Omen: 15, 19

‘Why must you do this to me?’ Adam thought. ‘Twice in a row? I want to relax this week!’

However, Adam wasn’t going to waste such good luck, not when he was creating a weapon for one of his companions. ‘I’ll go enchant later I guess…’

“What are you doing?” Jarot asked.

“What?” Adam replied, holding Lanarot in his arms. “I’m holding my sister?”

“Will you keep her for yourself all week?” Jarot asked. “She should spend time with her baba.”

“Baba,” the girl said, looking up at her grandfather, smiling up towards him.

“Do you see how she calls for me?” Jarot reached over to take the girl from Adam.

Adam didn’t want to give her up, but he was her grandfather, so let her go. “She’s only saying that because you said the word. Lanarot, you love papa more, right?”

“Papa,” the girl replied, giggling at Adam.

“You see?”

Jarot huffed quietly. “You should be spending time with your companions too. How dare you leave Sir Vonda by herself when you invited her to the Iyr?”

“I was going to spend time with everyone later,” Adam replied.

“You were going to enchant,” Jarot accused.

“How did you know that?” Adam asked.

Jarot shook his head, sighing. “You should spend the day with Sir Vonda. How could I have such a shameless grandson like you?”

“Hold on, since when did I have an old geezer like you as my grandfather?” Adam replied as he always did.

“I do not want to hear it today. Come, Sir Vonda. If he does not guide you properly today, I will beat him myself.”

“Who is going to beat who?” Adam replied once more.

“Without your Phantom?”

“How cruel? You steal away both Lanarot and my Phantom?”

“Lanarot is my granddaughter, and Phantom was once my axe!” Jarot complained.

“Sophistry!” Adam replied.

Sonarot watched as the pair fought, rubbing her forehead. Churot was standing nearby too, glancing between the two.

“Grandfather is right,” Jurot said. “You should spend more time with your companions during the festival, it is the best time.”

“Even you, Jurot?” Adam asked, looking back at the Iyrman.

Jurot nodded.

“It seems Adam does not wish to guide me,” Vonda said. She was adorned in the Iyrman’s light clothing, just like the rest of his companions, each wearing a very pale blue, almost white, outfit.

“Who said that?” Adam asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. “Of course I’ll guide you around. I know that you won’t betray me, Vonda.”

Vonda smiled behind her veil, which only half hid the burn marks. “Then shall we leave now before your grandfather also takes your Aunt from you?”

“Hah!” Adam scoffed. “As if he could take my Aunt from me. Even if Lanarot and Jurot abandon me, Aunt Sonarot would never.”

Sonarot smiled at his words. Though Adam was obviously making a joke, she knew at least he trusted her that much.

“I would not abandon you,” Jurot stated. Even as a joke, he would not allow the sentiment to remain in the world.

“You of all people should,” Adam replied.

“Why?”

“If not you, then who?” Adam asked, flashing a cheeky smile.

Jurot couldn’t help but feel Adam was trying to take a swing at his honour, but there was definitely something deeper in Adam’s words. “What does that mean?”

Adam smiled. “I trust you enough to abandon me properly, Jurot.” Adam pat Jurot’s shoulder, before turning to Sir Vonda. “We should leave before they have me elaborate.”

Vonda wasn’t sure what Adam had said, but she was fairly certain it was quite awful for an Iyrman to hear that. ‘What are you doing? Adam?’

Strom struggled to keep his laughter in, all the while laying atop the roof. He had almost spilled his wine. ‘Are you trying to die?’

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Adam guided Vonda around, though the thought came to him as they found a stall full of grilled vegetables. ‘Why did he insist on Vonda when I have so many companions?’

“It still surprises me that the Iyrmen offer all these foods for free,” Vonda said, taking a bite of her grilled vegetables, pull up her veil slightly so she could eat.

“I don’t think the Iyrmen can surprise me any more,” Adam said. “Though, I’m not sure I can say that.”

“So you know that you’re…” Vonda wondered what word she could use.

“Adam?” Adam replied, smiling at her. “Yeah. Yeah I do.”

Vonda smiled at his words. Adam was definitely the correct word to use. “Will you reveal your secrets one day?”

“One day,” Adam assured. “Once we’re strong enough.”

“Are they that important?”

“Yes.” Adam sighed, taking a bite of the grilled vegetables, tasting the slight saltiness, and the charred bits.

“How strong?”

“A Paragon?” Adam thought. “Though, I suppose if the Iyr helps, then only a Grandmaster.”

“Will there come a day you will stop saying such frightening things?” Vonda teased.

Adam shrugged. “Not sure. Once I retire, maybe?”

Vonda smiled. “That’s quite the plan.”

“What’s your plan, Vonda? You want to create a temple to Mother Soza, but do you have any dreams beyond that?”

“I wished to create a temple to Mother Soza,” Vonda began, falling silent for a moment.

Adam smiled. “Looks like I make other people’s dreams come true.”

“I also wish to marry,” Vonda admitted, feeling her cheeks burn. “I will give up my Eastlake name when I do, and I wish to have children.”

“That’s quite a lovely dream.” Adam cleared his throat, understanding how awkward the conversation had become. “I’ll be sure to help everyone in…” Adam paused, trying to word the statement properly, realising it could be misconstrued. “I’ll support everyone to make sure they can achieve their dreams peacefully.”

