I sat up, blinking the sleep from my eyes, and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The simple, handcrafted wooden furniture in the room—the sturdy table, the small chest, the chair by the window—gave the space a rustic charm. A far cry from the cold, synthetic designs of my old world.
Rubbing my face, I made my way to the wash basin in the corner—which was a bucket of water with another empty one. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the sharp chill jolt me fully awake. For a moment, I caught my reflection in the slightly warped mirror above the 'basin'. My black hair, tied back into a loose man bun, was a mess. My face, lean and pale from years of neglect, still carried a hint of weariness.
This is my life now. Better get used to it.
I toweled off and made my way downstairs, where Borus was already up and bustling about in the small kitchen. The smell of something warm and savory filled the air.
“Morning, Rei,” he greeted, his voice cheerful.
“Morning.” I sat down at the modest table as he placed two plates before me.
On the plate was something resembling a sandwich, though the bread was thicker, almost like a flatbread, and the filling was unlike anything I’d seen before. The meat inside was red with streaks of black, paired with a creamy, green spread that smelled faintly of herbs and citrus.
“What’s this?” I asked, poking at the food.
“Fricor meat with Illuin paste,” Borus replied, taking a bite of his own. “It’s simple, but hearty. You’ll need the energy today.”
I followed suit, biting into the sandwich. The meat was rich and slightly smoky, its bold flavor balanced by the tangy, refreshing paste.
“This is amazing,” I mumbled through a mouthful, earning a chuckle from Borus.
After finishing our breakfast, Borus grabbed his coat and gestured for me to follow. “Time to get to work. We’re heading to the workshop today.”
As we stepped out of Windward Woodworks, the city of Renxall came alive before my eyes. Borus’s shop, a two-storied building with a clean, sturdy design, stood at the edge of the middle tier—which was home to most of the stores in Renxall, and a few upper-middle-class houses. The street outside was lined with similar buildings, their signs swinging gently in the morning breeze.
We made our way through the streets, passing through different districts. The residential area—covered almost half of Renxall— stretched out to the south, its modest homes bustling with families starting their day. As we moved further in, the city’s layout became clearer. The other half of Renxall was divided into distinct zones:
The Market District, where merchants sold everything from fresh produce to exotic goods.
The Festive Grounds, a large, open area reserved for public events and celebrations.
The Official Quarter, home to imposing buildings where the city’s governance and administration took place. Aswell as living quarters for the workers there.
The Workshop Zone, where artisans and craftsmen plied their trade.
At the heart of the city stood the grand mansion of the local lord, a symbol of authority and prestige. Encircling it were the residences of high-ranking nobles, each smaller than the lord's but still imposing in size. These estates were enclosed by massive fortifications known as the "inner walls." A circular cobblestone path hugged the perimeter of the walls, serving as the path where all districts of the city converged.
Renxall had three main gates, each placed 120° apart. The southern gate opened into the residential area, the eastern gate into the market, and the northern gate provided access to a road running between the workshop zone and the official quarter.
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“This place really feels like something out of a fantasy story,” I muttered, marveling at the vibrant, bustling city.
Borus chuckled. “It’s a lot to take in, huh? Wait till you see the workshop zone.”
As we entered the workshop zone, the atmosphere shifted. The air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of hammers striking metal, saws cutting through wood, and the hum of activity. The buildings here weren’t tall—three to four stories at most—but they sprawled wide, each housing large-scale operations.
At the center of the zone stood a massive well, its edges worn smooth from years of use. Artisans lined up to draw water, their faces marked with the grime of hard labor.
Borus led me to his workshop, which was located near the outer walls. Unlike some of the larger workshops we’d passed, Windward Workshop was modest in size. Inside, the scent of freshly cut wood and sawdust filled the air.
“Norgrus!” Borus called out.
A man emerged from behind a stack of timber, wiping his hands on a stained apron. He was short but solidly built, with a barrel chest and arms nearly as thick as tree trunks that left no room for doubt about his strength. His weathered face suggested he was in his forties, though his imposing presence made him seem timeless. His blond hair was tied back neatly, but it was his beard that caught the eye—long, flowing, and expertly braided into two elaborate strands.
"Rei, this is Norgrus Longbeard".
Well, that explains the beard
“Norgrus, this is Rei,” Borus said, introducing me. “He’s going to be working with us.”
Norgrus looked me up and down, his eyes narrowing. “T'is skinny lad? Ya serious, Borus?”
