“No!” Lucy shouted in utter desperation.

Mana: 18 -> 15

Spell: Fireball

8D6 = 24 (1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 6)

24 damage!

“Adam!” Lucy shouted.

Adam raised his hand, wearing Wizard’s Axe on his finger as a ring, and he felt the heat of magic flood through his veins towards his fingertips, beginning to channel his magic.

In the distance were a group of five people who were fleeing from a pack of wolves. There were roughly eleven wolves, but this time there were four elder wolves, as well as another wolf which held a gem within its forehead.

From Adam’s finger, a small bead of fire shot forward, flying past the wolves. It exploded into a fiery inferno, wiping out four of the wolves in an instant, and two of the elder wolves were heavily wounded.

Three of the group turned, quickly assaulting the nearby wolves, dispatching them with each with fist and blade, while two of them continued to run towards the outpost.

The gates were lifted, and they pulled the ropes to allow the bridge to fall. Lucy darted out, causing the two figures to come to a halt.

“Get out of my way!” Lucy snarled. “Don’t let the wolves run!”

The pair stepped aside, though one of them wielded a glaive which was silver and blue. However, Lucy darted past them, towards the wolves, followed by Jurot and Kitool. Kitool stepped towards the pair, and greeted them, before motioning a hand back towards the outpost.

The two women quickly rushed towards the outpost. One wore a breastplate, and carried with her a long glaive, while the other wore robes which covered her from head to toe, and she carried a staff in hand. They were both dark skinned, about as dark as Dunes.

“Ah,” Dunes said, nodding his head towards the pair of women.

The robed woman undid her hood, revealing her dark, beautiful face. Her hair was extremely dark, and her eyes were as blue as the deep ocean. “It is wonderful to see you all,” she said with a slight accent. “You have my deepest gratitude for your assistance.”

Jaygak smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Lady Shamia.”

“You as well, Jaygak,” the woman said, offering her hand to Jaygak.

“You know each other?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jaygak said, taking the Lady’s hand, bringing it up, though she didn’t kiss it. “This is Lady Shamia Waterveil, from Hakor.”

Adam tilted his head. “Why does that sound so familiar?”

“They were beset by the gem troll.”

“Oh!” Adam said, nodding his head. “I remember now. Jurot has the dagger.”

“He does,” Lady Shamia said. “You must be Adam.”

“You’ve heard of me?” Adam asked, smiling, before quickly frowning, only to smile again.

“Is something wrong?”

“Sorry, the last time a Noble said that, it wasn’t great for me,” Adam admitted.

“What did you do?”

Adam pointed to his ears.

Lady Shamia seemed confused. “You are an Elf?”

“Yes.”

A moment later, she bowed her head, recalling the tale of the Elves massacring an entire town. “But you are a Half Elf.”

Adam smiled wider. “Yes. Yes I am.”

“They blame Half Elves too?”

“Apparently so.” Adam looked to Jaygak, taken aback by Lady Shamia. “You are greater than I imagined, Lady Shamia.”

“How great did you imagine me to be?”

“I thought you were like…” Adam smiled, stopping himself. ‘Careful, Adam.’ “Oh, I just thought perhaps you held the same sentiments as other Nobles I’ve met, but it appears I was incorrect.”

“I hope that it is a good thing.”

Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Depends on what you value, I suppose.”

“Adam,” Lucy growled, storming back in through the open gate.

“Lucy.”

She narrowed her eyes at Adam, before walking towards the fire pit.

Victory!

Wolves

XP Gained: +50

XP: 8850 -> 8900

Jurot, Kitool, and Lady Shamia’s trio also returned back to the outpost. One also had dark skin, but the other two were fair skinned, closer to that of the Aldish.

“Great Jurot,” Lady Shamia called, taking his hand. Jurot greeted her the same way as Jaygak had done so previously.

“It is good to see you again, Lady Shamia.”

“I am glad that we have been brought together again,” the young Lady said.

“Must have been Fate,” Adam joked, glancing between them all. “I suppose we have five more mouths to feed.”

“We thank you,” Lady Shamia said, smiling at Adam.

Adam nodded, before glancing around. “We don’t really have extra tents, but we can make some more shelter out of wood and earth for you.”

“It is much appreciated,” Shamia said, before her two fair skinned companions went to work with Jurot and Nobby, cutting down some wood for them to use.

‘Food might be more of an issue,’ Adam thought, noting that the didn’t arrive with much food. ‘They probably were heading to Red Oak, I guess?’

