Chapter 85: DragonForge
Unfortunately, Warden didn't know how to contact Jason. Perhaps he could get some news through the administrator's office, but he had another better idea in mind, which might save him some time. After all, one of Jason's friends was actually a colleague of his now.
Aurel's quarter was in the same building as his, and they had come face to face a couple of times, though there wasn't much talk other than simple greetings. So the next time he met her on his way back to the quarters, he didn't waste any time to ask about Jason.
"Do you have Jason's contact?" he asked as they approached their quarters.
"No," she gave him a piercing look as though why should she have Jason's contact.
"I thought you two were friends," Warden muttered, to which she didn't reply. Fast on her feet, she moved up. A frown crept onto Warden's brow as he hurried after. "Do you know how I can contact him?"
"He lazes around the Ranker's Market areas and the hunting grounds pretty often. Go check those areas, you might find him," she said as she entered her quarter, leaving a dumbfounded Warden.
"So easy for you to say," he muttered, "while I have no idea where those areas are."
In the end, he used the warp gate to go back into the city in the afternoon. With a little asking around he managed to get the location of the hunting ground. The hunting ground turned out to be some secure locations on the outskirts of the city, where multiple dungeons had spawned. Fairly far out, and with the enforced wall around the city, the city was pretty secure from any dungeon break.
Warden didn't have time for dancing around today, as he had class tomorrow. He just needed to find Jason to get more information and a connection to get into that, and perhaps buy a few essentials. The hunting ground was for most rankers above copper. However, there were many politics and other things in play that he would rather not involve himself with.
It was afternoon with the sun setting in the Eastern Horizon when Warden got to the administrator's office. It took him a quarter of an hour to meet the woman named Jess, who seemed to know Jason better.
"Sir, came for another test of your potential?" the woman asked with a smile playing on her lips.
"No, I'm actually here to find Jason," Warden said awkwardly, as this wasn't really how it was supposed to go. "He said his father worked here, and that is the only... I didn't receive his contact the other time and didn't know how to find him other than through you."
"Well, I wouldn't say you are just in the right place to meet young Master Jason," Jess said. "But I can help you with that."
"Much appreciated." Even though he thanked her, he found himself frowning when she referred to Jason as a young master.
Jess asked him to wait in one of the waiting rooms as she contacted Jason to come.
"You're in luck," Jess said. "The young master isn't in the hunting grounds or any other job. He will be here in some time."
That "some time" turned out to be about half an hour, though Warden wasn't annoyed, just bored. After all, he was the one who needed him, not the other way around.
"Hey, Warden," Jason Forger said aloud on the very sight of him. "You finally decided to join my guild. Ha?"
"Something like that," Warden smiled. "Do you have your guild formed yet?"
Jason's eyes widened in surprise. He had simply asked as a joke, but he didn't think he would get that answer. "Are you for real?"
"Of course, if you'll have me," Warden said.
"But didn't you pass the test and become an instructor in the academy?"
"Yeah," Warden said, "but that did not stop me from joining a guild. The Guild work must be part-time, while the academy's work presides over everything. Although June also said I could get some holidays if I informed the academy early and have a stellar record."
"Part-time," Jason muttered.
"About the guild, how far have you reached, Jason?"
Jason's embarrassment was already an amusing answer. "As I mentioned, it needs at least 4 iron rankers with a good reputation to form a guild."
"So how many did you find?"
Jason looked at him awkwardly. "Let's just say we need two more people."
Warden shook his head. "Anyway, the reason I wanted to contact you, even if you did not form the guild anytime soon, would you mind going hunting sometimes with me?"
"You mean into the dungeons?" Warden nodded.
"I, of course, could go alone, but I don't know the rules and cultures here, which might create some problems."
"Well, it is not a problem to go with. I'd be delighted actually," Jason said. "When can you find your time?"
They talked more about the dungeons and hunting ground to organize a few things. They decided their first dungeon dive would be next week when Warden has a two-day break.
"By the way, I was on my way to Dragonforge," Jason said. "Want to come with me?"
"Dragonforge?" Warden raised an eyebrow.
"The biggest ranker's equipment and artifact dealers of the world," Jason said grandly.
Warden didn't have to think and agreed to join. "You know I was thinking of getting a spear myself."
"Do you want to buy or specifically forge one?" Jason asked. "You can get something good ready-made, but to get something to your taste, and specific to your power set, forging might be better."
"I know, but forging might take too much time and money, of which I don't have a large quantity," Warden said. "So I intend on buying a sturdy spear for the time being that would serve for some time before I get my hands on wealth and other things."
"Seems reasonable." Jason raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right, I thought you were a swordsman."
Warden shrugged and didn't say anything.
"Well, then, let us get you a spear and me an armour."