“The sound of whittling is all that can be heard. Little Ji and miss Tio have bought a house with a secluded courtyard close to the Rune engravers.”

Woodworking increased by 1

“Eighty five.”

‘Ninety seven.’

“Damnit. How are you faster than me?”

“With a nonchalant glance, miss Tio lets out a silent, near unheard laugh.”

“Damnit!”

‘You don’t need to be best at everything.’

“Aie. You don’t understand a man’s pride Tio. And I’m no ordinary man.”

‘Oh? I already know you are a Beta.’

“It’s not being this or that. I have always been better than others.”

“The lamenting of the deluded, a fitting name for our hero’s delusional story.”

“My father used to say that he was extraordinary.”

‘That your father was extraordinary?’

“That’s right. And grandfather used to tell me how amazing he himself was. It was really inspiring.”

‘Your father and grandfather used to tell you how amazing they were?’

“That’s right. But little did they know that I was even more amazing. What a twist of fate.”

“In a quiet courtyard, a young couple sat still, watching the sky. In their hands are small pieces of wood and a carving knives.

Their conversation infuriates the blowing wind, the illuminating sunlight and even celestials.”

“So how can you possibly be leveling your Woodworking faster than me?”

‘You can stop me at any time.’

“Oh?”

‘You can trick me to stop. You can seduce and have your way with me. I won’t be able to carve then.’

“Won’t I stop carvin as well then?”

‘If you ravage me, will I have the strength to continue carving?’

“Deep in thought, our hero is met with a most troublesome dilemma.”

“Even if you stop, that doesn’t mean your not better.”

‘Then, if you won’t even attack me, I’ll carve faster.’

“You can still carve faster!?”

“A beautiful but heart rending laughter reverberates throughout the courtyard. The Fluo glances at our hero, derision in her eyes. Her hundred some years of living showing her superiority.”

“I’m the hero! Not you. Okay, okay. Let the race begin.”

‘Oh, it's a race now? What does the winner win?’

“Honor!”

‘Worthless.’

“A single request then. The winner can ask the loser for something.”

‘Deal!’

“One can vaguely feel the fire ignite in the mischievous Fluo, the contradictory image gives the sense of boiling water.”

“Where are you going?”

‘Buying more wood.’

“Leaving our hero alone in silence, his expression blank, his hands unmoving.”

“Does she mean she can carve faster than the Witherwood grows?”

“How remarkable. It appears our hero has some insight. It is as he said. Tio Oh has little to no issue with practicing lower end crafting professions.

Her control over mana is superior to our hero in every way, added to this, her ability to infuse mana into anything is polished.

It can be said that she is overqualified for a novice. Her ability infinitely closing in on advanced, the peak of adept.”

“What the hell, I’ve been hustled.

But you finally spit out a clue. Infusing mana is that important? You kept talking about intent last time, super confusing.”

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“In the secluded courtyard our hero’s desolate visage leaves one wondering what power allowed him to survive to the spritely age of one thousand thirty eight.”

“Don’t think you can confuse me. I’mma try this out.”

“With outrageous speed that can be considered reckless, our hero wantonly slices his piece of Witherwood. His actions seem random and impudent.

Any craftering watching this would feel offended. But we the adept, we the celestial, can see the mana imbued with every reckless stroke.”

Woodworking increased by 1

“It works!”

“When the hysterical laughter fades, our hero slightly tilts his head to point his nose towards the sky. His thumb slightly brushes the tip of his nose.

Not only me, but most of us cannot help but feel the urge to pummel this smug creature. Perhaps we should title him the hero Smug.”

“I am extraordinary after all. If only father and grandfather were still alive.”

“Our hero ominously curses his ancestors, wanting them to witness his smugness.”

“They really should know that their son and grandson is even greater than them. I really miss them. Mom would be proud.”

“Soon our hero encounters the problem Tio anticipated. His lacking resources have stunted his reckless carving.”

“Where do I buy wood?”

“Casting any idea of working on his Rune engraving away, our hero has abandoned the quiet courtyard in search of wood to lacerate.”

“I could go to that Witherwood but I think Asteri will be easier to deal with, they must have large stock of materials to create all those furnitures.”

“Entering the Rune engravers large Woodworking facility, numerous people come into his sight. Most look old and wizened, even the youngest with a few on their backs.”

“A lot of old people here.”

‘Most of these people can be considered ordinary people.’

“The person next to our hero has the spirit of a young person but his appearance and expression make him look older and serious.”

“Ordinary?”

‘Yes. They can’t imbue their work with mana. Instead we engrave runes into them.’

“Oh?”

‘We do employ a few talented Woodworkers but they all have their own facilities.’

“Can I visit them?”

“The serious young man frowns. Something to be expected as our hero nonchalant attitude and odd demeanor has irked him for some while.”

‘You can. I don’t think it is wise to intrude on them.’

“Alright, whatever. But I can use the wood here right?”

‘Yes. You can use all the wood you want.’

“Can you tell me the quality of the wood.”

“With a near inaudible sigh, the serious young man shouts and waves a person over.”

‘Help apprentice Ji with some matters. I’m off.’

‘Yes sir.’

“Left with one of the youngest woodworker workers, our hero glanced at the assistant helping him.”

“I need you to show me the quality of the wood and how much there is.”

‘Of course, follow me.’

