NOVEL SIMPLE 090.9 - A Resolution of Criminality
“What?” Joe asked, looking back and forth between the two and the Matriarch grew even more embarrassed.
Joe frowned, “Please, just… tell me?”
The Matriarch turned away, “No, it is noth…”
Gwenvair quickly interrupted, “Could you help my mother with her growth skills?”
Joe glanced at Gwenvair with surprise then laughed, “Is that all? Of course. I would love to do so.”
The Matriarch stared at him, her embarrassment now overlaid with surprised joy. She grinned a bit tremulously, “You would be willing to help me?’
Joe laughed, “Certainly. Which skill would you like to be a growth skill?”
The Matriarch stared, “I can choose any skill?”
“Well, a double check first, but… you have a sword skill on your knight job, yes? And have practiced it well?”
“Quite well, Joe,” the Matriarch replied.
Joe grinned, “Then you probably also unlocked the growth skill attached to your sword skill on your knight job. Your sword skill should be quite high since you have likely practiced quite a bit more than your daughter. You can choose any skill to become a growth skill. Your daughter chose one of her wind spell skills.”
The Matriarch nodded, “Hmm. Yes. Our people are… well trained in wind, water, and some few of us ice.”
“I noticed that on the wall.”
“Then… could I … have my ice bolt skill become a growth skill?”
“Yup. It is rather simple. Simply say: ‘Assign my char skill to my ice bolt skill.’ If you have more than one ‘char:’ skill, then you would likely want to identify which ‘char:’ skill to use by saying something like: ‘Assign my noble sword char skill to my ice bolt skill.’”
The Matriarch quickly repeated him, then paused as Joe explained more and decided to be a bit more detailed in her statement, “Assign my noble sword char skill to my ice bolt skill.”
The pop up came as expected, and Joe glanced over it and grinned, nodding towards the Matriarch, “There you go. The ice bolt skill is now also a growth skill.”
The Matriarch began breathing rapidly, almost hyperventilating, “I… this is… how can this be?”
Joe shrugged, “That’s all. There is not much to it.”
Gwenvair and the Matriarch became lost in each other’s presence, the two of them rejoicing with one another in ecstatic celebration until the Matriarch quickly pulled back, growing reserved once again.
“I … can only thank you, eccentric. What you have done is… just… thank you!”
Joe nodded, “It really costs me nothing. It’s OK.”
The Matriarch still took the time to actually bow to him and Joe found himself growing a bit frazzled, “Ah… no… it really is ok. Please, it is … it’s alright. Please stand.”
The Matriarch stood back up, “I swear to keep this a secret, eccentric.”
Joe frowned, “Why? Use it as you wish.”
The Matriarch blinked, “Why? I… You will allow me to offer it to my clan?”
Joe shrugged, “You can share it with whom you wish, if you choose to do so.”
The Matriarch breathed, “I could… share?”
“Sure?”
Joe agreed easily enough, although he was still a bit confused. The Matriarch took his agreement with a sincerity that Joe found a bit too passionate.
“I… I thank you, eccentric. I will keep this as a treasure.”
Joe took her gratefulness in stride but grew embarrassed by how effusive it was and turned the conversation in another direction.
“I… am thank… uh… you're welcome. Uh… how about we finish our meal?”
The Matriarch actually giggled at Joe’s response and Gwenvair turned to look at her mother with shock.
Her mother rolled her eyes, “Daughter, I was not always the Matriarch!”
Gwenvair joined her in her own giggle and soon all were seated back at the dinner table, now enjoying their dessert. They all enjoyed their dessert and Gwenvair seeming exceptionally excited but they all kept the conversation rather banal while enjoying the meal. When they finished their meals, Joe sat back with a slightly exaggerated sigh.
“That… was delicious.”
Kilniara grinned, “It really was so good.”
Gwenvair smiled, saying nothing but she did nod.
The Matriarch sighed and reached for her privacy artifact, “I really must return. Please enjoy your evening.”
Joe quickly nodded his head, even as Gwenvair and Kilniara both offered their goodbyes, and she left regally, now that the privacy was lifted. When she left, the others collapsed back into their chairs.
They sat in silence for a bit before Gwenvair stood gracefully from her seat, “I need to bathe.”
Kilniara looked up at Gwenvair with some surprise but then agreed, “Yeah. Me, too!”
Joe smiled, “Well… we’ll call it a night, then. I’m still pretty tired from the monster tide, so…”
Gwenvair nodded, “That would make sense. You fought longer and more than any other.”
Kilniara grinned at Gwenvair statement, flushing red a bit before she nodded, “You must be very tired.”
Joe grinned, “A bit. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Kilniara startled at that, frowning a bit, “I… tonight…”
Joe noticed and his grin softened, “Oh… tonight?”
Kilniara nodded softly while Gwenvair glanced at Kilniara before looking at Joe with a heavy look.
Joe noticed and kept his smile to hide his small annoyance. He struggled to think of how to respond before speaking simply, “OK. Just… once more.”
Kilniara’s confident smile did not return and instead was tremulous and struggling against her fear. Joe immediately stepped forward and wrapped Kilniara in his arms.
“Relax. You're safe, OK? You're safe. I know… my words don’t mean much, but you are.”
Kilniara shook her head and replied quickly, “Your words mean a lot.”
Joe sighed in relief at that, continued to hug her. Kilniara clung to him with her own relief and nodded before stepping back, her smile now braver and stronger. They stared at one another for a moment before she turned and left, Gwenvair following at her side. Joe watched them go before turning to head back to his room. He took off his shirt and this time left his pants on since he knew Kilniara would be coming later in the evening. He studied a bit, going over his mana practice and his skills practice. With his job change skill now over level one, he grinned with happiness as he could now focus entirely on healing and his two magic storage skills. Despite the fun with his skills and even knowing Kilniara was soon to come and that he should be awake to comfort her, his exhaustion had him struggling to keep his eyes open and shortly after, he fell asleep.
