Omen: 8, 10

“Good morning,” Adam called, noting the tired face of the Tinkerer. “I haven’t seen you in a bit.”

Filliam wore much looser clothing, which almost swallowed his small thin frame. It had been gifted to him from the Iyr, and by the pattern on the hem, the Rot family. He still wore the yellow belt with the red pattern around his waist.

“I’ve just finished making all those gliderballs,” Filliam replied, adjusting his small spectacles. The bottom of the triangular bridge was made of smoothed metal, which had slightly changed colour due to the sweat and oil of the young Tinkerer’s face.

“Really now?” Adam replied, smiling. “You’ve been working too hard. Why don’t you take a break?”

Filliam drank some of the milk in the clay cup, before noting the looks the Iyrmen were giving to Adam, who was smiling blissfully unaware. “Yes, I suppose I should. Dawnval has come, so I’ve been meaning to take a walk through the fields of the Iyr.”

“Right, right,” Adam said, patting Filliam’s back. “The Iyr is such a great place, isn’t it? You should definitely explore all that you’re allowed to. There’s actually a library here too.”

“A library?” Filliam asked. “Really?”

“Yeah. I haven’t been to it, but I hear it’s got a ton of stories of the Iyrmen, and some books about history and science.”

Filliam’s eyes twinkled. “I did not know that the Iyr…” Filliam paused, thinking back to how many times he had seen the Iyrmen with books, either reading or writing within them. “It seems the Iyr has such a great literary tradition.”

“Right?” Adam said. “They make a ton of books too.”

“I should check the library while I am still welcomed.”

“Speaking of which, I’ve been thinking about hiring you,” Adam said. “No. Not quite hiring you. I want to sponsor you?”

“Sponsor?” Filliam’s ears twitched, his eyes shooting towards the Half Elf.

The Iyrmen, who had been waiting for the Ool family to finish cooking by chatting among one another, quietened down to hear the conversation.

“Yeah,” Adam said. “How much would it cost to sponsor you so you stay in the Iyr and create stuff?”

“What kinds of things?” Filliam asked.

“I don’t have anything in mind right now, so it’s more to pay you to stay here,” Adam said, before he noticed Sonarot looking at him, her brows raised. Her eyes stated that they should talk. “I mean, hypothetically speaking.”

“Hypothetically speaking,” Filliam replied, sighing. “If the materials are supplied and I’m allowed to create whatever I like… if you include food and shelter and such, then I’ll be happy to tinker for the sum of one hundred gold when the sponsorship ends, and an escort to one of the nearby towns or cities.”

Adam hadn’t expected such a response, but it seemed that they worked on the same wavelength. ‘It makes sense, since I met him when he didn’t have enough money for the gate fee.’ “What if I wanted your service?”

“As long as you provide what I’ve asked for, then an additional one hundred gold for each month at least,” Filliam said. “Plus the price for the crafted items.”

“That’s good to know.” Adam’s lips were twitching into a smile. Allowing Filliam to tinker as he pleased was useful for Adam in multiple ways. “What kinds of things do you like to tinker?”

“My speciality is to do with horology,” Filliam said. “Did you know crystals have their own frequencies? I can make all kinds of watches, not just those which track only the time of day, but also the week. If I have the time, I could even make a watch which could track even the year!”

“You have great skill,” Sonarot said, shooting a look to the other Iyrmen. Those who could create watches were always welcome in the Iyr, due to how useful having a watch was.

“I’ve always wondered how that kind of thing was done,” Adam said. “I’ve seen so many watches which could track the year, but I have no idea how they do it.”

Filliam stared blankly at the Half Elf before him. He always figured Adam was a little weird, considering how Adam had bought so many items from him, and had commissioned him to make items for the children of the Iyr.

“I didn’t realise you’ve already seen such a watch before,” the Tinkerer said, trying to hide the excitement in his voice. “Who was it that brought it to you? Was it by any chance a Gnome by the name of Charlesworth Koltier? Or a Halfzer by the name of Tolan Cartar?”

“No, sorry,” Adam said. “It was none of them, and probably no one you know.” ‘I should be careful.’ “Anyway, I think watches are cool. How long do the watches last?”

“It depends on the watch, but usually the crystal within the watch needs to be replaced every decade as a general rule. Some may last a hundred years, however. I think there’s a watch in the current capital of Aldland which has been going for over five hundred years. I wish to see the clock within the next few years!"

“What about watches which charge as the wearer moves?” Adam asked.

“Charges as one moves?” Filliam asked, staring up at Adam.

