Nevin watched as Elthas explained what was going on, folding his arms over his chest as he watched the slender Elf talk to the burly smith. He couldn't make out everything that was being said, but it was evident from the way the black-clad Elf gestured to him a few times that they were speaking about Nevin. Finally the Smith raised his voice and asked for Nevin to approach, as Elthas stepped aside from him.

One short red eyebrow twitched in irritation as the smith said he didn't look like much, but Nevin clamped down on the anger that sparked in his stomach, beating it into submission. Instead he plastered a smile on his face and strode over, bowing slightly to Yark as he approached.

"Good afternoon. My name is Nevin,
Nevin Aimaparapoiitis. I've actually worked in a smithy before - I was apprenticed, and had just started learning to make simple weapons and armor when my former master had to let me go. No fault of my own!" That sentence came out quickly, as being let go from an apprenticeship generally meant that the individual in question had some negative quality or another that drove them out. Nevin waved one hand placatingly to diffuse Suspicion, then rummaged around in his bag and pulled out an envelope. He handed it over to Yark, who opened it and began to read as Nevin spoke.

"Master Lord's nephew came of age and his sister in law demanded that he be apprenticed to my master. Unfortunately my former town was rather small, and Master Lori couldn't afford to have two apprentices. Rather than force him to choose between myself and his family, I suggested he send me out." Yark nodded in response to all of this then folded up the letter and handed it back over to Nevin, studying the redhead with a gimlet eye.

"And what is it you're wanting to do here? That letter mentions that you're also an alchemist,
picked up a trade already, why not stick with it?" Nevin rubbed one arm, the glove chafing against his white sleeve. Eventually he sighed and shrugged before explaining.

"I'm probably about journeyman rank in Alchemy - I know the ingredients and how to make them, and I know quite a few recipes already. However the alchemist I learned from passed on of old age, and I found myself.... Drifting, for lack of a better word. Master Lorm helped me out at that point, and I ended up apprenticing to him to help pay him back for his kindness. But now that I've started learning to be a Smith, I don't want to leave it half-done. If possible, I would come work every few days at your convenience, learning and helping, while also running my own alchemy shop." For a long few minutes Yark stared at him, making Nevin start to grow uncomfortable before he finally snorted and shrugged.

"Fine, do as you'd like. Speak to my chief journeyman. He's an Elf that Elthas knows. The two of you can work out a schedule - but to it tomorrow,
at the lunch hour after you've gotten your business up. I don't need you trying to do that when you don't even know if you've a shop to work at yourself." With that Yark returned to work, clearly dismissing Nevin. The redhead was actually surprised - this was more than he'd expected, for sure. He turned and headed back inside, looking for the Elf that Yark had mentioned.