“We bring ill news,” Shamia said. “There may be an Outbreak approaching tomorrow.”

“Oh dear,” Adam said.

“Yes!” a voice cried from nearby.

“Don’t mind her,” Adam said, smiling at the Lady. “She’s been around the Iyrmen for too long.”

“You make that sound like a bad thing.”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Adam joked, winking to Jaygak.

“Do not mind him, Lady Shamia,” Jaygak said. “He is disappointed he was born without horns.”

“My leafy ears are more than good enough, thank you.”

Shamia smiled, wondering how close they must be for them to joke. “Are you two married?”

Adam gagged, only realising he was in front of a Noble, before quickly clearing his throat. “I wouldn’t dare to marry someone as… brilliant as Jaygak.”

“He has no horns,” Jaygak said, shaking her head. “Even if he is strong.”

“Strong?” Shamia asked.

“He is the strongest of us all,” Kitool stated.

“Even stronger than Jurot?”

“Yes.”

The trio of Hakorians stared at Adam, hiding their surprise. “Are you an Expert?” Shamia asked.

“We all are,” Adam said. “I mean, myself, the Iyrmen, the Devilkin, the other Half Elf.”

“I have seen how powerful Jurot is first hand,” Shamia said, recalling how ferocious he had been. “Have you fought Jurot before?”

“No way,” Adam said, raising his hand. “Iyrmen are scary.”

“He beat my aunt,” Jaygak said. “He also beat Jurot’s aunt and uncle.”

Shamia stared at Adam, with curiosity twinkling within her eyes. “He did?”

“He beat my aunt and then… beat Jurot’s uncle an hour later,” Jaygak said, smirking wide.

Adam cleared his throat. “Let’s not speak of something like that to the good Lady.”

“Why not?” Shamia asked, leaning towards Adam ever so slightly.

“It’s embarrassing,” Adam said.

“I’m sure it’s not an embarrassment to the Iyrmen. I’ve heard they do not feel embarrassment in victory or loss.”

“It’s embarrassing for me,” Adam said, hiding his mouth behind his fist.

Shamia tilted her head slightly, wondering what he was talking about.

“He then beat Jurot’s aunt the next day,” Jaygak said.

“Oh my,” Shamia said, her lips twitching slightly. “What a great warrior you are.”

“Lady Shamia, if you keep complimenting me, my head will grow bigger,” Adam said, twitching his ears. “It’s already big enough.”

The Hakorian Noblewoman smiled. “You are a queer one, Adam. I suppose I should have expected, as you are a Half Elf.”

“Yes,” Adam said. “That I am.”

They gathered together around the still cooking dinner. Lady Shamia, though bringing little food, had brought a pouch full of spices, which she had offered the group to flavour their meals.

“Birdcats,” one of the Aldish looking fellows said. “Almost a hundred.”

Jurot nodded in response. “They are quick, agile. They pose trouble for Experts.”

“That sounds like bad news,” Adam said. “Can we handle them?”

“If you can cast your Fireballs,” Jurot said. “We will not worry.”

“Fireballs?” Shamia asked, staring at Adam’s armour, his weapons, and then back to his eyes.

“Adam is an Expert with both axe and magic,” Jurot explained.

“Are you a Master?” Shamia asked. ‘Or is he a young Grandmaster?’ Calling him a Master would have already been preposterous, so she dared not ask her thoughts.

“No,” Adam said. “My relationship with magic is… special.” He smiled.

Lady Shamia couldn’t help but lean in closer. ‘I wonder how much you cost, Adam.’ Her eyes fell across the Iyrmen. ‘You are already so deep with the Iyrmen, however…’

“Alright. I’ll toss out some Fireballs then.”

“We are fortunate to face against Birdcats,” Jurot said. “They possess small stones within their foreheads which can be used in all manners of ways.”

Adam smiled. “Alchemy?”

“Yes,” Jurot said, not saying any more.

“You are an alchemist too?” Shamia asked, still surprised by Adam’s abilities.

“I wouldn’t say I’m that great of an alchemist but…” Adam smiled wider. “I’m alright.”

Lady Shamia made a mental note to keep an eye on this Half Elf. There was definitely more to him than met her eye.

“Lady Shamia,” Jurot said.

“Yes?”

“He is my brother,” Jurot said, his face like stone, though she could see the pride in his eyes.

Lady Shamia smiled. ‘I suppose I can’t buy him then.’