“Yeah. There are gears which power a balance wheel, which allows it to tick,” Adam said, motioning to his wrist, before letting it hang and rocked it from side to side, stopping himself from making an obscene gesture. “There are some which are hand wound too.”

Filliam stared deeply into Adam’s eyes. “I hear the Gnomes of Nomia have watches which do not require crystals. Movement. Movement.” Filliam brought out his book and began to write, completely ignoring the world, even as the rest began to eat.

‘Now that I think about it, weren’t wrist watches a pretty recent invention too?’ Adam thought. ‘Are there wrist watches in this world yet?’

“Adam,” Sonarot eventually called. “You should speak with Elder Zijin about your plans with Filliam.”

“Yeah,” Adam said, flushing slightly. “I didn’t mean to overstep.” He hadn’t thought about how rude he was being, but now that Filliam’s price was laid out, Adam would need to convince the Iyrmen about their fortune.

“It is fine,” Sonarot said, brushing his hair tenderly.

“Right,” Adam replied, standing before her awkwardly, allowing her to show her affection before he quickly escaped to find the Elder.

Elder Zijin was at his estate, sitting at the table in the centre of the courtyard, with two open seats before him. He was scanning over a sheet of paper as Adam arrived, but the Orcish Elder folded away the paper away from Adam, knowing that he knew their tongue. He wasn’t sure if Adam knew how to read and write it, but he wasn’t going to take the chance. “Good morning.”

“Morning, Elder,” Adam replied. “Lovely day, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Zijin replied. “How may I assist you?”

“I’m here to trouble you about something,” Adam began, noting the small smile appearing on Zijin’s face. “Aunt Sonarot told me to come and speak with you about Filliam.”

“The Tinkerer you have brought?” Zijin replied.

“That’s the one.” Adam took a seat opposite the Elder. “I was planning on keeping him around, giving him money to create things as he pleased.”

Zijin slowly bowed his head, allowing Adam to continue.

“Well, you see, I was thinking that he could stay here in the Iyr,” Adam said, staring at the Elder’s face. “You have the resources which would allow him to create what he pleases.” He remained silent, wanting to see how the Elder would respond.

“We have known each other for some time, Adam. Speak freely.”

“I’m just wondering what your thoughts are about the matter, as an Elder of the Iyr.”

“I do not believe that what you have said is the end of your request,” the Elder replied. “I believe you are wiser than that.”

“If I told you everything, then we’d spend less time together. I haven’t bothered you in a while, and when I have, it hasn’t been quite as fun, has it?” Adam smiled.

Elder Zijin returned the smile. “Very well, Adam. What is it that the Iyr shall receive from this? It seems that we will be allowing the Tinkerer to create as he pleases, that it is we who will be funding such matters, and yet you seem to want to have him in your employ.”

“I will want him in my employ, but I want both of us to sponsor him,” Adam said. “A Tinkerer in the Iyr is a great boon. I’m sure you know how useful Tinkerers can be.”

“They are useful, to an extent,” Zijin replied.

“The extent depends on how creative they are,” Adam said.

“Yes.”

“Or, as creative as their employer.”

Elder Zijin remained quiet, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Yes.”

“His deal is fair. We provide him with what he needs, both for living, and for his tinkering, and he’ll create whatever he wants. If the sponsorship ends, I’ll pay him one hundred gold. Then, when we require his help, we will need to pay him one hundred gold for the month, and the price of what he has created. I’ll pay for the months I need him, you’ll pay him for the months you need him.”

“Just what is it that you need him for?” the Elder asked.

“It’s a little embarrassing, but I suppose I can tell you. Firstly, I want to feel like I’m rich. I want to sponsor someone and allow them to create as they please, because then I’ll have reason to make money. Secondly, I want to be able to come to Filliam whenever I require him, and if he’s under our sponsorship, he shouldn’t have much of a need to do anything else if he’s really into his craft. Lastly, and most importantly, if he doesn’t have to worry about his daily necessities, the conditions for inventing new things increases.”

“You are saying that Filliam has the capability to create things which have not existed before?” Zijin asked.

“I don’t know.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “If he can, he will. If he can’t, he won’t. The price for allowing him to try is absolutely minuscule, and the potential rewards are astronomical.”

Zijin furrowed his brows. “Astronomical?”

“Yes.”

“What does that mean?”

“Massive, like the sky above us.”

“How sure are you?” Zijin asked, staring into Adam’s eyes, which held a particular. It was not a look of mischief, though it appeared almost the same, it was something else.

Something beyond curiosity.

Beyond chaos.