Cozy Isekai Craftsman ch 7

As Joe stepped out of the jail, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the warm rays of the setting sun that greeted him. He looked around and realized that this was no ordinary world - a second sun was shining in the sky, and a beautiful moon was already visible on the horizon. Tiki torches dotted the streets, casting a warm glow on the surroundings, and Joe couldn't help but wonder if they were fueled by magic or oil.

The whole situation was so strange and surreal, but Joe couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling up inside of him. He had landed himself in some trouble, but he had managed to escape with just a fine - and now he was free to explore this fantastic new world. Sure, he had missed a day of work, but he was too busy reveling in the adventure to care.

As he walked through the bustling streets, Joe couldn't help but smile at the people and their strange customs. Everything was so different, so new - and Joe couldn't wait to dive in and discover all the secrets of this alien world. Even his exhaustion couldn't dampen his spirits - he was too caught up in the magic of it all to feel anything but happiness. Joe knew that he had a lot to learn and discover, but he couldn't think of a better way to spend his time than exploring this fantastic new world.

Joe rubbed his bleary eyes and yawned, feeling the effects of his unexpected stint in jail. He couldn't believe he had been swept away in the middle of his first day on the job, but as he strolled through the bustling streets of the new planet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. This was a chance to start anew, and who knew where this adventure would take him?

Still, he couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that he had messed up. Back on his home planet, if he had been arrested in the middle of a workday, he would have been out of a job in no time. But here, the rules were different - and Joe was determined to make the most of it.

As he pondered his next move, Joe couldn't help but reflect on the lessons he had learned. He had been so confident, so sure of himself when he mentioned that he was a wizard. But those terms didn't exist on this planet - at least not in this part of the continent. Joe couldn't help but laugh at himself as he thought back to his isekai novels back home. They had made him feel invincible, but in reality, he was just another clueless stranger in a strange land.

But even as he chuckled to himself, Joe's mind was racing with possibilities. Maybe he could learn more about sorcery - after all, he had heard that sorcerers had constellation markings on their bodies. He made a mental note to ask around the tavern later, feeling a sense of excitement building up within him.

Joe knew that this was just the beginning of his journey, and he was determined to make the most of it. With a spring in his step, he set off towards the tavern, eager to see where this new path would take him.

As he pushed open the tavern door, a cacophony of voices hit Joe like a wave. The room was packed with people, their laughter and chatter bouncing off the walls. But as he scanned the room, he realized that they were all gone. The only ones left were his friends - Rick, Caroline, and Ava - who were dutifully sweeping the floors and scrubbing the mugs.

Rick spotted him and leapt to his feet, nearly knocking over a half-drunk beer. "You're alive!" he exclaimed, relief etched on his face.

Joe raised an eyebrow. "Am I not supposed to be?" he deadpanned.

But Caroline was grinning. "I knew you'd make it out of there," she said, her voice ringing with confidence.

Ava chimed in, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Officer Grace is a bit of a stickler, isn't she? They say the last guy she caught using sorcery ended up on the gallows."

Joe felt a chill run down his spine. He'd had no idea how serious the consequences could be.

"Well, lucky for me," he said, trying to sound casual, "they saw me praying to the Goddess Quinn and realized I wasn't a sorcerer."

He left out the part about the public indecency thing. It was too embarrassing.

Caroline looked at him quizzically. "You're a follower of Quinn?"

Joe shrugged, feeling suddenly self-conscious. "Yeah, I guess so."

Rick clapped him on the back. "Man, there's so much about you that's incredibly confusing," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "Sit down, let's talk."

Joe sat down at the table with Rick, feeling a pang of guilt as he watched Caroline and Ava continue to work. They had hired him for the day, and here he was, drinking beer while they toiled away. But he didn't want to seem rude by offering to help, so he kept quiet.

The beer tasted surprisingly good - light and refreshing, with just a hint of sweetness. It reminded him of the cheap beers he used to drink back in college. He hadn't had a drink in ages, not since he was diagnosed with cancer.

"Listen, I'm sorry about that," Rick said, breaking the silence. "All of this is my fault."

Joe raised an eyebrow. "How was it your fault?"

Rick hesitated for a moment, and Caroline nudged him. "Just tell him, Rick."

"Okay, okay," Rick said, rubbing his hands together nervously. "When you first came to the city gate, I sent you to the Rusty Tavern. I thought it would be a good way to get a free worker for the evening. But when you told me you had some sort of power, I should have sent you straight to Lucas, our town sheriff."

