Liam struggled to restrain his anger.

Grinding his teeth, he spitefully replaced the useless tome and turned back to the centre of the room.

He glared about in anger, seeking a way to vent his pent-up emotions. Liam found it tempting to blast the place with Flame but knew that was extreme foolishness.

The other shelves throughout the room contained a myriad of scrolls and books. If he destroyed them, he would be guilty of a terrible crime against those who had so carefully built this library.

As the anger faded, he realised it was possible that if one book were in a language he could read, it might contain some important insight. He supposed he would have to keep searching.

The room contained thousands of books, and Liam had no clue where he should start.

He sighed. Is everything here designed to frustrate me?

Shelves lined the circular walls in every direction, except for where the still shuttered windows sat recessed into the neatly aligned books.

The flicker of the flame showed that he was running out of Magic.

Liam immediately set about opening the windows to let in some natural light and allowed the Flame to sputter out of existence.

In the centre of the room, a large wooden table sat facing the western window, through which the sun flowed into the room. Upon the table was a single object. Approaching, Liam picked it up, scrutinizing it.

A bag? He thought. Why would someone leave an empty bag on the table?

Liam hefted the bag and found it did indeed contain something. Opening it, he peered within.

He couldn’t see anything at all inside it, but the bag had a heft to it, as though it contained sand or soil. Liam gripped it in both hands, groping through the fabric to discover what lay within, but he could discern nothing but a strange and formless mass. It felt like badly milled grain, soft in places, while others were impossibly hard.

There was no rattle when he shook the sack, but there was definitely something in there.

He reached within, his hand immediately encountering an object. Liam pulled free a book.

There is absolutely no way the tome would fit within the bag, but somehow it had! Reaching in once more, his hand bumped into another item, withdrawing another book. Once more he reached within the bag, and this time pulled free a smithing hammer of exceptionally fine quality.

There was no way that the bag could have contained multiple items! He would have felt them, and it was far too small to contain what he'd withdrawn already!

Liam kept pulling out tools, ores and timbers, ink-pots, quills and parchment, a Sickle with strange runes all over it, and protective clothing of different sizes and designs.

Soon, he ran out of space on the table and instead dumped the items on the floor.

He realised he’d been an idiot and stared hard at the bag.

Crafters Bag

This bag is a system created storage device allowing the owner to store one thousand items without being restricted by the weight or size of the item.

Only crafted and crafting related items can be stored.

Capacity: 0/1000

What in the Heavens is this? Liam wondered.

It seemed self-explanatory, but it made no sense at all.

How does something so small store so much?

Liam stared at the bag in confusion until he recalled the loot storage vision, which seemed to hold items within a strange grid indefinitely. Perhaps the bag was similar in its magic?

Liam looked around for a place to sit.

There, under the fine oak desk, was an equally well worked throne. Covered in a plush red velvet, the exquisitely crafted seat had withstood the trials of time extremely well.

Walking over to the chair, Liam pulled it out and gave it a quick dusting. He sat.

No, he sank into the plush padding. Whatever this material contained relaxed him immediately. The glare of the sun, however, was annoying, and so Liam pulled the chair to the other side of the table so that it faced away from the sun.

It will also make reading easier. He thought.

He decided that the best thing to do was discover if whoever had been here before him wrote instructions on how to proceed. Perhaps they would give him some insight.

He started with the manual from the bag and cleared a space by shoving objects off the desk, heedless of mess.

Satisfied by the lack of clutter immediately around him, Liam opened the book.

The same strange text as the words over the fireplace confronted him.

Liam turned the page and found more words, pictures this time, which seemed to be yet another language.

Turning a third time, he recognized letters, but the order was strange to him.

On the fourth page, Liam found Latin.

“Greetings, fellow explorer of the Realms. If you are reading this, you have discovered the gift I have left for the next participant of the Glittering Falls Crafting Dungeon. Many others have come before me, all leaving various gifts and tools for the next aspiring journeyman to use as they progress.”

