Chief Iromin floated gracefully towards them, half expecting to protect Adam from getting himself killed. He took his place beside the half elf while Elder Gold raised her finger, and made the same gesture once more, dismissing her aides.

“I wish to understand how you are able to count how many enchanters you can Awaken.”

“Uuuh, it’s just an ability I have,” Adam said, looking to the Chief.

“Just the reasoning behind the number,” Iromin said.

Adam wasn’t sure if he had explained it to any of the Great Elders. “So, I have these uh… beads? Let’s say I go out and fight, I gain some beads that only I can understand and utilise. Not exactly, because we all sort of gain these beads. Experience, right? The more dragons you kill, the more powerful you become. I, uh, can count how many beads I have, and I can utilise them in ways that other people can’t.”

“How many beads do you possess?”

“Let’s say twenty six, almost twenty seven.”

“How many beads does it take to Awaken an enchanter?”

“Let’s say if I want to Awaken them with everything, no limits, but without the ability to enchant passively, the first of a month is one, the second of the month is two, then the third is four, so on and so on. If it’s one each month, just one bead. If you want specific enchantments, then it’s one bead per enchantment, and if you want passive enchanting, another one, I think.”

“You mentioned to Elder Lykan you could become a Master,” Iromin said.

“Yeah?”

“How many beads does it require?”

“Twenty something, but if I wait, nineteen.”

“Why is it different?”

“It’s a penalty from doing it too quickly.”

“Doing what?”

“Uh…” Adam thought about how dangerous this all was. “Well, you know how you have people who…” Adam glanced upwards. ‘How do I explain this?’ “So, you know how a, Elder Gold, you’re a Oathsworn, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Alright, so, from what I remember, you gain the ability to Lay on Hands, the healing magic, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s Level One. Now, Level Two, you gain the ability to smite your enemies, and the ability to cast spells, right?”

“Yes?”

“Then Level Three, you swear your Oaths, and you gain the specific abilities of the Oath that you swear, right?”

“Yes.”

“Level Four, you gain some training, you get either stronger with your natural abilities, or training, right?”

“Yes?” Elder Gold slowly began to nod her head.

“Then Level Five is what we call an Expert, where you can strike much more effectively, and I think Oathsworn gain Second Gate spells, right?”

“Yes.” Elder Gold narrowed her eyes and continued to nod.

“So, I can understand the world in that view. Levels. I also, whereas you don’t really know when you’re going to slip between, you know, Lay on Hands, and then gaining spells, well, I know. Not only do I know, but I have the ability to-,”

“You are able to gain such abilities as you please, but you are also not restrained to one path,” Iromin said.

“Exactly.”

“Do the number of beads required for each Level increase as you increase in Level?” Iromin asked.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Yes.”

‘It is Warriors and Wanderers,’ Iromin thought. ‘The baby, Bell, is the system? Is it Ritetu who controls the system? No, it must go beyond even our Divine.’

“It will require three beads to Awaken an enchanter to create Basic and Greater weapons passively?” Elder Gold asked, thinking about Adam’s words.

“Yep. Though, getting three beads is hard work. That’s like…” Adam paused. “Well, I usually don’t gain all the beads for myself.”

Iromin and Elder Gold’s eyes remained focused on the half elf, suddenly at attention.

“I share it with everyone else. Jurot, Jaygak, Lucy, Mara, and anyone in my party, usually.”

“Adam?” Iromin called.

“Yeah?”

“The beads that you have gained through your time since you met us. If you were unable to control when you could spend them, would you be greater than a Master?”

“Yeah, I think so. I think I’d be…” Adam’s eyes fell to the side, revealing to the Great Elders a great deal. “I’d be not a Grandmaster. I’d be able to, if I was a Priest, gain Sixth Gate spells. Although, I think I gain more beads than a typical person, so it’s not really a fair comparison.”

“Would Jurot also acquire such a Level?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Iromin remained silent for a long while. While Adam had left, Zijin had come to inform him of a particular matter, but he had been in the middle of explaining something to the Chief, which he understood after Adam revealed such forbidden knowledge.

“Would the enchanters you Awaken also learn other enchantments with beads they gain themselves?” Elder Gold asked.

