School is beginning

As Zain entered the reception hall, he knew that he was in a well-respected place. The cobble stone floors, and walls were enough to make him feel a sense of reverence. The only place he knew to have anything other than wood board was the church in his hometown. The desk there was that of a darker wood with a more eloquent craftsman than most of what he had seen. As he looked around in awe, the receptionist cleared her throat to catch his attention and he approached her. "What may I assist you with today young man?" She asked as if by looking at him she and her tightly wound bun of blond hair knew he couldn't be here for the classes. "Well actually," Zain started while scratching at his scruffy red hair. "I came here because I had three minor apprenticeships in my hometown and though maybe I could become more of a master craftsman in all three if I take the courses pertaining to them here and worked on an apprenticeship somewhere else in before I reach eighteen." The woman's head kind of tilted to the side as she asked. "And what are these fields?" "Alchemy, Smithing, and Munitions crafting." Zain responded almost as if he was as proud as one could be. As he extended his hand holding three pieces of scroll parchment.

 The woman took the pieces of parchment carefully unrolled them and her eyes widened a bit as she read the one written by his mother. Then she read the second one and you could see her face getting more perplexed as she read the one from his father and when she finished her hand was shaking as she reached for the third. The last one was from the smith who had trained him some. She read it diligently and nearly passed out upon reading the signature she nearly passed out. "Excuse me a second I need to confirm something." She said as she scurried off and up the hall. A few moments later she came back to the desk with an older gentleman who had on a pair of spectacles. As he approached, he had a tall eloquent demeanor to him that exuded confidence. He smiled at Zain who waved politely at him and approached the desk and started reading the parchments. He appeared more confused than the female who had gone to retrieve him as he read then he asked Zain out right. "So, who taught you Alchemy?" Zain taken back by this question responded with, "I helped my mother in her alchemy shop every once in a while, but it wasn't that impressive I was learning the basics and asking questions that most curious minds would ask I think." The man nodded and then proceeded to ask Zain another question, "And who taught you what you know on munitions crafting?" Zain again responded not knowing how any of this was relevant, "I worked with my father's guidance on it for the towns guard and for the hunters of the town." The old man once again was wildly confused and then proceeded to ask a familiar question again, "And so who did you learn smithing from?" Zain smiled briefly at the thought of the forge again and responded, "Well both my parents called him 'Brother Dam', but he told me to call him Mr. Damascus."

 Both of them looked at him in utter shock as he said this as if these were wild accusations but eventually, they both calmed down and returned to normal and then the man spoke again but this time to the woman. "You heard the boy he clearly wants to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him and showed him the way." "Yes sir." She responded as she tried to continue on with her sentence looking at the man his gaze grew stern, and she withdrew what ever she was about to say as she started filling out paperwork for Zain.

 The older man smiled gently at Zain and asked another form of question to him while the woman was filling out paperwork. "So, Zain do you possibly possess magic?" "No, I do not which is kind of a bummer as both my parents do. But everyone in my hometown said what I lack in raw talent I make up for in ingenuity and knowledge." Was how Zain responded to that. "Very good young man just don't let that get you into trouble if someone tries to go after you for a magic fight." "Okay I'll keep that in mind sir." Zain said as the old man turned to walk away.

 In no time at all the cart had been unloaded and Zain had been enrolled in the academy and the two upfront took what they needed out of the chest full of money to pay for tuition. It had all shaped up well and Zain now had three years' worth of courses to take to prepare for the outside world and his future apprenticeships and jobs.