Once the group had finished their bread, Adam made sure they all had at least a basket of bread they could take back to share with their families and friends.

“Come,” Adam said, nodding his head to Fate’s Golden. “We need to talk.”

“Privately?” Jurot asked.

“Yes.”

Jurot nodded. “I will lead us.”

“Sure?”

Adam followed Jurot, who took them through busy Red Oak, and down a few winding alleyways, until they found a small, unassuming building, in which they entered. It had been abandoned for some time, but Adam noted the lack of dust.

‘Hmm,’ Adam thought. ‘These Iyrmen are trickier than I thought.’

Once they were all situated, sitting down against the wooden furniture which had been stacked about, Adam slammed his hands on the floor.

“Remember when I talked about the inn stuff?” Adam asked. “Inns with smithing and alchemy services. A place to find where I could enchant in peace and all that? Well, I’ve been thinking about it. I want to create a template weapon to sell. I want to be able to create a weapon with the same specifications, either the design, the enchantment, or both, and sell them off. Something simple, like a basic magical weapon, but with just a little extra. A little bit of fire, or ice, or lightning on top of the basic bonus. Shields which provide an extra bonus, but maybe can do something else. Then, of course, the bespoke magical weapons for Nobles.”

“You could create the magical weapons for Nobles now,” Jurot said.

“Isn’t it awkward?” Adam asked, but if Jurot was saying it was fine, shouldn’t it be? “The Iyrmen have already auctioned off some weapons I’ve made, but I don’t want to say I’m the enchanter.”

“What is the story?” Jurot asked.

“Story. Yeah. That’s a good idea. A story. We could say that an enchanter has come to living within the Iyr, and is willing to work for coin? They are offering a service for some time, but may leave?” Adam nodded his head. It was the truth, technically. “Though, it might still be awkward for the Iyr. I don’t want to make something which could be used against them…”

He wondered if he should come up with a list of approved enchantments for the Iyrmen. ‘Then charge gems for them? I’ll need my own enchanting shrine eventually, though. I could use the Iyr to make a name for the enchanter first, and then….’

“We need to find a way to…” Adam began, only to pause. “What if we said that the enchanter employed us because we were talented, or because we saved their life?”

Jurot tilted his head slightly. “It is true, in a sense.”

“We need to figure out the most important thing.”

“What?” Lucy asked, expecting something stupid.

“The name.”

‘I knew it.’

‘The Golden Road? The Royal Road? The Silk Road?’ Adam mused in thought. ‘Wandering Inn? No, no, we already vetoed that. Wanderer’s Road? No. That would connect Warriors and Wanderers to him since he invented it.

“We need something which invokes the diverse services offered, and spoke to the quality, and something with a sense of authority…”

The others paused with him, thinking. They had their own names, but they weren’t sure what exactly Adam was going for.

“United Kindom,” Adam said, barely able to contain his laughter. He coughed into his fist. “United under a single banner. We’ll deal with anyone, regardless of one’s race, where everyone is welcome. Just like the Iyr.”

Jurot couldn’t help but feel that Adam may be more of an Iyrman than any of them expected. ‘He is my brother.’

“Who should the business be under, though? It can’t be any of us…” Adam thought deeply. “The Chief?” He looked to Jurot.

“No,” Jurot said. “It cannot.”

Adam sighed. “Then I guess we’ll figure that out later…”

Jurot fell deep in thought for once.

“Ah, right,” Adam said, turning to Dunes and Sir Vonda. “I was wondering if you two would be willing to train up Priests in the future. I’d pay for their education, and you’d be allowed to instil your own beliefs into them, of course. The farmers and the porters have children, and they want them to become learned, and priestly.”

“I need some time to think on the matter,” Vonda said, surprised by his request.

“I need some time too.” Dunes bowed his head slowly.

“Sure. I was thinking that I needed two sets of Priests. Those who remained within the business to heal and take care of the workers and their families, and those who would go out as combat medics. Seeing as that they line up with my friends’ ideals, I just thought perhaps it was… Fate.”

