The days continued to pass. At all times, two people were left on watch, even with the arrival of Lady Shamia and her group. They did, however, make it so that Vonda, Dunes, and Adam could skip watches. It was always best to have one’s magic users ready and fresh for the fight.

Space had become cramped thanks to the arrival of a second giant elk in the form of Jonn’s steed, but everyone was more comfortable with another set of eyes.

Adam yawned, staring up at the sky. He had been informed that the few days after an Outbreak were likely to be safe, which left him more mental space to think as he pleased. He had thought about Rick and the other farmers, wondering what he could do to entice them into joining his future business.

‘Isn’t it already so perfect?’ Adam thought. ‘Food, shelter, education, healthcare, entertainment. Everything would be taken care of. I should definitely offer the chance to become an Expert…’

Adam stretched out his body, before crossing his arms, staring at the sky. ‘Money. That’s what I need. Money. Monies. Monay. Enchanting, right? I gotta enchant. Make some bespoke magical weapons for Nobles, because they’ve got money to burn. I need to bribe them properly too so they let me work in peace.’ He rubbed his eyes. ‘Can I enchant in peace in the Iyr? Will they even let me sell those weapons? I think they said okay, but…’

‘What if I trained adventurers to become Experts, and then take a cut of their loot until it was paid back? No, how could I know they were reporting stuff properly to me? Then what if they disappear to another land? Am I really going to chase them across the world for money?’ Adam sighed. ‘Enchanting it is, I suppose.’

Adam sighed during dinner, taking a bite into a bird which had been shot down and roasted.

“What is the matter?” Vonda asked. It hadn’t been long since he had been harassed by the other parties. She hadn’t understood how it felt, since she was both Aldish and a Priest, but she sympathised with him.

“I miss my Lanababy,” Adam whispered. ‘Are you eating well? Do you miss papa? Damn it! Why did I decide to leave the Iyr?’

Vonda couldn’t help but smile under her scarf. ‘If he’s being this cringe, he must be well.’

“Are you close with your sister?” Shamia asked.

“I’m the brother closest to her,” Adam said.

“No,” Jurot said.

“Obviously I am.”

“You are not.”

“Come on, Jurot.” Adam pulled back, squinting at Jurot. “Are you really going to tell me you are closer to Lanarot than me?”

“Yes.”

Adam scoffed. “Don’t listen to him, Lady Shamia. This is the one time Jurot is wrong.”

“I am not.”

Adam was surprised. He hadn’t expected that Jurot would have fought him on this hill. Adam looked to Jaygak and Kitool for support.

“Jurot,” Jaygak called, “are you sure?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, sternly. “The Iyr is north west from our position, and Adam is further east than me.”

Adam blinked.

Rick choked on his soup, coughing to the side. ‘Did the Iyrman just make a joke?’

“Lanarot is certainly closer to Adam when it comes to playing,” Jurot said.

“You almost had me, Jurot.” Adam chuckled.

“For now.” Jurot caught Adam’s eyes.

‘Are you trying to start a fight with me?’ Adam thought. “I won’t surrender her to you.”

Jurot returned back to his meal.

“It seems you two are close too,” Shamia said. “I was wondering how much it would cost to separate you.”

“Someone tried to offer me tens of thousands of gold to separate me from my Lanababy and I refuse.”

“Tens of thousands of gold?” Shamia asked. “Who would offer you so much?”

Adam smiled. “A friend.”

“Is this a jest?”

“You can take it a jest if you want,” Adam replied, still smiling at her. “Jurot was there.”

Jurot fell silent for a moment. “It was at least fifty thousand gold a year.”

Shamia’s eyes remained firmly entrenched on the Half Elf. The more she learned about him, the more she wanted him. “Fifty thousand gold a year is quite a sum. You refuse?”

“If I want to make fifty thousand gold a year, I’ll make fifty thousand gold a year,” Adam replied, simply. “My Lanababy is worth much more.”

“Are you by any chance a Noble?” Shamia asked. She was trying to piece together the concept that was Adam within her mind.

