“What is wrong?” Sonarot asked, seeing the look of worry on Adam’s face.

“I heard that it was Turot’s birthday in a couple of days,” Adam replied, staring at Sonarot with an accusatory look.

“You did not know?”

“No,” Adam replied. “I should really get a list of all the birthdays of all the children so I don’t go through this again.”

“I will write you the list,” Sonarot assured.

“If I roll well in the morning tomorrow I’ll make him a nice axe,” Adam said. “Otherwise, I’ll give him my really nice axe I forged the other day.”

“I am certain he will be happy with any gift you give to him, Adam.”

Omen: 17, 19

“Nice,” Adam whispered as he awoke. He trained lightly once more, bathing in the cold river to shock himself even further away. After feeding his sister and the Princess his bread, he was ready to forge.

“He seems excited today,” Vonda said, surprised to see Adam so eager for the day.

“It must be because of his sister,” Dunes said.

“It is because it is Turot’s birthday tomorrow,” Sonarot informed the pair.

“Close enough,” Dunes said, smiling.

“Elder Zijin!” Adam exclaimed, waving at the Elder as he charged towards the warehouse.

“Yes?”

“I am going to make a great axe today, so I need some really nice materials,” Adam said. “I need the wood and the metal which Phantom was made out of.”

“Are you going to make a second Phantom?” Zijin asked.

“Yeah, I’m-“ Adam quickly silenced himself, realising how it could have been construed. “I intend to create a weapon that looks just like Phantom for Turot.”

Zijin sighed, noting how guarded Adam had become around him. “Will you enchant it?”

“Probably,” Adam said. “I promised to enchant weapons for all the, I mean, the children that I’m around most of the time.”

Since Adam was speaking to an Elder, someone who would report to the Great Elders, Adam needed to make sure he played the game well. Since the Great Elders had decided to force some distance between them, Adam needed to keep the distance, otherwise it would only cause more issues.

“They are great materials, but I can offer them to you, under certain conditions.”

“Which conditions?”

“You will forge a greatsword for me, one which you will enchant with a greater enchantment.”

‘Damn,’ Adam thought. ‘That’s quite the price. Are you trying to create some distance too?’ Adam frowned. “As long as you provide the materials for the forging and the enchanting. I’ll make it eventually, when I have the time.”

Zijin wondered why Adam was frowning. ‘This is still a good deal, is it not?’ It was after a long moment of silence that he spoke again. “How much will the enchanting of the greatsword cost?”

Adam raised his brow. “I don’t know.”

“How much will you charge?”

“Oh,” Adam replied. ‘Oh.’ He had thought that the Elder had wanted him to create one for him for free. “Uh. I don’t know. A fair price?”

Zijin sighed, wondering just how much faith they had lost. ‘What are we to do?’ “I will pay you a fair price, Adam, as I always have.”

“Sure. So… can I have the materials now?”

Zijin guided him to the materials, allowing him to take some spare wood so that Laygak could have multiple chances in case something happened.

Smithing Check (Strength)

D20 + 6 = 24 (18)

D20 + 6 = 25 (19)

Smithing Check (Constitution)

D20 + 5 = 10 (5)

Exhaustion: 0 -> 1

Adam had spent hours forging the axe head, and had somehow managed to forge it near perfectly. Laygak had appeared towards the beginning, with Phantom in hand, which he set down nearby for them, allowing the pair to refer back to it.

Adam set the axe head onto the handle, which was well made, but there was something a little off about it. ‘Should I have Laygak redo it? How perfect does it need to be? I still have my Omen.’

Laygak stared at the handles. He had carved the handle well enough, though it was slightly different than Phantom. It fit well, though, it was just that it looked a little different than Phantom’s handle.

‘No,’ Adam thought. ‘Even though I could tempt Fate, Turot is different to Jarot. This handle, which Laygak had carved, is more than good enough. I could always have Jurot…’ Adam frowned.

“It is no good?” Laygak asked. “I will redo it.”

“No,” Adam said. “It is good enough.” ‘I can’t just disregard Laygak’s effort.’ He sighed. “I’m a little tired today after all that forging. Let’s head back.” His arms pulsed with pain.

“How did it go?” Sonarot asked.

Adam smiled.

