Omen: 10, 20

“Nice,” Adam whispered as he awoke.

“You are feeling lucky today?” Sonarot asked.

“Very,” Adam replied.

“Cousin Adam, you are going to enchant today?” Turot asked, rubbing his eyes as he awoke. He had stayed the night with the group because he wanted to speak with Adam, telling him all about some of the Rot family’s greatest stories.

“Yes,” Adam replied.

“We can play this morning?” Turot asked.

“Sure,” Adam said, smiling at him. ‘He probably misses Jurot.’

That morning Adam played with the children, letting them win all the games against him, including tossing snowballs at him.

The adults watched him play, some of them still unsure whether they should accept him quite as wholeheartedly as some of their family.

“Who plays with children?” Kaygak asked.

“He does,” Sonarot replied, simply.

“He is queer.”

“Yes.”

Kaygak sighed. ‘However, he is powerful. Even without his axe, I am uncertain I would be able to defeat him.’ She wasn’t sure whether she should accept him, but she certainly accepted that he was strong. ‘Since he wishes to be close, the Gak family could rise during this generation…’

The thoughts were all on whether Adam could truly raise up the families. Amokan was strong, and his goal was to become the Chief. The children each had their dreams, some of them to become a Great Elder, like Turot who wished to become Elder Peace, and some wished to become great Adventurers, like Taygak, who wished to become a Gold Rank Adventurer.

‘Diamond Rank,’ Sonarot thought, smiling at the thought. ‘Perhaps, in my life time, I can see the Rot, Kan, Gak, and Ool families each take a position as a Great Elder.’ She thought about her age, and then the age of the children. ‘No, perhaps not.’

The four teens were training in the courtyard as food was being cooked. The smell of fresh bread filled the air, and a soup was currently bubbling nearby.

“Are you enchanting today?” Shikan asked.

“Yep,” Adam said. “I’m feeling extremely lucky today.”

“How lucky?” Shikan asked.

“I have the best luck today,” Adam said. “I can guarantee a true strike, either for fighting, or for crafting.”

Shikan slowly nodded his head. It would have been ridiculous from anyone else’s mouth, but from Adam’s lips, it was something which could not be ignored.

“Did you need something?” Adam asked.

“A minor matter, one which I will ask my niece to assist me with,” he replied, simply.

Adam picked his sister up, letting her stand on his legs, holding her hands with his finger and thumb. “Look at you, little babby. So strong, so strong.” He smiled, watching as she stood, slightly bouncing as she giggled.

“She will be able to stand by herself soon,” Sonarot said. “Perhaps before you leave, she may walk? Babies of the Iyr usually walk before they turn one.”

“You’re going to be such a troublemaker when you walk, aren’t you?” Adam asked, kissing Lanarot’s nose. She squealed with joy and leaned in to drool against his shirt. “See! She won’t even deny it. What a silly girl.” Adam leaned in to blow a raspberry into her neck.

There was one thing the Iyrmen couldn’t deny, and it was that they were envious that Sonarot had picked up someone who was both so strong, and so well behaved with children.

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Mana: 18 -> 16

Enchanting Check

D20 + 7 = 18 (11)

Omen: 10, 20 -> 10

20 + 7 = 27

A bird flew over the four, seeing them in their small fortification made of rock, earth, and tree. The Mage was half dead, and the Archer was battered and bruised, her leg wounded heavily. The Noble had one half of her face wrapped, and the Dwarf was the one who had lost the most, having lost half his beard during the fray.

A shadow loomed over the group.

Adam raised up the axe, smiling. “You’re going to be quite the axe, aren’t you?” Adam wondered how much the axe would sell for.

“How did it go?” Sonarot asked, holding a sleepy Lanarot in her arms.

“It went well,” Adam said, before blinking. He looked to the side, watching as Naqokan tossed the children up, catching them as they fell. ‘What the hell is she doing?’

Katool fell onto the snow, clapping her hands as she laughed and screamed with joy. Raygak used the nearby wall to support himself, clutching at his side, having laughed too hard. The children all fell around Naqokan, too exhausted from their play.

“I didn’t expect to see you playing with them,” Adam admitted to Naqokan.

“They enjoy it,” she said.

