Chapter 114

By the time they reached the dining hall Jay and M'redith were sparkling clean and feeling wonderful. Aiden went next as they stood in line and then Norri. The line was long that day and the planned meal for lunch had drawn a crowd.

The line wound around the corner and down the path a bit. It was the longest line Jay had yet to see at the dining hall. They got in line and Aiden sighed.

“This is going to take forever.” Aiden groused.

As they stood and waited their turn in line for breakfast the other prospective diners had begun to notice them. More specifically, they had begun to notice Jay. More than a few of the people in line were aware of Jay's aura. They were also aware that the bathing house was currently closed. Those two details taken together were beginning to stir other people's interest in Jay.

Two young girls stood whispering back and forth a few places ahead of Jay. They were dressed in light clothing, not armor. They stared at him as they talked and M'redith was beginning to become a bit annoyed with it when they finally walked over and stood in front of Jay.

“Excuse me?” a young girl asked as her and another girl attempted to politely get Jay's attention.

Jay looked down at the young girl. If she were a Guild trainee she seemed a bit young. Jay wondered what class ability she must have to end up at the Guild at such a young age. The two girls looked as if they had just recently started attending classes but Jay thought they looked familiar. They may have come by when he was cleaning people the night before.

“Yes?” Jay answered with a smile.

“I'm M'rriam and this is my friend Talia,” the girl said with a polite nod which her friend copied.

“Pleased to meet you M'rriam. Talia. These are my friends and group mates, M'redith, Aiden, and Norri.” Jay replied. “What brings you by?”

M'rriam looked down for a moment before raising her head, “We were hoping you might be in the mood for aura cleanings? The bath house is still closed and some of us would rather be clean for afternoon class.”

Talia nodded vociferously.

Jay laughed kindly and M'redith looked at him with a smile. “Aura cleanings.” M'redith said as if testing out the phrase. “I like that phrasing better than some of the other options you've been offered.”

Aiden laughed. M'redith wasn't a big fan of women approaching Jay and asking him to 'clean their bodies.' Norri grinned – she agreed with M'redith.

“Sure, why not. We have to stand in line anyway. Why don't you come over. Just stand closer to me than anyone else, that's all you need to do. You'll feel a slight buzzing, vibration, or sometimes goosebumps. They won't hurt you and it will all be over in thirty seconds, ok?” Jay said almost in one breath.

The two girls nodded happily. They were both smiling now that they knew they wouldn't have to suffer through the afternoon sitting in their own sweat and dirty clothes.

Talia went first and Jay managed to clean her without anyone really noticing.

M'rriam went next and drew a bit more attention from the surrounding crowd. She had started off a bit filthy. It wasn't as if she had rolled around in dirt or anything. She had just fought very hard for hours. She was drenched in sweat, her hair looked plastered to her head in places. She did not smell.. great.

Her appearance visibly improved and looked nothing short of magical as any dirt or foreign substance was wicked away from her body, hair, and clothing, rising in to the air in tiny motes which then themselves disappeared in to thin air. The display was a bit more visible than Talia's cleaning had been.

People noticed.

After Jay finished cleaning the two of them he shut his aura down and the two immaculately clean looking girls thanked him profusely with nods of their heads. They each gave Jay five copper coins in thanks. A normal trip to the baths would cost a copper or two for a standard experience. Four or five coppers would be a good price for a more luxury bathing experience. A few coppers would be paid as well to have clothing cleaned and a few more to have their boots cleaned and shined. Jay knew of no bathing house where one's personal belongings apart from clothing would also be cleaned.

But more than their clothing had been cleaned. Their boots shined. Their belongings were devoid of stains or dirt. The two girls themselves almost shined they looked so clean. The only others that looked even remotely like them in appearance were Jay's group.

Everyone else looked as if their clothing was a touch dingy. A touch faded. Even those in line wearing expensive clothing that had been laundered and not worn until that very day could not compete in appearance.

The two girls thanked Jay again and returned to their places in the line ahead of Jay's group.

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A moment later and the entire line took a step forward as another few people were admitted to the dining hall.

Others began to approach Jay and he kindly helped out as they waited in line.

