“Hmm… kinda hard to explain, but basically a form of stick weaponry. They’re quite versatile and allow someone to basically fight as if with a club and bare handed and even offer pretty decent defense if you need it. It's a stick that should be about as long as from your elbow to your fist with a handle off of it at ninety degrees to the main shaft like... hmm.... like this,” Joe paused and gave an example of a ninety degree angle using his arms so Garnedell would understand, "and It sticks out just long enough for your fist to hold it. It's placed so that the long part can cover from just past your fist to just past your elbow. Almost as simple weapon a weapon as a club... but it can be tough to know how to use it well."

Garnedell stared at him, “You… know another weapon?”

Joe glanced down at Garnedell with a smile, “They’re my favorite… my best, if I were to make a guess. Not really the best, though. I’ll probably keep using the spear as it really is just on of the strongest weapons, but… they’ll be great for exercise.”

Garnedell smiled a bit brighter at that, “You know… so many weapons!”

Joe’s smile faded, “Yeah… this plane…”

Garnedell’s excitement faded at that as well, growing silent. The two walked quietly for a time until Joe turned to Garnedell and spoke quietly.

“Did you… find or remember anything more of Absence?”

Garnedell’s face snapped towards Joe before looking around quickly, worry marring his face before he looked back up at Joe with a sad look as he continued with a bit of a sigh, “No, Joe. I am sorry. I know little of it but that … there is great danger there.”

Joe frowned at that, “Do you know… the kind of danger?”

“I know… very little. Only that … it will destroy you… or… drain you of life. I … cannot say more as I know very little.”

“Could … hmm… You don’t think I could ask Kukurnal?”

Garnedell grimaced, “I don’t know. You would have to be cautious of lies… he would know.”

“Ah… yeah… right. The walking talking lie detector… a total cheat, man.”

“A cheat? Priests are not known for cheating. Their fellow priests know their lies too easily.”

Joe blinked at that before nodding, “Right… that would make sense… probably don’t lie that much when you walk through an entire building full of lie detectors.”

“That… would make sense, Joe.”

Joe glanced at Garnedell and smiled sardonically, “Yup. Hmm… probably have to find out some other way…”

Garnedell nodded in relief, “Yes.”

“Then … could we speak of mana points?”

Garnedell looked up and nodded, “I am uncertain I can offer more. I told you almost all I know.”

“I’m not looking for anything new, but… I got another mana point this morning. I think.”

Garnedell blinked up at him in shock, staring, “You… gained another mana point?”

Joe nodded, “Yes.”

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“You… are very fast!”

“Am I?”

Garnedell nodded, “I have not gained a mana point since … I do not think I have gained any mana points except when my parents offered me theirs.”

“I’m… sorry Garnedell.”

“It is… long ago.”

“But it still hurts.”

Garnedell glanced up at Joe with a sad smile, “Yes.”

They fell silent for a time, Joe allowing Garnedell his time before he continued the conversation, “So… you can give away points?”

Garnedell smiled at that, glancing up at Joe, “My… parents offered me theirs… they told me to never speak of such things… but, I trust you.”

Joe felt his heart warm and he glanced down at Garnedell as he dropped a hand on his shoulder, “I’ll not tell a soul. Promise.”

Garnedell smiled at that, “Thank you, Joe.”

Joe smiled back with a nod at that but said nothing. Garnedell took the initiative and continued the conversation.

“Then… you gained another.”

“Yes, but I guess the reason I want to speak about it is because… Well… the thing … feels… weird.”

Garnedell seemed taken aback by this, “Weird?”

“Yes.”

“How… is it weird.”

“It just… feels like it’s a ghost… or… not… It’s not as good as the other points I have.”

“A ghost? Not as good?”

“It’s slower, doesn’t respond to me very well, and just… it kinda sucks.”

Garnedell snorted at that and shook his head, “Well… I’ve never heard of bad points, but as I have never gained any, I’m uncertain I can offer any … meaningful information on it.”

“Huh… are there... bad points? Poison points? Something like that?”

“What? I… no? That… sounds terrifying though.”

Joe snorted, “Glad it only sounds terrifying and isn’t real.”

“Well… I don’t… I do know there are poison magics and even draining ones… stealing the magic and power from others.”

Joe raised an eyebrow at that, “That… doesn’t seem like a good thing.”

Garnedell snorted out laughter, “No… it really doesn’t. But these are skills and magic far beyond my understanding.”

“Huh… well… This doesn’t … help much.”

Garnedell shrugged, “You’re the master, not me.”

“Ha! Getting’ snarky now, are ya?”

Garnedell grinned with some pride and simply shrugged. Joe laughed at that and put aside his concerns over the odd point and the two were soon enjoying small talk and Joe called an end to their day, turning them back to the inn. About half way back to the inn, Joe added one last moment, turning serious once again.

“So… any last thing you want to bring up or help me with? Wanna make sure I get this whole teaching gig down right, so please let me know anything.”

Garnedell glanced up at him, considering before nodding, “I believe you are doing well. I have… little to offer on this.”

“Little doesn’t mean nothing,” Joe grinned.

Garnedell grinned, then turned serious, “I’m… worried about Zilnek.”

Joe’s good mood vanished, “Yeah… I know what you mean.”

The two fell silent for a time as they walked on towards the inn, both pondering before Joe finally spoke up again with a sigh.

“I’m not sure what to do, though. Just… get him help with… that.”

Garnedell nodded quickly, “That will likely help quite a bit.”

“You think it will be enough?”

Garnedell frowned, “He wasn’t … too devoted before his… problem.”

Joe nodded, “True.”

They fell silent again for a time until Garnedell finally shrugged, “I… have little to offer but to say that.”

Joe nodded, “Well… maybe we can both think about it and come up with some ideas to help him out.”

Garnedell nodded, taking on a very serious look, “Of course. I will be diligent in my efforts.”

Joe grinned at that and almost decided to play it off but then decided that this seemed to be something Garnedell really took to and he didn’t want to take it away by joking about it so instead simply appreciated his efforts.

“Thanks, man. Really means a lot.”

Garnedell looked up at him with some embarrassment but also a massive grin as he nodded, “I will do my part.”

Joe nodded, “As long as we all do… it’ll all be good.”

Garnedell nodded at that and the two fell into companionable silence once again before the two started up a cheesy conversation on the merits of the various street foods they saw in passing on the way back to the inn. Garnedell even pointed out his favorite and Joe stopped to buy four servings and saved them for their return home to the inn, the evening meal coming on pretty quickly and having a nice snack for desert might be something all could enjoy.

They entered the inn, Garnedell with quite a bit more exuberance as he ran up the stairs to get the other two for supper and they all converged on the common room for an early dinner. Joe grew exhausted pretty quickly and the other three ended up staying longer, chatting with one another and slowly enjoying their meal. Joe’s exhaustion piled on him as always, however, his seventeen or eighteen hour day getting to him and sleep called to him.

“I’m so tired. Stay up and have fun, but don’t stay up too late. It’s not the weekend. We start again tomorrow, OK?”

All three nodded, waving goodbye as Joe stood, heading up the stairs, “Good night.”

“Night, Joe,” all three cried out.

Joe smiled, chuckling as he left. Not… a bad day. A good way to end one, too.