Mikayla and Fiona remained silent, their faces pale, all the while they watched the Half Elf, who summoned a Fireball from the heavens, walks around putting out the fire with what appeared to be the Control Flames trick.

“Anyway,” Adam said, a few minutes later, his chest heavy with all the cringe he had just shown. ‘I thought the fight between Lucy and I would put them at ease, but I really did go a little too far with the Fireball.’

“What should we do with them?” Lucy asked.

“Let’s keep them tied up until tomorrow morning,” Adam said.

“You won’t untie us now?” Fiona asked, her brow sweaty with fear.

“No way,” Adam replied, simply. “What if you attack us.”

“Aren’t the three of you strong enough to handle us?” Fiona asked, glancing between the three. “You’re all Experts, aren’t you?”

“Oh?” Adam asked. “How many spells do you know?” He stared down at Mikayla. “I’m sure you’ll be honest, right?”

Mikayla stared up at him, though had wished she could avoid his gaze. “Six.”

“Six?” Adam replied. “That’s it?” Adam then noted the gear that the Adventurers were wearing. Chain mail for two of them, studded leather or another, robes for the last. ‘Hold on…’

“How long ago did you start adventuring?” Jurot asked.

“A couple of months ago…” Mikayla avoided the Iyrman’s gaze. ‘We’re not mindless beasts like you.’

“This is one of our first quests,” Fiona admitted. “We’ve slain a Wolf together before this.”

You guys are really just newborn babes,” Adam said, rubbing his chin again. “Damn. Now I feel bad for bullying you all.” He dropped down beside each of them and undid their bindings.

Fiona reached into her pack and pulled out a small vial.

“Relax,” Adam said, before chanting a few words.

Mana: 11 -> 10

Spell: Healing Word

1D3+3 = 4 (1)

Mana: 10 -> 9

Spell: Healing Word

1D3+3 = 4 (1)

“What?” James said, awakening from his slumber.

“You kids stay on your side, and we’ll stay on our side,” Adam said.

“What’s going on?” James asked.

Fiona shook her head. “We’ll explain later.”

“If you get any bright ideas, I won’t stop Lucy from killing you and eating you,” Adam warned.

“Why should I kill them?” Lucy asked. “I bet they won’t taste that good.”

“Well, why shouldn’t you kill them if they start trouble with us?” Adam asked.

“Hmm,” Lucy hummed quietly, trying to find a rebuttal to his words. “Ah. Because I can’t be bothered.”

“Then I guess I’ll Fireball them,” Adam said. “Oh, no. That would be bad. If I kill them, wouldn’t the Adventurer’s Guild be mad?” He rubbed his chin, going into thought again. ‘Why do I keep rubbing my chin?’ Adam realised that he was holding the piece of cloth from earlier. ‘Oh.’ He quickly stashed it away.

“Fireball?” James asked.

“You can still cast it?” Mikayla asked, staring at him in shock.

“Yeah,” Adam replied. “Why can’t I?”

“You…” Mikayla shook her head. ‘He cast Fireball and Healing Word? Is he a Priest of the Sun? No, he said he was a Wizard…’

Adam then spent a few minutes casting another spell, one he had been using nightly for the past few days.

Mana: 9 -> 6

Spell: Adam’s Tower

He formed the tower with two floors. The bottom floor was a bathroom, and the top was a sleeping quarters.

Mikayla watched the Half Elf summon a tower with utter shock plastered on her face.

‘Counterspell, Fireball, and Mage’s Tower? He can cast three Third Gate spells? No, he said he could cast another, right? Does that mean he’s actually a Master? No, wait. It’s impossible to cast more than three, not unless he’s… he’s…’

Mikayla was unsure what he could be.

‘No, no. He must be using a magical tool or something. Right, right, there’s no way that he can possibly cast more than three Third Gate spells. Fireball was probably from a magical item, which he can use more than once. Yes, of course, otherwise it doesn’t make any sense. Right! He used a magical tool for Healing Word too, of course!’

James stared at Mikayla. “Is she okay?”

“I haven’t seen her like this either,’ Fiona admitted, seeing the look of both shock and helplessness on Mikayla’s face.

Adam left Lucy and Jurot to watch over the group and cook, all the while he went to bathe. He sighed as he rubbed the soap around himself, through it was as hard as a rock.

