"I have a lot of sticks… If I can convert a log into a stick, surely I can convert a bunch of these sticks into planks, which is required to make a workbench," he muttered as he stared at something only visible to him.
"The mental grimoire is so useful. I can see a bunch of stuff here like a stool, bed, and even a lamp?" he said, amused. "I wonder if I can make a gun—"
A faint metallic shimmer caught his eye.
"Wait, what? A gun! There's a gun. I can make a gun!!! If only I had the materials to make one," he said, disappointed but hopeful.
He continued looking around, flipping through the mental grimoire's floating symbols, until his gaze caught on a strange-looking icon tucked between the normal crafting recipes. It wasn't shaped like furniture or tools—just an intricate pattern of interlocking geometric circles, glowing faintly.
"What is this… strange icon with geometric circles?" he murmured, leaning in mentally. "It's called Transmutation?"
His eyes widened.
"Wait—transmutation? Like the alchemy thing where you can turn lead into gold!?" he said, shocked, half expecting the icon to start spitting out piles of treasure.
"Hahaha I'm gonna be rich!" He said loudly.
"Gael be quiet, your drawing attention" the Grey Wizard intervened. "Whatever more abilities you discovered, you must keep it to yourself remember monsters are everywhere."
"Okay old man you're right. Geez"
He smiled "Now let me turn these sticks into something more useful" he said excitedly
All the sticks he had collected from the ground were placed into his storage.
"By focusing my will, I can take and store things directly into my inventory. So I didn't even need to pick them up by hand… I can just walk and gather sticks automatically," he muttered.
A mischievous grin crept across his face.
"Doesn't that mean I could pickpocket someone with this gift? Something in your pocket—now it's gone. Hehehe… this is seriously overpowered."
"Okay, I've got eighteen sticks," he said, opening his status window.
A faint circle of runes flickered into existence around the pile of sticks in his inventory.
Transmutation System Activated
Material Detected: Wood (Stick) ×18
Processing…
The runes brightened, shifting from dull amber to a vibrant gold as the sticks dissolved into motes of light.
Conversion Complete
Output: Wooden Plank ×4
He nodded with satisfaction. "Nice. I need 4 sticks to convert it to 1 plank and I need 2 planks for 4 sticks… Still worth it."
"Alright, time for the conversion."
He placed the sticks into the transmutation system, watching as light flickered around them. In an instant, eighteen sticks became neat wooden planks.
"Okay, I'll put each plank into the 2×2 box and… hahaha, it worked!" he said, grinning with genuine excitement.
He saw the newly crafted workbench occupying a single slot on the right side of his inventory.
"Let me place it somewhere… okay, this spot should be fine."
The workbench appeared before him, solid and real.
"Now I can finally make that stone sword. One stone at the top, one in the middle, and… the stick goes on the bottom."
He carefully placed each item into the 3×3 grid of the workbench.
A faint shimmer passed over the crafting window.
He nodded with satisfaction as the completed stone sword materialized on the workbench.
"Woah," he whispered, amazed. "It appeared just like that."
The Grey Wizard noticed the new weapon and raised a brow.
"What a mighty weapon you've got there," he said, his tone sly and teasing.
"Hey, you gotta start somewhere," Gael shot back, annoyed. "You're just jealous all you've got is a stick while I've got a sword."
The wizard chuckled. "Hahaha, you're right. But this isn't just a 'stick.' This here is my companion."
"Companion? Isn't that just… a stick?"
"Let me ask you this," the wizard said, tapping the wooden staff lightly on the ground. "What does a companion do?"
"Someone that supports you, right?"
"Yes, you're right—but it doesn't have to be someone." He smiled beneath his beard. "A companion can also be an object. Why, you may ask? Well… as you can see, I am old and frail. I can't walk properly without this staff. It supports me, guides me, steadies me. Without it, I would be helpless."
He patted the stick affectionately.
"So to me, this isn't just wood. It's a partner. A loyal one." The Grey Wizard's voice softened. "When a man who cannot walk suddenly regains his legs, the first thing he throws away is the stick that supported him all his life."
Gael frowned. "That's kinda sad now that I think of it."
"That's exactly the point," the wizard said, tapping the stick lightly against the ground. "People forget or throw away the things that supported them once they feel strong enough. However, I haven't forgotten. So this stick?" He lifted it proudly. "This is my companion."
Gael crossed his arms. "Still looks like a stick."
"It is a stick," the wizard admitted, grinning. "But it's my stick."