NOVEL NEXT 093.7 - Ostracization
About halfway through their meal, Kukurnal came into the inn and came to sit down with them. He took a seat by Joe and when Joe noticed him, he looked up and smiled brightly, intending to say hello but then silenced himself as he stared at him. Kukurnal was staring at him intently, but also seeming deeply agitated. Joe set his spoon down and stared at Kukurnal, his greeting arrested as something told him to allow Kukurnal his space. The silence that followed was deep, taking on a profound significance although Joe was completely lost as to why or what was happening.
“That is what you mean, that it should be free, to work together. A greater because of the whole.”
“Huh?” Joe asked, a bit confused by the sudden conversation. Kukurnal quickly recognized he’d brought Joe into the middle of his mental conversation and began again, explaining.
“You said your people work together to accomplish great things; to be greater than any single person can be alone. Your speech today, against the breeder. I understand.”
“Oh!? Yeah. That’s… yeah. It made more sense after today?”
Kukurnal quickly nodded, excited, “It does, but…”
Kukurnal’s face fell to a grimace. Joe frowned, his eyebrows knitting, “What’s wrong? Is there… are you OK?”
Kukurnal looked up then sighed, “I… must… should I gift my knowledge away, as you said? For free?”
Joe looked at Kukurnal, pleasantly shocked, “I… well… first, I’m impressed, but secondly, no!”
Kukurnal stared at Joe, hope flickering in his eyes although he still was struggling, “How… what… but you said you shared knowledge.”
Joe nodded, “Some of my plane did so, many did not. The societ… clans that did so would often grow the fastest, developing much more quickly than others. This wasn’t the only thing that caused this, but … it was a major factor… or um… an important part of the clan’s success. But, the people who had great knowledge would gain their wealth by selling their service to explain it. They were teachers, or if they made book… uh… knowledge crystals, I guess? Yeah, knowledge crystals… then they sold the knowledge crystals quite cheaply, but at least so that the cost was covered by what was sold and a small amount for payment for the effort made to make it. A person should be paid for the work they have done, but at the same time, efforts were made to offer that knowledge to any who sought it, both so that the knowledge was freely available to those who sought it and that knowledge was preserved so that it could almost never be lost.”
Kukurnal pondered that, lost in thought, “Teaching.”
Joe waited for Kukurnal to continue, but he said nothing and soon Joe was left waiting while Kukurnal got lost in his thoughts. As he continued, Joe turned back to his meal and began eating, Kukurnal silent for the rest of the evening. Soon, the other two finished their meal even as Kukurnal remained lost in thought for the entire meal. They all remained quiet for him, although Garnedell and Zilnek began whispering quietly to one another, talking about their new love of bows.
After the meal finished, the two guys continued speaking but soon grew bored and looked to Joe. Joe was confused for a bit before he realized they were looking to him for permission to leave. Joe frowned, a bit frustrated that they still felt the need to ask but didn’t wish to disturb Kukurnal and simply nodded, letting them know they could leave. Garnedell stood swiftly and silently while Zilnek wasn’t careful with his chair. It thunked and squeaked loudly across the floor and although it wasn’t that loud in the crowded dining hall of the inn, it was still enough to draw Kukurnal’s attention.
“Ah. You are finished. I seemed to have been lost in my thoughts. Thank you for allowing me some time to ponder.”
Joe nodded, “Sure. That’s fine. Did you want to talk more?”
Kukurnal opened his mouth to respond, seemingly almost reflexively replying in the affirmative but then paused and shook his head with a soft sigh, “Thank you for the offer, Joe, but I have much to think on. Please enjoy your evening. I will see you again at a later time.”
Joe smiled softly, nodding, “Don’t become too overwhelmed. You are correct to be concerned with how to appropriately pay and be paid for various services while still being as free as possible to others. Without pay, you and your family starve. Be as free as possible to your community while still being responsible for you and your family.”
Kukurnal paused at that before nodding, the thought becoming rooted in his mind as his nods grew firmer and greater as he came to understand and agree with it, “Thank you much, Joe. I appreciate your wisdom.”
Joe barked out a laugh, “Ha! Not my idea. These are ideas of my ancestors. Some have been… very good, some very bad. Wisely evaluate them.”
“And I can seek you out for you and your people’s wisdom?”
“Of course, although still consider it very wisely. My people are different. Our ideas may only be successful because we are different.”
Kukurnal nodded once again, quickly getting lost in thought with that statement and stood. He absentmindedly bowed to him and offered his goodbyes before leaving for the evening.
“Much thanks, eccentric Joe. I must be on my way.”
“See you later, Kukurnal.”
Kukurnal did not respond, turning to leave the inn common room and Joe slumped back in his seat with a sigh and a concern. He wasn’t quite worried for Kukurnal, but he was still a friend and seeing him like this was a worry if only in the sense that he found Kukurnal to be his friend. He nodded and then stood, muttering under his breath before turning to follow the boys back up to his room.
“Hope he figures it out,” Joe grimaced as he walked up the stairs, preparing for the night. He was already opening up his status and exploring his gains for the day, ready to make note of any specific details that might come to him within his notebook. He studied his stats carefully, noting them before moving on quickly, stats no longer a meaningful concern to him.
His skills were becoming of greater interest to him, but he sighed as he looked at what he’d gained. Gifted proved pointless although he still checked. It really did look like skills were not offered outside of every five levels and since it had only gotten to level forty eight from forty five, he was certain there was no point and he was proven right.
