The next day I got up and sitting at my table was grand elder.

Why would he come to visit me?

He must want something I thought to myself.

"I'm glad your up I have something to talk to you about"

Yep, he wanted something, he could at least make it less obvious.

"I saw you got lucky and got half a bison corpse."

He looked startled for a second apparently that's what he had came here for.

"You saw through your glasses?"

"Ya, I saw you" Clever old man had found the perfect opportunity.

He said, "That will actually make my visit easier I need you to make a rare ring based on the bison."

He wanted something so now was the time to barter.

"That can be arranged for a price. What do you want the ability ring too do?"

"Increased survivability for a period of time and it of course runs off mana."

That was easy enough I supposed.

"What do you get out of this?" I asked

"We will trade the ability ring to the item outpost in exchange there going to make the bison fur into coats."

"Why coats?" I asked

"The forest isn't the only place to get resources I have to prepare for the day when someone from the outpost wants to explore the mountains."

So that's what it was huh.

"Do you need a coat to travel further into the mountain regions?"

Elder seemed surprised but answered "Yes I am unable to stay overnight in that region. There are ruins there that could be greatly beneficial to our outpost if studied. But it would take me two nights to reach them."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"I agree you don't have to say anything more. In exchange I want you to let me make a legendary ring for the cook."

"Agreed"

He stood up and we shook hands.

"As an investment Ill give you this.

It was a larger ability ring this must be an ability ring that goes in slot two.

It read

Combat pro~ Understand the mechanisms of combat better as long as you are in the outpost. Consumes mana to use.

He seemed to understand my puzzlement.

"I know you need mana to craft so just flash the ability for a second when your struggling."

"Okay, what are you gonna do with the bison meat?"

He laughed "I supply the cafeteria with food that my main job."

So I would be eating bison for a while

He wished me luck and left to go forage.

I went to pick up my food from the cafeteria.

It was hundred year old bison steak with berries.

It had the ability to reinforce bones.

I missed the mana regen but upgrading my body so I could have more ability rings was definitely better for the long run.

I decided I was going to cultivate mana for the rest of the day.

The next morning when I got up the number on my arm was 213 if I stayed inside under the sunlight I would be able to make the rare ring.

With things like trade, it would take a while to go through so I was better off finishing it right away.

I stayed inside until I had enough mana then I went and crafted the ring.

It was nothing special I used the bison horn to make it.

It had a non colorful bison carved onto it.

That was the way to differentiate ring grades, the more detailed and colorful the image the more powerful the ring. That meant that some rings were more powerful then others even if they were the same tier.

I put on my glasses and went to find cannon man.

I checked and he was still standing on the wall like he always did.

"Hey," I said

He didn't respond I wonder why he never responded.

I pulled out the ring and casually tossed it to him.

"I heard your going to use a legendary ring to upgrade the chef." He said

"Ya, what about it."

"It would be a waste. The main way you use legendary rings is to make it so you don't have to use mana to use the ability right?"

He was right but I didn't say anything. Two could play the silent game.

"He can already use mana so make a mythic ring for him."

"That was actually very useful " but then "What if he doesn't have enough mana?"

"He has mana he used to be a forager before, his ability is he can generate mana and he uses the mana to cook."

"Alright, thanks for the tip," I said as I set off.

That guy had just saved me 500 mana.

I should have consulted with the chef on his abilities first.

But between crafting and training, I hadn't had time to do much else.

I wanted to go into the forest so bad and roam free.

Even though I knew anything I found would be inferior to what grand elder could get.

I walked into my room and started reading.

Tomorrow I promised myself I would go on an adventure and flirt with a beauty.

Maybe id go to the bar.