"Broke. What the hell was that back there?"

Per your instructions, I alerted you to a lethal fall.

"No, not that. But now that we're talking about it. If something is about to kill me, please let me know with enough time for me to DO something about it.

Potentially.

"Great," I replied sarcastically, pulling branches out of my netherregion. "How did I pull apart that clothing in the shop? And then again against that guard?"

The item breakdown was part of the Exotic Skill: Material Reclamation.

"Skill?"

I left a pregnant pause waiting for Broke's response. Then I remembered my spectral friend's finickiness.

"Broke. What's a skill?"

Skills are a representation of abilities.

"So I can destroy clothing? Doesn't seem the most useful." I paused. "Wait a minute, Broke, you said I couldn't use magic."

Usage of that skill does not constitute magic.

"Semantics don't suit you. But I guess it's all you know."

Its silence was my only response.

"Okay, how about this. Broke, tell me which direction the next town is, and I'll consider some more requests for you along the way."

The next town was close but much smaller than Salinel. That made a good deal of sense as usually larger cities would have several satellites surrounding them. It consisted of a few dirt roads and fewer than a dozen small homes dotted between them.

Hearston is what the locals called it; I assumed it was because of the village's numerous graveyards. Not that anyone who lived there seemed to let that affect them. Children ran across a dirt road, laughing and throwing stones at one another. At one of the town's three intersections, a rather gaunt man stood ringing a bell while the occasional passerby would toss a coin in the pan by his feet. I assumed they were religious donations.

Unlike the more prominent city it was adjacent to, Hearston was mainly made of wooden buildings instead of stone. Its streets are unpaved and unkempt. But even still, the people living there looked happy and well fed. Enough to have frolicking children and enough money to donate at least.

I also made a few discoveries and quality of life changes for Broke.

First, I made it so I wouldn't have to ask a question, only sound confused to get a response. That part was a little tricky as I've never had to explain things like raising pitch or sarcasm to an... AI? Magical voice? I hadn't thought of who or what Broke was until this point, and unfortunately, they weren't much help either.

Then, I had Broke explain the skill systems to me. Essentially the more you did something and didn't mess up, the higher that skill would grow. That made it easier to do more complex things. The concept sounded a little basic to me, but it began to make more sense when I thought about how easily that guard tossed me around and my ability to break down clothing instantly.

Finally, I determined what I could do. My Exotic Skill: Material Reclamation came with a couple of interesting caveats. Different materials had different complexities. The more I trained that skill, the easier breaking down complex items would become. A concept I would test soon as long as it didn't result in me being kicked out of whatever town I was visiting.

In desperate need of something to eat, I headed to what appeared to be the only market in Hearston. Unfortunately, I had no money, but I could probably barter whatever materials I stole, I mean I reclaimed, from the guard and merchant in Salinel. Hopefully, it would be enough for a meal; then, I would need to focus on a place to stay.

Carts filled with apples and cucumbers, some fresher than others, stood lining the front of a cobbled shack. A dilapidated sign hung above an opened doorway with lettering that read The General Muir.

Calling it a market was probably being generous. Sun-aged books sat between dried meats, cheeses, and old sheets across a single shelf. A poorly carved desk held several unkept ledgers and a sack with some unmarked coins spilling out. Behind the desk, an older woman leaned her chair against a wall, resting her eyes.

"Hello, uh, sorry to bother you."

"What do you want?" She asked without even bothering to open her eyes.

"I was hoping to trade if possible. I'll need a couple of coins and some food."

"No."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I don't know you." She paused to cough some flem into her sleeve. " And I don't like you."

"Well, you don't have to like me to like a good deal," I replied, setting small scraps of leather, cloth, and string in a neat pile on her desk.

She opened her left eye slightly, looking at the fabric and then towards me.

"Not interested." She restated.

"You're missing out on some quality material." I lied in an attempt to make this barter go through.

Her silence was the only response as she continued to relax behind her unkempt desk.

The way I looked probably didn't help, I thought to myself. If I had even some of those dingy clothes I destroyed back in Salinel, I might have been able to make a deal go through. Almost in response to my thoughts, unfamiliar lettering appeared across the layers of fabric and string. Like when I used my Exotic Skill: Material Reclamation, I focused on accepting whatever prompt it asked me. I told myself there was no way I could break this down farther, so where was the harm?

Cloth twisted and ripped in clean tears while string danced between the fabric, creating holes and fastening. Finally, after only several seconds, I had a perfectly crafted tunic folded neatly in my arms, replacing the raw material it consumed.

"Broke?" I questioned, hoping our training from earlier allowed me to avoid specifics.

You just activated your Exotic Skill: Instant Reproduction. Would you like an explanation of how this skill works?

"No thanks, maybe later.," I replied, beaming with pride.

My training helped, I thought. Magical sentient voices grow up so fast!

I had earned the shopkeep's attention now. Her chair now had all four legs firmly planted on the ground and both eyes open.

"Well," she started sweetly, "You didn't say you were magical. That changes everything."

"Oh, you misunderstand," I replied. "I'm not magical, just a tailor."