The blacksmith stood with his arms open, proudly displaying his work. He looked at his weapons and armor as if they were works of art. "These are my little babies. Aren't they beautiful!"
The man scowled abruptly. "By the way! If you touch them, I'll break your legs! Is that clear?"
Jean nodded, feeling embarrassed and eager to leave. It was unclear whether the man was acting out or truly experiencing bipolar disorder.
Once again, a flash burst into her mind, followed by a new wave of whispers.
“[»Maker« and »Work Inventory« skills successfully implemented.]”
[Maker] (Basic): Magic skill that allows you to research materials and create items without long hours of work. Generates hunger and fatigue according to the effort. You need to store the items in your »Work Inventory« in order to use the skill.
[Work Inventory] (Basic): Magic skill that allows you to access a dimension of your own. You can store and remove the items in it freely. Does not reduce the loaded weight.
“Really? Now I have crafting skills? It was too easy!”
The blacksmith put his arms on his hips while laughing out loud. "They're already activated, right? Great! Back to work!"
He approached a hanging rope and pulled it. The rope was tied to a large bellows that fanned the embers. The heat became so stifling, that Jean had to move away for a moment.
"Go to the workbench in the back and pick up what's on top!"
The blacksmith approached the forge and pulled an incandescent steel blade from the embers. Holding it firmly with a pair of tongs, he carried it to an anvil and began hammering it without delay. After several blows molding the red-hot metal, he stopped the hammer in the air.
"I know, I know! It blows your mind watching me work, doesn't it? Go ahead, go to the workbench! I'll show you a couple of tricks later. Ha ha ha!"
Jean backed up slowly. “Yeah, sure!”
“[»Irum's favor« obtained. You have chosen »Perfect Recycling«.]”
“[Mission: »Choose your destiny!« updated.]”
“[Store the items in your »Work Inventory« and research them!]”
Jean walked towards the large workbench without looking back, but not before admiring all the shiny weapons and armor in her path. She would like to swing some of the swords and try out the armors, but she preferred to keep her legs in place.
Before she knew it, she had already reached her destination. There, a long wooden board, a metal ingot, a roll of cloth and a leather scrap awaited her.
What caught her attention the most was the ingot. When she was about to touch it, another flash unexpectedly came to her mind, giving way to new whispers.
“[»Identify« skill successfully implemented.]”
Jean tried to hide it, but a genuine smile appeared on her face."Yes! Finally a skill I know perfectly well!"
“[»Bronze«
Metal. Common item.
Details: Copper base with a 5% tin content. Used in basic blacksmithing.
Extra: An expert rank in »Maker« or the »Blacksmith« skill is required items with it.]”
"Does that mean I can't forge anything?"
For a moment, she thought about Ian. How would he react to all this stuff? She didn't expect him to be interested in video games. Maybe he was an occasional shooter player, but above all he seemed like an active person.
She then focused on the ingot and narrowed her eyes, hoping for a breakthrough. However, despite two more attempts, nothing happened. She tried several other methods, including some weird poses, but they all proved to be a waste of time.
Eventually, she gave up and turned around to the blacksmith. "I need a little help here!"
"Ha ha ha! It happens to everyone! You have to find a balance between desire, enthusiasm and control. You just want it and hope for it. You need to demand it too! Give it a try now!"
A playful smile appeared on her face. She couldn't help but imagine Ian looking like an idiot too as he struggled to store the ingot.
Putting her fantasies aside, she nodded effusively and confidently ordered the ingot to be stored. When it disappeared before her eyes, she smiled widely and turned around. "Thank you, sir!"
The blacksmith nodded in satisfaction. Few thanked him for his advice.
"Okay! Where is it now?"
Jean squinted her eyes and tapped her forehead, trying to come up with the right word. That’s when she realized her fingers felt heavier. The weight of the metal had been added to her own. It didn't become a bother. It felt as if the weight of the bronze was evenly distributed throughout her body.
“Work Inventory!”
A very dark turquoise panel, visible only to her, opened before her eyes. It showed a grid of 5 horizontal squares and an infinite number of squares procedurally growing downward. The edges were gold on a black background. In the first square she found the ingot. She stared at it impatiently until another small panel emerged.
“Research!
At that moment, a floating meter in the shape of a manometer began to grow very slowly. A flood of sensations overwhelmed her. The same sensations she would experience if she had been working with the metal for hours. Time in which she had hammered the bronze after heating it red-hot in the forge. That would allow her to shape it for a specific purpose that she discovered over time.
At the same time, a flow of knowledge made her aware of what she could do with the material. However, that information did not come for free. A slight dizziness and a mild feeling of hunger forced her to lean on the table.
“What the hell!”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
She quickly recalled the [Maker] skill. If she felt that way for researching a material, what would it be like to create an item? One thing became clear to her. She would need food. A lot of food.
“[Knowledge acquired:
◦ »Bronze Sword Blade«
◦ »Bronze Dagger Blade«
◦ »Bronze Greatsword Blade«
◦ »Bronze Arrowhead«
◦ …]”
The list was massive, but she didn't bother to read it from start to finish. She knew they were just parts of other items and there were still three other materials left. She stored them and got what was expected from them. More complex recipes. Weapons, clothing and armor. This time, hunger and fatigue made her stagger. She had to hold on to the table with both hands to keep from falling.
Fatigue went away at its own pace. Hunger had come to stay.
“[Mission: »Choose your destiny!« updated.]”
“[You have temporarily access to the »Blacksmith« and »Leatherworker« crafts.]”
“[Create a »weapon« based on the »Error« fighting style.]”
“Error… ERROR?!!!”
“[»Error«! No recognizable fighting style has been found.]”
