“Yo,” Adam called, noting how everyone was gathered near a corner that day. “What’s with the gathering?”

“You seemed like you were sad, so we all decided to gather,” Jaygak said. “Want a drink?”

Adam smiled slightly, trying to push away the crimson heat at his cheeks. “I was just a little melancholic, you know how it is.”

“Your time of month?” Jaygak asked.

“Something like that.” Adam took a seat beside the group. “Hey, Sky. Enjoying yourself?” Adam asked, brushing his hand through the Awakened Wolf’s fur.

“Yes,” he panted, before relaxing down beside him.

Adam looked between the rest of them. The Iyrmen he was familiar with, the Guests he had brought along. Dunes and Vonda. Jonn and Fred. Brittany and Nobby. He shook his head, wondering if he’d find another Priest, lost wanderer, and recruit.

“How’s training coming along?” Adam asked the pair of them.

“Well,” Brittany replied. “I can shoot well.”

“Good,” Nobby said.

Adam nodded his head, sipping some wine. “I managed to…” Adam realised that he hadn’t told them all about his abilities. He looked to Fred, Vonda, and then to Nobby. ‘I think Nobby knows.’ “Where’s Filliam?”

“Working,” Jurot said. “He said he was not to be disturbed.”

“That boy works too hard,” Adam said, containing his smile as he sipped his wine.

Dunes raised his brows towards Adam. “He works too hard?”

“Let the joke hang, Dunes,” Adam said. “Come on.” The Half Elf began to chuckle. “I should probably meet you guys more often since you’re in the Iyr under Jurot’s name.”

“We are enjoying the sights,” Sir Vonda said.

“What sights?”

“We saw the Blood Hill,” she said. “I have heard there will be a new Elder Wrath sworn.”

“Yeah, crazy,” Adam said, shaking his head. “I heard the guy who beat him, Lion King, is here too.”

“I didn’t believe it until I heard it was Lion King Ashmir,” Dunes said. “They call him one of the greatest Gladiators to date.”

“Do you know much about him?” Adam asked. “You’re from Aswadasad, I assume he’s like your King’s Sword?”

Dunes shook his head. “No, he is not. East Scimitar and West Scimitar are our King’s Sword. Lion King Ashmir is more akin to…” Dunes furrowed his brows. “I do not know what he would be compared to. An Iyrman who wanted to seek glory by only fighting in tournaments? Though Lion King was a Gladiator by birth.”

“By birth?”

“He was born in the arena, and lived his entire life there. He performed in the arena in his entire life, but his strength was very real. Eventually it went from performing to real combat, and he slew a large number of creatures.”

“What kind of creatures?”

“Any the arena could get its hands on,” Dunes shrugged his shoulders. “When he was young, it was Lions, then Manticores, and eventually he faced against Feral Dragons.”

“Is that how he got his name?” Adam asked. “Slaying a billion Lions?”

“No,” Dunes said. “They call him Lion King because of his mane.”

“A big beard?”

“His long hair.”

“Not really a mane, is it?”

Dunes smiled. “Also because he wore the skull of the first Lion he killed during the fights.”

“Probably that then,” Adam said, chuckling. He sipped more wine.

“I think he began to resent the Gladiator Arena,” Dunes said. “He could not earn his freedom, not unless he did something truly big. I hear the Kingdom had an issue an Awakened Forest, and that the Iyrmen spilled some blood.”

Adam furrowed his brows and looked to Jurot. “Was that our Awakened Forest?”

Jurot nodded. “The blood of Soldiers was spilled, so the Shen was put under pressure by various factions. They invited the Iyr to participate in a series of duels. The Iyr won them all, save the last.”

“You were there when the blood was spilled?” Dunes asked.

“Uh,” Adam said. “I think I’m the reason why it was spilled.”

The others had been eating and holding their own conversations, but upon hearing the story of the Iyrmen spilling blood, they had paid more attention to the conversation.

“You?” Dunes asked. “How?”

“It was a few months ago,” Adam said. “The second or third month of Dawnval.”

“The second month,” Jurot said. “Mother was sick and we went to find a herb. The Awakened Forest appeared.”

“Jurot and I stepped out the brush with all the Iyrmen hiding in the forest, I wanted to speak with them for some reason.”

“You wished to ascertain the truth of the situation,” Jurot said.

“Yeah, I can’t remember too much, but it was something like that. They asked us to surrender right away otherwise they’d shoot. I just wanted to talk, and told them we claimed the forest for the Iyr.”

“I introduced myself and was shot upon,” Jurot said. “They aimed for our legs, not to kill us.”

