393. Okay II

393. Okay II

Omen: 7, 16

Adam awoke in the morning, holding Lanarot to his chest. She snoozed lightly, her chest expanding with each small breath. He stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. Though he had not dreamt ever since he had died, he slept with dread, which was only kept at bay thanks to Lanarot’s tiny, warm hand which held his finger.

Lanarot groaned awake, before looking up to see her brother. Her sleepy, confused eyes stared at him for some time, before she smiled. She squealed quietly before she rested her head against his chest again.

“Good morning, Lanababy,” Adam whispered, brushing her hair. He tickled the back of her head.

The girl squealed and babbled up towards him, before pushing herself onto all fours, staring down at him again. She sat down on his stomach, looking at down at his face, her hands on her thighs.

It was her power stance.

“...” Adam stared at her, silent.

She smiled.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this.”

Adam changed her clothy, applying the lotion mixture of the Iyrmen to the girl, before wrapping the next clothy around her waist. “You smelly girl,” Adam whispered, glancing around to see whether the Iyrmen had heard him.

He quickly bathed, before assisting the Iyrmen with their cooking, today helping the Gak family, who were cooking a main pot, and a small pot to the side. Adam made Lanarot’s food that morning, scrambled egg, with some cut up salya, the Iyr’s banana.

“Cousin Adam,” Turot called, his eyes pleading Adam.

Adam could feel it, the gazes of the Iyrmen children all about him. They had been excited to continue Warriors and Wanderers, but Adam had work to do, as well as to assist Churot’s Awakening. However, he had given so much favour to Lanarot today, so they were probably feeling left out.

“I’ll think about it in the evening, okay?” Adam replied, thinking about what he should do. He could play with them a little before meeting Churot, he supposed.

Adam grabbed the black axe, before stepping out of the shared family estate, making his way out.

“Elder Zijin is calling for you,” called a voice from behind him, causing Adam to tense up.

He slowly turned around to see a young Iyrman, adorned in the noonval clothing of the Iyrmen. Adam remained quiet in thought. ‘I didn’t do anything that could get me killed, right?’

“Good morning, Adam,” Elder Zijin said, seeing the Half Elf before him. He smiled, offering Adam some snacks from a paper tray.

‘Oh no.’

“You are not in danger,” Elder Zijin assured.

“Alright,” Adam said, sitting down before the Elder, accepting the fried dough snacks which were lightly salted. “So, uh, what’s up?”

“It has been some time since we spoke on matters outside of business,” Zijin said.

The Iyrman who had escorted Adam remained silent. ‘What?’ She was wondering what the Elder was up to. Did the Elder really call Adam just to talk?

“Yeah?” Adam replied.

“How are you?”

“I’m alright,” Adam replied.

“If you need to speak with someone, you can always speak to Sonarot or I.”

“Yeah?” Adam furrowed his brows. “What’s this about.”

Elder Zijin motioned with his hand, dismissing the other Iyrman. “Jarot came to me last night. He said that something happened. Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Adam replied. “I’m... okay.”

“What happened?”

“Yes,” Zijin replied, firmly. “The Iyr never forgets.”

Adam nodded, and left again, sighing with relief. He was glad the Elder had spoken to him. If he did die, then Lanarot would be well taken care of.

Mana: 18 -> 15

Enchanting Check

D20 + 7 = 8 (1)

Omen: 7, 16 -> 7

16 + 7 = 23

Intelligence Save

D20 + 5 = 12 (7)

Failure!

Health: 65 -> 41

Adam plucked a Thread of Fate, causing the baby to sigh, and thus Fate was forever changed.

“Oof!” Adam groaned in pain, feeling the onslaught of magic against his mind. He shook his head, rubbing his temples.

“Are you okay?” the Iyrman beside him asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Adam replied, grabbing the dark axe, before making his way to the Rot family estate.

Churot held his book, but his eyes were glued to Adam.

“I just came by to say that I won’t be able to do it tonight, but if you want, you can come and join us for some Warriors and Wanderers?”

Churot’s eyes were full of disappointment. “Okay.”

“Sorry, it’s just that I’m getting some kind of magical sickness. I won’t even be able to enchant tomorrow either, even if I was lucky.” Adam sighed.

Adam took Churot, and Jarot, to the shared family estate. Dinner was still in progress, so the trio joined the group to eat. He lifted up Lanarot first, who was eagerly eating her bit of bread.

“You can’t just eat only bread, Lanababy,” Adam said, feeling the looks of the other Iyrmen. He also felt another set of looks, those from the patient, and expectant, younger Cousins.

“Yes,” Adam finally said to them. “How can I refuse my adorable little Cousins?”

Jarot watched as Adam set up the game, all the while Churot was reading a sheet full of spells, since he had chosen Scribe Mage. Saygak remained beside him to help, showing which spells he had taken.

“So, you look out to the north, where the bandits had ran away,” Adam began.

“No,” Taygak said. “West.”

“North is manticores,” Turot said, giving Adam a look which the Half Elf had become accustomed to.

“Right, I was just checking,” Adam said, scratching out the directions in his notes. “Well done. So, on the way west, you find a new traveller, one adorned in dark robes.”

“Necromancer?” Katool asked.

“No, something far more terrifying. An Iyrman!” Adam gasped.

The children sat up straighter. “You said there were no Iyrmen.” Turot narrowed his eyes.

“It was just a joke,” Adam replied, smiling. “It’s Churot’s character.”

Churot began to describe his mage, but Taygak gasped, causing him to stop. Taygak pointed at him. “Doppelganger!”

“No!” Adam quickly piped in. “He’s not a doppelganger, I promise.”

“You said it was aunt Sonarot and cousin Jurot last time,” Raygak accused.

“Well, it was cousin Jurot, but aunt Sonarot was indeed a doppelganger that time,” Adam agreed. “This time, I promise, as your Cousin Adam, that Churot is not a doppelganger.”

“Okay,” Taygak said.

Adam smiled. It was fun to tease his little Cousins. He wondered if he should make Churot a doppelganger, but he had promised. ‘He could just be an evil necromancer who will betray the party eventually...’

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I didn't realise we were at 390+. Slice of life arc is already ending...