“Right, let’s split into two groups as before and swap back and forth again, OK? Who wants to join with me first?”

Garnedell responded first, leaping forward, “Me!”

Joe laughed and waved him over before turning to the others, “Is that OK for you two?”

Zilnek nodded and Kilniara smiled and waved him on. Joe smiled and stepped to the side but only moved away about ten or so feet, “Don’t move too far away. Let’s stay close for Gwenvair.”

Kilniara quickly nodded and pulled Zilnek after her and both groups began attracting goblins and mowing them down quickly. Joe allowed Garnedell to lead, taking on the first couple of goblins mostly on his own and he was able to do well enough with Joe only offering a few strikes and blocks to protect them. Gwenvair’s strikes also proved quite helpful, although it seemed the strikes seemed to be limited to a strike every few moments. Joe took a bit to count it out and came to a strike every half a minute or something close to it and it seemed the strikes alternated between his goblin and the other coming in randomly curving around both of the groups. Joe didn’t focus too much on her or the magic as Garnedell soon tired and Joe had to put more work into keeping the goblin away from Garnedell and soon Garnedell tired after several more and retreated back to the corner and Joe took over killing the goblins.

He didn’t think much of it as the wind blade strikes suddenly seemed to double in number for a time. But he did notice the spiking brightness of light out of the corner of his eye, and now that he was comfortable enough to focus on it, the oddity of the light spiked ever more as his spear struck goblin after goblin, and the light spiked about once per goblin he killed as he killed them too fast for Gwenvair to send another wind blade. The oddity continued to bug him and it was in the moment of one of the flashes of brilliant light that he realized that as the light flashed, the dungeon floor and everything around them remained as dark as always. He waited patiently for the next flash to verify and quickly noticed that the light did flash, but seemed to be some form of metaphysical radiation that only his eyes could detect. None of it reflected off any surface or person. It was a strange form of light because if he turned his back to it, he couldn’t notice that flash at all as his body appeared to block the flash of light from entering his eyes. Yet, despite the fact his body blocked it, none of it reflected off his skin, arms or chest. He focused on it a few times but then dismissed it as he wasn’t able to figure it out but did note it for future consideration.

His fight continued on and soon the wind blades disappeared and Joe found himself killing goblins alone. He didn’t really notice the change and continued fighting before he heard a call out behind him as he killed the latest goblins.

He turned around and found all of them in the corner resting while Gwenvair leaned against the wall panting a bit. Joe cocked his head, surprised by Gwenvair’s actions.

“You OK? Did a goblin get you?”

Gwenvair panted then shook her head, “No… I’m… OK. Just… exhausted. I pushed myself too much. I forgot that… you were… an eccentric.”

Joe smiled, “Tired you out?”

Gwenvair smiled and shook her head then grimaced a bit before nodding, “I’ve exhausted my mana.”

Joe nodded, “How long do you need to recuperate?”

“My mana?”

“Yes.”

“It would… be a long time.”

Joe blinked, cocking his head, “So you are done casting magic for today?”

Gwenvair nodded, “My mana is gone. Yes.”

“What about your points?”

“My… what?”

“Mana points.”

Gwenvair clenched her teeth then bowed, red flushing her cheeks, “I … apologize. I have… not been able to capture any mana points. I am still… quite young.”

“Then what…” were those mana points before… Joe cut off his question, remembering Garnedell’s warning and shock that he’d been able to see points while also struggling to hide his own shock at realizing Garnedell had close to a dozen or so of his own. And they were … gifted to him, so… maybe…

“You have no one in the clan to gift you some?”

Gwenvair stared at Joe, disbelief rolling across her face even as she blurted out, “Gifted points?! What is this… a fantasy? You have gifted poi…” She cut herself off quickly at that, controlling herself although she desperately wanted to know.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

OK… now we know why Garnedell’s parents told him to keep quiet. And a big deal… so… technically…

“No. I do not have any gifted mana points… but I’m no one special in my clan, so…”

Gwenvair did not seem to settle at the statement, still staring at him avidly and Joe had to consider a bit before realization hit. Right… if I’m talking about it like it’s normal… she’s probably thinking it happens in my clan… which… it doesn’t, but how…

Joe cleared his throat and shook his head, “Uh… maybe… I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry. We can continue on.”

Gwenvair quickly pulled back at that, her face settling into a blank, “I … apologize for my uncouth behavior, eccentric.”

Joe frowned and shook his head, waving a hand, “No. Don’t do that… back to normal talking, please. And it’s perfectly fine. It was… just a bit of miscommunication between us.”

“I swear I will speak to no one of this.”

Joe sighed, but said nothing, shaking his head before continuing, “It’s … nothing. Truly. Leave it at that.”

“Thank you, I… am grateful for your restraint.”

Joe sighed again, “Could I have Gwenvair back? I don’t like the princess.”

Gwenvair froze at that, staring at him, before slowly, stiltedly, she relaxed, “I will try, Joe.”

Joe smiled, “Well… a bit better, I guess.”

