The receptionist jotted a note and passed me a small book. The three symbols scratched into its leathery surface hinted at the usage, but any more definite details would have to wait as the receptionist showed me out of the room. She passed me a small parcel as she waved me away. Another person waited outside for her assistance, so I took the book and the wrapped package back to my room and locked the door behind me.

The room was… empty. After the time spent with other people, this place seemed barren. Despite myself, I even missed the ghost girl. Rose had only spent a short amount of time with me, and she had been abrasive throughout it, but she had helped me immensely. It wasn’t like I had enough time to learn to read before my friends came back with their evil god in tow.

The book flapped open in my hands. The words on the page were visible for mere moments before it turned into smoke. The idea that this was a prank of some kind passed through my mind, but that was easily dismissed.

The receptionist didn’t seem the kind for practical jokes.

The smoke curled around my wrist and settled on my skin. No pain or irritation hit me, though an odd tingly sensation ran along my arm and into my brain. It passed a few moments later, but nothing else changed. No new knowledge, no epiphanies. Nothing.

That doesn’t make sense. Was the book a dud?

I shook my head and pulled out my guild card. A scan confirmed most of the fields were blank, but three new entries had popped up under the ‘Crafting’ section.

Leatherworking (basic) - Talent unlocked for basic leather processing and item creation. Skill increases with usage, additional techniques can be acquired through rank increases or external recipes.

Smithing (basic) - Talent unlocked for basic metallic processing and item creation. Skill increases with usage, additional techniques can be acquired through rank increases or external recipes.

Clothier (basic) - Talent unlocked for basic cloth processing and item creation. Skill increases with usage, additional techniques can be acquired through rank increases or external recipes.

I didn’t know how they worked, but at least the descriptions of their use were clear. The identifier of ‘basic’ didn’t fill me with joy, but everyone had to start somewhere. As I unrolled the package, several items fell on the bed. In the past, they would have been discarded like trash, but now they were treasures to me.

Ten small squares of scrappy leather, ten randomly sized pieces of rough cloth and ten chunks of dull metal ore. The package also had three tools in the pack as well. An oddly shaped comb with a hollow handle, a small sponge and a miniature chisel. The items were likely part of the ‘full package’, but they were a nice surprise nonetheless. A small note peaked out of the discarded wrapper.

‘Set of ten practice materials for each process skill. Careful usage will allow you to gain at least one level of crafting skill. Good luck!’

It wasn’t clear if the words of encouragement were genuine or not. Vague memories poked out of my brain about the process needed to preserve leather, but the techniques used here would probably differ from my rough ideas. The comb was light, but the substance in its handle weighed it down on one side. The powder shifted and danced as I moved it back and forth.

Salt, I guess?

I put the other materials back in the package and moved over to the desk. After the first square of leather had been laid fur side down on the table, my work began. The elegance of its design became clear as it ran across the surface of the leather. A layer of salt was spread across the top layer of skin, distributed evenly as the comb worked out excess moisture. Two jobs for the price of one.

**Leatherworking (basic) has increased in level.**

As the note had suggested, I levelled up the leatherworking skill on the fifth piece. The task, whilst a bit tedious, was easy enough to accomplish. It allowed my thoughts to calm and my mind to wander. My confidence brimmed as I pressed the comb against the next leather piece.

Before I could finish the job, the sixth piece of leather crumbled before my eyes.

**Processing failed.**

The urge to slap myself rose up. Overconfidence was a vicious poison, and I had tasted its effects. The scraps of wasted leather were evidence of my failure, so they were tossed into the bin beside the desk. I took my time with the last four pieces and managed to finish them without any further losses, though no more levels were gained. It could have been due to increased requirements for each level, but the lost piece stung me all the same.

Next, the cloth. At least that would be simple. I pulled out the sponge and dabbed at the first piece of cloth. The sponge dripped continuously as it squidged in my hand, which helped me clear off the worst of the stains. After it was cleaned, I leaned back to appreciate my work.

