The days passed by, the group finished forming the outpost properly, and staked the area around the ditch every so often, leaving some gaps in case they needed to retreat. They had also made a bridge which could be cut to fall across the ditch to allow them to safely walk past it, and the gate had been made so they could lift it up with some slight effort.

Adam would recast the tower daily, some time during the afternoon, and he would cast Goodberry then too. He, Jurot, Jaygak, and Kitool each ate the berries whenever he created them, while the rest ate them on a rotation, save for Brittany and Nobby. He would then meditate to gather his Mana. He also used his Tricks trick to flavour some of the food, though only after the meal was cooked, as the farmers seemed quite hesitant with an Elf using magics on their food, even if he was only half an Elf.

Mana: 18 -> 15

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 30 (1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6)

30 damage!

Lucy sighed, watching as the remaining two wolves, each of which were larger than the others, retreated away. Six wolves lay dead from Adam’s spell, and the group quickly approached them to gather them.

Victory!

Wolves

XP Gained: +55

XP: 8795 -> 8850

“Come on,” Adam said, smiling at Lucy. “You’re too good for wolves, Lucy.”

Lucy returned back to swinging her axe, annoyed that there hadn’t been a good fight. A few days had passed, and they had passed by too smoothly. It’s not that she wanted an Outbreak to crush them, she just wanted a fight every so often. She could have asked the Iyrmen to spar with her, but they’d probably spar too harshly.

“Plus, each of you are getting the XP anyway,” Adam said, smiling at them.

Jurot narrowed his eyes, and slowly nodded his head. ‘XP. Warriors and Wanderers?’

Whenever it was time to eat, the group would gather together, save for those on watch, and stories would be told over food. The Iyrmen were eager to share the stories of their people, mostly those of their ancestors.

Adam spent the time with the farmers, learning more about them. They had become slightly more comfortable with Adam and his group.

Sir Vonda and John would speak about their mutual love of drawing and painting. She had shared her paints with him, and though one of John’s pieces was a little too abstract for her, another was quite decent, a painting of the landscape around them.

Adam noted that Charley, the strongly built warrior with dyed hair, would often times tap her fingers against her thigh, or the wall, and would often remain with Ivy, who continued to sulk in the shade.

Greg, the strongly built man with the tattoo, remained mostly quiet.

“Really?” Adam asked, staring at Jurot.

“I am certain,” Jurot said. “They are siblings.”

Adam stared between Charley and Greg.

Insight Check

D20 + 1 = 10 (9)

“I can’t really see it, but if you say so,” Adam said, before Charley confirmed it during a casual conversation. ‘Damn, Jurot.’

“You’re not?” Charley asked, staring at Remy.

“No,” Remy said, shaking his head. “We’re not.”

“But you look the same.”

“Aye, we get that a lot.”

Adam spoke with Rick more often than the others. The pair would workout in the mornings together.

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

“I didn’t think about how useful your tower was,” Rick admitted. “It’s wonderful to cool down in the heat.”

“I may be dumb, but I’m not stupid,” Adam said.

Rick slowly nodded, unsure if he should agree.

“Three kids, eh?” Adam said. He had learnt that Rick had three children the day before. “I’ve got the most adorable little sister, but no kids myself.”

“How old is she?” Rick asked.

“She turned one the dawnval past. She’s so big now. I remember she was just a little girl recently, but now she’s walking and talking.”

Rick nodded. “One’s a good age. When they turn two, they’re a bunch of trouble. They go around pulling on other children’s hair, and you need to spank them to get them to stop.”

“No spanking,” Adam said. “I can’t bear to hit a child.”

“It’s not hitting, it’s spanking,” Rick said. “You gotta spank a kid to get them to be raised right.”

“I find that putting them in time out works a little better,” Adam said. “You tell them off, and you sit them down facing the wall for a bit. Then you tell them not to do it again. If they keep acting out, you need to take away the things they like for a bit.”

