‘I guess we should leave today,’ Adam thought. He still had to finish the last bit for the weapons, but he supposed it wasn’t too urgent, since the business still had quite a bit of coin.

While the cart and wagon were being prepared, Adam hoisted up his children, showering them in affection.

“Always working!” Jirot accused.

“Yes,” Adam replied. “Except didn’t I play with you for a whole week?”

“No!”

“What do you mean? We ended up slaying a dragon, didn’t we?”

“I kill the dragon, I am strong!” Jirot agreed.

“Right, exactly, so when daddy comes back, let’s go on another adventure, and maybe you can level up?”

“I want to level up.”

“Yeah, me too,” Adam said, kissing the girl’s cheek, before saying his goodbyes to all his children. “You all, you need to listen to mummy, okay?”

“Okay,” the children replied, with one child mumbling the word.

“Come home safely!” The children’s voices echoed through the fort, the other children also joining in, while the wagon and cart pulled away through the nearby village, towards Red Oak, towards the bad people.

“Daddy…” Jirot sniffled. “Smelly boy.”

“I’m so hungry, Jirot. Come, let’s eat some more potatoes.”

“I eating all the potatoes,” the girl said, sniffling.

“I need to eat some too, for your little papa or kaka,” Vonda said.

“…” The girl pouted and held up her finger. “Just this once.” She wagged her finger.

‘Should I craft the girl a ring?’ Morkarai thought.

Jonn watched out, unsure if he should have asked to come along, but instead, he followed the twins around.

Fred also watched them go, wondering if he should have asked to go. ‘I’d only slow them down…’

Within the wagon, Adam stared out towards the world. “It’s just us girls, this time…”

Jurot wasn’t sure what Adam meant by that, but as he glanced around, he did note most of them were women. Lucy and Mara sat in the cart, while Jaygak and Kitool each drove the vehicles. The six of them formed the core of Fate’s Golden, and once more they set out, as they had done in the beginning of the year.

However, this time it was different. Now there was no Prince to escort, and no pregnant woman adventuring. This time it was only the girls and death.

By the next evening, the group approached the walls of Red Oak, which instantly brought a sourness to Adam’s mouth.

“Business?”

“Adventuring,” Kitool replied.

“Gate fee?”

Kitool handed over a gold coin, a silver for each member, plus a silver for the carts and the steeds. “The steeds are magical, but we shall pay for them.”

“Thank you,” the guard replied, tipping his helmet, before the group made their way into the town.

“That was… surprisingly easy,” the other guard said.

The group made their way to the Adventurer’s Guild, and though Adam suspected trouble, they managed to procure rooms for themselves with ease.

“Adam,” called a voice.

‘I knew it,’ Adam thought, turning, before noting the dark skinned Vice Master. “Vice Master Paul?”

Once they were settled within a private room, the Vice Master poured the half elf some tea, and pushed forward snacks. “I heard about what happened. I’m glad that the Mad Dog and the Bearded Dragon were around.”

“Me too,” Adam replied, sipping the tea, holding the Vice Master’s gaze.

Insight Check (Wisdom)

D20 + 1 = 4 (3)

“What are your plans?” Paul asked, noting how relaxed the half elf was. ‘Is the matter settled?’

“Just adventuring for a couple of months in Ever Green.”

“Would you be willing to assist me here?” Paul asked cautiously.

“I’d have said no if it was any other person, but I’ll hear you out.”

“It’s about Sir Harvey, he…” Paul paused upon Adam’s look. “He needs assistance with a herb.”

“Is this by any chance the same Sir Harvey I’m thinking of?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm,” Adam replied, raising his brows, waiting to hear more.

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important, Adam.”

“What’s so important about it?”

“The herb is only ripe within a two week period, and it’s dangerous to procure. It’s… in Jaghi.”

“Is this a remix? You want me to help the High Alchemist in Jaghi?”

Paul shrugged his shoulders. “Please. I have no one else I can trust with this. You're perfect for the task. You can escort the High Alchemist swiftly.”

“What’s the herb?”

“Moonleaf.”

Adam raised his brows again, smirking slightly. “That sounds like a drug.”

“It is, but it can be used for medicinal purposes.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“That's what they all say.” Adam chuckled, sipping his tea, tasting the gentle flavour, though it was sullied by his memories.

“It’s important for the town.”

“How important?” Adam asked, leaning in slightly.

“One hundred gold. Five gold daily for each person, and of course your living expenses are compensated too.”