Joe frowned. "Why would that have helped?"

"Lucas knows how to handle these things," Caroline explained, giving Rick a knowing look. "He's dealt with the likes of Officer Grace before. He could have saved you a lot of trouble."

Rick said, “It’s standard procedure to send anyone without papers to the sheriff. Again, it was my fault.”

"Oh," Joe managed to say, "I'm sorry. I don't know the procedure."

Joe shook his head, his mind racing with disbelief. The events of the past few days seemed like a twisted dream. He took a sip of his beer, the bitter taste doing little to wash away the sour feeling in his stomach. "I can't believe it all started with a misunderstanding," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the raucous chatter of the tavern.

Rick raised his hand, silencing him. "It wasn't just a misunderstanding," he said, his eyes glinting with a hint of guilt. "I took advantage of you. You were vulnerable, and I exploited that. I'm sorry."

Caroline, who had been working silently in the background, stopped to look at Rick with surprise. She had never heard him apologize before. Joe couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the apology. "It's okay," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I mean, you guys gave me a place to stay and even a job. I can't thank you enough."

Rick chuckled. "Well, we couldn't just let you wander around with no place to go, could we? Besides, you're not half bad at this job. Maybe we'll keep you around for a while."

Joe smiled, grateful for the warmth of the fire and the camaraderie of his new friends. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a place in the world. It wasn’t his original world, but that was fine by him. He said, “I’m definitely ready to work tomorrow.”

Caroline and Ava stopped scrubbing the dirty dishes, sharing an uneasy glance. Caroline's eyes flickered to Joe, and she wore a sheepish expression as she spoke. "We have some news," she said hesitantly.

Joe's heart sank as he braced himself for the worst. "What kind of news?" he asked cautiously.

"Dylan, the guy who walked out on us yesterday, came back," Caroline explained, her voice tinged with regret. "He's taken back his job as cook, and we can't afford to have two cooks, no matter how good you are at cleaning."

Joe slumped back into his seat, feeling deflated. His brief stint as a kitchen hand was over, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of loss. "Oh," he murmured, the disappointment evident in his voice.

Caroline laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We're sorry, Joe. It wasn't our choice. Delmon had to take the job back because his granddaughter needs medical care."

Joe took another swig of his beer, trying to push away the bitter taste of disappointment. "It's okay," he said, forcing a smile. "I had a good time while it lasted."

Caroline seemed relieved at his response, but Ava looked crestfallen. She didn't say anything, but Joe could tell that she was disappointed too.

Joe furrowed his brow, his concern for Dylan's granddaughter evident. "Is it serious?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.

Caroline's face softened with sympathy. "We're not exactly sure, Joe. But Dylan wouldn't have left without good reason. It must be something serious for him to give up his job and income."

Joe nodded solemnly. "I understand. I hope she gets better soon."

Rick chimed in, his voice heavy with guilt. "I'm sorry, Joe. This is quite the mess I've created. First, I got you arrested, and now you've lost your job."

Joe chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Rick. It's not the end of the world. I'm sure I'll find something else."

Caroline and Ava exchanged a look, their faces full of concern. Joe knew that they were worried about him, and he appreciated their kindness. Despite the setbacks, he was grateful for the friends he had made at the tavern.

Joe laughed and said, "It's only my second day in Lockwood and I've already had quite an eventful life. So thank you for that."

Rick gave him a blank stare and asked, "You're thankful?"

Joe nodded and continued laughing, "Yeah, before coming here, my life was pretty boring. All the days were the same. But in just two days, I got arrested, fired, made some friends, and showed a bit of my culture."

He looked at Ava and pointed at her hoping she would pick up on what he was trying to do. She seemed to understand and said, "Cool," pointing back at Joe.

Rick blinked at Ava and then at Joe, and asked, "Cool?" Joe leaned forward, sipping his beer, his expression serious, and replied, "Cool."

Rick looked at his wife and then at Ava, and shrugged. "I don't know what's going on, but it seems like you guys are having a good time." Everybody started to laugh, except for Rick, but he eventually joined in, even though he didn't know what he was laughing about.

The echoes of their laughter dissipated into the air like wisps of smoke, and Joe rose from his chair, his hand clasping onto the handle of a worn broom. Caroline shot him a pleading look, her eyes filled with concern. "Don't trouble yourself, Joe. We're almost through," she murmured.

