man with a singed beard and smut on his face walked out of the back room. He picked Gruff off the floor, giving him the biggest bear hug. "I was worried about you! You should have told me you were leaving the village."

"Sorry."

"It's all water under the bridge. You found a place to call home, I hear. That's all I ever wanted for you."

"Sorry it couldn't be with you."

"Kid, stop saying sorry. You found your place." Smith smiled. "Your mother would have wanted that for you."

"I guess."

"Speaking of your mother… She left a load of books behind when she, well, when she left us." Smith stroked his beard. "I thought you might want to look at them now that you're older."

"Where are they?"

"They are upstairs. Go on up, I'll join you in a bit."

"You're not coming with?"

"I figured you would want to read them on your own. I've translated most of them, but she has been alive much longer than me." Smith scratched his chin hairs. "Well, you'll see when you get there."

"Okay, but I really don't mind if you want to join me."

"I'm okay, kid. I have to finish some stuff here anyway," Smith paused for a second. "You remember how to read, right?"

"Yeah, I gained two new teachers after you."

"That's good to hear." Smith's mustache twitched as he smiled.