She stood far from him, not daring to come closer, but watched on, stunned, until finally her awe waned and she began to take stock of what she was seeing. His attacks continued as ever before, leaping from his weapon without stop and killing enemy after enemy. She turned to the other defenders, looking up and down the line at the various defenders, watching as strikes of magic left the field with dead strewn across it, each strike killing dozens, even hundreds, at a time. Some killed over time, slowing draining life, while others left gaping wounds in the enemy lines which were slow to fill.
His … he is killing each beast one at a time! One at a time! Her eyes leapt back to take on the fight the eccentric was choosing to have and found her memory reinforced. The eccentric was striking so rapidly and often because he was only killing one beast at a time. He is only able to… or he chooses to… but… Telnia’s fear came to the fore, and she stepped back, looking back at the eccentric before turning to look at the various other defenders that surrounded the eccentric. His power was terrifying, in a way she couldn’t understand. Surgical strikes of such intensity were not unheard of, but they were incredibly difficult to accomplish, requiring surprise, stealth, power, time, or overwhelming effort. She saw none of these in the eccentric’s actions. He stood in full view firing powerful spear after powerful spear again and again without any apparent effort or exhaustion.
She rapidly went back to her staff, sitting on the stairs before turning to look at her butler and asking quickly, “Where is the First in Line for Matriarch and the Matriarch? You said you saw them?”
Her butler quickly bowed, although a bit stiffly, “Yes, First in Line for Matriarch Telnia. The First in Line for Matriarch of the Galgandar clan sits with the eccentric’s apprentices. She is the ulvan. From what I have learned, she is quite close and regularly joins in fighting with the eccentric. The Matriarch of Galgandar defends the walls behind you… to your left.”
Telnia found her eyes rapidly focusing on the ulvan that spoke with the other apprentices, obviously in good relationship with the other apprentices and laughing with them. When her butler mentioned the Matriarch being on the wall behind her, she jerked her head around to find the woman leisurely firing attacks into the enemy horde with effortless but powerful effect. She immediately recognized her, and when she looked back on the ulvan sitting with the other apprentices, she realized that both had been present the night before. Telnia grimaced, carefully evaluating her rival before dismissing her as she could easily see that she had little competition. Still, the fact the girl had so easily found a place as apprentice while she herself was rejected galled her to no end.
The noon meal arrived, and the slaves bringing the food approached, offering a meal and a respite from defense duty, allowing them to enjoy the food. The meal was prepared wisely, only offering a short break to one member at a time as the meal slaves moved from one individual to the next until all were fed. She ignored it, staring on until the eccentric received his meal. Seeing him receive a meal, she found herself losing interest but also realizing her own hunger.
She turned to her staff, “It is meal time.”
Her butler bowed, “Of course, mistress. Would you be returning to the villa to enjoy a meal, or staying?”
She maintained decorum and replied politely, “I will remain here. Please have a meal brought here immediately.”
The butler bowed and then turned away to deal with the staff. She turned to look back at the eccentric, but he was still eating, and she waited with some impatience. As he was not fighting, she found her eyes wandering and soon noticed that his apprentice group did not appear to be receiving any meal. The eccentric ate quickly, not resting overly long, and returned to his defense. Her interest piqued, she kept her eyes on the meal slaves for a few moments longer to see if the apprentices were fed but saw no food was given to them from the meal slave. Telnia grinned then turned to the butler.
“Send a runner. Make enough meals for myself and the four apprentices of the eccentric.”
The butler bowed, “Certainly, Lady Telnia. I will also prepare foo…”
Telnia dismissed the butler’s final sentence, unconcerned with the extra statement as it had no bearing, simply acknowledging and agreeing with it when he was done speaking. She only cared to watch the eccentric, especially as he was now back to fighting as rapidly as he had been before, miniature spear after miniature spear flying into the horde of beasts below.
Several bells later, maybe even a Great Bell, Telnia became aware of the commotion amongst her staff and looked over in annoyance for being bothered from her inspection. Her annoyance, however, was short lived when she saw the five meals being brought forth. Telnia smiled and stood.
“Come,” she spoke imperiously before leading the slaves after her.
She came upon the apprentices and bowed politely, offering greetings as was only expected, “Greetings, apprentices of the great eccentric Joe McConnell. I see you do not have food so wished to offer a meal, if you are willing to join me?”
The four quickly stopped speaking, staring up at her with carefully blank faces. The First in Line for Matrairch of Galgandar was the first to speak, an obvious and correct choice to truly respect her.
“Telnia, First in Line for Matriarch. Greetings. You wish to offer meal and join us?”
It was oddly formal, coming from a simple ulvan but still greatly appreciated and she bowed, “I do offer such.”
The First in Line for Matriarch pondered carefully, staring deeply before nodding cautiously, “I will accept on behalf of the others. Our thanks.”
Telnia bowed her head slightly, “It is an easy gift and needs little thanks.”
The First in Line for Matriarch proved canny, however, and rejected Telnia’s maneuver, “Still, we offer our thanks.”