But Joe paid her no mind, the glint in his eye catching the light. He dipped his hand into his pockets, fingers grazing over smooth, round pebbles. With a flourish, he crouched down onto one knee, his hand pressing against the rough concrete floor.

The room fell silent, each of them holding their breath in anticipation. Rick piped up, his voice filled with excitement, "Is he going to do the magic thing?" Caroline silenced him with a hushed tone, her hand reaching out to still his movements.

Ava's eyes widened with wonder as she watched Joe, rapt with attention. This was the first time she'd ever seen him perform, and she was eager to see what he could do. Joe flashed her a quick grin before turning his focus back to the task at hand. He was ready to impress.

Both screens appeared, one for the pebble and one for the floor. The properties of the floor were displayed.

Joe furrowed his brow, studying the screen with rapt attention, his mind working to decipher the various properties listed. Frustratingly, several of the entries were marked with question marks, their secrets tantalizingly out of reach. But then, his eyes widened in amazement as he caught sight of a particular entry that caught his attention. [Clean -3, Stains +5] Joe couldn't believe his luck - this was the one he had been hoping for.

Without hesitation, Joe held out his hand, showing the pebble to his friends. "Check this out," he said with a grin, before channeling his power into the small stone. Instantly, the pebble began to feel slick and greasy in his palm, dark spots of grime appearing across its surface.And just like that, every single stain on the floor vanished into thin air. The air cleared of dust and grime, and the once dingy floor now sparkled with newfound clarity. Ava gasped in amazement, while Caroline let out a low whistle, "By the goddess’ grace!"

It was a feat of magic that left them all in awe, and for a moment, they stood in stunned silence, admiring the sheer wonder of it all.

Rick stood up abruptly and looked around the floor, inspecting every nook and cranny. His eyes widened as he saw the once-stained and dusty corners now glistening and spotless. He turned to Joe, who was still crouched on the ground, studying the properties of his cleaning magic on the screen.

"That's what you can do? That's magic?" Rick exclaimed, his voice full of wonder and awe.

Joe nodded modestly and responded, "Yeah, it's not as impressive as sorcery."

But Rick cut him off, "Not as impressive as sorcery? Who cares about that? It's amazing!"

Joe let out a chuckle, "Well, I'm like the greatest cleaning wizard of all time."

Rick joined him in laughter before turning serious. "Listen, we can't hire you. We don't have the coin for it, especially in this season. We might be able to once winter comes along, but even then, there's no guarantee."

Joe shrugged, "I understand. You've already given me a warm bed to sleep in."

Rick's face lit up with an idea, "But we can give you a room in exchange for your cleaning services. It's not much, but it's all we can do for now."

Caroline nodded in agreement, "Yes, it's a good idea. We could use the extra help around here."

Joe's eyes brightened with gratitude, "Thank you so much. In exchange, I'll clean whatever you guys need me to clean. It'll be much quicker."

Caroline set the broom against the wall, sat down, and pulled her own mug of beer from behind the counter and one for Ava as well. They both sat down with a relieved expression on their faces.

Joe leaned back on his heels and smiled at the couple. "Listen, I get it. I've worked in enough restaurants to know that cleaning is the worst part of the job, besides dealing with terrible customers. At the end of the day, you just want to get it over with and go home. So I'm glad I can save you guys some time. Save me a backache, is more like it."

Caroline let out a laugh, "I'm getting old, you know." Joe stared at her in disbelief, "You're not old."

Rick sat down next to his wife, taking a swig from his own beer. Caroline leaned her head on his shoulder in a quiet gesture that spoke volumes about their relationship. Joe envied their connection and longed for it for himself someday. To have someone trust him to that degree without needing any words.

He shook himself out of his thoughts, "Anyway, I'm happy to help out around here. It beats sleeping outside in the cold." The group laughed, and the tension eased. For a moment, they were just four people enjoying each other's company on a quiet night in the off-season.

Caroline said, "Thank you, Joe. You're welcome here. However, since we don't have a shower, you're going to have to clean yourself with the public baths." Joe nodded and said, "I got it. Although I do have some ideas about that." He didn't want to elaborate because the last thing he wanted to do was to experiment with his powers at someone else's home and establishment. He would have to get his own place and his plot of land if he was going to replicate the technologies of this home Earth to here and Lockwood.

