Chapter 35 : Apprentice
By the time William leaves City Hall, he finally understands why Trojjan refused to make the delivery himself. It is simply because the head clerk is insufferable. With his large potbelly, snouty nose, and a weird laugh that creeps out everyone around him, the man looks more like a pig than a human.
Unlike the sophisticated teacher William just met who dressed with quiet elegance,the head clerk dresses gaudily in colors loud enough to hurt the eyes. On top of that, he kept William trapped for half an hour, endlessly bragging about all the expensive things decorating his office before he finally excuses himself, allowing a thoroughly exhausted William to leave.
Seven days pass in a blur. For the next week, William throws himself into his usual chores, trying to keep his mind off the mysterious teacher. Every morning begins the same way: mucking out the drafty stables, brushing Betty until her white coat shines, and sweeping the layer of dust from the apothecary floor.
Between the cleaning, Trojjan begins letting William help prepare simple remedies. Under the apothecary's watchful eye, he spends hours grinding herbs and measuring ingredients to brew medicines for the seasonal coughs and colds spreading through the city.
Whenever he finds a little free time, William slips away to John's forge. During a few of those visits, he notices something has changed. The way John and Cecily look at each other, the way they speak—it all feels different. William cannot quite put his finger on it, but the change is impossible to miss. Before William has much time to think about it, a shocking news spreads through the city.
The insufferable head clerk has been arrested for corruption.
Honestly, the corruption itself isn't the surprise—apparently, everyone in the city already knew because the idiot couldn't stop boasting about it. The shocking part is that he was actually arrested for it.
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Word spreads like wildfire through the streets that the pig-faced man was caught red-handed embezzling massive amounts of city funds—money that had been specifically allocated for city development. The revelation leaves most of the townspeople in a state of joy, but no one enjoyed the news more than someone in the apothecary shop.
William could see the gloating smile in Trojjan face when he told William. According to him, the entire world has become a much better place with that man safely behind bars.
For the rest of the day Trojjan kept smiling and even took William out for eating roast pork.
A Few days later ,one evening, after cleaning the stables, William comes inside to have dinner. He sees Trojjan already sitting at the table with a serious expression and an extra bowl of gruel waiting for him.
William sits down carefully.
‘Something serious... Well, the herb supplies have been coming in just fine. From the number of customers, I can tell the shop is doing well. So... is there anything else?’
After a brief silence Trojjan clears his throat, pulling William out of his thoughts."I wanted to talk about something important."
William looks at Trojjan after setting down his spoon."Have you thought about your future, kid?"
‘Future... My future is finding magic. Yes,that's right after I find magic, I'll learn it and make a name for myself. But what if…..I never manage to find magic? What would I do then?’William's thoughts are interrupted by Trojjan's voice.
"If you haven't planned anything” Trojjan's gaze lingers on his bowl for a long moment. He stirs the gruel once with his spoon, then sets it down “ How about becoming an apothecary?"
He keeps watching William’s face to find his reaction then sighs and continues. "You already know how to read and write, and you already have knowledge of simple herbs and compounds. I can teach you the rest."
William opens his mouth to say something, but no words come out. The shop falls silent, save for the chirping of insects outside, announcing the arrival of spring
"You don't have to tell me right now. Take your time and give me an answer in the morning."
Trojjan gets up from the table and gives William one last look before turning to walk upstairs.
"However, it should be your own answer, rather than one influenced by someone or something else.”