Chapter 17
Jay woke slightly early so he could grab a bath before breakfast and emerged from the bath house squeaky clean, paying a small charge to have his clothing cleaned as well. He had been embarrassed last night when M'redith had arrived at his room fresh and clean and he had stood there with a day's worth of dirt from walking in the city on him. After the bath he felt a lot better.
A light rain was falling and Jay was still too early for breakfast. Finding a few sets of benches outside of the bath house Jay sat on one and stared out at the rain. He sat quietly for a few minutes before remembering he still had notifications pending. He chose one that he somehow just knew ahead of time dealt with his stats and a message popped up.
Congratulations on reaching level 1 in your Adventurer Class. You have been awarded one stat point to use to increase your mental or physical statistics.
Jay tapped his fingers on one of the bench's arm rests. “Status.” Jay thought. His status popped up in a semi-transparent window in front of him. It had changed slightly since last time.
Name: Jay
Titles: Prophet of Gaia
Classes: Adventurer (1)
Health: 110
Mana: 110
STR: 2
DEX: 1
INT: 2
WIS: 1
CHR: 3
Boons:
Core Abilities:
Traveler's User Interface
Quest Journal
Identify / Inventory
Skills:
n/a
Jay shook his head, that was a bit much, and he had set everything but his name to [HIDDEN] anyway so that all others would see would be his name. If they were really good at scanning and identification another person might be able to see his class if they really tried but probably no more than that. It appeared there were exceptions to every rule on Eden.
“Just stats.” Jay thought. The next window was more manageable.
STR: 2
DEX: 1
INT: 2
WIS: 1
CHR: 3
It appeared chr was charisma and possibly explained why people liked Jay so much. Charisma was his highest stat. The numbers were all really low. He wondered if others started just as low. He was about to spend his one point on strength when he realized he really didn't understand what his class would need.
Fighters would probably use a lot of strength, scouts would use dexterity, mages would use intelligence, and healers would use wisdom. What would an Adventurer class need? Jay wasn't sure and wasn't about to guess at what would be a permanent decision. He set the notification aside.
He picked another notification, its window blooming in front of him as he did.
Your health has been set to 100. Your mana has been set to 100. As a reward for reaching level 1 in Adventurer you have been given 10 extra points to your health and mana. Your maximum health is now set to 110. Your maximum mana has been set to 110.
Jay wondered if everyone started with 100 in health and mana. Did everyone get 10 extra each level? Could he even be sure he would get a bonus 10 points each level? Jay just didn't know enough about how things worked to make an educated guess. It could be a different system for everybody as far as he knew.
Jay closed all the notification windows and picked another notification.
You have completed a Traveler dungeon. For successfully completing the dungeon you have been awarded 500xp.
It didn't seem like a lot. Jay thought “Experience.” and a little window popped up.
Adventurer (1) – 500/1000
He could see he was halfway to level 2, but couldn't tell how the experience system worked on Eden. Half a level for one dungeon run seemed really good right now, but would the next level also cost 1000xp or more? If more then how much more? He reminded himself to ask Aiden at breakfast.
The rain relented somewhat and switched to what Jay would describe as a light mist which hung over the city like a gray cloud. Jay got up and walked off to get breakfast but he arrived later than he had planned. Aiden and M'redith were talking but went quiet as Jay approached. “Morning.” Aiden said, watching Jay as he sat down across from Aiden and M'redith.
Aiden was wearing a simple tan shirt and black pants. M'redith wore a cream colored shirt and dark red pants, both made with a material Jay didn't immediately recognize.
“Morning. How are you two doing?” Jay asked.
“I think we're both still a little freaked out by what you have going on but we're working on being ok with it. How's that sound?” Aiden said while grinning at M'redith. He had been the one speaking but it seemed that the words had been M'redith's, who blushed while looking at Aiden with a slightly upset expression and kicked Aiden under the table.
