Omen: 3, 15

Adam stared at the numbers, a smile on his face. ‘I knew it. Telling Dunes was the right thing to do.’ He only half believed himself, understanding that sometimes he’d be lucky, and sometimes he’d be unlucky.

The guilt of not telling Dunes even for a day had pressed against him like a wave, but now that wave had flowed away, leaving him feeling light.

“Are you feeling lucky today?” Sonarot asked, as she always did.

“A little,” Adam admitted, seeing Lanarot’s sleepy face, some milk dribbling down her chin. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” Adam pulled her onto his lap and brushed her hair. “Did you sleep good?”

Lanarot yawned quietly, before humming out a groan, resting her head against his chest. Adam recalled when she had been so small, so light. She was light still, she was still a baby after all, but now there was more of a sturdiness about her.

Lanarot eventually awoke properly, and crawled around, playing with her blocks, tossing them around, and crawling over to Adam. Adam gave her all the attention she wanted, letting her stand beside him, her hands gripping his sleeve tight to keep herself upright.

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked.

“Oof!” Lanarot said, pointing up to him.

“What do you mean, oof?” Adam said, reaching down to pinch her cheek.

“Apoopoo!”

“You!” Adam picked her up just under her pits. “You’re apoopoo.”

Lanarot giggled, kicking out her legs towards him, before clapping her hands together and squirming under him.

Adam continued to hold her around, making aeroplane noises, before eventually taking her outside for some fresh air.

The Iyr felt different. There was a pressure in the Iyr, something which had taken away the comfort that he usually felt. He looked around, trying to find where the discomfort came from.

“Dunes?” Adam said, catching the sight of the young Aswadian. “What are you doing here?”

“I am a Guest of the Rot family, aren’t I?” Dunes replied, pretending to be confused.

“You know what I mean,” Adam said, joining his compatriots. They seemed ready and eager to train that morning, especially Nobby and Brittany.

“I spoke with him for some time,” Dunes said. “It is all but confirmed that he is my father.”

“Yeah?” Adam said, smiling at him.

“Even so, we do not have much of a connection together,” Dunes admitted, looking to the small fire nearby. “I was born and raised in my temple, and so my family is there.”

Adam smiled, sadly. He bowed his head, sighing. “Yeah, I guess that’s true. I’m just glad the two of you know the truth at least. I just didn’t want you to live near your father without ever knowing about it. That’s just so… sad.”

Dunes nodded, patting Adam’s shoulder. “Thank you, Adam.”

“Any time.” Adam nodded his head in return.

The training that morning was lighter than usual.

“You must be careful,” Shikan had warned. “Magic is dangerous during this month, so you cannot train too hard.”

After the light training, Adam played with the children. Sockball was the game of the day, and Adam played lightly with them, not wanting to stress them too much.

“I have defeated you,” Katool said, a smug smile on her face as she stared up at him.

“Of course you have,” Adam said, brushing her hair. “You are so amazing, aren’t you?”

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“Yes.” She nodded her head, causing her freshly cut bob to bounce.

“I beat you too,” Turot said.

“Obviously you beat me,” Adam said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “You’re so good at sockball, so how am I meant to beat you?”

Saygak smiled, placing his fists at his waist, staring down at Adam in his victory. He was the best that day, so Adam pat his head as his reward.

Naqokan kept an eye on Adam, all the while Lanarot held onto her fingers, squatting and standing in front of the young Iyrman. ‘Slowly,’ she thought. ‘I must plant the seed and let it bear fruit.’

A chill crossed the back of Adam’s neck, and he rubbed it, trying to warm himself up. ‘The Iyr is so weird. Is it because it’s the Twilight Month?’

Once Adam was done playing, he quickly bathed in the nearby river, using the hard soap of the Iyr as he always had, before returning to find Elder Zijin, who was speaking with Dunes.

“Adam, Elder Gold wishes to speak with you,” the Elder said, having spotted Adam’s arrival.

“What did I do this time?” Adam asked, furrowing his brows suspiciously at the Elder, his face growing sour.

“Do not make that face,” Zijin grumbled. “She merely wishes to speak with you.”

‘Should I take Lanarot with me?’ Adam thought, unsure if Elder Gold would try to kill him.

