"Rocky Short-Boa! Where are you at, my stubby side kick?" I called out with a coffee in my hand as I kicked open the workshop's door. Damn black shit tastes like dry dirty ass, but it had me ripped full of piss and vinegar!
"My name is Thordin, you little shit! And you are my sidekick, not the other way around, you muscle bound toddler!" The walking brick shit house retorted from across the shop.
"Oye, that is what I like to hear first thing in the morning!" I laughed and kicked the door closed, bringing my cup black tar, and one for my master.
"Who in their right mind gave you coffee?"
"Who in their right mind is going to tell me no if I ask?"
"Point made," Thordin agreed, and took the coffee from me, but winced when he put it up to his nose. "Strained pigs piss in a cup. How do you drink this?"
"Without thinking about it. I have missed this garbage, but it was much better where I was from. Sugar seems to be worth gold in this world, and you crazy bastards don't even pasteurize your damn milk," I growled, and Thordin snorted at me.
"So hard to get used to you talking like you are a middle aged man," he laughed, but I shook my head.
"You have no clue, gramps. I don't like looking like a muscle bound toddler, but I think this form is better for now. Anyways, I want to work on some instruments today if you don't mind."
"Hmm? You know how to do that?"
"I know the concepts and the basics for what is needed. I would like to try to do this from scratch and see how I do after a few tries. Unless you need my help, then by all means ask me," I said, but the dwarf just nodded at me.
"If you don't mind, I would like to just watch you work. I am pretty curious about the progression of your abilities. If I can understand how it is, then I might be able to help you learn faster."
I really couldn't argue with something like that, and I welcomed all the advice that I could get. Not like I wasn't used to lance looking over my work, or any of my other bosses, but this felt different.
"Sure," I said, but then thought about it as I looked around. "Is there a better place for us to do this then? I don't think there is anything I will need here."
"Indeed, there is," Thordin agreed, his eyes gleaming with hidden excitement. "I have a laboratory of sorts tucked away in the back. We've got a setup specifically designed for craftwork of different kinds - carpentry, metalwork, and of course, instruments. Follow me, lad."
Looking around, I took in the counters strewn with tools and materials, the swirling sparks from the furnace, the rough hewn tables scarred with countless marks of diligent craftsmanship. I felt a strange warmth rise within me, the memories of my previous life converging with the present resurgence of the sense of belonging I felt before my reincarnation.
We navigated through a labyrinth of corridors, and finally, we arrived at a door. With a rustled, heavy sigh, Thordin pushed open the wooden portal. It creaked in protest but eventually gave way.
Inside was a blend of a carpenter's den and an inventor's studio - tools of all sorts hung on the walls, organized neatly. Drafts of blueprints were rolled up, waiting to be unraveled. Slabs of wood, pristine strings, and strips of varying leathers were stashed in a corner. The heavy scent of wood, mingling with the distant whiff of burnt metal, filled the air.
"Here we are! Not much, but it serves me well. Now lad, make yourself at home, and show me what you've got," Thordin proclaimed, his chest swelling with pride as he gestured grandly towards the workshop.
This was more than I could have imagined. This was paradise. Now, to work from scratch and see what magnificent creations I could pull out of my sleeve.
"Hazah! A ukulele!" I declared as a myriad of notifications appeared from completing my first instrument.
