35. Warnings Given

35. Warnings Given

Quest Complete

Defend the Three Villages

+ 100XP

XP: 360 -> 460

Quest Complete

Defeat Balrog the Bane and Rescue the Children

+ 200XP

XP: 460 -> 660

Quest Complete

Jurot’s Shame

+ 240XP

XP: 660 -> 900

‘Hold on a second, Bell.’

[Okay.]

‘Yo-‘

[A second has passed.]

‘You must think you’re real funny.’

[Yes.]

‘I swear, you...’ Adam inhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead. ‘Anyway, I’m pretty sure there’s an extra two hundred XP that just randomly appeared.’

[That was the experience for assisting in defeating the bandits in combat.]

‘I didn’t get a notification.’

[You did.]

‘I did?’

[You were too busy concentrating on Jurot.]

‘Oh, right. I didn’t want him to die in front of me...’ Adam nodded his head slowly. ‘Still, that’s a lot of experience. How come I received more XP for helping Jurot land a hit on Balrog than dealing with a large group of bandits?’

[Wasn’t helping Jurot more important than defeating Balrog?]

‘And saving the children?’

[Isn’t it?]

Adam wasn’t sure how to respond. If the other Iyrmen hadn’t been around, would he have gone to fight Balrog to save the children? ‘I’m too weak for that sort of thing right now.’ His lips formed a frown, not liking the fact the system had already figured him out.

Tazwyn stared at Adam, wondering why he was so solemn again. ‘Just what are you thinking, son of Fate?’ She still couldn’t figure him out. Shouldn’t he be happy now that the children were safe? He had risked his life to protect them. Her eyes quickly snapped to Argon, whose dark gaze was firmly glued to Adam.

Adam, blissfully unaware that an Iyrman was glaring at him, walked over towards the elf and the dwarf girls, both of whom were screeching at each other in their own languages beside Eshva, who seemed to be enjoying the screeching as though it were death metal.

Adam tried to ignore what they were saying, wondering how the pair of them knew so many vile words at their age.

“You damn rock muncher, just you wait until I get a bow in my hands!” the elf girl screamed, waving her tiny fist at the dwarf. She was short and thin, with long silver hair, which fell down to her lower back, and eyes of amethyst.

“You damned leaf licker, what are you singing about? I’ll grab my hammer and smack you across the face!” The dwarf girl was almost her opposite, other than being short. She was stouter, with slightly paler skin, and eyes which were almost obsidian black, the same as her short hair, which was cut in a bob.

“You think I don’t know what you’re saying! I recognise that word anywhere! Rock muncher! Iron sucker!”

“You bi-“

“Enough!” Adam eventually shouted, trying to catch their attention. “Shut your damn mouths, otherwise I’ll spank the pair of you!”

The two girls, who didn’t even reach Adam’s waist with the tops of their heads, turned to the man covered in chain, just like those who had kidnapped them. Seeing him in his heavy armour, the jangling chain which wasn’t of dwarven make, and behind his helmet, which made him more like a statue, they withdrew behind Eshva, hugging her powerful arms. The Iyrman smirked to herself, flexing her arms, showing off to the two girls. ‘Hehe.’

‘Why is he so angry?’ Tazwyn thought, understanding the half elf less and less. The girls were to scream at one another, as elves and dwarves should.

Adam removed his helmet, having donned it to not scare the boys, due to what they probably had heard about elves. He revealed his pointed ears, glancing down towards the elf and dwarf girl. ‘Oh, right.’

The dwarf girl gasped, staring up at him in shock. “You’re a leaf ea-“

“Do you think I won’t spank you right in front of the Iyrmen?” Adam dropped his helmet beside him, and began to undo a glove. “It’s only because of me the Iyrmen came to help you, you know. They wanted to pay off Balrog and his goons, leaving you to your fate. I was the one who convinced them to help.” He stared down at the familiar face of the dwarf girl. “The only reason you’re here to admire Eshva’s powerful biceps is because of me, and don’t you forget it!”

