Joe waited for Kilniara and Garnedell to choose their goblin and let them kill a few before he started his own fights. He did take a moment to look at the stats of the new party theorist job, excited to see it. It proved to be the same as other specialized theorists, and Joe closed it again to continue his fight, disappointed that it was the same, but also incredibly grateful that it was. That sweet, sweet one hundred per level to learning! Joe smiled to himself, watching another couple fights before beginning his own.
The morning went quickly enough, and noon came with Joe already sitting at well over level twenty five and fast approaching thirty. He still couldn’t believe how fast he was growing, but said little since Zilnek was the most excited. He hit level three just around lunch, and his excited leaping and cries of joy almost distracted Kilniara and Garnedell who were still fighting their goblin.
Since Zilnek had gained his level on Joe’s kill, the other two were still working on theirs and Joe felt Zilnek’s good fortune was as good reason as any to take lunch. He turned back to the other two, considering giving advice as they fought the goblin but saw both of them flagging and Kilniara distractedly looking at her brother in worry. Deciding a rest was more in order, he quickly ended the goblin instead, giving the two much needed rest.
“Let’s take a break. It looks like Zilnek hit level three,” Joe grinned at the other two.
Garnedell grinned at that statement, easily accepting his statement, but Kilniara looked back at Joe in shock. She had raced to Zilnek at the goblins death, worry easily evident on her face but came to a stop at Joe’s statement.
“Truly?” Kilniara asked looking to Zilnek and asking him instead, “Is it true? Have you already grown in strength once again?”
Kilniara waited patiently, staring at Zilnek, but then grinned in surprised joy when Zilnek replied even more quickly than he had yesterday, only taking just around four to five seconds to reply. A little faster... I think. His quick response was more than enough to prove it, but Zilnek’s response brought its own joy.
“Yes! I have gained in strength once again. I never thought to feel its wash so quickly and easily again!”
Joe smiled and nodded, guiding all three into the corner where they sat huddled against the wall and Joe pulled out some simple foods to eat, enjoying the meal for the day. It wasn’t a pleasant snack, the bread now old but Joe had gotten used to it by now, with almost six months spent eating and living this way. Well… that small town village cook … that was good food… for the price.
After they settled, Joe decided to give a heads up about what was coming, “Zilnek. You should gain another level this evening before we leave the dungeon, and another tomorrow morning when we return. After, it will slow once again, taking almost one day for each level. So tomorrow morning, you will get level five, then five days later you should be level ten, and reach two digit levels. Maybe even four days later, I’m not sure. We should see then.
Kilniara bounced excitedly, although she seemed shocked, “Truly? In only ten days he will be two digit levels?”
“Ten or eleven days. I’m not sure, though. We’ll have to see,” Joe nodded at Kilniara’s interjection.
Garnedell simply smiled, not responding in any way, remaining silent. Kilniara bounced excitedly but glanced back and forth between Joe and Zilnek. It took Joe a bit but he realized she was actually waiting for Zilnek to understand, which didn’t take too much longer, although he did stop to parse not just what Joe said, but Kilniara’s excited interjection and Joe’s response to her as well. His delayed reaction and cut off responses showed exactly when he heard each response and stopped to listen, short pauses between his own excited statements.
“Truly, I’ll get…,” here Zilnek paused, obviously listening to Kilniara’s response while looking at her before looking at Joe and listening intently to something Joe had said a good five or ten seconds ago, but included the adding in Kilniara's response. It seemed to slow him down a bit. Finally, it was obvious that Zilnek had heard Joe’s response, “Truly? I could gain level ten in only ten days?”
Joe smiled, waiting to see if Zilnek was done, then replied, “Yes, Probably ten days. It might be eleven days, but it might be ten days.”
Joe then handed a sandwich to Zilnek and waited, holding it out. Zilnek took a couple moments, as always, to respond. Joe waited patiently.
Zilnek finally replied, “Thank you so much, Master! Truly, thank you!” Zilnek stood at saying this and bowing in a deep full ninety degree bow.
Joe felt himself flush a bit with embarrassment, but waved it away. “Just take the food. I told you that I will help you return to your job. You’re my apprentices. I will help you.”
Garnedell again simply smiled at Joe’s response although Kilniara seemed to glow at his statement and Joe turned in away, too embarrassed to say anything. He waited until he felt the food taken from his hand then turned to his own food.
The three seemed to take a hint and began chatting excitedly amongst each other, seemingly easily able to account for the ‘lag’ that Zilnek seemed to introduce to the conversation, pretty much carrying on almost two conversations by the time a good couple minutes had passed. One between the two of them, and another in which they replied to Zilnek’s comments or conversations which were behind a good five to ten or so seconds as people took a bit to reply or had to finish a reply to offer Zilnek his. By then, they were two legitimately different conversations as Zilnek had taken the conversation in a different direction than Garnedell and Kilniara had gone in.
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Joe soon forgot his embarrassment, fascinated by how the three seemed to be able to continue what was essentially two different conversations, easily accommodating Zilnek’s slow response time but still include him and discuss what was interesting to him. That’s… way too cool, although given how this world is setup, it would make sense, I guess. Although the rude and impolite would likely not interact with them. A class system based on a literal system… and literal classes or jobs!
Joe simply watched the rest of the time, watching the three eat and interact. It was certainly an interesting experience, but not exactly unusual. I feel like I’m watching three people text messaging each other, each having their own conversation, only… actually speaking with each other.
