Ken and Sam both chuckled at that. “Shouldn’t have learned the skill.” Sam shouted. “But you probably would have learned it eventually if you’d done any type of crafting. Ken why don’t you take Kai here to the butcher yard so he can learn a little about harvesting skins and scales. Can also payback his equipment that way.” Sam pushed them off and walked to the bracer that Kai had embroidered. “Huh, he just pushed mana into the thread as he used it. I guess the system is pretty malleable if you have no preconceptions.”

Kai followed Ken out of Sam’s workshop. They passed through various alleys and turned down the main thoroughfare of the production district. A short ways down this road Ken lead Kai to a huge building. Inside was an abattoir.

He was overwhelmed by the smell. It was like nothing he’d smelled before. There was a copper tang mixed with acid and feces, corpses of all types hung from hooks, men and women shouted and cursed one another. Kai turned away and vomited everything in his stomach. Laughter roared behind him as he wiped his mouth and turned. The entire slaughterhouse workforce was laughing at him losing his dinner. “Who brought the baby to the slaughter? They deserve a drink haven’t seen a reaction that fast or profuse in a while.” Kai gagged as a large boar was gutted from anus to throat before him. The bile rose and Kai had to choke it back or risk the embarrassment of dry heaving in front of all these people.

“A bit green there eh?” A man came from behind a skinned rhino-like creature that was easily twice the size of regular rhino.

Kai nodded. “First time here.”

The man laughed and looked at Ken. “New apprentice for you? Didn’t think you were doing leather anymore.” The man’s eyebrows quirked at the end.

“I’m not. He is developing his own style. The skins may payback some of the debt he is accumulating. I wanted him to learn from the best so I didn’t have to correct any mistakes later on.”

“I’m Avery.” A bloody hand was extended and Kai took it. He chewed back a bit more vomit that had made its way into his mouth as a bit of gristle found its way onto Kai’s hand. Avery noticed and smiled. “Glad to see you can overcome your stomach. You’ll do just fine. Leave him with me Ken. Where do you want him after this and how long do I have him?”

Ken asked, “He should have the basics around lunch time right?” He got a grunt of confirmation from Avery. “Send him to the mess hall from there I’ll have Alric pick him up again.” Ken turned to Kai, “Diligence and persistence will help you more than talent. Avery here knows what he’s doing so pay attention. Alric will get you from the mess hall later.” Ken spun on his heel and walked out.

“Looks like it’s just you and me kid.” Avery grinned. A knife spun into his hand. The blade was just over four inches and had the slightest of curve near the tip. Avery extended the handle to Kai. As Kai took the blade Avery looked him right in the eye, “I’m going to need that back before you leave today. Now follow me.”

The two walked over to an intact rhino-thing as Kai had named it in his head. It took three hours for Avery to show Kai how to properly skin the creature. He pointed out every mistake Kai made and why it would affect the end product. As the finished the first carcass Avery nodded.

“There at the end you almost looked like you knew what you were doing.” He pointed to another body. “Go ahead and skin that one. Try not to mutilate it too much we don’t exactly need jagged strips.” Avery walked away to other tasks and left Kai to muddle through the task.

Two hours later Kai stood before the body of the rhino-thing as it hung from a hook. Half the skin hung from the creature while half still covered it. Avery approached behind him and spoke as Kai took a break to breath through his mouth. “Taking your time about it eh?”

Kai turned, his eyebrows had risen an inch and his pupils dialated, “What the fuck are you talking about? It took you three hours to talk me through the process. You’ve got me doing this all on my own and I have to say I’m kicking ass here man.”

Avery walked up and began to point out jagged edges, tears, holes, “You need me to point up more of your fuck ups?”

Kai sighed and shook his head. “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this. I mean I smell like shit and I think my tastebuds are permanently scarred to have an iron tang on them forever.” His shoulders slumped and he began to stare at the body of the rhino-thing. “Probably best if you just finish this and I stop making a mess of this.” Kai spun the knife around and extended the handle to Avery.

“Stop being a shit-for-brains. You’re slow and not perfect. Sure. But everyone started there at some point. Don’t throw yourself a pity party. Get your shit together and do better. Giving up is for quitters and quitters die in this world. Apply more consistent pressure rather than jerky motions with the blade. Now get back to work. You have one more to do after this and I expect you to have both finished before lunch which is in about five hours. I’ll be back then.” Avery walked away and Kai swore he heard him cursing “the fucking future of humanity”.

Kai wasn’t certain if he should be offended or motivated so he just got back to work. He lost himself and didn’t notice the passing of time even when he switched to the next body. As he finished the second skin Avery stepped up and showed him a trick to make a cleaner finish.

“Thanks. That end looks better than the last one.”

“Fucking right it does; it’s why I showed you that trick.” Avery shook his head. “Took you nearly six hours but at least you finished without just cutting it. Go clean yourself in the showers. There are some basic clothes in there for you. After you wash come back here and we’ll get you some lunch.”

A hot shower changed Kai’s entire perspective on life after the misting of blood he had suffered for the past several hours. He was certain there were still bits of the monster on him but he’d washed as thoroughly as he could. He stood beneath the stream of hot water for five minutes after he finished all the scrubbing. The hot water just poured over him and muscles from his shoulders down began to unknot.

He shut off the water and stepped out. He grabbed the set of clothes he’d been given. He left the bath area and found Avery near the large sliding door that was the exit. “Where to for lunch?” Kai asked a smile on his face.

“Alric will meet you at the mess hall. You know you’re way? Or do you need a guide?”

“I think I know the way.” Kai said and turned right out of the slaughterhouse.

“Glad you know the way since you’re going the wrong direction.” Avery called after Kai had gone about ten steps down the road. Kai turned back.

“Maybe I got a bit turned around. It has been a long night and day.”

Avery waved a young boy of about twelve over. “Take Kai to the mess hall and help him find Alric there.”

Kai followed the boy and they arrived at the mess hall in less than twenty minutes. The rush was over and they found it to be nearly empty. Alric wasn’t there so Kai grabbed a plate and sat at a table to wait.

“Glad you didn’t wait like I did.” The voice wasn’t Alric’s, but rather Daniel’s. Daniel pulled a chair up next to Kai and sat at the table. “You’re late.”

Kai swallowed. “Skinning took longer than Ken thought it would. Does this mean more acid?” Kai had to fight down the terror and pushed his plate away.

“No, nothing like that.” Daniel smiled. “In fact, we’re going to review your training so far and discuss how you feel it is going. Then, and only then, depending on how you feel things are going we will have you look at all those notifications you’ve been building up. I need to see your new paths and we need to progress to the next level.”

Kai threw his fists in the air over his head and let out a shout of job. “FINALLY!”