Liam paused. An Explorer of the Realms? He makes it sound as though it’s an honour for me to be here!

Petulantly, Liam kept reading.

“If you are reading this, know that the Northern Wall of this room contains all the books written in Latin. The other languages here are Egyptian, Arabic and Greek. If you seek to learn these, simply take the book at the top right of the shelves between the windows.”

Finally, some good news. At least he could learn a bit more. Although it’s probably going to take me all four years just to read the books in Latin.

“After completing the dungeon, many of us have sent texts we discovered to this dungeon for use by future delvers. Some tomes in this library are copies of those of the Great Library of Alexandria. Others, written by those who came before you to this place. I would first recommend the book at the top Left. Especially for those uninitiated in the communing with Ancestral Spirits.”

Liam perked up at this. He’d been wondering when he’d be able to learn more of King David, and perhaps even communicate with the spirit. He was sure that he could tell Liam a great deal more than some Explorer of the Realms.

Slamming the book shut, Liam stood and walked over to the Northern Wall, pulling down the topmost left book. At least this tome might prove insightful.

He inspected the cover.

Exhortations of Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus Caesar

Liam opened the cover, and, sitting in the comfortable chair, began to read.

“I learned from my Grandfather Verus, to have good manners and put restraint on anger. In the famous memory of my father, I had a pattern of modesty and manliness. Of my mother, I learned to be Pious and Generous. To keep myself not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts and to live with a simplicity which is far from customary among the rich.”

Liam stared. This is boring! How does this help me with my Spirit?

He’d heard the name Caesar before. It was a Roman title for their ancient Emperors. This was one of the Roman Emperor’s own words, passed down through time and space to him. In this place.

That the Emperor spoke of his grandfather teaching him suggested to Liam that this may indeed unlock some key piece of information about his own ancestral spirits. He wasn’t sure, though, that the writer was speaking of a spirit. He turned the page and continued.

Liam soon read and re-read sections. He picked up a length of string to mark pages he wanted to revisit, finding he was thinking deeply about the wisdom conveyed by the text as the long hours passed. Stopping only to relieve himself, eat and drink, Liam’s mind devoured the book.

Sometimes out of the corner of his eye he would see a movement, but when he looked, nothing was there.

He would occasionally pause to re-read a passage that was well thought or described some turmoil in his own life, but never put the book down for more than a moment.

In the unceasing, soft light of the sun, Liam eventually drifted off to sleep. When he opened his eyes once more, he returned to the tome, burying himself within the thoughts and wisdoms of the stoic Emperor.

The insight and knowledge present in the pages was growing Liam’s attributes, and he added two full points to his wisdom.

By the time he’d finished the book, he had an entirely new outlook on his situation within the Dungeon.

Carefully, Liam picked up the Exhortations of Marcus Aurelius and with reverence he placed it back on the shelf. He knew he’d be referring to it in the future.

Liam had smiled when he read the last page. It had been a note from the author of the book he’d discovered in the bag. It had been one of the many great treasures of wisdom contained within the Exhortations.

“Ask not what it is to be a good man.” He quoted. “Be one.”

Turning with renewed determination, and no longer burdened with unhappy thoughts, Liam smiled and cleaned up the room. Once he replaced all the items back in the Crafting Bag, except for the Quarto upon which he’d first read the message from the unknown explorer, he climbed back down the ladder.

It took Liam most of his stamina to set the room back in order, and by this point, he was becoming hungry once more. He still had some smoked meat and dried fruits left but abstained from eating them just yet. Instead, Liam went down to the riverbank and, having gathered some string and a long pole from the carpentry, quickly crafted a fishing rod.

Grubbing through the mud of the bank, he quickly found a few insects to use as bait and cast the line into the water. Then he sat upon a flat-topped rock and waited. Content for the first time since arriving. He thought of all those moments in his life where he’d pouted and wasted time on blame, anger and stupid recriminations.