"Oh, shit! Create any weapon! But which one? I only gather the necessary material for a dagger, a bo staff or a spear! I want a... I don't know what I want to start with!"
The man spoke without being asked. "Weird! You should have received additional materials when you researched the first ones. That's the norm for coming in here in the first place."
Jean watched him with a worried expression, afraid that he could read her every thought.
"Quick! What would Ian choose? Probably a dagger. It suits him... I'll choose the spear and surprise him. It's not very common in games, but it will give me range. A dagger is for someone agile and dexterous. I'll be tactical!"
The consequences of the effort were even worse than expected. Unable to support her own weight, her legs gave way, causing her to fall to her knees. She tried to get up, but the growl of her own stomach made her options clear.
Confused, the blacksmith slowed down his hammering without taking his eyes off her.
“[»Devourer« successfully implemented.]”
[Devourer]: Unique Skill. Killing doesn't give you experience. You can only improve by consuming ingredients from your inventory. You get the following bonuses:
◦ (+4) extra attribute points for each level gained. (9 free points in total)
◦ You cannot learn new magic skills or knowledge except by devouring.
◦ You can improve the level of a learned or copied magic skill every level.
◦ You feel hungrier when you craft.
◦ You can mutate by devouring."
"It has its cons, but overall it's amazing! Can I really do all this stuff?"
“[»Attributes « increase on standby.]”
“[»Survival Instinct« is mutating into the »Reconstructive Healing« skill.]”
“[»Perfect Recycling« is mutating into the »Everything is one« skill.]”
“[You have broken the rules! You have acquired a »Forbidden Class« for a new player!]”
“[Mission: »Choose your destiny!« updated.]”
“[The temporary use of the »Blacksmith« and »Leatherworker« crafts has expired.]”
“[Face the »Punishment«!]”
The man stopped hammering and looked at her angrily. "What-the-hell-have-you-done, brat?"
She pretended everything was fine, but a sudden pain made her wince. "Wh-what’s wrong with this hunger, huh?! It's terrible! Can it be alleviated without food?!"
The blacksmith pointed the hammer at her. "Don't play dumb with me! Answer!! Have you talked to anyone before you walk through my door?"
Jean avoided his gaze, not knowing what to say. The changes in her body were happening faster and faster. It was only a matter of time before he noticed. Even less so when the blacksmith's eyes began to glow purple.
"Not only you have talked to someone! It was her! That vermin...! You've been deceived, child!"
"Deceived...? Wait! She only agreed to help with a problem in exchange for a favor!"
"I can't believe you're so innocent! She didn't give you something ordinary! What did you ask in...?" Realizing that her hair and body were partially human. "Shit! It's too late now!"
His disappointment was palpable. He knew for sure that the physical customization shouldn't be happening there, but after the other door. "You don't understand what you've done. You have doomed yourself!"
"It must be some kind of misunderstanding! I just made a pact!"
The blacksmith slammed his hand on the anvil. He hit it with such force that the building shook. "So that's what it was! You’ve brought back the cursed class! It was banned for a good reason! She knew it!!"
Jean wanted to explain to herself. "She told me that...!" But when she looked at the anvil, she froze. It was visibly deformed. His fist was imprinted on the anvil as if it were nothing more than plasticine to him.
“Curse her! You cannot escape the impending doom that awaits you!”
The familiar purple smoke surrounded her, forcing her out of the smithy. She ended up in front of the two doors again, but this time, it was different. They were completely burned.
"Shit! Does this mean I won't be able to be with Ian?"
Jean suddenly heard a cursed murmur behind her. At first, she didn't know what it was. However, when she recognized the screams of suffering, she knew it was bad news.
She quickly turned around, but to her surprise, she ended up with her hands on the floor. She couldn't turn, her feet were trapped by roots with an unpleasant dark red appearance that reminded her of tar.
After struggling to stand up again, Jean had a hard time turning her upper body and head enough to see what was happening. Directly behind her was a new entrance. It was far away, but Jean managed to make out a cave that emitted red smoke and a faint light of the same color. Based on the screams and the strong smell, it seemed as if they could dissolve any form of life.
Jean blinked, thinking she was seeing things. But when she opened her eyes, the cavern had moved ten steps closer. "What the fuck! How could that have moved?"
The screams became unbearable. She attempted to cover her ears, but someone stopped her by gently holding her hands.
Jean offered her a warm smile. "I knew you wouldn't deceive me!"
The woman looked at her in disbelief. "You still trust me?!"
Jean nodded, avoiding being crushed by the uncertainty that the woman's words had awakened in her.
The woman smiled extremely pleased. Although it wasn't noticeable, she had never felt anything like that. "I haven't deceived you, but... I haven't told you the whole truth…! I can't! They forbid it."
"What do you mean...?"
The woman put one of her fingers on Jean’s lips, preventing her from speaking. "We'll make a new pact! You don't have to give me anything or do anything impossible for me! Just protect me when I ask you to! I will make it worth the effort!"
Jean felt the corrosive heat of the fumes on her legs and back. She didn't need to turn around. Above her, the threshold of the cave could already be seen. Pain hit her. There was no time.
“Protect you from what?!"
Jean saw something in that invisible face that she hadn't seen before. Fear. The woman trusted Jean as much as she had trusted her.
"I... I will protect you!"
Jean had come so far thanks to the idea of having adventures with Ian, but due to circumstances, that might no longer happen. Maybe her destiny was her. The strange woman who kissed so well.
The idea of the strange woman being with her gave the strength to face anything. Smiling at how different she felt now, she tried to look her in the eyes, but her vision blurred.
Before the cavern closed its jaws on her, the strange woman rushed to embrace her. Jean lost consciousness after feeling the woman's touch. She only remembered being taken away from there. It felt as if the woman was an angel taking flight.