He continued practicing his mana and mana point practice the entire time, aiming the mana downwards so as not to hit other people with his mana. He even used the time throughout breakfast to continually play with his mana, although it was much less focused than his morning practice. Morning breakfast was the always plain variation of vegetable stew with almost no seasoning and Joe had long gotten used to the poor cooking abilities of the average people. Which… why? The adventurer’s guild food was… amazing. Guess I’ll be eating there for almost everything now.
Joe stifled the sigh at the morning breakfast and wondered if he could bribe the cook here in the same way he’d bribed the village cook. Do I need to go out hunting for some meat? But I do like the vegetables they have here regularly. But the village lady still kept vegetables in her meals as well, just mostly added the deer meat. Was it the deer? Hmm... So … flavor is the least important thing, right now… But... its so bland... and the same all the time. Just... add a bit of variety... At least the village cooked different stuff...
Joe cut off his thoughts and made his plan for the day while trying to keep up with the conversation of the other three. He had to change his job and meet back up with them at the dungeon, so… pretty relaxing day; normal day? Should be? As long as the info doesn’t show up and the gang doesn’t call for us today. Let me at least check to see what my jobs are, see if anything new has popped up. While taking another sip of soup, Joe flipped open his available jobs page where he met a pleasant surprise. A new job opened up with mana-ologist called mana manipulator. Huh… really useful. So… spell caster or mana manipulator?
Status
Current Job
Available Jobs
Current Skills
Available Skills
Log
Citizen
Crafting
Education
Nobility
Faith
Commoner
21
Crafter
Educated
20
Groom
Believer
30
Villager
10
Scholar
20
Priest Order
Farmer
10
Philosopher
30
God Faithful
Waiter
10
Theologian
31
God Acolyte
Bartender
10
Believer
30
Chief
10
Theorist
29
Day Laborer
10
Citizen Thrst
26
Inn Keeper
10
Criminal Thrst
30
Reeve
10
Party Thrst
30
Forester
10
Education Thrst
31
Trapper
10
Crafter Thrst
31
Fisherman
10
Virtus Thrst
31
Hunter
15
Magus Thrst
30
Miner
10
Combat Thrst
30
Baker
10
Faith Thrst
32
Cook
10
Epistemologist
Othen Faithful
Metropolitan
20
Burgher
10
Sigyn Faithful
Cartographer
Waiter
10
Bartender
10
Freya Faithful
Day Laborer
10
Teacher
Cook
10
Plutus Faithful
Mana-ologist
29
Mana Manipulator
Frer Faithful
Humanities
Eros Faithful
Fenrir Faithful
Frigg Faithful
Baker
10
Tyr Faithful
Groom
10
Butcher
10
Engineer
Sors Faithful
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Inn Keeper
10
Medic
Merchant
10
Baldur Faithful
Linguist
26
Idunn Faithful
Spell Caster
Polyglot
20
Chemist
Angrboda Faith
Mathematics
Mimir Faithful
30
Mimir Acol
Citizen
20
Gypsy
Bragi Faithful
Beggar
Gambler
Saga Faithful
Enki Faithful
Falconer
Thur Faithful
Loki Faithful
Joro Faithful
Specialist
20
This decision almost gave him pause as mana-ologist had proven to be very useful to be able to practice his mana skills. But… I still can’t actually do any real magic. And spell caster’s gotta… Joe made up his mind and decided that he was definitely going to go for the spell caster anyway. He’d also need to start actually using magic and not just practice it. Although… the foundation has gotta be important considering how much Garnedell harped on about it. Regardless, the utility and safety of even a simple heal spell was way too useful and he refused to give it up.
Joe returned his focus to his meal and simple as it was, it ended rather quickly with the four soon heading out from the inn back to the dungeon. Joe sent them on ahead when Kilniara interrupted.
“Where are you going?”
“Just some quick business.”
“May I come with you?”
“I really just want to do it quick. I’ll meet you at the dungeon.”
With that, Garnedell and Zilnek turned and headed towards the dungeon, although Kilniara pouted a little before turning. Joe didn’t want to leave it at that and slipped up beside her, resting his chin on her shoulder while he wrapped his arms around her waist, “If you came with me, I would be way to distracted and take the whole day to get back to the boys! I really just want to take only a quarter bell or less. I promise!”
“I can go fast,” she spoke back indignantly.
“But can I go fast while my gaze is caught by your beauty?” Joe whispered before nibbling on her ear, “Your beauty is as likely to get me completely distracted as not.”
Kilniara smiled at that before turning slightly in his arms and huffing slightly, “OK. I get it. Let go of me before you raise a ruckus.”
Joe stopped at that and looked around, realizing that he was raising some eyebrows around him. He quickly gave her one last peck on the cheek before letting her go, “I’ll see you there. Go before the boys leave you behind.”
She turned completely after he let her go and smiled brightly, “OK. Come quickly.”
“I will,” Joe promised before waving her on, watching her catch up to the other two boys before turning and heading out, much more dedicated to finishing his job swap quickly than he normally was on the mornings.
