456. Duskval Festival XVII

456. Duskval Festival XVII

“What are you doing?” Jaygak asked, blinking rapidly at the Half Elf.

Adam chewed on the sweet bread which had been glazed in honey, swallowing it down before licking his lips. “Enjoying the festival.”

“You’re not going to stay at the estate and act cringe?” Jaygak joked. Her eyes caught sight of Dunes and Vonda, who were pleading with her wordlessly.

“You’re right,” Adam said. “My children need me. Why am I out here enjoying myself when they’re back at the estate missing their father.”

Jaygak blinked, keeping her eyes shut for a long while, before she opened them. Her eyes met the Priests’, apologising for her mistake, and her mind raced to find a way to stop Adam.

“Adam,” Jaygak called, inhaling deeply. “You have not played with Taygak and the children in some time.”

That was it. Adam’s weakness was not just his own children, but his Cousins too.

Adam paused, falling for her line of thought. It was a single strike within the chink of his armour, but Adam did not fall to it.

“Will you also leave Lanarot too?” Jaygak added, stabbing Adam in his heart. With Stormdrake, she could not defeat Adam, but when it came to using her devilish tongue, she could at least match him.

“Jaygak,” Adam began, before pausing. “If you think you can invoke my sister’s name and get me to do things...”

Jaygak let out a soft sigh, realising what was happening.

“Out of everyone in our group, you’re definitely the most evil,” Adam stated.

Jaygak smiled. She had won.

Adam walked around the festival, aiming to find the young children, before he bumped into a familiar face. Fred tilted his head towards the Half Elf, wondering if his appearance was fated that day.

“Adam,” Fred called.

“Fred. What’s up?”Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com

Fred looked up to the sky and furrowed his brows. “The clouds?”

“I mean, what’s... is there something you need from me?”

Fred looked around to the Iyrmen around him, and nodded. “Could we talk? Alone.”

“Alright.” Adam led Fred away, heading to a corner of an estate, grabbing some wine and cups on the way, before settling down. He poured Fred some wine, before pouring himself some. “So...”

“You’ve tasted the wine and now you can’t live without it,” Adam said, pouring some wine into Fred’s cup and his own.

Fred scoffed, raising his cup upwards, before bringing it to his lips. “That’s right.” He drunk it quickly, tasting the sweetness. “I don’t know what I am to you. I’m not as strong as Jonn, and he’s a Guardian, and you’ve already got an Iyrman who does what I can do, but better. Jaygak jokes she’s weak, but I’d rather not fight her, especially not with that sword of hers.”

“Lifeblade not good enough for you?” Adam asked.

Fred rubbed his thumb along the handle of the blade and shook his head. “It’s not like that. I’m very thankful for the sword, though I know it’s only borrowed to me.”

“As long as you’re one of mine, you can keep it,” Adam said. “Work for me for a few years, and you can consider it your own. I’ve already offered you a position within my business, and I’ll take good care of you.”

“You said you’d take care of my marriage,” Fred said. “Say I want to marry an Iyrman...”

“Betraying me already?”

“No,” he said, quickly. “Nothing like that. I just... I just thought it would be nicer if I was married into the Iyr, is all. I’d work for you still, you’ve done a lot for me. You helped me when I was dying, you and Sir Vonda, and I owe a lot to you.” He gripped Lifeblade tighter. “Never thought that I would carry a magical sword at my side, especially not a Basic Enhanced sword. Not me, just a farmer’s boy that I was.”

Adam smiled. “Well, you’re pretty successful for a farmer’s boy, Fred. You didn’t have much chance to spend all that money, eh? You could probably buy your own farm now.”

“Aye,” Fred said. “I could, but...” The young man sighed. “Like I said, I don’t know what I am to you.”

“Why are you acting all shy?” Adam asked. “Have you forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

“When Lucy was in danger, I asked you whether you wanted to step aside,” Adam said, holding Fred’s gaze with his eyes. “When it came down to it, when your life was on the line, when my friend’s life was on the line, you drew your blade and fought beside me, Fred. You, the son of a farmer, decided to die for some Demon.”

Fred wasn’t sure how to feel about risking his life for a Demon, but Lucy didn’t do any wrong to him. “Yeah...”

“I didn’t give you a magical sword because it was going to help you, I gave you the sword because you earned the right to wield that blade.”

Fred slowly nodded his head.

Adam poured the young man some more wine. “Stick with me, Fred. I’ll raise you into a monster, and then you can drown in Iyrmen.”

“Thank you, Adam,” Fred said, sipping his wine. He sighed with relief, feeling his heart lighten. ‘Thank you.’

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What's this? Fleshing out side characters? In my power fantasy?