Quest Complete
Defend the Three Villages
+ 100XP
XP: 360 -> 460

Quest Complete
Defeat Balrog the Bane and Rescue the Children
+ 200XP
XP: 460 -> 660

Quest Complete
Jurot’s Shame
+ 240XP
XP: 660 -> 900

 ‘Hold on a second, Bell.’

[Okay.]

‘Yo-‘

[A second has passed.]

‘You must think you’re real funny.’

[Yes.]

‘I swear, you…’ Adam inhaled deeply, rubbing his forehead. ‘Anyway, I’m pretty sure there’s an extra two hundred XP that just randomly appeared.’

[That was the experience for assisting in defeating the bandits in combat.]

‘I didn’t get a notification.’

[You did.]

‘I did?’

[You were too busy concentrating on Jurot.]

‘Oh, right. I didn’t want him to die in front of me…’ Adam nodded his head slowly. ‘Still, that’s a lot of experience. How come I received more XP for helping Jurot land a hit on Balrog than dealing with a large group of bandits?’

[Wasn’t helping Jurot more important than defeating Balrog?]

‘And saving the children?’

[Isn’t it?]

Adam wasn’t sure how to respond. If the other Iyrmen hadn’t been around, would he have gone to fight Balrog to save the children? ‘I’m too weak for that sort of thing right now.’ His lips formed a frown, not liking the fact the system had already figured him out. 

Tazwyn stared at Adam, wondering why he was so solemn again. ‘Just what are you thinking, son of Fate?’ She still couldn’t figure him out. Shouldn’t he be happy now that the children were safe? He had risked his life to protect them. Her eyes quickly snapped to Argon, whose dark gaze was firmly glued to Adam.

Adam, blissfully unaware that an Iyrman was glaring at him, walked over towards the elf and the dwarf girls, both of whom were screeching at each other in their own languages beside Eshva, who seemed to be enjoying the screeching as though it were death metal. 

Adam tried to ignore what they were saying, wondering how the pair of them knew so many vile words at their age.

“You damn rock muncher, just you wait until I get a bow in my hands!” the elf girl screamed, waving her tiny fist at the dwarf. She was short and thin, with long silver hair, which fell down to her lower back, and eyes of amethyst.

“You damned leaf licker, what are you singing about? I’ll grab my hammer and smack you across the face!” The dwarf girl was almost her opposite, other than being short. She was stouter, with slightly paler skin, and eyes which were almost obsidian black, the same as her short hair, which was cut in a bob. 

“You think I don’t know what you’re saying! I recognise that word anywhere! Rock muncher! Iron sucker!”

“You bi-“

“Enough!” Adam eventually shouted, trying to catch their attention. “Shut your damn mouths, otherwise I’ll spank the pair of you!”

The two girls, who didn’t even reach Adam’s waist with the tops of their heads, turned to the man covered in chain, just like those who had kidnapped them. Seeing him in his heavy armour, the jangling chain which wasn’t of dwarven make, and behind his helmet, which made him more like a statue, they withdrew behind Eshva, hugging her powerful arms. The Iyrman smirked to herself, flexing her arms, showing off to the two girls. ‘Hehe.’

‘Why is he so angry?’ Tazwyn thought, understanding the half elf less and less. The girls were to scream at one another, as elves and dwarves should.

Adam removed his helmet, having donned it to not scare the boys, due to what they probably had heard about elves. He revealed his pointed ears, glancing down towards the elf and dwarf girl. ‘Oh, right.’

The dwarf girl gasped, staring up at him in shock. “You’re a leaf ea-“

“Do you think I won’t spank you right in front of the Iyrmen?” Adam dropped his helmet beside him, and began to undo a glove. “It’s only because of me the Iyrmen came to help you, you know. They wanted to pay off Balrog and his goons, leaving you to your fate. I was the one who convinced them to help.” He stared down at the familiar face of the dwarf girl. “The only reason you’re here to admire Eshva’s powerful biceps is because of me, and don’t you forget it!”

