NOVEL NEXT 092.8 - Revenge's Trap
Joe broke out of his musings when he heard the door open and glanced back to see Gwenvair and Kilniara heading out of the room. Huh… what’s that? Why… Joe found himself nonplussed, staring around the room with some confusion and uncertain what to do. He’d entered, noticing quickly what was happening and working up to fight against it and attempt to resolve the issue in a way that wouldn’t hurt Kilniara. And despite everyone else seemingly finding no issue, Joe found himself more certain than ever that he was quite old fashioned. Joe finally just went to his bed and sat down, frowning. Are they taking the other room to give me privacy? The girls left… so… maybe it’s not what I think it is?
He looked back at the closed door and he finally decided he would just get himself ready for the night. Not tonight… I’ll need … hmm… let’s see if … She left, so it should be fine. He was exhausted and really needed to sleep. He went to the water basin, pouring some water into the basin from the pitcher beside it and then quickly washed his face and did what he could to brush his teeth as well. He was concerned for the health of his teeth, but really wasn’t certain what to do, so did what he could with swishing his mouth with alcohol and using his finger as a very poor toothbrush.
Once he felt he was clean enough, he went and settled on his bed. He stayed up waiting for Kilniara to return, worried that she would do so. He stayed up quite late, occupying himself with practicing his skills and mana, forcing himself to remain awake to confront Kilniara if she returned. He even searched his status for a time, going through each tab and absent-mindedly studying each one. The curses tab, a new one, was interesting and he stared at it for a time, focusing deeply on it. After a bit, he blinked. Why… nothing here… He flipped to other portions of his status but after going through it another half a dozen times, the monotony got to him and he stopped. By then, quite some time had passed and the quietness of the room and his own growing exhaustion convinced him that she’d returned to sleeping in her own room and he could only sigh in relief at that. So he stripped down to his pants and settled into his bed, pulling the blankets up to his chest.
He then decided to go over his gains before exhaustion came over him. Nothing much proved exciting, except maybe that he’d realized he’d miscalculated his gifted job growth. He was only fighting half the day and he’d calculated his growth based on an entire day of fighting. Despite this issue, Joe felt it was worth the ten extra days. He had more than enough time now and several job slots. The gifted job also gave him significantly more learning than any other job, so he was benefiting even if the level fifty skill proved worthless. He fell asleep looking over the underwhelming skills, having already looked at the stats the various jobs gave.
* * *
Gwenvair directed the inn’s servants to bring the new bed and water basin for her and Kilnaira. She’d been quite aghast at how poorly the room had been set up. While the innkeep and his staff scoured the city for appropriate furniture necessary for her and Kilniara, the two enjoyed a wonderful conversation and Gwenvair felt her hope and joy only rise. When the innkeep told them of their success and the soon arrival of the new furniture, they quickly ended their conversation and headed back up to the room. When they made it back up the stairs to their room, Gwenvair was surprised to see Joe already asleep, his exhaustion apparent.
Gwenvair looked at Kilniara who also glanced back at her before giggling. Gwenvair rolled her eyes, but couldn’t keep the smile off her own face either. She turned back to the door but spoke as she left.
“I’ll be right back, let me let the inn keeper know to return silently.”
Kilniara nodded and replied through her laughter, “Probably a good idea.”
Gwenvair smiled at Kilniara as she left the room to inform the innkeeper before she returned. She found Kilniara sitting on the other bed staring at Joe. Gwenvair closed the door behind her before sliding down beside Kilnaira. Like Kilniara, she found herself quite taken by Joe’s physique. Kilnaira looked over after a few moments, noticing Gwenvair and flushed red, but Gwenvair didn’t tease her, only glancing back before returning her gaze to him.
“I can see why you enjoy looking.”
Kilniara stared at her for a moment before calming and turning back, “Yeah. I don’t… understand but there is just… something.”
Gwenvair nodded, “Yeah. It is… strange.”
Kilniara nodded. They enjoyed each other’s presence for a moment in silence, but it was broken with a knock on the door. Gwenvair leapt to her feet quickly and opened the door, warning the servants to be silent even as she glanced over her shoulder to look at Joe. She breathed in relief when he still slumbered in peace and she turned back to the servants, directing them into the room. Over the next few minutes, she quickly settled the second bed and a new wash basin in the room before shooing the servants out almost as quickly as she invited them in.
Soon, the room was quiet once more, only the sounds of Joe’s rumbling sleep heard. They settled on the bed once again, falling into silence again for a bit before Gwenvair turned to Kilniara and whispered quietly.
“It is done.”
Kilniara looked back, “What?”
“Your bond.”
Kilniara’s eyes widened, “Mine? It’s done?”
Gwenvair nodded, “It is solidified. Complete.”
Kilniara breathed in relief and reached over to hug her, “Thank you.”
Gwenvair grimaced with some embarrassment, “I apologize for being so slow. Joe… was adamant to be certain and take things slowly… and I was developing the foundational bond with Joe before it is solidified.”
Kilniara grew interested, “You control the bond formation?”
Gwenvair nodded, “Not only the bond itself. But yes. A slow formation, a deliberate formation is stronger and much more stable.”
Kilniara sighed, smiling with joy, “And yours?”
Gwenvair grinned, “Mine … mine is uniquely tied to the foundation, so it must wait with the foundation as well.”
“How soon?”
Gwenvair smiled softly and glanced at Kilniara, “A day… maybe two. It will be soon.”
