Making his way to the task board, Lucas carefully examined the available tasks. The tasks were color-coded, with light-colored marks on the left and darker-colored marks on the right. Below each task, the rewards were listed, with light-colored tasks offering coinage and dark-colored tasks offering materials or guild points.
Lucas's gaze shifted to the tasks on the right, marked with darker colors. As he read through them, he realized they were incredibly challenging, far beyond his current skill level. One task caught his eye—a request for a suit of armor with a minimum fire resistance of twenty percent, offering a reward of eighty gold coins. Lucas couldn't even fathom how to create something with such specifications. It left him wondering why anyone would need such specialized armor in the first place.
Shaking his head, Lucas shifted his attention to the light-colored tasks on the left, which seemed more manageable. Though the rewards were lower, the tasks appeared simpler. He skimmed through a few of the easiest ones and found a task requiring five iron ingots to be delivered within four days. The payment offered was thirty coppers per ingot, totaling one and a half silver.
Deciding to take on the task, Lucas approached a counter where a receptionist was waiting. The receptionist greeted him with a smile as she reviewed the task, pulling out a book from under the counter for reference. After confirming that the task was still available, she informed Lucas that he could pay 5 copper coins to reserve it and prevent others from taking it.
Lucas was taken aback by the idea of having to pay to reserve a task. He had only intended to try out a task for the experience and wasn't sure if it was worth the additional cost. Sensing his confusion, the receptionist grew uneasy. In a hushed tone, she asked if it was his first time taking a guild task.
Lucas nodded in affirmation, and the receptionist visibly relaxed. Glancing around to ensure privacy, she leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"Would you like some first-time advice?" she whispered, her eyes meeting Lucas's in earnest.
Lucas nodded in agreement and replied in a low voice, "Yes, please."
Glancing around once again to ensure privacy, the receptionist began sharing her advice. She explained that guild tasks were categorized by ranks and areas. The tasks with lighter-colored marks were the easiest, and the different colors indicated the type of task, such as finding or refining materials, crafting gear, or contributing to a larger project. Most tasks were single request tasks, meaning they were intended to be completed only once. She also mentioned that a fee could be paid to reserve a task and prevent others from taking it.
Pausing to take a breath, the receptionist continued her explanation, keeping a watchful eye on the room. She focused her attention on Lucas and provided more details. "The task you're looking at offers a reward of thirty coppers per ingot, which is slightly above average. This is a common task that many blacksmiths offer to save themselves time. Even if someone else completes it before you, it's likely that another similar task will be issued soon after. It's not necessary to reserve this type of task unless you're aiming for a specific connection or reward. Reserving tasks is usually done for larger and more valuable items to ensure that your work won't go to waste, as those requests might not be as frequently available."
She went on to warn Lucas about the penalty for reserving a task and failing to complete it. Scammers would often target young blacksmiths, convincing them to reserve a task they couldn't complete. The scammers would then manipulate the guild to force the young blacksmith to reimburse them, often through unpaid labor that far exceeded the original request.
The receptionist paused and held Lucas's gaze for a few seconds before speaking softly, "I'm tired of watching new blacksmiths be cheated out of their futures."
After her brief intermission, the receptionist stretched before resuming her professional demeanor. Lucas took a moment to absorb all the information he had received before looking the receptionist in the eye.
"Thank you for your help," he said sincerely. "I will take the task, but I won't be reserving it. I'll return when I have the requested items."
The receptionist nodded and replied, "Since you're not reserving the task, there's no need for future paperwork. Simply notify the guild when you have the requested items, and we'll arrange a meeting between you and the requester for the product exchange and reward. Thank you for visiting the blacksmith guild."
Lucas smiled and thanked the receptionist once again before heading towards the door. The cautionary tale of scammers preying on newcomers made him realize the importance of conducting some research before fully engaging with the guild's services.
Lucas left the Blacksmith Guild and checked the time, realizing he had some spare time before returning to the shop. Recalling the bookstore on the way to the plaza, he decided to pay it a visit. Arriving at the bookstore, Lucas was taken aback by the limited selection of books available for sale. Compared to the abundance of books in his previous world, this store had a meager collection, with no more than a couple hundred books, if that. Most of the space was occupied by scribes busy making copies of books.
Lucas began searching through the available books, hoping to find information about the system, blacksmithing, or anything written in high elven. His search yielded a few results. He found a book on path rankings, an old and well-worn pamphlet discussing the rules of the blacksmith guild, and an ancient-looking book covered in a thick layer of dust.
Approaching the counter with the three books, Lucas inquired about their prices. The clerk quoted a surprisingly high price of five silvers for the first two books, leaving Lucas astonished at the value of books in this world without the existence of a printing press. However, when it came to the dusty old book, the clerk seemed confused and unsure of its worth. After a brief pause, he offered a price of three silvers, claiming that the book contained "ancient" information and should be valued higher.
Lucas, realizing the poor condition of the book and the fact that its title couldn't even be read, decided to negotiate. He argued that the book was dusty and nearly unreadable, expressing his interest solely because his master enjoyed collecting such items to show his friends. Lucas proposed paying only a silver for the chance to own "a piece of history," unwilling to offer more.
