章 11: Skill: Craftsmanship

With the saw in my hand I moved forward to the tree. In the same second the saw touched the tree I heard as expected the voice in my head:

» You gained a new skill«

I opened the menu to see the changes:

Name: Valerius Corvin

Age: 15

Job: Magician Apprentice {Librarian}

Level: 1

XP: 1/100

Strength: 10

Defense: 5

Agility: 7

Intelligence: 4

Charisma: 5

Mana: 30/30

Skills:

| Passive: System, Time Shield, All Languages, Night Vision, Craftsmanship, ???

| Active: ???

Spells: ???

There it is - craftsmanship. I clicked on it to get the definition of this world for it. Like before a new window popped up revelling information.

Craftsmanship

Describes the skill while creating new things or upgrading/repairing them. Boosting your knowledge and the speed while working on things. Especially boosting woodworking.

Level: 1

XP: 1/100

"That's exactly what I needed. I just hope that it includes chopping this tree. System how long will it take now to chop the tree?"

» If you would only choop the tree without your skill it would take you 48h. Activing the skill it would take you 40h. But if you consider that the skill is leveling up while you working you will probably need 30h.«

With this newfound motivation, I eagerly began sawing the tree. The morning sun cast deep shadows through the forest, leaving the forest floor with shifting patterns of light and shadow as I worked.

I paused my work around midday, but not as expected due to exhaustion, but because of a sudden voice:

»Your Craftsmanship skill leveled up! It's now level 2.«

A surge of energy coursed through me, and my vision shifted. It felt like I got an upgrade, granting me fresh insights into my craft. Suddenly, I viewed the tree before me from a different perspective, noticing imperfections and inefficiencies in my previous approach that I had been blind to before.

Continuing my work with the newfound knowledge, I adjusted my sawing technique, cutting the tree with greater precision and efficiency. I also noticed that my strength not only in my arms but in my whole body increased. "Probably a welcome side effect of the skill upgrade," I thought and continued working.

As the sun dipped behind the mysterious forest, casting long shadows across the clearing, I paused again, looking at my progress. The once almost impossible task seemed more manageable, with the end in sight. Continuing at this pace, it wouldn't be long before I completed the task and could start focusing on the other parts of my plan.

Lost in thinking about what would happen, I heard a sound in the far, like the flowing water out of a lake or more out of a river. The fact of not only having high-quality wood but also a nearby water source filled me with gratitude.

Following the sound, I navigated through the underbrush, guided by the soothing melody of the river. After a while, I finally saw a small crystal-clear stream floating through the middle of the forest.

Kneeling by the riverbank, I cupped my hands, bringing the cool water to my lips. However, a sharp pang of pain made me stop, but to late. The water was already running down my throat into my stomach. Pain starts spreading. One question formed in my mind: "Was this water poisoned?"

"You gained a new skill!"

Instantly, the pain vanished. "What just happened?" I was curious about the phenomenon, seeking answers I opened my stats. What I found left me stunned.