Vonda slowly nodded, thinking about how everything seemed to line up well. She was certain Adam wasn’t trying to manipulate them, as he had been laying down the foundations of the idea for a while, and this had been the natural evolution.

Dunes thought deeper on the matter. “I need to pray on such an offer.”

“Of course.” Adam laughed. “I think I need an enchanting shrine that’s outside the Iyr. Then I need to make a fort around it, so that others can’t barge in to steal everything.”

“If only it was that easy,” Lucy said. She wondered what Adam really had planned, since he probably came to them with the most agreeable ideas. ‘Perhaps not…’ she thought, recalling how queer he was.

“Next year it will be more likely,” Jurot said.

“Why’s that” Adam asked.

“A Great Twilight has occurred,” Jurot replied, simply.

“You know, you guys keep mentioning this Great Twilight thing, and it seems to be explaining a bunch of random nonsense. What is it, exactly?”

“During the Twilight Month, the world balances itself,” Jurot said. “It is due to Ritetu’s influence.”

“Lady Elaveil, right?” Adam asked.

“Yes. During a Great Twilight, the world is balanced more…” Jurot paused, exchanging a look with Adam, “chaotically.”

Adam slowly nodded his head.

“Do you recall the Awakened Forest?”

“Yeah. Big Ivory, right?”

“That was a prelude to the Great Twilight. The entire landscape may change. Portals may open to other realms. It will lead to a greater Awakening across the entire world.”

“So it’ll be a woke world,” Adam said, before hiding his face behind his hands, unable to control his laughter. “Sorry, sorry.”

“Next year there is the Great Hunt,” Jurot said, unable to contain his excitement. “Many youths from the Iyr will go hunting, in the same manner we had just done.”

“Scary.”

“It is fun,” the Iyrman assured. “The Great Hunt is a time where we forge bonds with others. Throughout the seasons, different portions of the land will be effected. South Aldland during dawnval, Central Aldland during noonval. Duskval will affect both West and East Aldland. Nightval will affect North Aldland.”

“What about the Iyr?”

“Yes,” Jurot said, not elaborating further.

“So next year we’ll go hunting, or should we go find the enchanting shrine?” Adam asked.

“We could hunt, and ask our cousins in assisting us in looking for an enchanting shrine. I do not know what must be offered, you must speak with the Chief.”

Adam nodded his head slowly. “I should probably just speak with the Chief and let him know my plans.”

“So…” Jaygak glanced between them. “Will we be hunting next year?”

“What do you guys want?” Adam asked.

“We’d like to hunt,” Jaygak admitted. She wanted to participate in a Great Hunt, gaining more confidence during the Outbreak. “If you want to find the enchanting shrine, we can do that instead.”

“We can always find an enchanting shrine another time, or I’ll learn how to make one, and we can figure it out later.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t want to take away all the fun.”

Jaygak smiled.

“What’s the hunting like?”

“We form a band of at least ten, but many reach up to several dozens,” Jurot said. “I have heard that there are some who form a group of one hundred.”

Adam whistled.

“The Great Hunt is a gift from Lady Arya,” Dunes said. “It allows us to join forces with others from different villages and towns. We will travel all across the land, slaying all manner of creatures.”

“Even if the Aldish and Aswadians are at war, such a band could still be formed, and they will be able to travel peacefully,” Jurot said. “Under the right circumstances.”

“It’s rare to hear that a war spills over to a Great Hunt,” Dunes said. “Usually, such things will end in disaster for those spoiling the fun.”

“That sounds kind of romantic,” Adam said, smiling. “Kinda fun, actually. We can do that, unless something changes our plans. We’ll hunt, and figure out the enchanting shrine stuff another time. When we return to the Iyr, I’ll speak to the Chief about the enchanting shrine stuff. I want to make the business some time later this year. Well, technically, we’re doing pretty well. Nobby should be an Expert within the next few years.”

“I feel strong,” Nobby said. “I will be stronger.”

Adam smiled, patting his back. “You sure will.”

“Will we come across Dragons during a Great Hunt?” Lucy asked.

“It is more likely,” Jurot said.

Lucy bowed her head.