CHAPTER 5 DAY 3

I woke after only five hours of sleep. My dreams were about the possibilities in the Realms. I made some eggs and bacon and surfed the game forums. I found a site for sale of items for cash. It was actually run by Crystal Horizons. They took 20% of the cash sale as a ‘broker’ fee. I put all my Ying-Yang +1 channeling/ +2 magic rings up for sale. I made the price $500 for each one figuring if they sold I would get $400 for each ring. I put the transfer time at midnight. This would give me time to make new rings before the sale completed.

Back to reality. I opened my CAD program and went over my designs for the new mini-house trailers. I wanted to get 4 floors laid today. I put the left over eggs and bacon on the floor for Flicka, she had been patiently waiting for the treat. I checked the pavilion plans as well. The building was open on three sides. The final side had an enclosed storage room, men’s and women’s bathrooms. A permanent stage was to be constructed at the open end. I wanted to rent it out to small bands for concerts, reunions and wedding receptions. The pavilion was about a quarter mile away from the trailers so I hoped it would not make too much noise when it hosted events. I open my remodeled cabin in the CAD plans folder. I started playing with a pool layout behind the cabin. I spent the next two hours building a 10 yard by 20 yard pool, a ten foot wide deck surround the pool, an eight person hot tub, and a guest house. The guest house had an open room that was a living room that transitioned into a dining room and then into a kitchen. A bedroom and bathroom was located off the living room. The plumbing would be hell with the bathroom and kitchen so far apart but what the hell. It was a single story building with 5 sky lights and many large windows. The structure was 20’ x 30’ with 12 foot ceiling. I put a full HVAC system to make it easy to heat and cool. I was extremely impressed with the design. The computer program automatically set the plumbing, electrical, vents and framing. Three errors came up for the CAD program and I had to make three changes to bring the building to code. The blue prints were ready to print along with a complete material list. I printed out three copies of the plans on 16” x 20” paper. I rolled up the one copy and headed out with Flicka in tow to work on the trailer floors for the day.

The work was distracting and I became fully engrossed in labor. Before I knew it I had completed all four trailer floors. The table saw had a massive pill of saw dust. Flicka had flecks of saw dust all over her, most of her day had been spent protecting me from the menacing squirrels. But she seemed content to watch me work while lying by her water bowl. I walked over and emptied the water and used the hole to refill it with fresh cold water. I took a big drink myself, not realizing how thirsty and hungry I was. I checked my phone, it was 5pm, I had worked over seven hours. I walked over to the pavilion and brought my plans to the contractor. I spent some time going over the plans and asked him for a quote. I would use my backhoe to level the land and dig out the pool. He would quote the foundation, framing, insulation and siding. I would do the plumbing, electrical and HVAC myself. He said he would file the permit requests tomorrow and there shouldn’t be a problem. I thanked him for his time and went inside to shower and eat.

I put four hamburgers on the grill and went to take a quick shower. I left the door to patio open so Flicka could guard the burgers especially the one she knew was intended for her. I grabbed two Guinness, some cheese, buns, bacon and a head of lettuce and joined Flicka on the patio. I got the bacon cooking on the grill. I pulled out my phone and ordered up groceries for the week as my fridge was getting low. I usually did not drink often but these were my last two beers. Using the delivery service for groceries was not my usual way of getting food but it was a thirty minute drive to the grocery store and I didn’t want to waste burn the time. With the burgers and bacon finished I sat down at the patio and made three bacon cheese burgers. I went inside and grabbed the ketchup having forgot it. I took the first bite of heaven and heard Flicka whimper. I gave her a pat on the head and returned to my burger. She barked to get my attention again and put her head in my lap, looking up at me with big brown eyes. I pulled the burger patty and two strips of bacon and put them on the ground. They were gone in seconds and she trotted over to her water bowl to get a drink. I was famished having missed lunch and downed all three burgers and both Guinness. Lethargy set it and I wanted to lie down to digest. I went into the bathroom, shaved and brushed my teeth and headed for the Cocoon.

I was in my room in the Union Hall. I opened my display to see if something had been interested in the rings I had posted. All seven rings in the auction house had sold. 147 silver and 65 copper awaited me at the auction house. I had twenty nine offers to buy the rings I had posted for $500 each! I was in shock. One person wanted to buy all ten and a few people wanted two. I just went down the list and accepted the first ten requests. The exchange service would hold both the item and cash. Once both were held it would exchange the items. The money would be credited to my bank account and the item could be picked up at the mail service by the buyer. It was a little after 6 pm and I needed to use the rings I had on to make replacements. I got to work. I worked till just before midnight, making 15 rings and using my remaining magic potions and one fortify magic potion. The workmanship was getting better and my efforts were rewarded with an increase to two skills.

