Chapter 21: Personal Tools
The next morning, when Dominic came down for breakfast, there was a small pile of gear in the middle of the floor that he knew hadn't been there the night before.
"What's all this? Do you need me to put it away while you work?" He called out to Pops, who was in the storage room.
"No need. That's all for you. You made it to Level 2 Apprentice Blacksmithing, and it's traditional for your master to gift you your first set of tools when you advance for the first time. Know that after this, you'll need to make your own tools, so take good care of them." The old Dwarf called back.
There was a collection of chisels, files and sharpening stones, a small anvil, a stone travel forge stocked with coal, tongs, pokers, a leather roll pouch with pockets for everything, and a short-handled two-kilogram hammer, much like the one that Pops used, except brand new.
"This is beautiful, thank you." Dominic informed him with a heartfelt smile when he came back into the forge room.
"I'm glad you like it. Pack all that away and head out front. We should have morning customers soon, and as a Level 2 Apprentice you'll need to take a travelling mission soon. Even if you weren't planning on trying for a job at the Palace to make weapons for the lovely ladies of the Royal Guard." Pops explained.
Dominic had never heard anything like a travel requirement, so maybe it was just a blacksmith thing.
But then, above Apprentices were Journeymen.
Perhaps the name was literal, and you really had to go on a journey before you could advance. But he was only Level 2 right now, and his Blacksmithing Trade Skill Gem had to reach Level 5 before he could move from the Apprentice to Journeyman ranks.