Omen: 5, 19

Adam smiled, staring at his Omen.

“Are you feeling lucky today?” Sonarot asked.

“Very,” Adam replied. “Yesterday I managed to do well without my luck, but today I’m guaranteed to make something nice.” ‘I can’t believe I rolled a natty twenty. This weapon is going to be pretty great.’

Lanarot was up and ready to explore the festival and eat all the food she wanted to.

“Don’t miss me too much,” Adam said, brushing her hair before leaning down to kiss her forehead. She did not wear the paint after the first day, since she kept scratching her forehead.

Lanarot looked up at him, reaching up to grab his collar, before trying to pull herself up. She stood on his lap, with Adam’s hands at her waist to make sure she didn’t fall.

“What’s wrong?” Adam asked.

“Obooboo?” she asked, before giggling wildly.

“You can’t say that, Lanarot,” Adam said, brushing her hair.

Lanarot laughed at him, squatting down, before shooting herself up, bouncing as she clutched at his collar.

“What did she say?” Sonarot asked.

“She said I was pretty strong.”

“Is that not good?”

“Pretty strong for an Elf.”

Sonarot wondered if she should continue with his joke.

“I’m only half an Elf, Lanarot,” Adam said, pinching her cheek, jiggling it. “Get it right.”

“Hee!” Lanarot grinned wide with her tiny little teeth, before resting her head against his chest. “Booboo.”

“Yeah, yeah, I love you too.” Adam pat the back of her head gently.

Mana: 18 -> 16

Enchanting Check

D20 + 7 = 22 (15)

[Would you like to spend XP to empower the weapon?]

‘500.’

XP: 4500 -> 4000

Spear

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

You gain a +4 damage to damage rolls made with this weapon.

[Would you like to name the weapon?]

‘No.’

Spear

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

You gain a +4 damage to damage rolls made with this weapon.

XP Gained: +400

XP: 4000 -> 4400

‘Looks like I’m spending too much XP on weapons for just a little gold,’ Adam thought. ‘I should probably stop spending so much unless it’s a gift, or it’s an important weapon.’

Once Adam was finished with his weapon, he brought it to Elder Zijin, who was beaming at him with joy that he got to play with it first.

“This will sell well,” he assured. “To strike so hard, this is quite the weapon.”

“I know, right?” Adam said, smiling. “I bet it’ll sell for more than usual, huh?”

Zijin nodded his head. “The weapons you have handed previously should be sold before Twilight Month, this weapon as well.”

“Alright. I think I’m done with enchanting.”

“Yes,” Zijin said. “I recall you saying you would take the entire festival off to rest.”

“I said that?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Earlier in the month.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound like me.”

“You have such big pockets.”

“I remember that,” Adam said, slowly nodding his head. “Well, I mean, I did have such good luck.”

Elder Zijin stared at the Half Elf.

“Yes, but…”

Elder Zijin continued to stare at him.

“Honestly, I just forgot.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. No more enchanting. I am going to enjoy myself for the next two days without worrying about enchanting.”

Elder Zijin continued to stare at him.

Adam double checked the supplied he had requested, before returning back to the estate, where Jogak was currently roasting a boar. ‘Where the hell do they get all these boars from?

“What is wrong?” Sonarot asked.

“I told Elder Zijin I was going to take the week off,” Adam said.

“I was informed such.”

“Right,” Adam replied, clearing his throat. “I forgot.”

Sonarot smiled. “You were so excited to enchant.”

“I did roll, really, really well,” Adam said.

“If you wished to enchant, then you should enchant, as long as it is not the Twilight Month.”

“Right, it’s dangerous then, so I’ll probably smith.”

“Are you afraid of rest?” Sonarot asked.

“Maybe.” Adam took the girl from her mother, looking down at her tired face. “You will protect me from the scary things, won’t you? From hard work and rest?”

Lanarot groaned quietly, wanting to go to sleep after drinking her milk. Adam let her fall asleep in his arms first, before Jurot brought the food over.

“What are you doing?” Adam asked, looking to Jurot and Jaygak, who had brought over an oven.

“Pizza,” Jurot replied, simply, and Adam needed to ask no further questions.