“It’s a good thing you’re here,” the elf girl said, pointing to the dwarf girl. “The dwarf bitch is bullying me!” She stuck out her tongue at the dwarf.

“Hey! Watch your language!” Adam’s brow pulsed, wondering how these two could hate each other so much that they’d be screaming at one another with so much profanity.

“Excuse me, dearest worldly half cousin, whose path is-“

“That’s not what I meant!” Adam tossed his glove beneath his feet, wondering how these two could be so damn annoying. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself. He had allowed himself to fall into their pace, which was something he couldn’t do as an adult.

The elf girl stared at Adam in shock that he’d interrupt her, narrowing her amethyst eyes at him. ‘Well, what could I really expect from him? He is a half blood.’

Adam dropped to one knee before the elf girl and smiled as warmly as he could, as though he didn’t want to toss some cereal at her. “Where are you from?”

“I am from Green Vale Under The Sixth Star,” the elf girl said, puffing out her chest in pride. She smirked at Adam, waiting for him to fall before her and prostrate himself. 

Adam blinked, rubbing his earlobe. “Excuse me?”

The elf girl blinked at him in return. “Green Vale Under The Sixth Star,” she repeated, annunciating each word. “Near One Trickle Beside Sun Rock.” She was sure he’d fall down and prostate this time, after all, it was Green Vale Under The Sixth Star, and not a place like Three Tears And Two Hearts. ‘Eugh, I bet he’s from Three Tears And Two Hearts.’

Adam shook his head. ‘Green Vale? Sixth Star? Trickle? Sun Rock? How the hell do elves name things in this world?’ It was only then he recalled how the first town he had set foot in was called Red Oak. 

“Are you even an elf?” the girl asked, pulling behind Eshva again, squeezing at her thick bicep and tricep with each hand, unsure of this strange half elf before her.

‘Hehe.’

“Only half,” Adam said. “I’ve spent pretty much all my time in human lands.”  Seeing how she had withdrawn, Adam shifted his focus to the dwarf, who looked so familiar.

The little one pulled further behind Eshva, even taking a step towards the elf girl. Her eyes were squinted with dwarven suspicion, which took years to dispel.

“Little miss dwarf, are you by any chance a Thunderhammer?” Adam asked, wondering if she’d open up after hearing her name. He recognised her almost immediately, but it wasn’t a bad idea to confirm. After all, last time it wasn’t an elf girl who had been captured.

“Tha’s right!” Thunderhammer squeezed Eshva’s shoulders. “He must be with tha bandits!”

Adam cleared his throat. “Do you by any chance know Thundersmith in Red Oak?” he asked, using the most harmless voice he could muster.

“Aye, ah do!” Thunderhammer nodded her head. “He’s ma mother’s third cousin’s wife’s little brother’s sister in law’s uncle’s second son, he is!” 

Adam blinked. “Of course he is.” He rubbed his earlobe again, letting out a soft sigh. ‘Why the hell do they make everything so damn long?’ He closed his eyes shut tight, trying to settle himself again. “Well, we’ll send word to him that you’re safe and sound and we’ll send you to him after we get you sorted out, alright?”

“Hmph!” Thunderhammer narrowed her eyes, still sure that the half elf had been in collusion with the bandits, because of course a leaf ear bastard would be like that. “Ya better stay away from meh, ya hear?” She squinted her eyes nearly shut the entire way. “Ye and that other leaf ear!”

“Hey!” Adam snapped, though quickly calmed his voice. “I don’t want to hear any more cursing from either of you, alright? We’re all friends here.” He smiled, trying to recall how his teachers had stopped fights back when he was a kid.

“How dare ya! After what yer people did ta ours!” Thunderhammer grit her teeth, almost snarling.