“Doesn't sound that important if he’s being so cheap,” Adam replied, finishing his tea. “What is it for anyway?”

“I’m not an alchemist.”

“Oh. Right.”

Alchemy Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 6 = 22 (16)

‘It can be used in different potions and can empower them?’ Adam thought. “Oh my, oh my.” Adam tapped his fingers on the table. “Rather than paying us all that, I only want two things. One gold. Not one gold each daily. One gold total.” Adam leaned in. “I want to be able to procure red oak.”

“That’s…” Paul frowned. It wasn’t unheard of for people to negotiate with the Guild, but it was rather rare. Paul glanced down at at the tag that hung loosely above the amulet of Baktu.

“Those are my terms.”

“I will let him know.”

Adam smiled. “Wonderful, now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to bathe.”

It wasn’t long after his bath Adam received the refusal of his offer.

“Then you can tell him,” Adam began, inhaling deeply. “It is such a shame, but I wish him the best of luck finding adventurers as capable as us, especially one with an alchemist as good as me.” Adam smiled innocently.

Fate’s Golden, not wanting to spend too much coin in Red Oak, swiftly made their way out the next morning. Adam whistled as they made their way out, tipping his helmet to the twin guards on duty at the southern gate.

“Why are you so happy today?” Lucy asked.

“That prick, Harvey, remember him?”

“Not really.”

‘Was she not with us at the time?’ “He’s… like a noble. The High Alchemist of Red Oak, and he hated me. Even though I killed Vandra to protect him, and, well, help Princess Mina, he really hated me. He even caused us trouble later with some merchants. Well, mighty High Alchemist Sir Harvey wanted our help, and I told him I’d help him for one thing.”

“You wanted him to bow and beg?” Lucy asked, though she did start to recall the situation.

“No. I wanted one gold and the ability to procure red oak.”

Jurot inhaled sharply for a moment, mourning the loss of wood. “It is a shame he refused.”

“Sorry, Jurot. I tried.”

“It is okay,” Jurot replied, the shadow of a smile appearing on his face.

The carriage continued, passing through the Aldish fort, paying their share of coin quickly, and Adam noted not only had the fort grown grander than the little wooden outpost it used to be, but the Commander had changed since last time too. They continued along to the Florian fort, which they’d spend the night at, and it too was far larger and far more impressive.

“What is your business?” the soldier asked, eyeing them up suspiciously.

“Adventuring,” Kitool replied.

“Where?”

“Ever Green.”

“Why Ever Green?”

“We did not wish to adventure in Red Oak?”

“Why?”

As Kitool replied to the interrogations, Adam thought about Floria, King Merryweather, and the Knight of Death.

‘Doesn’t the King owe me a favour? Should I ask him to whip his soldiers up to shape?’ Adam thought. Adam straightened up in his seat. “Jurot?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t I have a favour from King Merryweather?”

Jurot closed his eyes. “Yes. You saved Charlie and he promised you a favour.”

“Couldn’t I use that to protect my kids?”

Jurot slowly nodded his head, seeing where Adam was going with it. “Hmm.”

Once the Florians were done grilling Kitool, they allowed the group within. Some noted the presence of the devilkin, but didn’t bother them much, noting how one of the Iyrmen was a devilkin too. Florians had at one point been Aldishmen, after all.

However, as time passed, the soldiers off duty began to schmooze with the party.

“Magical weapons?” a soldier asked.

“That’s right. We deal with magical weapons. We travel through the land and sell them. We’re not doing so right now, we’re adventuring to have some fun, but yeah, normally that’s our job.”

“Your blades magical?”

Adam reached for his axe, but Jurot placed a hand on Adam’s wrist, before revealing his own axe. “That’s Phantom, my brother’s axe. It’s actually the best weapon that has been made to date, I think.”

“What’s it do?” the soldier asked, feeling the great magic.

“It can burst with great power that strikes the mind. It’s probably greater than a Fifth Gate spell with how much power it can manage at its greatest.”

“Uhuh,” the soldier replied, but waving the axe around, he half believed it.

“You know, my brother here, he sparred with King Merryweather, back a few years ago. If he had this blade, maybe… well, maybe he wouldn’t have…” Adam wasn’t sure how to phrase it properly. “Anyway, what I mean is, Jurot took two Fifth Gate spells to the face from the King himself.”

“Auroch shit.”

“I swear it, go on Jurot, tell him.”

“It is true,” Jurot said, smiling. “I faced King Merryweather during the spars with the Iyr.”