“Sure.” Jay said only a little disappointed. It would have been too much to expect them to act as if nothing had happened. “Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere.”
Jay ate quickly as Aiden and M'redith talked about classes. Jay knew that M'redith was a Fighter class but had no idea about Aiden. “What class type are you Aiden? I haven't even asked yet I don't think.”
“Healer!” Aiden answered proudly. “I'll be your favorite group member before you know it.” He stood and stacked up everyone's trays and walked them across the room to drop them off at the counter leaving M'redith and Jay alone for a moment.
“Friends?” Jay asked, looking everywhere but at M'redith.
She smacked him on the shoulder a little harder than Jay had expected, “Of course! I just need time to think, that's all.”
“Good,” Jay said smiling. “because I don't have enough friends to lose good ones so soon after arriving here.”
M'redith and Jay sat quietly for a moment before she reached across and squeezed his hand. She let go and got up, “I have to grab my weapon from my room. I'll see you guys at class.” She waved to Aiden and headed back outside.
Aiden returned to the table and shook his head at Jay jokingly, “I give you two time to talk and you chase her away. Smooth Jay, really smooth.”
Jay laughed, shrugging. “We're good again. I think. Maybe not entirely. But its enough. For now.”
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Aiden walked back out in to the misty rain with Jay, “You two really are a mess.”
Shortly after that the three friends gathered outside their assigned classroom before heading inside. Jay carrying his staff, Aiden carrying a rather thin looking staff, and M'redith carrying a long sword in a sheath that hung from her right hip. They weren't late and took seats next to each other. The seats were a single row and faced the front of the room where a chalkboard hung on the wall behind a raised podium. There was room for plenty more chairs but only enough for the students had been set out. Jay counted fourteen chairs.
“Sit down. Take a seat and quiet down, we're about to start,” said a man in leather armor up front who stood next to a woman in a green dress. No one appeared to be paying the man or the woman much attention.
“SHUT UP!” shouted the woman up front on the podium while staring furiously at the assembled students who suddenly quieted down. “When you are here, in class or out, you will follow instructions or you will be let go.”
Jay looked over the other students who were all quiet now and noticed the boy from the flea market, Dumbass. Jay told himself he would need to find out his real name so he could stop referring to him as Dumbass in his mind.
The male instructor began to speak, “My name is Warren, and this is T'lly,” he said pronouncing her name as Tilly. “We will be your head instructors while you are in your basic training here. As instructors it is our duty to both teach newcomers while at the same time weeding out those who do not belong.”
Someone sneezed but no one said 'bless you.' T'lly glared at the person who dared to sneeze. “A few things to start with. If you have ANY problems with someone here, student, instructor, Guild Member, even the rules, anything really – you bring it directly to us. Infighting will not be tolerated. If you want to be here then you must be mature enough to get along with others. Whatever bullshit you pulled back home may have been fine there but will get you sent away if you pull it here. So grow up, all of you.”
Some of the students appeared wide eyed, startled by the sudden and aggressive monologue. Others appeared bored and probably had enough life experience to already know these things. Jay fell somewhere in the middle.
Warren picked up speaking when T'lly finished. “Everyone here should have received a manila envelope with a map of The Guild grounds as well as rules and forms you need to fill out. You should each have purchased a Figurine for use in our training program. You should have paid for your training in full by this time and have on you your preferred weapon, even if you don't intend to fight. Everyone here will fight, regardless of your class. You will get hit. You will sometimes be healed. There will be no exceptions.”
A few students appeared upset at this but wisely no one spoke.
“A word of warning,” said T'lly. “For many of you this is your first time away from home. You won a lottery or a competition, some of you had family save up, others took donations. Perhaps others were even sponsored by a full Guild member. It doesn't matter how you got here. What matters now is what you do while you are here.”