“What do you mean? It was you rock munchers who-“

“Enough!” Adam clapped his hands, cutting through their fight. “Right now you’re under the protection of the Iyr, so act accordingly. I’ll be telling Thundersmith about your behaviour, little Thunderhammer, and you, little elf miss,” Adam snapped his eyes towards her, “I’ll go to Green Vale Sixth Star and have a word with your family too, about how you acted so…” He leaned in. “Humanly.”

The elf girl stared up at him. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh? Wouldn’t I?” Adam stared into the girl’s eyes. “If either of you trouble the Iyrmen, I’ll be sure to punish you. Understood?” 

The girls stared up at him from behind Eshva, standing side by side. 

“Understood?” Adam repeated, raising his brows expectantly.

The girls nodded their heads, and with that, Adam stepped back and rubbed his forehead. ‘Seriously. Is this how Tazwyn and Dargon feel like?’

“Do you think we’d let you harm them once they’re in our protection?” Argon asked, approaching the half elf. He had been listening in intently, and had almost drawn his sword when Adam tossed his glove down. Had he dared to make a move to harm any of the girls, he’d have justification to take an arm or two.

“What!” Adam snapped his head towards him. “Do you really think I’d hurt them?”

“Didn’t you threaten to spank them?” Argon asked, raising his brow.

“I’d never hit a kid!” Adam glared at the Iyrman. “That was only a matter of speech! I’m a grown ass man! Why the hell would I go around hitting children?”

“To discipline them,” Argon said, answering his question earnestly.

Adam scoffed. “You really think hitting a bunch of kids as a grown ass man is disciplining them?” Adam cracked his knuckles. “They’ll need to eat and drink eventually. I’ll just use magic to make their food taste terrible.” He threw a look back at the girls. “Like cow dung.”

The girls raised their brows. The half elf was willing to argue against an Iyrman, which meant he was crazy. If he was crazy, he’d actually do that.

Argon squinted his eyes, unsure of how to reply to that. It wouldn’t hurt the children, but it certainly would get them to think twice. ‘He’s a lot scarier than I thought.’

“Anyway,” Adam said, clearing his throat, “I hope it’s alright that I told them they were under your protection. It’s not my place to say, but the Iyr is the safest place for them. I thought it would be for the best…” Adam glanced towards the four boys, who were admiring the other Iyrmen. One had even walked up to Tazwyn, touching at her armour. The humans no doubt wouldn’t mind, and it seemed the girl had heard the tales of the Iyrmen too.

“They would have been under our protection regardless if you were to say it.” Argon nodded his head slowly. “They were found at our borders, so we should take responsibility. They are children of various nobles, so we need to protect them as best as we can. If anything happens to them, we will be to blame. Within the Iyr, they will be safe.” Argon could sense it. These children would bring them great trouble, even if everything would go smoothly. 

“Then I don’t need to worry about them.” Adam threw a quick glance to the other boys. ‘Right, I can’t just show the children the stick, I need to show the carrot too.’ Adam sauntered over to the boys, leaving Argon be to his thoughts.

‘Did he just leave me?’ Argon blinked. 

“Hey there,” Adam said, smiling down towards the boys.

The boys turned to face him, noting his armour first, and then looked up to see his face, before quickly scrambling behind Dargon, Tazwyn, and Kandal.

The three Iyrmen let out a soft sigh, enjoying the fact that the children were so eager to use them to defend themselves. The amount of stories they’d bring back to their families would be useful to them and the Iyr.

Adam coughed, feeling the pain of being rejected. “Hey now, is that how you treat your saviour?” He tried to stop the frown from encroaching on his face. 

“W-who are you?” a boy said from behind Kandal, staring up at him in utter fear.

“I’m Adam, son of Fate.” Adam could feel his heart slowly breaking. ‘Damn it! Why are they so scared of me?’

“You’re not an Iyrman!” one accused, thinking himself a genius for noticing the lack of the tattoo on his forehead.

“You’re an elf,” another added, as though it were a sin.

“Only half,” Adam replied. “I’m the one who got the Iyrmen to save you.”

“Huh?” one said, stupidly.

“What? What’s he trying to say?” another boy whispered loudly to his compatriots.

