At this point, Caster saw two people standing over him while he was down on the ground. One of them, a man, was pushing a glowing red dagger through his chest, right where his heart was. Caster couldn’t make out their faces as his vision blurred and he felt his life slipping away.“We don’t have time for this,” the man holding the dagger said with a scoff.The woman beside him glanced at him and then at the dying Caster. The man was the one who held the dagger.The dagger, which had been plunged into Caster’s chest, started to glow even brighter as it was pulled out. Caster’s veins began to glow bright orange and then turned red. The deep wound where his heart had been started pulsating with the same color and glowing brightly.“Oooh, I love this part!” the woman exclaimed with a gleeful laugh.She watched as Caster’s skin sizzled and began to fade away. Soon, his whole body burned away into ashes. Nothing was left but his clothes and a blood-colored crystal. The man reached into the
Caster walked around the store, his eyes darting this way and that, trying to get a good look at the sword. People moved around him, occasionally blocking his view. Sometimes a store worker would approach him, interrupting his focus. Frustrated, he realized he was too far away to see the details properly. After fifteen minutes of struggling, he decided to step outside.“This isn’t working,” Caster muttered to himself. “Maybe I should take some notes and then try to recreate it back at the workshop.”He pulled out a piece of rough paper and began scribbling down what he remembered of the magical layout. As he looked over his notes, he frowned in frustration. Before he could get too annoyed, he felt a tap on his shoulder.“What are you doing?” a voice asked.Caster turned around to see his assistant Felix standing there with a curious expression.“Felix? What are you doing here?” Caster asked, surprised. “Did you follow me?”“Of course!” Felix said with a wide grin. “You said you were g
A young man who was tall and about 183 cm in height was standing next to a large anvil in his Magesmith’s workshop. He wore a cotton shirt with a large, thick apron over it. The shirt was quite loose, allowing for better airflow and ventilation. Even so, sweat was beginning to bead on his brow.His build wasn’t very bulky, but his arms and chest showed a lot of tone. It seemed that the youth’s body hadn’t fully developed its muscle mass to keep up with his growth spurt.The young man worked diligently, holding a flat piece of steel. The steel was already heated up and glowing red from the forge. He placed it on the anvil and began delivering hard hammer blows. "Almost there," he muttered to himself, focusing on the task at hand. The piece of steel slowly took shape under his skilled strikes. His blows were consistent and precise. His hands never shook, and he never missed the correct spot. Occasionally, his hands would stop, and an ethereal glow would fill his eyes before he resumed
Caster placed the finished sword to the side and took a moment to check his skills and stats. He had made progress, but he knew he wasn’t quite where he wanted to be yet."Let’s see how I’m doing," Caster murmured, examining his status screen.**Name:** Caster**Level:** 69**T1 Mage Level 25 [Secondary]****T1 Magic Mana Scribe Level 25****T1 Magesmith Level 19 [Main]****HP:** 700/700**MP:** 338/2538**SP:** 326/1003**Strength:** 53**Agility:** 38**Dexterity:** 80**Vitality:** 52**Endurance:** 60**Intelligence:** 114**Willpower:** 100**Charisma:** 16**Luck:** 8"These physical stats have improved a lot, except agility," he noted. "The magical magesmith class has really helped with strength and endurance. My magical Scribe class mostly boosted intelligence, dexterity, and willpower."He thought about how the magical magesmith class had noticeably improved his endurance and strength. The increased willpower and intelligence were due to the concentration needed for mage craf
The designated existence of Caster as a Magesmith signals change and growth throughout her life. One fine day, while he was relaxing in his workshop and pondering over his achievements. “I can’t just get on with this,” he whispered to himself, “everything was simpler where I came from. These power tools- drills, grinders…anything got done ten times faster.”He stood still as he contemplated what he would be doing next. He wondered why some of that efficiency could not be brought to the situation here? With that, he set to work on one of his latest ideas: the need to upgrade his tools with a more modern one. He wanted to recreate the power tools from his prior existence, and it would begin with a grinder, an uncomplicated yet highly functional tool.They heard him muttering to himself and after passing a gas station, Caster stopped to draw, saying, ‘I remember those automatic grinders.’ “I can craft a thing just like this, maybe a belt grinder.” But after a while he changed his min
They heard the faint sounds of the barking of dogs from the house in the distance. It was just loud enough to be heard over the whipping wind Caster blanched, blowing through the windows in her room. On his nightstand, there was a candle that sparkled and created some peculiar patterns on the walls.Caster stretched his body in the bed he had pulled out the hands resting behind the head contemplating at the roof. He lost his focus as he started contemplating the possibilities of what could be in store for him in the future. Despite reckoning nearly ten years within this wondrous yet alien realm, he remained a misfit.He recalled the day that he awoke in this place with an aching head, frightened to death. This became apparent by the characterization of the people in his new home as being cold and distant. In Caster’s initial storyline, he had first been an ordinary five-year-old boy who was rather naive about the workings of the world around him. Even his childhood memories have faded
