Omen: 11, 20

‘Aunt Sonarot is going to be so mad,’ Adam thought.

Sonarot stared at him. Lanarot was set against her bosom, still sleepy even after being fed.

The pair remained staring at one another for a long while, before Sonarot finally gave in.

“I’ve just been really lucky this week,” Adam said. “I won’t enchant unless it’s amazing.”

“You need to rest,” Sonarot said, but she had already given in.

Mana: 18 -> 15

Enchanting Check

D20 + 7 = 20 (13)

Omen: 11, 20 -> 11

20 + 7 = 27

Adam plucked a Thread of Fate, and caused the baby with the young hero to sigh as the tribe grabbed their spears and torches, and thus Fate was forever changed.

“Hmm?” Adam mumbled to himself. ‘So I’m only getting 400 XP again?’

[Yes.]

‘So I’ve been enchanting too much?’

[Yes.]

‘Damn.’

Adam had spent 500XP to enhance the weapon. ‘Now that I think about it, when I make Greater Enhanced magical weapons, I can still only spend 500XP and only get back about that much too. Shouldn’t I be able to spend more and get more?’

[…]

‘Bell?’

[…]

Adam returned back to the shared family estate, seeing all his companions gathered together. They were drinking, eating, and chatting away, and the children sat nearby.

“Did you all have fun today?” Adam asked, brushing Lanarot’s hair. She looked up at him and smiled, before reaching up for him. Adam lifted her up, planting a kiss on her cheek, and accepting one from her against his own.

“Yes,” Taygak said. “I give cup.”

“You gave a cup?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Taygak said, puffing out her chest.

“Well done,” Adam said, patting her head gently.

Taygak enjoyed the patting, not explaining to Adam why it was such a great deal that her cup was chosen to be a reward.

“Did you have fun too?” Adam asked Asoyah.

“Yes,” the boy replied, quietly.

“Did anyone bully you?” Adam asked, looking to Raygak.

“No,” Asoyah replied.

Raygak squinted at Adam. “I do not bully.”

“I hear from Jaygak you’re always bullying her.”

“I do not!” The boy gasped, offended by the suggestion.

“You didn’t steal her peppers?”

Raygak’s lips twitched as he thought. He couldn’t lie, so he was trying to word it differently. “Iyrmen do not steal.”

“Did you take her peppers without asking?”

“I ask mother and father,” the boy replied, innocently.

“Look at how sly you are, Raygak,” Adam said, ruffling the boy’s hair. “It’s good that no one is bullying Asoyah.”

“We do not bully,” Katool said.

“That’s right.” Adam ruffled each of their heads, before making his way to his companions. “Are you all enjoying the festival?”

“We may be enjoying it more than you,” Dunes replied. “Are you allergic to taking a break?”

“Something like that,” Adam said, holding Lanarot with one arm as she stood on his lap.

“The more you work, the less time you spend with your sister,” Dunes added.

“I can’t believe you’re going that far.” Adam rubbed his cheek against Lanarot’s. “Do you miss papa, Lanababy?”

“Papa,” the girl replied, before resting her head against his shoulder.

“You do have a point…” Adam said, quietly. “I’ve just been so lucky.”

“You are always lucky,” Dunes said. “Though I’m not strong enough to tell you what to do.”

“No, but you’re my friend, and I’ll take your words to heart, Dunes.”

Dunes smiled, bowing his head to Adam. “What did you enchant?”

“A Basic Enhanced sword. It holds a few charges to heal oneself.”

“Will you sell it?”

“I may,” Adam replied, though he had no intention to. He was going to keep the blade for later. His eyes scanned towards Jonn, who sat with Fred to one side. “I’ll be right back.” Adam pulled Lanarot away from his chest, before handing her to Jurot.

Lanarot squirmed for a moment, but quickly relaxed in her brother’s arms when he hugged her, causing her to suck her thumb quietly.

“Jonn, Fred.” Adam said, sitting down opposite the pair. They kept to themselves, mostly.

“Adam,” Fred replied, nodding his head.

“We’ll probably be heading out after noonval, and I was just wondering what you guys were planning.” Adam poured them each some wine.

“I will follow you,” Jonn said. “I will assist in training Brittany and Nobby, and I will continue to follow you.”

“Have you thought about anything beyond just assisting me?” Adam asked. “I don’t mean swearing your Oaths, but, you know.”

Jonn remained silent. He was still forming his response, and though it had been well over a year of following Adam, he wasn’t able to be completely sure one way or another. Swearing one’s Oaths was a big deal, and he had already broken them once before when he had been abandoned.

