Chapter 102: The Iron Hand
It was a bit burdensome having all eyes on Arthur as he opened a box containing something so personal. He was still undoubtedly in a sensitive state after what he had experienced. He had been feeling a bit useless, but he hoped no one would take notice of it.
As the iron hand was revealed, he wasn’t entirely sure what he had been expecting. Of course, the thought occurred to him that they might try and find a way for him to properly wield his sword, but the prosthetic hands he had seen were no better than hooks with clumsy mechanics. He didn’t particularly want to wear something so useless just to assuage the bad feelings that people experienced whenever they looked at him clumsily wielding a sword.
However, what lay amongst the hay in the box was an iron hand well crafted with joins on the fingers and wrist. Samson even went so far as to create nails on the outside of the fingertips.
The very action of going through so much trouble struck him.
"I don’t quite know how to thank you for something like this," Arthur admitted. "It is a gesture far beyond my understanding. I feel I must repay you."
Stanley was quick to wave away the sentiments.
"I refuse payment," the mage insisted. "My staying here with the mages and having knights protecting us from people and monsters is enough. You are a highly regarded knight so I must do my part in ensuring you remain as such."
It was probably the nicest thing Stanley had ever told anyone and Irene couldn’t hold back her surprise.
Usually, he was a man of action but fewer words unless he was pointedly tearing down someone with insults or quips. However, it seemed that Arthur meant a lot to him as well even if he didn’t directly say that.