Caster activated the life detection magical device he had crafted and checked its readings. The device confirmed that there were no enemies nearby, providing him with a rare moment of peace.He had settled into a routine since the last incident. Most of his days were consumed by work in his workshop. There had been no assassination attempts for a while now. The demon he hired was doing his job well, and Caster felt secure.Caster grabbed a stack of papers from his desk and began sorting through them. He was currently focused on personal research, hoping to uncover a new skill or technique.He sighed as he looked at his notes. “You know, the reliance on skills here makes genuine research really tough,” he said to himself. “Most of the materials are just skill books. They give you all the knowledge instantly. It’s like being told how to ride a horse without ever learning to walk.”He realized that these skill books didn’t provide the necessary foundation. “It’s like jumping to advanced
Caster gradually started to witness the formulation of his theory. If he viewed mana as a river filled with muddy water then he could look at the mana crystal at as a dam with a filter. It would only let clean mana pass through which meant the impurities would be trapped within the crystal.He had at first assumed that mana crystals only contained mana and infused it into the item once placed in the socket. Now, he started thinking that he might be entirely wrong, and a new design might be needed for the socket only.Unwaveringly, he took a new sheet of paper and clutched the pencil even tighter. He was surrounded by papers, sketches, and blueprints all over the floor – it was evident that this man was a mad genius. He quickly began tapping the keys and due to his high dexterity stat, he was able to create a new design.After concentrating for about an hour, he was able to finish a schematic for the socket of a sword which will contain a mana stone. The schematic came equipped with tw
Caster was mature enough to see the world as it was. He understood that most younger folk saw it through a lens of hope and ambition, their dreams of treasure and fame setting them apart from his more grounded approach. Some were from humble beginnings: sons and daughters of farmers; young people from families that were better off but that had fallen on hard times and now were boy or girl determined to claw back some of that perceived lost respect, no matter the price."My jaw twisted into a small smirk as I imagined their wide eyes and wide, baseless plans and all they think is, ‘Get some gold, a shiny sword, you’ll be a hero.’" It was the same story, time and again: things that were often only dreams, rarely aligning with reality.Lowfield had been a deliberate choice despite what she had become. Knowing full well it wouldn’t be clear, he took the fast route but he took the fast route. The road taught him about its steep hills, its rocky passages and on occasion, the unfriendly tra
The early morning breeze bit into the cloak and the underdress at Caster’s shoulders as he walked the narrow cobblestone path into Lowfield. Today he had gotten rid of his imposing helmet and heavy armor. Dawn's fresh smell of its own earth together mingling with the familiar taste of his workshop on his clothes. He wasn’t hiding his identity, or painful silence had been left behind, today. Today was about remembering the life that kept breathing after his magesmith-tools stopped.The caravan had added liveliness to the town which reminded me of festival time, the town was waking up. Some of the faces settling onboard Caster recognised—newcomers amongst the adventurers. With fresh ambitions and none of the resolve yet tested, they walked on their own journey wide eyed and reminded him of the person he used to be. He watched the newcomers with a kind of quiet amusement, catching snippets of eager chatter about dungeons and imagined battles, bravado thick in the air.A young man, prob
Casting his small treaty of provisions, a load of stale bread crusts, some wrinkled fruits, and a hard wedge of cheese that once lived on a more hospitable broke surviving clunk to clunk. He made a gagging noise as he peered at the dried meat again and poked it with distaste. "Wouldn't it kill the fates to give me a real meal?" Just once. Something hot, even." He sneaked a look over at where a stove should be, the ones that made his mouth water when a hearty stew bubbled away. For a moment he smirked, "No stove yet … maybe I could conjure a magical pan up." "Oil might be asking for a miracle."Peering out the window he squinted at the city in the early light. Carts creaked along cobbled paths and vendors hawked fresh fish and newly baked bread in the place I had walked into, even now. He’d done a lot with the house in the week that he’d been there, turning it into something livable, barely. "What the hell?' he murmured, 'Doors actually close now' he concluded feeling a bit more proud
