With a gentle push, Fenix swung open the door and stepped into the toy shop. The moment he crossed the threshold, he was enveloped in a wave of vibrant colors and pyful melodies that seemed to come from every corner of the room.

  It felt like stumbling into a child's dreamnd, with shelves lined with neatly arranged toys that caught his eye and beckoned him closer.

  A row of toy soldiers stood at attention on one shelf, their painted uniforms gleaming in the bright light that flooded through the windows. On another shelf sat rows of delicate dolls, each with perfect curls and intricate dresses that seemed to have been plucked straight from a fairy tale.

  In one corner of the shop, a miniature train chugged along a carefully crafted track, sending puffs of steam into the air. Despite knowing it was something computer generated, Fenix couldn't help but marvel at it.

  As he moved further into the store, memories of his childhood flooded back to him. He could still remember how his mother used to take him and his friends to a different toy store every month, promising them they could each pick out one toy. He would struggle to choose just one, always wanting more than he could have.

  But as he gazed around at all the toys now, his mood shifted. Bitterness crept in as memories of that fucking bitch resurfaced. To distract himself, Fenix reached for a plush teddy bear and examined it closely. It was almost identical to the one Camille had given him when they were children. Unable to control himself, Fenix dug his nails into its soft fur.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat abruptly pulled him out of his thoughts. Fenix quickly pushed back the emotions and memories that had been threatening to overwhelm him and locked them away at the back of his mind. He returned the teddy bear to its pce and turned around, coming face to face with a man who appeared to be in his te 30s.

  The man's cheerful smile lit up his face as he adjusted his gsses. Fenix noticed his dark brown hair was tied back with a simple ribbon, and he wore comfortable scks, a crisp white button-down shirt, and a vest. His curious gaze examined Fenix carefully before speaking.

  "You seem a bit old for stuffed animals, but that's alright," the man commented with a gentle smile. "As long as you're young at heart."

  Shaking his head, Fenix replied, "That's not why I'm here. I want to become an artisan, just like you."

  The man's expression turned serious as he studied Fenix closely, looking at him up and down as if searching for something. After a tense moment, he broke into another smile, seemingly satisfied.

  "Allow me to introduce myself," the man said with a dramatic bow. "I am Melvin Manford, a master of all crafts."

  "Pleasure to meet you, I am Chaotic Nexus."

  Melvin's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So you wish to become an artisan?" he responded. "What crafts have you already learned?"

  "Cooking and potion-making," Fenix answered.

  "The two most challenging crafts," Melvin excimed with genuine interest. "In that case, I will allow you to become an Artisan on one condition: if you can pass a small test. Are you willing?"

  [System: Quest Triggered!]

  "Yes, I am," Fenix replied, looking determined.

  [System: A Quest Has Been Created!]

  Melvin's Test

  Quest Description: Melvin, the master craftsman, is excited to gain a disciple, but he needs to know if you are worthy. As a test of your skills and dedication, Melvin has set forth a challenging task. He wants you to create 20 stamina potions, each requiring precision and careful handling of ingredients. Additionally, you must cook him a 2-star dish, demonstrating your culinary prowess. Both tasks must be completed within two days.

  Reward:

  Css Change50 stat pointsMelvin smiled and began expining exactly what he wanted Fenix to do before handing him two potion recipes.

  [System: You have gained a Stamina Potion Recipe!]

  [System: You have gained a Bellyborg Stew Recipe!]

  Fenix's face lit up with a smile as he gratefully accepted the two recipes from Melvin. Both of them would come in handy.

  The stamina potion could restore 50 points of stamina to a pyer, while the Bellyborg stew provided a buff of +75 MP and +75 Stamina.

  Fenix couldn't help but notice the connection between the two recipes. Crafting an item usually drains a pyer's stamina or mana.

  Melvin had slyly given him both a potion and a food recipe, that can help increase what he would lose when cooking and making potions. So, by making him craft those items, Melvin was secretly helping him.

  Every css instructor does something like this in some form. However, it still gave Fenix a warm feeling because he knew Melvin was rooting for him to succeed.

  “Oh, before you leave, here is a map of the town and the surrounding area,” Melvin said, handing Fenix a neatly folded piece of parchment.

  [System: You have gained a Bellport Town Map!]

  Fenix was pleasantly surprised. He had assumed he would need to purchase a map from the general store. "Thank you," he said, genuinely grateful.

  After leaving the shop, Fenix carefully tucked the recipes into his inventory. He then tore up the map and watched as it disappeared in a shower of sparkles. As soon as all traces of the map were gone a notification popped up:

  [System: The Bellport Town map is now accessible through the map function!]

  Now that he had a map, Fenix weighed his options on what he should tackle first as he walked through the town square. He already had all the ingredients needed to make the stamina potion, so that task would be retively simple. However, obtaining the meat for the Bellyborg stew would require some time and effort as it involved hunting down the strange fmingo-like creatures known as Bellyborgs.

  Despite their bizarre appearance—two rge wings, two small ones, thin legs, a wide tail, and thick but delicate skin covered in small silvery purple feathers—Bellyborg monsters were surprisingly common in this world. However, their incredible speed made them challenging prey.

  Feeling that securing the meat would be the most time-consuming task, Fenix decided to tackle the potion-making first and get it out of the way. As he strolled through town, he spotted an apothecary where he could rent a potion b. He wasn't yet skilled enough to make potions outdoors; he would need to level up three more times before he could do so.

  Knowing that he would have to pay for the rental regardless, Fenix wasted no time and headed inside. After exchanging 2 silver and 3 bronze coins with the woman at the front desk, he entered the room which would automatically lock until he left.

  The sparse room contained only essential equipment for making potions. With focused determination, Fenix gathered all the necessary items and settled in for several hours of potion-making in solitude.

  Name: Chaotic Nexus  Title: Fisherman’s Recognition

  Level: 10      EXP: 14/4000 ←- (+500 each Lvl)

  HP: 180/180 MP: 160/160 STA: 160/160 ←- (+10 each Lvl)

  Stat points: 15 ←- (+3 each Lvl)

  Strength: 8 +3  Dexterity: 8 +3

  Intelligence: 6 +3 Luck: 7 +4

  Coins: 9 Gold, 993 Silver, 900 Bronze