Chapter 112: Sympathizing with Each Other

"To put it bluntly." Jess glanced around to see if there were any passersby and said, "Even if you don't believe in the Holy Light that much, you can still try to summon the power of the Holy Light for your own use. There's no cost in just giving it a try."

Gerred sighed and said, "If it worked, would I still need to beg the church? I'm considering going back to Aerie Peak and finding a sage to be my teacher."

Jess involuntarily tilted his eyes and asked, "You want to be a shaman?"

Gerred muttered, "Shaman, shaman. It always sounds like the language of trolls. I mean learning from those sages how to communicate with heaven and earth and how to summon wind and thunder. In fact, I considered it before the war was over, but I really don't have the talent."

He picked up a small stone and threw it into the water and said, "At that time, I had just been injured and hadn't been persuaded to leave the Knights yet, but I had almost realized this result. I tried to communicate with all kinds of deities according to what the sages said, but I couldn't hear the voice of nature or the language of water. That sense of frustration, you understand. Plus, I was still hoping for a chance to recover, so I didn't persist. Later, when it was completely over, I never considered becoming a sage again and directly left Hinterlands..."

At this point, Gerred's words suddenly stopped.

Jess noticed that Gerred was constantly sniffing around, his nose twitching. He looked at the river for a while, then at the road, and finally at Jess.

"Wait, why is there the smell of smoked dragon?" Jess asked in surprise. "You can actually smell it?"

As he said that, he pulled his hood in front of him.

"It's made of smoked dragon sail."

"Oh my god." Gerred widened his eyes and looked at the maroon material and asked, "Did you save up and buy this?"

"Of course not. I'm so poor now that I even have to think twice about eating bread."

Jess raised his head. Now he finally had someone to show off to.

"This is a gift from His Majesty King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, the defender of the royal city and the lord of Stormwind Keep."

"Really or not? What are you talking about?" Gerred touched Jess's shoulder and took a deep breath and said, "It really is smoked dragon skin! This is the real thing!"

"You're so certain. Does Aerie Peak also have smoked dragons?" Jess asked curiously.

"Of course there are no smoked dragons in Aerie Peak. Smoked dragons are monsters from Khaz Modan." Gerred said, "In the era of Grim Batol, our ancestors made a lot of handicrafts, clothes, armor, and small furniture from the leather of smoked dragons living in the depths of the abyss. Some of them were taken to Aerie Peak. I almost grew up surrounded by these expensive little antiques. That smell... is so special."

"In Aerie Peak, such a smoked dragon sail cloak can sell for one gold coin."

"Only one gold coin?"

"Only?" Gerred touched Jess's forehead and asked, "Is your brain burned out?"

"But the owner of the clothing store who transferred this piece of clothing to me said this clothing could sell for three gold coins." Jess said.

Gerred said with a smile, "Do you think it's the skin of 'Cunning'? And it sells for three gold coins... Have you heard of Cunning? The dwarves of Ironforge hunted a giant smoked dragon that had lived for hundreds of years. It is said that even real dragons are afraid of its power. The sails, scales, and skin of it were made into more than a dozen sets of clothes and armor. Each set can sell for more than a dozen or even dozens of gold coins!"

"Coincidentally." Jess said, "The name of the smoked dragon is exactly the same as the one that Larsen from the clothing store said. Do you think it could be the same monster?"

"Uh?" Gerred said, "Let me take a look again."

He touched this piece of clothing with his hand again, thought for a while, and said, "After all, I'm not a professional smoked dragon hunter or tanner. I can't say for sure if this is the skin of some special smoked dragon, but it's true that I heard those clothes were all sent to Stormwind. This is really given to you by the king. You're not just bragging, are you?"

"Of course it is. If you want proof, I still have a letter here." Jess said. "Do you want me to show it to you?"

Gerred quickly waved his hand and said, "Stop, stop. Just keep it for yourself. I don't need any more stimulation."

"Then it's probably really the skin of Cunning. I'm really envious." He said while propping his chin. "If one day Patriarch Falstad gives me a warhammer or something, even if it's cracked, it would be worth it. It's just a pity that even if he gives me a hammer, it won't be of much use anymore."

"Why are you saying such discouraging words again." Jess gave him a push. Gerred almost fell into the canal due to a stumble.

"The Church of the Holy Light won't let me in, and I have no talent to be a sage. What do you think I should do? I can't go to the Wizard's Sanctum to learn tricks, can I?" Gerred gestured with his hands while laughing twice. Jess couldn't even tell if this was laughing at him or making fun of himself.

"So do you understand why I learn those magics?" Jess asked.

Gerred's smile froze and his upturned black beard drooped.

He wrapped his coat tighter and said, "But black magic still harms the body. Jess Seso. If you keep using it, there will be problems sooner or later. If you ask me to learn it, I will definitely not accept it."

Jess thought to himself that he wouldn't let Gerred learn any shadow spells or fel magic either, but he didn't say it directly.

He said, "Perhaps when we go to Dalaran, you can go to Southshore or the church in the capital city of Lordaeron and try. If they don't accept you here, maybe the churches there will have lower requirements? And this time, be careful with what you say. Before you go, ask the priests here more about the doctrines of the Holy Light. If they won't let you be a priest, but you take the initiative to convert to the church and believe in the Holy Light, will they still be unwilling?"

"It's too troublesome." Gerred scratched his beard and said, "According to what the priests here said, to become a priest requires going to some school and undergoing some training and such. I guess as a warrior, to get their recognition... there probably needs to be a whole set of messy procedures too."

"What about Ironforge?" Jess asked. "Aren't many Bronzebeard dwarves believers of the Holy Light?"

"Let me go to Ironforge?" Gerred asked.

"Yes. What's wrong? Aren't they also your fellow tribesmen?"

"Fellow tribesmen... Sort of." Gerred scratched his beard and said, "Let's not talk about this for now. That's too far away. Since you don't plan to find a job, how about we go practice swordsmanship outside the city tonight? Resume our regular teaching."

"Sure." Jess stood up, patted the dirt on his pants, and said, "I've also been very bored during this period. Practicing swordsmanship can exercise the body and relax the mind."

Gerred said, "Just a few days ago, I got two wooden swords for practice from the dwarves. We can play with them freely now."