A week passed and Alex made more trips to the first floor. Angela entered the first floor and started to get her feet under her, in Elize, with the help of Alex. He spent his time collecting materials on the first floor and some on the second floor for Angela to use. The progress toward 17 was slower to progress as a result. He now longer gained XP from the first floor which left him only the loot and Tower Points to profit from.
The few trips to the second floor were very profitable, however. Alex’s bar jumped up another 30 percent and Angela grew quickly thanks to the high-level resources. Her path was crafting of course with her subclass emphasizing magical blacksmithing. After speaking to the Tower AI on floor zero she realized that the Tower had shaped her subclass perfectly for the requirements of the upcoming build she needed to do.
Magical blacksmithing encompassed standard metal works and smelting along with the fusion of fire and magic. Enchantment and transformation, where alchemical symbols met molten metal. The result was a magical armory of swords that cleaved shadows and shields that repelled spells and performed many other acts. Ancient incantations manipulated the furnace's heat while alchemical potions and elemental essences fused with the metal's soul, creating objects that bore life and magic in their core.
Angela found herself slowly settling into her new role at the Tower. She was in the early stages of developing her crafting skills, a new journey that she embarked upon after being granted her class. Her initiation was extraordinary as she was endowed with an immediate comprehension of several fundamental items. She learned how to design them, work on them meticulously, and then repair them if they wore out or broke. This was a skill set that she came to appreciate, even though the road that followed was not laid out clearly for her.
With the Tower Points given to her by Alex, she was faced with a choice. She could choose to venture into the unknown and experiment with creating her own blueprints, or alternatively, she could decide to invest in knowledge directly from the trainers in the crafter’s guild. After some thought, Angela decided to start off with the latter. It seemed a more certain and secure option, offering a stable foundation on which she could later build her own creative designs.
Furnished with materials, Angela delved into her work, crafting an array of items with a certain air of excitement and curiosity. She forged knives and swords with finesse, while also carefully shaping helmets and boots. It was fulfilling work, seeing her items take shape under her hands, the tangible result of her new-found skill and effort.
To continue her work, Angela took the step of renting out a crafting space for her regular use. It was here that she began to accumulate her creations, carefully placing each item in a growing pile. When Alex visited the first floor of the Tower, he would collect the crafted items, taking them to sell and exchange points. Angela's work was not just a personal endeavour anymore; it was becoming a part of the Tower's economy, and she took pride in that.
However, as time went on, Alex began to comprehend the real cost of training a proficient crafter. It was no small investment, and he soon realized why independent crafters were a rarity in their world. The task of nurturing a crafter was an expensive venture, consuming resources, time, and points.
With Angela's increasing proficiency in crafting, the demand for level-one resources grew. To meet this growing demand, Alex had to dedicate more and more of his time to expeditions, gathering the needed resources. The journey of training a crafter was far more demanding than he had initially expected, but he saw the value in Angela's work and understood that this was a necessary part of their journey in the Tower.
It was decided that Alex would pick up the items and sell them on his own. He did this for the protection of Angela’s identity and the connections he had made with a few of the native sellers. If Angela sold the items herself she and Alex worried that people might identify her and look into her currently guild-less status. And for the time being her crafting output volume was low enough that the new items brought to market would not be noticed.
Alex pushed the heavy iron door open, the screech of metal against stone echoing through the cavernous interior of the forge. As his eyes adjusted to the soft, fiery glow emanating from the depths of the furnace, he greeted, "What treasures have you been crafting today?"
Angela turned from the flickering flames, a fine layer of soot smudging her cheeks. Her arms bore the weight of their latest creations, the fruits of her labor reflecting in the sweat on her brow. "I've finally reached the fifth tier. It's been grueling but exhilarating, pushing through the levels. I've practically lived within these stone walls the entire week. Each day feels identical, and I've only slightly extended my skill set."
She set down the items on the anvil, the dull clang ringing through the air, before she continued, "But it's fascinating how the magic infuses itself within each piece. Once I've mastered a blueprint, it imprints itself within me. Then, I can recreate that item, time and time again, each one approaching perfection."
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"Good work," Alex complimented, his fingers brushing over the newly minted pieces as he began to gather them. The craftsmanship was evident, each piece a testament to Angela's evolving skills.
His voice, as he began to box up their inventory, was colored with curiosity, "How have the sales been going?"
She shrugged; the weight of her exhaustion evident in the slump of her shoulders. "Not as lucrative as I had hoped. It stings to sell my pieces at a cost price due to their inconsistent quality. However, given how much I've been practicing and the sheer volume of my output, the quality should improve soon."
