continued - 5/8

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Joe walked by her side for a time, the silence growing ever more awkward but he was uncertain how to resolve it. He looked over at her but remained silent, finally deciding he would simply have to give her some time. Well… back to the dungeo… ooh, how about trying for a healer again… Having decided to try for a healer once more, he headed to the day job camp easy enough, now simple after having been there several times, and he made sure to find a place off to the side before shouting out for a healer or priest. This time, things proved much less… useful. His shouts brought healers or priests to him, but as soon as they saw him, they would all snort or shake their head and turn away. He continued shouting, but no others arrived and by the end, the crowd's edge was never even disturbed by a healer showing up to dismiss him. Guess… all of them already have heard the news… so… maybe? He considered then decided it was really his only option.

"Healer to heal while in the dungeon. We will protect you. You will not be harmed. Payment is one single core!"

The pay was outrageous. He knew that by now. He'd gotten a sense of the value of cores and he'd offered something close to a decade's pay from a wealthy first world country back on Earth. He couldn't see how that wouldn't draw some attention and it did just that. Everyone in the crowd turned to look at him with shock and he was able to pick out some of people who'd stepped forward when he'd called. While those who hadn't been healers seemed jealous of the offered pay, the healers were less impressed. Most simply glanced at him with a frown. One or two seemed to consider, glancing at him thoughtfully before sighing and turning away. Joe grimaced. Well… doctors always got the big pay… probably even more here with instant healing… or is there something else happening but… what? Joe felt despair creep in and knew that there was little he could do. He finally sighed and turned away. Maybe… one more time? Maybe?

Joe turned away and headed off back to the dungeon. By the time he made it to the dungeon, he found them anxiously waiting only ten or so places from being able to enter. While Zilnek looked back and smiled, obviously in a better mood having woken a bit, Garnedell seemed a bit more concerned.

"What happened, Joe?" Garnedell cried out.

Joe waved his concern away while replying, "It's OK. Had to think carefully."

The two guys nodded, accepting easily enough and Kilniara slipped back in with the two boys, still rather silent. Zilnek quickly noticed but after looking at her cautiously, dismissed the whole situation and Joe turned away. The two guys returned to their small talk and Kilniara joined in with them as well, the boys seemingly aware of Joe's disquiet and desire to be alone with his thoughts.

Joe's quiet was easily noticed but the other three allowed him his peace and they soon found themselves on the first floor and once again fighting in their favorite corner. The first kill got him a single level on his mana manipulator job and he looked at it with some excitement that soon washed away the morning's concerns as he called a halt to the combat, giving a short moment of rest for his current partner, Garnedell.