Omen: 5, 9

Adam was glad he hadn’t rolled well that day. On this day he did not care about his training, nor his diet. He had bathed quickly, and had slipped on an outfit that Sonarot had brought him, which matched Turot’s, a light blue outfit with dark blue accents, the family pattern against the sleeve.

The Guests were invited to partake in the party too, from Dunes to Elowen, all were invited to the Rot family estate deeper in the Iyr.

“You are finally here,” Cirot said, greeting Adam, shaking his forearm.

“Welcome,” Sirot said, shaking his forearm next.

‘Right, I forgot about these two,’ Adam thought, trying to ignore their gazes. ‘I’ve been dodging Naqokan, and now I’ve walked into the belly of the beast.’

“Are you guys going to make pizza?” Lucy asked, noting the ovens nearby, which were already hot.

“Yes,” Jarot replied, greeting Adam too. “I hope you have brought a good gift.” His eyes remained glued at the box at Adam’s side.

“It’s an okay gift,” Adam said. “Morning, Churot. Have you been well?”

“Yes,” the Devilkin replied, sticking close to his grandfather still.

Since this was Turot’s seventh birthday, which wasn’t a large milestone, it was a fairly easy going party, starting from the morning until a little after noon, where they’d return to celebrate it with the the families they lived with.

Adam then realised that he couldn’t give out his gift, since it was half Laygak’s gift too. ‘Whoops.’

“So this is pizza,” Elowen said, taking a bite.

“Yeah,” Adam replied. “I brought it to the Iyr.”

“You made this?”

“Yes.”

“Will you teach us how to make it?”

“Sure.”

There were a handful of fights, though Adam didn’t participate, instead looking after his little sister. Nobby was being swarmed by the children, who admired how huge he was. Jonn fought for entertainment, taking the chance to have some fun with the Iyrmen, and Dunes did the same.

Adam noted there were more Rot family members he hadn’t seen before, including a little baby who seemed to have been born after Lanarot. Once the gifts had been given, with Turot looking at Adam expectantly, Sonarot called for them to get ready to leave.

“Where is your gift?” Jarot asked. He wondered if he should mention that matter, but decided against it, since it was Turot's birthday.

“I can’t give it just yet,”

Eventually, after eating plenty of pizza, Adam returned with the rest of the Guests back to the shared family estate, where the children had brought their gifts for Turot. Taygak brought a small cup, which was quite uneven.

“Turot, here,” she said, handing the cup over to him.

Turot embraced her. “Thank you, Taygak.”

Taygak pat his head and kissed his forehead, and this was repeated several times with each child. The younger children gave drawings or pieces of precious cloth to the boy.

Adam basked in the wholesomeness of the children as they gave their gifts and embraced one another. ‘Can these children get any cuter?’

“Laygak,” Adam eventually called, and Laygak replied with a nod. The pair walked over to Turot, Adam holding out the box, opening it for the boy.

Turot took the axe, which surprised him at first, feeling how heavy it was. “This is for me?”

“Right,” Adam said. “I made it look like your grandfather’s axe. Laygak made the handle, and what a great job he did.”

“It looks just like Phantom,” Turot said.

“One day I’ll enchant it, and when you’re strong enough, you can use it to slay all kinds of creatures,” Adam said, patting the boy’s head.

“Thank you, Cousin Adam,” Turot said, placing the axe back, before hugging Adam’s leg.

Adam pet his head, smiling. “Of course, little Turot.”

“I am not so little any more,” Turot said. “I am seven.”

“How big you’ve become,” Adam said, picking the boy up. “So big. One day I will not be able to lift you.”

Turot huffed with a smile, before Adam placed him down.

“Thank you, Cousin Laygak,” Turot said, hugging the Devilkin.

“I told you,” Jogak said to Lavgak and Kaygak. “He did not forget.”

Kaygak was sure that Adam was going to give the gift without Laygak, who had formed half of it. ‘I do not mind losing this gold.’

Adam stared at the children as they sat about and chatted with one another. One day these children would be all grown up, and they would not come to him for play. They would not come to him with small matters which are inconsequential. They will go out and fight. They will get married. They will have their own children.

‘Right,’ Adam thought. ‘I’ll have to make sure they can enjoy themselves until then.’