Learning a Trade, again 2

Learning a Trade, again 2...

"How'd you manage that?" Selia queried, still recovering from her astonishment.

"Magic. I'm blessed by the light. Haven't you heard the buzz?" Selia rifled through her thoughts until it clicked.

"Ohh! I see now. You're the magic kid everyone's talking about in Lutia. That explains a lot, including your charming attitude."

"Excuse me? A scrawny kid showed up at your door, seeking help. Your response was a swindle of a deal and a chuckle at his attempts. And I'm the one with a charming attitude?" Jet's anger surged, blunting his aversion to sharing his prey.

Selia burst into laughter. "Kid, you're a real piece of work. When a stranger arrives at your doorstep asking for help, consider yourself lucky not to be shown the door. If I granted every nutcase's wishes, I'd go bankrupt overnight. Second, you slammed the door on my face, then stroll back like nothing happened. That's a charming attitude."

Considering her perspective, Jet had to admit she had a point. He'd been isolated for four years, conversing solely with family members. Growing accustomed to affirmative responses, he'd forgotten basic social norms and even common sense.

His hunger only exacerbated matters, fostering tunnel vision and irritability. Jet realized Selia was correct; his actions that morning had amounted to a tantrum.

"I'm truly sorry," he offered sincerely, meeting her gaze. "I can't justify my behavior. I'd understand if you wanted to nullify our agreement."

Selia erupted in laughter again.

"Hold on, kid. I called you mad and impolite, and I kinda like that. As you so eloquently stated, I'm a bit of a jerk myself. Birds of a feather, right? Our deal's still on."

Handing him a small knife with a wooden handle, she continued, "Rule one: bleed out the game quickly. If blood clots, the meat spoils. Make a deep cut in the neck, then hang them upside down to drain the blood." She indicated a nearby clothesline.

"When you don't need the fur, I go straight for the head, speeds things up."

Jet set down the knife and conjured water, freezing it into a razor-sharp blade, then severing the birds' heads, using the knife for the squirrels.

Selia whistled in approval. "Impressive trick. Not squeamish about blood, are you?"

"As I mentioned earlier, I'm starving. Too famished to care about round eyes or a warm pelt; I see them as sustenance."

Selia gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the hunter's spirit!"

Taking the animals, she hung them, erroneously deeming the line too high for Jet's reach. He saw no need to correct her.

"Given our master-apprentice dynamic and all that, care to explain why you came to me instead of your folks? I don't know your family, but any farmer knows butchering. Hiring someone else would be pricey."

"True." Jet weighed how to answer. Meeting her gaze, he asked, "Just between us, master-apprentice confidentiality and all that?"

Selia nodded, surprised by the genuine response instead of a sassy comeback.

"As far back as I can remember, my relationship with my brothers has been strained, particularly with my older sibling."

Jet decided to confide, releasing the burden that weighed on him. Speaking to a stranger was the best way to relieve his stress and tarnish Orpal's reputation. Truth remained his guiding principle.

"I don't know if it's due to my magic, but I've always had a robust appetite. It wouldn't be an issue if I didn't have four siblings, one with a congenital ailment. Her treatments are expensive, barely keeping her housebound."

"Thank the Gods I'm an only child. But what's that got to do with your older brother?" Jet pretended not to have heard her.

"It means despite my parents' hard work, we don't have much food on the table." Jet indicated his thin arm to evoke guilt. "And my brother's a growing lad too; he'd like more food than he actually gets.

Periodically, especially during winters, he flies into fits of rage, blaming me for everything amiss in his life. He's said things like:

'Why'd you have so many kids if you can't properly feed them? Why's he nearly eating as much as me? He doesn't lift a finger, while I slave away in the fields year-round! He's not my brother; he's a Leech draining my life! I wish you'd died that cursed day!'" Jet imitated Orpal's voice and words.

"Are you making this up to guilt-trip me, kid? That's twisted." Selia furrowed her brows, skeptical anyone could say such things to a younger sibling.

Jet shook his head, exhaling. "I wish I were."

"Did your father give him a good thrashing? Maybe that'd knock some sense into him."

Again, Jet shook his head. "No. It started when I was much younger, and even when Dad resorted to spanking, it only worsened things. It got to the point where I now sleep in the girls' room."

Selia stifled a laugh to avoid a crude joke. "Too soon."

"Too soon for what?"

"Never mind. Please continue."

"That was until a year ago. Then I started practicing magic, and before long, I was skilled enough to handle nearly all household chores on my own. Sometimes I pitch in with the livestock too. I've even managed to keep my sister's condition in check." Jet inhaled deeply, mustering the strength to add, "Most of the time."

"But everything's better now, right?"

