Chapter Forty Six
Joe stretched in the bathtub with a comfortable feeling of accomplishment. He’d been quite shocked at how quickly he’d made level thirty in his new criminal theorist job that he’d been excited about the chance of being able to unlock the combat jobs and allow himself to use the weapons he’d trained his whole life to use expertly. It was easy to realize what had done it, the incredible boost of extra learning from the current job as well as the ten percent boost he was getting to his increasingly massive boost to learning from his other educational jobs.
The day had ended well enough, Joe drying off and returning to the common area a few moments before his supper arrived. He’d found Kukurnal speaking with the apprentices although all three seemed subdued and squirming in their seats, which made Joe concerned and unhappy as well. They’d finished their meals and were simply sitting very straight backed and listening to the priest. Joe found him leaning forward towards the three but he never really found out what had been going on because Kukurnal had turned his way as soon as he came downstairs. Joe thought little of it at the time, but he did recognize the loosening collapse of relief on all three of his apprentices’ bodies when he returned and Joe made a mental note to never leave the three alone with Kukurnal again. Probably just pushing to learn about me, but throwing his weight and authority around, so… I donno… Joe dismissed the disquiet and enjoyed the discussions and some downright debate with Kukurnal before calling it an evening and sending everyone to bed.
The next day, Joe reminded himself of Kukurnal’s actions, only in so much as to remind himself to not leave the other three alone and settled in to prepare for the day. He played with predict job and the job guidance for criminals a bit more, learning a few more things, but sadly basically nothing with predict job. Well, not exactly true. I learned that the base entry job into the criminal jobs is criminal. Wow! Sarcasm oozed through his mind before he snorted and cleared his mind, dropping into his movements, flowing from form to form.
Joe sensed the other three joining him what felt like moments later and the four flowed around each other awkwardly in the crowded room. Huh… probably going to need to do this somewhere else from now on. Wonder if the inn has a private courtyard or a stable we can use. Joe didn’t want to do anything anywhere too public, simply because of how the guards had acted while at the first dungeon. He persevered for that morning, stretching for another few moments before he bowed out and took over training instead, removing himself from the crowded floor to give the other three more room. ‘Sides, I’ve already done all my dailies and they need the practice more than I.
False dawn finally began to grow on the horizon, the room now brightening with the light of the still hidden distant sun. He let the three continue their exercises till full dawn, guiding them the whole time and pushing them until sweat shone over their whole body and they were gasping hard for breath. Joe asked if they wanted to bathe and all three declined causing Joe to hide his grimace. Joe almost insisted that they bathed but decided against it because he didn’t want to annoy both the inn keeper and the three apprentices with something that neither wanted to do. Hmm… maybe change clothes, and get another couple spares for Zilnek and Kilniara. Shoot, I forgot to even ask if they had any spares?
“Zilnek? Kilniara? Do you have any extra clothes?”
The two glanced towards one another then shook their heads, “No, ma… Joe.”
“Right. OK. Let’s stop and get you a couple extra sets. Garnedell already has his, and you need yours. Sorry I didn’t think of it sooner. It’s kind of important for cleanliness.”
The two nodded and Joe smiled before turning to leave the room, “Right, so… let’s head to breakfast. Kukurnal said he would take us to meet some healers or priests we might be able to take with us into the dungeon. I don’t want to take any chances like yesterday. But we need to take some time to make sure they are someone who is good for us. Someone we can trust. Especially with Zilnek and his new job.” Joe looked at the other three significantly with that last sentence.
The three all nodded in understanding at the last point and Joe smiled and nodded in return, “Let’s eat then.”
They made their way down to the common room, finding it deserted. Must have gotten up too early? Nobody else up? Joe found a sleepy waitress laying against the bar and had to jolt her awake a bit. She came to with a jerk.
“Ah, sorry. What do you want?” she replied with an annoyed look.
“Not a morning person, huh?” Joe offered back in humorous consideration.
She didn’t seem to like his reply and only grunted back angrily in agreement before continuing, “So what do you want?”
