183. Two Fights

183. Two Fights

He didn’t like the way the twins were staring at him, with their eyes ravenous.

However, there was something else which annoyed him more.

“Adam, we want to-“ Cirot began, though she froze.

“Hey!” Adam shouted. “What are you doing?”

Jarot held Lanarot up by her sash, nuzzling her nose as she dangled ahead of him. Churot was standing beside him, nostrils flaring, not used to his grandfather doting on other children more than him.

“I am playing with my granddaughter,” Jarot replied, his eyes falling to Adam, taunting the Half Elf.

“Stop annoying her and let her watch me fight,” Adam growled at the elderly Iyrman.

“If she does not want to watch, we should not force her.”

Jaygak watched as Jarot teased Adam. ‘Teasing Adam using Lanarot,’ she thought. ‘I can only dream of doing something like that.’

“Do you want another round, old man?” Adam asked, clutching his Phantom tight.

Jarot’s eyes went wide with excitement, and he set Lanarot down onto the floor. However, as he did, Sonarot held onto his shoulder.

“Lanarot watched your fight,” Sonarot said. “You do not have to worry about that.”

“If you say so,” Adam said, glaring at Jarot still. ‘This old man is worse than Jaygak.’

Jarot, disappointed, allowed Sonarot to take Lanarot back from him.

Jurot remained silent. ‘Another round?’ He looked between Adam and Jarot. ‘Another round?’ The words repeated in his mind over and over.

Cirot and Sirot glanced between one another.

‘He is joking?’

‘I think so?’

‘They say he is queer.’

‘Yes.’

Adam cleared his throat. “Sorry,” Adam said, glancing at who he presumed to be Cirot. “What was it that you wanted to say?”

“We wish to face you, Adam,” she replied.

“Me?” Adam asked. “Didn’t I just fight?”

“You are still healthy to fight,” Sirot said.

“Sure, but I shouldn’t bully my Cousins, should I?” Adam let out a soft scoff.

“We will not disappoint you,” Cirot said, grabbing her axe and shield.

Adam looked to Sonarot for support, who raised Lanarot up to face Adam. “Look, your brother is going to fight some more.”

Lanarot clasped her hands together and squealed, before kicking out her legs excitedly. There was a gentle hum of music nearby, which was slowly growing louder as the fights continued.

‘Et tu, Lanarot?’ Adam gripped his shield tight. “Since my adorable little sister wants to see me fight, what can I do?”

The Iyrmen nearby began to drum on their instruments harder, causing a gentle rumble to fill the air. Lanarot hid in her mother’s bosom, trying to hide from the loud sounds, though she heard the rising flutes and the strumming of lutes.

Battle Order

D20 + 1 = 12 (11)

The pair of Iyrmen leapt forward swiftly, far too swiftly for Adam to react. When they had charged forward, it wasn’t as though he was facing two separate entities, but a single being.

‘He definitely does not understand,’ the Iyrman thought.

“Are you sure you don’t want to fight right now?” Adam asked. “It will be your best chance to beat me.”

“My goal is to face you at your strongest for a wonderful fight,” the Iyrman said.

“You really just want to fight... just to fight?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

Adam stared at the Iyrman. “Oh, right.” Adam rubbed his face. “For a second there I forgot you were an Iyrman.”

The Iyrman’s brow pulsed. “Is there any reason for you to shame me like this?”

“What?” Adam asked. “I’m not shaming you.”

The Iyrman narrowed his eyes, and Adam could see the rage within them beginning to build up.

Adam glanced to Sonarot for support. “What did I say that was so wrong?”

Sonarot, seeing Adam panic, just smiled. “My Nephew does not understand many of the customs. He meant no offence by his words.”

The Iyrman continued to glare at Adam.

“Did I really say something so bad?” Adam asked.

Jurot, who had been deep in thought, stepped forward and placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder. “You had forgotten he was an Iyrman.”

“So?” Adam asked.

Jurot stared at Adam, before pulling on his shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“You asked me to pull you aside when you were cringe.”

“How am I being cringe?”

“Are you not taking your jokes too far, Adam?”

“Jurot, you think I’m going to joke with some random Iyrman I don’t even know?”

Jurot admitted he had a point. “You had forgotten he was an Iyrman.”

Adam remained silent. “What’s so bad about...” Adam winced, hiding his face behind his fist for a moment. It was an involuntary spasm. ‘Am I stupid?’

“Do you understand?”

“Yeah,” Adam said, still wincing. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean that I forgot you were an Iyrman, but that I forgot Iyrmen are all about fighting, and that it makes sense that you want to fight me.”

The Iyrman’s rage quickly slipped away towards confusion. ‘What?’

“I’m really sorry about that. I’ll see you tomorrow to fight, alright?” Adam said, quickly retreating back to Sonarot.

He had gone from being the victor of two fights, to an utter buffoon. Though he was an Expert, it was still impressive to fight three people at once, and then immediately afterwards fight another two. Then he revealed himself to be...

Cringe.

Jurot had almost put two and two together about Adam and his grandfather, but Adam’s ridiculous actions had allowed the thought to completely slip away.

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Adam really does need to think a little more before talking otherwise he'll get himself killed.