Cal woke to light shining directly into his eyes. The holes in the deteriorating wall were perfectly placed to try and blind him.

He squinted and moved out of the way, hand already around the handle of the sledgehammer.

That was a surprisingly good night of sleep. As long as I ignore the interruption in the middle of the night.

Cal pushed himself up and kicked open the door with his foot, sledgehammer already on his shoulder.

I need to get a holder for this. Maybe a strap.

He walked directly to where the hole appeared in the ground and saw it was deeper than he had assumed. He would drop well over twenty feet before he would touch dirt.

The hole is likely dug from above. The opening looks like it was pushed inward.

Cal still couldn’t see any sign of what beast could have done this… and why the hole was dug in the first place. There couldn’t have been something worth the effort that had been buried, but even if that was the case, any evidence was long gone.

… It’s not worth the time to investigate this. I don’t particularly care to find out what caused this other than sating my curiosity.

He gave a last glance at the hole before going back to work. The now-light sledgehammer was barely a thought on his shoulder as he merrily made his way to the first stone he was about to destroy.

Cal hadn’t forgotten that he still needed to choose his second skill. He was just putting it off as long as possible until a clear answer came to him. Last night’s sleep didn’t help to make a choice clear.

CRACK!

With a small grunt, he hoisted the sledgehammer back on his shoulder. All he needed to do now was casually swing to break the stone. It was no longer necessary to use all his strength.

He looked around, estimating that at least two hundred more stones were between the shed and the beginning of the dirt path leading to the interior of the Celestial Order’s territory. Clearing all of them would make a clean walkway, around ten feet wide.

It didn’t really accomplish anything else other than that. After all, he was just breaking stones.

Cal abandoned his previous goal of clearing everything within thirty feet of the shed. He had time for that later since there was nothing rushing him.

I need to stop thinking of this as clearing. Even after I shatter the stones, I still need to remove the rock pieces.

CRACK!

He zoned out—almost in a meditative trance—as he moved from stone to stone, leaving each one as rubble. The sun moved high in the sky, bearing heat down on his body, but it did little to stop him from his mission to reach the beginning on the dirt path.

CRACK!

Your [Tier] has increased by 1 level.

Your skill [Perfect Match] has increased by 1 level.

Name: Cal Maddox

Class: Farmer (Special)

Tier: Initiate 6

Skills:

[Perfect Match: Novice 5]

Cal’s breathing had been getting heavier by the hour, but the [Tier] increase immediately let him return to regular breaths—as if he had been doing nothing strenuous.

He tested his strength by waving the sledgehammer with one arm before laughing loudly in excitement.

It feels like I’m waving around a toothpick.

Cal stopped playing around and brought the sledgehammer close to see if it had any wear and tear from the repeated stone smashing. The interface didn’t warn him that it had deteriorated. Still, there was clearly a range before it was considered of a lower quality.

He could see the slight dings and dents covering the metal head. It was in no way affecting the sledgehammer's efficiency, so everything he could see was just cosmetic.

A Common-ranked tool shouldn’t be this durable. This is either the result of Orrin’s smithing or [Perfect Match] working on the sledgehammer. I think it is more likely to be the latter. It would be ideal if the interface could quantify the requirements for the upgrade.

But I don’t have that information.

A few more stones stood between him and the dirt path. He glanced at the sky and figured this would be what he could finish for the day before traveling to Mariner’s Rest. Any longer, he might have to stay in an inn to avoid coming back in the night.

CRACK!

Demolishing the stones wasn’t as fulfilling as before. Still, it was better than sweating like a dog after every few swings.

Cal made quick work of the rest. What would have taken him well over an hour was finished in less than ten minutes.

CRACK!

Your equipment [Common Sledgehammer] has been upgraded to [Uncommon Sledgehammer].

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He stared at the tool in surprise as it glowed a soft white. It didn’t last long, but the metal head was changed in a subtle manner.

There were faint, white streaks running throughout the metal head. They couldn’t be seen unless he looked at the sledgehammer from different angles, but they were hard to miss once spotted.

“This is ridiculous,” Cal muttered in shock. Reading the skill effects in the interface was one thing, but it was completely different when it happened in his hands.

“What’s ridiculous?”

He snapped his head up to see Seris staring at him. Her smile was so wide it stretched from cheek to cheek.

“Nothing,” Cal shook his head, but it didn’t lessen the crazed smile on her face. “What’s wrong with you?”

“You’re just smashing up rocks. I used to do this as a kid,” Seris laughed.

“Funny you say that. You still are a kid,” Cal said drily. It didn't affect her at all. “So, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to report for duty, boss!” Seris gave him a sloppy salute. “Orrin finished the tools you wanted. They’re ready for you.”

I forgot that I gave her a job.

“Oh good!” Cal pretended like he had been expecting her. “I was pretty much done for the morning. Let’s get going.”

***

“Did you pretend to be tired yesterday just to make me carry your tools?” Seris asked with her arms crossed.

Cal had basically waltzed down the stairs that almost put him on his knees yesterday. The multiple [Tier] advances he had gained from smashing too many stones caused the change.

“I am an Initiate, Seris. I get stronger every day.”

“It’s that easy?” She questioned with doubt. “I see other Initiates get winded going up and down these stairs. And this is after months of them experiencing it for the first time.”

“What can I say?” Cal shrugged. “Maybe this is something unique to me.”

“… Alright. You can stay suspicious, boss.” Seris repeated her sloppy salute. “Anyway, what do you want to do in town today? Go back to the bazaar?”

“Not the bazaar,” Cal rejected immediately. He didn’t want to meet the other Initiates again this quickly. “Maybe the central market in town. That might be interesting.”

“Oh,” Seris's excitement deflated. “What about the port? That’s way more interesting.”

