Money

As Jack passed through the gates and walked further into the bustling city, he was struck by the stark change in scenery. After spending so much time surrounded by nature and the occasional isolated building, the sheer amount of people and activity was overwhelming.

The air was thick with the sound of chatter and the hustle and bustle of people setting up their stalls for the day ahead. Vendors called out to passersby, advertising their wares and haggling over prices.

The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the scents of spices and other cooking aromas. Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as he made his way through the throngs of people.

He was used to fending for himself in the wilderness, but the energy and vibrancy of the market was invigorating. As he walked, he took in the sights and sounds around him. Children ran and played, chasing each other through the crowds.

Merchants bartered with customers, their voices rising and falling in a rhythmic way. The colorful displays of fruits, vegetables, and other goods were a feast for the eyes. Despite the chaos around him, Jack felt a sense of calm and purpose. He had come to the city in search of something, and he was determined to find it. As he made his way through the market. Though he was surrounded by people and activity, Jack couldn't help but feel a sense of solitude. It was a nice place but he would soon be gone from this place.

As Jack made his way through the busy streets of the city, he approached a vendor who was selling handmade goods. "Excuse me," Jack said, "I'm looking for work and I was wondering if you needed any extra help?"

The vendor looked Jack up and down, sizing him up. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I don't need any extra help right now," he replied.

Undeterred, Jack thanked the vendor for his time and continued on his search. He approached another vendor, this time a fruit seller, and asked the same question. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can afford to hire anyone right now," the vendor replied.

Jack nodded understandingly and moved on to the next vendor. He repeated the same question but was met with yet another rejection. "I'm sorry, but I already have enough staff," the vendor said.

Finally, Jack approached a vendor who was selling baked goods. "Excuse me," Jack said, "I'm looking for work and I was wondering if you needed any extra help?"

The vendor looked Jack up and down, considering his offer. "Well, I could use an extra pair of hands," she said. "But I can only pay a small amount per piece you complete. Are you interested?"

Jack thought for a moment, but he knew that the pay wouldn't be enough to reach his goal. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm afraid I need to earn more money," he said politely.

The vendor nodded understandingly. "I see. Well, good luck in your search," she said.

Jack stood outside the building, peering through the tinted window. He could feel the heat emanating from inside and hear the sounds of clanging metal.

"I wish I could read," he muttered to himself, eyeing the wooden sign hanging above the door. He couldn't make out the words on the sign, but he could see that it had images carved into it.

Despite his lack of understanding, Jack was intrigued. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately hit by the heat and noise.

Jack stepped into the building, which was dimly lit and smelled of metal and oil. Ahead of him, he saw a counter with a few chairs scattered around it. Behind the counter, he could see a curtain that presumably led to the back of the shop.

As he approached the counter, Jack called out, "Excuse me, is anyone here?"

There was no response, so Jack called out again, louder this time. Still, there was no answer.

He waited for a few minutes, looking around the shop and admiring the various tools and weapons on display. He was about to give up and leave when he heard a noise behind the curtain.

A moment later, a burly man with a white beard emerged from behind the curtain. He looked Jack up and down, his expression unreadable.

"What can I do for you?" the man asked gruffly.

"I'm looking for work," Jack said, trying to sound confident.

The man raised an eyebrow. "What kind of work?"

"Anything, really," Jack said. "I'm a hard worker, and I'm willing to learn."

The man grunted. "We could use someone to help with the metalworking," he said. "Can you handle the heat?"

Jack nodded, eager to prove himself.

"Follow me," the man said, leading Jack to a table with metal rods. "Your job is to hammer these into shape," he said. "We pay by the pound, so the more you hammer, the more you earn. You got that?"

Jack nodded, picking up a hammer and a pair of tongs.

Before staring Jack looked at the two people working and noticed that the other workers would occasionally take the metal rods and place them into a nearby forge, which was a container used for heating the metal to make it easier to work with.

The forge was a large, square-shaped container made of metal, with an opening at the top where the workers would place the metal rods. It was filled with hot coals, which glowed brightly with intense heat.

