Apprentice articifier

Walking cuffed like a prisoner, Levian is currently surrounded by a bunch of hooligans.

Nimim's voice reaches him as the group walked through the slums of the cities to outside the protected zone of the walls, "Are you sure it is the safe thing to do? There were a hundred more options."

" 100? One more hour there and we would have been caught and locked up back in the cell we came from." Denying the suggestion, Levian looks around.

Unlike what slums he knew about in his past life , the area is surprisingly clean and houses are also quite durable with bricks and wood.

The only similarity? The overwhelming population and crowd going to work. No car or vehicles passes by and the alleys are filled with similar hooligans like the one circling him.

Bored and lazy, the gamblers engage in a conversation.

"Where did this guy even come from? No card and bracelet and his body is as thin as a paper."

"Who knows? But he did loss more than he can pay so it's a good payday for us. Throwing him to the hunter squads will pay quite a good price."

"That's true, they have lacking cannon fodder for a while now, maybe he may even get admitted to one of them."

The few keywords garner Levian's attention as he instantly shifts his focus to Nimim, "What is this hunter squads they are talking about?"

"About that, due to constant dimensional travel the space of this world is quite weak, different energies from various world pour out and eventually lead to creation of creatures called Deformities."

Having recieved a answer from Nimim, Levian couldn't help but compare the deformities to monsters he had seen in comics.

Before he could think further, Nimim Stopped him in his tracks, "Don't compare the deformities to those pathetic monsters, the deformities wield power equalent to flux or other forms of power and most of them have a high level of intelligence."

"This is too complicated, can I get a simple explanation instead?"

Nodding internally, Nimim transferred a bunch of knowledge straight to Levian's head.

- Deformities explained simply-

Deformities refer to races and things that have mutated from accumulation of energies in their bodies.

The less inteligent ones that mutated from creatures like animals or non living objects are referred to as feral races.

If to be compared, A feral after it's mutation may recieve a boost of up to 30% in mental and intellectual capabilities and up to four times the boost in physical prowess.

Next are those beings that managed to learn to control their energies and gained access a variety of powers, they are called Vexed races.

The vexed may wield powers that their bodies have mutated to wield and boast a much stronger potential in all fields compared to ferals.

And lastly the final category that is included in deformities are the exiled races, boasting intelligence similar to humanoids and enough potential to wield energy techniques based on knowledge.

The exiled are the races that developed from ferals and vexed or mutations in already existed intelligent races.

They are capable but their constant hatred to all other races have caused them to be forbidden from any sort of trade and negotiations.

-explanation ends-

'So basically the exiled are races that are barbaric and refusing to enter any sort of compromise with other races?' Levian asked as he entered the backdoor of a house and was greeted with stairs.

'Exactly, As much as the demons loved fighting we had enough control to compromise but those exileds? They will fight to the death without any sort of communication.' Nimim gave Levian's answer a score of 9/10.

Soon the world changed as they entered the underground of the city, led by the Hooligans, Levian found himself in a brightly lit underground passage with shops and stalls ok each side.

'A black market. I was expecting a drug den but got into the black market instead.. Good.' Levian silently takes in the scenery and memorized the route he came from as he walked through the dark side of the city.

Soon, he reached a multi-floored store with a fat 5'5 feet something Oldman smoking on the counter as he waits for customers.

"Yo Oldman Dolla, I found some young fish for you to fry."

"Young fish? That looks like a stack of bones if I tell ya, What will I even do with someone like that in a tool store?"

The old man bluntly rejected the deal with one look at Levian's pall figure and gestured for them to move on.

"Are you a articifier old man?" Before he could be pulled away, Levian directly asked the old man with a confident smile on face.

"So what if I am? I have no need for a stack of fish bones like you, I don't give a-"

"What if I sell you some symbols designs? I got a few special ones in my collection?" Levian said without betting around the bush.

The Hooligans and the old man look at his fearless face and just as the hooligans were about to take him away.

"Show me. If they good I might just buy your freedom." Smoking a cigar, The old man calmly taps his hand on the counter while giving a side eye to the Goons.

Levian followed the Oldman into a workplace which looks like a forge mixed with a factory with a furnace bigger than Levian himself and a grinder Enough to hold 4 person inside.

The old man tossed Levian a hammer and chisel alongside a black slab of metal, "20 mins, I want the symbol on the metal. Consider it your test of apprenticeship."

Without wasting any second, Levian got to work as he picked the hammer and lined up the chisel.

-Fluxer technique explanation-

The fluxer have no fixed class and anybody can take whatever profession they want but the professions are divided into different categories.

Enhancers/ Unchained fluxers- They create symbols sets in their very body and soul, granting them much higher level of physical capabilities. It's akin to a battle specialist class.

