Volume 14 Chapter 49:

Volume 14 Chapter 49:

Later in the day, Arlo took a deep breath as he waited. He and the other blacksmiths waited for the instructors to enter; it was time for the blacksmith finals. However, standing here only made him slightly nervous. His stomach churned as he felt his lunch coming back up. 

One of his friends patted him on the back, “Arlo, please calm down a bit more.” 

Like Arlo, he was also a halfling. There weren't many halflings in this class. That was how the two were able to form a friendship with one another. It was better than being alone.

“I’m fine.” Arlo continued to take deep breaths as he watched calmly.

"..." His friend wanted to say something but paused. He understood the situation. 

Most halflings were scrutinized by their races. However, it was usually murmurs and scoffs. Arlo's situation was different. These students continued to talk down about him in front of his face! It was because of the people he was with. Some wanted to use Arlo to get to them, while others thought he was unworthy of being friends with people like this. 

Even now, they stared at him with contempt. But that all stopped when the instructors entered. 

"Today's final shall be simple. I want you all to take an ore and smelt it down. The assistant instructors and I will check it. You have the whole day to complete it." The students nodded as they headed to their stations. Each assistant instructor came over, asking them what ore they wanted. 

“Which one do you want?”

“Cobalt.” Arlo calmly stated, which caused the assistant instructor to be taken aback. However, he nodded as he handed it over. The other students who stood there also scoffed at him, “How could he choose something like that?” 

Arlo calmly answered. The assistant instructor was taken aback, clearly not expecting him to name such an ore. However, he shook his head and handed it over. It was a beautiful black ore with an aquamarine glow to it.

The students kept glancing at him before scoffing. 

"Why choose an ore like that?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"He's asking to flunk." 

That ore was one of the sturdiest materials they had been taught. Moreover, to choose so on the finals. From how it was structured, it was clear this finals was simple. Choosing an easier material was for the best.

However, Arlo took a deep breath as he placed the ore into the furnace. The others slowly got to work. The sounds of hammering enveloped the room. Once they were finished, the students walked over to the instructor. 

“Go do it again.”

“...Eh?” The students were baffled. Was this not enough? This was the same amount of purity that they had always made when they did so. But the instructor sighed, “Keep doing it.” Nothing left to be said as the students got to work again. More and more were told to do so again. 

“...” Then the instructor glanced at Arlo, who had been tempering the ore for quite some time. Unlike the others, he was one of the few who had chosen quite a hard ore. That was when Arlo started to hammer it down. That was something that caused the others to do so at the same time. 

Slowly, the hammer continued to sound brilliantly. And that vibrant sound caused the others to turn to look. It was such a mellow sound compared to what the others were doing. The instructor smiled as he watched Arlo work.

Before long, Arlo brought the ingot over to the instructors. 

“You passed.” 

When that was finished, the same could be said about Carolyn and the others as they take a deep sigh. “Phew! We’re finally done with the finals as well!” Their general studies test was finished, and there was something else they didn’t need to worry about. Carolyn and the others headed back to the island, where there was a warm and hot meal waiting for them.  

Carolyn and the others froze. But that was only because they couldn’t believe it. The aroma and that deliciousness! It was used with delicious oils and other things. Keith smiled, “Just this once. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” It was a treat for all of the hard work they’ve done these last couple of days. But that alone was enough to cause them to cry in happiness. 

As they continued to eat the food with happiness, Herrick couldn’t help but ask, “Professor, do you know what our magic finals are going to be?” 

“Herrick, you understand I can’t tell you about it. It would be considered cheating.”

“But magic was never my strong suit.” Even as he grew, there was nothing to say about this. Keith took a deep sigh, “You just need to study again. You’ve done it for the general studies one.” The lion had tried everything and had been doing this for quite some time now. Keith smiled, you gusy just need to work hard and not do anything wrong. That was something very much so.