Dungeon Noble - Squire

The rest of the week was spent running through an intensive training course as they were taught the fundamentals of how to fight.

They weren’t expected to be proficient by the end, or even good for that matter. This training was just setting the stage for them to learn more by delving into a Dungeon.

Ari had promised that he’d explain more about how Dungeons worked once they reached their first one, so Jake and the others kept their questions to a minimum. Well, they tried to anyway.

Jake enjoyed the training, even the fitness parts, but his favourite thing about the week by far was the food they were given.

Three meals a day, with whatever you wanted from the selection and large portions. The canteen was Jake’s favourite part of the Guild for sure.

Years of barely getting by weren’t going to be undone by a single week of eating well, but between his new diet and the effect of his Class and Trait, Jake felt better than ever before.

-**-

The eighth day since Jake had Ascended saw them gathering together as a large group once more in the courtyard where they’d first been brought together.

“Alright, everyone, we’ve made it to the end of the training week,” Ari called out, the general chatter fading as they all gave Ari their attention. “You know at least the very basics of what you’re doing, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’re fully trained. Whoever you’re assigned to will continue to work on your training, but it’s time to get you into the Dungeons. We’ve assigned you into groups, so form a line, and we’ll get this organised.”

Eager to move on to the next step of their training and, hopefully, start earning some money, Jake was quick to take his position in the rapidly forming line.

The line progressed quickly, as the designations were little more than Ari telling them the person they were assigned to, and in short order, Jake was stepping forward for his assignment.

“Ah, Jake, you’re with me. Get your stuff and be outside the Guild in an hour. We’re leaving today.” Ari said, giving Jake a nod before ushering him on so he could speak to the next person.

Ari was a powerful fighter, and though he seemed to prefer using greatswords rather than the sword and shield Jake had settled on, he was still a font of information and experience for Jake to draw on.

Hurrying up to his room, Jake gathered what little he called his own, which amounted to a backpack of basic survival items, his sword, dagger and shield.

Jake was still objectively better at fighting with his dagger than his sword, but the last week of combat drills had at least given him the start of his foundation for the sword.

Heading back downstairs, Jake stepped outside and took a moment to take in the steady stream of Classers heading in and out of the Dungeon.

“Dreaming of making your fortune?” Ari asked, making Jake start in surprise as he realised the older Classer had joined him outside.

“Money, power, the freedom to do what I want,” Jake said, his hands curling into fists as he promised himself he’d get it all.

“Take some advice and make sure you don’t push too hard. That’s how things go wrong. Tier one is pretty forgiving, but the further you go, the higher the chance of a true death or of burning out.”

“I can’t spend money if I’m dead,” Jake said, shaking his head slightly at Ari’s words. “I’m no fool thinking I can cruise through this. It will be hard work, but I’m no stranger to getting my hands dirty.”

“Good answer,” Ari said with a mirthless chuckle. “Too many people get complacent. They forget that the Dungeon exists to kill them. Keep that attitude, kid. You might even get to be my tier someday.”

“What tier are you?” Jake asked curiously. He’d been wondering since the first time he met Ari, but there was never a good moment to ask.

“I’m tier four, single Class, but keep that to yourself. It’s not wise to give things like that away so easily,” Ari said softly, his tone more serious than normal.

“Then why tell me at all?” Jake asked, confused as to why Ari would give up such information if it were precious.

“Whimsy, gut instinct, call it whatever you want,” Ari said, waving away the question idly. “You won’t meet many people of my tier or higher in this Realm, so you should measure the strength of my soul and take note of who to avoid.”

“This Realm?” Jake cocked his head to one side, not sure what Ari meant.

“Hmm, we normally cover this later, but we’re still waiting on the others, so why not. Consider reality as a woven layer that contains all of existence. This Realm, Vash, is the loosest weave, with everything nicely bundled together. There are four more Realms above this one, and each has more existence packed into it, so that weave gets tighter and tighter as it has to hold everything in place. Get it?”

“No?”

