Given that the time I currently have for writing is pathetic I decided to post parts of the chapter as soon as I have them, this way you guys won't forget who Draky is and I get to feel like I am dedicating some time to this. It also alluows for me to get feedback mid-chapter, which I think is amazing and worth a try.
Once again sorry for the delay.
This should be about 1/4 of the chapter
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Chapter 6
“Alright lad, show me your skills”
Kalthier was now standing in Uldren’s smithy, ready to begin his training in blacksmithing and silently praying that the Dwarf was a gentle teacher or at the very least not a sadistic psychopath.
“Huh, sure. System: Show skills, Uldren”
Looking at Uldren’s face Kalthier could see the dwarf’s excitement grow as he read his skills. The grin Uldren gave him after he finished reading sent a shiver down his spine to the tip of his tail as it reminded him of Eva’s smile.
“This is perfect, all you need to do is learn two more skills and I can teach you blacksmithing the way its supposed to be taught.”
“What? I thought you were already going to teach me? And why two skills”
Just as he finished his last question Kalthier realized the reason. due to him not having a class he was limited to ten skills in total, not counting sub-skills, so by learning two more skills all his slots would be filled and he would not be able to gain the blacksmithing skill.
“I can see yer confused by my request.”
“Obviously, how can you teach me if I can’t get the skill?”
At this the dwarf laughed and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Look, I don't know how the brute and the harpy teach you but let me ask you this. When you're cooking, if Evangeline gives you an instruction that completely opposes what the skill or even common sense tells you to do, what do you do, on which instruction do you proceed?”
“Eva’s”
The answer came immediately out of Kalthier’s mouth, surprising both of them, but while Kalthier looked confused by his answer Uldren was delighted.
“And why, pray tell would you ignore the guidance of the cooking skill, which is designed ensure your success in whatever you’re making as long as you follow its guidelines, in favor of her simple advice”
It took Kalthier a couple of seconds to think of an answer that would explain what Eva’s cooking was like, but in the end he simply couldn't find an apt way to describe it so he just shrugged and said the first thing that came to mind.
“She knows better”
“Have you actually used the cooking skill since becoming her apprentice, aside from the passive bonus I mean.”
Thinking back Kalthier realized that other than the small bonuses that allowed him to do things faster, and whatever bonuses were applied to the finished product he was cooking he had not even checked the skill for details, as a matter of a fact he didn’t know the skill could help him by providing tips as he cooked. Eva just pounded the information into his skull, literally more often that not.
“So you want to teach me blacksmithing without the skill so I’ll listen to you?”
“What, no… Ok maybe a little, but my main purpose is simple. The skill is designed to progresses at a reasonable pace, allowing someone to work with more advance materials and learn different techniques as they advance its level. But this severely limits the craft, it put limits into yer abilities that don’t really exist. The same applies to all the crafting skills, they really just follow a path that is easy to learn and follow. However this method allows for inferior products to become the standard by which the profession is judged and measured, not to mention crippling most of the crafts’ ability to innovate.”
Wow....That…. That pretty much changes everything I knew about the craft skills in Royal Road.
With a smile Kalthier looked down towards Uldren, who was giving him an expectant look.
“Soooo… Any ideas as to what skills I should get? Pleandra offered to teach me drawing and cartography but after listening to you I think I’ll just learned them the old fashioned way”
“Finally someone who understands!. Do ye have any idea how many people go to my competition after listening to what I just told ye? It’s depressing.”
After giving it some thought Kalthier decided to check his skills, thinking that perhaps deleting all his crafting skills until he found a class would not only allow him to have a wider array of skills, but to learn the crafts in a much more detailed and profound way, even if it was harder to do so.
“System: Show skills”
Character SkillsSpiked Headbut. Beginner lvl 1 (8%)(Active)Cooking. Beginner lvl 8 (98%) (Passive)Knife Mastery. Beginner lvl 4 (86%) (Passive)Sword Mastery. Beginner lvl 4 (51%) (Passive)Bloodlust Aura. Beginner lvl 3 (64%) (Passive)Body Awareness. Beginner Lvl 6 (98%)Identification Beginner Lvl 1 (32%) (Active)Sub-skill
With only a slight tinge of regret at seeing his highest skill disappear Kalthier defiantly shouted
“System: Delete Skill: Cooking”
Are you sure you wish to delete the skill Cooking Beginner lvl 8 (98%)?
All progress in this skill will be saved in your account and continue to gain experience but the benefits, abilities and bonuses related to this skill will remain unavailable until you acquire it once more , at which point a small penalty will be applied in terms of experience..
YES NO
“Yes!”
Grinning at his rash decision Kalthier closed at the notification tabs that appear with the deletion of the skill and redirected his attention towards the dwarf. What he saw killed his grin and his good mood, Uldren had gone completely still to the point that Kalthier was certain he was not breathing. That accompanied by the fact the he had gone a few shades paled than a corpse scared Kalthier.
“Wha-What happened!”
Moving slowly, like an old man with arthritis Uldren made his way towards a padded chair that looked out a window Kalthier following closely with a worried and concerned expression, the dwarf looked as if he’d had a stroke.
After taking a few halting breaths he finally seemed to recover enough to talk but words seemed to fail the blacksmith.
“Wha-Why wou…. Ar….”
Taking a deep breath seemed to calm the dwarf enough to make a coherent word, only it was not what Kalthier was expecting.
