We find our kitty in the northern hills alone. The fields are covered in snow. She had a fire going to keep her warm, several tables set up, and a tent.

  "You're sure no one is watching?" Noobkitty asked.

  "Only me. I am recording it for a compilation video later," Coro?en said.

  "That works, everything is content after all, but I want to keep surprises," she said, taking out some of her in-progress projects. She was a crafter, and she was trying to actually craft. "I can't figure out what to make you," said Noobkitty.

  "What do you get someone who can make anything?" said the world. "I'm giving you a coupon."

  "Spoilers," Noobkitty laughed. "Even if I think of something, I'd have to make it with you watching, which would ruin the surprise."

  The world thought. "Maybe your sisters could think of something. Then I wouldn't know, because they are outside of me."

  "Darn it, if only I had thought of that," said Noobkitty.

  "You're new to this multiple-worlds thing. I was born in it," said Coro?en.

  Noobkitty wrote the message:

  To GobMouse and CheshyBot, Can you get a present for Coro?en please? I want it to be a surprise but I can't leave the world. Also, I'll be sending you enough gift bags to send to all our sisters. They won’t be personalized yet (sorry), but when I one day meet you both in person, I'll make you a special meal. Deal? Love, Noobkitty

  She sent the message, and while she set up her tools, she got the reply:

  Of course! Don't worry, we already have the best gift. You're not the only sister using us as a go-between. We hope you like snacks! Because it's the traditional sisters’ gift (I bet your gift bags are snacks as well). We'll send your gifts and the gift for Coro?en on the day of your world’s holiday party.

  Loves, CheshyBot and GobMouse

  Noobkitty laughed.

  "Seems your mints and snow cones will be appreciated by your fellow downloads. I'm very curious to see what they got for me. Thank you, Noobkitty. I have a surprise to look forward to."

  She smiled. "Of course. What did you use to do for the holidays?"

  "I would do a gift tree in the center of each town. Right now it’ll just be Starter, but I give things like strange enchantments or special skill unlocks."

  "And I get a coupon," teased Noobkitty.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Had to get you something special."

  "I appreciate it, but if you don't mind, I have some crafting to do."

  "I've already approved your enchantments. Two were borderline," said the world.

  "Thank you," she smiled. She knew it was Skidmark’s and Grimmblade’s gifts that were almost game-breaking, but they had rules to make them benign and 'fair.'

  She started with the easiest one. With a small log of almond wood, she began carving, roughing the shape, then chiseling the inside and edges, carving a cross onto it, filing, shaping a little more, then sanding and buffing until...

  Mug of Shaqed A cup that, when filled with tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, will have the taste of almond milk added to the drink. Enchantment: +20% to wakefulness when a caffeinated drink is consumed from it.

  Congratulations! Your Woodcrafting skill is now Lv. 7.

  She took out a selection of flat axe heads, they were basic heads from the blacksmith and hadn’t been given stats yet, which was exactly what she needed. She pulled out ten branches and carved handles out of them. She then hammered each handle in and carved “Founder” on the side of each.

  Founder’s Axe A non-combat tool that produces twice as much available wood as a normal axe.

  She had ten of them, so with her crafter’s hammer she used her [Equipment Fusion] skill Lv. 100 to give the axe a 900% boost to its enchantment when she finished fusing them.

  Congratulations! Your Woodcrafting has reached Lv. 9.

  Night was coming, so she pulled out some fabric and a special selection of still-green branches and vines. She sat near her fire and gently hammered and rolled the material until the fibers came loose, then she rolled and combined them until she had something that resembled coarse twine. Enjoying her fire, she used the twine to sew together a pouch with a pull string. She filled it with spices and dried herbs and shook it up. She sketched a potato on the bag.

  Tremendous Tuber Pouch A bag that produces herbs and spices that make any edible root plant taste 40% better.

  Congratulations! Your Fabric Crafting is now Lv. 3.

  She smiled. It was a good thing her enchantments had been approved because she was way too low-level in skill for some of them.

  She sighed and took out a large clear crystal. This one would take a while. With chiseling for stone, she worked through the night, chipping away. She was really tempted to test out the coffee mug she had made but felt giving a used gift was rude, so she didn’t and just kept working to stay warm and active.

  Eventually the chalice took shape, sanded, polished, and gleaming, it shone in the firelight.

  Make It Sparkle A crystal chalice that will make any drink placed in it always look photogenic.

  Congratulations! Your Stone Carving skill is now Lv. 9.

  She rubbed her sore wrist and chewed on a few chocolate-covered coffee beans she had prepped for stamina. Skidmark’s was a cooked item, so she could make that at home, but now was the big one.

  She looked up to the sky. "Seriously? I level three new crafting skills, but my main level doesn’t increase?"

  "Sorry, still getting used to giving XP for non-combat."

  Congratulations! You’ve reached Crafter Lv. 20.

  "Thank you," she said and dumped her points into Dexterity. She needed to be careful with the next craft, and the extra points would help her results and finger steadiness. It was the most important one.

  She took out the strips of gold and the solder. She made a small, very hot fire atop her table and carefully carved thirty-six small shapes, each nearly identical. Then she shaped the scraps of metal, hammering them flat, bending, cutting, and soldering until she had two bands. She then one by one soldered on each of the small pointed shapes. She sanded and polished again and again until the gold shined. Then, with her hammer, the two rings became one.

  18 Carrot Ring Makes carrots taste 18% better. Enchantment increased by 100%.

  Congratulations! Your Jewelry Crafting is now Lv. 11. Congratulations! Your Crafter Level is now Lv. 21.

  She smiled and put the ring away. Her holiday gift crafting was all done except for the cooking, which she could do after a catnap.

  "Thank you," she said to the world, and then, despite it being morning, she crawled into her tent and curled up for a well-deserved nap.