By the time Joe had finished observing Garnedell carefully, they’d made it to their bath and quickly joined Zilnek who seemed completely unconcerned with what the two had spoken on and chose instead to simply engage with Garnedell in conversation. Joe tuned them out and fell back into the tub to rest, even postponing his exploration of new skill and subjobs as his exhaustion was enough to have him drifting to sleep quickly in the bath.

Joe woke abruptly to a soft shake of his shoulder when Garnedell woke him, “Joe? It has been some time.”

Joe yawned and glanced around but really didn’t notice any change in time from the shadows angle from the window and instead took Garnedell’s word for it and stretched in the bath.

“Can we leave now?” Zilnek asked hopefully.

Joe nodded, then reconsidered for a bit before replying, “Can we have a meeting first?”

Zilnek seemed confused, “A meeting?”

Garnedell seemed to understand and quickly nodded, “We can do this now. It will not take long, yes?”

Joe nodded and considered their bath, “Wouldn’t be a bad place for it. Nice and warm water while we chat?”

Garnedell grinned, “Yes. That would be nice.”

Zilnek stifled a grimace but nodded, “Yes. We can do it now.”

“Then, I wanted to know how I can help you. What things do you want and what can I do to help?”

Zilnek seemed to actually calm at that, seeming a bit pleased at the direction of the conversation while Garnedell quickly interjected, “You know what I wish; to learn the bow.”

Joe huffed, “Yeah. I know that. But we have to get your bow first.”

Garnedell nodded at that and Joe continued, “Anything else? How are things going for your family?”

Garnedell grew a little serious and nodded, “They are well, Joe. I will ask if I have need.”

Zilnek had frowned when Joe asked and Joe turned to him, concerned, “What’s wrong, Zilnek?”

“It is… not good to ask such things while a member is grieving for their family. It… will bring bad luck.”

“Oh. OH! I’m… I’m so sorry, Garnedell. I did not know!”

Garnedell smiled, “I knew you did not know, but… it would help if…”

“Right! Shut up! Uh… shut up for… how long?”

Zilnek held up a hand, “Allow me, Garnedell. Maintain your vigil.”

Garnedell nodded gratefully at that and said nothing. Zilnek continued.

“It is commonly considered appropriate to allow the family to mourn and remember their family until the time of mourning is complete. If others continually ask after them, the ghosts of family members may become confused and be unable to find their family to be guided into the afterlife. How can they know who to go to if everyone is speaking their name?”

Joe quirked an eyebrow at that but quickly nodded, understanding the logic of it almost immediately, “Then… I understand. I am very sorry for what I have done. I will be silent from now on. Please accept my apologies, Garnedell.”

Garnedell grinned but said nothing, and Joe now understood what was happening and turned to Zilnek.

“Thank you so much for explaining. I… yeah. Thanks.”

Zilnek nodded, but seemed a bit angry and Joe quickly dropped the conversation and turned to other things.

“So. Bow for you, Garnedell. Anything else?”

“I think I’m very happy. Just keep helping me through commoner. It was so fast! Thank you.”

Joe grinned, “I will help you in any way I can. It will slow down now, but…”

Garnedell’s lost smile was only the softening of acceptance and a roll of his eyes at the annoyance and not that of hidden panic, and Joe felt some relief to see Garnedell now relaxed, “I know. I remember your efforts.”

Joe laughed, “Yup. You got it easy! Man.”

Garnedell laughed at that and nodded, “Then… yes. Guide me. I think… I understand now what you are doing.”

“Good. Hmm… then… maybe the last thing. When I offered you the spoon spear, and it … didn’t let you hold it anymore. Why did you say it was bound to happen?”

Garnedell shrugged, “It’s a weapon. When a new weapon is formed, often it is taken away from use from those unable to wield weapons.”

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Joe frowned at that, “You’ve seen this happen?”

Garnedell grinned, “Yes. Just now with the spoon spear!”

Joe rolled his eyes, “No. I mean… You know what I mean.”

Garendell’s grin grew and he chuckled, “No. I have heard rumors, so I was surprised it took so long with the spoon spear.”

Joe nodded at that and fell silent. Man… hope Jackie Chan never comes here… no one could use anything ever again! He chuckled darkly to himself before sighing and moving on, turning to Zilnek this time. Joe turned on his professional smile.

Joe nodded with his turn to Zilnek, “So, Zilnek. How about you? What do you want?”

Zilnek really lost himself in his thoughts before turning to look at Joe, “I… am truly uncertain at this moment. I would need some time to consider.”

Huh… OK. That’s a good idea. Joe thought, grateful for Zilnek’s caution but then felt an irritation that Zilnek was delaying, and Joe frowned at the feeling. He hadn’t gotten upset at Kilniara’s or Garnedell’s delays. Garnedell even made the same decision, asking to delay to think the same as Zilnek. He’d felt proud of Garnedell. But Zilnek. What’s… Joe shook off his thoughts and returned to the conversation.

Joe nodded and quickly refocused on Zilnek as Joe affirmed Zilnek’s thoughts, “That’s very smart. Think about it carefully. Try to think of two or three things and the next time we meet, we’ll talk about it. OK?”

Zilnek nodded and Garnedell interjected, “Probably tomorrow?”