Alex nodded, understanding etched onto his face. "Just keep going at it. I am not in a rush for profit. It's more important to ensure the consistency of the product. However, it would be convenient if you could accompany me to the second floor soon."
She smiled, a glint of determination in her eyes. "I'm aiming to reach that level soon enough. Honestly, despite the hard work, I've enjoyed every moment of my experience here. The Tower, with its unique culture, is a mesmerizing place. I now understand why you've become so attached to it."
Alex paused, letting her words sink in. "The culture, yes. The liberty of being my own boss. My only concern every day is my current points, how to spend them wisely, and how to accrue more. I have my long-term objectives, but I don't let them overshadow the joy of exploring and hunting."
Angela chuckled lightly. "So, your only concern now is me, huh?"
Alex raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his face. "Should I be worried about you?"
She returned his grin with a bold one of her own. "Maybe a tad. But trust me, I can handle myself. This town is pretty calm, and I keep a low profile. I've learnt how to blend in."
"And for how long do you plan to stay that way?"
"Hopefully, until I join you on the second floor." She laughed lightly, "It could take two weeks, or perhaps less, to meet you there."
Alex nodded. “That is better than the time it took me. Though I didn’t have anyone to help me power level through the early levels. Or pay for the entirety of my training.”
“You will make up the cost eventually. Whether it is while you are on the second floor or even the third floor.”
“Hopefully it is the ladder. Though it has been good practice and has given me more to work for day by day other than killing zombies non-stop for some points and XP until I hit the next level.”
“Still not level 17 yet?”
“Almost there but the storms are unpredictable, and I can’t always draw out as much energy as I want. And it otherwise is pretty dangerous for me to be out there without the use of all the magic I can.”
“Mutated animals and now undead. What do you think is next?” asked Angela.
“More monsters from myths and legends I suppose. I think it is as simple as that. Everything we have dreamed up and told stories about can now come to life in the Tower.”
“I’m glad I don’t have to leave the walls. Some of those folk monsters freak me out. Seeing an undead gave me the chills when I saw videos of people fighting them outside the Tower. They are just too human and close to home. I don’t know how you do it.”
“From a distance if I can. Otherwise as quickly as possible. At this point I also use my powers to shut off my sense of smell and taste to make things easier.”
“You lucky cheater. You have some really awesome powers and control. Which reminds me of something I believe you can do with your powers. You told me about some of what you can do to other people and yourself. Numbing senses, freezing peoples limbs, focusing senses. I believe you can do the same for other people. Essentially whatever you can do to yourself you can do to others. This could extend to adjusting peoples senses mid fight so that they go blind or deaf to your movements, mute a teammates pain, make an enemy feel more pain than usual. The exact details are up to whatever you think of and can control.”
"I suppose," Alex mused, "though I'm yet to explore all the applications of my powers. That is a good idea. I usually try to keep things as simple as possible in the heat of the moment. But it's an interesting idea, and I'll think about it. The one downside is that is have to usually be up close to use those powers though with my power increasing that seems to be less of a limitation."
Angela leaned back in her chair, her eyes shining with curiosity. "You know, your abilities remind me of some sort of superhero character from comic books or movies."
"Is that so?" Alex responded, chuckling. "Well, all we need now is a villain, and I'd fit right into the script."
"Well, aren't the zombies and mutants enough?" Angela retorted, playfully. "You've also got your revenge to take care of. The betrayal and all that."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right. But it doesn't feel... theatrical."
Her light-hearted demeanor fell a little, and Angela noticed it. "Alex, do you... regret this? Going into the Tower and all?"
Alex was silent for a moment, his eyes focused on the table in front of him. Finally, he looked up at Angela and shrugged. "I guess a part of me does. I miss the life I used to have. But on the other hand, being in the Tower has given me a purpose. It's something I can strive for, something I can be good at."
Angela nodded. "And there's the fact that, whether we like it or not, this is our reality now. This Tower, these monsters... they're not going away any time soon."
"Yeah," Alex agreed, "they are not. I will leave you to your work now. See you tomorrow.” He said with a smile.
“See ya later.”
Alex gathered his bag and threw it on his back. He pushed the door open again and stepped out onto the street. Alex, with her pile of new materials to work with, got back to work. The streets were busy with people as Alex filtered toward the exit portal. The small town was getting busier as more people found interest in the Tower and settled inside of it. He made his way to the portal and was on the second floor in a flash.