Loki Patriarch was just as useless since all the skills were identical and all he’d gained was a new curse called ‘curse: forget job.’ That had very interesting implications, and his curiosity got the better of him but the help pretty much proved what he’d thought. The Loki patriarch job had the capability to essentially erase a job back to level zero. That… wow… wonder if I could force that on others? Seems like I could… since it is a curse… but that seems… really OP. Well… guess I would have to know what job they have, right? Can’t really just say curse their current job, can I? Joe blinked at that thought and began nodding his head. Maybe… or … time for testing later?
Epic was the next job in the duelist line, and proved the same as other duelist jobs, although it did break the pattern by giving the job fencer dual axes. Better than dual flails, I guess… Joe bemoaned before turning to look at what bruiser did; the next job under warrior.
Bruiser proved to be more in line with his concept of a bruiser. It gained the ability to be a pugilist and had three skills: heavy punch, take hits, and no fear. The exploration of the skills revealed them to be exactly what he expected of them, and he soon turned to practicing his skills diligently if absent mindedly.
He ended up staying up quite late, since he’d slept almost the entire night last night and wasn’t near tired enough to fall asleep. He practiced his magic healing and his spatial skills again and again, falling into absent minded repetition. Towards the end of it, he perused his status window again, looking at each page in blind boredom. Nope… nothing different… everything’s the same.
Joe sighed and turned back to his practice. It took him a long time to fall asleep that night.
* * *
Gunlan stood within his room stalking back and forth with great agitation. He had been delayed in fleeing the city and now it would almost be too late. He could only hope that he was able to escape before the representative arrived. A day or two’s delay was not a concern, but now three was making him quite worried. Suddenly, his room opened and a head slid in the door, a soft nod the only display before it closed again. Relief swelled through him and he shouted out, calling for his various staff and slaves.
“We leave now! Bring the carriage. Pack my bags. You have two bells. Retrieve everything and meet at the carriage or you will be killed.”
Gunlan, second in line for Patriarch of Coushar, spun away and immediately stalked from the room, immediately heading for the carriage.
* * *
Ponus, the god of ceaseless toil stirred. A call to his dao had arrived and he roused to seek it out. As always, he was eager for a new adherent, but when he sought out the being who’d called upon his dao, he found the man without faith and frowned The man’s understanding was … lacking and quite weak, if not even utterly incompatible. He sighed in disappointment. Still, it was a new fertile land that called to him, and he delved, searching for an adherent and a flock upon this new, if rather strangely wealthy, cradle. The wealth excited him for it would most certainly increase the usefulness of any follower from this cradle, and his lazy perusal turned a bit more diligent. The mana points were oddly thick while the mana presence proved almost… inadequate. Such… a strange cradle.
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
480.00
Physical:
Wind
48
SP
480.00
Piercing
144.00
Water
48
MP
480.00
Crushing
144.00
Earth
48
Attack
240.00
Slashing
144.00
Fire
48
Defense
240.00
Ice
48
Magic
192.00
Gravity
48
Magic Defense
192.00
Gifted
48
Magnetic
48
Strength
240.00
Epic
44
Light
48
Dexterity
240.00
Bruiser
44
Shadow
48
Agility
240.00
Loki Patriarch
44
Space
48
Speed
144.00
Spirit
48
Endurance
144.00
Mental
48
IQ
480.00
Sound
48
Wisdom
480.00
Electricity
48
Will
360.00
Learning
48000.00
Luck
240.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
352.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
220.00
Piercing
176.00
Water
0
MP
88.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
0
Attack
660.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
0
Defense
220.00
Ice
0
Magic
44.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
44.00
Epic
44
Magnetic
0
Strength
264.00
Light
0
Dexterity
352.00
Bruiser
44
Shadow
0
Agility
660.00
Loki Patriarch
44
Space
0
Speed
264.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
176.00
Mental
0
IQ
88.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
44.00
Electricity
0
Will
44.00
Learning
88.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
176.00
Physical:
Wind
0
SP
176.00
Piercing
132.00
Water
0
MP
44.00
Crushing
132.00
Earth
0
Attack
220.00
Slashing
132.00
Fire
0
Defense
132.00
Ice
0
Magic
132.00
Gravity
0
Magic Defense
132.00
Bruiser
44
Magnetic
0
Strength
220.00
Light
0
Dexterity
132.00
Shadow
0
Agility
132.00
Loki Patriarch
44
Space
0
Speed
88.00
Spirit
0
Endurance
220.00
Mental
0
IQ
44.00
Sound
0
Wisdom
44.00
Electricity
0
Will
33.00
Learning
44.00
Luck
0.00
Status
Blessings
Current Job
Curses
Available Jobs
Current Skills
All Skills
Log
Joe McConnell
Status
Physical Resistances
Magical Resistances
HP
132.00
Physical:
Wind
88
SP
44.00
Piercing
0.00
Water
88
MP
44.00
Crushing
0.00
Earth
88
Attack
132.00
Slashing
0.00
Fire
88
Defense
132.00
Ice
88
Magic
44.00
Gravity
88
Magic Defense
44.00
Loki Patriarch
44
Magnetic
88
Strength
44.00
Light
88
Dexterity
44.00
Shadow
88
Agility
44.00
Space
88
Speed
44.00
Spirit
220
Endurance
44.00
Mental
220
IQ
352.00
Sound
88
Wisdom
660.00
Electricity
88
Will
418.00
Learning
13200.00
Luck
44.00