Dreu returned the following day to find the turtle creature still there. This time, the creature didn’t duck into its shell when it spotted him. It simply walked up to the young man before turning its side towards him. Dreu watched as a section of the shell expanded outwards until a piece fell to the ground. Afterwards, the turtle backed up before it headbutted the piece in his direction.

  “You want me to have this?”

  Seeing the turtle’s nod, Dreu knelt down to pick up the piece. The rock-like object that resembled jade was a lot denser than he first expected so he nearly injured himself from picking it up. Having learned his lesson, Dreu used the proper lifting technique he learned during his laborer days and was able to hold the object close to his body.

  “Congratulations! You have picked the optimal choice of befriending an Aerial Jaded Turtle. This fella will now happily provide you with raw materials from his shell each week.”

  Dreu quickly thanked the turtle before he struggled to get his jade back to his base. He might have the right techniques but he realized that he was out of practice. When he worked as a laborer regularly, his muscles were kept in excellent shape. Since he fled from Berkton, he hadn’t kept up the same level of workout to maintain his muscles. Therefore, he wasn’t surprised to find his muscles smaller and weaker. While this was unfortunate, he also understood that all that muscle wasn’t helping him in combat either. He needed a bit more finesse and less strength for him to wield the sword better. During times like this where he had to carry heavy objects he had no issues with in the past, he did feel a bit of regret.

  Maybe I can use this as training to develop my muscles again? It won't be a bad idea if I also work on wielding a heavier weapon should a need arises.

  After much effort, Dreu made it back to his base and placed the jade beside the anvil. He then debated whether he should get to work or check up on the turtle. He did stab the creature the previous day and, due to the incredible display of producing jade from its shell, he didn’t once check on the wound.

  I can always come back to this another day. Might as well check out my new friend. I wonder if he will join my roster after all of this. With no access to the prompt, I no longer know what is and isn't possible in this world.

  The young man returned to the clearing and was relieved to see his new companion was still grazing away at the weeds. He walked up to the turtle who greeted him with a nod. Kneeling down, he checked the foot he supposedly stabbed but there was no wound there.

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  “I’m glad it didn’t leave a mark,” he said to the turtle. “I never meant you any harm.”

  The turtle took a pause from its meal and rubbed its head against Dreu’s head. The young man had never rubbed his face against jade before but this was exactly what he expected it felt like. For the next few hours, he chatted with the turtle and was fairly certain that his companion could understand him. Once it was getting dark, the turtle started hovering off the ground, revealing why it was known as an aerial jade turtle. Dreu waved goodbye to the creature before he returned to his base.

  I’m not tired yet so I might as well get to work.

  As he loaded the charcoal into the forge, the young man made a mental note to ask the being how he could get more charcoal. Unlike food and water, the charcoal wasn’t replenished when he returned from the clearing. He suspected that he had to acquire it somewhere if he wanted to keep working on his blacksmithing skills. Before he set the charcoal aflame in the forge, he went to the benches to search for a book on working with jade. After finding it, he read through the introduction, learning that he couldn’t melt the jade directly due to the high temperature needed and how it would become something other than jade. Following the introduction, he found the instructions on how to make a shield using the bull armor and the jade.

  Of course it refers to another book on how to make tools to work with jade.

  The young man sought out the book only to discover that he lacked the materials to make the tools. Due to the hardness of jade, not any tools would work and he must acquire special materials for his purposes. He was realizing that working with jade, at least for his tasks, wasn't going to be an easy process. The book claimed that all the effort was going to be worth it but the young man still had doubts in his mind. To make new tools meant he had to improve his blacksmithing skills and his latest shield told him all about his current level.

  Might as well give it a try then.

  Lacking any materials to practice his blacksmithing skills, Dreu decided to go to bed early. As he laid on his bed, he thought about all that had happened since he entered this strange realm. After he learned the basics of making pills, he was suddenly working on blacksmithing. He wouldn’t say he disliked the two professions but he wished he wasn’t all alone. Following his interaction with all the demon creatures who became his companions, he wasn’t used to solitude. Zog was usually the one he talked to but his other companions already lent him an ear if he wanted to discuss something. Now, he was all alone with no way of going back to everyone else. Even if there was danger around every corner, he would rather get through all of that with the others than remain in a strange land with such a large place all to himself and away from harm.

  I should ask the being what I must achieve before I can leave. It will be nice to plan ahead and know how many days must elapse before I can go back.