“Oooh! Have I offended you great one?”
She stared back at him with shock before really slapping him and Joe chuckled, “Hey… let’s keep the physical abuse down a bit.”
She growled and turned away before turning back, “I’m sorry. But… you need to be … more firm in who you are. You offer much. It is not bad to simply know it. You do not brag about it, and that is … incredible to me. It is also very pleasant, to my surprise. But you do have a … position that affects the world around you. It would be wise to learn this.”
Joe’s smile fell a bit and he nodded, “Yeah. I know. But it will take me a bit of time to figure it all out.”
Kilniara’s smile grew at that, “At least you know.”
“Ha! Of course I know.”
She shook her head, “Then work to act like it… sometimes?”
Joe’s smile grew, also relaxing as the tension faded some, “Yeah.”
They fell silent and came upon their inn before Joe came to a stop, “Wanna stop by the counselors for a bit? Could have a chat?”
Kilniara stared at him, then smiled, “I have learned… much about you. I would really enjoy it.”
Joe’s grin grew and he nodded, offering her his arm before leading them on to the temple court and their counselors. The session this time was much more informal, the two counselors obviously a bit surprised to see them returned, but also happy to have them. The conversation was enjoyable, and lasted a time but they were much more informal and Joe was not certain he really liked it. He didn’t say much, simply allowing the situation to develop but by the end of their session, he was feeling much better about the whole situation, the easy discussion and replies offered from both male and female perspective actually really helped him to see things in different lights. He did feel a bit ‘ganged up’ on simply because he was the singular foreign individual with more modern insights so had more difficulty explaining his perspective to the other three who were often dismissive of his comments. It took a lot of explaining and examples before they began to barely grasp what he was trying to describe. Concepts simply accepted by many back home were obviously very difficult here, and it was in that moment that he realized they were simply needing several foundational concepts before what he was trying to describe could easily be seen, let alone accepted and understood. With that, he began to really slow down, and try to offer intermediate ideas and explanations which proved a bit more successful.
Overall, it was quite an enjoyable conversation, and they were soon offering goodbyes before heading back home. Joe paused, taking a look around the plaza before looking at Kilniara carefully. I... it's ok...
“Give me a second?”
“Sure.”
Joe smiled at the easy reply, staring down at her before quickly slipping up the stairs of his next temple he had planned to change his jobs to. He paused to open up his status but then looked back to see Kilniara looking up at him with a subtle smile. He grinned back… Ah… screw it… just get teacher… that’ll maybe have some skills for the others as well… Maybe I’ll get lucky and they’ll have a ‘char:’ skill. Joe turned away and chuckled as he ran into the temple and quickly swapped over to the teacher job, the next on his semi planned list of jobs. Probably going to have to be serious about trying to get the job change skill, then… help Zilnek… maybe get some ‘char:’ skills for the teacher’s skills, if useful… don’t need to char the heal skill. No point. Can’t level it… wait… maybe try to level it? Can I? Hmm… would it be that much better? Hmm… not a bad idea. Spam heal… haha! Maybe at night? But… then… double my times at the temple… that’s… a lot of exposure… hm… maybe a plan for later… definitely a plan for later when I can change my own job…
Joe sighed happily as he walked under the stars, hand in hand with a beautiful young woman at his side. She was still struggling with some of the things he’d brought forward, but then again, so was he. But it was obvious she was trying, quite hard, and that brought a smile to his face. It’s… not bad here…
Citizen
Crafting
Education
Nobility
Faith
Commoner
21
Crafter
Educated
20
Groom
10
Believer
30
Villager
10
Scholar
20
Priest Growth 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 Theorist
26
Inn Keeper
10
Criminal Theorist
30
Reeve
10
Party Theorist
30
Forester
10
Education Theorist
31
Trapper
10
Crafter Theorist
31
Fisherman
10
Virtus Theorist
31
Hunter
15
Magus Theorist
30
Miner
10
Combat Theorist
30
Baker
10
Faith Theorist
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
30
Frer Faithful
Humanities
Gifted
Eros Faithful
Fenrir Faithful
Frigg Faithful
Baker
10
Tyr Faithful
Groom
10
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Butcher
10
Engineer
Sors Faithful
Inn Keeper
10
Medic
30
Merchant
10
Doctor
Baldur Faithful
Idunn Faithful
Linguist
26
Spell Caster
30
Polyglot
20
Angrboda Faithful
Chemist
Mathmetician
Mimir Faithful
30
Mimir Acolyte
Citizen
20
Bragi Faithful
Gypsy
0
Beggar
0
Gambler
0
Saga Faithful
30
Saga Acolyte
Enki Faithful
Falconer
0
Thur Faithful
Loki Faithful
Joro Faithful
Specialist
20
* * *
Gwenvair wandered the streets of the outer city, almost alone as her security team kept themselves well enough away to give her the illusion of solitude. Her mind wandered, suffused with excitement, fear, awe, and relief in equal measure. It was a heady mix that left her exhilarated. It took her a good several great bells to calm herself and her fear faded to be replaced by excitement and purpose which drove her from her wandering the outer city and into the depths of the inner city where her clan home lay. Entrance was easy for her. All knew who she was on sight. Her travel proved unimpeded until she reach the most central of inner sanctums and had to wait to be accepted by the Matriarch.
