Chapter 112

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Chapter 112: Empathy for the Ill

"I’ll be blunt." Jesse glanced around to see if anyone was nearby and said, "Even if you don’t fully believe in the Holy Light, you can still try to harness its power for yourself, at no cost. Why not give it a shot?"

Greed sighed and said, "If it works, why would I need to seek help from the church? I am considering going back to Aerie Peak and asking a Sage to mentor me."

Jesse unconsciously raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you planning to become a Shaman?"

Greed muttered, "Shaman, Shaman, it sounds like troll language. What I mean is to learn from those Sages how to communicate with the sky and earth, how to summon wind and thunder. I actually considered it before the war ended, but I lacked the talent."

He picked up a pebble and tossed it into the water, saying, "Back then, I was just injured and not yet advised to leave the knighthood, but I already sensed the eventual outcome. I followed the Sages’ advice to try to communicate with various deities, but I couldn’t hear any natural sounds or the language of water, that sense of defeat, you understand. Along with hoping for a slight chance of recovery, I didn’t persist. After it was over for good, I never thought about becoming a Sage again, simply leaving the Hinterlands…"

As Greed spoke, his words abruptly halted.

Jesse noticed Greed was continuously sniffing around, his nose twitching, looking at the river, then the road, and finally at Jesse.

"Hold on, how can you smell the scent of Incendosaurs?" Jesse asked in amazement. "You can actually smell it?"

Speaking, he pulled his hood to the front of himself.

"Made from the sails of Incendosaur," he said.

"Oh my goodness," Greed widened his eyes, looking at the reddish-brown material, and asked, "Did you save up to buy this?"

"Of course not, I’m so poor now that I have to think twice before eating bread."

Jesse looked up, finally having something to show off.

"This was a gift from King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, the defender of the royal city and the lord of Stormwind Keep," he explained.

"Is this for real? What are you talking about here?" Greed patted Jesse’s shoulder, gasping, "This really is Incendosaur’s skin! This is genuine!"

"Are you so sure? Does Aerie Peak also have Incendosaur?" Jesse asked curiously.

"Aerie Peak certainly doesn’t have Incendosaur. Incendosaur is a monster from Khaz Modan," Greed explained, "During the time of Grim Batol, our ancestors used Incendosaur’s leather from the deep abyss to make various handicrafts, clothes, armor, small furniture, some of which were taken to Aerie Peak. I practically grew up surrounded by these expensive little antiques, that smell… so unique."

"At Aerie Peak, a cloak made from the skin of an Incendosaur can be sold for a gold coin."

"Just one gold coin?"

"Just?" Greed touched Jesse’s forehead and asked, "Are you out of your mind?"

"But the shop owner who gave me this cloak said it could be sold for three gold coins," Jesse said.

Greed chuckled and said, "Do you think it’s made from ‘sly’ leather? Selling for three gold coins… Have you heard of slyness? A giant Incendosaur that lived for over a hundred years was hunted by the dwarves of Ironforge. It’s said even real dragons fear its power. Its skin and scales were used to make over a dozen outfits and armor, each fetching anywhere from ten to several dozens of gold coins!"

"How strange," Jesse said. "The name of that Incendosaur Larson talked about selling clothes from is exactly the same as this one. Could it be the same creature?"

"Hmm?" Greed said. "Let me take another look."

He touched the cloak again, pondered for a moment, and said, "I’m neither a professional Incendosaur hunter nor a leatherworker, so I can’t say whether this is from a special Incendosaur. But I’ve heard that those clothes were indeed sent to Stormwind. So, did the king really give this to you, or are you just boasting?"

"Of course he did. If you need proof, I have a letter right here," Jesse said. "Do you want me to show it to you?"

Greed quickly waved his hand and said, "Stop, please stop. Keep it for yourself, I don’t need any more excitement."

"That must be a tricky piece of leather, I really envy it." He rested his chin on his hand and said, "If one day Chief Vostad sends me a war hammer, even if it’s broken, it’s worth it. Unfortunately, even if he gives me a hammer, it wouldn’t be of much use, right?"

"Why do you always talk in such a gloomy way," Jesse nudged him, and Greed almost fell into the canal.

"The Holy Light Church won’t let me in, I have no talent to be a Sage, what should I do? I can’t just go to the Wizard’s Sanctum to learn magic, right?" Greed gestured with his hands while laughing, Jesse couldn’t tell if he was mocking himself or Greed.

"So, do you understand why I learned those spells?" Jesse asked.

Greed’s smile froze, and his raised black beard drooped.

Wrapping his cloak tighter, he said, "But Black Magic can harm the body, Jesse Seso, if you keep using it, there will be trouble sooner or later. I would never agree to learn it if you ask me."

Jesse thought he wouldn’t let Greed learn any shadow spells or fel magic, but he didn’t say it out loud.

He said, "Maybe when we go to Dalaran, you can try going to Southshore or the church in Lordaeron royal city. They don’t accept you here, maybe the requirements there will be lower? And be careful with your words this time, ask the priests here about the teachings of the Holy Light before going. They may not let you be a priest, but if you voluntarily convert to the church, to believe in the Holy Light, wouldn’t they agree?"

"It’s too much trouble," Greed scratched his beard and said, "The priest here meant that becoming a priest requires going to certain schools and training. I guess as a warrior, we need their approval… which probably involves some complicated procedures."

"What about Ironforge?" Jesse asked, "Aren’t there many Bronzebeard Dwarves who believe in the Holy Light?"

"Let me go to Ironforge?" Greed asked.

"Yeah, what’s wrong? Isn’t that also your kin?"

"Kin… sort of," Greed scratched his beard and said, "Let’s not talk about that for now. It’s too far away. Since you’re not planning to find work, how about we practice sword fighting outside the city tonight? Get back to our usual training."

"Sounds good," Jesse stood up, dusted off his pants, and said, "I’ve been bored lately too. Sword practice to stay fit and unwind."

Greed said, "Just the other day, I got two wooden practice swords from the dwarves. We can play around with them."