The subclass interface materialized before Misaki's vision like a translucent menu, organized in branching categories that reminded him of skill trees in video games. Except this was real, and his choice would shape his development path for years to come.
JACK SUBCLASS OPTIONS:
Crafting Specializations:
Scribe (Documentation, magical inscriptions, contract binding)
Cartographer (Map creation, terrain analysis, navigation expertise)
Alchemist (Potion brewing, material synthesis, chemical manipulation)
Artificer (Magical item creation, enchantment basics)
Tinkerer (Mechanical devices, trap construction, tool modification)
Combat Specializations:
Duelist (One-on-one combat mastery)
Skirmisher (Hit-and-run tactics, mobility focus)
Tactician (Group coordination, strategic planning)
Support Specializations:
Mediator (Negotiation, conflict resolution, social manipulation)
Quartermaster (Resource management, supply optimization)
Field Medic (Basic healing, injury stabilization)
Lyria watched as Misaki's eyes moved through the options, reading the subtle facial expressions that indicated his internal debate. "Take your time," she advised. "Subclass choice is permanent. Most people spend weeks deciding."
But Misaki's engineering mind had already begun analyzing practical applications. Scribe would help with documentation but offered limited immediate utility. Cartographer might prove useful eventually, but M'lod's surrounding terrain was already well-mapped. Artificer required magical knowledge he didn't possess.
Alchemist, however...
He selected it, and detailed information expanded before his vision:
ALCHEMIST SUBCLASS:
Primary Benefits:
Material synthesis optimization (reduce ingredient requirements by 15-25%)
Chemical intuition (understand substance properties through observation)
Purification techniques (extract useful compounds from raw materials)
Oil and lubricant formulation (critical for mechanical applications)
Secondary Benefits:
Poison identification and antidote creation
Preservative compound development
Basic medical salve production
Solvent creation for cleaning and material processing
Drawbacks:
Requires dedicated laboratory space
Ingredient gathering takes significant time
Volatile compounds carry explosion/poisoning risks
Limited combat applicability
Progression Path:
Level 1-10: Basic compounds and simple oils
Level 11-25: Advanced synthesis and specialized lubricants
Level 26-50: Rare material processing and magical reagent creation
"Alchemist," Misaki confirmed, and felt a subtle shift in his awareness. Suddenly, he understood properties of materials in ways he hadn't before. The pine boards in his workshop registered as "high resin content, suitable for oil extraction." The leather of his coin pouch carried notes of "tannin-preserved, water-resistant treatment applied."
Lyria nodded approvingly. "Smart choice for your cart projects. You'll need quality lubricants for those wheel axles."
"That's exactly what I was thinking," Misaki said, already imagining formulations that could reduce friction and prevent wood rot.
After Lyria departed - reminding him to rest his wounds - Misaki checked the position of Ulth'rk through his window. The twentieth hour of daylight, which meant five hours remained before the night cycle began. Plenty of time to work.
He returned to his workshop table and began detailed technical drawings. The prototype needed precision - every measurement calculated, every stress point analyzed. He spent a full hour on the initial sketch alone, drawing cross-sections, elevation views, and exploded assembly diagrams that would have been perfectly at home in an Earth engineering textbook.
Then came the dimensional specifications:
HUMAN-POWERED CART - PROTOTYPE ALPHA
Wheel Assembly:
Diameter: 24 inches (60 cm)
Material: Tra'inti (elastic wood) for rim flexibility
Thickness: 3 inches for load distribution
Hub: 6-inch diameter, ironwood core
Spokes: 12 per wheel, alternating grain orientation
Frame Structure:
Material: Rulwood (noted for strength-to-weight ratio)
Main beams: 4x4 inch cross-section
Support struts: 2x3 inch cross-section
Joint method: Mortise and tenon with iron reinforcement pins
Platform Deck:
Material: Unknown - requires lightweight wood recommendation
Dimensions: 6 feet x 4 feet (2m x 1.2m)
Thickness: 1.5 inches minimum
Load capacity target: 400 pounds (180 kg)
Misaki studied his drawings with satisfaction. The elastic wood wheels would absorb shock from rough terrain, while the rulwood frame provided structural integrity. But the platform needed something lighter - carrying capacity depended on minimizing the cart's own weight.