Telnia accepted the loss and bowed her head again, “Thanks I accept. Please, enjoy the meals.”
The First in Line for Matriarch bowed equally as well, before offering the meals to the others and a seat for Telnia beside her. Telnia bowed equally in reply and settled in beside the First in Line for Matriarch of Galgandar. The other lessers faltered, falling silent as is their place leaving the moment for the two clanners to speak. They both waited for a time, as appropriate, and while Telnia did push the time a bit to establish herself, she spoke first.
“I wished to introduce myself.”
The ulvan girl nodded her head, “It is good to meet you, First in Line for Matriarch of Soonesia.”
“And you, First in Line for Matriarch of Galgandar.”
The ulvan girl fell silent, say nothing and Telnia stifled her discomfort. Her actions yesterday had been less than ideal, but the ulvan girl’s aloof rudeness was starting to offend. There was little Telnia could do, however. She had to submit, at least for this time.
“I wish to apologize for my actions yesterday in your family home.”
The ulvan nodded politely, “I am grateful for your apology.”
But not accepting it! Telnia actually clenched her teeth, but quickly hid her anger.
“Then how could I offer a proper apology?”
The ulvan then turned to looked at the acokzau, looking carefully between the two. Telnia felt her anger rise but withheld herself as was her place. She waited for the two to finish their communication. The acokzau nodded and the ulvan turned to look back at her.
“Apologize to the Queen of the man you insulted and assaulted.”
Telnia froze, her breath catching her throat and her heart skipped. A Queen? That’s… impossible! No! She couldn’t think and her thoughts stuttered. There was only one option which thundered in her thoughts. But other considerations skittered through her mind like jagged screeches. Everything changed.
Telnia quickly bowed to the ulvan, “Apologies, Queen.”
The acokzau nodded in reply, speaking for Gwenvair, “I thank you for your apology, but your apology means nothing to us. You need to have your apology accepted by Joe.”
Telnia flinched when the acokzau spoke the eccentric’s name. He… allows this?
Telnia bowed again, and soon found herself awkwardly sitting without any response. The two young male apprentices turned away and rudely began chatting with one another but the break actually calmed her and the two girls also turned and began to speak with one another. Telnia felt her anger rise, at first, but then calmed as she realized that they were offering her a moment to recover herself. Her emotions fluctuated at that, grateful for the concern offered by a fellow clanner but offended that a lesser would feel that she could give offer her such pity. Her position as the eccentrics… Telnia cut her thoughts off. The awkwardness slowly ended and Telnia soon calmed.
* * *
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
105.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
350.00
Piercing
35.00
Water
0
MP
17.50
Crushing
35.00
Earth
0
Attack
175.00
Slashing
35.00
Fire
0
Defense
70.00
Ice
0
Magic
17.50
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
17.50
Grunt
35
Magnetic
0
Strength
175.00
Tai Chi
35
Light
0
Dexterity
70.00
Navigator
40
Shadow
0
Agility
70.00
Loki Primate
39
Space
0
Speed
70.00
Spirit
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
0
Endurance
105.00
Mental
0
IQ
35.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
35.00
Electricity
0
Will
26.25
Learning
35.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
210.00
Physical:
Wind
35
SP
105.00
Piercing
0.00
Water
35
MP
35.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
35
Attack
35.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
35
Defense
35.00
Ice
35
Magic
35.00
Gravity
35
Magic Defense
35.00
Tai Chi
35
Magnetic
35
Strength
140.00
Light
35
Dexterity
140.00
Navigator
40
Shadow
35
Agility
140.00
Loki Primate
39
Space
35
Speed
105.00
Spirit
35
Endurance
105.00
Mental
35
IQ
70.00
Sound
35
Wisdom
70.00
Electricity
35
Will
52.50
Learning
140.00
Luck
0.00
Joe accepted the meal at lunch took a break, enjoying his time. Today, he actually remembered to look at his status to check how his jobs had done. In looking, he also remembered to put in the effort to change the two jobs that hit thirty as well, but first he took a look at what they offered.
As he glanced over his stats, he was happy to see grunt proving its worth, finally giving him some stats to his physical resistances. He grinned to see it and immediately invested in the next job of grunt which was… hmm… what is it? The next job is… thug? Really? Joe sighed and grimaced but set the job to replace his grunt job. At least I can get my resistances up.
The skills, however, proved utterly useless. He got skills for sword, shield and bows, which left Joe miffed. Tai chi proved much more interesting. He gained a skill to inherit meditative pugilist as well as all the other inheritances the other combat jobs were gaining as well. The other skills, however, sent chills down Joe’s back. He gained skills named foundations; style: Chen; Style: Yang; Style: Wu, and the final skill a rather obvious in hindsight bonus to MP, if not exactly something Earth would offer. It was the three styles that left him shivering in fear. He knew those three styles. He knew them because he’d studied them hundreds, if not thousands of light years away back on Earth. Tai chi certainly wasn’t something that he really enjoyed or found very important for his combat skills, but he’d studied it because his mother had enjoyed it. It was an activity that he was able to participate in with his mother.