Joe said, "I feel bad just having a place to sleep with just my cleaning ability. I can also double the flavor like I did today with your food."

Ava's eyes went wide and she said, "Oh yeah!"

Caroline said, "So much happened today that I forgot to tell you. Customers are complimenting your cooking skills today. I don't know how skilled a brewer you are."

Joe shook his head and said, "I'm not that skilled. It's my ability. I'll show it to you tomorrow if Dylan's okay with it. I don't want to intrude on his territory."

Caroline asked, "So what do you do? Did you transfer the properties of the soup into other things like bread, like how you did with my coffee in your coffee?"

Joe shook his head and said, "No, I found a way that I can make the soup, soupier itself. Like if it's five out of ten savoriness. But with my ability, I can get it to a seven or eight out of 10. I might be able to get it to ten out of ten, but I do need to get better at it."

Rick said, "Not only are you powerful at cleaning, but you also have powers of soup."

Joe nodded agreeably and tried to look as much like a wise sage as possible. "I am Joe Johnson. Fear me and my terrifying powers of soup," he said, waving his hands in the air, pretending to shoot out lightning bolts.

Ava chuckled, a girlish laugh that lifted the spirits.

Caroline and Rick gave each other a look, which did not escape Joe. He cleared his throat and said, "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I've had a long day. I think I might call it a night soon. Maybe I can try to find the public baths in the morning."

Then he stopped himself. So far, he had a nice place to sleep. But he realized this couldn't be a permanent thing forever. Caroline, Rick, and Ava were nice people, but he needed his own place if he wanted to feel like he belonged in Lockwood. And to do that, he would need money. "Thank you for having me here, and I'll stay here until I can get my own place. But I do need coin. Do you guys know anyone or any place where I can actually earn it?" Caroline lifted her head from Rick's shoulder, looking pensive.

Rick said, "They always need people at the docks."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but those guys are not friendly. They always haze their new workers to the point where nobody ever wants to work with them."

Joe was curious about that but didn't interrupt.

Rick said, "Yeah, you're right."

Caroline thought for a moment and then said, "One of the farmers might take on an apprentice. A few of them are getting to be a bit old now."

Rick shook his head, "One of the farmer's sons or daughters might get jealous of Joe's abilities. It wouldn't be good for him or for the town."

Caroline said, "This is just for a little bit of coin."

Joe piped in, "No, Rick's right. I'm not just passing through Lockwood. I want to live here. If the rest of the people are like you guys, I think I found a home for myself." All three of them gave Joe a pleasant expression.

Caroline said, "So you want to start on the right foot here., but don't know how?"

Joe replied, "Yeah, or at least I don't want to start on the wrong foot. Even if it's just another restaurant where I can clean for them like I can for you guys, or change the colors of fabric from one thing to another, or harden the steel of a sword."

"Oh," Ava exclaimed loudly

Caroline and Rick looked to Ava, who seemed to be a little excited. Her mouth hung open, and her tongue flicked back and forth in a prehensile way, reminding Joe that she was a lizardkin. He had more questions about her, but he didn't want to be rude. He'd only known her for a day.

Ava said, "You can talk to my sister, Emily."

Caroline looked unsure. "Are you sure? She's a little crotchety?"

Joe asked, "Who's Emily?" Ava said, "She's my twin, but she has her own forge here. If you showed her your ability, she might take you in as an apprentice or a worker."

Joe felt delighted at the idea of creating cool magical super armors or weapons for wandering heroes and adventures. It had always been a daydream when reading fantasy novels.

"Sounds crude, though," said Rick, looking a little unsure. "Don't get me wrong. She may look like Ava, but she's nowhere near as sweet. She's not a pushover,"

Ava glared at him. "Are you saying I'm a pushover?"

Rick said, "No, but you know and I know that Emily's not the easiest to deal with."

Joe said, "So should I or should I not?" Both Rick and Ava looked to Caroline, which spoke volumes about her relationship with them. She seemed to be the matriarch and the final decision-maker on these sorts of things.

Caroline's eyes glittered with amusement as she considered Joe. "I think you should go," she said, her voice firm. "But be yourself. Let her know t

hat you know Ava and don't try to be someone you're not."Joe's brow furrowed in confusion. "Be myself?" he repeated, as if the idea was completely foreign to him.

Caroline smiled indulgently. "Yes, Joe. You're a charming guy, whether you realize it or not."

