“Look at you,” Adam said, pinching Lanarot’s cheeks gently and jiggling them. “Look at you.”

Lanarot smiled up at him before sucking on her hand shyly. She was adorned in blue clothing, a thicker version of what the Iyrmen usually wore, though she was soon wrapped up in a thick white coat which was still too big for her. Atop her head was a hat, with tiny little nubs for ears, and two dots of painted fur which formed eyes.

“Aren’t you so cute? You’re always so cute though, aren’t you?” He lifted her up into his arms and kissed her cheek. “Don’t wipe off the paint, okay? Everyone needs to know which family you’re from.” He brushed her hair to the side, tucking it behind her ear, before fixing the thick furry hat atop her head.

“You should guide your friends around the festival,” Sonarot said, taking her daughter from him, placing her into the sash which usually carried her around the Iyr.

“Why do I need friends when I have my Lanababy?” Adam asked. “I’ll take them around the Iyr later.”

Sonarot let out a soft sigh, but understood the boy didn’t mean it. At least, she hoped he didn’t mean it.

“Adam,” called Zijin.

Adam sighed. “What did I do this time?”

“Nothing.”

“Oh,” Adam replied. “Is this about the payment for my work then?”

“No, that will come after the festival,” Zijin said.

“Then…”

“You have a visitor.”

The first thought which flashed into his mind was that a God had come to visit him. ‘That doesn’t make any sense,’ Adam thought. ‘Unless it was Baktu? Then what if it i-‘

“Stop thinking and start moving,” Zijin stated.

“If I have a visitor, then we should go and see them?” Adam asked, looking to Sonarot. “Since I’m a Nephew of the Rot family?”

Sonarot bowed her head. Adam had been working quite hard recently, so of course he’d want to spend time with his little sister. It was not a thought she would have of most Iyrmen, but Adam was no Iyrman.

Yet.

“Oh!” Adam said, approaching the Chief’s place. “It’s you.”

Her eyes were slightly slanted, with an emerald shimmer. Her nose was thin and straight, going down like an arrow tip, and her lips were even thinner. Elongated ears jut out the side of her head straight upwards, though was pointed like a leaf. Her hair was long, like liquid copper that fell down to her shoulders. An unnatural beauty that Adam hadn’t seen in some time.

“Did you expect anyone greater?” Entalia asked.

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I thought Baktu came to speak with me.”

Entalia wasn’t sure how to respond to that. “You are quite the queer Half Elf.”

“I might hear that more than my name,” Adam said. “You brought the good stuff?”

“I have,” Entalia said. “Have you?”

“No,” Adam admitted. “I didn’t realise you were here.”

“Is my time so worthless to the Iyr?” Entalia asked, looking to the Chief.

“They shall be fetched,” the Chief said.

“It’s wonderful to see you again,” Sonarot said. “Have you come to stay long?”

“No,” Entalia said, wincing slightly, smelling something foul in the air. “Not when he’s here.” Her eyes fell towards one of the nearby buildings.

“Hey,” Adam said. “I took a bath today. I-“ Adam paused, narrowing his eyes for a moment. “I forgot to go to the dome baths!”

“Not you,” Entalia growled. “It’s… someone I don’t want to talk about.”

The Chief sighed, sharing Entalia’s pain.

“I want to see the weapons first.”

“Relax,” Adam said. “They’re bringing it. How have you been?”

“Well enough,” Entalia said. “There was some trouble recently, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I expected the Iyr to be more troubled since they’re losing their precious Elder Wrath.”

“This is a process which happens a few times every generation,” Chief Iromin replied. “It may occur more frequently than in the north, but we can manage it.”

“Why are you starting fights with the Iyr?” Adam asked. “I didn’t expect you to lose your mind after trading for magical weapons.”

The Chief, Elder Zijin, and Jurot, looked to Adam, wondering who he was to talk about that.

“How have you been, Adam?” Entalia asked.

“Well enough,” Adam replied. “Went on an adventure, almost was accused of some heinous stuff, managed to kill a few Nightval Bears, met Sir Merry.”

Entalia narrowed her eyes, wondering if there was another force behind Adam, allowing him to become so powerful so quickly.

Once the weapons were brought, Entalia leaned in to sniff them, before lifting them up. “What do they do?”