“Eh, me neither, but that’s the way it was explained to me,” Ari said with a shrug. “When you get to tier three or four, you’ll move to Graldan, the next Realm. You’ll understand it all then.”

“Why help us?” Jake asked, continuing when Ari simply raised a brow questioningly. “You are three tiers above us and should be in a different Realm. Why spend time teaching freshly Ascended Classers who know nothing?”

“Sometimes, the best way to make a difference is to work within the systems you have. I might be unable to change how unfair things are between people like you and those with rich parents, but I can do my part to balance the scales.”

The door to the Guild opened, halting any further questions that Jake might have had as Karl came striding out to join them.

Jake had spent a little time with Karl during the week, so they were familiar enough that he was a welcome addition to whatever team Ari had arranged.

Karl was carrying a warhammer and a shield, and Jake knew from experience that the big man could put both to effective use. He’d clearly had training before he became a Classer.

Rhew, the blue-eyed woman whom Jake had met in passing on that first day, was the next to join them, though, unlike Jake and Karl, she carried a wand made of white wood.

The final one to join them was a short, thin man with a sallow complexion that somehow emphasised his bright green eyes, which were constantly on the move, watching and measuring everything around him.

“Well, we’re all here. Let’s get introductions out of the way,” Ari drawled, gesturing for them to gather around. “I want you to either tell us your Class or which grouping it’s part of. Feel free to hide the specifics, but knowing what you can each do is the difference between a group of Classers and a team. You first.” Ari gestured at Karl before crossing his arms and leaning against the wall of the Guild.

“Karl Borvon, combat Classer, hammers specifically,” Karl said, giving each of them a firm but welcoming nod.

“Rhew Larian, caster Classer, ice variant,” the blue-eyed woman spoke next.

“Alan Teller, hybrid Classer, Scholar,” the short man said, surprising Jake by giving his Class as well as the type.

“Jake Chant, combat Classer,” Jake said in turn, hesitating slightly over the surname. It was safer than using his real name, though.

“Training to be a Battle-Scholar?” Ari asked, looking at Alan with a hint of interest.

“I’m not sure, but I want to try it, and delving into a Dungeon is the safest way to do that,” Alan replied in a questioning tone, seeming to wonder how Ari knew.

“Safest, yes, but not without danger. You know that, right?” Ari questioned, stepping forward to loom over the shorter man.

“I do. I may not be delving forever, but I’ll do what I need to,” Alan said, his worried look shifting to determination.

“Huh, you look just like your mother with that expression,” Ari said casually, turning away from the stunned Alan to grab his gear from where it was propped against the wall.

“You knew my mother?” Alan asked, wide-eyed and breathless.

“A lot of people knew your mother. Better get used to that now,” Ari said with a shrug as he hoisted his pack and picked up a sword that looked two or three times the size of Jake’s. “Let’s go.”

-**-

The northern gate out of Port Emerald was guarded by mainly local guards, with a few Triarchy soldiers stationed nearby. The soldiers were ostensibly there to aid the Strovians, but Jake had doubts about that.

Jake had left the city before, but the gate he used then was far smaller and had substantially fewer guards present. He supposed it made sense that the Triarchy would want to keep a closer watch on the Classers than the mundane folk.

The Triarchy had already taken over Strovia when Jake was born, but there was still a clear divide between the locals and those who the Triarchy had sent as part of the occupation.

Fortunately, the passage of Classers in and out of the city was commonplace, so Ari was able to lead them out without any questions from the guard.

Once outside, Ari took them in a northeastern direction, explaining that this was the way to the closest Dungeon where the Delvers Guild had a presence, and they wouldn’t be forced to pay for entry. As the first to leave, they also got the first choice of what Dungeon to pick.

There were probably less than twenty Dungeons throughout Strovia; it was a relatively small region as things went, after all. Each of the Dungeons would likely be near a settlement of some sort, with the biggest being in or around cities.

Regardless, they were out of the city now, and Jake was on his way to his first Dungeon delve.