“It seems you’ve been doing quite well,” Braun said, having taken the Half Elf and his Iyrman companion aside. “I spoke with Vice Master Paul, and he thinks you should both Rank Up to Iron.”

“Will that be a problem for the party?” Adam asked. “I mean, if we’re both Iron, and the rest are Copper, will that introduce any issues?”

“No, not at Iron. However, Vice Master Paul has recently received a request, and he was hoping the pair of you would be willing to accept it.”

“A request?” Adam asked, his ears twitching. “What is it?”

“It’s a request to help Sir Harvey find a herb called Goldarb,” Braun said.

“Goldarb?” Adam asked, glancing to Jurot, who had caught his eye. Adam couldn’t help but crack a smile. “When does it start?”

“Currently, it’s to begin on the 21st.”

“So roughly a week,” Adam said, rubbing his chin. ‘Sir Harvey? It’s a little different this time…’ “It’ll be us two and who else?”

“There will be a few others joining to accompany you, but they won’t be Adventurers. Vice Master Paul recommended the pair of you for your unique skills.”

“Which unique skills?” Adam asked, narrowing his eyes. 

Braun cleared his throat, glancing to Jurot. “A unique skill which you have been practising recently in your room.”

Adam narrowed his eyes again. “Spying on me?”

“No,” he said. “The smell made it obvious.”

Adam cracked a smile. “Right, good point.” He chuckled. “Alright, well, let’s get to the most important part?” Adam rubbed his hands together. “Tell me about the sweet hard gold I’ll be making?”

“It’s a ten gold payment upfront, five gold per day, and of course your various lodging and food will be paid for in the towns and cities, as expected, and an additional fifty gold upon completion.”

Adam whistled. “That’s not a bad pay,” he said. “Easily a hundred gold, I think,” Adam said, glancing to Jurot, before his eyes fell back to Braun. “That was to each of us, right? Not total?”

Braun nodded. 

“Okay, good, just making sure.”

“What do you think?” Braun asked.

“Give me a sec,” Adam said, throwing his head back, trying to think about the matter. “Who else is coming along?”

“Well, it’s not completely certain yet, but I’m sure at the very least an Oakguard will be sent.”

“Oakguard?” Adam asked

“A Knight of Red Oak,” Jurot said. 

“Are they strong?”

Braun couldn’t help but blink at the question. ‘What did he just ask.’

“Yes,” Jurot said. 

“Alright, well then…” He threw his head back as he crossed his arms, thinking again. He thought back to his previous life. ‘There’s a chance I meet them again.’ He hummed quietly. ‘I should probably make it easier for myself.’

Adam narrowed his eyes, dropping his head and he stared at Braun for a moment. “Could we include the rest of Fate’s Golden? They won’t slack in combat, there will be three Iyrmen after all, and we also have a War Priest.”

“I will ask Vice Master Paul about the matter,” Braun said.

“Thanks.” 

With that, Adam gathered Fate’s Golden to speak with them, explaining to them the situation. “I have to go,” Adam said. “It’s a personal thing. I’ve asked if you guys could join, but I’m not sure what they’ll say.”

“It pays well enough,” Dunes said, nodding his head. 

“Oh,” Adam said, having only just realised what he had missed. “Oh no.” He rubbed his forehead. “You definitely can’t come along…” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I forgot. Jurot, can we borrow an Iyrman? Silver Rank is preferred, but Steel Rank is good too.”

“Borrow?” Jurot asked, blinking at Adam. 

“Do you remember that story I told you? The Adventurers who found the slumbering metal creatures, and about the cursed child?”

Jurot closed his eyes, remembering back to the tale Adam had told him.

“Then the creature they faced?” Adam added.

Jurot’s eyes flashed open, sparkling with eagerness. “Yes,” he said, staring deep into Adam’s eyes.

“Is there any way we could ask for an Iyrman’s assistance in this matter?” 

“I can send a message,” Jurot said, though his tone of voice made it quite obvious it would be difficult.

