17 Chapter 17 (1/2)

After they finished Jer's memory the group sat down to discuss things, Jer as usual, led the discussion. ”We have had a tough time connecting to each other because at least one of us was awake at any given time, mainly to keep watch while the others slept. I propose that we get together bi-monthly, and that one of us share our experiences at said get together.”

The others agreed with his proposal and said their goodbyes. Leaving the white room to reënter their own dreams.

Three woke up the next day feeling refreshed, happy to know that his friends were doing well, due to their connection he was sure he would feel it should one of them die. It was still good to know they were doing well and had met pleasant people like he and Sumi had. Having confirmation that his friends were doing okay let him focus completely on the task of the day. Grimli had promised them he would find them a proper monster to fight for their promotion to level ten.

He put on his clothes and stretched his limbs, he woke up Sumi who was sleeping in the top bunk. She mumbled and tried to roll over back to sleep, he kept poking her until she woke up properly.

”Wssat who!” She suddenly sat upright, her blond hair in a frizzy mess. ”Wash you wakin me up for.” She muttered.

”Breakfast.” Three said, ”We get to reach level ten today.”

Hearing that, the energy swiftly returned to her body, her eyes glimmering as she grinned in anticipation. ”Our first rank up!”

Three grinned and gave her a slight nod. ”Our first rank up.”

She swung herself out of her bunk and started doing her hair. Three tossed her clothes over once she finished with her hair and they headed downstairs together. An excited Emmi was waiting for them, having made breakfast for the two of them in such a way they could eat while walking. She motioned them to follow, outside the house leaning against the wall basking in the morning air stood Talin and Davis. The two grinned and joined up.

”Mornin'!” Davis said.

”Good morning.” Talin added.

”Mornin!” Sumi answered. Emmi grinned, and Three bobbed his head in greeting.

They headed over to the adventurers guild where Grimli had told them to gather. On the way they were discussing what kind of monster Grimli had chosen. It was not standard tradition for adventurers to choose a monster for the lower ranks to breach the barrier. Grimli was the exception, saying that now that he had taken the group under his wing he would make damn sure they reached proper strength. Enough strength to down a barrel of ale in one go and beat a proper dwarf in a fist fight, that was the way he phrased it anyhow.

The villagers were slowly waking, a few of them setting up shops or heading over to whatever work they had to do, a lot of them greeted the group, the young adventurers born and raised in the relatively small village were well known and liked by most. They exchanged greetings, increasing their pace as they hurried to the adventurers guild. They entered through the wall to see Grimli standing along three other people in full gear, the group was waiting for them. One of them was a balding man, who Emmi told them was a priest. A male elf in robes was chatting in a relaxed manner with Grimli, the elf was bald of all things. The last of the group was a Halfling, a child born of an elf and a dwarf. He was short, slightly taller than a dwarf, but had the thin features of an elf, only to be put completely out of contrast by a most magnificent beard. Only Grimli managed to outdo the Halfling in a contest of beards.

Grimli walked forward with a grin, introducing the group to the rest of his adventurers team, the priest was called Orma, the elf Bob. When Grimli told them the elf's name the group stared at him in disbelief,

Grimli chuckled, ”I shit ya not, the bald bugger be called Bob!”

The elf smiled and bowed to them, ”Greetings, A am Bob, resident mage of this particular party of idiots.”

The rest of the party chuckled at the introduction. The Halfling stepped forward and introduced himself with a wide grin on his face. ”And I am Tinkman, last of the idiots.”

”So mr boss dwarf sir,” Sumi turned to them and showed the group a dazzling smile, ”What be our victim of the day!”

The elf burst out laughing at the way she addressed Grimli, the Halfling chuckling and the priest was doing his best to keep his face tight.

Grimli ignored all of them and grinned at his favoured pupil, ”Why, we gonna go kill ourselves a Jurgor!”

Emmi blinked in surprise, ”Are you sure, aren't those level twenty rated?”

Grimli chuckled enthusiastically, ”That they are! Which is why we be comin, I think ya can handle it, but we be joinin just in case.”

Grimli lead the group out of the village and further towards the northern wilderness, Three asked Emmi about these Jurgors.

”They resemble bears in a way but their skin is all scales like a lizards, they have fur running in a stripe from the top of their head to the tip of their tail. The tail also resembles a lizard's, its head is mostly the same as a bears, except its eyes are lizard like, its snout is slightly elongated actually i wonder why people say they resemble bears... They are easily more lizard than bear.”