Chapter 182

Jay's friends were almost done eating by the time Jay reached the table.

“Who were your new friends?” M'redith asked with a smile as Jay leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Hey, where's my kiss?” Aiden asked in mock outrage.

“Ask Norri.” Jay said flippantly.

Aiden turned to Norri who smiled sweetly at him before she flicked him in the forehead with one finger. “Shush. Eat your food,” she said with a smile.

Jay sat down and took a bite out of his pancakes as he replied to M'redith's earlier question.

“Some kids here for a church youth group outing,” Jay stated as he took another bite.

“Oh I remember Young Adventurers Club! The meetings were sometimes boring but the outings were fun! What are they here for today?” Norri asked excitedly.

Jay shrugged as he ate some of his fruit cup. “A ring event it sounded like. Not sure where they're going for it though.”

Aiden nodded, “YAG was fun back in the day but I don't miss the sermons. The outings were always fun though. We never did a ring event but we did take down a wild boar once. And we would do mini-dungeons sometimes.”

“Mini-dungeons, what are those?” Jay asked.

The others at the table shared a look before Aiden explained, “It is just like a regular dungeon but with only one or two rooms. A normal adventurer group wouldn't bother with them usually but a group of kids with a youth pastor would probably get something useful out of it. Usually the youth pastor takes a group in and makes sure the kids don't get hurt. It's not exactly like running a dungeon but close enough when you're 11.”

“Did you have youth groups back on Earth?” M'redith asked and Jay laughed.

“Sure, but they were mostly singing and sermons and games. There was no combat,” Jay explained.

Jay finished wolfing down his breakfast just as the others finished theirs.

“So what did you guys end up doing last night?” Jay asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“We found a games store that sold all sorts of games. They had a section of marbles that were made out of various stones that M'redith really liked,” Aiden pointed out.

“And Aiden brought us to a stir-fry stand where they cook your food right in front of you. It was ok,” Norri said.

“What? It was delicious!” Aiden insisted.

Norri shook her head apologeticaly, “It wasn't that good Aiden, sorry.”

M'redith watched with a smile before she spoke, “After I dropped these two off I visited Redgrass. Sha'li was working,” she began but was quickly interrupted by the others.

“You didn't tell me you were going to Redgrass!” Aiden said right as Norri said, “You said you were going for a walk by yourself!”

M'redith shrugged, “I'm allowed to take a walk by myself you know,” she said as she eyed Aiden and Norri steadily, “a walk to Redgrass.”

M'redith peered at Norri and Aiden who let go of their faux rage quickly as she was right. Nothing said they had to travel together everywhere they went.

“So?” Norri asked as she motioned to M'redith to continue, “What happened? Why did you go? Did they let you in? Who was there?”

Jay laughed as M'redith shook her head as if to shake off the multitude of questions.

“I went to speak with Sha'li. Yes, they let me in. C'nthia was there – she said to say hello to you by the way Aiden,” M'redith said with a grin.

Aiden blushed but smiled in an attempt to hide it.

“How'd you get in?” Norri asked.

M'redith smiled coyly, “With a straight back, a title, and asking just the right question.”

Jay laughed, “How is C'nthia doing?”

“She is good – she said to ask you to drop by when you got the chance. Said she has something she'd like to go over with you.” M'redith explained as Jay nodded.

“She probably wants to talk about offering me a full share, I'll make a note to talk with her about it this week,” Jay said as if he really would remember it.

“As for why I went, it was to ask Sha'li to go and explore some ruins with all of us this week. She was working so I wasn't able to speak with her directly but we traded messages and she said she'd love to join us and that Thursday after breakfast would be a great time to do so. So mark that on your list of things to do this week too,” M'redith said and looked a bit proud of herself.

“Wait! What day is today?” Aiden asked quickly.

Norri and M'redith both turned to him at the same time and said, “Wednesday!”

