“Hey Aunt,” Adam said, throwing up a wave at the woman, who was currently feeding her daughter.

“Have you finished your training?” Sonarot asked, brushing Lanarot’s hair as she feasted on her mother’s teet.

“Yeah, though I was looking for that thing,” Adam said, motioning his head to Lucy. 

“Oh, that thing?” The Iyrman smiled, nodding her head.

“What thing?” Lucy said, sniffing the air, smelling something wonderful in the air. Then she noted Lanarot and how she was eating. ‘I wonder if it’s that?’

Adam reached under the bed and pulled out a box made of thick wood, something which had been made years ago and had been in the Rot family for generations. He wound a lever to the side, which took some effort to make sure little children couldn’t break into it, before it clicked, unlocking. 

Adam popped open the lid and revealed the contents within.

“This… isn’t this?” Lucy swallowed, staring at the item within.

“What did I say?” Adam chuckled, flashing a wide smile.

“Hmph,” she grumbled. “You said we would do it together!” She glared at her, her lips formed into a pout.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Adam continued to smile. “Still, with this, your friend and my future wife, should be fine.”

Lucy glared at him through squinted eyes. “Mary will finally be safe.” She stared at the pulsing Blue Dragon Heart. “I knew it. Picking you as my General was the right choice to make.” She nodded her head, proud of her keen insight.

“I’m not your General, but your friend,” Adam said, reaching up to brush her hair, only to find how sweaty and grimy it was. He wiped his hand against his clothing. “If you have any trouble, you can always come to me.”

“Friend,” Lucy repeated. She grabbed onto Adam and hugged him tight, a horn digging into his shoulder. ‘Thanks, Adam.’

She quickly pulled away. “Gross, you stink!” She coughed, turning her head, hiding the blush on her face. 

“I’m the one who smells?” Adam asked, raising his brow at her. “You’re the one who looks like she hasn’t had a bath in a year.”

“You’re lucky you’re my friend, otherwise I would have beaten you,” she said, shaking her fist at him. 

“Yeah, yeah,” Adam said, shaking his head, a wide grin still plastered on his face.  “When are you heading to that forest?”

“I’ll head to that damned forest today!” Lucy declared, throwing up her fist, holding the Blue Dragon heart to her chest, feeling how it pulsed, the great energy within it still drawing her to it.

“Do you want us to come along?” Adam offered. 

“You will just slow me down,” she said, rubbing her cheek against the Dragon Heart, almost salivating. It smelled so good and she was so hungry for the Mana within it. ‘No, I can’t. This is for Mary.’ She rubbed her cheek against the Dragon Heart tenderly. ‘Wait for me.’

“Alright, but you’re not going to go alone, are you?” Adam asked, raising his brow. 

“Of course not! I’m not as stupid as you!” She leapt out of the house. “I’ll go find some hunky Iyrmen and take them with me!” Like a wilful tornado, she stormed away, off to find some hunky Iyrmen who would take her to the forest.

Adam laughed, watching her as she left. “Well, I guess that’s fine too.” He threw a look to Sonarot and Lanarot, before clearing his throat. “I should leave before I stink up the place even more.”

He returned back to the party, who were currently bathing within the river. Jonn and Dunes were looking away from everyone, trying their best not to let their eyes wander, whereas Brittany had gone behind a building, with a large basin and a bucket to wash herself with. 

“Lucy’s gone to save her friend and my future wife,” Adam said, beginning to strip. 

Jurot wondered if he should call him cringe, but decided against it. Adam was most likely just joking, even if it was a terrible joke.

“Your future wife?” Dunes asked. “Is she a Demon too?”

“She’s more like an Angel,” Adam joked. “She’s so pretty.”

“Be careful of being seduced by evil vixens,” Dunes warned. 

“She can seduce me any time,” Adam said. “Ask Jurot, he knows how beautiful she is.”

Dunes threw Jurot a look, who nodded. ‘Then no doubt she is a beautiful woman.’

“Anyway,” Adam said. “If you two keep acting up about their race, I might have to beat some sense into you.”

“They’re Demons,” Dunes said.

“Should I beat you because you’re dark skinned then?” Adam asked.

