410. Birthdays

410. Birthdays

Adam avoided Sonarot as best as he could, but he had fallen ill after enchanting and it was difficult to avoid her when she would come to check up on him. She would bring him a bowl of soup or porridge to feed him too, as his entire body was a wreck after enchanting three times in one day.

‘I can’t believe I rolled a natural 20,’ Adam thought, thinking about the second roll of that day. He had rolled two 20’s with his Omen, and then another 20 when he was enchanting. It had taken a toll on his body, but he had managed to complete the initial step, and he could spend the rest of his days casually enchanting the weapon.

“Papa,” Lanarot called once he was healthy, reaching up so that her brother would pick her up.

“Lanababy, did you miss me?” Adam asked, hoisting her up, before planting a kiss against her cheek.

The girl sucked her thumb, resting her head against his shoulder. She hadn’t spent much time with him the last two days, and had missed him ever so dearly. Adam brushed her hair gently.

‘I won’t enchant like that again,’ he thought.

He went to enchant that day, beginning the process of finishing the greatsword he had enchanted.

Omen: 3, 5

Adam glanced between the pair, who stared up at him expectantly. He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head from side to side, before he rubbed his chin. “Hmmm.”

The children waited with bated breath, staring between Adam and the other two.

“Hmmm,” Adam repeated, squinting his eyes until they were almost entirely shut. “Something is wrong.”

Katool let out a snort, before placing her hands against her mouth to stop herself from making any more noises.

His Aunts watched too, sighing at his antics. They would have stopped him, but the children were excited for it.

“Aha!” Adam said, snapping his fingers. “You are Amokan and Naqokan.” Adam made the same face Turot would make when he was proud of himself for knowing something Adam didn’t.

The twins scoffed, all the while the other children laughed.

“No,” Damokan and Kalokan said.

“What? You’re not?”

“No,” the pair replied.

“Then who are you?”

“Kalokan!” the girl said.

“Damokan,” the boy added.

“What? No. No way. You two are too big, too strong. How can you be my adorable little Kalokan and Damokan?” Adam raised his brow, as though he didn’t believe them one bit.

The pair sighed at him, but soon the antics were over, and Adam handed them the platinum coins he had given their parents. “Remember, no one can steal this from you. If anyone does, tell me and I’ll be sure to teach them a lesson.”

“Thank you,” the twins replied, before pocketing the coins. They stared up expectantly at Adam.

“What?”

Adam threw the father a nod, allowing him to take the struggling Cirot away. ‘Should I take them with me on the journey?’ Adam thought. ‘No. Once they’re eighteen, maybe.’ He shuddered at the thought.

Churot sat beside Adam, sometimes casting spells for Adam to praise him. Eventually, Adam brought out a small pearl and handed it to the boy. “Here,” the Half Elf said. “Do you know what this is for?”

“Identify,” the teen replied.

“That’s right. You’re an Iyrman first and foremost, so there will come a time you will need to assist the Iyr with all your spells. Careful, though, for some items are cursed, and I don’t want you to suffer.” Adam brushed the Devilkin’s hair.

“Okay.”

The others gave Jarot and Mulrot a look, but they did not mention anything about handing a boy a pearl worth a hundred gold coins. It was a gift Adam had thought about for some time. He had first thought about handing Churot a different gem worth a little less, but Churot did not have the spell, and Adam wasn’t sure he should encourage the boy to take it, not when it could kill almost any normal person.

“I’ll be going tomorrow, so I’m going to need you to look after Lanarot, okay?” Adam said.

“Okay,” the teen promised.

“You can’t steal her away from me, though.”

“Okay.”

Adam smiled. “You might not use an axe and shield, but you’re a Rot, right?”

“Yes.”

Adam hadn’t been sure about Churot at first. The boy had come to him at the end of the last year, when Lanarot had slapped him and stole a bite of his sandwich. The boy had asked Adam to help him become strong. He wanted to learn magic, like Adam. To see Churot away from his grandfather had shocked Adam, and he had promised to think about it.

‘I haven’t really taught you anything other than maths,’ Adam thought, wondering what he could say to the boy. “Do you want to come and play Warriors and Wanderers today?”

“Yes,” Churot replied.

“Great,” Adam said, leaning in to whisper. “Do you want to betray everyone else?”

“No,” Churot said. “Iyrmen do not betray.”

“That’s right!” Adam pat the teen’s back gently. “What a great young man you are.”

Churot smiled at Adam’s praise, glancing aside shyly. He quickly returned to his typical stone faced demeanour.

“I hope you don’t change, Churot. You have to stay the smart, sensible Churot you’ve always been, okay?”

“Okay.”

Adam smiled. He sighed, looking out to the rest of the Iyrmen. That’s when it came to him. “Churot, I am going to teach you something that you need to remember forever. It may even be more important than maths.”

Churot looked up at him, waiting for the words which were more important than maths, the same precious maths which the teen loved most.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

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Thus ends our slice of life arc?