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| Crafting Successful: | Ukulele Lv.1 |
| Crafting Experience Gained: 600 |
| Your level has increased by 2! |
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| Name: Gideon Von Alphonse Rose Vienerstien | HP: 530/530| MP: 160/160|
| Class: Master Craftsman | Level: 5 | Exp: 0/600 |
| Title: Juvenile Gambler (+5 luck) |
| Additional Title: Returned Son |
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| Strength: 52 |
| Dexterity: 34 |
| Constitution: 53 |
| Intelligence: 16 |
| Wisdom: 38 |
| Charisma: 16 |
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| Class Abilities: |
| Craftsmen Knowledge: Learn any crafting skill from interacting with the Craft. |
| Tools Are My Trade: Gain skills and proficiency with skills that are connected to Skills you already have. |
| I Am Craftsman: Instead of receiving stats from leveling this class, all bonus's come from leveling Skills. |
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| Skills: |
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Combat Skills:
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| Swordplay (Beginner): Level 2 | +1 Dex, +1 Str per level
| Dagger Proficiency (Beginner): Level 3 | +1 Dex per level
Crafting Skills:
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| Blacksmithing (Beginner): Level 7 | +2 Str, +1 Con per level
| Cooking (Beginner): Level 2 | +1 Wis, +2 Con per level
| Construction (Beginner): Level 5 | +2 Str, +1 Con, +1 Dex per level
| Masonry (Beginner): Level 5 | +2 Str, +1 Con per level
| Woodworking (Beginner): Level 8 | +1 Wis, +1 Dex per level
| Metal Casting (Beginner): Level 3 | +1 Con, +2 Int per level
| Instrument Crafting (Beginner): Level 2 | +1 Dex, +2 Cha per level
| Enchanting (Beginner): Level 2 | +1 Int per level
| Glass Making (Beginner): Level 1 | +2 Dex per level
| Clay Works (Beginner): Level 1 | +1 Con, +1 Dex per level
Survival Skills:
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| Survival (Beginner): Level 1 | +2 Con, +1 Tenacity per level
| Sailing (Beginner): Level 1 | +1 Dex, +1 Int per level
| Fishing (Beginner): Level 2 | +1 Luck per level
Knowledge Skills:
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| Appraisal (Beginner): Level 2 | +2 Int per level
Utility Skills:
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| Storage Magic (Beginner): Level 1 | +1 Int, +1 Wis per level
| Multi-Tasking (Beginner): Level 1 | +1 Int per level
| Mining (Beginner): Level 2 | +2 Str, +1 Con per level
Social Skills:
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| Sense of Rhythm (Beginner): Level 2 | +2 Cha, +2 Dex per level
| Smooth Talker (Beginner): Level 2 | +10 Cha per level
With my hands poised above the fresh wood and the rhythm reverberating through me, I felt truly alive. With each string I strung, with every note that thrilled under my fingertips, the lingering feeling of being out of place slowly started to fade.
Looking down at the ukulele, I couldn't help but smile as I tossed it up into the air. Instead of catching it, I smashed it into fragments. It felt good.
"What?! Why did you smash your first work?" Thordin asked as the piece's fell to the ground, but I gave him a serious look.
"Just from a glance, what would you have rated my crafting on the instrument? And be honest, because I know that it was barely passable, and the sound was off."
"Fine, it was not the best, but I hardly think breaking it was right. That was good work for your first time," Thordin said, but I just shrugged before turning back to the table.
"I don't like keeping useless shit around. What I like is creating things that I can be proud of. The rest are just the stepping stones that no one needs to see. As a fellow craftsman, you should understand where I am coming from. You would not keep something that you were not proud of, or something that was a proper display of your skills, right?"
Thordin scratched his beard as he studied me, his brows furrowing in thought. "I see what you mean," he finally admitted, understanding dawning in his eyes. "It's not just about crafting a usable item - it's about pageantry and pride. As craftsmen, we are not just workers, we're artists. Every piece we create is a testament to our skills and pride. I shall not fault you for striving for excellence."
His affirmation made me feel... acknowledged, to say the least. "Well, I'm glad you see it from my perspective. In that case, shall we continue? I haven't even started yet," I stated, full of new-found determination, as I headed back to the workbench.
Throughout the day, under Thordin's watchful eyes, I crafted, destroyed, and re-crafted a multitude of instruments. Each time, I aimed for something better. Each time, I did a little bit better than before. It was exhilarating.
By evening, I had successfully crafted a bunch of instruments that I was, finally, satisfied with. Thordin, to his credit, sat through the entire process, never once offering to help but providing valuable insight whenever I requested.
By the end of the day, I could feel myself getting better, my skills developing at a rapid pace. As I held the final piece in my hand, a beautifully crafted flute, I felt a flicker of satisfaction. This was only the beginning. I had a whole life ahead of me in this world - and I intended to craft it into an epic tale.
Back in my room, I sighed after getting out of the shower, standing in a towel, in the middle of my room. I wasn't tired, but what was I supposed to do now?
I could ask the princess if she wanted to do something, but were we even allowed to go down into the city? Maybe I should take the chance to try to sneak out and get a better feel for this island city. This place was not my home after all, and I might even end up as king one day.
Taking a deep breath, I weighed my options. As enthusiastic as I was about artisanal exploration or potential adventuring, I had other responsibilities as well. Responsibilities towards a certain icy-eyed princess, whether I liked it or not.
Marcella. Despite our arguments and awkward moments, I found myself increasingly thinking about her. She, like an intricate and puzzling piece of music, composed of intricate high and low notes, was becoming a melody in my head I couldn't ignore.
Shaking my head clear of my bride-to-be, I put on some normal clothing, and threw on a cloak that completely covered me.
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| Gain the skill Concealment (Beginner) Lv.1 | This skill has become Lv.2 | +4 to Charisma and +6 to Dexterity |
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Even from just covering myself up I get a skill? Wild, but my skill page was starting to become a chore to read, but not like I should be complaining. It was time to go out and see what this world has to offer me!