“Really?”

“Iyrmen don’t lie,” Adam said. “Everyone knows that.”

“They’re known for their honesty, but that doesn’t mean they never lie.”

“I’ve never heard an Iyrman lie,” Adam said. “Look at these guys, they win one war when the Iyr was holding back, and suddenly the Iyrmen are looked down on.” Adam laughed, rubbing Jurot’s side.

“The Iyr was all locked up, then once the war ended, then they came out,” the soldier replied.

“True enough, I suppose. I heard that Ever Green had help. The old man, Asa, right?”

“Lord Asa,” the soldier stated firmly. “He has been given a title for his deeds.”

“Lord Asa?” Adam asked. ‘Isn’t he the father of an Emperor?’ “I see.”

“He was given land to the west for his service, and the title of Lord, I don’t think he’s a proper noble though.”

“I hear uh… there’s another guy, wasn’t there?”

“Bloody Knight?”

“Yeah, though…” Adam paused, realising he shouldn’t mention the other name.

“Sir Azazel is a great warrior,” the soldier said carefully. “I hear he’s powerful too.”

“Yeah…” Adam frowned. “He ended up crippling my children’s greatfather, and I wanted to see him.”

“Huh?”

“He took my grandfather’s leg,” Jurot said.

“Oh… sorry to hear that.”

Jurot slowly nodded his head, holding out his hand, and the soldier handed the axe over.

“Azazel?” Adam asked. “Hold on. Is… is he a devilkin?”

“No?”

Adam glanced towards Jurot. ‘Azazel, right?’ “How strong is he?”

“Strong. They say he’s probably in the top ten across all of Floria. They say he’s right behind Lord Marshal Royce.”

“Lord Marshal Royce? The Knight of Death?”

“The previous Knight of Death, yes.”

“I haven’t seen him in a while, either. I guess he’s probably busy as the King’s side, eh?”

“He’s at the village last I heard.”

“Village?”

“The, uh… King’s Village.” The soldier shrugged his shoulders, having forgotten the name, since it had always been known as Sir Merryweather’s Village, and now, King’s Village.

“I do have business with all of them, so why don’t we head there?” Adam asked.

“Okay,” Jurot said.

‘Uh oh,’ the soldier thought, glancing between the group.

As Fate’s Golden prepared to sleep, a handsome man in his mid thirties, adorned within full plate of finely crafted steel, and an ornate blade at his side, approached. He was flanked by two others, each also in well made full plate, with fine blades at their side.

“Commander Alexander Silversky,” the handsome man said. “I have heard that you have business in the King’s Village.”

“A little bit, nothing too important, though,” Adam replied innocently, not realising he had made the same mistake he always did, opening his mouth.

“Who has business in the King’s Village that isn’t important?”

Adam glanced towards Jurot for support.

“We wish to meet with Lord Asa once more and Lord Royce,” the young Iyrman said.

“I was informed you knew of them on a more personal capacity. How?”

“We met during our adventures. We met Lord Marshal Royce when he made his way southward. Lord Asa spent his time near the Iyr for some time.”

“Highly coincidental.”

Adam let out a soft sigh, shrugging his shoulders, noting the way his companions were looking at him.

“Until we are to deal with the truth of the matter, I would like for you to surrender your weapons, and to remain within the cells.”

“How long do you think we’ll need to wait?”

“No more than a few months.”

“Well, we’re currently on a tight schedule, unfortunately,” Adam replied, already feeling the burning rise within him. “You see…” Adam paused upon seeing the Commander’s smile.

“I would pray to Lady Arya, that you are not resisting arrest, for it would be a shame for your business to lose its Executives like this.”

Adam inhaled sharply, but he felt a hand on his shoulder, and as he glanced back towards Jaygak, he stared down at the floor. ‘Okay.’

“Ask your questions, and we shall reply truthfully,” Jurot said. “If you wish to detain us, you will-,” Jurot paused as he felt Kitool’s hand on his shoulder.

“The Iyr has no qualms with Floria,” Kitool said. “There is no need to aggravate relations between us.”

“Do you officially represent the Iyr?”

“I am a representative of-,”

A horn echoed through the camp, and the Commander held out a fist, motioning it in a particular manner. “Remain here. I will return once I have dealt with this new business.”

“Honestly, this isn’t-,”

“Adam,” Jaygak called, trying to stop him from saying anything stupid.

“Sorry.”

Lucy remained silent. She eyed up the knights. ‘I can’t believe they haven’t come for us yet…’