[970] – Y04.070 – Strong I

[970] – Y04.070 – Strong I

“I’m sorry about yesterday,” Adam said. “I didn’t mean to imply anything by it.”

“I know,” Jaygak replied, eyeing up the shield in her hands, rubbing along the edge.

Adam frowned, staring at the shield, at his own reflection through it. “I knew it wasn’t going to work.”

“You did?”

“I did,” Adam admitted.

“Why did you do it?” Jaygak asked, knowing he wasn’t talking about their conversation.

“I had to,” Adam said, staring into his own eyes. He wondered what his children saw within his eyes, what Vonda saw within them.

Jaygak stared at the shield for a long while. “These shields are well made.”

“Yeah.”

With their pouches lighter, the pair returned back to the Guild, where Barks grilled them upon their stories to see if they matched up with Jurot and Kitool’s.

“There were some suspicions that you may have killed him, but I don’t think you’d do something like that,” Barks said. “I’m mostly saying that because the Iyrmen said you wouldn’t.”

“Yeah.”

“You alright?”

“I’m fine. I just... want to go home.”

Barks narrowed his eyes. “Alright.”

Quest Complete: Inform the Guild

XP Gained: +100

XP: 16 600 -> 16 700

Stamps Gained: +1

Stamps: 5 -> 6

As the group made their way to their wagon and cart, Adam called out to Mara. “You alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“We’ll get you fixed up once we’re at the Iyr.”

Mara bowed her head, climbing into the cart, sitting beside Lucy. Her body was still pale, like Jurot had been, though the Iyrman had healed up shortly before the festival.

‘Greater Restoration is Fifth Gate,’ Adam thought. ‘Just you wait, it won’t be too long now, just a few years.’ Adam thought of other spells, some of which were also Fifth Gate, especially one in particular. ‘I can’t be too quick, though...’ He reached up to his forehead, rubbing it. ‘Quick, but not too quick. Strong, but not too strong. Rich, but not too rich. Unhinged, but not too unhinged.’

“In the North, the tournament is considered the most difficult,” Jurot said, breaking the silence. “Next year, I would like to enter the tournament.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, smiling slightly.

As noon came upon the land, Jaygak sighed. “Adam.”

“Yeah?” Adam asked, peeking his head out of the wagon. “Oh, man.”

“I see you are getting into more trouble,” he said, tipping his hait, Maurice glaring down at the group.

“Am I still making waves?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“Damn.”

“You are making this quite awkward.”

“I am?”

“You are strong, especially with that axe of yours.”

“Yeah, well...” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “What can you do? I mean, Jurot’s strong too, so is everyone else.”

Crowseer smiled, tipping his hat once more. “Congratulations upon your children.” He turned to face Jurot. “Have you thought of a name?”

“Yes.”

“It is a fine name... I’m sure.”

Jurot narrowed his eyes. “Thank you.”

“So what are you doing here exactly?”

“I thought of meeting the ancient terror you unleashed, but I decided against it.”

“Hey, hey, hey, I didn’t unleash anything this time,” Adam said, though he didn’t believe his words.

“I suppose you didn’t. This time, somehow, you weren’t directly involved.”

“How about indirectly?” Adam asked, surprised.

“Perhaps?”

‘Damn. I guess that’s better than it being directly, though?’

“Are you heading to Red Oak to adventure?”

“No. We’re heading back to the business. We, uh, got into too much trouble with the ancient terror I definitely didn’t unleash.”

“It is a waste to return so soon.”

“Yeah, well, I do have some work to do, so...”

“Very well.”

“Want to join us for lunch?”

‘He’s lucky he cooks so damn well,’ Adam thought. “How have you been?”

“Well. Did you have fun?”

“That’s one word to describe it. We ended up facing a forest drake, and then, remember those kids? That kid, uh, the one that was racist all the time? He was with us during the outbreak, and he called Jonn’s mother a, you know.”

“I do.”

“We... we helped them out from a horrible ancient terror. I... I tried to save him too, but... I was too late.” Adam stared at his meal. “I tried. I really did.”

“I know,” Vonda said, reaching for his hand, squeezing it.

Adam shut his eyes tight, and forced away the encroaching darkness, and with his wife’s words, he relaxed.

“A horrible ancient terror?”

“I don’t know, Jurot knows more about it, he’ll tell you.” Adam ate the meal of grilled vegetables, as well as the slice of meat, which had been well seared, perhaps a little too much. “I need to take Korin with me.”

In the night, Adam brushed his daughter’s hair, the girl yawning.

“Daddy?” Jirot asked, staring at her hands. “You are strong?”

“Daddy is a little strong?”

“Daddy is stronger than moon?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why?”

“I can do things the moon can’t, and the moon can do things I can’t.”

“Daddy is stronger than salya?”

“Salya? I think so. I can feed more people, and I can beat it up.”

“I like salya, but I like daddy more,” Jirot said, smiling shyly.

Adam planted a kiss on her forehead. “Even though I love pizza, I love you so much more.”

Jirot giggled and squealed. “Smelly boy.”

Vonda returned with the triplets, Konarot trailing behind, her ears drooped, her tail dragging behind. Upon seeing her father, the girl rushed up along with her siblings, dropping down beside him, her tail against her father’s leg.

“Daddy is stronger than mummy?” Jirot asked.

“Ah, well, maybe? Mummy is stronger than me in some ways.”

“Mummy is stronger?”

“Well, mummy can have a baby, but daddy can’t.”

“Why?”

“I’ll teach you when you’re older,” Adam said, noting Vonda’s smile, the woman brushing little Jarot’s curly hair.

“Why?”

“Then you’ll be able to understand it properly,” Adam said, picking the girl up to kiss her cheek, distracting her a moment. “Look at you! So chubby! Is nana feeding you well?”

“Nana give me potato and nana Mi give me salya too.”

“Nana Mi? Nana Mirot?”

“Mm!”

‘Ah, is that why she asked about salya?’ Adam thought. “Do you thank nana for the salya?”

“Yes.”

“Do you hug her too?”

“No.”

“Why not? She’s babo’s daughter too.”

“Huh?” Jirot glanced at her father from the side, her eyes curious and questioning. “Nana is babo dohta?”

“Yes.”

Jirot gasped, reaching up to her father’s shoulder to stabilise herself. “Nana? Nana is strong?”

“She’s very strong?” Adam replied, partly with a question.

“Nana is strong or daddy is strong?”

“Daddy is strong? Just a little bit?”

“Daddy?” Jirot paused a moment. “Babo is strong?”

“Well...” Adam frowned. He growled quietly. ‘How could she mention him when he was the one to beat me up first.’

Meanwhile, the old one armed Iyrman stared at the sky, staring at the moon, replaying the girl’s curiosity in his mind. ‘Of course your babo is stronger than the moon!’

Adam you coward! How could you come back after just two quests?

I'll forgive you just this once since our Jirot is so cute.

Also the future chapters... :)

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