That still requires me to go through the bazaar.

“There’s no need to fit everything at once. You can show me the port another day.”

“I’ll see if you feel that way after seeing the market,” Seris scowled as they walked to Orrin’s smith. “It’s really, really boring.”

“Hm, be that as it may, you are my tour guide, are you not?”

“… Right you are, boss,” Seris gave him another sloppy salute, which was becoming her signature, before stepping aside. “You’ll have to go inside without me. Orrin banned me until he was done making all your stuff.”

Cal raised an eyebrow. “You interrupted him again?”

“No,” Seris huffed. “He didn’t want me to be near him because he is using the expensive stuff for your tools.”

He laughed at her affronted expression. “Sounds like he’s just taking precautions, and rightfully so.”

Seris narrowed her eyes before motioning to the open doorway. “You should head in, boss.”

He chuckled and gave her a backward wave as he entered, heading directly to the workshop.

Orrin was polishing an immaculate shovel, running a rag over the metal with an almost concerning expression.

“Orrin?” Cal stepped slowly into the backyard. "Seris told me that everything was complete.”

His voice startled Orrin enough that the boy jumped to his feet and almost dropped the shovel in surprise.

“Initiate Cal!” Orrin’s smile was blinding. “I did it! It’s a Common-ranked shovel!”

Ah, that expression makes more sense now.

“Congratulations, Orrin!” Cal was genuinely enthusiastic, both for Orrin and himself. “Did you get an idea of how to make this a consistent result?”

“I’m a step closer,” Orrin’s excitement made his personality nearly match Seris’s. His usual formality and maturity had disappeared. “I just need to test some techniques a few more times—Is that the sledgehammer you bought from me?”

Orrin’s excitement cut off abruptly when his eyes met the sledgehammer Cal had over his shoulder.

I knew this would happen, but hiding my equipment isn't an option if my assumption of Orrin’s future success as a blacksmith is correct. He should be aware that they occasionally and inexplicably get upgraded. Now, I need to act mysterious.

“It is,” Cal nodded, choosing not to explain further.

“… And it’s now an Uncommon-ranked tool?” Orrin continued his questioning in disbelief.

“Correct,” another nod from Cal with nothing else added.

Orrin’s gained a near worshipful look in his eyes. “Are you a blacksmith, Initiate Cal?”

“Not even a little. I couldn’t tell you the basics if my life depended on it.”

The boy nodded slowly—his expression displaying envy before he did his best to hide it.

I can’t allow that. It will fester into something unpleasant.

“I’ll tell you about it in the future,” Cal said, lifting the sledgehammer off his shoulder, his hand high on the wooden handle, touching the metal head. "How about I leave this with you while I explore the town with Seris? You can study it. Maybe it’ll help with your future forging.”

“Really!?” Orrin’s excitement was back—even more than it was previously.

“Really,” Cal confirmed. He offered the sledgehammer handle first. “Have at it.”

Orrin slowly reached out and grabbed the handle with both hands. It looked like he was being given the greatest gift of his life.

If he gains an advantage, it’s good for him and me. The guild pays out of the nose to buy good tools and weapons. I can only benefit if I am on good terms with a skilled blacksmith. Plus, I like this kid. People who are serious about their craft always have my respect.

“Thank you, Initiate Cal,” Orrin inclined his head in gratitude. “This will be of immeasurable help. I expected it would be years before I could study an Uncommon-ranked tool.”

“It’s not exactly a hardship, so don’t mention it,” Cal said before moving away from the subject since it looked like Orrin wouldn’t. “Let’s see the new tools you made me.”

Orrin looked like he had forgotten that was the reason for the visit. “Right, yes!" He gingerly placed the sledgehammer head-first on the ground before quickly removing the plow from the rack. “Here you are. The shovel and plow you asked for, Initiate Cal. The plow is of the Basic rank, but I was able to make a Common-ranked shovel.”

The pride in Orrin’s voice was subdued compared to before the reveal of the upgraded sledgehammer. However, Cal could still sense a significant amount in those words.

Rightfully so. I can’t wait to see what he can do in the future.

“They look great,” Cal smiled. They looked no different from any other well-made—but typical—plow and shovel. Still, compared to the ruined, rusted mess he had brought here, they were fantastic. “Go ahead with the pickaxe, and what do you think about making a wheelbarrow?”

“A wheelbarrow?” Orrin repeated slowly. “I never made one before, but it shouldn’t be an issue. It has a simple shape.”

“Great! I’d like you to make them for me, but before that, try to see if studying the sledgehammer helps. If it gets me better quality tools, I am more than willing to wait.” Cal paused before adding, “As long as it isn’t too long. Would studying it even make a difference if it’s only for a few hours each day? I can only lend you the sledgehammer when I’m in town.”

“I assumed that,” Orrin didn’t look upset in the least. “I don’t know the answer, but hopefully, I’ll have a good one for you at the end of the day.”

“I wish you success, Orrin. How much do I owe you for everything? This is including the new commissions.”

The boy tilted his head in thought. “… I’m not sure. The wheelbarrow needs more material than I usually use. Can we decide the payment after I make everything?”

“If that’s what works best, sure.” Cal was more than happy to accommodate the request. It wasn’t anything troublesome, but even if it was, he would have accepted.

Anything to avoid distracting him. I want him to be in his best mental state to gain benefit from the sledgehammer. [Perfect Match] will eventually upgrade my tools, but having a higher base in the first place will save time.

“Is that all, Initiate Cal?” Orrin looked antsy. He wanted to get to the sledgehammer as soon as possible.

I’ll give him his wish.

“That’s it. I’ll leave all the tools with you and take them when I leave town.”

Orrin gave him a mumbled acknowledgment, his attention already shifting away to the sledgehammer.

Cal let him be and left the smithy.