Jay shook his head and got up to stack up everyone's trays before he picked them up and brought them up to the counter. By the time he had returned everyone was standing and ready to head out.

They walked out in to the bright sunlight and immediately turned to take the path towards the training hall. They were all dressed for adventure and were wearing their armor and carried their weapons and packs with them. No one knew exactly where they'd be that day so they had all come as prepared as they could be.

A crowd of students had formed outside of the training hall. Most of the students were lined up in front of a number of stands that held the schedule for the day for each class. Jay and his group got in to line to wait their turn.

The area was a bit loud thanks to everyone talking with each other. Thankfully the line moved quickly and it wasn't long before Jay and his group reached the front.

There were no instructors there, just the schedules pinned to the large wooden board that had been set up in front of the training hall. One of the sheets listed students alphabetically. Jay found his name and saw that he had “Secret Secrets and Entrances” scheduled for that morning.

No one had more than one class scheduled for that day.

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“I've got Woodland Creatures First Aid!” Norri said excitedly as M'redith quietly explained to her how to get to the spot the class was being held at. It wasn't on Guild grounds and she'd need to take a cart there. Once she felt confident that she knew where to go she thanked M'redith and turned to the rest of the group.

“How about you guys?” Norri asked as she practically bounced up and down on her toes.

“Adventurer's Basic Logistics,” M'redith replied as she studied the class location. It looked like an address somewhere in the crafter's district of K'tharkle city. She'd have to take a cart as well.

Aiden found his own name and read off his class, “Healing 102, Wound Prep, and it looks like it's going to be held at the Infirmary here at the Guild. At least one of us won't have to take a cart!”

Jay looked through the class lists until he found his class for the day. Next to it was written the location for each class – Jay's class appeared to be meeting at the Portal House, room 15. Jay pointed it out to the others who seemed a bit curious.

“Wonder where you're really going,” M'redith said with a quick smile aimed at Jay. “Speaking of which – if we don't all get going we're all going to be late to where we're going.”

There was a moment of awkwardness when the group was ready to disperse. Usually they went everywhere together. It felt strange to go off individually after over a month of spending almost every waking moment together.

“See you guys,” Aiden said simply as Norri smiled and waved at the others. M'redith leaned over and gave Jay a quick kiss but that was it. Jay said goodbye to his friends and they all headed off in separate directions.

Jay felt a bit alone as he walked to the front entrance alongside a crowd of other people who were doing the same thing. Jay didn't feel lonely, just alone. He had rarely traveled throughout K'tharkle city without someone by his side.

He felt a sense of freedom as he headed off on his own without the presence of his friends. He walked towards a line of people who had queued for a cart and waited his turn. Carts came and went as he waited until it was finally his turn. The scent of summer and horses filled the courtyard as he gave the next driver his destination and handed him a few coins. Jay walked back around and got in to the cart with a cheerful bounce to his step.

He relaxed as the cart pulled out of the courtyard and in to city traffic. The ride was more relaxing than anything else and Jay felt as if he didn't have a care in the world for a change as the cart rumbled over the paved city roads.

He felt himself pressed up against the side of the cart as they took a corner at speed but then settled as the cart slowed to a stop. They had pulled in to the portal house's courtyard where carriages and the occasional cart loaded and unloaded passengers.

As soon as Jay had exited his cart he gave the driver a coin as a tip and was immediately met by a woman wearing a strange blue hat. She smiled pleasantly at Jay.

“Welcome, and good morning! Name?” she asked.

“Jay. I'm supposed to meet for a class in room 15.” he offered and the woman nodded.

“Excellent! Right this way please if you would just follow me,” the woman said in a happy tone of voice as she led Jay in to the building.

They passed various rooms before she led Jay to a room with a plaque on the door. It read '15.'

She opened the door and motioned Jay inside. He thanked her and walked in to the room. The door closed behind him.

