The final 5 XP needed for Level 3 came unexpectedly. Kael had decided to improve the path to the stream, using his stone axe to clear some of the more stubborn roots and thorny bushes that made the short journey awkward. It was mundane work, but it made his daily water collection easier and safer. As he chopped through a particularly thick root, the familiar blue notification chimed.
[System Notification: Minor environmental improvement completed (Path Clearing). Consistent application of tool use and physical exertion. XP Gained: 5 / 150 for Level 3.]
[Current XP: 150 / 150 for Level 3.]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 3!]
[You have 5 unspent Attribute Points and 1 unspent Skill Point. Open Character Screen (Y/N)?]
A grin spread across Kael's face. Level 3! It had felt like a long haul from Level 2, filled with hard work and constant vigilance. Each level felt like a significant milestone, a concrete measure of his progress in this challenging new world.
"Yes," he projected towards the System.
The character screen appeared, brighter and clearer than before, perhaps a subtle effect of his increased INT.
Name: Kael
Race: Human (Variant: Unknown)
Age: Approx. 8 cycles (Physical)
Status: Normal
Title: The Reborn
Level: 3 (0/250 XP to Level 4)
Attributes (Base):
Strength (STR): 3Agility (AGI): 4Constitution (CON): 2Intelligence (INT): 10Wisdom (WIS): 8Charisma (CHA): 5
Unspent Attribute Points: 5
Unspent Skill Points: 1
Skills:
Basic Survival (Passive) (Rank F)Resilience (Passive) (Rank F)Keen Mind (Passive) (Rank F)Fire Starting (Active) (Rank F)Basic Crafting (Active) (Rank E)Axe Proficiency (Passive) (Rank F)Stealth (Passive) (Rank F)
He had another 5 attribute points. His previous allocation to INT and WIS had served him well, enhancing his problem-solving and observational skills. However, the recent hunt and the laborious process of butchering and tanning the deer hide had starkly reminded him of his physical limitations. His CON of 2 was dangerously low; a serious injury or illness could still be catastrophic. His STR of 3 made many physical tasks far more difficult than they needed to be.
He decided on a more balanced approach this time. He needed to shore up his physical weaknesses if he was going to tackle more dangerous challenges, like the Whisperwood quest.
"Allocate 2 points to Constitution."
[2 Attribute Points allocated to CON. New CON: 4.]
He felt a subtle warmth spread through his core, a sense of increased vitality and resilience.
"Allocate 2 points to Strength."
[2 Attribute Points allocated to STR. New STR: 5.]
A faint thrum of energy in his muscles, a feeling of slightly greater physical capacity.
That left one attribute point. He hovered between Agility, for better evasion and movement, or perhaps one more in Constitution. He opted for endurance.
"Allocate 1 point to Constitution."
[1 Attribute Point allocated to CON. New CON: 5.]
His new base attributes were: STR 5, AGI 4, CON 5, INT 10, WIS 8, CHA 5. Still heavily weighted towards his mental stats, but his physical foundation was significantly improved. A CON of 5 felt much safer than 2.
Now for the skill point. His 'Basic Crafting' was already Rank E. Upgrading another F-rank skill to E seemed like the best option. 'Axe Proficiency' and 'Stealth' were both tempting, as they were directly related to hunting and combat. 'Basic Survival' was also a strong contender.
He thought about what would provide the most immediate, tangible benefit. Better clothing. His current rags were falling apart, and the nights were still cold despite his hut and fire. The tanned deer hide was waiting.
"System, can I use the skill point to improve 'Basic Crafting' further, or is there a more specialized skill related to leatherworking or tailoring that I could unlock or improve?"
[System Query: Skill Point Allocation Options.]
[1. Improve existing Rank F skill to Rank E. Cost: 1 Skill Point.]
[2. Improve existing Rank E skill ('Basic Crafting') to Rank D. Cost: 2 Skill Points (Insufficient Points).]
[3. Attempt to unlock a new Tier 1 common skill related to 'Leatherworking' or 'Tailoring' (randomly selected). Cost: 1 Skill Point. Warning: Skill acquisition not guaranteed.]
Upgrading 'Basic Crafting' to Rank D was out. Unlocking a new, specialized skill was risky. Improving one of his Rank F skills was the safest bet. He considered his 'Axe Proficiency' or 'Stealth'. Both would be useful. However, the immediate need for clothing, and the fact that his 'Basic Crafting' skill was already his highest active skill, swayed him. A higher crafting skill would make creating clothes from the hide easier and result in a better product.
Wait, he couldn't upgrade Basic Crafting further with only one point. He re-evaluated. The System had listed "Improve existing Rank F skill to Rank E." His 'Axe Proficiency' and 'Stealth' were both combat/survival related. He thought about the Sylphwing Quill and its potential for air magic. While he couldn't cast spells, perhaps a skill that improved his general awareness or senses would be beneficial in the long run, and might even synergize with the quill's subtle effects. 'Basic Survival' was passive and broad. 'Stealth' was more specific.
He decided to upgrade 'Stealth'. Being harder to detect was always a good thing in a dangerous forest.
"Allocate 1 skill point to improve 'Stealth'."
[1 Skill Point allocated. 'Stealth (Rank F)' has been upgraded to 'Stealth (Rank E)'.]
[Stealth (Rank E): Moderately reduced noise made while moving. Moderately harder to detect when stationary or moving slowly in cover. Unlocks basic ability 'Silent Step' (Active - temporarily further reduces movement noise at a small stamina cost).]
'Silent Step'! An active ability. That was an unexpected bonus.
With his points allocated, Kael turned his attention to the tanned deer hide. It was soft and pliable. He needed to fashion it into some form of clothing. A simple tunic seemed like the most practical option. He had his flint knives for cutting and would need to punch holes for lacing. For lacing, he could use thin strips of the same hide or the Deer Sinew he had collected.
He laid the hide out, his improved 'Basic Crafting (Rank E)' and his INT guiding him as he planned the cuts. He needed a hole for his head and armholes. He carefully began to cut with his sharpest flint knife. The work was slow, requiring precision. He used an awl he'd fashioned from a sharpened piece of bone to punch stitching holes along the edges he intended to join. He then used thin, strong strips of sinew as thread.
It was his most complex crafting project yet. As he worked, he occasionally felt that subtle guidance from his crafting skill, a nudge here, an intuitive understanding of how the material would behave there. He wondered if this was the "small chance of creating items with minor positive quirks" in action.
By late afternoon, after many hours of focused effort, he had finished. He held up a simple, sleeveless tunic made from the deer hide. It was crude by any civilized standard, with slightly uneven stitching, but it was sturdy, and it would offer far more protection and warmth than his tattered rags.
He slipped it on. It was a little stiff but fit reasonably well. The leather was soft against his skin.
[System Notification: You have successfully crafted 1x Deer Hide Tunic.]
[Item: Deer Hide Tunic. Quality: Common (Well-Made). Durability: 50/50. Armor Value: Low (Basic protection against scratches, minor impacts). Special Properties: Minor Cold Resistance.]
[Due to successful crafting of functional clothing with attention to detail, 'Basic Crafting (Rank E)' proficiency increased.]
"Well-Made" and "Minor Cold Resistance"! That was definitely a positive quirk. A sense of deep satisfaction filled Kael. He had transformed a raw material from an animal he had hunted into something that would directly improve his life. He wasn't just surviving anymore; he was adapting, creating, and slowly, steadily, becoming more a part of this wild, new world.