“Why is my grandson always so eager to work?” Jarot asked, bringing Churot with him to the estate with him, carrying over his shoulder a leather pack.

“Whose your grandson?” Adam grumbled, before he noted a few more visitors at the estate, Sir Vonda and the others.

“He is so shy,” Jarot said, chuckling. “You will have to bear with him, Sir Eastlake.”

Vonda smiled, taking a seat on a nearby stool. “He is a kind soul.”

“That he is. Kind, and vicious.”

“Stop filling Vonda’s mind with nonsense,” Adam protested.

“Sir Vonda,” Jarot corrected.

“It’s fine,” she said. “We are all friends here.”

Adam nodded, noting that the old Iyrman was handing out small wine bottles. “Festival has a couple more days, eh? Anything interesting?”

“Some snow races,” Jurot replied. “One of the candidates for Elder Wrath will be fighting too.”

“Who?”

“Shamir.”

“Mir. As in, Ashmir?”

“Yes. If he can become Elder Wrath, his family’s success is guaranteed for the next generation.”

“Can he manage it?”

“It will be difficult,” Jurot said. “Granduncle Rajin has thought about doing it, though he is older.”

“He will not do it,” Jarot assured. “He likes making his wine too much.”

“Did he make this snow wine?” Adam asked, about to take a sip.

“Yes.”

Adam slid it away.

“This wine is much sweeter.”

Adam pulled it closer.

“Who else? Anyone I know?” Adam asked. “It’s quite the event, so gimme the deets.”

“Zardon,” Jurot said.

“As in Brandon?”

Jurot nodded. “He is the favourite.”

“When’s it taking place?”

“Within the next six months. It allows time for the distant Iyrmen to return.”

“Any of you guys planning on heading into the ring for the Elder Wrath position?”

“Elder Wrath?” Jarot laughed. “No, no. My generation has given up on such heights, and the next is currently working hard with their own matters. We still have so much to do for our beautiful little babies.” Jarot rubbed Churot’s cheek. “If anyone will bring us honour, it will be my little Jurot, Nirot, and Turot.”

Adam coughed. “Of course, my adorable little sister will bring the most honour,” Adam stated, raising his brow towards the old man.

“Of course!” Jarot said, erupting into a boisterous laugh.

“A Diamond Rank Adventurer, maybe two, and an Elder Peace,” Adam said, spying Turot from afar. “Plus, whatever Lanarot wants to be.”

“What of you, Adam?” Jarot asked. “You may be the one with the most accomplishments.”

“I don’t know,” Adam said. “My greatest accomplishment might be helping them all become the best.”

Jarot nodded. “There are many who make a name for themselves in supporting others.”

“That’s me,” Adam said.

“Sister Otkan had thought about it too,” Jarot said. “She ultimately refused.”

“Why?”

“She wishes to assist Shikan instead. Being a Great Elder means no longer assisting your family, but the entire Iyr. There is not need for a great fighting ability, but the intelligence as well. For Elder Wrath, it is extremely important.”

“This may sound bad, but, the Elder Wrath I saw didn’t exactly seem… you know.”

Jarot smiled a knowing smile. “That is because you have not seen him in battle. His intelligence is not the greatest, there were many others who competed against him with greater intelligence. Some, with greater strength. Yet, there was one thing they did not possess.”

“What’s that?”

“There was a time, many years ago, I fought the Elder Wrath you know. It was a competition for our generation. We were grouped together, and sent out, and our goal was to hunt one another, as though in war. It was held over three months, and we had no ability to supply ourselves from the Iyr.” Jarot smiled, thinking of the time.

“We came across Elder Wrath’s team. We were as strong as each other. Our abilities, in every way, matched one another, from scouting, to logistics, to tactics. The way he fought, you could see that there was something else in his mind. He could see the way the tides of battle changed, and moved accordingly.”

“What a boss,” Adam said. “Yet, even with that ability, he quit?”

“He was denied a good death, and his heart has been torn because of it,” Jarot said. “No matter how we convince him, the doubt and shame he feels, it cannot be removed.”

“Damn.”

As they ate, figures appeared in the distance. The children quickly shot up and ran over to the figures, embracing them tight.

‘Ah,’ Adam thought, seeing them all.