Joe grimaced and decided to drop it, “Four breakfasts, please.” Man I miss a good menu and ordering what I want.
The woman nodded and went to the back of the kitchen, surliness radiating off her strongly enough that Joe almost felt like he could see the fog of her anger roiling behind her on the floor. Joe sighed and returned to his seat.
The four sat down near the bar and waited for their meal. They had a quiet meal together, the three speaking with each other with Joe offering some replies to the few questions he received. There meal finished quickly and Joe ran up to the room to get his next cloak.
When they made it to the temple area, Joe left the three in the middle of the temple plaza, letting them know he would be right back. Garnedell took the news easily but the other two took it with less aplomb, nervously fidgeting in the middle of the plaza. Joe slipped into his next temple and quickly swapped his job out for the next job: party theorist.
He was back out in the plaza only a few moments later and began leading the other three to the temple of knowledge, hoping to find Kukurnal. Since the temple of knowledge was one of the main temples facing the plaza, they quickly made it into the temple and searched for Kukurnal. The temple proved to be largely empty with only an acolyte, or at least what looked like one, so Joe headed straight for her.
Stolen story; please report.
“Hello,” Joe said cheerily, “Could you let Kukurnal know that we are here? We are ready.”
“Kukurnal, sir?”
“Priest Kukurnal. He is a priest of Knowledge… well, of course, I guess… this is the temple of knowledge. Um… anyway. We met him several days ago and we’ve become friends since. He helped us with several questions. Could you please let him know we are here for him?”
“Ah… that… certainly, sir.”
She turned away and headed into the depths of the temple. Joe turned to the other three and settled in to wait. The three spoke to each other in hushed tones but Joe kind of ignored them, looking around the vast hall. Man, kind of … really boring. Just a giant empty room without any decorations or anything to evoke a sense of awe! The room was just a vast open space, without any seeming importance. There most egregious failure is no comfortable places for visitors to hang out! Horrible customer service, one out of ten!
Joe smirked to himself a little bit, letting the humor shine through. He took another few glances around the hall but found the lack of visual stimulus so boring he returned to the other three’s conversation. His listening also soon became so bored that he found his mind flittering to other topics and soon was simply day dreaming about random topics, his mind desperately seeking stimulation.
It took almost a half an hour for Kukurnal to show up, and Joe found himself so bored that energy seemed to be buzzing through him, leaving him quite uncomfortable with the lack of activity. The other three seemed unconcerned, easily able to occupy themselves with a long string of meaningless conversations which Joe found inadequate to occupy him. The acolyte returned rather quickly, but asking again made no difference and did not move the acolyte from the hall again. Her duty was to stay and take care of any visitors, but it seemed that she would only do so once, no matter how many times asked. Her only repeated response was that she’d already passed the message on.
Joe was just about to leave when Kukurnal finally showed up, moving at a respectable pace and Joe felt his frustrations ease a bit. Huh… must have not felt it important enough to get him or something? Or maybe the messenger didn’t want to get yelled at by Kukurnal, maybe?
Kukurnal scuttled up to them, still adjusting his clothing, “Ah. Greetings Joe! Apologies for being late.”
“It seems you got the message late. It’s fine.”
“I’m grateful for your consideration. Shall we go out?”
“Sure.”
Kukurnal turned and Joe followed after. Kukurnal immediately started a conversation, questioning Joe again, avidly digging into the topics that interested him. Joe politely answered his questions and they got into a decent conversation that Joe soon found himself deeply invested in, both enjoying the conversation. The trip turned out to be quite short, and Joe and Kukurnal ended up spending another ten minutes in conversation even after arriving.
“Truly? This is what your people do?”
“Yes.”
“So… interesting.”
“Mmm,” Joe ended with a non-committal statement.
Kukurnal was silent for another few moments before finally turning, “Well, we are now here. Allow me to introduce you to some here.”