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Earth Magic: Stone 2 Tier 2 unlocked: +1 Constitution, Tier 2 stone spells can now be learned

Enchant 3 Tier 3 unlocked: +1 Channeling, can prep objects to receive tier 3 enchantment

This was my first “learned” level of enchant as my other two levels had been from the book and character creation. I was also already 35% progress toward my next skill level. My enchant: imbue skill was sitting at 87%. I guessed about two more hours of ring making would get me to the next level.

The post said I would deliver the rings at midnight so I headed to the exchange. While walking I accepted the next five requests for the rings. Six more people had been added to the list as being interested in buying a ring. The exchange was simple. It was a white marble building with a man behind some silver bars. I just walked up and told him I was delivering the rings to fulfill an order and he took each one in turn, examined it to make sure the product was as described in the sale and brought them to a room out back. I checked my bank account through my screens in game and noticed the transactions had occurred in real time. I was $6000 richer! I was hooked, easy money! I was less thrilled by a message I received from Crystal Horizons in game.

You have generated income from the game Fantasy Realms. Please note this is taxable by the IRS. Once your in game revenue exceeds your purchase of your Cocoon, game copy and coins it will be considered taxable income. Our records show that you have not purchased any of these items so Crystal Horizons will be reporting $6,000.00 as income in your end of year statement.

Damn I suppose that was true. Everything had been purchased by my uncle and I had just switched over the game ownership and linked my own personal accounts. I was a little down but still I had made quite a large sum for three days work.

I needed more potions but unfortunately the dwarf was not out harvesting tonight. Thinking he did not want to be disturbed I left through the north gate and went to the sites were I remembered harvested the white peppermint leaves and white lily petals. I had gathered 30 white peppermint and was headed to where I remembered the white lily petals were and I noticed a large rat near the city wall and decided to try out my stoneball spell. It produced a fist sized rock that I could throw at an enemy in 60 feet. It cost 10 magic to form, did 20 damage and it had a 2M/5D charge. This meant I could invest 2 magic a second to increase damage by 5. My first attack was just quick cast for 20 damage but at least it was a hit. The rat then charged me. It was about the size of a cat and I was a little afraid. I cast another rock and missed. The rat leapt at me bit into my shoulder.

You have been hit by Large Rat, 29 damage

Shit. I only had 150 health. I started to panic, the city gates were a good half mile away. I had no weapons and the only spell I had that did damage was rockball. I did not know how much health it had either. The rat was getting ready for another leap and I backed up and cast my rock again, getting a successful hit. The rat was successful in its leap again.

You have been hit by Large Rat, 27 damage

My heart was racing. I cast another rock and missed. Fortunately the rat missed as well as I was backpeddling. The beast looked bloodied but determined to kill me. The eerie moonlight made this battle all the more ominous to me. My magic was also at 56. With my rings and the fortitude potion my max magic was 575 but it had not recovered much after I had finished the rings. I decided to charge my next rockball for 2 seconds to give it more power. Just before I was to release it the rat hit me again and I lost concentration. To make matters worse I lost 22 magic points and made no attack!

You have been hit by Large Rat, 31 damage

I ran away and noticed I was a little faster than the rat. I could probably get to the city gates and safety. Something inside me wanted to go down fighting. Running away from a rat? I turned and prepared my spell, I would charge it until the beast got too close. Three seconds later I released the rock.

You have killed 1 Large Rat, Experience 15

Relief flooded over me. I looked at the mangled corpse of the rat and assumed I didn’t look much better. The hits from the attacks felt like minor electrical shocks but I was bleeding. Fortunately did not have a bleed status. I decided to get my white lily petals and return to my room and log out. When I returned tomorrow I would be healed and my mana would be restored. I noticed two other rats but kept my distance. I had to pry open the flowers to get the petals, it being night and the flowers having closed up but I was successful in grabbing 32 lily petals.

I made my best speed back. The guards muttered something about my appearance as I passed through the gate but I ignored them out of embarrassment. When I got back to the Union Hall I had a bag sitting outside my door. I checked it and noticed it was the stones Grant had been gathering for me. I smiled and planned to keep the boy busy. I should try enchanting other types of stones.

I set out my alchemy set and the ingredients. I just needed to get some water and empty vials. The alchemy set had come with 5 and I had 20 from the potions I had drank. I made a note to purchase 100 vials from the dwarf, Zolan. I now had seven remaining requests for the rings, some people had withdrawn their request. Either because they found a better item or figured out how to make the rings themselves. I would need to stay ahead of the curve if I was to continue racking in the cash. I logged out.

I rolled out of the Cocoon. A little stiff from yesterday’s labor. Flicka was right there. We went outside for a few minutes before I got some water and headed to bed.