“It’s a good thing you’re here,” the elf girl said, pointing to the dwarf girl. “The dwarf bitch is bullying me!” She stuck out her tongue at the dwarf.

“Hey! Watch your language!” Adam’s brow pulsed, wondering how these two could hate each other so much that they’d be screaming at one another with so much profanity.

“Excuse me, dearest worldly half cousin, whose path is-“

“That’s not what I meant!” Adam tossed his glove beneath his feet, wondering how these two could be so damn annoying. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. He had allowed himself to fall into their pace, which was something he couldn’t do as an adult.

The elf girl stared at Adam in shock that he’d interrupt her, narrowing her amethyst eyes at him. ‘Well, what could I really expect from him? He is a half blood.’

Adam dropped to one knee before the elf girl and smiled as warmly as he could, as though he didn’t want to toss some cereal at her. “Where are you from?”

“I am from Green Vale Under The Sixth Star,” the elf girl said, puffing out her chest in pride. She smirked at Adam, waiting for him to fall before her and prostrate himself.

Adam blinked, rubbing his earlobe. “Excuse me?”

The elf girl blinked at him in return. “Green Vale Under The Sixth Star,” she repeated, annunciating each word. “Near One Trickle Beside Sun Rock.” She was sure he’d fall down and prostate this time, after all, it was Green Vale Under The Sixth Star, and not a place like Three Tears And Two Hearts. ‘Eugh, I bet he’s from Three Tears And Two Hearts.’

Adam shook his head. ‘Green Vale? Sixth Star? Trickle? Sun Rock? How the hell do elves name things in this world?’ It was only then he recalled how the first town he had set foot in was called Red Oak.

“Are you even an elf?” the girl asked, pulling behind Eshva again, squeezing at her thick bicep and tricep with each hand, unsure of this strange half elf before her.

‘Hehe.’

“Only half,” Adam said. “I’ve spent pretty much all my time in human lands.” Seeing how she had withdrawn, Adam shifted his focus to the dwarf, who looked so familiar.

The little one pulled further behind Eshva, even taking a step towards the elf girl. Her eyes were squinted with dwarven suspicion, which took years to dispel.

“Little miss dwarf, are you by any chance a Thunderhammer?” Adam asked, wondering if she’d open up after hearing her name. He recognised her almost immediately, but it wasn’t a bad idea to confirm. After all, last time it wasn’t an elf girl who had been captured.

“Tha’s right!” Thunderhammer squeezed Eshva’s shoulders. “He must be with tha bandits!”

Adam cleared his throat. “Do you by any chance know Thundersmith in Red Oak?” he asked, using the most harmless voice he could muster.

“That which once belonged to the bandits.”

“Oh, right.” Adam rubbed his chin. “They would have loot, wouldn’t they? I guess I did help a little.” Adam’s lips twitched into a smile. “You wouldn’t have known about the children either, if not for me.”

‘Next time they tell me bring a half elf, I’ll refuse,’ Argon thought.

“Plus, there’s the matter of our little bet.” Adam threw a look to Tazwyn, his lips completing a smug smirk.

“I will keep my side of the bet,” she assured, wondering why he would need to confirm. She was an Iyrman, whose words weighed heavier than all the gold within the Iyr.

“Then, honestly, I don’t know. How much should go to Jurot and I, considering we aren’t anywhere within the same realm as powerful as either of you.”

“That’s right,” Tazwyn said. “Even now, Dargon could slice through either of you like he was slicing through bread.”

Adam blinked at her. “Whoa, whoa.” Adam chuckled. “No need to be so harsh. Did I annoy you guys too much?”

‘Did you only just figure that out?’ Tazwyn thought, but she just sighed.

“You will have twenty percent,” Argon said, ignoring Tazwyn’s look. She hadn’t recalled two important matters about the loot.

“Twenty percent? That isn’t so bad.” Adam narrowed his eyes, having caught on to why he was being offered so much. “It’s not like I can complain, anyway. You two could easily carve through me like you were carving a cake.”

“Do you feel it’s too little?” Argon asked.