T'lly paused for a moment to let that sink in, “Many of you will take this opportunity, perhaps your first taste of freedom, and use it to find a boyfriend or girlfriend. Or even a spouse. Listen to me closely when I say this happens all the time. You are not special. You did not find 'the one.' Basic training marriages rarely if ever last, and any relationship you form will most likely be temporary.”
“As new Members, should you graduate training, you will not be able to pick your first assignments. You and your new soulmate will be sent off to different parts of Eden. Probably anyway. Regardless, it almost always ends up in tears. SO DON'T DO IT.” She yelled the last line at the gathered students, some of them leaning back a little from her intensity.
“Focus on your training. There will be plenty of time to date when you graduate,” finished Warren somewhat sheepishly. There's a story there somewhere, Jay thought.
The morning passed quickly as the various students were sorted out. Some had outstanding bills, others forgot their weapons and were sent to go get them. One hadn't read the welcome packet and had no idea they needed a Figurine. “Buy one today after class,” T'lly stated flatly. Warren was obviously going to be the nurturing one between the two of them. Dumbass had forgotten his Figurine Jay noticed. No one except for Jay, M'redith, and Aiden had shown up with everything they needed.
It did not go unnoticed. “You will each be placed in teams. We don't have enough to make 3 whole teams so the teams will change as we go. The three most prepared for this morning will be allowed to choose their teams. The rest of you will get your assignments tomorrow.
Aiden, Jay, and M'redith all pointed to each other at the same time. Warren laughed and even T'lly cracked a smile. “Ok, fine,” she said, “You three can be on the same team to start.” She checked her clipboard, flipping through it before finally finding what she needed. “Oh. Well that's interesting. Ok so you have a tank,” as she pointed at M'redith, “A healer,” as she moved her hand slightly to point at Aiden, “and an Adventurer,” she finished, dropping her hand and not pointing at all.
Everyone heard the capital A in adventurer. They were all hoping to become adventurers, but adventurers were different from the class Adventurer. There weren't a lot of them out there and most of what people knew about them was gossip and conjecture. They were known mostly for taking up a damage dealer's spot which made everyone else in the group have to work harder to kill enemies.
Warren took a breath before saying “Your Adventurer, does he have any combat abilities?”
Jay looked around to make sure Warren was talking to him. “No, I don't have any.”
T'lly looked at Warren and shrugged, “Then you'll have to train even harder with that staff if you don't want to be a drag on your team.”
Jay nodded already having figured that bit out on his own. He'd never be a monster killing machine but he could still learn how to help out in a fight.
The other students looked at Jay with a mixture of curiosity and pity. He would not be any group's first pick, especially while in training.
The rest of the day was spent going over rules, class expectations, and the schedule. They would have practice in the morning followed by classwork then break for lunch. After lunch they'd run Dungeon Room simulations based off of various dungeon maps. They'd have dinner and then the night was theirs to do with as they pleased. Jay was excited and looking forward to all of it.
Class that first day was a half day with the afternoon being reserved for students to get their situations in order, buy what they'd forgotten, pay what they owed, etc. Since Jay and his friends had already done what was required of them they had the afternoon off, unlike the other students. Jay quickly learned that attention to detail would be crucial for the next month or however long it would take. He hadn't asked how long training went on for. The three returned their belongings to their rooms and set out in to the city.
Aiden brought them to what looked like a bar named Apple Bottoms. Taking a seat at the bar between M'redith and Aiden Jay looked at the menu. “What are these drinks?”
“Oh,” Aiden exclaimed, “its fruit flavored bubbly water with a scoop or two of iced cream. My mom used to drink them.”
Steering clear of the subject of Aiden's mom Jay and friends gave their orders to the bartender. Jay again covered the cost without comment. Jay had ordered a strawberry bubbly water with vanilla iced cream. Aiden ordered a vanilla bubbly water with vanilla iced cream, and M'redith ordered peach bubbly water with a scoop of strawberry iced cream.
They were delicious and no one spoke, each of them making appreciative sounds as they ate.