“It is not the colour of their skin, but their history,” Dunes said. “They are enemies of man.”

“We’re in Aldland now, and you’re an Aswadian,” Adam said. “Aren’t you our enemy too?”

“That’s different,” Dunes said.

“I’m sure it is.” Adam threw the Priest a glare. “I don’t care what your reason is. Lucy hasn’t started a fight with you, so you need to back off.”

Dunes narrowed his eyes. “If I am given word to kill her, you cannot stop me.”

“You and I both know I can, and will, stop you,” Adam replied, simply. 

“Lucy is a Guest of the Iyr,” Jurot said. “If you are to cause issues, you may leave.”

“I’m not stupid enough to start issues in the Iyr,” Dunes said.

“It won’t be the first time someone does something stupid in the name of their religion,” Adam said. “I thought you said the Aswadians are more open to different races?” Adam glanced to Jurot.

“They are,” Jaygak replied. “Dunes is a Priest, and there is an ideological war against Demons. Normal Aswadians might not like Demons, but it isn’t as hostile.”

Adam nodded. “Let’s drop the topic here. She’s gone, anyway.”

Dunes nodded slowly. 

Jonn had remained silent the entire time, still unsure if Lucy was his enemy considering that he was no longer a Guardian with his Oaths sworn to the Order of Hill Top.

“If you are wanting to enchant, will you use weapons which are made of gem?” Jaygak asked. “Not Jagite, but gems like Rubicule, Sapphicule, and Emeralicule?” Jaygak asked.

“I have no idea what those are, but I assume that they are red, blue, and green?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jaygak replied.

“They are gems which have innate Mana deep within them,” Jonn said. “Usually formed near areas with large amounts of Mana.”

“Oh? I’m not even sure I can work them, but I’ll have to see.”

“Perhaps you can’t, but something like Tigergem, perhaps?” Jaygak said. “There’s a limit to its enchantments, as one might expect, but you could definitely make something like your current blade much easier than with the materials you usually use.”

“Oh?” Adam pondered. “How much can I buy Tigergem for?”

“Roughly six hundred gold,” Jaygak said. “Though you won’t need extra gems to create the weapon, and it is easier.”

“Which weapons make the most money?” Adam asked, recalling he had asked previously. 

“Longswords, spears, daggers, axes,” Jurot said. “Greatswords and glaives usually make the most money when sold, but longswords are better to sell since you can auction them to Nobles first. Nobles pay quite the price, mostly to show off to one another.”

Adam frowned. “I don’t want to get involved with Nobles,” he stated, dryly. After what happened in those towns, he wasn’t happy with the Nobles. ‘That bastard Sir Harvey, too…’

“What about taking requests from Iyrmen?” Jaygak asked. “Some Iyrmen have a lot of money, enough money to burn. One day I’ll have enough money to burn too!”

“I did do that a few times,” Adam said, shaking his head at her. “I’ll speak with Elder Zijin about it.”

They finished bathing and made their way back to the estate, where the various children were currently playing together, waiting for their meal. 

Jogak was in charge of cooking that day, meaning that the food was probably going to be a little spicier than usual. 

“So you’re finally back,” Sonarot said, holding out Lanarot to Adam. “I hope the two of you can play with her, otherwise she may not recognise you.”

Adam picked her up and held her close, feeling just how hot she was. “I’ll play with you as best as I can, little cutie.” He tickled her cheeks with his finger. “Did you sleep well, little Lanarot?”

Lanarot stared up at him, the way babies did, twitching slightly. She reached up and grabbed his finger, squeezing it tight in her hand, moving it around. 

Then Jurot appeared beside Adam, causing her eyes to snap towards him in shock, but she stared at his face. 

“She’s so cute, isn’t she?” Adam said.

“Cutest In The Whole World,” Jurot said, feeling his heart throb again. 

Adam smiled. “Here,” he said, lifting Lanarot up to her older brother.

Jurot took her into his arms and stared down at her face. Lanarot stared up at him and started to smile, giggling slightly, before staring up at him silently again. His heart continue to throb, almost causing him pain. 

 

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Adam committing blasphemy, and Jurot slowly understanding what it's like to actually care about your younger sibling.