With the meal and enjoyable bath after done, Joe turned to look at the others for what they might want to do. Maybe spend a bit of time with Kilniara? Been a while… or… maybe not? He found the two girls whispering together excitedly with both of them looking at Joe with some calculation in their eyes. This left Joe a bit confused but he figured he would hear it when they were ready to speak. His expectations, however, weren’t met and both of them came up to Joe immediately.
Both spoke quickly, rushing their words over one another.
“Uh, Joe? Could I go with Gwenvair today?”
“May I invite Kiliniara for the afternoon?”
Their double but synonymous request seemed to surprise both before they broke into giggling laughter. Their surprise had directed their gazes at one another before they quickly looked up at Joe, both looking on with hope which Joe found a bit surprising, especially from Gwenvair. He hid his disappointment at Kilniara once again asking instead of simply letting him know, and decided to encourage her.
Joe quirked an eyebrow, “You don’t need to ask me. You are your own person.”
“But what of your plans?” Kilniara rejected quickly.
“You also have your own. You know that today is finished, so you are free to do as you wish, just as the boys do as well. You… didn’t ask me yesterday, either… so it was… I liked that. Be your own person. I’m glad you told me, that is kind, but still… just enjoy life.”
Kilniara smiled, seemingly vindicated while Gwenvair seemed a bit surprised at that but very happy. They looked at one another with happiness. Neither spoke, however, before quickly dancing away down the street, although Gwenvair turned before they traveled too far to bow and offer thanks.
“I am quite grateful, Joe.”
Kilniara, seeing Gwenvair’s response, rolled her eyes at her and then waved back at Joe, “Thank you, Joe! I’ll be back this evening!”
Joe laughed at that and waved them on, “Go! Have fun. Just be careful, please.”
The two turned away and dashed down the street in a mix of happy hops, quick walks, twirls, and skips. It seemed the two would have a good day, although Joe found their actions surprisingly childish, especially for Gwenvair. Maybe… more normal here? Seems… odd to me but…
Joe turned to the two boys, “Right… Garnedell… shall we?”
Garnedell looked at Joe with some confusion before realization came to him and he grew a bit worried, “I… yes, but… I’m worried.”
Joe grinned, “I don’t think I can understand… not emotionally. It doesn’t bother me, but for the people here… for you… yeah, I could understand. I’ll… I promise to help you with everything I have, though.”
Garnedell grinned at that, “I know. That’s why I am willing to try.”
Joe chuckled, “So… on to the temple plaza?”
Joe nodded but Zilnek looked around with some confusion. Joe noticed and spoke up.
“Garnedell is going to switch to commoner today.”
Zilnek seemed shocked, “Oh… that seems…”
Joe thought for a bit and looked back at Zilnek while they walked, “Do you mind watching out for him while he works on this? Until his intelligence is back up to decent levels?”
Zilnek seemed to consider this for a bit before nodding, “I can do so, Joe. But it is not…. too important. He still has not taken his Coming of Age blessing.”
Joe almost asked a question related to that but Garnedell butted in and glanced at Joe with a weighted look, “Yes, I should be fine for a time.”
Joe took the hint and played along, “Of course, but it is better safe than sorry.”
Garnedell smiled at that then bowed his head, “Then… I thank you, Joe.”
The three fell silent for a time, walking towards the temple plaza until Joe started speaking again.
“So, Garnedell. Have you thought of your second weapon now?”
Garnedell looked up at Joe with that and then chuckled, “I was pretty certain, but… then I saw you with the tonfa…”
Joe chuckled, “Well… tonfa are about the same as your staff. A strong defensive weapon. I’d likely say your staff is stronger than a tonfa, if a little less agile.”
Garnedell considered that as they walked and he finally nodded, “I can see that. That makes sense.”
“Helped?”
“Yup. I think I want the bow.”
Joe grinned, “You sure?”
“Yeah. It would give me a lot of versatility.”
Joe nodded, “Well… want to head by crafter’s row?”
Garnedell’s grin grew, “If you’re willing?”
“Sure! Let’s head out.”
They turned slightly and headed off to the side towards the crafting sector until they arrived at the carpentry section of the crafters quarter. Joe decided to try the same carpenter as the one who’d helped him with his tonfa and soon arrived there. Joe spent a good half an hour explaining what the bow was, how it functioned, proper sizing, and what the expectations of the wood were. It took a bit, but the carpenter, ever a master of his trade, understood what was needed and quickly reassured Joe of his expertise. They quickly settled into haggling then moved on to delivery time. Joe insisted on a good piece so the carpenter demanded more time and they both settled on a good price and a two week commission.
Garnedell practically vibrated with excitement as they headed off from there and back towards the temple plaza where they headed into a random temple. Garnedell swapped to commoner easily enough with only a small amount of nervous worry before they all left back out to the plaza where they stopped for a moment. They paused for a moment before Garnedell grinned and waved.
“We’ll be going now! See you, Joe.”
Joe grinned and laughed before nodding, “Be careful… and Zilnek, please watch him.”
“Yes, Joe,” Zilnek responded and they both turned away.