He'd need to consult Torran.
The communal bathing area occupied a natural hot spring on M'lod's western edge, one of the geological features that made this location viable for settlement. Misaki had initially felt self-conscious about the open bathing culture, but six months had normalized it. Privacy wasn't absent - the spring had separate sections divided by natural rock formations - but the casual attitude toward communal bathing had taken adjustment.
He scrubbed away the day's sweat and dirt using the coarse stone-root soap that Vulcanites favored, then moved to the training yard adjacent to the springs. The space was simple: packed earth, practice dummies made from wrapped straw, and weapon racks holding communal training equipment.
Misaki retrieved his scout's blade and began the kata exercises Deylos had taught him. But tonight he focused on two specific techniques: the straight stab and the diagonal slash. On Earth, he'd taken some martial arts classes - mostly for fitness - but actual combat training was different. Each movement needed to account for real resistance, for the possibility of armor, for the chaos of actual fighting.
The stab required full body commitment, driving from the legs through the core into the arm extension. The slash needed hip rotation, letting the larger muscle groups generate cutting power. Again and again, Misaki practiced the movements until his muscles burned and his breathing came hard.
When he paused to rest, he caught sight of his reflection in the spring's still water. Six months of physical labor, combat training, and adequate nutrition had built muscle definition he'd never possessed on Earth. His arms showed lean strength, his core had visible definition, and his shoulders had broadened measurably.
But compared to native Vulcanites, he remained small. Riyeak stood six-and-a-half feet tall with the build of a linebacker. Deylos, the "lean" member of Team Seven, still had forty pounds of muscle on Misaki. Even the women of M'lod tended toward six feet tall with warrior-athlete physiques. Millia, the farm supervisor, could probably bench-press Misaki without particular effort.
The realization prompted a decision. He collected smooth river stones from the spring's edge, each weighing perhaps ten to fifteen pounds, and began incorporating them into his workout. Overhead presses, squats, farmer's carries around the training yard. The added resistance made his muscles scream, but growth required progressive overload.
The communal dining hall buzzed with evening energy when Misaki arrived. Long wooden tables filled with villagers sharing the day's final meal - rookfowl stew, roasted starc root, thornbread still warm from the ovens. The smell was incredible, and Misaki's stomach reminded him he'd skipped lunch while working the farms.
He spotted Torran near the far wall, deep in conversation with three men Misaki recognized as the lumber party - specialized workers who ventured into the surrounding forests to harvest wood under royal logging permits. Their presence meant they'd just returned from an expedition, which explained the timing of Torran's discussion. Fresh lumber contracts were always negotiated immediately upon party return.
Misaki collected his meal - a generous bowl of stew and two pieces of thornbread - and approached the group during a natural lull in conversation.
"Torran," he greeted respectfully, nodding to the lumber workers. "Sorry to interrupt. Quick technical question when you have a moment."
The blacksmith gestured welcomingly. "Haruto. Perfect timing, actually. These gentlemen just brought in a diverse haul. What do you need?"
"Lightweight wood for cart platform construction," Misaki explained. "Six by four feet, one-and-a-half inch thickness. Needs to handle four hundred pounds without excessive flex, but I want to minimize the cart's base weight."
One of the lumber workers, a weathered man named Krennit, grunted thoughtfully. "You want Tra'sho'ven. Sky-cedar. Grows in the upper mountain ranges. Light as rookfowl bone but strong across the grain. We brought back thirty boards this run."
"Expensive, though," another worker added. "Sky-cedar commands premium prices because of the harvesting difficulty."
Torran waved dismissively. "Haruto's building something useful for the village. I'll negotiate fair pricing." He fixed Misaki with a calculating look. "This cart project - when will you have working prototypes?"
"Two weeks, maybe three," Misaki estimated. "Depends on how quickly I can assemble and test the components."
"Make it two," Torran said. "The merchant caravan arrives in three weeks. If your carts work as described, we could negotiate village-wide production contracts. That's profit for everyone."
The lumber workers nodded agreement, seeing potential business opportunities.
Misaki felt the weight of expectations settling on his shoulders, but also the thrill of possibility. This was how you built something lasting - one connection, one project, one successful prototype at a time.