Feeling a surge of confidence, Joe finished his beer in one long gulp and grabbed a handful of pebbles, using them to clean the glasses with deft, practiced movements. He stepped outside, the cool night air filling his lungs as he surveyed his surroundings.

He found himself drawn to the pile of rocks nearby and scooped up a handful, the rough edges scraping against his skin. He felt a sudden urge to experiment, to see what he could create with his ability..

Satisfied with his impromptu art project, Joe made his way up the stairs to his bedroom in Chico, his current home. He knew it was temporary, but for now, it was a sanctuary where he could relax and be himself.

As he settled into bed, sleep came to him easy-breezy, the events of the evening already a distant memory. But the memory of Caroline's words stayed with him, filling him with a sense of confidence and anticipation for whatever lay ahead.

–

Lucas unlaced his boots and dangled his feet over the dock's edge, letting the salty water tickle his toes. The ocean stretched out before him, its waves gently lapping against the wooden planks. He cast his line into the water and hummed a tune from home, one that he doubted anyone in Lockwood had ever heard.

The moon was full and bright, casting a silvery glow over everything. Lucas could make out the shadows of fish swimming beneath the surface, their curious nibbles testing the bait on his line but never committing to a full bite.

He heard the harsh, quick, and purposeful steps of boot heels coming his way, and he didn't have to turn to know who it was. He sighed, annoyed a little that his moment of peace had been disturbed, but he still addressed the officer without turning around. He said over his shoulder, "Sorceress Grace, I thought you were done for the day."

Lucas noticed a flash of blue hair out of the corner of his eye. He turned to see the sorceress crouching down next to him, her eyes fixed on the fish in the water.

Her expression was contemplative, as if she were lost in thought. "I never understood the point of fishing," she mused. "Seems boring. And you don't even eat the fish. You always throw them back out."

Lucas felt himself grin. "Sometimes it's about the act more than it is about the result," he said, his eyes never leaving the water.

The woman, whose name he now knew was Grace, shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand," she admitted.

Lucas struggled to put into words the feeling he got from fishing, the sense of peace and serenity it brought him. "All those years at your university, learning about the laws of the universe, history, and complex mathematics, and this one little idea confuses you?" he teased gently.

Grace frowned at that. "There were classes on philosophy, but they weren't pertinent to my studies," she replied dismissively.

Lucas realized that he had a lot to teach this young woman, not just about being an officer of the law, but about life itself. He kept his voice calm and patient as he spoke. "Your original outpost," he said, gesturing towards the distant horizon. "It was said that he sold every single case."

Grace’s sharp eyes scanned their surroundings with a practiced ease. "So why did I get sent out here to a backwater town?" she asked, her words slicing through the silence like a knife.

Lucas felt a small surge of irritation at her tone. It was just a statement of fact, but it showed a lack of understanding about the people and the place she had been sent to. Lockwood wasn't a backwater town, not to the people who lived there. To them, it was home.

"Think of this as an extension of your education," he offered, hoping to ease the tension. "You know, it was one of your professors who recommended that you come here to Lockwood instead of staying in the city. She was the one who wanted you relocated."

The sorceress looked stunned for a moment, her eyes widening in disbelief. "It can't be," she protested. "I got perfect scores on all of my tests. Why would they want to send me here?"

Lucas sighed inwardly. He knew it wasn't going to be easy, but he had to make her see that there was more to being a sorceress than just academic success. "Because you need to learn how to deal with people," he said gently. "You need to learn how to work with them, to understand them. Lockwood is the perfect place for that."

He could see the doubt still lingering in her eyes, but Lucas knew that given time, Grace would come to appreciate the value of what she was being taught. After all, there was nothing more valuable than learning how to connect with the world around you.

Lucas felt the gentle tug at the end of his line, his eyes focused on the water as he waited for something worth reeling in. He thought about his next words carefully, knowing that the young sorceress beside him was still getting used to the idea of being here. "I don't want you to see your time here as a punishment," he said, his voice low and even. "I think your professors wanted you to learn how to relax a little bit. Not everything is about catching the bad guy."

He shifted slightly on the wooden deck, beckoning her to sit down next to him. "Here, take a seat," he said, gesturing to the space beside him.

Grace hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering down to her boots. "My boots will get wet," she said, her tone almost petulant.

Lucas lifted his toes out of the water and wiggled them, a faint smile playing across his lips. "Didn't take off your boots?" he asked, amusement tingeing his words.