“Tell them I’d be willing to, you know,” Adam said, glancing at Dunes for a moment.

“Yes?”

“You know. I was doing that thing in the Iyr, and Aunt Sonarot was upset with me because I kept doing it too much.” Adam raised his brows, trying to make it obvious. “That thing.”

Jurot continued to stare up at the Half Elf.

Dunes blinked. ‘Just what exactly were you doing in the Iyr?’ The more Dunes thought about it, the less he understood.

Jaygak cleared her throat. “Do you remember, with Lanarot and Little Paw?”

Jurot squinted his eyes, before his eyes widened with realisation. “Oh,” he said. “That would make it much easier.”

“As long as it doesn’t cost me any money, I’ll be willing to, you know,” Adam said, trying to not make it obvious he was talking about Enchanting in front of the War Priest. He still didn’t trust the man with all his secrets.

“If you can add the whole thing about glory, that’s great, but please mention the cursed child. I’m not sure if it’ll happen for sure, but I want to be prepared, just in case.”

Jurot nodded. “I understand. I will pass the message through the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Wouldn’t they then know about that thing too?” Adam asked.

“Is that okay?” Jurot asked. 

“Is there not an Iyrman way of saying it so the Adventurer’s Guild won’t find out? Like a code you guys have? Or maybe just saying I’ll do the thing as I have been doing?”

“Paul of the Silver may know,” Jurot said. 

“How come?” Adam said. “He’s no Iyrman, from what I recall.”

“He is married to a woman of the Iyr,” Jurot said.

Adam blinked rapidly and shook his head. “Excuse me?”

“He is married to Uruban’s daughter,” Jurot said. 

Adam blinked rapidly. “Uh, which one?”

“Aizaban,” Jurot said. 

“Aizaban?” Adam replied, not recognising the name. “Is she Amaban’s older sister?”

“Yes,” Jurot said, nodding his head. 

“Hold on.” Adam raised a hand, trying to process what he was hearing. “I told you that story, and I mentioned the stuff about Paul, and you didn’t tell me he was happily married now?”

“I was listening to your tale,” Jurot said. “It was a wonderful tale.”

“Why didn’t you tell me after?”

“It had not come up.”

“I can’t believe you’ve done this,” Adam said, blinking at Jurot. “No wonder Paul is Silver Rank. No wonder he looks so much happier and healthier.” Adam shook his head, sighing, a smile on his face. “Well, I mean, I’m glad he’s doing much better now.”

“You knew Vice Master Paul from before?” Dunes asked. “How old are you? You Fae are far too beautiful and always look so young.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Adam said, chuckling. “You might find out one day, but there’s no real need to discuss that now. I should probably go and talk with Vice Master Paul about the matter then.” Adam continued to shake his head. ‘I wonder what else has changed in the world. I hope Entalia’s okay, I haven’t heard from her in a while either…’ He recalled he was meant to make a magical weapon for her too.

“What is it that you need?” Paul asked, having arrived not long after he had been told Adam wanted to discuss something of extreme importance with him. 

“First, I’m not talking to you as Paul the Vice Master. I’m talking to you as Paul, who is happily married to an Iyrman, meaning this is a secret of the Iyr.” Adam looked to Jurot, who nodded his head.

“I am a Guild Worker,” Paul said, glancing towards Jurot too. “However, I will take your words to heart, Adam, Nephew of the Rot family.”

“Paul, I’m serious. I’m asking you as a fellow friend of the Iyr.” Adam leaned in. “I need to trust you on this, I can’t have this information spreading around.”

Paul stared into Adam’s eyes, seeing the look of seriousness in them. “What is it?”

“I need you to pass along a message to a Silver Rank Iyrman, or a Steel Rank if you can’t find a Silver Rank. The higher the Rank, the better, honestly. More than one would be nice too. So, you know how Sir Harvey needs a team to escort him up north, right?”

“Yes,” Paul said, nodding his head. ‘Why does he need such powerful Iyrmen?’