‘I really should become a Soapsmith or something,’ Adam thought, forgetting the name for someone who made soap.

Once he was done, he made his way out, only wearing the breastplate of his plate mail, and sat down with the others, joining them as he watched the roasted boar and the stew being cooked by Jurot.

“How long for the stew?” Adam asked.

“An hour longer,” Jurot assured.

“Did you bring some spices from the Iyr?” Adam asked, smelling a familiar smell from the stew.

Jurot nodded. “Mother allowed me to take a small pouch. I thought it would be good to eat it today.”

“I’ll leave that to you, Chef Jurot,” Adam said.

“We will have many leftovers. Shall we offer some to our guests?”

“They aren’t our guests,” Adam stated. “Though, it’s probably a good idea to help them, as their seniors in the same field.”

Jurot nodded.

“Yo,” Adam called out to the group, who stiffened upon hearing his voice. “You guys want some stew and boar?”

“We need nothing from you,” James replied. “We shall remain within our side, and you shall remain within your side.”

“Alright,” Adam said. “Your loss.”

“They really don’t know any respect,” Lucy said. “We even saved their lives and they didn’t thank us once.”

“We are pretty suspicious,” Adam said.

“Suspicious?”

Adam raised his brows at her.

“Why are you still wearing your helmet, anyway?” Lucy asked.

“Elves are hated around these parts,” Adam said. “Red Oak is still part of South Aldland, so…”

Lucy frowned. “What about me?”

“You are a Devilkin in the presence of an Iyrman,” Adam said. “They probably will tolerate you more than me.”

“That’s… really weird,” Lucy said, sitting up straighter, trying not to squirm. “I’ve never been the least hated in a group before.”

“Hated? You? Who would hate someone like you?” Adam joked.

Lucy rolled her eyes.

“Devilkin are more prominent in the South and East, though least hated in the East and North,” Jurot said.

“The North seems the most welcoming,” Adam said. “Why is that?”

“It is difficult living in the North, so they do not add to that difficulty by making enemies of the world,” Jurot said. “That was how it was explained to me.”

“That makes sense.” Adam nodded his head slowly. “Why the East?”

“They are a trading hub,” Jurot said. “Whereas Central Aldland is the food capital of the Kingdom, the East is the trading capital. The South holds much trade too, but not quite as much.”

“So why doesn’t the South like Devilkin as much?” Adam asked.

“The South is tolerant of Devilkin, but not as much as the East or North. The South has faced against Aswadasad a number of times, so there is bad blood between the pair still.”

“Ah?” Adam said. “What about the West? We rarely hear about the West, other than the fact that we’ve met it’s Duke.”

“The West is used to keep an Iyr on the Iyr, and protects the Kingdom’s path towards the capital,” Jurot said. “They kept the Orcs at bay, historically, and currently has deep ties with the royalty.”

“Oh? I thought North was close with the royalty since they’re related?”

“They are drifting apart, slightly,” Jurot said. “That was what was explained to me. West Aldland’s ruler changed recently. The current Duke came into power once the previous Duke died.”

“Oh?” Adam said. “The previous Duke died? How?”

Jurot remained silent for a moment. “They say he was ill for some time and they were unable to find the cure.”

“How likely is that story?”

“Very unlikely,” Jurot said. “The current Duke is known as a warmonger, and someone with great skill in battle. He was one of the few who supported the King against the war against the Elves. There was some friction between we Iyrmen and the Duke due to his involvement within the war.”

“What happened?” Adam asked.

“He was largely the reason why the Iyrmen were sent by themselves into the forest to open a path for the army,” Jurot said.

Adam raised his brows. “Hmm.”

“The current Duke does not like we Iyrmen.”

“Yeah, I could tell from when we met,” Adam said.

“We must be careful, Adam. You are within his sights now.”

“Why?” Adam asked, before rubbing his forehead. “Right.”

Jurot nodded. “It was the two of us who claimed the forest on behalf of the Iyr.”

“If we had gone with him back then…”

“I am certain now, thinking back to that time, we would have disappeared.”

“Why are you two so happy to bring down the mood?” Lucy grumbled.

“Jurot, you think?” Adam asked.

Jurot raised his brows to Adam.

“Sorry. It was a joke to bring up the mood.” Adam avoided his gaze. “Brothers should be able to poke fun at one another.”

“Cringe,” Jurot said.