Chapter 5 - Start of Blacksmithing

Having decided to practice Archery, Theo found an empty field with trees surrounding it hiding it from public eyes behind the estate. Few people venture there as it was far from where most of the locals stayed at.

Bringing a wooden target he got from the training ground, he tied it to one of the tree brunch and started practising.

Theo realised as he practised that 5 Arrows were too few as he had to go back and forth picking them and shooting them constantly thus he ended up buying another 5 sets spending 50 Points giving him a total of 25 Arrows to practice with.

He missed the target almost 80% of the time with the ones hitting being far from the bullseye.

'Patience is virtue, practice makes perfect.' Theo kept repeating in his mind to keep himself from throwing the bow to the ground and buying the skills instead.

After what felt like forever, he heard,

Ding!

[Basic Archery Learnt, Proficiency: 1%]

Ding!

[For tenacity, learning a new skill that Host has almost zero talent in 200 Points are rewarded.]

Ignoring the system's sarcasm Theo thought, 'Looks like I would have to spend more time practising to increase the Proficiency.'

Theo picked up all the arrow, storing them in his inventory before going back for dinner.

When he reached the main hall, the family butler Tom, an old man that has been working at the county for more than 50 years could be seem waiting for him.

Testing out the all-seeing eyes, Theo looked at Tom's status.

Name: Thomas Smith

Age: 72

Danger Level: 4

HP: 450/450

"Little young master, the count and countess is already having dinner at the dinning room." Tom informed him.

"Thanks Tom"

After deactivating the skill, Theo quickly went to wash his face and hands before running to the dining room taking a seat at his place.

"Good evening father, good evening mother." Theo greeted Albert and Lila while the servant brought in his meal.

"Look at the mess on your clothes, where did you run off to? The servants said that you weren't at the training ground." Lila spoke.

"After practising some swordsmanship and training, I went to explore the space behind the estate." Which wasn't a lie, Theo thought.

"Alright, becareful next time and don't be out for too long or we'll worry."

Theo nodded in agreement.

'I miss Alex abit, if he was here, mom would be more focused on him and lecture me less.' Theo joked in his mind thinking of his brother.

Rubbing Theo's head while he ate, Albert spoke in a proud tone, "I heard from the knight captain that you are doing very well in swordsmanship!" Laughing happily while Lila shook her head with a smile, Albert continued, "I thought that you would end up being a bookworm with no interest in swordsmanship, who would have thought that you would end up being so talented with both the pen and the sword."

"It's thanks to Sir John teaching me that I am doing well in swordsmanship" Theo praised the captain knight to avoid any suspicion.

"Alright, alright. Although we are proud of you, your safety and health is more importantly. Don't overwork yourself too much." Lila reminded while giving Albert a look.

"Yes, yes, your mother is right. Your well-being is more important" Albert replied henpecked.

"Hehehe, yes mom" Theo laughed getting a glare from his father.

Theo returned to his room after dinner.

In his room, Theo took out a small wooden target and placed it on the wall of his room and stood in the other end. He then checked one of his newly acquired skills,

Daggers Throwing lvl 1

- able to hit a target in a straight line within 10 meters.

- Proficiency: 0%

Buying 3 low-quality throwing knife's for 5 Points each, and started practising which to his surprise came naturally, hitting it in the bullseye simultaneously.

Theo continued practising to increase the Proficiency while he thought of his future plans. 'Hey system, are you still not going to tell me about your existence.'

[For the thousandth time Host, you are not authorised for more information regarding System.]

'Hmmm... well it was worth a shot.'

'I'll be going to the capital in 2 years. I should increase the Proficiency of my skills and/or learn some new skills as much as possible. I'm unsure of the situation in the academy, my freedom might be limited giving me less time to myself.'

Ding!

[Dexterity increased by 1]

'Looks like Dexterity can be increase while practising throwing daggers.'

As he practised, Theo noticed the dagger getting more and more blunt as he kept hitting the target.

'Hmmm... I should look for a forge and make my own throwing knife and arrows. It would help me save Points while increasing my blacksmithing Proficiency as well.'

The next day, after completing his Daily Quest, Theo went around the territory to look for a forge he could use discreetly. After a while, he found an old forge at the edge of the territory which was not occupied. After asking around, he found out that the owner of the forge had just retired from old age, as he was single with no sons nor apprentice, it was just left abandoned.

This was exactly what Theo was looking for, so he left to look for the old blacksmith hoping to use the forge. From a noble family, Theo had saved his allowance since he doesn't spend much therefore he planned to buy the forge from the old blacksmith.

The old blacksmith sold the forge for 50 silvers which was cheaper than Theo expected. As he was too young to buy the supplied such as the ores, coal, tools, Theo ask the old blacksmith if he could sell him his old tools and buy some supplies in his place as he didn't want people to know what he was doing.

"I'm too weak to continue forging while too healthy to die. I'll get you what you need as long as you pay me" the old blacksmith told Theo. He could earn some extra coins and live more comfortably in the last few years of his life while doing almost nothing which was a bargain.

Theo agreed happily.

Theo spent once or twice a week in the forge making his own arrows and throwing knifes while spending the other days practising his swordsmanship, archery and knife throwing skills.

(Authors note: I changed Daggers Throwing to Knife Throwing)

He also formed a harmonious with the old blacksmith, taking care of the old man when he was free since he didn't have any family members nor friends that could keep him company. Theo liked the fact that the old man didn't ask any questions and ignored the fact that a kid was blacksmithing without master.

Theo would sometimes make swords as well and asked the old blacksmith to help him sell them. He give the old blacksmith a small portion of the profit, using a portion to buy ores and save the rest. He didn't need to make himself sword as well since his father had already gifted him one when Albert learnt that he was talented in swordsmanship.