“Well,” Adam began, unsure of how to continue. “Let’s just say that I have a weird feeling about it, and I want some insurance. I would like you to pass the message that I, Adam, son of Fate, Nephew of the Rot family, am willing to enchant a weapon for them if they are willing to assist me, as long as they provide their own materials for it.”

Paul blinked. He wasn't sure which surprised him more. The fact that, within four months, he had managed to become a Nephew of the Iyrmen, with Jurot standing beside him so proudly, or that he could enchant items. "All those weapons that you guys have..."
 
"Yeah,” Adam said, smiling. “I did."

"All of them?"

“Yep,” Adam said. “Including Jurot’s shield, which he doesn’t often use.” He threw a glance towards Jurot, who shrugged his shoulders. 

“Wh-what? How did you…”

"The Iyrman's shrines."

Paul looked to Jurot, who nodded. He was even more surprised. "How did you even become a Nephew? It usually requires a few years, and I only managed so after a few years, whilst I was sweet on an Iyrman.”

"Well, what can I say? I move quick." Adam chuckled. 

‘Ridiculous,’ Paul thought, rubbing his forehead. "So what's this bad feeling?"

"Let's just say that I'd like at least two Iyrmen at Steel Rank, but three would be preferred, or two at Silver Rank.” Adam thought for a moment. "Oh, actually, there is someone else I could ask, but I need a Sending scroll." Adam clicked his teeth. "Damn. If only I had..." He rubbed his face. "No, would she even help?” He wondered if it was a good idea. “Well, she hasn’t gotten back to me, maybe something’s up with her? Let’s just stick with the Iyrmen.”

Paul watched as the Half Elf had a conversation with himself. He glanced at Jurot’s weapon and shield, and then to Adam’s Lightsear. "I'll send the message, and If I come along, would you enchant a weapon for me?”

"You?” Adam asked. “Of course.”
 
"Really?"

"Yeah.” Adam shrugged. “I didn't think you would come along, though things may go smoother with you.” Adam smiled, thinking about how having a Vice Master could be quite useful to smooth things out. “As long as you can keep a few secrets." 

"Well, I keep enough secrets as is." Paul thought about his wife, and how his darling son would need a decent mace. ‘Plus, having Adam owe me a favour is nice. A rising star like him, with such talent…’ "I'll see what I can do. How dangerous are you anticipating this mission?"

"Either nothing will happen, or...” Adam wondered how to word it. “You might want to bring a couple of Dragon Slaying arrows."

Paul chuckled, rolling his eyes. “Okay.”

"Paul of the Silver," Adam called out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I meant what I said. Either nothing happens this mission, or we're going to fight a fucking dragon. That doesn't include those which have been sleeping, but I'm less frightened of them." 

"What are you talking about?" Paul asked, staring at the Half Elf, before seeing Jurot nodding from his peripheral vision.

"Giant men of metal, as strong as the average Iyrman at least. Though, to be honest, we can run from them quite easily.” Adam shrugged his shoulders. “It’s the dragon I’m worried about.”

Paul stared at Adam, unsure if he was crazy. "Okay. I’ll send a message. You're looking for just a handful of Iyrmen? We'll consider this a private request through the guild. Their mission will be to protect you."

"No, their mission will be to obey me," Adam corrected.

“Isn’t that to be expected?” Paul asked.

"I'm not the one they need to protect. Well, I am, but there's someone more important."
 
"What a vague mission,” Paul said, wondering why Adam was so hesitant to tell him more.

"Let's not do it through the guild then. The Iyrmen should have heard of me through what I did in the Iyr during the festival, I hope, so that should be enough to pique their interest. If it doesn’t, tell them that Saerat and Sonarot are very happy with the magical weapons I’ve made for them."

Paul rubbed his forehead, unsure if he could follow Adam’s pace. "Fine, fine. I'll deal with it." He had to take Adam's words seriously, because Jurot seemed to trust him. However, the Half Elf also seemed quite suspicious. ‘Am I getting senile? I should retire.’

 

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