If she would have been visiting her mother, she would have probably been able to enter immediately, as her mother did well as a parent, but since she was here to report as First in Line for the Matriarch to the Matriarch so proper procedure was required. She waited politely having become used to and aware of its importance. She waited for a short time, but not long as her mother always made it a point to respect her and her position with no little amount of favoritism for her daughter.
She had, one time, deliberately left her in the foyer waiting for almost an entire day and Gwenvair had taken it very poorly, her anger spiking until she’d been raging. She had even taken the rage into the room with her and her mother had been kind enough to empty the room. Her mother had deliberately used that moment to remind and teach Gwenvair the importance of image. It had taken all day and loving consideration from her mother before Gwenvair had calmed and learned. Her mother had apologized, but never the Matriarch. And her mother had made a promise to never deliberately do it again.
Since that day, she never had. The moment had been trying, but the learning proved vital and now, older and wiser, she was incredibly grateful for her mother’s teaching. It still didn’t help her impatience in moments when her mother was busy, but the calm and serene façade she was able to portray proved vital as she grew into her power.
Today was not a day for waiting, however, and the Matriarch allowed her entrance quickly. It was very late in the evening and all audiences with the Matriarch had long ended so her entrance wasn’t delayed long. She had good news, astounding news, even terrifying news.
When the door open, First in Line for the Matriarch entered the room, seeing the Matriarch upon her throne. She came forward and bowed, formally.
“First in Line for the Matriarch bows before the Matriarch,” Gwenvair intoned to her mother.
Her mother nodded gracefully, shallowly, “The Matriarch sees you.”
“First in Line requests privacy,” Gwenvair formally asked.
The Matriarch said nothing, but waved her hand and the room emptied, leaving the two alone. Gwenvair had learned quickly, however, that it was a polite fiction. But her and her mother had a contingency in place for true privacy.
“I must report on the clan’s dungeons.”
“We can continue this meeting tomorrow,” the Matriarch rebutted.
As planned, Gwenvair waffled in thought for a moment before bowing her head in agreement, “As you wish, Matriarch.”
The Matriarch was well trained and prepared, not reacting at all besides offering a subtle graceful nod and a simple blink of her eyes. Gwenvair bowed in return, turning to leave and noticed the dainty feet of the Matriarch shiver. Gwenvair said nothing.
* * *
Late in the night, within the family corridors of the Matriarch, Gwenvair and her mother enjoyed a peaceful mother daughter meeting. The sound of laughter and excited speaking of mother and daughter echoed out of the window, but the laughter and movement did not match the intense and quiet conversation the mother and daughter had with one another. The younger spoke excitedly, passionately. The older listened quietly, fearfully, and with hope.
* * *
Deep in the center of the capital city of the capital plane of the Aelthron Cradle, the capital Library maintaining the distribution and maintenance of the job crystals, jobs, and knowledge of such labored away as usual. While the library was not known as a place of laborious action, the capital Library was anything but, as it was the center which received the crystals and distributed them to all libraries within every city of every plane in the Aelthron Cradle. The work was never ending, and the Library was known for its ever busy work, work enough to support a full tenth of the large city’s workforce. But, like all works of sapients, large and small, every business has some place or office deemed vital to the work but limited in output due to constraints outside the control of any sapient. Inside this small office, only two individuals worked, although the office only ever truly needed one. However, due to the vital nature of the office, it was deemed that a simple office worker could never be intelligent or trained enough to truly meet the importance of this division, and a manager was necessary to meet its importance.
The two woman enjoyed their jobs, as it required nothing of them. The manager often spent the majority of her time on any hobby that would interest her, interests that changed daily. The worker, likewise, pursued her own interests, only required to work whenever a new job was ever discovered or added to the known jobs listing. They had only just settled down from a massive influx some four months ago so great that it would be recognized in history books forever and the two were grateful for the rest. Prior to the insanity of some hundreds of new jobs or so in a single day only months ago, the last new job to have been discovered and added to the job listing was almost eight hundred years ago. Hopeful to return to boredom, the two had tentative hope things would do just that. It was a very, very good job for those who wanted no work.
Today, however, proved to be another exception.
“Uh… boss?”
The manager was rather distracted in her reply, “Uh… yeah.”
“We… have a new job.”
The manager froze, her face growing fearful, “Another?”
“Yes.”
The manager grimaced, “Please… please no!”
The office worker fell silent for a few moments before continuing. It was her job, the only job she had, and she didn’t think it would be wise to delay.
“I’m… I’m sorry, but there is a new job.”
Hope flared in the manager’s eyes, “A new job? One?”
The office worker nodded, also a bit relieved, “It seems only one.”
The manager stopped and looked toward the worker then the tray below where first job crystals were always formed. There, in the tray, a crystal glowed a tan brown of the metropolitan line of jobs, newly formed. Both the manager and the worker stared at each other for a long time before they straightened. Despite the lack of work and their daily boredom, they had been well trained as this was still a vital part of the Library’s work. The practice of hundreds of new jobs in a single day had made them probably the most experienced of any acquisitions team in the history of the plane. They had never done it before four months ago, however. Despite that, hundreds of new jobs were still meaningful practice and it was now easily and quickly done. Shortly after, the capital library exploded in rumor, activity, and buzzing action. The capital followed shortly after. A day later, the planes and even the smallest of cities on all the planes were buzzing with excitement. A new job was born! And with it, opportunity. It wasn’t that a single new job was born, especially in consideration of the hundreds from only months ago, but the strangeness of another job creation in such a short time. Speculations abounded.
* * *
A stirring. A movement. A settling.