“Do you?”

Naqokan looked around to the children. Normally, she didn’t play with the children much. There were times she would allow them to come watch her training, and times she may assist them in training. However, playing with children was different. It was boring, usually, but there was one thing she couldn’t deny.

Damokan and Kalokan were laying on the snow, hands on their stomachs, trying to catch their breath. Smiles has seeped onto their faces, a rare sight for anyone.

“Yes,” she said. There was something about the joy of children which caused something to awaken within her. ‘I will become stronger,’ she thought. ‘So that they and others can continue to laugh in peace.’

The adults could see the expression on Naqokan’s face. It was an expression which came to an Iyrman once they had a child of their own.

Iyrheart, they called it.

Naqokan would become like the walls of the Iyr, to protect the children who would gain their own stories in the future.

Naqokan frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

The young Iyrman looked up at Adam, but shook her head. “I will leave them to you, Adam.” She turned and left, her three friends watching her as she left, before following her out.

“What was that all about?” Adam asked.

Sonarot smiled. “Come, Adam,” the Iyrman beckoned, lifting up Lanarot so he could accept her.

“Did I do something wrong?” Adam asked, taking the girl, letting her nestle within his neck as he pat her back gently.

“Naqokan needs time,” Shikan said.

“For what?”

“To grow.”

Adam had no clue what the Iyrman was talking about, but the other adults all seemed to understand.

Naqokan, who had finally understood Iyrheart, recalled the death of her cousin. It was a good death, that was what everyone said. However, Shikan had been struck quite hard by it, and it was obvious why.

She had died too soon. Her potential was great, and she would have spearheaded the Iyr into greater heights. Yes, her name would go down in history as coming face to face with a difficult creature, but she could have done so much more.

She died a good death. These were the words of children. It was something Naqokan had thought too.

Halikan stood, but Shikan shook his head. “Leave her,” he said.

The time for dinner had come, and the group ate together, except for the four, who were training in the dark.

“I feel like I did something wrong,” Adam said, feeling something gnaw within him.

Sonarot smiled, brushing his hair. “No. You did well, Adam.”

Halikan nodded, confirming Sonarot’s words.

“If you say so.”

Omen: 1, 3

‘Oh, come on! I’m so close!’

Adam spent the morning with Nobby, assisting him in his training. “You can use the spear and shield for now, with the axe as your backup.”

“Yes, mister boss,” Nobby replied.

‘Jurot shouldn’t be too mad,’ Adam thought, watching as Nobby thrust the spear, keeping the shield up to protect himself.

Since Jurot was gone for a while, Adam decided he may as well assist Nobby during the morning for his training.

“Are you having fun in the Iyr, Nobby?”

“Yes,” he replied.

“They make you move stuff around?”

“Yes.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

“Are you resting well?”

“Yes.”

“Cool,” Adam said, wondering how he could grow closer to Nobby. “Do you miss your family?”

Nobby remained silent. “Sometimes.”

Adam smiled. “Don’t worry, they’re well taken care of. I’ve made sure that they’ve been paid for a while. It won’t be long until you see them again.”

“Okay.”

“How strong are you going to make him?” Lucy asked, staring at Nobby’s muscles.

“As strong as he wants to be,” Adam replied, simply. “An Expert for now, but if he wants to be stronger, I’ll help him reach those heights. I’ll be sure to get it in writing that he won’t charge me too much for his services.”

“Do you think he’ll be there to help us fight a Dragon?”

“Maybe,” Adam said. “If he can become an Expert, or maybe a Master, most definitely. Most Dragons will be unable to hurt him too bad.”

“That old man, Strom…”

“Yeah?”

“He has something which could help Mara.”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I know. I tried to trade for it, but he wasn’t having it.”

“Thanks, Adam.”

“Any time.”

“You are feeling unlucky today?” Shikan asked during breakfast.

“Yeah,” Adam said, breaking some bread for Lanarot, who chewed it slowly.

“Then come with me,” he said. “We will go meet Ashmir.”

“Ashmir?” Adam tried to recall why that name sounded so familiar. “Oh! Lion King?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go!”

“I will come too!” Lucy said. ‘I bet he looks tasty!’