“He’s trying to say he commanded the Iyrmen to save us.”

“A half elf? Commanding Iyrmen?”

Adam felt his brow pulse. ‘Calm down, you need to use them to teach the girls. “Anyway, forget that. Balrog’s beaten, isn’t he? Did you know, Jurot here was the one to draw first blood against him?” Adam motioned to the dark haired Iyrman, who was carving some wood. 

Upon hearing his name, Jurot glanced over. He smirked, puffing out his chest. “Hehe. That’s right, I was the one to draw first blood against him.” He reached down to pull out his axe, which still had a small amount of Balrog’s dried axe across the blade. Jurot planned on leaving it behind to his parents. 

“Do you guys want to hold his axe?” Adam offered. “The same axe which hit Balrog? It’s a proper Iyrman’s axe.”

The boys stared up at Jurot and his axe, their eyes eagerly beaming up at him. 

Jurot was almost blinded by their boyish hope, though he understood what they were feeling. He recalled how he was able to hold Elder Wrath’s axe, which was possibly one of the ten greatest weapons within the entire Iyr. “Here,” Jurot said, holding out the handle of his axe.

The boys quickly swarmed him, grabbing onto the axe, posing with it. They looked up at Jurot, asking him how he managed to hit Balrog, and what the axe was made of, and how he managed to be so strong.

Adam threw a look to the girls, smirking at them. ‘How’s that, you little brats?’

‘Why’s he got such a stupid smirk on his face?’ Thunderhammer thought. ‘That axe isn’t even dwarven make. Stupid leaf ears, you just can’t understand them. I bet they didn’t even spend one hundred hours making that axe, ew.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Well, I guess it’s not terrible since it’s Iyrman make. That steel looks quite nice too, I wonder what ratio they used.’

The elf girl narrowed her amethyst eyes suspiciously at Adam, noting how he was trying to taunt her. ‘Damn! I want to hold the axe too! If I can get some of that blood…’ She could only imagine the curses she could inflict on Balrog’s soul.

“We need to talk,” Argon said, having let Adam have his fun.

Adam could see the seriousness in Argon’s eyes. “Sure.”

Argon led Adam away, though Tazwyn followed close behind, having been freed of the boys’ admiration. They sat down in eye sight of the bandits, who were currently chained up between one another, with ropes bound all about them for good measure. 

“We must speak of how the loot should be split,” Argon said, staring deep into Adam’s eyes.

“The loot?” Adam raised his brow.

“That which once belonged to the bandits.”

“Oh, right.” Adam rubbed his chin. “They would have loot, wouldn’t they? I guess I did help a little.” Adam’s lips twitched into a smile. “You wouldn’t have known about the children either, if not for me.”

‘Next time they tell me bring a half elf, I’ll refuse,’ Argon thought.

“Plus, there’s the matter of our little bet.” Adam threw a look to Tazwyn, his lips completing a smug smirk.

“I will keep my side of the bet,” she assured, wondering why he would need to confirm. She was an Iyrman, whose words weighed heavier than all the gold within the Iyr.

“Then, honestly, I don’t know. How much should go to Jurot and I, considering we aren’t anywhere within the same realm as powerful as either of you.”

“That’s right,” Tazwyn said. “Even now, Dargon could slice through either of you like he was slicing through bread.”

Adam blinked at her. “Whoa, whoa.” Adam chuckled. “No need to be so harsh. Did I annoy you guys too much?”

‘Did you only just figure that out?’ Tazwyn thought, but she just sighed.

“You will have twenty percent,” Argon said, ignoring Tazwyn’s look. She hadn’t recalled two important matters about the loot.

“Twenty percent? That isn’t so bad.” Adam narrowed his eyes, having caught on to why he was being offered so much. “It’s not like I can complain, anyway. You two could easily carve through me like you were carving a cake.” 

“Do you feel it’s too little?” Argon asked.

“I think there’s quite an important discussion to be had. Last I recalled, Balrog was using an axe which once belonged to the Gar family.”

