[participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]

Nuri, an [Assistant Glassworker], only has a single Skill. It’s really not fair.

He’s worked in the hot shop his entire life, following in his father’s footsteps after his parents passed away, but he’s stuck. Despite possessing above-average talent as an artisan, he still hasn’t shed his [Assistant] status, gained a second Skill, or even leveled enough to reach the first Threshold. Besides, he’s bored; most days he daydreams of adventure and becoming a hero, or pines for the renown that’s sure to be his if he evolves his Class into a [Master Glass Smith], but nothing ever changes—until suddenly, fate strikes, and nothing is ever the same again.

These days, Nuri sees more magic, prestige, and adventure than he can handle as he gets swept up in realm-shaking conspiracies and desperate fights for his life. Maybe a boring life wasn’t so bad after all.

Disclaimers: 1) Names were mostly chosen through random generators and aren’t necessarily final. If they seem derivative or boring, blame RNG. 2) Skills, Classes, levels, and the entire system is currently a work in progress; please be kind if it’s not very well fleshed out yet. 3) This is the first full-length novel I've set out to write without a single plot point ready. I had nothing in mind other than a recent visit to a hot shop. Molten glass is pretty awesome. 4) Related, I know much less about glass than I’d like. I did some research, but mistakes are bound to happen. If you have a correction, thanks! Please be polite about it. 5) The prose is my experimental attempt at first-person, present tense. I realize it may not be everyone’s preference, but I hope you’ll give it a try anyway!