A notification appeared before him and he glanced at it briefly before dismissing it.

You have gained the skill: Meditation Level 1

Liam wasn't at all surprised. He'd once heard Colm discussing meditation with a Benedictine monk who passed through the Carpentry to collect new benches for the Monaestry. His improved intelligence and wisdom helped him recall the conversation, and the four aspects of meditation: Read, Ponder, Pray, Contemplate.

While he may not have been praying, he supposed he'd been engaged in his imperfect meditation enough to grant him the skill.

As he sat on the bank fishing, he began to ponder and contemplate the words of the Roman Emperor Aurelius. Long moments passed peacefully as his mind drifted, lost in thought.

It took him a moment to notice a figure sitting beside him.

He looked like any other bearded old man. He was wearing fine robes weaved of expensive silks and dyed purple, and an odd round hat on the crown of his head. His brown eyes were powerfully piercing, and Liam felt an instinctual need to bow or kneel in his presence.

The man said nothing for a moment, but just watched the water. Liam tentatively spoke.

“Are you… King David?” He asked.

The man nodded. He spoke in English. “I was once known by that name.”

“How are you here?” Liam asked. “I mean, I’m not asleep….” He paused as David disappeared.

Liam looked about, hoping that the man would appear once more, but he vanished as quickly as he appeared.

About to throw the rod down in anger, he remembered once more a passage from the Exhortations. “Everything that happens, happens as it should. If you observe carefully, you will find this to be so.”

Liam pondered the saying, and just as he understood the meaning, the figure next to him spoke once more.

“It is interesting how nature works. Everything happens as it is meant to. People always fear the unknown, but rarely seek to learn of it.”

Liam nodded.

He’d come to the same conclusion, thinking a while longer on the sudden appearance and disappearance of the spirit.

Liam recalled his thoughts drifting as he mused Aurelius’ words. It had been in that moment David had first appeared beside him. And so, Liam spoke of the Exhortations, hoping that in doing so the spirit would answer more questions.

His theory proved correct, and King David provided his understandings, helping Liam to better grasp the meanings of the ancient philosophy. For long moments, the two spoke, exchanging their ideas and opinions, and neither becoming too attached to their positions.

Liam risked changing the subject. “In Glitnir, Bragi said I had to be asleep to commune with you. How are you here now?”

The curiosity in his voice made the spirit smile. “Bragi is wise, but not wisest. That title belongs to another.” He said cryptically. “We can speak because your mind is distracted. It has entered a state of flow. Most of the prime species of the realms can only reach this state by controlling their dreams. You, and likely many of the prime species from your realm, can do this because you are my kin. Humans are unique in the realms for their ability to focus on the important and ignore the unimportant. We prioritize without thinking.”

As time passed, Liam asked more questions about the spirit nexus.

David smiled. “I was wondering when you’d bring it up.” He said patiently. “It is the core of your magic. When you use the flows of magic, you are using those you have stored within you. But you can store more!”

“Your body naturally attunes to magic through your will. Your Spirit Nexii are simply natural vessels within your body that allow you to store more. As you practice with magic, you can push a greater quantity of magical energy into your nexus. Eventually it will gain so much force that it will draw in magic from around you, keeping itself full.”

Liam understood the concept, but he didn’t understand how he would apply it.

“So how do I start drawing magic into myself?” Liam asked.

“Music!” David replied. “When you play that hunk of scrap Bragi called a harp, you attune your Nexii to the magic, and then, if you reach out with your mind to feel the currents of magic, you can pull them to you.” The spirit sniffed, as if this was the simplest thing in the world. “It becomes second nature after a while!”

“It’s that simple?” Liam asked.

“I never said it was simple.” David admonished. “The process is simple. Drawing the power to open your Nexii is far more difficult!”