“I know he doesn’t look like much, but he’s motivated,” Borus assured him. “And besides, I owe him one.”
“Hmph.” Norgrus crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “If ya say so.”
Borus clapped me on the shoulder. “I’ve got some business to attend to. Norgrus will show you the ropes.”
With that, he left, leaving me alone with Norgrus.
“A'right, kid,” Norgrus said, gesturing to a stack of thick, heavy planks. “Start by movin' those o'er to t'is table.”
The planks were massive—about a meter wide, two meters tall, and ten centimeters thick. I frowned. The edges where the planks still had some bark left were of the same pearlescent blue colour I saw back in the forest. Guess it's the same wood eh?
“You sure you’re not just bullying me?”
“Ya wanna stay here or not?”
Letting out a sigh, I approached the planks and bent down to lift one. I managed to raise it a few inches off the ground, but it was far heavier than I anticipated.
Behind me, Norgrus chuckled, clearly enjoying my struggle.
I’ll show him, I thought, a determined grin spreading across my face. Time to use my ace.
I muttered under my breath, focusing on the planks. “Property Alteration.”
Available Properties to change:
? Density
>
The system responded instantly.
Oooh! Now this is some good stuff! "Change Density"
"Density is the measurement of how heavy something is relative to its size."
Current value: 0.57 × 103 kg m-3
Degree of change available: 200 kg m-3 >
“Reduce Density by 150 kg/m3 for all planks.”
I felt a sudden drain of energy as the system executed the command. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I turned to Norgrus.
“Got any water?” I asked, feigning exhaustion.
“Hmph. Tired already?” He handed me a wooden cup, though his grin faltered when he got a closer look at me.
I drank deeply, the cool water refreshing me. “Thanks. I’ll get back to it now.”
This time, when I lifted the plank, it felt significantly lighter.
According to my calculations, the volume of one plank is about 0.2 meter cubes. By multiplying it with the original density, the original mass of a single plank was about 114 Kilograms. Now it’s closer to 74 kilograms. Still heavy, but manageable after leveling up my Strength stat yesterday.
I moved the planks one by one, finishing the task in record time. Before reverting their properties, I took a short break to catch my breath.
Norgrus’s eyes widened as he inspected the planks on the table. “How’d ya manage that?”
I shrugged, hiding my smirk. “Guess I’m stronger than I look.”
“Hmph.”
For the next task, Norgrus handed me a hand saw and showed me the dimensions to cut the planks. This time, I used Property Alteration to reduce the wood’s Modulus of rigidity temporarily, making it easier to saw through.
By the end of the day, Norgrus’s skepticism had turned into reluctant admiration.
“Not bad, kid,” he grunted, crossing his arms.
Borus returned to pick me up, and we left the workshop together.
On the way home, we stopped at a small, unassuming restaurant. The menu featured simpler fare, but the food was still unique to this world.
I ordered a stew made with Tervol root and chunks of Tarken meat, a dark, gamey meat with a hint of sweetness. Borus had a plate of grilled Qelka fish, its blue scales still shimmering faintly.
Even though the meal wasn’t as extravagant as last night’s, I devoured it with gusto. Hard work, it seemed, had made me ravenous.
As we walked back under the night sky, I couldn’t help but marvel at the stars. The constellations were unlike anything I’d seen before, their strange patterns stirring a sense of wonder. So Beautiful!
“So, Rei,” Borus said, breaking the silence. “How’s Renxall? You like it?”
“Yeah,” I replied, smiling. “I like it a lot. I feel so free here.”
“Is that so? Then we should get you a citizenship tomorrow.”
“Huh? Is that really important?”
Borus explained that each city in Drachontrux had their own citizenship. Citizenship allowed one to own property, open a shop, and work legally in the city. “Citizenships are quite expensive but I’ll pay for it,” he offered. “After all, you saved my life.”
"I can't possibly accept that. You've already payed me back by giving me a job and letting me live at your place"
After some back and forth, we settled on something in between:
"Alright, then how about you pay me back after you earn the sum through your job?"
"I guess that's alright, Sure!"
We reached Windward Woodworks and just like last time, I headed straight into my room.
I felt quite tired, but I opened my skill window.
Ah! About time!
New properties and a greater degree of change were now available.
To my surprise, a new skill had also appeared:
A grin spread across my face. My journey in this world was just beginning.