She smiled fully this time, although did ruin the effect with a deep shuddering sigh, “I’m… not used to … yeah.”

“Perfect,” Joe grinned.

She looked back up at him, then smiled in return, “Thanks… yeah. I will try.”

Joe’s grin grew, “That’s all I wanted.”

She nodded and then sighed before looking at him again and nodding once more.

“So… you mana is gone for the day?”

Her grin faltered a bit before she nodded.

Joe made sure to keep his frown from his face, stopping for a bit, thinking but found himself a bit nonplussed, “Uh. Then, what do you want to do then?”

Gwenvair blushed a bit, pink tingeing her cheeks as she found herself speechless and uncertain how to respond.

“We still fight for a quite a bit more. Do you want to stay or … what do you want to do?”

Gwenvair struggled before responding, “I… don’t know.”

Joe found himself at a loss and decided his only option was to ask, “Then… you can watch or help us fight in melee if you want?”

Gwenvair seemed to wrestle, uncertain and Joe decided to offer some help, “If you are worried about fighting in melee, I’ll keep you safe so you can practice?”

Gwenvair seemed to light up at that suggestion and nodded eagerly then shyly pulled back, biting her lips as she tried to hide her excitement and calm herself. Joe smiled at her reaction and simply nodded.

“No problem. We rotate through groups but for today … until maybe at the end if I see that you are doing well, we’ll keep you my group and rotate everyone else. Everyone else, when you get tired, just head back to the corner and rest. When you’re done resting, swap to the other group. Does that seem fine?”

The others quickly agreed and Gwenvair took a bit to understand but quickly nodded as well. Joe took their nods and cries of agreement as Joe continued.

“So… then… Gwenvair’s with me and… uh… who wants to come with me now?”

Garnedell shook his head, “I already joined you. I’ll head to the other group.”

Joe nodded at Garnedell and looked at the siblings, “So, which one?”

The two looked at each other and Zilnek smirked before shaking his head, “You go.”

Joe chuckled and waved them out towards their typical combat locations, “As always, you two stay a bit back so I can keep an eye on you. Make sure to call out to me very fast if you need me because I’ll need to make sure the two girls are safe before I leave them, OK?”

Garnedell nodded but Zilnek seemed to sober with that realization and nodded quickly. The two groups then split with Joe leading out another couple steps further so he could turn back and keep an eye on both the boys and girls. While keeping the boys in the background, he then began talking with the two girls so that Gwenvair could learn how they did things.

“Do you mind taking the first fight, Kilniara, so that Gwenvair can watch you and learn a bit? Even make a mistake or two so she can see how I help keep you safe and she’ll understand how we fight and how I train you?”

Kilniara smiled brightly, “Sure! I’ll make lots of mistakes!”

Joe faked an angry grimace, “Hey! Don’t undo all the teaching I’ve been giving you!”

Kilniara giggled brilliantly and skipped off, pulling a stick off the floor before flinging it at the nearest goblin and missing it by a mile. Joe’s eyebrow quirked as he stared at Kilniara and she looked back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and Joe found himself chuckling at her miss.

“I.. uh..”

Joe couldn’t respond, simply bursting into laugher at her embarrassment and she began to chuckle as well although her face tinged even pinker and Joe simply beckoned her back before wrapping her up in his arms, offering a kiss on her forehead. She squirmed in his arms but didn’t try to escape, simply burying her head in his chest to hide her embarrassment. After a few moments, Joe noticed Gwenvair staring at him and he curbed his affection and released Kilniara. Kilniara stepped back looking up at him and saw where he was looking and looked over at Gwenvair. Joe cleared his throat a few times before turning to Gwenvair.

“Uh… sorry about that. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Gwenvair quickly shook her head, saying nothing and dismissed his apology quickly, “You have no need to apologize to me.”

Gwenvair smiled, her lips quivering a bit and Joe cocked his head with some worry. That really bothered her… I guess she hasn’t seen a lot of PDA… which would be kind of normal, I guess… for nobility and stuff… maybe?

Joe looked down at Kilniara, wondering if she was bothered by it as well, but found her unconcerned, although she stared at Gwenvair with a piercing look. Whelp… not a culture thing then… or at least this culture… maybe a class thing? Kilniara’s not bothered at all.

Joe cleared his throat again and turned from the two women, “Well, let’s get going. I’ll pull the next goblin.”

Kilniara started then glanced up at Joe and smiled brightly, although it seemed a bit… is it fake? Is it… Kilniara quickly shook her head very subtly and Joe took the hint, smiling in back.

“Right. Let’s get going.”

Joe left the two behind and found a good piece of detritus to use and pegged the next goblin, pulling it in. He stepped back and turned sideways, keeping an eye on the boys as they had already pulled their goblin. Joe then glanced back at the goblin careening towards him and kept an eye on Kilniara to see how she would engage. She did well enough, although Joe slipped in his spear a couple times to block a few of the goblin strikes. After a few moments, Joe glanced up at Gwenvair.