JP was tinkering with scrap wood near his tent when a shadow fell over him. A farmer—one of those who'd praised his irrigation work—stood there, hat in hand.
"You cleared the ditch last week faster than six of us could," the man said, eyes hopeful. "Could you… make something? A tool, maybe, to keep the water flowing?"
JP blinked. "You mean commission me?"
The farmer nodded. "We'll pay in coin and goods. Just… if it works, it'll save us days every season."
JP's heart skipped. His first commission. Not just selling scraps, but being trusted to invent.
That evening, by the glow of his Pulse Stakes, he sketched and tinkered. With resin, wood, and scrap nails, he made a long-handled scoop with a rotating hinge. It channeled water more smoothly than any bucket.
Flow-Scoop – Utility Tool. Efficiency: 120%. Durability: Medium.
When he tested it the next day in the irrigation ditch, the farmers applauded. His reputation spread fast. "The outsider makes tools. Strange ones—but they work."
But in the guild hall, whispers shifted. A clerk muttered, "Adventurers aren't craftsmen. Why's he dabbling in trade?" Another frowned, eyes narrowing. "If he rises too fast, we'll need to watch him."
JP caught none of it, smiling over his first proper pay. His formal start as an inventor had begun.