“Alright.”

“The facility never ceases their sawing, polishing, hammering and rowdy all around shouting. Our hero can’t help but be immersed in the environment.”

‘Through here, sir.’

“What’s here?”

‘Storage for all our materials, they are ported in through the back and stored here.’

“Hoh.”

‘We work mostly with this type of wood, it’s not the easiest to work but apparently it is convenient to imbue mana into it. It’s called Silverwood because of its bark.’

“It doesn’t look like silver.”

‘The silver has been removed, the silver comes from a moss that grows on the bark. The actual tree is named Fertility tree.’

“Oh?”

‘It grows fast but it also popular because it can grown unusual things like moss and fungus at a rapid rate. It is also why we have so much of it.’

“It’s farmed?”

‘That’s right. We get most of our supplies from the Oh clan, their large scale fields grow these trees and at the same time they grow various things on the tree themselves.

We use the leftover trees they cut down in our woodworking. Otherwise we’d use a cheaper wood, but the supply is so high that we can easily buy them.’

“The assistant has come to life. His voice lively and enthusiastic. It appears he has certain affinity for this.”

“Do you have any idea what tier these trees are?”

‘Tier? That depends on the tree. In general the trees we receive reach about thirty five to forty five. But there are some higher and lower.’

“Is this the most valuable wood you access to here?”

‘No we still have Rivertrees, Crumblingwood and even some Brownstone wood pieces. But we can’t use those, only the senior Woodworkers can.’

“I’m going to take a few piece of these fertility trees. I’ll also need some to be shipped to this address.”

‘No problem.’

“The towering supply of wood is impossible for our hero to eat through, only a portion of it is required to continue is wild carving habits.”

“I’m off then.”

“Leaving as quickly as he came. Our hero has pilfered what he came for, leaving only the unpleasant memories behind.”

“Don’t be so difficult, Narry. They have more than enough wood to spare.”

“Before our hero enters the small but reasonably big house with a secluded courtyard he is met with large crates, all branded with the Oh clan’s label.”

“What are in these? Did Tio bring wood?”

‘Not only wood, the miss has quite a few things shipped here.’

“Hi, who are you?”

“The young woman looks at our hero, curiosity in her eyes.”

‘Just a lowly Oh clan member.’

“Despite the self depreciative introduction, there is quite a bit of pride in her voice.”

“Is Tio inside?”

‘Yes.’

“With a casual wave our hero steps by the assistant and enters the house. He is met with a flurry of activity, ten some people arranging or unpacking things.”

“Tio!”

‘You’re back Ji! Where did you go? I was worried.’

“I went to get some wood.”

‘Wood? Why?’

“Aie, I modified my carving technique and as expected I am a genius at this as well.”

“This is the first time we see the young miss frown. It is either in displeasure or she has finally had enough of our hero’s antics.”

‘I may have to turn to some unorthodox methods.’

“The sudden chill in the vibrant fluo might cause ones hairs to rise.”

“What do you mean?”

‘You will see. Go carve, I´ll be there in a few minutes.’

“Whatever you are planning won’t work.”

“It is hard to see but we celestials can almost see our hero’s spirit vane, his eyes eek out a trace of fear. A rare moment of nervousness.”

“Nonsense. I’m not nervous or afraid.

I am just worried for Tio, whatever her plan is, she is bound to fail. After all her opponent is me.”

“To live for eternity is a torture. They say that people remember the worst of times like they remember their last meal.”

“What is she planning?”

“Seemingly deep in thought, our hero has yet to begin carving. His stack of Fertility wood left untouched in his inventory.”

“You smell that?”

“It goes unseen by our hero, but a barrier has been erected above the household. This innocuous barrier an atmospheric one, meant for air conditioning.”

“Really?”

“From the large corridor, a silhouette appears.”

‘Ji, want something to drink?’

“Our hero forcefully swallows his desires and is unable to answer, he can sense the unusual tone in miss Tio’s voice.”

‘I’ve also got some treats.’

“In an attempt to distract himself, Ji has begun carving. His speed atrocious and his usual prowess in shambles.”

‘Oh, you’re carving? You look like you could use a little rest.’

“There is soothing ambient sounds, a entracing fluo music playing in the background. This music has some unusual properties to it.”

‘Ji? Can you hear me Ji?’

“When her hands lands on his shoulders our hero shivers, his face already red and his eyes misty like a woman wronged.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m just focusing on the carving.”

‘Good. I’ll give you a message to keep you relaxed. Have some drinks or treats if you feel like it.’

“Ji is wise not to partake in these devious but delectable drinks and food. As before, there is hidden components in everything.

Not only has the food been altered, the air, music and even miss Tio’s skin is laced with aspects that arouse the male and female spirit.

It is not unusual for our hero to feel agitated. His silence marks his fight against these intrusive elements.

The pair spend their time in silence, accompanied by a fragrant smell and entrancing musical tones. Both unwilling to speak.

Ji has yet to finish a single piece of carving, his mana in disarray and his attempts seeming as fleeting as the clouds.”

‘You are doing great.’

“Having leaned slightly forward, Tio’s chest softly meets our hero’s back. Her voice carries a slight wind that caresses Ji’s ear and rustles his hair.

Is this where our hero finally meets his fateful defeat? Are his body and will going to fall into depravity?”