They took a couple of steps before Garnedell paused, talking quietly to Zilnek for a moment before running back to Joe.
“Joe… uh… you might wish to… offer Zilnek some help,” Garnedell stuttered out softly with some concern.
Joe struggled to hide his grin, proud that Garnedell had confronted him, but simultaneously struggled to hide his annoyance at himself. Well… that was dumb. Garnedell’s exactly right! Been kinda ignoring him. Spending regular time with both Kilniara and Garnedell, but… yeah.
“And Kilniara?”
Garnedell snorted and shook his head, “You already talk to her quite often.”
“Oh. Uh… then, sorry?”
Garnedell looked up at Joe and snorted again, “No need. You are doing well by both of us, just…”
Joe grew sober, “Zilnek.”
Garnedell nodded. Joe considered and replied cautiously.
“OK. Then…” Joe trailed off in thought and Garnedell came to his save.
“Just have him come with me when we meet together… at least at first. It will probably help. He can learn a bit easier about who you are. He is still… learning. I may be able to help.”
Joe smiled with some relief and nodded, “OK. Then… the next time we meet.”
Garnedell grinned in reply, “Yes!”
He then turned and sprinted back after Zilnek and Joe watched as the two guys took off into the city. Well… growing up… and glad he’s there to help… I’m kinda screwing this up badly… hope I can get it figured out. Joe stifled a sigh and turned to look around the temple plaza. Now it was time for Joe to find something to occupy himself. He took a few moments to think but then finally sighed and shrugged his shoulders. Might as well keep going!
He turned, looking around the temple square, before finding his next temple and heading towards it. He did take the time to open his latest job’s stats to study it as he walked there. He needed to go back to the temple again to become a Saga chaplain so he could then change his own job using his old Saga chaplain job. Quite a convoluted way of doing things, but it did keep him hidden and safe. It was now time to become a Loki acolyte. He did, however, take a few moments to check his Loki faithful job out as he walked there and grew very excited by what he found, becoming even more motivated to pursue the Loki line of jobs for what they could give him.
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
30.00
Physical:
Wind
30
SP
30.00
Piercing
0.00
Water
30
MP
30.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
30
Attack
30.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
30
Defense
30.00
Ice
30
Magic
30.00
Gravity
30
Magic Defense
30.00
Loki Faithful
30
Magnetic
30
Strength
30.00
Unselected
0
Light
30
Dexterity
30.00
Unselected
0
Shadow
30
Agility
30.00
Unselected
0
Space
30
Speed
30.00
Spirit
30
Endurance
30.00
Mental
30
IQ
60.00
Sound
30
Wisdom
90.00
Electricity
30
Will
60.00
Learning
300.00
Luck
0.00
When he made it to the temple and prepared to become a Saga chaplain again to choose the next Loki job, he paused. He pulled out his spear and felt the vibration again and sighed. So… annoying. Can’t use it correctly, not like my tonf… and they’re… definitely weapons… flipped right out Zilnek’s hands… even Garnedell couldn’t… but then… not the spoon spear, so… I don’t… But… oh…
Joe glanced around and found himself alone, realization coming to him. Huh… don’t need… His thoughts turned back to the gladiator job and then he grinned. Dude… that would work… just level the all weapons skill to one and I don’t need the char: skill on it… and I got the rest of the day… and no need to speak to anyone while I’m doing it… and not really needing any experience for leveling skills so… huh… wonder if learni… nah… learning wouldn’t do skills… would it? OK… something to think about later… but right now… work on the gladiator’s good skills. Easy enough.
He headed towards the next temple to prepare to change to his Saga Chaplain job, grinning. Gonna have to start being more aware of my ‘char:’ skills… can start using the skills even if I don’t have the job. Joe grinned as he settled in line at the temple, waiting his turn to get his job changed, then froze. Disbelief and a bit of bitter self-chastisement lightly flavored an ocean of embarrassment. I’m… an idiot!
He turned and left the temple, immediately turning to his status. Assign Polyglot Language Expertise char: to Saga Chaplain change main job skill, please. There was no feedback from the system, something Joe found frustrating, but a quick look at his available skills page showed the char now assigned to his chaplain’s change job skill.
Change job to gladiator. For this, he felt a soft change within him but still checked his status to see his page a brilliant red now and grinned. Easy enough… really easy. Heh! Nice… His grin turned into a full on smirk. Right… assign Saga Chaplain change main job skill to gladiator all weapons skill. Assign theorist double learning skill to gladiator light armor skill. Joe flipped open his available skills chart and found them assigned correctly and he laughed aloud, then quieted when several people in the streets looked at him oddly. He felt a bit embarrassed by the crowd’s reaction, and quite a bit more over forgetting how versatile his char: skills were. He almost ran to the inn, barely restraining himself before easily slapping his armor vest on and then heading back out to the beginner’s dungeon.
With the lunch, changing Garnedell’s job to commoner, and stopping by to grab his armor, it was just a bit after noon by the time he made it to the beginner’s dungeon and settled in line, grinning with barely restrained glee. The wait seemed almost interminable, but he soon found himself on the first floor of the dungeon and slithered out to the corner they always took. Right… Let’s see how this goes!