Kukurnal showed him the area and gave him a few contacts. Joe spent the time greeting them and getting to know them but didn’t commit to anything, only getting their names and a promise to return sometime and possibly invite them along to the dungeons. Several immediately declined, but Joe simply asked that they ask around for any who might be interested and Joe promised to return in a couple weeks. The time proved fruitful and Joe took the time to learn the area, also asking the other area to commit the location to memory.
The place wasn’t anything unusual or special, but it did see a bit more run down than normal, a typical back alley warren of twisted passages well run down and past its prime, but still well maintained and holding a feeling of a cherished location rather than an abandoned one.
Joe and the others offered their farewells and they left, Joe taking the time to be more cautious and aware of the travel back to the temple plaza. Joe said goodbye to Kukurnal at the plaza and then Garnedell lead them on to the closest tailor. Well… technically a cloth worker I guess… but whatever.
Joe grimaced to himself, having to relearn the definitions of words since what he had seen at the various tailor shops he was able to visit, he would have certainly called them tailors. They have clothing. They make clothing… so they’re tailors!
Joe didn’t dwell on it much and the four soon found themselves at the tailor… cloth worker… and Joe asked the store to prepare seven changes of clothing for both Zilnek and Kilniara; six basic sets matching to what they currently had and another more decent set for any special occasions. Joe asked for a special set for both him and Garnedell as well, uncertain if they would ever need it, but figured that he easily had the funds and being prepared took little effort on his part.
All the other three had danced excitedly when he’d insisted that they got a set of ‘Sunday best’ clothing as well, storming the whole shop for something they liked. Joe simply asked the tailor’s advice and took whatever they said. It did take a bit longer, as Joe asked for measurements to be taken and final fittings to be done later as he still wanted to delve the dungeons. The cloth worker asked for them to return in about a week’s time, which Joe had to clarify how long a week was. Ten days… interesting, but OK... pick up the clothes in a little over ten days... can do.
Joe reigned in the eagerness of the other three and soon had everyone heading back to the dungeon. Joe was a bit concerned about how the guards would take their return, but he relaxed when he realized that the guard captain of yesterday wasn’t there and was instead able to settle into line and make it in without much bother. They made it almost to the front before anyone recognized them, but Joe quickly waved off the guards guarding the dungeon entrance and simply stayed in line. The entrance guards did take the chance to greet Joe kindly when they were next to go in, and Joe returned their greeting but tried to minimize the scene, slipping into the dungeon shortly after.
As they walked down into the dungeon and through the safe area, Joe turned to Kilniara, “Kilniara? I never asked, but what happened yesterday that let the goblin get you?”
Kilniara seemed to fold in on herself, bowing before apologizing emphatically, “I’m sorry, Ma… Joe. I should not have failed you yesterday. I had no intention of ca…”
“Kilniara. Stop. I’m not angry about you yesterday. If I am angry, I am angry at myself for not keeping you safe. Relax. I simply want to know why and how you were harmed so we can make sure we do not do the same again.”
Kilniara seemed to take that in stride, although she still bowed one more time before beginning again, “I… I am uncertain.”
“You can’t remember?”
“Not really.”
“Were you unable to remember things before that?”
“Hmm… I was able to remember before, but…”
“Were you tired?”
“Very, M… Joe.”
Joe nodded, “Alright. Fighting so much for so long is probably not something you are used to. From now on, I want you to tell me right away if you get tired or anything! If it happens, tell me and we will take a rest. OK?”
The other three quickly nodded their heads and Joe then lead everyone to the same corner as yesterday, all camping the location and Joe had everyone set up similar to yesterday, although Joe made sure to always prepare his combat such that he could keep an eye on Kilniara and Garnedell. He even made sure to make sure to bring his goblins almost right next to the two, taking the room side of the triangle that surrounded their goblin. In this way, he was able to immediately attack their goblin if needed, but still take the time to kill as well, maintaining their rapid fights. Kilniara and Garnedell stood between Zilnek and their goblin. Joe would maneuver his goblin in behind Kilniara’s and Garnedell’s goblin, then turn to the side so that he could see both of the goblins, although he would only attack his own, of course.