* * *
Darnua puttered around the small cavern he’d taken for his current home, the small cave rather deep with a couple bends that easily kept the wind far from him. A cheery fire burned in the corner, the small stack of smoke building above the fire before zipping down the cave to be release out into the dark sky. He didn’t have a door on his cave, but a poorly shaped log rested across it and blocked its entrance well enough. He hummed, poorly, beneath his breath as he shifted around the room, enjoying his meal and evening. He fell asleep quickly and easily, waking with a good mood that soured slightly. Hmm… Joe has turned dark? That is… His mood pensive for the day until the next evening when he finally decided that Joe as a dark Loki priest might prove quite helpful. Certainly useful with the skills of a dark Loki priest… if he can use them well. He is an oddity… using weapons no farmer or commoner should ever use, so… he may still be capable of combat… with the curses of a dark priest… Darnua shivered at the idea, chuckling softly under his breath.
Two days later, his humor sky rocketed, laughing wildly without concern as his god’s morning news revealed new information for Darnua. A Loki patriarch! A Loki patriarch… A Loki patriarch with dark priest curses! His laughter rang wildly throughout the cave and echoed into the small valley beyond the entrance of the cave. Darnua almost skipped throughout his day as he went from chore to chore, the wretchedness of the work not enough to overwhelm his deep joy. A patriarch!
* * *
Joe stirred, his sleep ending with the darkness of night not quite as dark as what Earth offered, the brilliance of the gas giant brightening the night sky quite a bit more than the Earth’s moon. Despite that, he was still easily able to tell it was the middle of the night and he stifled his groan. Guess I’m back to waking in the middle of the night all the time now! He fired off a monster sense then frowned with a sigh. Right… no more monster sense. He sighed again, wondering what woke him and realized that the two girls had entered his room. Joe stifled his groan, not wanting to hurt Kilniara and sat up. Kilniara quickly ran in and hugged him, sitting at his side while Gwenvair sat on Kilniara’s other side. Thankfully, Kilniara proved exhausted and collapsed into the bed, Gwenvair laying down beside her.
Joe remained seated but held Kilniara’s hand until she fell asleep, quickly huddling into Gwenvair like a wounded creature, and Joe’s irritation immediately evaporated on seeing it. He sighed softly, rubbing her back softly for a time before pulling his hand away, not wishing to disturb her sleep. He turned to his exercises as he stood and staggered across the room to fall asleep on the sofa, still exhausted. He fell asleep again almost immediately, only to wake up again, too rested to continue sleeping and not helped by his aching shoulders and back. Joe growled in irritation as he began his practice again, going through his mana and skills until exhaustion sought him out again. Despite the exhaustion, a deep underlying anger swelled the entire time he had been practicing and he found himself unable to sleep. After a bit more time, he finally stood and escaped outside for a breath of fresh air, walking around the villa for a time while enjoying the stars and the brilliant gas giant in the sky. He didn’t know how long he stayed out there, the anger simmering, swelling, then slowly and finally eroding under his exhaustion. Finally tired enough, he turned back to the villa and like the night before, he staggered down the hallway to the empty room he’d used the night before.
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
84.00
Physical:
Wind
42
SP
42.00
Piercing
0.00
Water
42
MP
42.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
42
Attack
126.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
42
Defense
126.00
Ice
42
Magic
42.00
Gravity
42
Magic Defense
42.00
Loki Cardinal
42
Magnetic
42
Strength
42.00
Light
42
Dexterity
42.00
Shadow
42
Agility
42.00
Space
42
Speed
42.00
Spirit
168
Endurance
42.00
Mental
168
IQ
252.00
Sound
42
Wisdom
420.00
Electricity
42
Will
273.00
Learning
6720.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
210.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
210.00
Piercing
126.00
Water
0
MP
42.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
0
Attack
252.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
0
Defense
168.00
Ice
0
Magic
42.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
42.00
Prodigy
42
Magnetic
0
Strength
168.00
Light
0
Dexterity
210.00
Shadow
0
Agility
252.00
Loki Cardinal
42
Space
0
Speed
126.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
126.00
Mental
0
IQ
42.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
42.00
Electricity
0
Will
31.50
Learning
42.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
126.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
126.00
Piercing
84.00
Water
0
MP
42.00
Crushing
84.00
Earth
0
Attack
168.00
Slashing
84.00
Fire
0
Defense
84.00
Ice
0
Magic
84.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
84.00
Brawler
42
Magnetic
0
Strength
168.00
Light
0
Dexterity
84.00
Shadow
0
Agility
84.00
Loki Cardinal
42
Space
0
Speed
84.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
210.00
Mental
0
IQ
42.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
42.00
Electricity
0
Will
31.50
Learning
42.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
430.00
Physical:
Wind
43
SP
430.00
Piercing
129.00
Water
43
MP
430.00
Crushing
129.00
Earth
43
Attack
215.00
Slashing
129.00
Fire
43
Defense
215.00
Ice
43
Magic
172.00
Gravity
43
Magic Defense
172.00
Gifted
43
Magnetic
43
Strength
215.00
Light
43
Dexterity
215.00
Shadow
43
Agility
215.00
Loki Cardinal
42
Space
43
Speed
129.00
Spirit
43
Endurance
129.00
Mental
43
IQ
430.00
Sound
43
Wisdom
430.00
Electricity
43
Will
322.50
Learning
43000.00
Luck
215.00