System Change

Chapter 404: I’m Legendary!

After giving it some extra thought, the small bit of sadness that had washed over Derek when he heard that Jacks and Rayna were moving out left him. They deserved a proper life, and where better to have it than in what was possibly the safest city in the kingdom? Well, Derek said. Im coming to help you pick out a house, and were bringing Geoffrey with us, too. He knows what things are worth around here. So, with him, you wont be getting scammed.

Of course! Rayna smiled a bright smile. We wouldnt have it any other way.

At that point, Derek stood and did something very unnatural for himhe initiated a hug with both Rayna and Jacks. Im looking forward to meeting the little fellow, he said as he released the two from his embrace. From there, with breakfast over and the surprise news given, he dismissed himself and went down to check on Brandi. He was sure that she would have a lot to tell him.

Derek slowly opened the door leading to the basement and began the short journey down the stairs. As he walked, he expected to hear the clanging sound of a hammer meeting metal, or some other indicator that Brandi was in the middle of a craft, but instead, he found nothing but quiet. Frowning, he increased his pace a bit and was at the bottom of the stairs in moments.

There, he found Brandi sitting at her workstation concentrating intently on some paper. Are those blueprints for something? Derek wondered as he walked towards her. Ahem, he cleared his throat lightly to grab her attention.

Instantly, she must have known that he was there, as before her head could even turn, she had a massive smile plastered on her face. Before he could even say anything, he was embraced in a giant hug by the girl. It was the second time in a span of minutes that hed been hugged, though this time, he wasnt the one who initiated it.

Youre back already? Brandi asked as she let go and took a step away.

Yup shes definitely been eating her vegetables, he thought. Now that he was back, and had nothing else going on to take him away, he could finally see how her stat progression had been going. Im back, he said and ruffled up her hair.

And you dont have anywhere else you need to go? she asked.

Not that I know of, he answered with a smile. At least, not right now.

Oh, good! Brandi jumped in the air and did a little fist pump. Then does that mean you have some time to spend down here? To help me with something? she asked.

Of course, Derek answered. What is it that you need help with?

With a quick wave of her hand, a little stool appeared, and she ushered Derek to it. Then she walked over to her workstation and pulled the stool she had been sitting on when Derek arrived over before sitting herself. The stool wasnt comfortable, and if it was anyone else, Derek probably would have replaced it with one of his own chairs, but since it was Brandi, he didnt complain.

Do you remember oh, wait! Brandi jumped up and ran up the stairs, then quickly came back down and sat. I had to lock the doordont want anyone to hear me.

Oh? Derek said, intrigued. What was so important that Brandi needed to lock the door?

Do you remember how, when you got back, you asked how I was progressing? And I said that you wouldnt believe it? Brandi asked.

I do, Derek said.

I did it, Brandi said. She was shaking in excitementlike she was finally getting to tell someone some very important secret.

What did you do? Derek leaned forward and asked. Feeling her excitement, he was almost just as excited, and he didnt even know why.

Im she looked around, then leaned forward, then in a whisper, said, Im legendary!

Youre legendary? Derek half shouted in shock.

Shh Brandi put her finger to her lips to shush Derek. Quiet.

Haha, Derek laughed. The basement has the sound dampening runes, and you also made sure to lock the door. Theres nobody else down here that can hear us, Derek said. Besides, Im pretty sure we can trust anyone around here, even if they heard us.

Im sorry, Brandi said. I dont think Ill be able to brew you any alcohol, or make you potions.

You dont have to apologize, Derek said. You did what was best for you. You chose blacksmithing, right? Weapon making?

I didnt have to specialize that much, Brandi explained. Its a general smithing specialization. But when I chose it, my class removed the leveling ability of most of my skills that couldnt be made use of with smithing. I can still level my leatherworking, runesmith, and even most weaving skills, but I lost the ability to level a bunch of my alchemy and pretty much all of my brewing skillsalong with many skills I never used from other professions.

So, how does that work? Derek asked. You still have some alchemy skills and leatherworking skills and such? Can you do the leatherworking and alchemy still?

I can, but Brandi started. I dont get any experience points, skill upgrades, or completion bonuses for those crafts.

I see, Derek said.

But if I use my leatherworking skills to make something, then use whatever I made as a material or as part of a blacksmithing project, I get everything again, she explained.

So, if you make say a sheath out of leather, then combine it with a sword you make, youll get experience for it?

Exactly, Brandi said.

What if you make a potion for alchemy that you drink to help increase some part of your blacksmithing skill? Derek asked. Like, if you make and drink a potion that temporarily increases your precision or strength, then smith something with it activated?

I dont know Brandi said with her eyes shining. I havent tried that. She took a little notebook out of a storage ring and began writing it down. Im definitely going to have to try that soon, she said, but Derek could see that even more ideas were popping up for the girl. Maybe I can still brew, even.

How so? Derek asked.

Drunk smithing! she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Uh Derek stammered. I dont think thats a good idea. Youre way too young, and plus, I dont think drunk smithing will help you create anything better than what you would have created sober. Lets uh push that idea to the back far far back and not bring it up again until youre at least 21 years old. And keep it between us. Do. Not. Tell. Malorie. He shivered again at the thought. If she wasnt going to kill him before, finding out about that idea would definitely change her mind.

Fine, Brandi pouted, but soon it passed, and she brightened up. But theres so many other things I want to try now.

I bet, Derek said. But you still havent gotten to what you needed my help with.

Oh, Brandi said. Sorry, I got distracted.

It happens. Derek laughed. It happened to him when he was thinking about different ways to use his skills, and he was sure that it would happen even more to someone with a more creative type of class. So, why has your crafting slowed down?

Well Brandi smiled. When I got my legendary upgrade and saw the stat points I was getting, I ate a Void Beast meal to spread my stats out like you said.

Really? Derek asked. Thats good.

Brandi nodded. But now, Im right on the cusp of 500 points in my endurance. Ill have it in either two levels or one more Void Beast meal, and I wanted to wait for you to be here before I did it. Thats why I need your help. Will you watch over my breakthrough and make sure I do it right?

Derek smiled. Brandi continued to make decisions that made him proud. Other than some crazy ideas, she seemed to think things through very thoroughly. He was even sure that she would have decided against the drunk smithing idea when she actually thought it through. Well probably.

I would be more than happy to help you with your breakthrough.