Chapter 55

Dinner was a repeat of lunch – people stared at them as the small group of friends quickly dried off in the long line for sustenance. The food looked delicious and, most importantly, hot.

Steaming hot bowls of tomato soup, its surface sprinkled with shredded Parmesan cheese, were handed out to each diner. Plates of grilled cheese were served with fresh just-fried potato chip slices and were quickly snatched up by the hungry students. The grilled cheese was a mix of American cheese and mozzarella, the bread lightly spread with a sweet salted butter and finally sprinkled with garlic powder. The drink was an iced lemonade, the magical ice glowing a light blue giving the glasses a sparkling radiance.

They took a seat near the exit and each immediately began to eat. They were too hungry to talk and Jay had finished his tomato soup and was about to start in on his grilled cheese when they were interrupted by the arrival of another student.

Jay looked up from his seat at the standing student, “Hello Chenowith.”

The other two at the table nodded in greeting as well. Jay thought that they had parted on slightly tense terms when they last saw each other. At least M'redith and Carly had parted on tense terms. The rest of them hadn't had a problem.

Jay motioned to the fourth seat and Chen sat down with a mumbled thanks.

“You three look like you're having a great time.” Chen remarked with a raised eyebrow.

“It's Jay.” Aiden confessed without even being prompted.

M'redith made a tight lipped face of disapproval but Jay shrugged.

“What's Jay?” Chenowith asked, puzzled.

“The reason you came over here, right? To figure out why we're all so dry and happy?” Aiden said offhandedly as he chewed on a deliciously steaming grilled cheese. He made huffing sounds with his mouth after he took a bite, the molten cheese burning the insides of his mouth as he chewed. “Its hot!” Aiden mumbled, his mouth full.

“It's actual GRILLED CHEESE. Of course it's hot. That's why you wait for it to cool off.” M'redith said looking at him in further disapproval as she toyed with her grilled cheese as she waited for it to cool off.

Chen tapped the table, “What about Jay now?”

Jay shrugged, “I can clean and dry people off. Well, one person.”

Chen grinned, “Prove it.”

Jay made a serious face. “No.”

Chen looked puzzled and thrown off his rhythm, “No?”

“No. Not until you reassure me that there is no bad blood between you and the rest of my group. I don't know what happened between M'redith and Carly last time but I want nothing to do with things that upset my friends – that includes people.” Jay said resolutely.

Chenowith raised his hands, palms outward, to show he meant no harm. “I have no problems with any of you. There is no bad blood between us. Not on my side anyway.”

The group turned to M'redith who looked surprised and unprepared for how Jay had responded. “It was a private conversation between two adult women. Nothing to worry about. Definitely not something to interfere in.” M'redith said primly, her hands on her lap as she looked over at Chenowith before looking back at Jay with an unreadable expression.

Jay shrugged after a tense moment. “Good enough for me. Come stand next to me Chen.”

Chen got up and attempted to stand to Jay's right but was immediately rebuffed.

“Other side,” insisted Jay. “That's M'redith's side.”

M'redith blushed but looked strangely pleased as Chenowith gamely swapped sides and stood to Jay's left.

M'redith scooted a foot or two away from Jay. The aura was active and Jay and Chen could both smell a relaxing ocean breeze as well as feel a slight tingling as the aura went to work on them both.

The tingling was different for everyone Jay had discovered as he kept track of how it affected each person he had used it on so far. Some people felt a light tingling – others felt something more pronounced. For Chen it came across as a light vibration across the surface of his skin.

It wasn't entirely uncomfortable, just a little, and Chenowith stood there with a stupid grin plastered to his face as he discovered his clothing was no longer plastered to his body. His dark curly hair was no longer flat and droopy but dry and bouncy, as if he had washed it and used conditioner. His expensive looking brown robes transformed before his eyes from waterlogged textiles to dry and flowing cloth. Even his dark and curly beard no longer held any moisture.

Chenowith sighed without meaning to before his eyes darted from person to person at the table to make sure no one had heard him.

Everyone had heard him.

“That is ridiculously overpowered. You can use this any time you want?” Chenowith asked with wide eyes.

“For as long as I want.” Jay answered him.

Chenowith stared at Jay as if considering something before his gaze slid to Jay's right and settled on M'redith. Chenowith appeared to be working something out in his head slowly.

M'redith slid back to Jay's side as Jay turned the aura off. Chenowith sat back down and shook his head. “You know, this would really help towards the end of a dungeon run.”