“Maybe. Or in two days? Yeah. Soon, though.”

Zilnek seemed to be relieved at that and nodded and Joe then turned to some small talk to seek out anything else from them, but the conversation seemed to have run its course so he brought it to an end.

“So. You guys probably want to take off?”

Garnedell and Zilnek both nodded eagerly and Joe laughed, “Alright. Send a runner to the girls and then let’s head out. You guys can leave right away if you want. I’ll wait for the girls if they take longer.”

Zilnek whooped in excitement at that while Garnedell only grinned but prepared just as energetically as Zilnek. All three soon had themselves dried and dressed, heading out to the main foyer where the boys bid him goodbye before rushing out the door, although Garnedell did stop to look back and nod to Joe before calling out acknowledgment for their meeting tonight.

“I will see you tonight, Joe. I think… that went well.”

“Zilnek took it … he seemed to like it.”

Garnedell nodded, “Yes. But I will speak with him some more. It’s…”

Joe’s concern wiped the smile from his face, “Yeah… his … thing.”

Garnedell scowled, “It’s hard.”

Joe nodded, “I’ll do something… soon.”

Garnedell smiled, “But don’t kill yourself.”

“Thanks, Garnedell. Go have fun.”

Garnedell smiled brightly at Joe’s exhortation to fun and he turned to flash out the door. Joe sighed at that and settled back into the baths and thought for a bit. He couldn’t quite understand, but Zilnek just seemed to eat at him, annoying him in a way that just didn’t make sense. Is there something… happening? I’m getting… more irritated with him, and he does… annoying things, but… not enough for this, though… I think? He took things pretty well today, and was happy to talk. Even spent some careful time thinking. I LIKE that when people do that… but… today. It’s weird. Why am I reacting this way? Joe stood as he thought, drying himself off carefully before dressing and heading out to the seats in the foyer. He lounged for about ten minutes, his thoughts still considering his irritation for Zilnek when a young girl came quickly, if a bit shyly, up to him.

“Are you perchance Master Joe?”

Joe focused on her and then smiled brightly as he sat up and leaned a bit forward, “Yes. I am. How may I be of assistance, my lady?”

The young girl blinked, her mouth and prepared response frozen in shock at his calling her a lady. Joe maintained a steady smile even as her cheeks reddened to a blush and then she stomped her leg with a bit of anger.

“I’m not a lady!”

“Ah. Apologies. I had no intention of offense. Please forgive me.”

The young lady’s anger settled, her frown quite strong before she humphed and nodded, accepting the apology, “Good! I have a message from Miss Kilniara and Miss Gwenvair. They ask that you occupy yourself for the afternoon. They will meet you at the inn in the evening.”

Joe nodded, accepting the message, then paused with some thought. They? Both of them this evening? Joe looked at the messenger, but she’d already run off and Joe pondered that thought, but didn’t push to clarify as it ultimately didn’t matter. Either both would be there that night at the inn or only Kilniara. Neither option really changed anything for him and he didn’t want to waste another message, so leaned back and looked at his available jobs and considered his options.

He took a look around the room and realized that he was in a rather public area and he sighed and decided he needed to head out to somewhere a bit more private. He stood and headed out into the street where he considered for a bit before deciding to simply head back to the dungeon. He’d get stunningly bored just sitting at the inn.

He made it back to the dungeon and waited in line for a short time, the lines in the afternoon much shorter as fewer people were heading in, the day’s end too close to make it worth it to start the day so late in the afternoon. He strode quickly to the corner he was used to fighting in and settled, sitting on the floor before he flipped up his available jobs and started to look through the list of available jobs.

Right. So, I should make one of the subjobs the faith jobs so I can always change jobs. That gives me another… Joe flipped open his current jobs tab and took a look at the number of job slots he had. Ha! Four jobs. That’s… very nice and much more than what Gwenvair said… Joe considered the information that Gwenvair had told him and pursed his lips in thought before dismissing it as there really wasn’t a point now. I’ll just ask later when we meet up again. See what she has to say.

Joe turned his thoughts back to the options he had. So one of four’s gotta be a job changing class. So three more. Probably a combat job to make sure I can open up some weapons. Then… hmm… two more spots. Should I… Joe looked over the available jobs page and found seven groups available. He immediately dismissed the citizen line of jobs as they predominantly revolved around typical jobs. Crafting and nobility tantalized him only in the sense that they were still locked behind their starter jobs. Maybe just do both of them to unlock. Those would be free spots after just one day to level them up… wait! Do subjobs level? Or are they just a slot to have a second job that’s already leveled!

Joe’s thoughts sputtered for a bit before he ended up shrugging and letting it go. I’ll just test it today, but … hmm… Gotta put the faith job in the main slot then so I can keep leveling it up. Hmm.. but then I’ll need to change the other subjobs first, if they do level? Gotta remember that. Then… Even if the subjobs don’t level, at least my faith job keeps going up. Donno what a ‘few’ job changes per day means, but if I need to change Garnedell’s, Kiliniara’s, and Zilnek’s jobs two or three times a day once they’re learning is high enough, then … that will be ten job changes a day, if not more? That doesn’t seem like… a few. So… let’s get the faith job up as high as I can before shifting the best job I can get into a subjob and level other jobs… if subjobs can’t level.