Omen: 1, 10

“Nobby, let’s go meet with your ma and pa,” Adam said over breakfast. He had already finished his hot bath that morning, having enjoyed himself thoroughly. His magical tower was great, but there was nothing like a nice hot bath in a town.

“Okay, mister boss,” Nobby replied, simply.

Jonn’s and Dunes’ groups made their way out that morning to quest, off to slay some manner of beasts. At first Adam had thought to send Vonda’s group out instead of Jonn’s, since both groups would have had Priests, but upon seeing the deathly glare of the Demon Lord, he decided against it. Plus, Dunes was a Priest of War, and Vonda was a Priest of Life, so he supposed that Vonda wouldn’t have felt comfortable with slaying beasts and such.

‘Politics.’

The pair of Aswadians followed the Demons out, exchanging glances between one another. He certainly must have known their feelings when putting them together, though he didn’t seem to mind them working together. He hadn’t warned them either. Did he expect them not to kill the Demons? Or did he have that much faith in the Demons? Or was it his faith in them, through Dunes?

Adam and Nobby made their way through Red Oak. Adam wore his breastplate over his thick clothes, providing him some protection as he travelled through the town, and carried Wraith at his side. He decided against bringing along his shield, finding it too awkward to carry. However, since he was a Half Elf, he also wore a scarf around his head, hiding his pointy ears. Nobby walked alongside the Half Elf, taking away half the attention. He carried an axe at his side, since he followed the way of the Rot family.

‘Now that I think about it, what is Nobby’s relationship with the Iyr?’ Adam thought, but he decided to let the thought go.

They weaved through the various alleyways, dodging clothing lines, as well as stray cats, before finding a small shack. Adam stepped aside, motioning with his head, and Nobby knocked on the door with a gentle rasp.

“Yes?” called a quiet voice.

“Ma,” Nobby said.

The doors flung open as the thin woman revealed herself, her dark hair now cut short. “Nobby!” She swung her arms around the large boy, but quickly stepped back when she saw Adam’s puthral armour in her peripheral vision.

“It’s good to see you, Annie,” Adam said, smiling.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, uh, mister Adam.”

“Just Adam, please,” Adam said, wincing at the name. He noted the thin woman had gained a little bit of weight, but she was still fairly thin. “Is Anne here?”

“She’s at the school,” Annie replied, before stepping inside. “Come in.”

Adam stepped inside, noting how empty the place was, save for some clothing nearby. “Is Ted at work?”

“Aye,” Annie replied, pouring some water in for the pair, before beginning to chop some vegetables.

“No issues with the money I hope?” Adam asked.

“The guild sends it on the first of every month,” Annie replied. “Nobby’s pay and Anne’s fees.”

“Good, good,” Adam said, before he placed down a gold coin onto the table. “If you need any more coin, just pass a message to the guild, and I’ll be sure to send some more coin.”

“Oh, you’ve treated us well, mist-, uh, Adam,” she said, before bringing some cut vegetables for the pair of men, both of whom were taller and stronger than the average man.

Nobby waited for Adam, who reached for a vegetable disc and ate it, before Nobby began to eat. Adam slid the gold coin forward to Nobby’s mother. “I’ll increase the next few months pay a little. Though he’s not an Expert, Nobby can probably fight one pretty well, and I’d guess he’d win at least half the time.”

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“My Nobby?” she said, looking to the large boy, who was slowly nibbling against the food. “You’re that strong now?”

“Yes,” Nobby replied, assuming Adam was telling the truth.

“We sparred at the end of last year and he almost made me wet myself,” Adam joked. “Well, maybe not that, but he did scare me. I’d rather face some of the Iyrmen I know rather than Nobby.”

Annie smiled nervously, rubbing her son’s arm gently. “Are you listening to the good man properly?”

“Yes,” Nobby replied.

“Jurot’s the one training him,” Adam said, shrugging his shoulders. “Still, he’s rather happy with Nobby. He told me recently that if they were both Experts, Nobby would beat him most of the time. Your son’s very special.”

“Yes,” Annie replied, her smile losing her nervousness. “Nobby’s always been special. So big and strong, my little Nobby.”

Nobby’s cheeks turned red as his mother rubbed his arm tenderly, praising him so earnestly in front of his boss. Adam blinked rapidly for a moment, feeling his heart drop while watching the scene.

