Omen: 6, 17

Adam wondered what he should do. It was a decent enough Omen for enchanting, but the problem was that he wouldn’t reach the threshold he wanted. There was also the fact he was running out of time, and also needed to enchant the Ban’s weapons still.

“Yo,” Adam called, approaching Zijin while he was working.

The Elder closed his book so Adam couldn’t read what was written within. “Have you come to cause more trouble.”

“Yeah.”

Elder Zijin smiled, raising his brow. “Just how much trouble have you come to cause.”

“I’ve come to tell you that I may not feel too lucky for some time, so I might have to wait on enchanting your weapon. I’ve done pretty well yesterday, I need one more day of focused enchanting, and then I should be able to casually enchant it when I’m not feeling too lucky.”

Elder Zijin sighed. Adam was like an open book, he’d always tell someone what he was feeling, and would inform them of even the smallest things. However, he understood that Adam was the kind of person who people started trouble with for the slightest inconvenience, due to his pointed ears, and his ridiculousness.

“I trust you more than you think, Adam,” Zijin said. “If it is a small matter like that, you do not need to mention it.”

“Well, you know,” Adam said.

“Yes,” Zijin replied. “I do.”

“One day the other Iyrmen will accept me like you do.” Adam could feel the awkwardness in the air. Zijin had always been so nice to him, and Adam had put some distance between them recently. It was something he had done defensively, but having thought about it for a while, he realised he had reacted too firmly.

“Perhaps, but does that matter?” Zijin asked. “You have a special relationship with the Iyr. A Nephew who is so close to his family, and so close to the Great Elders. While you are in the Iyr, you should not worry.”

“It’s precisely because I’m in the Iyr that I worry,” Adam said.

“There is no need for that,” Zijin stated.

“That’s not something I expected an Elder to say, considering how hardcore you guys get when the Iyr is in danger.”

“That is a matter for us Elders to worry about. It is why we are given so much power to deal with matters.” Zijin grinned wider.

“You seem far more cheerful nowadays,” Adam said.

“I was stressed out before, but things have calmed down now.”

“I was wondering why you were so cranky.”

Zijin raised his brows, and Adam bowed his head and excused himself. ‘Cranky? Was I really cranky?’

Mana: 18 -> 15

Enchanting Check

D20 + 7 = 20 (13)

Omen: 13, 17 -> 13

17 + 7 = 24

Adam plucked a Thread of Fate.

He was heavily armoured, adorned in plate mail, and at his back was a giant maul. The maul itself was carved out of a dark gem, black as night, and was no doubt enchanted considering how there were specks of light within the gem which shifted about like fireflies.

Sir Royce had been making his way to the capital for a short while, after assisting with defending the village from all the beasts during Twilight Month. He had heard news from the capital that a meeting had been called by the King, bringing all the representatives from the greatest families, those which held the title of Duke.

He was a few days away still, though he’d manage to make it on time, barely, wanting to appear fashionably late. What would they say to the previous Knight of Death? He had assumed that the Duke from North Aldland would have made it by now, taking the river down, but there was suddenly a chill which fell down his spine.

He stopped.

He turned.

There he saw it.

Even from this distance, he recognised the carriage. Made of dark grey, as though it was made out of steel. It held the symbol of the Blacksnow family, which was directly descended from the Blackwater family many, many centuries ago.

Sir Royce had expected that he would come, and if not him, the other little shit, but he hadn’t expected it to be that person. There was only one person whose carriage was dark grey, as the rest of the family used a carriage which was black, or white, but not grey.

‘Should I run?’ Sir Royce thought, certain he’d be able to keep some distance, at least, for a short while. He thought against it, not wanting to beaten by the cane. ‘Why have I been so unlucky recently?’

Thus Fate was forever changed.

Adam wiped his brow. Even though he was trying to enchant something much simpler than a greater enchantment, he was being drained of more Mana. He carried the maul back to the shared family estate. He placed it in one of the upper rooms, not wanting Lanarot to hurt herself.

She stumbled his way towards him once he had returned from the house, and Adam lifted her up, kissing her cheek.

“Did you miss me, smelly girl?” Adam asked, brushing her hair. “You’re always so needy, aren’t you? We played all day yesterday, but you still want to play with me?”

Lanarot clapped her hands and giggled, before leaning in to kiss his cheek, clapping her hands wildly as she squealed.

Adam smiled. “Okay, okay.” He kissed her nose.

Omen: 6, 7

‘Damn.’

Adam went through the motions of his morning routine. He caught his sight in the river. “Yo!” He couldn’t help but smile, flexing his muscles. “Damn. I look so good.” He continued to admire his form. He was finally lean again, though that was to be expected due to the fey blood within him.

“Stop being so weird,” Jaygak said from nearby. “Obvious you’d look good when you’re always training with us.”

Kitool caught Adam’s form with her eyes, admiring it for how chiselled it was.

Jurot stared at Adam’s forearm, which was quite thick. He wondered how Adam had managed to make them protrude out so much when he too used an axe and his forearms weren’t quite as thick.