Grace opened her mouth, as if to object, but then closed it again. Lucas could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she realized it would be a fruitless argument. Maybe she was getting wiser, he thought. She took off her boots, sat down beside him, and dipped her toes in the water.

A shudder ran through her as she felt how cold the ocean was, and Lucas could see her tense up for a moment. A few fish swam up to investigate, nibbling at her toes curiously before swimming away. For a long time, they sat in silence, watching the water and the sky.

It was Grace who finally broke the quiet, her voice hesitant. "I don't get what we're doing," she said, her eyes still fixed on the horizon.

"Why did you come to me instead of going home to eat dinner, go to sleep, or maybe go to the bath?" Lucas asked, his eyes fixed on Grace. He watched her face as she frowned, her expression troubled.

"It's about that man, Joseph Johnson," she said, her voice serious. "You seemed quite adamant about letting him go. I wanted to know why."

Lucas felt the nibble at the end of his line again, and this time he began to reel it in. His muscles tensed as he pulled in a small fish with scales that had several colors he hadn't seen before. He unhooked it from his line and plopped it back into the water, then turned back to Grace.

"I looked at the most important detail," he said, his tone casual. “He prayed to the Goddess Quinn. Sorcerers don’t pray to gods.”

But Grace wasn't convinced. She lifted her chin, her eyes fixed on his. "Sorcerers may have those beliefs and sentiments towards a god or goddess," she said, her voice rising a little.

Lucas lifted his finger, offering a counterpoint. "But have you ever seen them pray?"

Grace looked away towards the water, her gaze distant as she thought about it for a long moment. Finally, she turned back to him. "No, I guess I haven't," she admitted. "But that doesn't excuse the fact that Joe could be a problem. I've never seen sorcery like his before."

Lucas scanned the sprawling landscape before him, taking in the vastness of the world. He turned to Grace, arching a brow. "There are so many things out there you've yet to witness. How old are you? Twenty-two?"

Grace's lips twisted in a scowl. "Twenty-one, sir."

Lucas let out a booming laugh, his eyes twinkling. "Ah, right. So much for my impeccable memory."

He fixed his gaze on a distant point, his voice turning serious. "But I stand by what I said. There are things in this world that defy explanation. Things like the ability that man possessed. I've never seen anything like it before."

Grace raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Magic? Are you serious? It has to be some form of sorcery."

Lucas shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That's what he called it. And whether it's magic or sorcery doesn't really matter. What matters is that it was real. And we saw it with our own eyes. Besides, I think the…evidence he provided was thorough enough, don’t you think, officer?"

Grace blushed, and cleared her throat. Then she leaned in, her expression intent. "But you had another reason for letting him go, didn't you? It wasn't just because he had a neat parlor trick and his prayer to the Goddess Quinn."

Lucas nodded, his eyes darkening. "You're right. There was something else. Something I didn't want to share with you right away."

Chris asked, "Is it because you don't trust me?"

Lucas's head shook with a heavy weight, his eyes downcast. "It wasn't that I didn't trust you, Grace. I just didn't know if it was my place to say. Rick and I have a history. He granted me permission tonight to share the truth about him."

Grace's eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting. "The truth? What truth?"

Lucas's lips curved up in a faint smile. "A long time ago, Rick was blessed with powers of battle. He was a Paladin, a warrior for the God Ezekial."

Grace's eyes darted around, searching for some unseen presence. "But I don't sense any power emanating from the guard now."

Lucas shrugged. "He gave up his power. He's retired now, but he still has some of the benefits. He can sense danger and kinship in those who have been touched by other gods and goddesses."

Grace's brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait, are you saying Joe has been touched by a god?"

Lucas nodded solemnly. "After speaking with Rick, it seems likely that Joe has some sort of relationship with the goddess Quinn, although not as a priest or Paladin. But we can't be sure."

Grace's mind whirled as she considered this new information. The fish nibbled at her toes again, but she hardly noticed. "So he's not our enemy. Not a danger."

Lucas shook his head. "No, he's not. Whether he's a priest, Paladin, or just an ordinary guy, we should treat him the same as anyone else."

Grace nodded firmly. "Understood, sir."

Another fish nibbled at his line, but didn’t fully bite. Lucas handed the fishing rod to Grace, who took it. She held the rod with an iron grip and a focused expression, waiting for something important to happen.

Lucas sat with her in silence, waiting for her to understand they were doing absolutely nothing at that moment, and that was okay.