“I think there’s quite an important discussion to be had. Last I recalled, Balrog was using an axe which once belonged to the Gar family.”

Even now, the two Iyrmen were surprised with how much Adam knew of the Iyr and its going ons. “The axe will be returned to the Gar family,” Argon informed.

“I’m sure, the axe should return to where it belongs. I hope that the Gar family knows who it was who assisted in returning the axe to them.” Adam smiled. “However, aren’t we both missing something else?”

Argon slowly nodded his head. “You speak of the Moon Blade.”

“Yes, the Moon Blade.”

“It will also belong to the Iyr.”

“So you get both magical weapons and most of the loot?” Adam tutted at Argon. “I did some stuff too, ya know.”

“It’s not enough to gain the Moon Blade.”

“Even though I helped save six noble children? Not just noble children, but an elf and dwarf child too. It would be far too dangerous to claim recognition for it, so I won’t ask for that, but will you really hand over only one fifth of the loot?”

“Even so, it is too much to ask for the Moon Blade.”

“Is it, really? I would hope the Iyr be fair in their distribution of weapons,” Adam said, before noting how Argon’s eyes narrowed. “Alright, alright. It’s not like I can fight you for more. At the very least, I want to study it, you’ll give me that much, won’t you?”

“Study the sword?” Argon’s brows furrowed even deeper. ‘What? What is he trying to day?’

“Are you an Enchanter?” Tazwyn asked, leaning in close, whispering the words. She understood how this was information which shouldn’t be said so freely.

“Yeah.”

Argon and Tazwyn blinked. They threw each other another look.

‘He’s lying, isn’t he?’ Argon stared at Tazwyn.

‘He’s crazy, but hasn’t he been telling the truth so far?’ Tazwyn replied.

“Though, we keep that between us, alright?” Adam said, casually. “Entalia knows too, but I don’t want it spreading around.”

Argon sighed. Adam had said so many ridiculous things, that he wasn’t sure if he should be so surprised. “How did you know the children were in Balrog’s care? I don’t believe he is someone to allow that kind of information to leak.”

“Did you forget?” Adam asked, sitting up straight as he crossed his arms under his chest. “I’m Adam, son of Fate! It was divined to me!” He laughed.

Argon wasn’t sure if he should pursue the matter further. Adam was an enigma, something beyond his comprehension. If Tazwyn couldn’t deal with Adam, then he didn’t expect himself to fare any better. ‘So, this is how Tazwyn feels.’

“We will part the loot once we are within the Iyr,” Tazwyn said.

“Alright.” Adam yawned, stretching out his arms. “I’ll leave you to sort it out. I don’t think you’ll short me, anyhow.”

“Since it all ended up well, we will leave this matter at just a warning,” Tazwyn said, staring at him. “Don’t do this again.”

“Once I’m strong enough, I’ll be sure to let you Iyrmen fail as many children as you want in the future.” Adam laughed.

Argon narrowed his eyes again, glaring at Adam.

“It was just a joke,” Adam laughed. ‘I should stop playing with fire.’

“If you try to use Jurot again, it will not end up with simple words,” Tazwyn warned.

Adam cleared his throat. “I hear your warnings, Iyrmen. However, one day Jurot and I will be the best of friends. We will move together to deal with issues like this ourselves. I hope, when that day comes, you will leave us to our business.”

“You believe you and Jurot are so close?” Argon asked, narrowing his eyes.

“No,” Adam said. “Jurot and I are almost like strangers, though we’ve known each other for a couple of weeks now.”

“Do you believe he’d wish to be your friend?”

“I don’t know, I hope so,” Adam admitted. He frowned, wondering if Jurot would be his friend. He had planned on going on quite the journey with Jurot, adding to his story. “If he doesn’t, then I won’t help him with Pam.”

“Pam?” Tazwyn asked, looking to Argot. She hadn’t heard the name when they were briefed about the situation.

Adam smirked.

Click banner for Patreon and come join my too!

I wonder what next chapter will entail?

Could it possibly be?

The end of Blackwater Crisis?