158. Infuriating Adam

158. Infuriating Adam

“What do you mean he keeps gifting out Dragon scales?” Elder Gold asked, sipping her tea as she sat opposite the Chief and Elder Peace. The gazebo provided some protection from the rain.

“He has gifted out over fifty Dragons scales,” Elder Zijin said, standing outside the gazebo, not caring that the rain fell on him.

Elder Gold swallowed the tea calmly, trying to not choke on it.

“His younger sister has received at least three, and he has gifted two to each of the children in the estate, including those of the Ban and their adjacent families, as well as the Kat families and their adjacent families.”

Elder Gold stared at Elder Zijin.

‘He would not dare to lie to me,’ she thought. “Who hands out several Dragon scales out to children?”

“He does,” Elder Zijin said.

‘He would not come to me unless he was certain,’ the Great Elder thought. “At least fifty?”

“Probably over a hundred,” Elder Zijin said.

Elder Peace was minding her own business, but even she could see the way Elder Gold was shaking.

“I understand,” Elder Gold said, nodding her head to dismiss the Elder, who retreated away.

Chief Iromin sighed. “We should hear his reasoning.”

“I already know it,” she replied. “He did not think of the gifts too deeply, and wished to give out the Dragon scales because they were great gifts. He gave his sister three because he loves her dearly, and the adjacent families two to thank them, including the Ban and their adjacent families, and the Kat families and their adjacent families.”

“Is he not trying to curry favour with me?” Elder Peace asked. “He knows of my connection to the Kat family.”

“No,” Elder Gold replied. “He would have said if he was trying to curry favour with you. He is at least that honest.”

“I did not think you thought of him so highly.”

“That... that...” Elder Gold slammed the table with her fist, the thunder rumbling with it. “How could he give out so many Dragon scales? Isn’t one to each child enough? Why does he insist on being so infuriating!”

“We should be thankful he is so generous,” Chief Iromin said.

“I do not know if he is intelligent or utterly stupid!”

“He is both.”

“I will speak to him about the Dragon scales.”

“They are his to give,” the Chief warned.

“This is my domain.”

“Is it?” the Chief asked, staring at the woman.

“I will not force him.”

“You mean you can not.” Elder Peace blew onto her tea and sipped it gently.

“Yes,” Elder Gold said. “He has the audacity to refuse to hand over that shield.”

“Did he not create a better shield?”

“That is beside the point.”

“You sound like you are Aldish,” Elder Peace said.

Elder Gold’s eyes went wide as she stared at Elder Peace.

“Elder Peace,” the Chief said, sternly.

“It was just a joke,” Elder Peace replied innocently. “Thinking of him, does it not make you loosen up?”

The Chief sighed. “If I knew he was going to be such a bad influence on us all, I would have refused his entrance.”

“Would you?” Elder Peace asked.

“How did it go?” Sonarot asked once he had returned.

“Well,” Adam replied. “I didn’t even need to call for Fate’s assistance.”

“That is good,” Sonarot said. “It is dangerous to play with Fate.”

“Yeah,” Adam said, glancing aside. “Still, I am the son of Fate.”

Sonarot smiled.

Omen: 2, 7

Since Adam had felt unlucky that morning, he trained in the morning and played with the children.

“Adam,” Jogak called. “Come.”

‘Is he going to shank me?’ Adam thought, staring at the man’s glare.

Jogak turned and left, expecting Adam to follow him.

They made their way to a stream, one which had been full of nets and other contraptions designed to catch fish. Adam noted that the area around had been reinforced with stones, which would keep the stream from flooding.

Adam helped Jogak with picking up various contraptions, noting all the fish the Iyr had caught from the stream, before they carried it to a nearby area which was full of fishmongers, mostly women, who were expertly gutting the fish and tossing them aside for the Iyr to use.

“There are many who think you a fool,” Jogak said, dropping down a net to one side, before turning to head back to the stream.

“Yeah,” Adam said, not bothering denying it. “I’m sure.”

“I do not know if it’s an act, or if it is truly how you are,” Jogak said.

“Probably a bit of both,” Adam admitted.

“I still do not understand why sister trusts you so much.”

“I’m just that charming.”

Jogak did not respond as he continued to work, picking up the nets and carrying them.

The silence was far too awkward for Adam, but he also knew that Jogak didn’t like him much, so he kept his mouth shut for once.

“Jaygak was born with a weak body,” Jogak said. “She suffered twice before the age of one, and did not walk until she was two years old.”

‘Suffered?’ Adam thought, wondering what it had meant.

“I knew that her goal, along with Kitool’s, was to reach Steel Rank so that they would have brought honour to our families, which have waned in the last few generations.”

Adam wasn’t sure if he should respond, so kept his mouth shut.

“Before she left, she told me that she wished to become a Gold Rank Adventurer.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, simply.

Jogak turned to face Adam. “I do not know if you are a curse or a blessing.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, simply.

Jogak glared at Adam, and Adam could tell that the next few words were going to be a threat to his life.

But they did not come.

“Thank you for bringing her back home safely,” Jogak said.

“Yeah.”

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Elder Peace with the jokes.

Jogak glad that Adam doesn't have horns.