The clerk fell silent for a moment, contemplating Lucas's offer. Finally, he agreed to accept the lowered price. He handed Lucas a light cloth bag to carry his books and invited him to return to the store in the future. Lucas thanked the clerk, took his bag, and confidently walked away from the store. Once out of sight, he picked up his pace, hurrying home to the shop.
Lucas eagerly unpacked his purchases on the shop counter upon getting home, setting aside the books on path rankings and blacksmith guild rules as he carefully retrieved the ancient book from the bag. With great anticipation, he used a rag to wipe away layers of dirt and dust, slowly revealing the cover underneath. A wide grin spread across his face as he gently touched the book's cover. Although he couldn't decipher the title due to an unusual haze, the familiar haze and dancing letters told him it was another high elven text.
Placing the precious find on the counter, Lucas couldn't help but celebrate with a little dance. The value of high elven texts, regardless of their subject matter, was generally higher than a silver. He pondered the ease with which he had obtained the book and considered visiting other bookstores in town to see if he could uncover more treasures.
However, Lucas realized he didn't have time for further exploration today. He glanced at the clock and realized it was time to grab a quick lunch and open the shop. Besides, he needed to read the books he had purchased to avoid duplicate copies. Additionally, completing the blacksmith guild task was a priority, as he needed to start generating income to cover his taxes and expenses. With his current skill level, guild tasks might be a viable way to earn money.
Lucas's stomach growled loudly, reminding him of his hunger. Accepting that lunch was his immediate concern, he left the shop. With no time for the Drunken Squirrel, he opted instead for a small food cart down the street. He purchased a hard cracker infused with honey, a far cry from Amber's cooking but a quick and affordable option.
Returning to the shop, Lucas devoured the cracker as he opened the windows and propped open the door, ensuring the shop was welcoming for potential customers. He fetched his books on blacksmithing from his room and settled comfortably on the store stool. Although he didn't expect many customers at this hour, he wanted to establish regular shop hours for when business picked up.
With the taste of honeyed cracker still on his lips, Lucas delved into his reading, eager to expand his knowledge and improve his skills as a blacksmith. No forgetting the guild task, Lucas decided to start his studies today with "The Science of Smelting" since it should teach him how to make iron ingots.
Starting with the first line, Lucas began reading while focusing on the mental image of a teacher to start the vision. However, this time, he didn't find himself sitting on a bench in a crowded room like before. Instead, Lucas found himself sitting on a flat rock in the midst of a vast forest. The ground was covered with flowers, and small pathways curved gently between the trees. Lost in the sense of peace the location provided, Lucas noticed a young woman reaching the podium in front of him.
She was dressed in a floral-patterned outfit that incorporated metal wiring and a type of leather-protective covering. Her hands were adorned with gloves featuring metal-tipped fingers, and her shoes gleamed silver, giving off a distinct metallic shine. Though he had never seen anything like it, Lucas could instantly tell that the outfit was designed for blacksmithing. The slight twitch of her ears drew his attention to the fact that the woman before him was an elf. Before he could gather more information, she began to speak.
"Welcome to the path of the blacksmith. Today, I will be explaining the basics of smelting for novice skill level. However, before we delve into smelting, I need to explain what it truly entails. While many see smelting as the process of turning rocks into metal for crafting, it is more than just that."
"Smelting is a processing skill primarily used by blacksmiths. Its purpose is to transform basic materials into another form that is easier for blacksmiths to work with. A common example is turning rock ore into a metal bar, but smelting can also render certain parts of monsters malleable for crafting purposes."
"For those who haven't unlocked the skill yet, it is typically acquired through the successful completion of a smelting process. There are rare forms of smelting that may have more challenging unlocking conditions, but they are not commonly encountered."
As the afternoon slowly passed, Lucas lost himself in visions of knowledge. Each page brought him deeper insights into the process of transforming materials into usable products. Fortunately, no customers arrived during the afternoon, allowing Lucas to indulge in his educational binge without interruption.
In a different part of town, another young lad was not so lucky. At the Exchange Words bookstore, Master Clarence was just returning to the shop after a successful morning meeting, securing another pamphlet order, this time for the temple. Why they were so focused on a heretic he would never know, but business was business.
As he entered the shop, all his apprentices rose to greet him. Waving his hand to signal their return to work, he approached the counter to speak to his oldest apprentice. Before he could inquire about the morning, his disciple began speaking.
"We had a customer this morning, a young lad who was shopping for his master. He bought three books for a total of six silvers, sir."
Master Clarence's eyebrows rose, and a pleased smile graced his face. Turning to leave the room, he instructed, "Take note of which books were sold. We will need to produce another copy for future customers."
"I have already started the process, master. However, one of the books seems to be missing a copy."
Master Clarence froze before returning to the counter with a frown. "Which book do we not have a copy of?"
The apprentice behind the counter nervously explained, "The first two books sold are common books that we have several copies of. However, the customer also purchased an older book from the bottom shelf. That book I can't find in the back."
Upon hearing this, Master Clarence's eyes widened in alarm, and he rushed to the shelf to see the empty space on the bookshelf.
"Impossible! How did this happen?!"