There were two lines now. One long line that went from the dining hall, around the corner, and even a ways behind Jay. The second line was shorter, and led directly to Jay. The long line was for lunch. The short line was for aura cleanings.

They were in line for over fifteen minutes and Jay managed to get another ten or twenty cleanings in, he didn't count so he wasn't sure of the exact number.

Everyone seemed to understand the rules and were polite and cordial with Jay. Everyone attempted to offer Jay a coin donation in return for his services. Jay made just over 11 silver for the morning.

Jay's coin pouch jingled as they finally reached the counter and began to fill up their trays with pizza.

Pizza isn't just pizza. There are shades and gradients that exist within the generic term pizza.

For example, Norri took her pizza thin and crispy. Her pizza was mostly cheese with very little sauce and a crispy crust.

Aiden and M'redith took plates of thicker looking pizza, normal looking slices with cheese and plenty of sauce.

Jay took a deep dish pan pizza. The edges were covered in crusty cheese and the pizza itself was at least an inch thick. It had copious amounts of sauce and was topped with crispy looking pepperoni slices. The crust itself was oily from the dripping cheese and pepperoni.

What goes great with pizza? More pizza. Aiden took an extra slice and the entire group wandered over to a table in the back corner. Most of the tables were taken up by people eating and there were very few open tables.

Not all of them were students either. Here and there full Guild members could be seen wearing serious looking armor and carrying packs with numerous items hanging from or strapped to it.

There wasn't a lot of talking. Talking was somewhat discouraged on pizza day. Everyone was supposed to eat and then make room for other starving diners.

As they sat and ate everyone stayed quiet as they each performed the standard pizza ritual.

First, they each picked up a slice of pizza. Then they blew on it. Then they took a bite and made an 'oooaaaarrrggg' noise as the molten cheese burnt the inside lining of the roof of their mouth. Then they continued chewing instead of spitting out the molten ball of cheese causing their mouths to suffer further burns. They made huffing sounds as they tried to cool down the pizza in their mouth before finally swallowing and taking a drink.

“It's so good.” mumbled Aiden in between chews.

As they ate M'redith caught a flash of red towards the side of the room. A bit of a commotion had stirred up as two men wearing red armor were just trying to eat their meal. Their table was somewhat surrounded by a number of men and women who had gathered around them. Not for long, just for a moment did they bother the two red armored men. They'd approach them, say something briefly, then go on their way. The men in red were forced to constantly nod their heads in acknowledgment as the crowd slowly dispersed.

“What is it?” Jay asked as he noticed M'redith staring off towards the side of the room.

“Redguard,” M'redith said. “We owe them a drink don't we?”

Jay stopped chewing and nodded seriously. “Damn right we do. Saved our asses and pulled us out of the fire. I have an idea on how to handle that. Lunch time might not be the best opportunity for us to show our appreciation.”

M'redith nodded as she continued to watch the men. Finally she went back to eating and let herself relax enough to enjoy it.

After they finished M'redith took their trays up.

Norri was leaning back in her chair and swinging her legs. “That was good. Thank Goddess we don't have combat practice next. I don't think I could dodge if my life depended on it right now I'm so full.”

Aiden burped and then looked mortified. “It slipped right out! Excuse me,” he said a bit embarrassed.

Jay grinned and Norri laughed at the sudden sound.

“How about we all meet up tonight at Redgrass? I think we could all use a night out.” Jay suggested.

“As long as they serve food.” Aiden demanded with a grin.

Jay sighed. “We're in K'tharkle city. You can't throw a boot without hitting a street vendor. Besides, you've already eaten there and you liked it.”

Aiden went quiet for a moment. “Do you think C'nthia will be there?”

Jay blinked, “I'm not sure what answer you're hoping for. I don't know the answer to your question though. Maybe?”

Norri giggled, “You and C'nthia huh?”

Aiden wiggled his eyebrows just as M'redith returned.

“She's a good dancer,” Aiden volunteered with a pleased smile.

“Who? Nevermind. Looks like you were having a fun conversation, but let's get out of here, this place is packed!” M'redith said as everyone got up and wound their way out of the dining hall.