He stopped one last time when he made it to the temple square to carefully look through his available jobs list to make sure nothing else had really popped up. He didn’t see anything else so turned his task to preparing to head to the next temple and get his job changed. He remembered the temple from last night and got his next cloak ready, swathing himself in it completely. He walked into the temple and then remembered he’d been here only a day or so ago. Crap! Can’t go to this one!
Joe turned around and slipped back out of the door to look around the square until he’d found the next temple he needed to go to. Keep focused... don't slip up now, idiot. Joe frowned in annoyance before bidding farewell to the door greeters and offering a quick apology and excuse before slipping off the temple porch and down the stairs. He went straight across the courtyard in a rapid direct line without waiting, only stopping or side tracking to smoothly flow through the slowly meandering crowds.
He was in and out of the temple and on his way to the dungeon in under ten minutes, quite happy with his speed. He had nothing else on his plate and felt surprisingly at ease. He didn’t quite skip down the road, but he did take the moment to enjoy his relatively relaxed day as he made his way through the dungeon. He soon made it to the line and the first hit to his good mood came in the form of a rather extravagant line, a bit longer than normal.
His group was almost at the very end of the line and Joe slid up to join them, “So, what’s going on?”
All three shrugged, uncertain. Joe shrugged and decided to let it pass, “Well, we can have a good long talk then.”
All three turned to look at him and Joe simply smiled. They all waited expectantly until they seemed to finally understand he had nothing to say and Kilniara reached up and slapped him lightly on his arm, “Really? We were talking just fine until you interrupted us.”
“Oh. It seems I’m a bad influence. I’ll just go ahead and leave.”
Kilniara laughed while Garnedell grimaced slightly before shaking his head slightly. Zilnek, taking a bit longer, didn’t differ and snorted and Joe’s poor humor.
“Oh, come on. Today is a good day.”
“Yes… it was,” Garnedell offered pointedly while looking at Joe.
Joe actually gaped at seeing Garnedell’s snark and Kilniara broke into peals of laughter, their conversation soon turning to banter. They spent almost an hour to make it to the front of the line but their easy conversation was so enjoyable the four really didn’t notice it.
While they were heading up, Joe heard a couple people behind him speaking about looking for perfect cores, but he never really thought much of it as despite his careful study of the cores he had, he didn’t see any differences in them. Is there some kind of way to tell? Maybe not physically? Hmm… another question for Garnedell or Kukurnal.
They soon made the front of the line and found the captain grumpily managing the line himself. The group in front had tried to push in as soon as the other’s had made and cleared the entrance but the captain had gruffly held up his hands and wearily berated them.
“You know the rules. Wait. One at a time. When the guard says.”
The other group waited on pins and needles before finally bursting on through the entrance when the captain waved them on. He turned to them and began to wave his hand to stop them and wearily reiterate his warning when he blinked and realized it was Joe.
“Wait. One… Oh! Master Joe! It is good to see you! I am glad that you were able to join us today!”
The captain’s overly excited greeting annoyed Joe a bit but he kept his face clear and simply nodded his head in response, “We are glad to be here. We join you every day, pretty much.”
“Ah, ‘tis true. Then you have not fallen for the temptation of fortune?”
“Uh… is that why there are so many here today?”
“So you have not heard? Yes. They are here because some poor sod struck it rich but gambled it all away. Such a sad fate.”
“Huh… so what happened?”
“Someone sold their core to the guild without appraisal. Always an excellent gamble for most, but this fool sold a perfect core. A perfect slime core! True, it is only a slime core. But a perfect core is perfect, nonetheless! A perfect core! Can you believe it?”
Joe had to struggle to keep his grimace from showing on his face when he heard what was said, his mind whirring at how he should respond, then realized if it was as valuable as the man was making it seem, an adventurer like him would most likely truly desire it. Quickly letting some greed slip onto his face, he leaned forward excitedly.
“Is it for sale? Where? Who!”
The captain smiled at Joe with just a hint of derision, “It could not be sold in such a place as this. No one has the wealth to…” The captain trailed off even as he seemed to realize who he was speaking to, “Although… you …”
“What is the price?” Joe decided to push the act.
“You would … it would beggar even the greatest clans!”
“What is the price?!” Joe demanded a bit more firmly.
“I do not know, and it is of no consequence now. It was taken under the strongest guards in Coushar to the greatest auction. It is already gone, taken through the Gate. It is already likely at the auction house preparing for auction.”
Joe grimaced and shook his head, sighing, “And now it is too late.”
“Likely, master Joe.”
Joe thought for a moment, wondering if there was something else his persona would be expected to do. He couldn’t really find anything so decided to wing it, “Then, do they know who sold it? Does he or she have more?”
The captain actually seemed surprised at that but shook his head, “The seller… is not known, at least to me.”
Joe decided to end the conversation as he really just wanted to get into the dungeon and start the day, so he played the act of dithering, looking back to the exit then back to his apprentices and the dungeon before sighing deeply once again and gesturing for them to head into the dungeon.