Once Kyle had settled matters with Sir Veldom's family, it was time to turn his attention to the true reason he had come to Venuce—the craftsmen he needed to build the foundation of his growing settlement.
With that goal in mind, he made his way to the city's famed crafting academy, reputed for training the best artisans in the region.
However, what he found there left much to be desired.
The students presented to him were all children of wealthy nobles or merchants.
Craftsmanship, for them, was little more than an expensive hobby—a pastime meant to bolster their social standing rather than produce anything of practical worth.
Their works were flashy, over-decorated, and completely lacking in utility.
Kyle observed ornate tools that would snap under pressure, furniture with gold inlays but no balance, and mechanisms so needlessly complex that they defeated their own purpose.
The longer the tour went on, the more Kyle's disinterest became obvious.
