Chapter 22

Jay awoke to the heavy sounds of someone banging on his door. Getting up he pulled on a pair of pants and opened the door to find Aiden standing there grinning like a fool.

“What time is it?” Jay asked while rubbing his eyes as Aiden walked in to the room and sat down after closing the door behind him with a satisfying click.

“I don't know. Dawn?” Aiden said with a grin.

Jay groaned in response. “Oh my gods I'm going to kill you. I was hoping to get a little sleep before I had to leave again.”

“Leave? Where? You still have to tell me how last night went, you're not going anywhere!” Aiden said in mock shock.

“No,” Jay disagreed, still not entirely awake, “I'm supposed to run a dungeon for some guy high up in The Guild. I have to be at the front gates right after breakfast.”

Aiden tilted his head, “Now I'm not sure which I want to ask you about more. M'redith or this mystery guy.”

Jay yawned as he walked back in to his bedroom to get dressed. He wore his cargo pants along with a heavy shirt and his pocket laden vest. He put on his belt and attached his pouches and his Mighty Book. He grabbed his telescoping staff to complete the outfit. He was as prepared as he could be he supposed.

While he got dressed he told Aiden how the night before had gone, describing the coach they had taken, M'redith's amazing outfit, how she had sat close to him the entire night, the strange run ins with Walter, and finishing up with the kiss at the end of the night, which Jay was still thinking about.

“Wow.” Aiden said as he scratched his head, “Well that sounds sketchy. Not the kiss, that sounded great, I meant Walter. He just happens to want you along to test out an ability? Something else is going on there. He's paying for everything which leaves you nothing to complain about. There has to be a catch.”

Jay nodded and leaned against his walking stick while holding on to it with both hands and stretching out his back. “M'redith said something similar. Its not like I can just ask him what the catch is and I can't afford to turn down an opportunity like this. He's given me an offer I can't easily refuse, but money in my experience doesn't just fall from the sky.”

Aiden shrugged. “You'll find out the catch soon enough, right?”

Jay laughed, “Great point. I'll fill you and M'redith in when I get back.”

Aiden stood up, “Ok, lets head to breakfast. Besides, I'm looking forward to watching you and M'redith act awkward and confused around each other at the table.”

Aiden laughed while Jay grinned and sighed. They locked up and left after turning out the lights and got to breakfast to find M'redith already there and eating a plate of what looked like blueberry pancakes covered in syrup. Sitting down with trays of food Aiden took the seat across from M'redith leaving the seat next to her for Jay.

They were just as awkward as Aiden had predicted and they made small talk about the night before and the play they had seen. Aiden finally rescued them, “Ok, Jay has to go soon. Any last words of wisdom for him?”

M'redith nodded while losing her awkwardness and becoming serious. “Don't lose your temper if things go wrong. Pay attention to details. Speak up if something bothers you. Come back home safe.”

Aiden said, “I agree with her.” as he finished eating.

“I'll be careful I promise you two.” Jay insisted. “I want to come back as much as you want me to come back I assure you.”

M'redith placed a hand over his and squeezed, “Don't worry. It'll probably go smoothly and you'll have a lot of fun!”

Jay smiled.

“You two are entertaining to watch you know that?” Aiden said making them both blush and move apart slightly. “Jay, you're going to be late, breakfast is about over.”

The three got up and Aiden brought up their trays as M'redith and Jay walked out to the front gate, Aiden catching up after them.

A large black and gold coach dominated the courtyard and for a moment Jay wasn't sure it was for him until a waiting guard recognized him and waved him down. “This way young master Jay.” The doors to the coach opened and revealed the lush interior cabin.

If the coach from last night had been a limousine then this coach more resembled a top of the line executive luxury vehicle. It was understated in a way that still managed to scream expensive and quite obviously was owned by someone of vast means.

M'redith grabbed Jay's hand while looking slightly worried. “Be careful.” she said while giving him a hug that reminded Jay of last night and for a moment caused him to forget about everything else.

She stepped away and was replaced by Aiden and a half handshake half hug ending with a manly thump on the back. “Don't get killed.” Aiden said with a grin.

Jay let out a bark of a laugh and nodded. “Promise!”

The doors shut behind him and he waved to his friends as the coach pulled away.

The ride was most likely a quick one but felt like it took hours to Jay. He was nervous. He couldn't fight and had no fighting abilities. He would have to rely on the other group members for his safety, people he didn't even know. That made him nervous.

The coach pulled to a stop in a large but mostly empty courtyard. Jay stepped out and was greeted by an attendant wearing a blue suit and a fancy hat the style of which Jay had not seen before. Jay was reminded that he had meant to get a hat the other day but had run out of time. The man was about a foot shorter than Jay with serious looking features but spoke politely to Jay as a servant would to a master.

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“You are expected sir, this way please. Do you have need of anything? Food? Drink?” the serious looking man asked Jay without looking back as he led the way further in to the building.

“Oh,” Jay said caught somewhat by surprise, “I'm sorry. I already ate I'm afraid.”

“Not to worry sir,” the guide replied while walking them past a wide reception desk and a number of frighteningly armed guards that were stationed all over the building. “That will just mean you and your group can start as soon as your final member arrives.”

Jay was led to a richly appointed room with a table taking up the center, three well armed people were already seated. They did not get up at Jay's approach.

The attendant leaned over to Jay and whispered, “Where are you from sir?”

Jay didn't think much of the question and answered “I'm from a place called Massachusetts, but you can just say Earth if that is easier.”

The attendant nodded and announced Jay loudly, “Young master Jay of Earth,” before he turned and left the room.

