262. Curiosity

262. Curiosity

Victory!

Sakruv

XP Gained: +350XP

XP: 4150 -> 4500

There were a large number of youth who had come to paw at Adam’s breastplate, shield and Phantom.

“Now, now,” Adam said. “Form an orderly queue and we can deal with everything.”

The youth stopped, staring at him quizzically, but did as he asked, as he was the great victor.

‘It’s just like home,’ Adam thought, squinting his eyes, trying not to cry.

“Queueing?” an Iyrman whispered.

“I do not know,” another replied. “They say he is queer.”

Adam started to pull off his breastplate, letting the youth pat it, before they picked up his Phantom and shield, filling with a sense of awe as they felt the weapon and armour. Eventually he placed his breastplate down, allowing some of them to pretend to wear it.

“You fought well, Adam,” Jurot said.

“Thanks.”

“I will claim victory next time,” Jurot assured.

“You know, I was thinking,” Adam began, helping a child out of the breastplate. “I should make you a new axe, one like Phantom. Greater enchantment, with a more useful ability to it.”

“I have no need for a new axe.”

“Yeah, you have no need for one, but it’s a little awkward if I’m walking around with this axe when my brother has something worse.”

“Flaming Sanguine suits its purpose. It is a good axe.”

“Then put it in the family vault,” Adam said, simply. “I’m making you a new one?”

“Can I stop you?”

Adam looked back at him, smiling. “Can you?”

Jurot sighed.

“You treat your brother well,” Strom said, appearing seemingly out of the blue, like an Iyrman.

“Well, yeah,” Adam replied, staring up at the old man. “He’s my brother.”

Strom smiled. “I had to kill my brother with my own hands.”

‘First he appears randomly, then he makes things awkward. Is he really not an Iyrman?’ Adam thought. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Strom shook his head. “We hated one another dearly. He always bullied me since I was the fifth son, and he was the fourth son. He took out his feelings of frustration at his inferiority against me. I killed them all, my brothers and sisters, for the throne. I did like two of them, as my second brother was nice, and my fifth sister was someone I was especially close with.”

‘Fucking hell,’ Adam thought. ‘This guy.’ He blinked, unable to respond.

“Oh, that was so long ago,” Strom said, dismissively. “I barely even remember their faces, or the way they sounded. Though, I can’t forget the smell of my mother’s bread. I wonder if I’ll be able to smell it again?” He closed his eyes, smiling.

Adam pat the man’s back. “Yeah, I know that feeling. You can’t think about that sort of thing, though. It’s in the past now. You have a year left, remember? So use that time to have fun.”

“Fun?”

“Yeah. Do what you like to do the most in this time. You said you liked fighting, right? Let me introduce you to the one man who beat me, my... Jurot’s grandfather, Jarot.” Adam motioned a hand to the heavily injured Jarot. “Uh, nevermind. My Grandaunt, Otkan, is pretty strong too. I barely managed to beat her, but only because she held back, a lot.”

Strom cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward since he had beaten Jarot the night earlier. ‘How embarrassing for me to talk so highly of myself only to use my hybrid form.’

‘I can’t believe I was taken out first,’ Jarot thought. ‘Normally they go for the easiest one to take out, not the hardest.’

“What? If they’re too weak for you, you could always fight the Chief,” Adam said, looking to the Chief, who was standing nearby. He was wearing his typical fine clothing, though there were bandages which were hidden beneath them.

Strom cleared his throat again. ‘Does he know? Or is it his keen insight?’ “No, no, perhaps I shouldn’t cause issues in the Iyr.”

‘Why did you not say that last night?’ Iromin thought, thinking about how he was beaten down the previous evening.

“I was planning on meeting an old friend of mine,” Strom said.

“Another old friend?” Adam asked. “When you say old...”

‘I knew I shouldn’t have brought down lightning last night,’ Strom thought. ‘My hybrid form and lightning? I should be embarrassed to bully these little babies.’ “Yes?”

“Just a thought,” Adam said. “What do you want to talk to Lanarot about?”

He looked down at the girl, who looked up at her, mouth full of sugar dough bread. She pulled back, making to hide against Adam’s chest.

“Hello,” he said, tickling her cheek.

Lanarot babbled with her mouth full, and Adam brushed her hair.

“Finish eating, you silly girl.”

“I’ve noticed her father is not about,” Strom said. “Is he dead?”

“Missing, presumed dead,” Adam said.

“What did the Iyrmen say?”

“Aunt believes he’s missing.”

“And you?”

“I don’t believe anyone can spend more than one year away from such a cutie,” Adam said. “If he doesn’t return by the end of the year, then...”

Strom slowly nodded his head. “Your magic. I noticed that you used the Guardian’s ability, and yet... the smell of arcane magic and divine magic clings to you.”

“I’m a... hodge podge of magic.” Adam smiled.

“Hodge podge?”

“I use a little bit of everything, you know?”

“It is in your blood?”

“No,” Adam said. “It’s... Fate.”

“Is it that Fate?” Strom asked, knowingly.

“She’s a harsh, but beautiful mistress.”

“You’ve met her?”

Adam smiled. “Did you forget my story?”

“Ah.”

“Well, I should probably get to work,” Adam said.

“Work?”

“I’m feeling pretty lucky today, so I thought I may as well. I’ll be tired as hell tomorrow, I’ll probably wake up at an awkward time, but it’s whatever.”

“Good night, Adam,” Strom said, watching the boy leave.

Adam stopped.

“Hey, Strom?”

“Yes?”

“Can you... stop your death?”

Strom remained silent for a long moment. “Good night, Adam.”

Adam just nodded, though he wasn’t looking at the old man. Curiosity had gotten the best of him for a moment. “Good night, Storm.” Adam smiled.

Later that evening, Adam used one of his Omens.

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