The room was the standard portal house room for departures. A round table with seats enough for 8. A closed door on the other side of the room that led to the room with the actual portal inside. Magical lighting hung from the ceiling and lit the room brightly.

Jay realized he wasn't alone. A number of people were already seated at the table and he recognized them instantly.

“Jay? What are you doing here!” asked a young looking man who had barely started to grow facial hair.

Jay grinned widely, “Hey Neiman, I was going to ask you the same thing. I'm here for a class, are you guys here for your outing?”

As he sat down the others at the table greeted him as well and he nodded in their direction.

Cory was there, a boy even younger than Neiman, with short blonde hair and a mischievous smile on his face. Bess was there as well, a young serious looking girl with black hair done up in a single braid.

They all had donned simple looking padded armor. Neiman had a sword strapped to his waist in a scabbard and the other two had staffs.

It seemed that Neiman spoke for the group. “We are. Just waiting for our youth pastor now.”

Jay nodded and the group went quiet.

The door opened and startled everyone present. All three children jumped in their seats and Jay glanced towards the door.

In walked a rather short looking man who wore a set of used looking leather armor and carried a heavy pack on his back. He carried a staff and wore the symbol of Gaia on his chest, two teal triangles, one above the other, barely touching.

“Good morning!” the man said in a higher pitched voice than Jay had expected based solely on his size. “I see we are still waiting for one person. That's ok! We'll just start and they can catch up when they get here.”

The children all knew him by sight and smiled and waved in greeting. Jay nodded in hello but didn't say anything yet.

“If you're a kid then you already know why you're here! For our outing today we are going to visit ruins just as we had planned. You'll get to try out a real ring event. If you are not a kid then you signed up for my class Secret Secrets and Entrances, and you might be feeling a bit confused right now.” the man explained cheerfully.

Jay nodded again with the faintest hints of a smile.

“Well, I'm double booked! So today we are going to be doing both. An outing and a class. So – we're still going to visit a ruin but which ruin has changed a little. Today we will be visiting the Pointless Ruins!” the man said excitedly.

Jay raised an eyebrow without intending to – it just happened. The man pointed at Jay.

“You're here for class. Today I will be showing you some of the various kinds of secrets and hidden entrances that you might encounter out in the wild. Also, my name is Victor. I am a priest of Gaia and a youth pastor for these young ones here,” he said as he motioned towards the children.

“I'm Jay, good to meet you Victor,” Jay said kindly and the priest walked over to Jay and shook his hand.

The priest nodded and smiled as he sat down at the table with everyone else. “We're just waiting on one more student and we can head out.”

Jay sat and tried to relax as time passed. After ten minutes though the youth pastor appeared to have run out of patience. Just as he stood up the entry door to the rooms opened and their final member stepped in.

She smiled brightly and eyed Jay as she apologized for being late. She gave no excuse. She just said she was sorry.

The priest wasn't thrilled at having to wait and nodded at her to have a seat.

She slowly sat down next to Jay and set her pack to the side. She smelled faintly of strawberries and a floral scent he couldn't place. It was strong and Jay wondered if she had used the entire bottle of perfume.

“Hi Jay,” she whispered to Jay as she sat next to him. He recognized her immediately.

Jay sighed. “Hi Carly.”

So much for a relaxing day.

“Great! We're pretty much good to go! Loot will be need before greed, anything else is rolled on by anyone who wants it. Stay with the group and do not go off on your own. Don't attack unless I tell you to. Got it?” Victor said as he eyed each of the children who all nodded enthusiastically.

Jay and Carly shared a brief look before they nodded as well.

“Alright then, everyone up and in to the next room! Jay and Carly first, then the children, then me. Same order through the portal! Let's move children!” Victor said as he rested his staff against his chest and clapped to get the children moving.

Jay smiled as he got up and opened the door to the adjoining room. He filed inside where a mage had already formed their portal. Jay didn't hesitate and walked right through. The rest of the group followed along behind them and it wasn't long before the portal snapped shut once again.