When it was time to heat up the metal, one of the workers would use a pair of tongs to carefully pick up a metal rod and place it into the opening at the top of the forge. The rod would then be left in the forge for a few minutes until it turned bright red and was hot enough to work with.

After the metal rod had been heated, the worker would use the tongs to carefully remove it from the forge and place it on the table. Jack watched as the workers then used hammers to pound the hot metal into shape, taking care to avoid burning themselves on the hot metal.

As he continued to work, Jack realized that the key to success in metalworking was to strike a balance between working quickly and working carefully. He learned that he needed to be fast enough to keep up with the other workers, but also precise enough to avoid making mistakes that could ruin the metal rods.

After a long day of hard work in the metalworking shop, Jack had hammered an impressive amount of metal. The burly man who had talked to him earlier was impressed with his work and handed Jack a handful of coins as payment. Jack felt a sense of satisfaction as he pocketed the coins. He knew that he had earned every single one of them.

The work was not glamorous, but it was honest labor, and Jack was proud of what he had accomplished. He had spent the entire day pounding metal rods into shape, using a hammer and tongs to shape them into various forms. Despite the heat and the sweat that poured down his face, Jack had refused to slow down. He was determined to earn as much money as possible so he could pay for his tuition at the academy.

When he was finished, he hammered an impressive amount of metal. The burly man who had hired him was pleased with his work and handed him a small bag of coins as payment. Jack felt a surge of pride as he pocketed the coins. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

"Hey, man do you know any good and cheap restaurant." Said Jack as he caught up to one of the men that was working with him earlier.

Tom led Jack through the bustling streets of the city, pointing out various landmarks and sharing stories about his life. Jack found himself enjoying the company of this stranger, feeling at ease in his presence.

After a short walk, they arrived at a small, unassuming restaurant called "The Rusty Spoon". The smells wafting from inside were tantalizing, and Jack's stomach rumbled with hunger. Tom assured him that the food was delicious and affordable, and Jack trusted him.

As they walked into the restaurant, Jack was struck by its simplicity. The décor was minimalistic, with wooden tables and chairs scattered around the room. The menu was handwritten on a chalkboard and hung above the counter.

Feeling a little overwhelmed, since he couldn't read he just ordered the same thing Tom was having.

Soon, a server arrived at their table with two steaming bowls of stew and a basket of warm bread. The smell was heavenly, and Jack's stomach rumbled even louder. He had only eaten poisonous mean, fish, and some fruit, with no seasoning.

Tom dug in eagerly, and Jack followed suit. The stew was rich and flavorful, with tender chunks of meat and a variety of vegetables. The bread was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, and it was perfect for dipping in the stew. It was enough to feel a bit emotional again.

' I never thought that food would make me feel like this' Jack thought to himself.

As they ate, Tom continued to share stories about his life. He told Jack about his family, his work at the metalworking shop, and his adventures traveling across the country. Jack listened with attention, feeling grateful for the unexpected friendship he had found.

By the time they finished their meal, Jack felt full and content. He thanked Tom for his kindness and offered to pay for his share of the meal, but Tom refused, saying that it was his pleasure to help out a new friend.

As they stepped out of the restaurant, Tom clapped Jack on the back. "Thanks for coming out with me, Jack," he said. "It was great to get to know you. If you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to ask."

Jack smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and gratitude. "Thanks, Tom," he said. "I appreciate your kindness. And I won't forget your offer."

Jack knew that he needed to save every coin he had if he was going to be able to afford a beast for the academy. He had the equivalent of one silver, and he needed one more in just two days. As he looked around the city for a place to spend the night, he debated whether to stay in an inn or sleep in an alley.

He knew that an inn would offer more comfort and safety, but it would also cost him a few coins that he couldn't afford to spend. On the other hand, sleeping in an alley was risky, as it was exposed to the elements and to potential danger. But it was also free, and it would save him the cost of an inn.

After weighing his options, Jack decided to take the risk and sleep in the alley. He knew that it wasn't the most comfortable or safe option, but he couldn't afford to spend any more money than he already had. He found a relatively sheltered spot between two buildings, and he lay down on the ground, He curled himself up into a ball, trying to ward off the chill of the night. As he closed his eyes, he felt a sense of unease but went to sleep nonetheless.