“You around other kids?” Rick asked.

“There’s my adorable Cousins too,” Adam said. “Jaygak’s and Kitool’s siblings, and their cousins.”

“Aye?” Rick asked, confused. “I heard the Iyrman call you his brother.”

Adam nodded. “His sister is my sister, so he’s my brother, and I’m his.”

Rick nodded slowly. “That the sister you talking about?”

“Yeah.” Adam smiled, though he could feel the sadness creep into his heart. “She slapped me and stole a bite out of my sandwich.”

“Sandwich?”

“A type of food,” Adam said. “I was distracted and she got me real good. Iyrman through and through.”

Rick nodded. “I hear they educate their children for free in the Iyr.”

“Yeah.”

Rick nodded his head slowly. “Lucky, that. I’m going to try and put one of mine through education. Probably the youngest.”

“Yeah?” Adam asked, more curious.

“I try and teach them letters myself, and they know a little, but it’s better to get educated properly.”

“You know your letters?”

“Aye. Learnt them between my adventuring. Cost me a pile of gold, and I’m not the best, but I’m alright. A little slow.”

“The Iyrmen read a ton,” Adam said. “Their children too.”

“Do they?”

“They’ve got plenty of books in the Iyr, mostly stories of their ancestors. The oldest children usually read to the younger children, but sometimes the younger children try.”

“I can’t imagine,” Rick admitted. “That sort of thing’s not something they do in Red Oak. I hear up north they do that sort of thing. They say half of them can read and write. I can’t really write too well.”

Adam shook his head slightly. “Where I… yeah.” Adam tried to be more careful with giving out information about himself. “I’m alright with my letters and numbers. Not so good with the numbers, admittedly, but I’m alright. Better with my letters.”

“They taught you good in the Elvish lands?”

“I wasn’t born in the Elvish lands.”

“Oh,” Rick said. He wondered if he should press, but decided against it. “I try to read at the library when I have the chance.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Costs a copper each time to get in, but you can read for the whole day. There’s about fifty books you can read. If you want to read other books, you need to pay a silver, or a gold. I can spend the silver, but gold’s a little harder to part with.”

Adam chuckled. “I get that. Hey, after this quest…”

Rick stared at Adam, wondering why he had stopped.

“It’s bad luck to say that sort of thing,” Adam said, shaking his head.

“Aye.”

“Say, you’re Iron Rank now. Adventuring for about five years. How long do you think you’re going to be adventuring for?”

“I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. We adventure a little now and again, and usually we don’t risk it with this kind of request, but the pay was great, and we’re working with greater folk than us. When we heard there were three Iyrmen, and a Steel Rank party, we decided to accept. I think we’ll keep adventuring, slaying our bears, making our silver, for years to come. Might reach Bronze, but we’re fine with how much we’re making for now. They say if you burn a candle brighter, it doesn’t last as long.”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “Say, if you…” Adam paused again, wondering how to word it. “I’ve been thinking about…” He paused again, trying to understand what he wanted to ask, and if he should really ask. “What about working as a guard for a business?”

“Sometimes we get that sort of request when a merchant comes by,” Rick said. “Decent enough pay, but it’s infrequent.”

“Hmm.” Adam nodded his head slowly. ‘I’m already training Nobby. What if I…’

Rick waited for Adam to continue. It seemed the Half Elf had something to say.

“Would you like to put all your children through education?” Adam asked.

“If I had the gold. I’d have the others send their children too. Might send them out to apprentice to smiths and the like if they’re not good for letters and numbers proper.”

“Hmm,” Adam said with slightly more enthusiasm. “I see.”

“You alright?”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I’m fine.” ‘Interesting…’

Before Adam could finish his thought, a whistle pierced the air, and the entire camp quickly burst into action, grabbing their weapons. They gathered like a swarm towards where the watchers were pointing towards.

“Stay out of this, Adam!” Lucy shouted as he darted onto the walls. “I want to spill blood!”