Liam spent the next few minutes exploring the topic, his mind flowing from question to question, David patiently answering them all. None gave him any greater insight than he’d first received, and Liam remembered a passage from the Exhortations.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way, becomes the way.” Liam said.

As he did so, he experimentally reached out with his mind. He could sense that there was something surrounding him, but it felt more like a warm mist than anything he could pull towards himself. He decided he’d try to focus on drawing magic into his nexus later.

“But what if nothing stands in the way but our ability? When I reach out, I can feel something there, but it’s like waving my hand at air.”

“Then grow your ability!” David said. “The impediment is not the magic, but your lack of development. Grow yourself and your ability and there is no more impediment, only action!”

“So, the way to grow my power is practice?” Liam asked, not understanding.

“You grow your power through levelling! By indulging in imperfect practice, you learn nothing. Your powers may be too new to feel the magic for now. The obstacle to your success is your lack of level. Thus, your way is made clear. Increase your level!” David replied.

Liam nodded in understanding. Find the obstacle and you find your path. It might have seemed unfair when he came to this place, but the Tribulation system only rewarded hard work and success.

“Then I shall speak to you when I have broken through!” Liam said, a fresh determination flooding him.

The spirit smiled at Liam proudly. “I am proud to be your forebear Liam! Few grasp these concepts as easily as you have. You should thank your mentors when your return to Earth!”

David changed the subject. “Now, are you going to pull that fish in? It is looking like it’s given up out of boredom!”

Liam hadn’t noticed the fish on the line, so focussed had he been on his discourse with David.

He quickly began backing up, falling into the mud behind him as the spirit disappeared once more. Liam quickly recovered and kept pulling the fish until it flopped on the floor. All four feet of it.

Fishing has reached Level 1

Liam chuckled as he approached the silver creature, and picking up a stone, smashed its skull with one blow. Taking his prize by the gills, Liam returned to the tower and prepared a meal. He’d collected some coriander he’d seen growing further up the riverbank, and together with a pinch of salt from a full barrel of the stuff he’d found, thought it would make an excellent rub.

Liam cleaned the fish, taking his time to fillet it. He wasn’t sure how to prepare the animal, having never eaten fish before, but he was sure that its guts were guts, and its head was not to be eaten. Everything else he was willing to discover.

A notification flashed before his eyes.

Cooking has reached Level 1

It took him a great deal of time to clean the fish, removing its many ribs, but he soon found that by pressing the back of his knife into the flesh gently, the ribs bent enough to poke out of the skin. Then all he had to do was grab each bone and pull.

Now the flesh was clean, he cut himself a thick slice of the fish and rubbed it down with the coriander and salt. Setting it into the cauldron above the fire, he lit it and enjoyed the warm glow of the flames for a moment.

Deciding he would read and eat simultaneously; Liam took his meal up to the library and browsed through the rest of the folios and quartos he’d found in the Crafting Bag. Now he understood how to access his spirit guardian, he felt much more comfortable being alone in the dungeon.

The reading was entertaining too! But he still had to decide how to proceed. Which class should he choose?

Fortunately, Liam found on the last of the quarto’s he’d pulled from the bag. As he finished his meal, he got to reading.

“Hail, Explorer. I began my journey into the Tribulation system by exploring many facets of art and design. But the mortal realms have many limitations that they system overcomes. For many years I have sought out this place within the realms, having stagnated in my class growth. Now I am here I am discovering far more about the System and its function.”

“Having exhausted my level growth in the Senior Apprentice Archimancer path, I explored other skills, hoping it would inspire new ideas for my designs. It was not until I discovered the utility of other skills that I broke through the obstacle to my growth. The path to progress in any Class is not to isolate oneself to the skills useful to that class, but to discover new ways in which old skills connect!”

Liam’s eyebrows raised at this. Carpentry was a skill as well as a class. He wondered at the difference.

“We sit at the nexus of all of our potential. Our choices are infinite, but only a few are worth pursuing, and the system's nature seems to hide them from us. With time, I explored skills I would otherwise have though wasteful or un-connected. As other skills grew, they became most useful to my class growth.”