It didn’t seem finished, but what else is left?

Before I could wonder too much, the sponge heated up. My hand spasmed as the searing pain bit into my palm. The sponge landed atop the cloth square, which sizzled under the heat. The cloth crunched aside as I picked up the sponge. One side let out water whilst the other acted as an iron. The red mark on my hand would be a nice reminder, though it was unlikely I would forget its use any time soon.

Clean, dry, iron. Easy.

**Clothier (basic) has increased in level.**

The metal chunks were more obvious. I used the chisel to knock away impurities. Chips of stone first, followed by small seams of metal that didn’t match the main body. I worried that the lump would turn molten in my hand, but the magic of this world wasn’t that powerful. The trash metals dropped into the bin and left a smaller, but more refined, chunk of ore. After my previous failures, I took great care with the ore and managed a full ten without a failure.

**Smithing (basic) has increased in level.**

I placed the chunks of metal alongside the other items and stared at the results of my labour. It didn’t seem real. I had worked for an hour in total for these small scraps, though that rate could be improved with a little more practice.

Who would have thought working with cloth would be more dangerous than working with metal or leather…

**Congratulations. You have levelled up.**

I almost fell off my chair as the melodious voice spoke to me. I had accidentally taken a step towards my goal, but the reason for the advancement wasn’t clear. I pulled out the Guild card and stared at the contents.

Level: Four. Clear as anything. Only one level to go before I unlocked my new abilities.

The craft skills showed in their category, each one with a numerical mark for the level. All of them were set at two, though I knew some of them were closer to the next boundary than the others. Before I could store my products, several loud thuds echoed across my room as something slammed into my door.

My leg caught on the table as I tried to spin around. The pain made me wince as I pulled myself to my feet. It was lucky that the door was locked. If it wasn’t the force of those blows would have easily blown it open. No further sounds came from the corridor, but the idea that whoever had smashed my door would have left was optimistic at best.

Unless it was just a joke? Knock a door run, maybe?

I grabbed my staff and moved towards the door. My room was barely large enough for me to swing the weapon, never mind an extended fight, but it was better than nothing. If I didn’t at least investigate the noise, there was no chance of sleep for the rest of the night.

If someone is playing a prank on me, there’ll be hell to pay.

The door creaked open to reveal an empty corridor. I poked my head out and glanced from side to side, but no one appeared to take credit for the interruption. Even after I had walked to the end of the corridor and checked the stairs, not a single clue showed up.

Someone’s messing with me… but why?

I shook my head and walked back to my room. The angrier they made me, the happier that person would be. It was a childish prank, that’s all.

As I reached my door once more, my footsteps paused. The lamps inside my room had gone out. They had been lit when I had left it moments ago, so how was it possible they had both gone out in such a short time? If I went down to ask for help to light the lamps in my room the best result would be me being ridiculed, so I pushed that idea aside and stepped towards the door. Before I could step over the threshold, a voice echoed out of the room.

“Focused Blow.”

A figure dashed out, its palm outstretched as it sprinted towards me. I barely managed to block his advance with my staff as I tried and failed to dodge out of the way. The man’s hand slammed into the middle of my staff before the force of the impact blew me into the far wall. My vision blurred for a moment before I pushed myself up.

The person stared at me. A featureless mask poked out of the shadows under his hooded cloak. Whatever this man was here for, he didn’t want anyone to know his identity. That meant he was a thief… or a murderer.

“You pass, Marked One. We will test you further.”

A man’s voice, but the dull tone didn’t remind me of anyone I had met. He turned and dashed along the corridor before I could speak a single word. His speed was at the level of Claire and her friends, if not a little faster than even them. If he had continued his assault, the fight would have been extremely one-sided. It took me several attempts to pull myself up against the wall, but it was at least clear he wasn’t going to come back just yet.

What the hell does marked one mean? These people are insane… I should ask Claire and the others.