“I suppose soon I’ll have to increase the pay to twenty five gold,” Adam grumbled, though he smiled. “Then, after everything’s paid off, I’ll increase it to fifty gold as promised.”

Annie could still hardly believe it. Her Nobby was apparently quite strong, almost to the level of an Expert, and two years had yet to pass. When Adam had first said he would make Nobby an Expert, she thought he had been some kind of charlatan.

“The contract doesn’t continue after he becomes an Expert,” Annie reminded him.

“It doesn’t?” Adam asked. “I must have done it for one reason or another. Nobby, will you work for me after you become an Expert?” Adam already knew the answer, since he had already told Nobby that he’d make him much stronger than an Expert.

“Yes.

“Well, that’s good enough for me.” Adam smiled, nodding his head slowly. “Is Anne eating well?”

“She is.”

“Good, good.” Adam smiled again. “Alright, well, I best be going. I’ll let Nobby stay with you today, but he’s got to go on a quest tomorrow, so don’t keep him up all night. The gold I’ve left is for Anne, so please make sure she gets it and spends it freely.”

“Yes, of course,” Annie replied. “Thank you again, Adam.”

“Any time. Oh, actually, would you mind if I came back tonight and took you out to dinner? I wanted to speak with Ted and you about the plan.”

“It’s no bother,” Annie replied. “You don’t need to take us out to dinner, I can cook food.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Adam said, before placing down two gold coins. “I hope that’s enough to get some more meat. Nobby, make sure you help your mother with carrying groceries and all that.”

“Yes.”

Adam threw them a casual salute before heading out. He walked through the town, heading back to the Adventurer’s Guild. His thoughts were of his first life, and to his family. He stopped at the field, noting the few adventurers who were practising their weapons. He watched them for a few moments, his eyes narrowed as he saw a different time, and a different world.

“What are you looking at?” an adventurer asked. It was a woman in her late thirties or so, with short dark hair. She wore a steel breastplate, with a purple scarf around her neck. At her side was a blade.

“Nothing,” Adam replied, before bowing his head slowly, and making his way to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“You say we’re nothing?” the adventurer asked.

Adam stopped. “No. I’m saying that I was looking past you, reminiscing about something.”

The adventurer cocked her head slightly. She wasn’t sure how to take his words. They were so blunt and queer, yet seemed to hold true. Upon seeing that she wasn’t going to respond, Adam stepped up to the guild’s doors.

“Yeah, walk away, boy,” the adventurer said.

Adam had his hand pressed against the door, but stopped. He looked back, finding that the adventurer’s companions had turned to watch the scene. Their tags were Steel, a rank higher than his own Bronze, and were stamped a few times, meaning they weren’t just typical Steel Rank adventurers.

Adam could feel it at his side. A magical axe, still yet to draw blood. It called to him, but he noted how many adventurers there were. He pushed the guild doors open, peeking inside to see his companions inside.

“Jurot,” the Half Elf called, the adventurers gathering together. The Iyrman stepped out of the guild, beside Adam. The adventurers noted his tattoo, and the thick furs of the Iyr. Their eyes darted between the pair.

“Adam,” Jurot replied.

“What do you think?” Adam asked, motioning with his head to the woman. “If I were to fight her, who’d win?”

“You,” the Iyrman replied, near instantly. He glanced between the rest of the adventurers, each who held a greater rank than him, but none which could defeat even himself. “Are we fighting?”

“No,” Adam said, before stepping into the guild. Jurot scanned the adventurer’s faces, before he turned and followed Adam in.

“Assholes,” the adventurer muttered under her breath. “The Iyrmen think they rule this town. Didn’t they fail in the last war against the Elves?”

“Speak a little louder,” a nearby guard said. “They’re not one to run away from a fight.”

“Doesn’t seem like it.”

“You expect them to kill every dog which barks at them?” the guard asked.

“Do you want to have a go?” The adventurer sized up the guard.

The guard smiled. “No, don’t think I will.” He tipped his helmet, before chuckling as he walked by, continuing his rounds. “Bill, ol’ boy, you’re gonna have a riot when you find out an idiot tried to mess with the boy in purple. Didn’t hear about no Awakened Beast in town, though. Did he kill it?”