Two men sat at the table along with a woman. Each wore armor of various types and all carried a weapon. They looked dangerous and felt dangerous to Jay just standing near them. Not one of them looked happy to see Jay so he decided to seize the initiative and try to change that. They were probably upset and worried about having to carry a snot-nosed level 1 know-it-all through a dungeon and Jay wanted to let them know that wasn't who he was.

“Hello, I'm Jay obviously. I'm going to be upfront with you all. I do not possess combat abilities. I've just started learning how to use my staff. I'm not here to look fancy or impress anyone. Tell me what I should do and I'll do it. I'm going to depend on you all and your years of experience. I won't argue with you and I'm not here to give you guys a hard time. I'm not sure what you're used to but I don't want to make trouble for anyone. I just want to come back safe and sound.” It came out in somewhat of a rush due to Jay's nervousness but it was clear he meant what he said.

Jay stopped at that and took a seat at the table without being asked and let his words settle in to the minds of his other group mates. Finally the leader spoke.

“I'm C'nthia. I run this group. While that was a pretty speech it means nothing compared to your actions. If you act the way you speak we won't have any problems. Follow my commands and you should live through this. Ignore my commands and I'll kill you myself if you put my friends here in danger. Do you understand?”

C'nthia was larger than the two men and was only five inches shorter than Jay. In Eden she easily stood above the heights of the vast majority of the population. The parts of her not covered in armor were covered in muscle and it was clear from the moment he saw her that she was the leader as well as the tank of the group. She would take all the hits and try to force their enemies to focus on her and her alone. A shield was strapped to her back and a long-sword hung at her hip.

Jay nodded in complete agreement. “Yes.” he replied simply. Sometimes the simplest replies had the greatest impact.

One of the men nodded to Jay, “I'm M'tthew. Fighter type, ranged damage, archer.” he stated simply. He unsurprisingly carried a bow and quiver. A short sword in scabbard hung from his right hip.

“Jon.” said the other man, clad in leather armor. “Fighter type, melee damage, I dual wield swords.”

Jay nodded in greeting and shook each man's hand politely. “Pleased to meet you. Um, I'm Jay, Adventurer type, I carry a staff but don't really fight, and I have a chance to upgrade loot.”

That earned him some thoughtful looks from his group-mates but no one spoke.

They sat like that quietly for quite some time and Jay had begun to become restless when Walter entered the room. He was not announced by an attendant but just walked in. It seemed he needed no introduction and his group-mates' reactions to his entrance bore that out.

Jay became even more nervous when he heard the scraping of chairs being pulled back and realized the other three had all stood at Walter's entrance and bowed their heads slightly. “Sir.” said C'nthia.

Jay stood as well but too late for it to appear as anything but an afterthought. Walter waved them all back to their seats, “Come now there's no need for all that.” Walter said with a smile.

Everyone returned to their seats as Walter walked over to the table. “Change of plans. Your final member will meet you at the dungeon entrance. He's already gone on ahead. Now, before you go, I'd like to make a few things clear,” Walter said while tapping the table lightly with one finger.

“You three are to bring back Jay and the other group member. That is your job. I am paying you three to do this job. Any loot is to be divided between Jay and the final group member. You're running a very low end dungeon so there shouldn't be any loot of interest to you three there anyway.” Walter continued before leaning up against the table.

“Who gets what loot will be decided by the system using need before greed rules. If you need it and the item is a direct upgrade to a piece of equipment you are wearing then the item is yours. If you both or neither of you need it then the system will give it to one of you randomly. This will take place for every piece of group loot. Any questions?” Warren asked while looking directly at Jay who shook his head.

“C'nthia is in charge. Obey her commands at all times. When you return Jay you will be paid a fee for participating today and any loot you earn will be yours to keep. Good luck to all of you.” Walter said before leaning over to have a quiet word with C'nthia.

After Walter had left C'nthia led them all to an adjoining room where a Mage was standing there waiting for them. “You ready?” the Mage asked.

C'nthia nodded and the Mage's face took on a look of intense concentration as a portal bloomed in to existence in the middle of the room.

“I've never seen one of these before!” Jay said excitedly while trying to examine the portal. C'nthia waved him off as the group entered one by one, “Not the time for poking around Jay, in you go.”

Jay nodded and stopped examining the portal and walked in with only a moment of hesitation. It felt like walking in to a freezer on a summer day and he could feel the cool air on his skin before it all disappeared and he found himself standing in a grassy meadow.

“Don't stop! Move to the side Jay!” M'tthew yelled over at him from off to the side of the portal. Jon reached over and grabbed his shoulder, hauling him off to the side just in time for Jay to see C'nthia walk through the portal. After a moment the portal winked out leaving the four of them alone in the meadow.

Checking a small device before stuffing it back in to a pocket C'nthia started walking without waiting for the others, “This way.”

They walked for about ten minutes then across a thick stand of trees until they finally arrived at the dungeon entrance. This looked more like what Jay thought a dungeon entrance should look like.

It looked like the entrance to a mine but with a shimmering field over the entrance much like one would see on a portal. It tickled lightly as they walked inside. “What's with the shimmering stuff?” Jay asked.

“Oh that. If you don't have a Class you can't get inside. Gaia's way of keeping the curious out of places too dangerous for them to handle I suppose.” M'tthew replied.

Inside the dungeon was a vast room, the entry area where groups would prepare for their dungeon delve. There was a campfire with log seating set up around it and what looked like their final member.

As they gathered around the fire C'nthia spoke, “Time for introductions. This is P'trick, our final member. P'trick, this is Jay.”

“Oh no,” Jay replied in disappointment, “we've already met I'm afraid.”

Yes, he would get to run a dungeon and make money and get loot. Yes, he would meet experienced adventurers and have a chance to learn from them. He would also however have to survive a dungeon with P'trick as the fifth member.

Jay had found the catch.