A nicely dressed gentleman approached the trio and started with his patter, “Cigars? Cigars for sale! Luxury brand cigars, best in the city! You sir!” he said pointing his finger at Jay, “Surely you're a man of the world. I bet you smoke cigars all the time! Ladies love a man with a cigar!” he said while wiggling his eyebrows and winking at M'redith.
Seeing the man wink at M'redith surprisingly conjured up feelings of jealousy which Jay ruthlessly suppressed. Friends don't get jealous over friends.
M'redith tried to stifle a laugh at the man's insistent antics while completely missing the look that passed over Jay's face when the man winked.
Aiden caught it though and shook his head.
Jay tried to refuse the cigars but the man was not taking no for an answer. Finally Jay asked, “Do you have any Havalvos? You were right, good eye on you, I do smoke from time to time. I smoke Havalvos almost exclusively though.”
Aiden looked at Jay in surprise. He had yet to see Jay smoke anything let alone a cigar. M'redith looked thoughtful and glanced over at Jay as well.
“Oh I have one right here that could be Havalvos' little brother! You'll love it!” the man said while waving a package of three cigars at him.
“They taste just like a Havalvos would?” Jay asked with a suspicious look.
“Yes, yes! Great taste, you'll love it. Just like Havalvos!” he insisted.
“Ya,” Jay started, “but see the thing is I don't smoke. I made up Havalvos. They don't exist and you're lying to my face while wasting your and my time bothering me and my friends. I've already told you politely no. Leave us alone.”
Aiden and M'redith both burst in to laughter as they realized what Jay was saying. Cigar man didn't look very happy but had given up on the three and finally moved on to someone else.
The three left and walked a market area they had stumbled upon after taking a wrong turn somewhere. It was very easy to get lost or turned about in K'tharkle. It turned in to a fun afternoon. Jay ended up buying a soap that was scented with the smell of grass and fresh rain which M'redith picked out for him. She insisted that boy's were awful at picking out soap and would just use anything at hand if left to themselves. She did not help Aiden choose a soap which he then mocked her ruthlessly about for at least a city block.
They ate dinner together that night and it was quickly becoming standard for the three to spend meals together. Jay thought they were cheeseburgers and they tasted great but he was too nervous to ask what animal the meat came from. On Eden who knows Jay thought to himself.
Jay invited the two friends back to his room after dinner and they sat and talked for a few hours while M'redith played with Jay's Toy Box and the tiny Parrot toy it contained.
“UPGRADE.” squawked Sunny the parrot as Aiden poked a blue chest which went up in purple smoke. “This thing never gets old,” he said grinning.
“My turn!” M'redith demanded after Aiden had monopolized the parrot for too long. Handing the toy to M'redith they chatted for a bit before Aiden sighed. “I have to get going. I need a bath and still need to do laundry.”
M'redith nodded, “I should get my things ready for tomorrow. This was fun though. See you guys at breakfast?” she asked as if she didn't know the answer already.
The boys nodded and everyone went off to their separate rooms. Jay spent the time thinking about everything. He hadn't even thought about his family since he arrived in Eden. He hadn't even asked about the boy it seemed he had saved. Jay thought that the game system must be tamping down some of his emotions. They weren't gone entirely, he could still think about them if he chose to and feel the loss, the sadness. It just wasn't there until he focused on it though.
Jay was pretty certain that wasn't the way emotions were supposed to work.
Would he even get to see his family again? Or talk with them? How long had he even been on Eden? Did time work on Eden the same way it worked on Earth? If it didn't then Jay would have no idea how much time had passed on Earth since his accident.
Jay laid down and glanced over at the photos on his bedside table. He was still confused about his feelings but at least things had worked out with Aiden and M'redith. He wasn't sure what he'd do without the two of them. Finally Jay slipped off to sleep without even meaning to. He dreamed of a dodgeball game where neither team would pick him because he was an Adventurer.