“Are ye fucking insane! By Thor’s thrice cursed balls, what could pos’bly posses ye to do such a thing! You dimwit son of a lizard whore do you even realize what ye’ve done? NO, of course ye don’t ye faking cursed twit…”
From then on the dwarf turned to cursing in dwarven even louder and faster and if Kalthier’s was not mistaken even a few choice words in elven were directed towards him. Wincing a the tirade of profanity Kalthier had no choice but to wait for Uldren to calm down and explain his violent reaction and when he did Kalthier wished to all the gods that he hadn't and after releasing a string of profanity that not only rivaled the dwarf’s but made the old blacksmith blush he finally sat, dejected and depressed into the big padded chair.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
As Kalthier sulked he slowly became aware of a strange sound and it wasn't until he looked up that Uldren burst into wild uncontrolled laughter. Before he could protest against the dwarf’s reaction Uldren held up a hand and, after regaining his breath he chuckled under his breath.
“...Fat abomination from a malformed twat’..... That one, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to write down. Everything you said after that is a bit too heavy even for me. Not that I can blame ya, ye are well and truly screwed ”
“This is your fault!”
Looking perplexed at the accusation Uldren denied it instantly
“‘Tis not”
“Yes it is, you told me crafting skills were useless”
“Don’t be daft, you know perfectly well that's not what I said, and even if I did why in the seven hells did you delete her skill, you know her better than anyone.”
“Bu-”
“No buts, this is your mess and 'tis you who has to deal with the fat harpy”
Hiding his face in his hands Kalthier slumped his shoulders and tried to suppress a couple of shivers that shock his whole body, then he mumbled something in a half muted voice.
.”What was that?”
“...Help me”
“Help you?! Even Freya herself would be hard pressed to help you”
A silence descended on the room Kalthier, looking miserable and directing those huge tear filled eyes towards the old gruffy blacksmith finally broke him. With a sign of resignation not unlike that of man walking towards his death Uldren succumbed to Kalthier’s puppy(draky) eyes.
“Fine, fine I’ll help ya, just stop looking at me like that.”
*Ding*
You have learned a new skill: Draky eyes Lvl 1 (0%)(Passive, Circumstantial)
*Ding*
You have gained a new stat: Charm. CHM + 20
Ignoring the message with a twitch of irritation at the name of the skill Kalthier focused on Uldren, who had started to pace around the room while mumbling to himself.
“So, any ideas?”
Still pacing Uldren answered with notable reluctance.
“Since the damage is done you might as well take what little advantage you can get out of it. You intended to treat cooking the same way as blacksmithing, tailoring and all the other craft skill you are yet to learn, correct? Then I suggest you do exactly that learn some skill to fill your slots and make it impossible for Evangeline to give you the cooking skill again or gaining it on your own. This, off course is likely to piss her off and it’s up to you whether to go with the truth or a rather elaborate lie to explain the deletion of the skill”
With a wince of sympathy Uldren told him that asides from helping him get these skills he could not be of any help, after all only a madman and an idiot went against Evangeline Delacroft.
“But anyway, my advice is to go with combat or magic skills, or perhaps some standard technique like fishing, hiding or foraging”
At the mention of foraging Kalthier’s mind lit up with information he’d read at Pleandra’s library, particularly the books called “The Forager, Never Starve in the Wilderness”. and “Herbology, the Hunter's Guide to Survival”. Those two seemed like good skills to have and they seemed to complement cooking in a way, he said as much to Uldren.
“Read books about them have you?”
With that Uldren’s face went cryptic and he moved towards one of the windows of the smithy and came back carrying a pot with a little blue plant.
“This plant is called ‘Scophula’, it’s good to have here it at the smithy since its leaves can cure up to second degree burns instantly. It also happens to be a rare cooking ingredient used in the making and distilling of different types of alcohol. If you've read enough about herbology and foraging plucking one of it’s leaves and identifying it should grant you the skills, if not, well. You know where the library is at.”
Filled with apprehension and disbelief that a skill could be obtained so easily Kalthier slowly moved his hand towards one of the grey leaves. After taking it between his fingers and receiving a nod from Uldren Kalthier pulled, weirdly half expecting the damn plant to blow up in his face. and was rewarded with a satisfying *Ding* an a simple message.
*Ding*
You have learned the skill Herbalism - Beginner Lvl 1 (0%)
You have learned the skill Foraging - Beginner Lvl 1 (0%)
*Ding*
You have reached the maximum amount of skill. Please delete a skill of pick a class in order to be able to learn future skills.
*Ding*
Due to being the first player to fill the classless skill slots you have been awarded the following title.
-Hardworker
+20 Fame
+5 to all stats
Kalthier was left completely frozen with the leaf being crushed in his fingers as he read the messages and it wasn't until a heavy dwarven hand nudged him that he closed the notifications and looked back at Uldren.
“Did it work? Did you get them? Since you deleted the cooking skill you will need to find another one to fill the slot before you meet up with Eva, ask the brute at the training hall he might help ya….especially if ye show his those damned eyes”
Grinning, and having completely forgotten his increased weight Kalthier slapped the dwarf on the back, hard. Pretending not to notice the undignified yelp and stumble of his newest teacher Kalthier tried to cover up his slip of hand by talking.
“Not only did i get both, I also got a title”
Massaging his shoulder and grumbling what Kalthier assumed was another litany of curses in dwarven, Uldren went to put the plant back in the window. As he was coming back towards Kalthier, still grumbling he suddenly stopped and looked alarmed before grabbing Kalthier and running out of the room and down the stairs towards the smithy lobby.
“Odin’s shriveled balls but I forgot. How could I forget, she must have been here for hours!”
END Chapter 6 Part 1
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So, let me know what you guys think, any ideas and thoughts to improve the story.
I'll try to make it so I can dedicate at least 30 min-1 Hour a day to this Fanfic since I love writing it and you guys seem to enjoy it quite a lot (Love to read your comments on poor Draky)
This is unedited, Nima apparently hasn't forgiven me for the lack of updates. Please come back Nima, I need you!
{[999aba}] "Nevermore"