“While it is important to structure your crafting journey within this dungeon to focus on the arts, which will benefit you the most, as they will also require the most innovation. It is more important to not limit yourself to only one Crafting Class.”

Liam frowned as he sought to understand this last statement.

I can have more than one class?

He had seen his class mention he could take on an additional crafting class, but he hadn’t been aware that it was possible to take on more than one! Statistics and focussed on his Class information.

Titles: Page, Primus, Guest of Glitnir.

Name: Liam Lamberton

Level: 11

Genetic Heritage: Davidic Scion

Class: Harbinger Page (Davidic Order)

Age: 13

Tribulation Experience: 94/ 931

Health: 200

Magic: 200

Stamina: 65

Attributes:

Strength: 21

Agility: 17

Vitality: 20

Intelligence: 25

Wisdom: 22

Charisma: 19

Luck: 29

Faith: 20

Will: 20

Skills:

Sword: 8

Swimming: 1

Manners: 13

Tactics: 6

Animal Husbandry: 10

Light Armor: 8

Riding: 10

Carpentry: 19

Chivalry: 5

Reading: 9

Stealth: 4

Wood Chopping: 19

Writing: 1

Housekeeping: 11

Languages: 7

Maintenance: 16

Athletics: 19

Mathematics: 1

Harp: 5

Music: 6

Heavy Armor: 4

Climbing: 1

Fishing: 1

Cooking: 1

Meditation: 1

Spells:

Ward: Level 1

Healing Song: Level 1

Flame: Level 2

Abilities

Feinting Slash: Level 1

Covered Strike: Level 1

Shield Parry: Level 1

It looked like he’d gained experience from the Fishing and Cooking, although it wasn’t much. Level 12 was still a long way off. He wondered how many Levels it would take for him to feel the surrounding magic as something tangible that he could draw into his Nexus.

Liam looked closely at his skills. It looked like he’d gained several new skills without noticing the visions. Fishing, Climbing and Meditation were all new, and had rapidly levelled. Likely because of his Guest of Glitnir Title. It was good to still have access to it, but Liam saw there was another title, which he’d seen but not investigated.

Liam focussed and inspected it, opening a vision.

Title: Primus

You are the highest-level survivor of the first battle between the faithful and the wicked.

All future experience gained at +20%.

All skills learned at +20%

You are the First to ascend in the system and survive. The system rewards success.

While it was an impressive title to gain, it was not immediately helpful, and certainly far more helpful than the Guest of Glitnir!

It explained his rapid growth when compared to the others, though, as well as his ability to increase his skills rapidly.

Liam turned his attention to his class description.

Harbinger Page of the Davidic Order {Additional Hidden path} (Epic)

To become a Harbinger Page is to build a foundation of substantial power. They are the greatest Knights, tasked with carrying the message of their Intent across the stars. None can match a trained Harbinger in feats of arms, and no magician can long stand against their mighty will.

This path is only open if the Davidic Heritage is unlocked.

A Harbinger Page combines Martial prowess of a Paladin Knight with the foundations of the spirit powers of the Nexii Magus. They are messengers of Love, Faith, Retribution and Hope.

Each aspect explores a different intent.

This is an Epic Class. Additional Classes may become available!

Crafting Classes: +1

You receive.

1 to all Attributes

4 Free Attributes

Per Level.

That was interesting. It said he’d increased his number of Crafting Classes by +1. At least he wouldn’t need to give up on his Harbinger Page Class to complete this dungeon. He wasn’t even sure if he could relinquish the class!

Liam then focussed on the part of the text describing the additional crafting class.

Crafting Classes differ to Combat Classes in the abilities they allow you to develop. Each champion of a realms primary species is granted one combat class and one crafting class upon reaching level 10.

To re-access class selection, open your class screen and inspect your name.