‘Bell?’

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“Yes.”

Elder Gold noted the pause and then the conviction from Adam’s words. She threw a look to Iromin, with a thought to how far Iromin was willing to let her go.

Iromin was busy thinking about how many reasons Adam had given them to keep him alive, and also to kill him. However, as the ultimate authority over the half elf, he was still firmly against killing the young man. It wasn’t because of the awakening Mad Dog, who would surely kick up a fuss, to put it lightly, but because, as far as Iromin understood, Adam was always earnest with him, and over thought his relationship so much it was bordering paranoia.

“I’ll Awaken enchanters soon if you like, but it will stop me from being able to pluck that many weapons,” Adam informed. “I get too sick if I do both.”

“I understand,” Elder Gold replied. “It will be best for you to pluck as many weapons as you can, for now.”

“Elder Gold, I already said yes, but…”

“Yes?”

“I also need to enchant some weapons for the business, not quite for money, but we have some obligations we need to sort out.”

Elder Gold nodded.

“Also, Elder Gold…”

“I know,” she replied.

“You know?”

“You wish for me to speak with your daughter.”

‘Holy,’ Adam thought. “If it would not displease you.”

Elder Gold narrowed her eyes at the way Adam spoke so formally to her. “You should also rest and spend time with your family. Your youngest daughter will wish to hear your stories.”

“You are so wise, Elder Gold,” Adam joked, but he bowed his head towards her. “Thank you.”

The pair continued to iron out the details of Adam’s requests, before allowing him to leave. As Adam returned back to the shared estate, he paused. He took a moment to gather himself.

Konarot, Kirot, and Karot each walked up to the archway as their father stepped into the shared estate. Adam stared down at them, reaching down to hold out his hands, allowing Kirot and Karot to take them, before he allowed Konarot to lead him forward.

“What is the matter?” Vonda asked.

Adam dropped down beside her, shaking his head lightly. His eyes then fell to Lanarot, who sat beside her mother, who spoke a tale while knitting. “Bad news.” ‘I should have spent more time with Sky. He was mine first, and all I ever did was bully him.’

Lanarot stared up at her brother, pouting after hearing the news. “Sky is gone?”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

“Baktu has taken him.”

Lanarot looked to Jurot, before looking back to Adam. “Baktu already has puppy. Sky is my puppy.”

“I know.” Adam reached out to embrace the girl. He felt her begin to shake, before he prepared himself for the scream, the girl wailing into the darkening sky. Adam kissed her cheek, before passing the girl to Jurot, who silenced the screaming with ease, the girl half snoozing upon his chest a moment later.

However, another child began to cry.

“Karot, what’s wrong?” Adam lifted his son up.

“No dying, daddy!” the boy cried, sobbing and shaking.

“No, no, daddy’s not going to die,” Adam said, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Babo will not let me die, right?”

“Huu!” The boy clutched his father’s shirt, hiding his head into his father’s chest.

Adam continued to hold his son, brushing his hair tenderly. He continued to kiss his son’s cheek, swaying side to side. ‘Damn. How can my son be this cute? You don’t have to worry at all, there’s no way I’m going to die. I’m going to behave from now on, I promise.’

Once the children were taken away to prepare them for bed, Adam revealed the news to Jurot and the others.

“Reavers?” Jurot replied, his voice betraying his excitement.

“Yeah, apparently.”

“It is said they come from the stars to test their mettle,” Jurot said, like a boy speaking a fantastical tale. “They come to fight and slaughter, and they grab people and take them to their home, lands unknown.”

“They sound like bad news.”

“Yes,” Jurot agreed, slowly nodding his head.

Dunes sat awkwardly between them both, vaguely recalling learning about the Reavers, but he hadn’t paid much attention to threats of a bygone era.

“Chief Iromin says they probably have a hundred Paragons,” Adam said. “He’s not certain, but he wants to prepare for the worst.”

“We Iyrmen always prepare for the worst.”

“Hey, where’s Kitool anyhow?” Adam asked. “She left before I did, and she’s still not back?”

“She may be required elsewhere,” Jurot replied simply.

‘Reavers…’ Dunes thought. ‘I should send word back to the Order.’