Adam felt the eyes of the Iyrmen against him, like he was a piece of meat. “I’m nowhere near as big as Nobby, still.”

“Nobby is special,” Jurot said, with Jaygak and Kitool both letting out affirmative grunts.

“That’s right, Nobby is special,” Adam said, nodding his head too.

Nobby continued to bathe nearby, suddenly flushing red, even though he thought he had become used to it after Lucy.

“Right,” Lucy said, patting Nobby’s back, before gently rubbing his back. “Nobby is special.”

Jurot placed a hand on her shoulder, his face blank.

“I was just admiring his body, that’s all,” Lucy said, nervously.

“You may admire with your eyes, but not your hands,” Jurot stated, firmly.

“R-right.”

Adam spent the next short while planning for the next Warriors and Wanderers game for the children, since they had finally found the two missing characters, each played by Sonarot and Jurot.

‘I should do that,’ Adam thought, before going to speak with his Aunt.

After their game, the children shouted and cried, returning to their parents in quite the state. Adam smirked as the children all cried and complained about the game. He couldn’t blame them, after what had happened.

“Not right, aunt! Not right!” Turot said, pointing at her with an accusatory finger.

“What did I do?” Sonarot replied.

“You cannot betray us, you are an Iyrman!”

“I did not betray you, my character did,” she replied, simply, patting his head.

“But… but…”

“It is just a game, Turot. Would I ever betray you?” She picked him up, brushing his hair.

“No…”

Sonarot kissed her nephew on his forehead. “That is right.”

The children continued to complain to their parents, explaining that they had just saved their aunt when she had betrayed them for a magical weapon.

“It is not right, mama!” Katool said. “We save her!”

“Bad, aunt!” Taygak said.

“Mother, how could she betray us for a magical weapon?” Saygak asked, pouting up at Kaygak.

Damokan and Kalokan held each other’s hands, and were looking up at their parents expectantly.

“Aunt!” Raygak said. “You cannot do this to us! Great Jarot helped us and you cannot do this!”

“Oh dear,” Sonarot said. “I’ve upset all my darling nieces and nephews.”

They continued to complain to their parents as Sonarot and the other Rot adults began to make food, including Jurot. Nirot had returned in the evening with the other teens, noting how upset their youth were.

Their eyes fell to Adam, who was playing with Lanarot in the corner. He caught their eyes and smiled.

When it was time to eat that evening, Sonarot made sure to bring the children their favourite foods before it was time to eat, fruit for Katool, peppers for the Gaks, and hot milk for the Kans. Turot nibbled on a small block of cheese.

A thought crossed Adam’s mind, and his eyes fell to Lucy. The Demon shuddered, feeling something had gone wrong.

“What?” Adam asked, his lips forming a wicked smile.

Lucy’s eyes met his, and she looked to the children, who were eating peacefully. “Don’t even think about it.”

Adam tilted his head, his brows raised as he pretended not to understand.

“It’s only recently that they stopped saying they wanted to kill me when they grew up.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Adam said, shrugging his shoulders.

“I know that look!” Lucy snapped. “It’s the same look Jaygak gets before she takes her brother’s peppers.”

Raygak’s head snapped up, and he clutched his half eaten pepper to his chest.

“Not today,” Jaygak said, patting his head. She was sure that her father would noogie her if she dared to take the pepper from him today. Plus, he had been doing so well in class, she couldn’t bother the boy.

“Would I take your peppers?” Adam asked.

“That’s not what I mean.”

Adam smiled even more wickedly. “Perhaps I should ask the children.”

“Don’t,” Lucy said, raising her hand to try and stop him. “Adam, are you trying to kill me?”

“Aunt managed to deal with the fallout.”

“I’m not their aunt!”

“Don’t be like that, Lucy,” Adam whispered. “I bet Nobby could manage it. Perhaps I should ask Nobby what he thinks?”

“Wait!” Lucy huffed. “I’ll stop messing around with Nobby.”

Adam rubbed his chin. “Oh?”

“I’ll stop.”

“Stop what?”

“You know.”

“What?”

“I’ll stop being creepy around him.”

Adam had wanted to include Lucy into the game to try and help her get closer with the children, and watching the fallout after her betrayal would have been more fun. However, her deal was too nice.

Adam reached out his hand, shaking her forearm as they solidified their deal.

Lucy cried in her heart. ‘Just you wait until I’m ruling this place as the Demon Lord! Ah! No, not this place.’ Her eyes snapped around, as if searching for something which could have heard her thoughts. ‘I meant everything outside the Iyr.’

“Are you okay?” Adam asked.

“How could I be so fine with the dessert for my heart is gone?” Lucy asked.

Adam smiled. “You can have some of my dessert.” Adam lifted up his sister, who stared up at the Demon, blinking at her. Lanarot squealed and sucked on her hand shyly.

‘How could she…’ Lucy stopped. ‘If she grows up close to me, doesn’t that mean she’ll like me? She can protect me in case something goes wrong.’

Adam pulled his sister away.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re looking at her the same way Jaygak looked at Stormdrake when she found out what it could do,” Adam said.

“Hey! Why are you two using me to explain the worst things?” Jaygak cried.