Even now, the two Iyrmen were surprised with how much Adam knew of the Iyr and its going ons. “The axe will be returned to the Gar family,” Argon informed.

“I’m sure, the axe should return to where it belongs. I hope that the Gar family knows who it was who assisted in returning the axe to them.” Adam smiled. “However, aren’t we both missing something else?”

Argon slowly nodded his head. “You speak of the Moon Blade.”

“Yes, the Moon Blade.”

 “It will also belong to the Iyr.” 

“So you get both magical weapons and most of the loot?” Adam tutted at Argon. “I did some stuff too, ya know.”

“It’s not enough to gain the Moon Blade.”

“Even though I helped save six noble children? Not just noble children, but an elf and dwarf child too. It would be far too dangerous to claim recognition for it, so I won’t ask for that, but will you really hand over only one fifth of the loot?”

“Even so, it is too much to ask for the Moon Blade.”

“Is it, really? I would hope the Iyr be fair in their distribution of weapons,” Adam said, before noting how Argon’s eyes narrowed. “Alright, alright. It’s not like I can fight you for more. At the very least, I want to study it, you’ll give me that much, won’t you?”

“Study the sword?” Argon’s brows furrowed even deeper. ‘What? What is he trying to day?’

“Are you an Enchanter?” Tazwyn asked, leaning in close, whispering the words. She understood how this was information which shouldn’t be said so freely.

“Yeah.”

Argon and Tazwyn blinked. They threw each other another look. 

‘He’s lying, isn’t he?’ Argon stared at Tazwyn.

‘He’s crazy, but hasn’t he been telling the truth so far?’ Tazwyn replied.

“Though, we keep that between us, alright?” Adam said, casually. “Entalia knows too, but I don’t want it spreading around.”

Argon sighed. Adam had said so many ridiculous things, that he wasn’t sure if he should be so surprised. “How did you know the children were in Balrog’s care? I don’t believe he is someone to allow that kind of information to leak.”

“Did you forget?” Adam asked, sitting up straight as he crossed his arms under his chest. “I’m Adam, son of Fate! It was divined to me!” He laughed.

Argon wasn’t sure if he should pursue the matter further. Adam was an enigma, something beyond his comprehension. If Tazwyn couldn’t deal with Adam, then he didn’t expect himself to fare any better. ‘So, this is how Tazwyn feels.’

“We will part the loot once we are within the Iyr,” Tazwyn said. 

“Alright.” Adam yawned, stretching out his arms. “I’ll leave you to sort it out. I don’t think you’ll short me, anyhow.”

“Since it all ended up well, we will leave this matter at just a warning,” Tazwyn said, staring at him. “Don’t do this again.”

“Once I’m strong enough, I’ll be sure to let you Iyrmen fail as many children as you want in the future.” Adam laughed.

Argon narrowed his eyes again, glaring at Adam.

“It was just a joke,” Adam laughed. ‘I should stop playing with fire.’ 

“If try to use Jurot again, it will not end up with simple words,” Tazwyn warned.

Adam cleared his throat. “I hear your warnings, Iyrmen. However, one day Jurot and I will be the best of friends. We will move together to deal with issues like this ourselves. I hope, when that day comes, you will leave us to our business.”

“You believe you and Jurot are so close?” Argon asked, narrowing his eyes.

“No,” Adam said. “Jurot and I are almost like strangers, though we’ve known each other for a couple of weeks now.”

“Do you believe he’d wish to be your friend?”

“I don’t know, I hope so,” Adam admitted. He frowned, wondering if Jurot would be his friend. He had planned on going on quite the journey with Jurot, adding to his story. “If he doesn’t, then I won’t help him with Pam.”

“Pam?” Tazwyn asked, looking to Argot. She hadn’t heard the name when they were briefed about the situation.

Adam smirked.

 

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I wonder what next chapter will entail?

Could it possibly be?

The end of Blackwater Crisis?