Deep Flame Blade

Requires Attunement

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

Deals 1D6 slashing + 1D6 fire damage.

You critically hit on a 19 and 20.

Can morph between a ring and weapon at your command.

Blue Heart

Requires Attunement

You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this weapon.

Deals 1D6 slashing and 1D6 fire damage.

Once per day, regain 2D6 Health.

‘What kind of crazy enchantments did he place on these weapons?” Entalia thought. “How did you manage to…”

Adam smiled.

“No,” she said. “It’s too dangerous to know that kind of thing.”

“When did you get some common sense?” Adam asked, raising his brow.

“I smell something far more powerful nearby,” she said, almost reaching down to his waste. “Can I grab the handle?”

“Don’t say it like that,” Adam said, pulling Phantom out, handing it over.

The overwhelming smell struck her. It wasn’t quite a smell, it was a sense which Dragons held, but they often referred to it as such. This axe was powerful, definitely a greater enchantment.

“You made this?” Entalia asked.

“Yes,” Adam said, grabbing the handle, sensing that she may be considering theft.

“Will you make me one?” Entalia asked.

“If you pay for it.”

“I don’t possess that many gemicule weapons,” she replied back. “I didn’t have much sapphicule, either, so I brought some others with me.”

She brought several different weapons, each of varying gemicule materials. Sapphicule, rubicule, jadicule, amethicule, diamicule, and ambericule. However, they were all different weapons. There was a sapphicule axe, and the other was amethicule.

“I recall we were trading for three,” Adam said. “So three of these, eh? Three axes, I presume, though…”

“You should take diamicule, jadicule, or amethicule items,” Jurot said. “They are rarest.”

“I will trade them all to you for two greater enchanted weapons, which will be formed of amethiculte,” she said. “I like purple.”

“I thought you’d ask for diamicule,” Adam said.

“I understand why you wanted to trade,” Entalia said. “Are we not friends?”

Adam smiled. “So, you’ve found out how useful I am?”

“Don’t say it like that,” Entalia said. “Friendship is not transactional.”

“That’s only said by deadbeats who don’t deserve to be friends with others,” Adam said. “The kind who will take and take, and never give.”

“Do we have a deal?”

“Afraid not,” Adam said. “I can’t afford to do something like that.”

“Afford? You have the amethicule weapons, what else do you need?”

“Gems, right?” Adam replied.

“The amethicule weapon covers that,” Entalia said. “Did you use gems when creating those weapons?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Adam stared up into her eyes. “I didn’t need to?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“Diamicule, jadicule, and amethicule can be enchanted to be greater enchantments without the use of extra gems, and potentially legendary, if you’re able to, with the assistance of more gems.”

“Oh,” Adam replied. “Really?”

“Yes.” She tilted her head at him, her eyes changing slightly. He was so curious. How did he not know such basic things?

“I get all these weapons?” Adam asked. “Ten, well, seven weapons?”

“Yes,” she replied.

“Then I’ll happily accept all these weapons,” Adam said, reaching down to pick one up, feeling the heft of the diamicule sword and axe. ‘Why didn’t your family use a sword and axe, Jurot?’

“I will leave these weapons with you and I will come to collect mine in the future,” she said. “How long do you need?”

“I have a lot to do,” Adam admitted. “What kind of enchantments do you want?”

“Can I see the magical weapons you’ve enchanted so far?” Entalia asked. She had a theory in mind about what Adam was.

“Maybe, why?”

“I’d like to know all the enchantments you can enchant onto weapons,” she said. “It would be easier for me to pick the enchantments that way.”

“Oh, you know, all sorts,” Adam replied, vaguely.

“All sorts?”

“Yep.”

“Are you…” Entalia stared at him, furrowing her brows.

Adam raised his brows at her. “Yes?” A small smirk appeared on his face.

“We can talk later in private about it,” she said, noting the gazes of all the Iyrmen.

“Enough about us,” Adam said. “You should come and see my little sister.”

Lanarot stared at all the colourful weapons, and squirmed, trying to reach for them from her mother’s arms.

“She’s grown,” Entalia said.

“Right? Isn’t she so adorable?” Adam asked. “She’s… Entalia?”

“Oh?” called an older voice. “If it isn’t the young lady.”

Entalia had straightened up, and turned on her heel to stare at the stranger who appeared from the nearby house, which was usually for the Chief and his Guests.