Jay looked over at him, excited to talk to another student that had been in a dungeon before. “You've been on a dungeon run before?”

Chenowith looked a little guilty, “Er, no. I have heard many stories though.”

Jay's look of excitement fell in to one of disappointment and Chenowith seemed a little embarrassed at the misunderstanding.

“Even still, by the time a group reaches the end boss they're tired and dirty. Having a thirty second cleaning would definitely lift everyone's spirits, help them fight at 100% once the battle started.” Chenowith said thoughtfully.

“If you think about it that way, you would technically be contributing to the fight by helping everyone else fight harder. Maybe your staff isn't how an Adventurer is supposed to contribute to the fight.” Chen said thoughtfully as he worked out something that had been bothering him.

Jay's expression switched to one of confusion as he followed Chenowith's line of thought. Jay was only level 4, although even that was far beyond what most of the class's levels were at that time. Still, at level 4 it was hard to predict what his class would turn in to. With the abilities Jay had acquired so far it seemed a pretty safe guess that Jay was meant to enhance an already powerful group, not engage in direct combat.

Still, knowing how to act in a battle was vital to Jay's survival, and who knew what abilities still lay in store for him as he continued to level up.

Chenowith shook his head, “Sorry, didn't mean to send you that deep in to thought. Thank you for the clean and dry. Do you mind if I mention it to others?”

M'redith looked as if a cloud had passed over her face and the emotion drained from her completely. This was the face M'redith used whenever Jay was asked a question that M'redith did not want to influence him over.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

M'redith knew that Jay often looked at her to help make decisions when he was unsure of things but sometimes she found that Jay really needed to make a decision himself. So she would put on her emotionless face and give him no clue as to her opinion on the matter. She felt it was important that he chose how to live his life and not her.

Gaia vociferously approved of her approach, even if M'redith was unaware of Her approval, and M'redith felt a fleeting moment of warmth and affection wash over her before it passed, leaving her slightly confused in its wake.

Jay noticed none of this but could tell M'redith would be no help this time. Jay nodded. “So long as people stay polite and thankful I don't mind. The moment someone treats me like a towel I'm done. Make sure they know that too.”

M'redith nodded with a smile as if Jay had passed a test he hadn't even realized he was taking.

Aiden laughed. “Towel. I'm going to start calling you Towel Boy.”

Jay chuckled, “The hell you are, unless you enjoy being wet and dirty.”

Aiden made a sad face, “Oh come on! Whatever happened to free speech?”

Jay laughed, “You're still free to say whatever you want – I'm just also free to use my ability as I see fit. See? Everybody is free!”

M'redith and even Chenowith laughed at that before Aiden grumpily agreed to not refer to Jay as Towel Boy.

“Is it okay if I bring Carly over here as well?” Chenowith asked while talking to Jay but looking at M'redith. Jay noticed that people would sometimes do that with M'redith.

M'redith shook her head. “Carly and I have an understanding now. She's welcome so long as she keeps in mind what Jay just told you.”

Chenowith nodded a little awkwardly. Jay got the strong impression that Chen was not used to following orders and was much more comfortable giving them. Carly as well had struck Jay as someone used to others doing as she asked – or demanded.

With a wave of an arm and a smile Chenowith called over Carly who stood next to him as the table only had enough room and chairs for four people.

“Hello everyone,” Carly said brightly.

Everyone said hello save for M'redith who instead gave a nod in greeting. Still, it was a polite nod – but it was very clear that a pecking order had been established between the two women. It was equally clear however that Carly was unfamiliar with being lower on the pecking order.

Jay smiled up at Carly, “How would you like to get completely dry and sparkling clean in thirty seconds or less?”

Carly let out a loud laugh. “That is one hell of a greeting.”

Aiden laughed as well but both M'redith and Chenowith were watching Jay and Carly's interaction with a straight face.

“The other students have a number of bets going over how you three have done it. Is it an item?” Carly asked with a smile.

Chenowith shook his head as Jay waved Carly over to stand to his side on his left. M'redith had by this time gotten the process down and leaned away from Jay without being asked to do so. Carly raised an eyebrow in confusion as M'redith scooted away.

“Whoa.” Carly said as her skin began to tingle.

“Tingles?” Jay asked.

“Its..” she said as her face became slightly flushed, “..a bit much.”