“You are in no trouble,” Zijin assured, noting the look on the Half Elf’s face.

“Fine,” Adam said, before he grabbed a piece of bread which was freshly baked. He tore some off for his sister, before leaving, eating the bread as he made his way to Elder Gold.

Elder Gold’s residence was near the Chief’s, and it was almost identical, save for the courtyard, which grew several trees. One of the trees grew a fruit, though it looked more like a gem.

“Gemtree,” Elder Gold said, having appeared behind the Half Elf from nowhere. “The fruits grow over a year, and they are plucked at the end of this month. Each is worth hundreds, if not thousands of gold.”

‘You god damn Iyrmen,’ Adam thought, his heart pounding harshly from the sudden appearance of the Iyrman. “Oh?”

“Every year different families are gifted the fruit, save for a few which are kept away in the Iyr’s coffers.”

“I’ll be sure to bet for some of these then,” Adam replied, staring up at the fruit. ‘I wonder what they do.’

Elder Gold smiled. “I have heard that you have enchanted the axe which you had won from me.”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I named it Shadow, for it was a shadow of Phantom.”

Elder Gold bowed her head, inviting Adam to sit, though he remained standing in the courtyard. He had figured out why Elder Gold had called him, and he was sure that he wouldn’t be here long.

“Quite the useful enchantment,” she said. “Why do you not keep it?”

“It had to be sold,” Adam replied, simply.

“It was made of such fine materials. Iyrsteel and Iyr ash, forged by one of our finest smiths.”

“I’m sure,” Adam replied, nodding his head. “So once it was enchanted by me, it should sell for easily over a thousand, maybe closer to two thousand?”

“It was quite the loss for me,” she said.

“I’m sure,” Adam replied. “Do you remember our previous deal?”

“Yes.”

“I have hope that you will keep your word, Elder Gold, because I believe our feelings are mutual on the matters of trust,” Adam said. “Is there anything else you need of me, Elder Gold, or may I go and work?”

“You may leave,” she said, slowly bowing her head, letting him go. She sighed, watching him leave. “We will not ask you to donate weapons for three years, Adam.”

Adam paused for a moment. He wondered if he should fight, but let it go. There was no need to aggravate them. ‘I should have expected as much.’

She still wasn’t sure if she had made the right choice when she took the Dragon scales, and she wasn’t sure if she made the right choice now, removing Phantom from his grasp.

She sighed.

“Are you sure you wish to auction it?” Elder Zijin asked once Adam had returned. He wasn’t sure the exact details of the conversation, but he was sure the pair had exchanged their intent.

“Yes,” Adam replied. “I am more stubborn than you think I am, Elder Zijin. I need it to be auctioned off so I have enough money to make what I really want to make.”

“Okay,” Elder Zijin said.

‘Wait,’ Adam thought. ‘If I made weapons in the Iyr, can’t they also try to take them from me too?’

“What worries you?” Sonarot asked, offering him a bowl of soup.

“I just realised that I probably can’t make weapons in the Iyr,” he replied. “They’ll take the weapons away from me.”

Sonarot placed a hand against his. “Do not worry, Adam. Smith freely. We will guarantee that the weapons you smith will be yours.”

“Okay,” Adam said. “In which case, do you have any designs for axes? I need to make several designs. Swords, spears, shields, and axes.”

“Is this for your inn?”

“Yes,” Adam said, smiling. “It is.”

“We have a few designs in our family vault. I will see which design may be useful for you.”

“Thanks. If it’s the Rot family design for an axe, I’m sure it’ll be good. I’ll go and design the other stuff today then.”

Adam grabbed his book and began to sketch a number of designs in the spare room of the Rot house. He grabbed a large sheet of paper from the warehouse, and he started to sketch the design of the various weapons.

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 17 (12)

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 19 (14)

Smithing Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 5 = 19 (14)

Adam had thought about using his Omen for the designs, but he decided against it. The blueprints were fine for the various weapons, and he didn’t want to tempt fate over something so small, especially during this month.

‘But then again,’ Adam thought. ‘This is for business. I should probably at least aim for a 20 in each of them. I guess I’ll continue to work on them over time then.’

He eventually stepped out of the house, stretching out his back, before he noticed a few figures nearby.

“What are you guys doing here?”