“It is not a difficult dream,” Vonda admitted. “If I can create my temple, then it is very simple.” She didn’t want to admit how difficult it would be finding someone when her face and neck were burnt so badly, but as a Priest, she didn’t think it would be too difficult to find someone wanting to raise their status up by marrying her.

“Sometimes the best dreams are the simplest,” Adam said.

“What of you, Adam?”

Adam thought for a moment. “I’ll become the strongest.”

“The strongest?”

“I’ll be…” Adam was about to say the phrase, only to realise he was in the wrong genre, and it was rather cringey. “I’ll become the strongest so no one can impede on the dreams of my friends and family.”

“I thought your dream would be to marry and have children,” Vonda admitted. “You are so close with the children, and you are good with them.”

“I’ll think about it once I have a stable foundation. Once I have enough strength, and my business is at a certain point, I can get married and have children.” Adam paused, thinking about all the people he had offended. He’d need enough strength that they would think twice about trying to mess with him or his family. “Until then, I can’t.”

Vonda could sense that he was afraid. Afraid that the world would take everything away from him. Again. She wondered just what his story was, but decided against asking, since it wasn’t the time.

They continued to enjoy the festival together, eating the various foods on offer, watching the Iyrmen wrestle, before taking a seat nearby to continue talking about nothing in particular.

From the side came a familiar form, tapping on a piece of paper.

Excuse me! Can I speak with Vonda?

“Tariel,” Adam said, noting she held a strained smile. “Are you okay?”

Ok.

Vonda bowed her head towards the Half Elf, before excusing herself, walking away with Tariel, reading what the young woman required. She left with Tariel, leaving Adam to his thoughts.

‘How strong do I really need to be?’ Adam thought. ‘I can take on anyone about my tier, and I can go toe to toe with someone who is a Master, probably. Level 9, then? Once I’m a Master, I could probably deal with most threats pretty well. No. I’m only one guy, and there’s only so much one guy can do.’

Adam sipped his water, before placing it down, staring at the clay cup. ‘I need to make everyone stronger. At least an Expert, though Jurot and I should stay around the same Level. No, not just Jurot, but the others too. As long as we’re all powerful, then we can deal with almost anything.’

Adam wasn’t an idiot, truly. He understood the reason why he could joke so eagerly with everyone was because he was around Iyrmen, inside the Iyr and out. The Iyr provided him with great protection, but that wouldn’t last forever. It had been smooth sailing for him thus far, but there could come a time he brought too much trouble for the Iyr.

The Half Elf rubbed his leaf shaped ear. He hadn’t expected that being a Half Elf would cause him trouble, though it hadn’t brought too much trouble yet. Somehow, he was being treated better than some people even in modern times. ‘Crazy.’ He shook his head. ‘As a Nephew of the Rot family, I really should be more careful.’

“Has your date ended?” Strom asked, having approached Adam from the side.

“Date?” Adam asked, raising his brow. “As if I’m worthy enough for someone like Vonda.”

“Are you not?”

“How can I claim to be?”

Strom laughed, having not expected Adam to berate himself like that. “If you are looking for someone to marry, I could introduce you to one of my descendants. Since they are related to me, you can be assured they are beautiful.”

“Is it going to be someone related to your favourite wife?” Adam joked.

“I do not have favourites between my children,” Strom whispered, his eyes sparkling with mischief, “but most definitely.”

“I’ll leave that sort of thing to Fate,” Adam replied, simply.

Strom placed down two clay bottles. “Very well.” Then, as quickly as he had appeared, he left, leaping up towards the roof with a single jump, though his flight assisted him to make it.

Vonda reappeared moments later. “Sorry, Adam. Tariel needed some assistance with a matter.”

“It’s no problem. Is she alright?” Adam asked.

“She is fine.” Vonda sat opposite Adam and stared down at the clay bottle. “Drinks?”

Adam nodded. “Strom placed them here for us to enjoy.”

“You are quite close to Strom.”

“He’s close to me,” Adam joked, wondering if Strom could hear.

Vonda smiled, stifling a giggle.

Adam poured in the wine for both of them from his own bottle. He sipped it, tasting the slight sourness, though sweet tones later hit his tongue. “Pretty good.”

“The wine in the Iyr is delicious,” Vonda admitted.

They sampled more food, before they came across Sonarot, who was currently breastfeeding Lanarot. When the girl saw her brother, she pulled away from her mother and reached for him.

Adam lifted her up, kissing her cheek. “Hello my little smelly girl.”

Lanarot replied with a smile, hugging his chest, sucking her thumb.

“Everyone’s trying to get me married off but how can I marry when you haven’t chosen anyone for me?” Adam asked, kissing her cheek once more.

Lanarot babbled quietly, before they all sat together. She played with Adam’s clothes, as well as Vonda’s clothing.

Vonda smiled, brushing the girl’s hair as she reached up to her veil. Lanarot tugged at it, and Adam quickly tickled the back of the girl’s hand.

“Don’t be so mean to Sir Vonda, you silly girl.” Adam kissed the back of the girl’s hand. “She’s going to save papa’s life a bunch.”

“I will try,” Vonda said.

Adam eventually excused himself, going to enchant to keep his head clear. He plucked a Thread of Fate, and thus Fate was forever changed.