Imbuer/ Manifestors - A field related to creating symbols sets on anything temporarily to create a effect they want. Similar to mages.

Architects/ Enchanters- A field related to creation of items or equipment for long term use. Akin to blacksmiths or alchemists.

Articifier is a hybrid profession between a Imbuer and a architect.

-Explanation over-

Hammering again and again, Levian carved a small symbol on the slate, the symbol was selected from the personal treasury of Nimim but it didn't matter much to him anymore.

The symbol looks like a weighted scale like the ones used to describe blind justice.

It can described as a scale placed in giant claw, surrounded by vortex of wind with a small orb on each plate.

Just before the final second was over, Levian hit the finally mark as the symbol was finally completed.

"I have seen similar ones before but I don't judge a symbol by its form. Give it here." The old man sweeped away the Slate from Levian's hand as he begins rotating it around for a better view, "What is it called?"

" False judgement " bluntly states Levian as he looked around the shop, his hands are exhausted and out of energy and his own body is starving.

"False judgement.. What does it do?"

" Weaken limitations and prevent sure hit attacks."

"Impressive but your craftsmanship will need some improvements and training, I can see many weak and hollow spots." The old man Dolla turned to Levian as he tosses the Slate back to him, "You passed kid, but you can forget about anything other than lunch as salary until I recover my money."

"What about dinner and breakfast?" Levian almost lost his composure as his eyes showed a little bit of panic.

The old man sighs in annoyance as he rolls his eyes, "Only if you work overtime, now go make me a coffee and yourself a sandwich.. put any cheese or meat in it and you're dead."

With the image of a decent sandwich already in his mind, Levian Gave a salute and ran out of the forge room.

He came back the next second, Sticking his tongue out in embarrassment, "Where is the kitchen anyway?"

"Go down the stairs you mutt." Dolla yelled as his brows furrowed.

As Levian left for the kitchen, Dolla came out of the store and handed a bit of credit notes to the hooligans who were almost hesitant but had no choice but to comply.

And thus begins the forced slav- apprenticeship of Levian under the care of his ow- Teacher.

*****

-The next morning-

Still skinny as hell but more than enough food in his stomach, Levian ran around the city with a mask delivering items and equipment in a backpack.

"Feels good to be free, That shower felt like heaven on earth." Still joyful from the morning shower and the breakfast, Levian breath the smell of freedom he was longing for weeks.

Up on the giant screens of the City square, News and important events flashed by as land and air vehicles went around everywhere with no stop.

' Isn't that you over there?' Nimim brought out Levian attention from his thoughts of food and freedom to one of the screens.

-Breaking news-

A test subject from a exiled beastmen race has managed to escape from the lab it was in.

Any sort of help regarding the subject will be paid in credits by the head scientist of the Terolin. Inc.

[1000 credits for help in tracking, 3000 for providing the subject in captured state]

Confused and completely flabgastered, Levian questions himself, "Only 3000? that's only a monthly salary of a desk clerk. That head scientist is got to be the biggest cheapskate I have even seen."

Nimim couldn't help but laugh at the remark, "Atleast no one will be coming to capture us with such a pathetic pricetag. A single item in the store was worth more than that"

"I feel like a piece of garbage right now, Even a hooligan must have higher worth this right?" Doubting his self worth, Levian left for the next delivery unaware of the turmoil the head scientist is going through.

-Deep down in the labs if Terolin branch of the city-

The head scientist is currently kneeling in front of the women that took away the jinx few days ago.

A tag could be seen on his pocket stating his name and post 'Abrio sepa, senior scientist'.

"Just how long do you plan on kneeling there? Tell me your answer." The lady declared as she crushed Abrio's hand with her heel.

The scientist screams in pain that disgusted the lady even more, " Crying from just that? How did you even managed to reach such level with such pathetic strength.

' As if a bitc* like you will know. only if the chairman didn't get transferred to the other city i would still be the top scientist.', Inwardly cursing the lady in his heart, The scientist dared not show any sort of resistance against her.

" I would find him young miss, just a few days. The bounty is just a distraction to lower his guard." Abrio weakly said with a bunch of fake tears in his eyes.

Splat

The lady turned as she kicked the scientist in the face and begins walking away, "A week. You better find him or I will make you a junior scientist in the most isolated facility our corporation has."

Spitting in the ground, She left the room where the Jinx was standing covered in a soldier like armored clothes with a pair of double swords on his back.

"Let's leave, I can't stand this bastard 's presence."

"Yes.", the jinx bowed as followed behind her, his thoughts filled with hatred and jealousy, 'Just you wait till I become a big shot then you would begging to be my slave bit**.'

Completely unaware of the the chaos about to come his way, Levian moved with the deliveries as he stuffs himself with a piece of bread he managed to take as a free sample from a shop.