“I’m noble at heart, but I’m not a Noble,” Adam said. Even being asked if he was a Noble made him feel sick.

“What if we were to offer you magical weapons and a knighthood?” Shamia wondered if he preferred something else to coin.

“I would appreciate the offer, but I would refuse.” Adam smiled politely.

Shamia decided against pressing the matter, allowing him to eat in peace.

The days continued to pass, with Adam conversing with the various people around. Not once did he see the punk’s party approach to bathe, though he’d see them near the stream every few days.

Noonval came, bearing down with its awful heat. Luckily, Adam wore his nightval bear leather, which cooled him against the searing noonval sun, which Jaygak basked within at noon before, and after, her meals.

A whistle pierced through the air.

“Wolves!” came the shout from John, and the group looked out to see a handful of wolves in the distance.

Lucy twisted her body towards Adam, Destroyer in hand, as though she were ready to battle him. She narrowed her eyes at him, and if looks could kill, Adam would have taken a minor blow before he beat her.

Adam looked out to the wolves, which numbered in the dozen or so, and though there were some greater wolves, there was nothing which would bring them much trouble. He sighed.

“Lucy, come,” Jurot said, standing beside the others who were going to go hunt the wolves. The group was made made of the three Iyrmen, Lucy, Dunes, Ironblade, and Twobones. They would be supported by the archers on the walls.

Adam motioned a hand, allowing them their fun. It had been a long while since they had faced the Outbreak.

Too long.

“Tomorrow,” Sir Vonda said, staring up at the sky. She narrowed her eyes, feeling the warmth against her face. She could feel it, deep in her bones, and so could the others.

“Yeah,” Adam said.

“We must be careful,” Vonda said. “Since it has been so long, there may be at least two waves, perhaps more.”

“Two waves?” Adam frowned. “Will it be as brutal as the last time?”

“No. It will be much worse, I’m sure of it.”

Adam sighed.

Victory!

Wolves

XP Gained: +50

XP: 10 700 -> 10 750

‘It’s still splitting all the XP to everyone else, eh?’ Adam smiled. ‘How long do you think it’ll take for Nobby to Level Up?’

[Nobby has already levelled.]

‘Really?’

[Yes.]

‘Oh.’ Adam looked to the tall, strapping young lad known as Nobby. ‘Well, that’s nice.’

Adam had made it a small habit to speak with Bell every evening, though he had also done the same to Hades and Zeus.

‘What do you think? Can we beat the Outbreak?’

[If you do not, everyone dies.]

‘Charming, aren’t you?’

[Yes.]

Omen: 3, 9

There was a deep blood lust in the air. Jurot and Lucy had butchered the wolves well, adding them to the loot they had claimed so far.

“We did well last time, but today it will be far more difficult,” Adam called. “I’ll Fireball a bunch for the first wave, and I’ll keep some just in case for the second wave. If things look like they’re going south, well, I’ll be sure not to hold back.”

Everyone was equipped with at least five javelins which they could toss out during the first wave, while the archers each carried a quiver full of twenty arrows, but also had quivers tied to the walls some paces away.

The two giant elks were about too, eager to help, with Hades sitting atop the tower. Adam had remade the tower right before he went to sleep so he didn’t need to cast it until the night, hoping they’d be able to deal with both waves before evening came.

Dunes, Vonda, and Jonn kept their Aid spells for when the creatures would appear, and they would again cast the spells on the same few as previous. Adam wanted to make sure that the Lady and his two younger companions would be safe, considering they were the weakest in terms of Health.

Adam’s heart pounded wildly. ‘Why did I leave the Iyr? This was such a stupid idea. What’s the benefit of fighting here?’

XP: 10 750

Adam calmed, staring at his XP. That’s when he realised. ‘Wait. Won’t I…’ He smiled.

The whistle was blown, and the group readied themselves, staring off towards the horizon. The wait began to eat at them, but the mutterings and chanting of the spellcasters filled them with some respite. All the while, the creatures grew larger as they charged towards the outpost.

“Oh Baktu,” Adam groaned. “It just had to be bears.”