Kilniara wiggled into Gwenvair's side at that and the two fell silent for a time, staring silently at Joe. After a time of silence, Gwenvair turned to look at Kilniara with some concern.
“Does he usually sleep so early?”
Kilniara glanced at Gwenvair, knitting her eyebrows, “Yes?”
Gwenvair frowned, “Always?”
Kilniara thought for a bit before nodding, “He is usually first to bed.”
Gwenvair sighed, “Then… is he sick?”
It was Kilniara’s turn to frown at that, “I do not think so. He seems… very strong and healthy.”
“But he sleeps so early?”
Kilniara replied a bit defensively, “He also rises very early. Quite a bit earlier than I.”
Gwenvair raised an eyebrow at that, “How early?”
Kilniara shrugged, “To be honest, I am not certain. He is always awake when I wake. And he wakes before the sun’s rising.”
Gwenvair sat back, surprised, “Oh, then he is an early riser?”
Kilniara nodded, “He definitely is.”
Gwenvair sighed with a groan, “Not something I look forward to.”
Kilniara hid a smile, “You sleep in?”
Gwenvair struggled to withhold her blush, turning her face away before replying, “It is enjoyable to sleep.”
Kilniara giggled, “Well, if you want the early morning training…”
Gwenvair whipped her head back around, then groaned, “Ahh… right. How early?”
Kilniara nodded, “Before breakfast.”
Gwenvair took a deep breath before steeling herself, “OK. Then I will prepare.”
Kilniara smiled, “I think it will be easy for you. He sleeps early.”
“Yes?”
“And you do not want to cuddle with him?”
Gwenvair struggled to hold her breathing calm but couldn’t hold back the red flush creeping up her face. She looked up at Kilniara, seeing her smile then nodded herself.
“You do have a good point.”
Kilniara giggled. Gwenvair smiled, gracefully accepting the humor for she could Hear her sister’s love and pleasure at Gwenvair’s own enjoyment.
Kilniara then sighed, “It’s wonderful to wake in his arms.”
Gwenvair also sighed, but now in subtle disappointment for not having experienced it herself, “I wish to know this myself, although… there is no point. We need to wake quite early to meet my mother if we wish to finish the preparations. She is… quite busy.”
Kilniara sighed, frowning before turning to look at Gwenvair mischievously, “Then we should start quickly?”
Kilniara giggled as she quickly stood and prepared for the evening, throwing off her daily wear for her shift before quickly sliding across Joe and settled into his side, pulling the covers up with a shiver. Gwenvair stood, a bit shocked by Kilniara’s actions but simultaneously envious of her easy ability to throw away her pride. Gwenvair dithered for a bit, but Heard Kilniara’s blissful happiness and couldn’t restrain herself. She removed her outerwear and prepared herself before sliding into the bed demurely, pulling the blanket over herself and snuggling into Joe’s side, laying her head onto his arm and chest. His warmth bled into her, and she found her hand tracing the hard planes of his chest. Even in sleep, his chest was more stone than soft flesh. Despite that, she found herself quite enamored with it. In only moments, both Kilniara and Gwenvair found themselves lost in sleep.
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
240.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
200.00
Piercing
160.00
Water
0
MP
80.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
0
Attack
400.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
0
Defense
200.00
Ice
0
Magic
40.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
40.00
Legend
40
Magnetic
0
Strength
200.00
Gifted
45
Light
0
Dexterity
240.00
Contender
40
Shadow
0
Agility
400.00
Loki Patriarch
40
Space
0
Speed
200.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
160.00
Mental
0
IQ
40.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
40.00
Electricity
0
Will
30.00
Learning
40.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
160.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
160.00
Piercing
120.00
Water
0
MP
40.00
Crushing
120.00
Earth
0
Attack
160.00
Slashing
120.00
Fire
0
Defense
120.00
Ice
0
Magic
120.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
120.00
Contender
40
Magnetic
0
Strength
160.00
Gifted
45
Light
0
Dexterity
120.00
Shadow
0
Agility
120.00
Loki Patriarch
40
Space
0
Speed
80.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
200.00
Mental
0
IQ
40.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
40.00
Electricity
0
Will
30.00
Learning
40.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
450.00
Physical:
Wind
45
SP
450.00
Piercing
135.00
Water
45
MP
450.00
Crushing
135.00
Earth
45
Attack
225.00
Slashing
135.00
Fire
45
Defense
225.00
Ice
45
Magic
180.00
Gravity
45
Magic Defense
180.00
Gifted
45
Magnetic
45
Strength
225.00
Light
45
Dexterity
225.00
Shadow
45
Agility
225.00
Loki Patriarch
40
Space
45
Speed
135.00
Spirit
45
Endurance
135.00
Mental
45
IQ
450.00
Sound
45
Wisdom
450.00
Electricity
45
Will
337.50
Learning
45000.00
Luck
225.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
120.00
Physical:
Wind
80
SP
40.00
Piercing
0.00
Water
80
MP
40.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
80
Attack
120.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
80
Defense
120.00
Ice
80
Magic
40.00
Gravity
80
Magic Defense
40.00
Loki Patriarch
40
Magnetic
80
Strength
40.00
Light
80
Dexterity
40.00
Shadow
80
Agility
40.00
Space
80
Speed
40.00
Spirit
200
Endurance
40.00
Mental
200
IQ
320.00
Sound
80
Wisdom
600.00
Electricity
80
Will
380.00
Learning
12000.00
Luck
40.00