Joe polished off his meal rather quickly and relaxed another few moments before standing and heading out to fight, “Go ahead and relax some more. Let me know when you’re ready to come out again so I can keep an eye on you.”
Joe immediately started fighting again, and soon found Kilniara and Garnedell joining shortly after. Joe then made sure to be aware of the two while he was fighting and returned to his morning fighting style, bringing his goblin in to the side so he could fight his while still keeping the others’ goblin in view.
The day went by quickly at that point and Zilnek made level four, as Joe predicted, about an hour before the day came to an end. Joe took the last half an hour off from fighting the goblins and used it to train Garnedell and Kilniara as he’d already reached thirty. He had each of them taking turns fighting the goblin alone, Joe standing by and offering advice and intervening every once in a while by block or parrying an attack the other wasn’t able to defend against.
Joe had the one not fighting to stand on the other side and watch, listening to his advice awhile watching the fight. It was often hard for the fighter to catch their mistakes, but the watcher was able to see well enough. Soon, Zilnek joined them, and Joe nodded to him, placing slightly back so that he was still protected, but close enough to watch and learn. The fights went well enough, and soon Joe didn’t need to defend them very often, although they both seemed to start showing exhaustion and Joe would then quickly kill the goblin and have them swap, fishing another goblin into range before Joe would once again begin training, each taking a moment to rest a bit before another turn came.
While Garnedell and Kilniara seemed to gain something from the teaching, excitedly watching, Zilnek seemed to become more and more frustrated before finally leaving to sit back down against the corner. Hmm… must be frustrating… if what they said before is right, he’s reacting to everything immediately, but conversation seems to be delayed by a good five seconds still and the delay just keeps compounding. That means he hears my advice five, or even ten seconds if he has to figure it out, after whatever actually happened. Would he remember it better if I pointed or made a comment?
Joe called out to Zilnek, “Zilnek, come back and join us, please.”
Joe then turned back to the current fight, helping Garnedell with a couple tips before ending the fight quickly. He stopped Kilniara from heading out for her goblin, pointing her back to the wall.
“Go ahead and sit down, rest a bit more,” Joe said before turning to look at Zilnek. Zilnek was still sitting, seeming to not have heard. Joe wondered if he needed to call out again but realized it still hadn’t been enough time. A couple seconds later, he stood and ambled out to them.
Joe smiled and nodded to him, “You’re having a hard time matching what I’m saying to when it happened, right?”
Joe waited patiently until Zilnek finally nodded, quickly. Well… I guess quickly to him, huh?
“Yes, Ma… Joe. I can see the fight, but your words come too slow and I do not know or understand what you are teaching.”
Joe nodded and replied, “That makes complete sense. Maybe I can raise my spear up when I say something, then you will know that the next thing you hear is for that moment, or slightly before that moment. Try to remember that moment carefully and wait for my words. Do you think you might be able to use that and learn this way?”
Zilnek blinked, considering a bit before nodding slowly, “Possibly, Joe.”
Joe smiled, continuing, “I’ll also try to only give advice slowly, once every few moments instead of quickly. This way, I will not offer two or three moments before even my first words reach your mind.”
Zilnek smiled more brightly at that before nodding, “That … I will try, Joe.”
Joe smiled then turned to the other two, “Right. Let’s try this again. Kilniara, it’s your turn next, right?”
Kilniara nodded and climbed to her feet deliberately, exhaustion making excited leaps to her feet difficult. Joe could she was very tired, but was grateful she did not complain, simply trying to climb to her feet as quickly as possible and begin again.
“You guys are really tired. Let’s just do another couple goblins, maybe two or three each, then we’ll head home. OK?”
Garnedell and Kilniara looked at Joe with relief and Joe smiled, nodding in understanding. Zilnek proved to be more easily able to grasp Joe’s teaching, even showing some excitement and smiles and Joe sighed a bit with relief knowing that things were still set up in a way that he could still be useful to him. Joe even took some time to explain with bodily movements, not speaking at all, so that Joe could explain in a way that Zilnek could have immediate access to. Huh… maybe… sign language!? Or at least a simple form? That would be…
Joe let this thought percolate and figured it would be a good topic to have in the comfort of the inn that night. Garnedell and Kilniara were able to do another four goblins each, even excited to keep fighting a couple more, but Joe brought the exercise to an end and had them packing up to head home.
“We’re not in a rush. This isn’t too hard. We just need to make sure we don’t get hurt. Better safe than sorry.”
The other three nodded, Zilnek a bit slower, and all three headed out of the dungeon back home. As they made it out and came into the light, Joe was accosted by a guard and Joe was taken aback.
“Ah, hello Eminent Joe! Things are well for you in my dungeon?”
“Ah… Um… hello guard captain. Um… yes, things are well,” Joe replied, stepping back in some surprise. That was an actual jump scare! Ha!
“Excellent. Excellent. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you,” the guard captain gushed.
“Ah… certainly, yes… certainly. Thank you for your offer.”
The guard captain bowed his head slightly in response. Joe kind of grinned and nodded in return and both kind of stood there awkwardly. Joe felt the awkwardness only grow before finally nodding back and stiffly brought the conversation to an end.
"Well, then… thank you. We will head to our inn for tonight.”
“Certainly. Have a good evening, Eminence!”
Joe nodded again and stepped past him, not replying, already feeling awkward as it was and reply again felt like they would simply continually saying goodbye to each other, stuck in an infinite, unescapable loop.
* * *