“What about you?” Adam asked, looking to Fred. “You still looking for purpose?”

“I don’t know,” Fred admitted. “I lost it all, Adam. I became an adventurer, and even then, I laid down to die.”

Adam slowly nodded his head. “Just means you need to be strong enough so you don’t lose it all again. Or, you need to buddy up with someone stronger, so you don’t lose it all again.”

Fred understood what Adam was getting at. “I don’t know.”

“You should work for me.” Adam pat Fred’s shoulder. “You’ll work for me, find another family, a nice guy or gal. You have the money for a proper wedding, a Priest of Life to officiate, and steady work.”

Fred nodded his head again, slowly. “It does sound good.”

“You’re an Expert, right?”

“Yeah,” Fred replied. “I am.”

“Then you’re pretty much sorted for life.”

“Yeah,” Fred said. “Yeah.”

When night came, they lit up the lanterns, but Adam decided to sleep outside, under the stars. Lanarot joined him, holding his hand as she lay beside him on a bundle of much thicker cloths. She sucked her thumb, her eyes drooping.

Jurot, Fred, and Jonn had joined Adam in sleeping outside, and Lucy was in her own little corner too, staring at the stars. Each were set in their own thoughts, from Fred thinking about Adam’s offer, to Jonn thinking about swearing his Oaths, to Lucy, who was thinking of Mara.

Jurot was the last to fall asleep, his heart pounding in his chest like war drums. His entire body had been seized by a coldness, as though he were sleeping within snow, but he fought off the darkness in his heart. Again, he could hear the whisper of the darkness which tried to seduce him.

The Iyrman’s eyes fell to Adam. Adam was like one of the lanterns they had made. He would guide them when they were lost. He was a beacon for each of them in a different way. Jurot closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

Omen: 5, 16

“How can you be working so hard?” Adam asked, berating the young man.

“I’m so close, Adam!” Filliam replied. “I can feel it. I am certain that, by the end of the year, I’ll be able to make a mechanical watch!”

“Sure, but you need to also relax.” Adam wrapped an arm around the young tinkerer’s neck, and pulled him away from the tiny cabin.

“Let me work, Adam!”

“You don’t have to worry about your work today, Filliam,” Adam said, pulling the young man away. Filliam was unable to resist as Adam was so much stronger.

Vonda and Dunes watched, wondering how Adam of all people could do this to him.

Adam filled the tinkerer up with great food, sometimes spicy food, before sharing some drinks with him. “You know, I’ve been asking around for people’s dreams, but what are yours?”

“I want to create a large clock which will stand for generations,” Filliam said, hiccuping.

Adam pat the tinkerer on his back. “Do you want to see the clock in the capital still?”

“Eventually, but I’m in no rush,” he admitted. “The Iyr is providing me with such a great deal.”

“Hey, don’t forget me.” Adam clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

“I have not forgotten you, Adam,” Filliam replied, taking a bite of bread. He then reached into his satchel, and revealed a pocket watch, silver in colour, slightly smaller than Adam’s palm. “Here.”

“What is it?” Adam asked.

“A watch,” Filliam replied, simply. He was smiling wide.

“Right…” Adam stared down at it.

“You don’t seem impressed.”

“I already bought a watch from you, so…”

“Yes, but look!” Filliam tapped the watch case, which was quite plain. “See?”

“No.”

“It’s smaller.”

Adam stared down at it. He thought about the watch he had bought from the tinkerer the year before. “Oh. It is.” This watch was about a third smaller than the other watch, and much lighter.

Filliam smiled. “Thank you again, Adam. I know that you spoke with the Iyr for me. This is really a great chance, and I’m very thankful for it.”

“There may come a day where I work you hard, so don’t thank me.” Adam smirked.

“As long as you pay for it!”

“Do I have to pay for this watch too?” Adam asked, narrowing his eyes.

“No. It’s a gift from me to you, for all you’ve done for me.”

“It’s not like…” Adam fell silent, realising how rude it was to deny Filliam’s gratitude. “Thank you, Filliam.”

Filliam nodded.

“I wish you the best of luck with your mechanical watch.”

“My first mechanical watch will be yours,” Filliam assured.

“The first mechanical watch…” Adam thought about how significant it would be. “You should keep it and put it in a museum.”

“A museum?” Filliam asked. “A museum…”

‘Oh,’ Adam thought, watching as Filliam’s mind went elsewhere. He decided to leave Filliam to his thoughts, quietly drinking by himself.