He kept reading.

“In this place, there are five classes available, all of which can lead to successful completion! For those requiring wealth, the arts of carpentry and alchemy are ideal. Both will consume little time to learn and are straightforward.”

“Runesmithing is perfect for frontline fighters but can be dangerous to those within range of the transformation. When runes activate, there is a magical backlash within the immediate area, draining others of Magic.”

“Archimancy and Magismithing are the crafts of kings. Designing, building and repairing structures requires the same thought process as designing, building and repairing a magical item. These classes can be learned separately, but together can build empires.”

Liam was a bit surprised by this. He’d thought that of the classes available.

Liam felt Magismithing was the best class available for him. He liked the idea of creating armour.

He’d always dreamed that he’d one he’d wear the finest of weapons and armour. To create it himself to his own specifications would be wondrous.

But then there was also Archimancy.

The best thing about this class was the ability to design and more efficiently plan buildings. It would surely prove useful when the King deemed him worthy of claiming his father’s fiefs.

Liam had almost no skill with mathematics beyond an understanding of some addition and subtraction.

To design and build weapons and armour, he’d need to gain a high level of skill in that field, even if he did not choose Archimancy as a class.

If he were to do so, perhaps he could also learn some skills of Archimancy from the journals. At worst, it would simply inform his designs. At best, it could allow him to gain levels and reach Journeyman at a rapid rate.

Liam still wasn’t sure at what point the ability to access higher levels of skill occurred, but he was certain that it would be a considerable leap in ability from where he currently was.

He recalled his initial class selection. Then, he’d seen the Senior Apprentice Class in Carpentry. But his skill in that field was at 19.

Despite that, he felt he knew a great deal more than his skill implied.

Perhaps the skill level only reflected the skills I had displayed to Colm?

But that wouldn’t make sense. If he needed to display the skill to someone to prove his ability, he’d never gain skills like Fishing or Climbing.

Liam knew he would have to do a great deal of reading to uncover all the secrets. But for now, he would proceed with the Magismith class.

His decision made, Liam brought up his statistics and inspected his name.

The list of crafting classes appeared before his eyes once more.

Liam focussed on the Magismith Class.

You have selected: Apprentice Magismith

As your first Crafting Class.

A new Crafting Class will be available to you at the Senior Apprentice level.

Warning: Upon reaching Master Level, you will be limited in your Combat Class to a maximum level of:

Knight.

You have 1 crafting class selection available.

Liam could hardly contain his excitement! Not only was he able to choose this class, but he had another crafting class available! This would massively boost his attributes if he could progress in two classes within the dungeon.

Perhaps he could even leave early!

It also seemed that everyone was able to take on a secondary class in a crafting specialty. He was learning so much about the system that he’d never have discovered had he stayed on Earth. He needed to get back as soon as he could!

It was then that Liam reconsidered his situation.

He was in a time-locked area. He had four whole years to increase his skills as much as he wanted.

More, he could learn how to attune his spirit guardian and become even more powerful!

Liam laughed aloud at how simply he’d seen his situation. Perhaps Bragi and Forseti had given him the greatest gift they could:

Time.

Liam took a moment to form his Intent.

Not only would he conquer this dungeon, but he’d drag every point of experience he could out of the place before the time-lock expired. When he finally left, he knew the Trolls would not stand a chance against him.

He’d complete the quest for Bragi’s blessing and return to Earth.

Liam looked once more at the vision. The warning was a bit concerning.

Warning: Upon reaching Master Level, you will be limited in your Combat Class to a maximum level of:

Knight.

He wasn’t sure, but it seemed that at a higher level he would need to choose between a combat or a crafting focus if you wanted to progress beyond the Master tier. Liam wondered what the system called the Combat Class equivalent of ‘Master’.

That was a consideration he’d need to make in the future, however.

Liam eagerly opened the Archimancer crafting class and accepted it too.