Chenowith went to stand up to move closer to her but she shook her head. “It's fine. Just.. distracting.”

Jay kept quiet as the thirty seconds elapsed. Finally Jay turned the field off and smiled. “So. How'd I do?”

Carly let out a deep chuckle. “You did bloody amazing. It was you then?”

Jay nodded. “Yes. And I can do it whenever I want for as long as I like. It affects one other person who must be close to me.”

Carly grinned wickedly before wiping the grin off her face as she remembered something. Putting on a more polite face she walked back over to Chenowith before turning back to Jay. “Thank you. That was really wonderful.”

Carly reached in to a pouch that she pulled out of a hidden pocket and put a silver coin on the table in front of Jay. “Worth every copper.” she said.

Others around them had been watching the scene closely and money was exchanged between students as the news spread of how the drying off actually worked. A few were daring enough to come up to Jay's table and form a small line of three people who politely asked if Jay would 'do' them as well.

Jay kindly spoke with each person and had them stand to his left. Each would then look down in front of Jay at the silver coin. Two of the students reached in to their money pouches and gave Jay a silver coin as well. The final student seemed worried as Jay finished drying him off.

“I'm sorry, but I don't have any money to give you.” said the last person, an older man who looked to be a mage of some type judging by the white robes and staff. The man scratched at his head with one hand as he held out his only copper.

“Oh that's fine.” Jays said as if it was of no consequence.

The man nodded in thanks and went to leave before Jay called after him.

“Wait,” Jay said as he reached out for the man's hand. “Here, take this.” Jay said as he handed him one of the silver. “Now we both have some money.” Jay said with a smile.

The man bobbed his head in thanks with a shocked look on his face and shook Jay's hand enthusiastically before he went back to his table and spoke to his friends in low hushed tones. Occasionally everyone at the man's table would turn to stare at Jay before turning back to listen to their friend. Word spread of Jay and his ability but no one else approached them.

People, even Guild Members, with powerful abilities frequently were hounded by others who wanted them to use those abilities. It could get to be a bit much being constantly barraged with requests. It was considered quite rude to interrupt a person's dinner to get them to use an ability on you. The students seated around Jay's friends were impressed at how Jay had handled those that had bothered him during meal time.

Still, others would wait until after the meal was over before approaching him with their questions.

“Why did you give him that money? You just got it!” Carly said with a shocked look on her face.

M'redith smiled almost with pride as she turned to Jay as he answered.

Jay shrugged, “Well if I just got it then I won't miss its absence. As for why, I didn't need that silver piece. It looked like he did.”

Chenowith shook his head, “If you keep offering things to people you're going to get twice as many people show up asking for even more.”

Carly nodded in agreement.

Jay shook his head, “I know what you're trying to say but I don't think it's entirely true. I've given things away since I've arrived here and it has worked out fairly well each time so far. I'd rather put money where it can help. Hiding it away in a vault helps no one.”

Carly made a non-committal noise, “Well most people don't collect money to help people, usually people collect money to help themselves.”

Jay nodded, “That sounds like that's the real problem, not giving away money.”

Chenowith shook his head as if he were dealing with a child. “Ok. If that is how you want to spend your money then so be it. It is your money to do with as you please.” He shot a look over at Carly who saw it and settled down, letting the topic go.

The two stood and once again thanked Jay before everyone exchanged hand shakes and they went back to their table where a few other students were seated waiting for their return. Once seated Carly and Chenowith began to speak, obviously filling them in. Students at tables around theirs leaned in to hear what they said.

Jay sighed. “Well I'm done eating. You guys want to get out of here?”

A sudden flash of lightning lit up the room even though the room was already lit with various lights. Moments later a thunderous boom sounded as if there were an explosion nearby.

“Sounds like the lightning is getting real close.” Jay said.

Aiden took up their trays as M'redith leaned against Jay's shoulder.

“You're getting popular already. First it was Walter, now its everyone who wants to be clean and dry.” remarked M'redith with a sly grin.

Jay laughed. “I suppose so. Thanks for being so good about Chen and Carly joining us.”

M'redith nodded but didn't progress the conversation further.

Jay put an arm around her and gave her a side hug and she sighed happily. Warm. Dry. Clean. Fed. She was content.

Aiden came back and Jay and M'redith stood up and arranged their clothes and belongings the best they could for the storm.

“Ok, time to swim to the library.” Jay said with a silly smile.