"While I'm happy for him, I have some misgivings." Lviyr said out of the blue.

I turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Lviyr pointed at his viewer. "It will be easier just to look."

I did so, and was taken aback as soon as I did.

It said that The Unorthodox had given his knife [Limited Sapience].

I had never seen this actually done before, as it takes a special kind of lunatic to do it.

First, you have to have [Creative Spark], that's not that bad, but it is unlikely.

Second, you have to give a name and personality to a quizbleching object.

Third, you have to have a strong bond with that quizbleching object.

Fourth, and most insane, you have to believe that that quizbleching object can actually do things on its own!

I new that The Unorthodox had a few screws loose, but this is a whole new level than that.

I looked back at Lviyr. "I... see..."

I just went back to my viewer as if nothing happened.

----------------------------------------

Andrew

As soon as I felt I was safe, I looked at The Great Stabbinsky.

It now had an eye that looked like it was painted on the blade, except that it blinked.

"So, when I cut things with you, do you see the inside of the thing I'm cutting?"

'A great magician never reveals his secrets!'

"Okay, so no teleportation explanation either then?"

'A great magician...'

"...Never reveals his tricks; I get it, yeah."

'Secrets, but close enough.'

I was quiet for a moment as I walked before continuing. "You know that relationships are built on trust right?"

'I trust you with every fiber of my being, you made me, and neither ever unmade me, or abandoned me!'

Now I was getting a little frustrated. "...But you won't tell me about what you experience? I'm so curious damn it!"

'You're the one who raised me, my personality is your fault good sir.'

I tried to argue, but couldn't find a single counter to that. "Oh..."

I got back to the village and immediately walked up to the nearest Fifska. "Can you hear my knife?"

'Hello dear friend, I am The Great Stabbinsky!'

The Fifska looked at me worriedly. "Are you feeling alright?"

"My weapon gained [Limited Sapience], and I was wondering if you could hear it or if it was telepathic."

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

They looked at me with a disbelieving look, and then shifted their gaze to The Great Stabbinsky as he blinked.

"Oh my goodness it blinked!"

I nodded. "Yep, it's pretty sweet right?"

The Fifska gave me a worried smile. "Yeah..."

"Thank you for your help." I said as I walked away.

"No problem..."

Next stop was Sydui. "Hey Sydui, my knife, The Great Stabbinsky, now has [Limited Sapience]."

Sydui turns to me. "What a way to begin a conversation, also what does that mean?"

"Well, it can talk, but only to me... also it has a eye that blinks now!" I answered, proudly showing her.

"How is that helpful?"

"Oh right, a pragmatist. Take it for a second would you?" I said as I handed it to her.

She took it. "Okay, so what happen-"

I called The Great Stabbinsky back to my hand.

"Cool right?"

She looked at me in disbelief. "What?! H-How?!"

"I dunno, but it is cool." I replied with a shrug.

"Right..." She trailed off.

"How're the construction projects coming?"

"They're going decently well considering the specifications." Hund interrupted. Hund himself then walked up to the two of us from around a corner. "That much wood is hard to move with so few people, but we're managing." He looked at The Great Stabbinsky for a second. "Did that just blink?"

I had to reexplain the whole deal with the [Limited Sapience] four or five more times, as people kept walking up.

The last time I made sure I had everyone before starting again.

That last time it occurred to me that I might be able to give [Limited Sapience] to other things, or at least get a more complete sapience to The Great Stabbinsky.

So, directly after I completed my explanation the last time, I got to brainstorming.

At the last second, it felt like something clicked between The Great Stabbinsky and I... like we reached an understanding.

Maybe I need to use that item a lot or something?

I looked at the saw hanging off my pants.

Well, a lot of cutting needs to be done...

----------------------------------------

Sydui

Watching Andrew work is always a strange experience.

He just gets so fixated on his task that it seems like nothing else even registers on his radar.

I wondered if I started a shuttle next to him if he would even notice.

"Oh hey Sydui, when did you get there?"

See what I mean?

"I've been standing here since you started on that log." I replied flatly.

He looked down at the half-cut log and then back up at me. "Really?"

I nodded. "Yes really."

He stretched his arm. "Now's probably a good time for a break... I just noticed I'm starving to death."

I didn't find that joke particularly funny, but it's not like he meant anything by it, so I let it go.

Instead, I asked the question I'd been meaning to ask, but never found a good time to. "Did you cut that entire pile of planks?"

He looked over. "Yeah, they're nice aren't they?"

"Wasn't that a lot of work?"

"Yep, but it was only like one tree."

That 'one tree' as he puts it would have taken a Fifska at least a full day to cut like he had done... actually I didn't see him do that one. "How long did it take you to cut that tree?" I asked, pointing to the pile.

"Oh, I have no idea, I just stopped bothering to track time at this point."

"Why?"

"What meaning does it even have in this place? All that matters is whether I can do my projects or not, or how close I am to finishing them, timetables don't really help with that process."

I looked at him dumbfounded.

He... certainly had an opinion on the topic...

I shook off that comment and continued on. "Alright then, what are you making now?"

"I'm trying to make a lumber cart to help with transporting the wood from the forest and stuff... on a semi-related note, what kind of a name would be good for a saw?"

"Wait, how did we get to naming a saw from the previous topic?"

"Well, I'm trying to use it a lot, seeing if I can click with it."

"Right, that makes perfect sense, I'm glad I asked." I countered sarcastically.

He gave me the stink-eye. "I understand it doesn't make much sense, but I'm not really sure how to describe it... you just kinda know it when you know it."

"I'll take your word for it then." I said, losing all interest.

He turned to begin again, but stopped suddenly. "Actually, that reminds me, how would you feel about a second date soon?"

----------------------------------------

Yuluulth

Jyn and Vindicost started arguing again, having them both in close proximity can be insufferable at times... but they whine even more when they're spread apart, so we took the lesser of two evils.

"No Jyn, listen, [Death's Touch] is clearly the best [Skill], its uses in and out of combat are limitless if you know what you're doing."

"Vindicost, you sweet summer child, it doesn't do any good when it can't touch you, that's why [Guardian Aegis] is the best [Skill]."

"All it does is help you block stuff, it's terrible."

"Maybe by itself, but it opens up so many builds that it's not even funny, [Death's Touch] can only be used in a build centered around touching your opponent."

"And you can only make builds that center around blocking with [Guardian Aegis], what's your point?"

Jyn smiled with his multiple rows of teeth. "How about a little wager?"

"I'm listening." Vindicost replied, leaning in sideways.

"The one to kill the most champions in the next ten days is the winner, how does that sound?"

Vindicost gestured agreement, not having the facial structure to mimic Jyn's smile. "You're on!"

I laughed internally as they both fought for second place at best.