Caster adjusted his grip and took a close look at his work, scrutinizing every line and angle of the newly crafted weapon handle. The wood was tough but carefully sanded, bearing faint, meticulous patterns he had engraved over hours of work. "Alright," he muttered, almost to himself. "Let's see if this holds up."He lowered his gaze to the small, rough-edged mana stone beside him. Its surface shimmered faintly, a testament to the raw energy that pulsed within it. With precision, he made a tiny opening at the base of the handle, using one of his tools to keep the gap just wide enough for the stone to fit snugly. Holding his breath, Caster slid the stone into place, his hand steady even as he felt the twinge of nervousness in his gut. One wrong move, one crack, and the handle would split, and the entire effort would be wasted. He exhaled, the pressure off his shoulders as the stone was secure. He picked up a little hammer and taps the opening closed, sealing the stone.Caster was co
Caster’s gaze shifted between his rough tools and the iron-cast walls around him. The dim, flickering light from a lone torch cast dancing shadows on his workbench, where the worn mace lay, waiting. Each scuff and nick in the wood handle held a tale of its own; it wasn’t just a tool but a companion, a weapon that had been through as much as he had. And here he was, weighing its life and usefulness like a weary healer judging the last pulse of an old patient.He ran his hand over the handle one last time, tracing the grains and grooves with a practiced eye. “Adding a stone’s one thing,” he muttered. “But what it needs is stability.” His fingers slid to a small crack, an old fracture that hadn’t yet spread but threatened to. “If that widens… this thing’s done.”His hands worked without thought, reaching into the assortment of stones, metals, and powders he had scavenged over time. His fingers found a small, rough mana stone, and he rolled it between his fingers, feeling its faint warm
Caster knocked metal hard on metal, the sound reverberating in the almost pitch black workshop. With every hook an aura of magical energy was discharged providing brief glimpses of light on the roughly completed stone walls. It smelled of hot metal and a low, tense buzz, which seemed to say that the room itself had tensed to watch him.Caster, still young but hardened by the trials of his craft, stood poised over his latest project: a shield, its shape still raw but which is already starting to look graceful. Though not tall and still somewhat thin, he seemed to possess good illating strength, every punch he landed being calculated. Each movement was accompanied by complex magical ripples, which Indragni had seen on the surface of the shield before a layer of runes he more or less sketched with great detail. In addition to a frown a look of intense concentration took over his face only to be interrupted the occasional lean back to examine the painting.After several more strikes, he
Caster climbed the winding stone stairs leading upward from the basement of Lamba fortress as the red rays of the morning sun spread across Lowfield. He sighed as he breathed in the crisp morning air and hours spent wading through dim and damp caverns had taken a toll on him. The bustle outside was a stark contrast to the quiet gloom below. Merchants, hawkers, and small-time dealers filled the open area, all eager to cater to the steady stream of adventurers drawn to the dungeon.“Potion for mana, sir?” called a nearby merchant, brandishing a small flask that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Clearly, the man wasn’t going to miss any opportunity to sell.He gave her the distinct pleasure of a faint smile and a polite shake of his head. “Not today, but thanks.” The merchant glanced up as he passed saying “As he passed his gaze fell on a young boy standing beside the merchant with his hands outstretched each palm held small stones of different colors.”“Lucky charms,” the boy put out
Caster climbed the winding stairs stone leading upward from the basement of Lamba fortress as the red rays of the morning sun spread across Lowfield. He sighed as he breathed in the crisp morning air and hours spent wading through dim and damp caverns has taken a toll on him. The bustle outside was a stark contrast to the quiet gloom below. Merchants, hawkers, and small-time dealers filled the open area, all eager to cater to the steady stream of adventurers drawn to the dungeon.“Potion for mana, sir?” called a nearby merchant, brandishing a small flask that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Clearly, the man wasn’t going to miss any opportunity to sell.He gave her the distinct pleasure of a faint smile and a polite shake of his head. “Not today, but thanks.” The merchant glanced up as he passed saying “As he passed his gaze fell on a young boy standing beside the merchant with his hands outstretched each palm held small stones of different colors.”“Lucky charms,” the boy put out
Caster met them along the way quite often, which slowed down his progress. As he fought, he had to wait for them to finish before he could move on. “Hey, Caster! Need a hand?” one adventurer called out, swinging a sword at a monster.“No thanks! I’m good,” Caster replied, keeping his eyes on the battle ahead. He knew he could be accused of stealing if he forced his way through. Caster wished to avoid conflict with others, at least for now. He didn’t want to risk incurring their wrath or losing potential allies. “Once I get a silver-grade card, things will be different,” he thought. With higher levels, prestige wouldn’t be far behind, and the dynamics of encounters would shift dramatically.The level wasn’t that large; if someone knew the way, they could stroll past most dangers and quickly descend to the second level. Caster recalled hearing about hidden paths that only seasoned adventurers were aware of. These shortcuts could be the difference between life and death, especially dee