“Oh!” Adam said. “I remember now. Elder Peace caught the bolt right for my face and she dropped it. I forgot just how cool she was.”

Jurot nodded his head slowly.

“The Chief came out and he was so cool too. The Captain or General or whatever he was-“

“Captain,” Jurot confirmed.

“Yeah, he spoke with the Chief, and he got really serious real fast. The Iyrmen came out and revealed themselves to the soldiers, I think we were outnumbered ten to one or something. Chief Iromin stated they were declaring war, and the Captain tried to stop that real fast.” Adam rubbed his forehead.

“The Captain said he did not aim to kill,” Jurot said.

“The Chief said the Iyrmen did. Elder Peace stepped forward though, and there was a quick chat. We found out that they had tortured the Iyrmen who came with us, and one of them was a very particular person.”

“Shaman Lokat.”

Dunes almost spat out his drink. “A Shaman? A Shaman was tortured?” Dunes asked. ‘What was the Captain thinking?’

“Shaman Lokat, with the same tattoo as Elder Peace,” Adam said. “The price was paid, though. Three hundred Soldiers, dead. I watched the slaughter.”

“Me too,” Lucy said, shuddering.

“Elder Peace said it wasn’t because it was Shaman Lokat was related, but because she was a Shaman,” Adam said. “Not sure I buy that, but she’s an Iyrman, and Iyrmen don’t lie, so.” Adam shrugged.

Dunes shook his head. “How are you always involved?”

“I’m telling you, man.” Adam sipped his wine. “Fate really is out here trying to get me killed.”

“So it’s your fault that Elder Wrath is stepping down?” Dunes asked.

“I guess it is,” Adam said. Adam rubbed his face. ‘I can’t believe I’ve influence the Iyr that much.’

“Elder Wrath chose to drop down out of his own accord,” Jurot stated. “Adam assisted in bringing a new domain into the Iyr’s hands.”

Adam exhaled, sipping more wine. “Damn. You know, maybe you guys shouldn’t stick with me if that’s going to happen.”

“It’s too late for that,” Jaygak said. “You’re stuck with us.”

Adam laughed. “What about you, Jonn? Thought about keeping your end of the promise.”

“I am still watching you,” Jonn stated, simply.

“You, Fred? You found purpose yet?”

“No,” Fred said. “I have not.”

“Well…” Adam leaned back and looked to the entire group. “You know. I really miss home, and all the niceties of my home.” He sipped his wine. “I can’t go back, I know that much. Still, I’ve been thinking about stuff. I’ve been thinking about Lanarot, Jurot and I, Fate’s Golden, and everyone here. Some of you more than others, but still, all of you.” His gaze scanned them all.

“Adam? Thinking?” Jaygak asked. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Adam smiled. “Well, maybe, maybe not. You know, I… I was thinking about exploring this land, this world. I thought about how I could do that, and yes, adventuring is one way, but that’s a little awkward due to certain obligations I have.” He looked to Nobby. “I’ve paid your family for a year, but I still need to make sure I train you, well, Jurot trains you, until you’re actually an Expert.”

Nobby nodded his head slowly.

“I still… I still want to be here for my little sister. Look, I know,” Adam said, clearing his throat. “I know that I’m cringe.”

Jurot nodded his head slowly.

“I know, that maybe I’m a little too emotional sometimes, and when it comes to someone who isn’t blood related to me-“

“Lanarot is your sister, Adam,” Jurot said. “Just like how she is my sister.”

Adam nodded his head slowly. “I know, I know. Not everyone here knows my story, so I have to make sure they understand. Anyway, I want to be here for her. I want to make sure she’s raised well, not because I don’t have faith in the Iyr, but because I should be here to help raise her. You can’t call yourself a big brother if you don’t do that.”

“Right?” Lucy said. “We know you love your sister, suspiciously.”

Adam narrowed his eyes. “Let’s keep it one nil, Lucy, but I don’t mind making it two nil.”

“I don’t even know what that means,” Lucy said.

“He is threatening to beat you again,” Jurot said.

“Let’s go then,” Lucy said. “I bet I could beat you if you didn’t use your Phantom.”

“As if you could,” Adam replied, tilting his head back to look down at her. “Bring it.”

Kitool clapped her hands. “You had something to say, Adam?”

“Right. I was thinking about how I could stay here, establish something where I could eventually leave and explore the world, all the while helping everyone here out. From training, to adventuring, to more.” Adam shook his head. “It might not make any sense, but I was thinking about making a Mercenary group, or something like that.”