You have selected: Apprentice Archimancer

As your second Crafting Class.

A new Crafting Class will be available to you at the Senior Apprentice level.

By selecting a second crafting class, experience gains in Crafting Classes are halved.

Warning: Upon reaching Master Level, you will be limited in your Combat Class to a maximum level of:

Knight.

You have 0 crafting class selections available.

Liam cursed.

He’d been hoping that the additional class would allow him to gain attributes at a massively increased rate. Instead, the system prevented him from becoming too powerful too quickly. The writer of the tome he read earlier had not been wrong. The Tribulation system did indeed seem to enjoy making things more difficult! Liam shouldn’t expect it to act against its nature for his convenience.

Liam couldn’t wait to see what these classes could do, and, gathering the Crafting Bag from the table, he made his way out of the tower and towards the smithy.

As he arrived, Liam withdrew the tools he recognized as belonging to the smithy, placing them upon hooks and pegs. Having the tools close to hand made Liam feel far more confident in his ability.

He’d never so much as swung a hammer at a forge before and wasn’t even sure that he knew how to proceed.

Everything he was doing was new, and Liam was keen to discover just how much experience he would gain from crafting his first items.

In his excitement, he started immediately. Casting Flame, Liam lit the forge and, using tongs, placed an ingot of metal into the flame.

He waited impatiently until it glowed red, and withdrew it, placing the red-hot ingot upon the anvil. He’d seen the Douglas Town Smith at work, and knew that by heating and hammering metals, he could shape the metal as he wished.

He brought the hammer down as hard as he could.

The metal, stressed beyond any reasonable measure, cracked as it flattened. Large rents opening in the sides. He hadn’t shaped it, but crushed it, the shape of the head of the hammer embedded in the warped ingot.

Lifting the item with tongs to inspect it, Liam frowned. The Smith had made this look so easy! He had to admit; he had never paid much attention to the man as he worked, but he remembered the sound of hammering.

Liam re-set the metal in the forge and once it reached a dark red glow, he deemed hot enough. He withdrew it again and began tapping upon the cracks. As he worked, he mimicked the rhythm of the Douglas smith, hoping to weld the cracks closed.

Instead, they widened.

Finally, he admitted to himself that despite earning a class, he still had no clue what he was doing. He didn’t even know how to put out the fires in the forge!

Grabbing a nearby bucket, he filled it from a barrel of rainwater that stood nearby, fed by a gutter from the forge’s roof.

He threw the bucket over the coals and steam billowed out. Hot coals banked near the edge of the forge bounced free and peppered him with minor burns.

He’d forgotten to wear the apron!

Patting at the small scorch marks on his gambeson and trews, Liam realised that learning did not start with action. It started with thought.

It took him a while to pick up the spilled coals with the tongs, and place them back within the forge, and as he did so, Liam resolved to read as much as he could of the other books in the library. He wasn’t sure where to start, and so he accessed a skill he’d gained back in Glitnir.

Opening his statistics, Liam inspected his Heritage, finding the skill he sought.

Heritage Skills:

Prescient Intent: For a short time, you can use your magic to discern opportunity around you. Magic Cost 10/second.

Liam focussed on it, and as he did, a flood of information rushed into his mind. He looked around the room and one book amongst the many on the walls stood out to him.

He’d learn the other languages and approach this opportunity as the gift it was.

As he emerged into the library once more, Liam inspected the shelves in Latin, deciding that the first thing he needed to do was improve his skills with the other languages.

Determined to succeed, Liam thought ahead, ensuring he had food, water and plenty of space to work.

He would not only learn to craft items, but he would learn to craft his mind, his body, and his focus into an insurmountable obstacle for any who sought to deny his intent.

Satisfied that he was ready to begin, Liam approached the shelves, taking down the tome at the top right of the shelf. The tome which would teach him to read all the languages present in the library.

Settling down once more into the large, comfortable chair of the Library, Liam opened the cover and began to read.