"Wrong. The house needs repairs, as does the barn and most of our tools. Factor in all the random crap that crops up and takes precedence, and I don't see our situation improving anytime soon, neither does my brother.

Now that he can't blame me anymore, he's turned his ire toward my ailing sister. He's said things that I won't utter aloud." Jet spat to rid himself of the vile memory's taste.

"To the extent of suggesting it would be better for her to..." Jet nodded towards the hung game. 𝑵𝑶𝚟𝖊𝗅𝓃𝓮xt.𝐂𝞸𝐌

"To put her down like an animal? Kid, we may be jerks, but your brother's beyond rational."

Jet clenched his teeth, recollecting Orpal's precise words.

"It'd be a mercy for her, for all of us! She can't run, can't work. Tista won't experience friendship, love, or motherhood. She's destined to be a burden on the family. And what about when you guys are gone? Who'll look after her? Eliza? Or perhaps the little Leech prodigy?"

Jet could still hear his mother's tears in response, Eliza and Tista rushing to her side, and Raaz's blows rendering Orpal immobile for days.

"Certainly." He responded to Selia, a low growl in his tone. "And that's why I detest him and won't let him lay a finger on a single bite of MY game."

"I understand. I don't even know him, yet I despise the guy's guts already."

"I don't hate him," Jet corrected, "Hate, like love, is irrational. My contempt for him, on the other hand, is well-founded."

"Wow! Profound thoughts for someone so young. Impressive for a hunter-in-training!

But enough chatter, time to get to work."

Selia removed the squirrels, handing one to Jet.

"We'll start with these little critters. They're smaller and better for practice; even if you mess up, it's not a big deal—there isn't much meat on them."

She positioned a squirrel on a cutting board, preparing another for Jet.

"The technique I'm showing you applies to most rodents. However, in case you ever find a rabbit with pristine white fur, bring it to me. It's valuable only until it starts turning brown in spring. Even a minor mistake can spoil the fur, reducing its worth."

Selia returned the short knife to Jet. "If you want to learn properly, let's do things my way. Use the knife, mimic my actions, and heed my instructions."

Jet nodded in agreement.

"On the squirrel's back, pinch the hide and cut it near the base of the neck to expose at least half of it. Now use your index and middle fingers on both hands to create an opening once you've made the incision. Hook your fingers under the skin, pulling one hand towards the rear and the other towards the head..."

Throughout the process, Jet noted that skinning a squirrel was akin to removing a wet, sticky glove.

Following that, Selia demonstrated the removal of the head, legs, and tail.

"I know it's disappointing, but that bushy tail isn't fur—it's all body hair. However, you can still use it for insulation; it's incredibly warm and soft. Now, the challenging part.

When you gut anything, be cautious while making incisions. Cutting open the bladder or intestines ruins the meat due to bile or feces. It's irreparable. This rule applies to all animals, so pay attention, kid."

Gutting the squirrel was messy and gruesome, yet Jet could already scent the meat at the end of the tunnel, and the discomfort was fleeting.

Once finished, Selia skewered both squirrels to roast in her fireplace.

"While we wait for our morning snack, I'll show you how to scald a bird for plucking. As the name suggests, the water shouldn't be too hot or cold—just right for you to immerse a finger without burning it, yet you can't endure the heat for more than a second. That's the ideal scalding temperature."

Selia retrieved a large cauldron, positioning it over a campfire behind her house.

"It can be messy work, so it's better done outside whenever possible."

The aroma of cooking meat wafting from inside ignited Jet's salivation, compelling him to remain vigilant against the risk of overcooking.

"Jorun!" At his command, the cauldron filled with water.

Jet thrust his hand into the water, casting "Infiro!" to release steam.

Selia whistled again, impressed. "Swift and efficient. I'm starting to warm up to this master-apprentice thing."

"I'm beginning to see why that old crone Nerea claimed you. We should be ready, but first..."

Selia briefly retreated inside, returning with two small plates of roasted squirrel.

Before she could extend Jet's plate to him, he'd already grabbed it, devouring the food like a man possessed. He gnawed and sucked, leaving only bones behind.

After licking his fingers clean, Jet returned to his composed demeanor.

"By the gods, such manners," Selia's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Care for seconds? Because that seriously gave me the creeps, and I know a thing or two about..."

His laughter drowned out her jests. Jet's eyes were locked on the second squirrel, almost within reach. Before Selia could offer him a portion, he had already pounced.

Once he'd consumed the second squirrel, Jet noticed Selia frozen in place.

Her mouth gaped, but no words emerged; the plate remained suspended near his face.

Gently placing the bones back in the plate, Jet remarked, "You didn't need to hold the plate for me, but thank you. It was very kind of you."