“We should discuss how to spend the money we have earned too,” Jurot said. “We have paid our dues, but there isn’t much we need to spend money on due to the Party Funds. We have equipped Dunes and Jonn with enough coin for their spells, but we will need storage solutions. It was difficult bringing back the Dragon, and we had to leave so much of it behind.”

“You’re right,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Plus there’s the whole need for bringing back loot we find in lairs and stuff. We should probably each fit ourselves with the smallest storage rings for now so we each have the ability to carry more with us.”

“No,” Jurot said. “We should buy a Bag of Holding first. There is no need for each of us to have small storage when a Bag of Holding is best in terms of size and price. Even if you end up carrying the Bag of Holding, it doesn’t matter. You already are in charge of the Party Funds, so there is no need to spread the storage as well.”

“Good point,” Adam said. “How much was a Bag of Holding? Did Paul say five thousand?”

“Five thousand is a little above the average price, but five thousand is the least we should expect to pay from an auction,” Jurot said. “The best thing to do is to ask the Guild to purchase one on our behalf, but it is best that we make a request when we are at least Bronze Rank, Steel Rank preferably.”

“So we should rank up quickly to Steel then?” Adam sighed. “I shouldn’t have denied my Rank Up earlier…”

“That is life,” Jurot said, shrugging his shoulders. He had denied it until Adam had accepted his own.

“Alright, well, either way I’ll be enchanting a sword for Dunes. I might make a new one for myself too.”

Jurot narrowed his eyes. “Your sword is already a great sword.” Though, why Adam would make another sword as a Nephew of the Rot family, was beyond something he understood.

“Yeah, but it’s a little too great, don’t you think?” Adam asked. “I should make a new weapon. I need to make a weapon which is more focused with its power, where it’ll be more powerful than this sword, but in a limited capacity. This sword is a little too great at all times, and it’s bringing me quite a bit of unwanted attention.”

“What will you do with your current sword?” Jaygak asked, staring at it. It was quite the weapon, even her own Bloodseeker would pale in comparison to it.

“I might retire it for a bit,” Adam said, noting the look in the Iyr. “I’ll leave it in the Iyr.”

As much as he wanted to leave the sword in Jaygak’s care, it wouldn’t do well for her to be a Devilkin and to have a powerful sword like this. She already gained plenty of attention when they were out, which the tattoos managed to defend, but if she also had this weapon…

Man’s greed knew no bounds.

“An unused sword in the Iyr is not unused for long,” Jaygak said.

Adam shrugged. “If the Iyr wants to use my sword, it is more than welcome to use it.”

“I am glad we are friends, Adam,” Jurot said, smiling slightly. To think he’d offer the sword to be used for the good of the Iyr, he wasn’t just a Nephew in name.

“Friend?” Adam said. “We aren’t friends, Jurot.”

Jurot nodded his head slowly, understanding the sentiment from the Half Elf.

“After all we’ve done, and though we’ve only known each other, what, for eight months now? No, wait, it’s the seventh month now? Either way, we share a sister, so I don’t want to hear that we’re only friends.” Adam smiled.

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“You are right,” Jurot said, clasping Adam’s forearm.

Adam grinned wider, shaking the Iyrman’s forearm.

"So, what is the plan for us now?" Dunes asked, interrupting the bromance.

"I will stay here and make money by creating magical weapons," Adam said. “It should fund our future adventures, and we will be able to fit the pair of you in full plate mail.”

Dunes wasn’t sure how he felt about Adam working so hard to fit them each with weapons and armour. "What if we assisted you? We could go quest to allow you to create more magical weapons?” Dune offered. He had thought on what Adam said, and creating magical weapons was definitely a part of Lady Arya’s ethos, but he wanted to assist in some way.

"How so?" Adam asked, furrowing his brows.

“We will take quests which will have certain rewards, rewards which may assist in your enchanting like certain materials, and we will bring them back to you so you can enchant with them?” Dunes offered. “When you sell the magical weapons, we will be paid at least for the materials which had been brought.”

“The Iyr will need to get a cut too since I’m making weapons using their shrines,” Adam said. “If I’m even allowed to.”

Dunes nodded his head. “You will need to speak with them about that matter.”

“Yeah, I’ll speak with them later about it. Though, won’t I fall behind in my Rank?” Adam asked.

“If you adventure now and again, you should be able to keep your rank,” Dunes said. “Considering the way you adventure, you will be ahead of us all the time, no doubt.”

“I feel like that’s some backhanded praise,” Adam said, chuckling.

“If you reveal your enchanting ability to the guild, you can also earn some Stamps when you create weapons as part of their requests,” Dunes said. “Or, if you wish to keep it a secret, the Guild always has requests for alchemy.”

“Right, that’s a good idea,” Adam said, nodding his head. “I’d fall behind in Experience though…”

“In the Iyr?” Dunes asked, raising his brow.

“Good point,” Adam said, chuckling. “Though, I do want to adventure with you.”

“It would only be during Nightval that we would adventure without you,” Dunes said. “We won’t be adventuring much, though, since it’s more difficult.”

"I don't know, even so..." Adam said. If they were adventuring without him, that meant he’d be unable to help them.

“We will not adventure this Nightval, but you should think about the matter,” Dunes said.

"Alright. I'll focus on alchemy and enchanting to make money, and I’ll make sure to put some in the Party Funds too.”

“Aren’t you doing too much already?” Jaygak asked, crossing her arms. “How can we keep up?”

“Relax,” Adam said, smiling. “What’s a hundred gold or two? I’ll try and bring it up so we have enough money for our Priest, who will get the most important spell soon.”

“Being a Priest is expensive business,” Dunes said. “I can’t forget my tithes either.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Adam said, chuckling. “Don’t worry. You’ll make more than enough to pay plenty of tithes to the good Lady.”

“So you’ve all finally returned!” called a voice from behind.

“Who is that?” Dunes asked, looking past Adam.

“It’s a Demon,” Jonn said, drawing his blade.

Dunes, who had recognised the appearance of a Demon, also drew his sword.

“Settle down you two,” Adam said, raising a hand. “Hey, Lucy. How are you?”

“I’m doing fine,” she said. She was still in her adult form, though she did appear to have a little more muscle than the last time they had met. “What’s that I smell?” She sniffed the air. “A deeper concentration of magic?” She walked over to Adam, who pulled away. “Ho! You’ve gotten stronger!”

Adam smiled. “I have. I actually have a gift for you, if you’re willing.”

“Shouldn’t you explain yourself?” Jonn asked, blade drawn still, ready to attack.

“Why is there a Demon in the Iyr?” Dunes threw a look to Adam.

“Lucy is my friend,” Adam said. “I understand that Demons have a particular connotation, but if either of you want to try and kill her, well…” Adam caught Dunes’ eyes. “It would be difficult for me to explain to Lady Arya, so let’s not make it awkward for me.”

Dunes remained staring at Adam for a long while, before he glanced around to the Iyrmen around them. “You allow her within your walls?”

“She is my friend,” Jurot said, simply.

Jonn and Dunes exchanged glances again. It seemed Adam could still surprise them long after they thought he couldn’t.

“What’s this about a gift?” Lucy asked, leaning in, smiling wide.

“Follow me,” Adam said, leading Lucy back to the Rot family house.

Lucy followed, humming to herself casually, leaving behind the Guardian and the Priest, both of whom had sworn to slay any Demons they found.

‘Oh good Lady, please give me guidance,’ Dunes prayed. He understood just how mad he’d have to be in order to fight in the Iyr.

Jonn, on the other hand, had very different thoughts. ‘I have already broken those Oaths, so do I really need to attack her?’