Chương 1148: [1076] - Y05.076 - Gone III

"What brings you this far south?" the guard asked, noting the appearance of the Iyrmen. The guard was adorned in full chain, and wielded a spear in one hand, and held a shield in the other.

"We have business at the gathering," Tonagek replied.

"What kind of business."

"Iyrman business."

"You helping the Duke?"

"…"

"Alright, well, be careful on the way. A Hope made their way back up this way, so the travels won't be quite as safe."

"Thank you for the news." Tonagek returned back to the carriage as they made their way towards the Florian fort set upon the hills. He was a handsome man, adorned in full plate of finely crafted steel, and at his side he wore an ornate blade. He was flanked by two others, each also in well made full plate, with fine blades at their side. There was little issue with the Florians, who allowed the group in, but as the Commander, Alexander Silversky, noted the appearance of the familiar faces, he approached the group.

"What brings you to our fort?" the handsome Commander called, his eyes firmly glued upon the young man in purple and his brother beside him, rather than the demons.

"Iyrman business," Tonagek said, stepping before him, blocking his sight.

"We are headed to the gathering." The Commander and Tonagek exchanged a long glare between one another.

'This Iyrman, who does he think he is?'

"Do you understand you are in Floria now?"

"Do you understand we are headed to the gathering, led by your King?" Commander Silversky narrowed his eyes, bowing his head lightly.

"I shall expect no trouble from you Iyrmen?"

"If you wish for no trouble, do not invite it."

"None from the elf or the demons?"

"He is only half an elf," Tonagek corrected.

"You will receive no trouble from them, as long as you do not invite it."

"Commander Silversky," a voice called, and the pair turned to face him.

"I'd like to speak with you privately for an… importantish matter."

"What is this important matter?" the Commander asked once they were within the stone building which made up the Commander's office, the room mostly bare, save for the carpet and the weapons along the walls.

"I have…" Adam paused, glancing between the two Knights who kept a pair of eyes, like hawks, upon the half elf.

"Recently, I have suffered a great… Commander, I lost some people very close to me recently to some wicked fiends, and I would really appreciate it if you would allow me to summon a tower so that I can bathe in peace."

"You wish to summon a tower?"

"Two floors, each baths. I want to bathe, and I will clean up the baths, and allow your soldiers to bathe in the hot water. In exchange, I will donate some gold coins to the fort, to the officers, and to the soldiers." The Commander remained silent for a long moment.

"Is this a joke?"

"Like I said. I'd really appreciate it if you'd allow me to summon a tower, and in exchange, I will donate some coin, and once we're at the gathering, I hear the Lord Marshal and the King will be there. Once we speak of business, I'll be sure to mention how… you treated us very well."

"What kind of business do you have with the Lord Marshal and the King?" Silversky asked, blinking, recalling what had happened last year, only then remembering that Adam was far more dangerous.

"The kind that deals with magical weapons," Adam replied.

"King Merryweather, I'm sure, has need for some magical weapons, Basic, Basic Enhanced, Greater, Greater Enhanced, and we can provide such to Floria, and of course, to those who have treated us well."

"What misfortune has befallen you?" the Commander asked, noting how thin Adam was, and the darkness under his eyes.

"Monsters killed my sons," Adam said, keeping the Commander's gaze in his own, the half elf's eyes burning. Commander Silversky didn't dare to blink as Adam's eyes surged with an unexpected fury, taken aback by the half elf's words.

"Mother's blessings."

"Mother's blessings," Adam replied, reaching up to the cool obsidian amulet.

"I hope that my request does not cause you trouble, and if it does, please send word to our business, and we will explain the situation. I just wish for some… grace, in this trying time." If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The Commander remained silent for a long moment, before he slowly bowed his head.

"I will assign a few soldiers to watch over the tower."

"Thank you." Lucy said nothing as Adam handed out a hundred gold to the fort, another hundred gold to the Commander, and another hundred marked for the soldiers. Even if it was the most expensive bath Adam had ever taken, she decided against mentioning it, nor did she thank him for it, allowing the half elf his peace. Adam scrubbed at his body with his hands, his half fae hands which had grown rough over the years. He stared at the wall ahead, grey and bare, formed of his magic. It was one of his greatest spells.

Its utility was near unmatched, allowing them a defensive structure in the wild. The tower allowed them to keep their morale up during their journeys. He had so many spells, but among his favourites, Adam's Tower was certainly his second favourite. His first favourite? Mana: 22 -> 19 Spell: Sending"Vonda. I love you."

'I love you too, Adam,' came the voice into the half elf's mind, and he closed his eyes, allowing his tears to fall into the water. He cleaned up the water and heated for the Priest, the Iyrmen, the demons, Bael, and the soldiers. Spells Prepared Divination The half elf stared at the spell. He held the dice, expensive as they were, within his palm. He had so many questions he could ask the Divine, daring to risk a Fourth Gate spell within the fort.

'Will I survive?'

'Will they die?'

'Will everything be okay?' There were so many questions, and though he stared at the spell, ready to cast it, he couldn't bring himself to chant the words.

'Yes,' Adam thought, clutching the die tighter in hand.

'Yes. Yes.' Bael listened in upon Dunes' spell too, though ignored it. He continued to lay against the wall, feeling the cool duskval air against his skin, and even the gently rain that he had smelled upon the air. He glanced to the side, staring at the Iyrman who stepped out, ready to swing his blade in the rain, while another watched him. Bael stood, stretching out his back, winking towards the nearby guards. He walked around the tent, feeling the gentle rain against his face. There it was.

He looked down at his hand, staring at the creases of his palms, and he clenched his fist, noting the scars upon his knuckles. His eyes darted up and around, feeling it once more.

'Am I a child again?' Bael thought, feeling the excitement build within him as the overwhelming pressure struck his shoulders. It was difficult for them all to sleep that evening. The next morning, there were many others who could feel a significance in that day. Terry stared at the shield and the staff, both magical, items which had been gifted to him by a particular half elf. He ran a finger along it. They had been given to the Chief for the most expensive price, free, or rather, blood.

However, Terry recalled the appearance of the half elf, gaunt, dark eyed. He recalled the way the creature had ripped apart his people. He recalled the way the being, Starsword, had so easily dispatched his people as though they were bugs. Adam was not quite so overtly terrifying, but there had been something there. Not just with Adam, but the others around. Terry recalled when the Orders had passed through the village from the north.

'Did they really…' Meanwhile, within the Iyr, little Jarot shook his head, before his sister spooned porridge into her mouth.

"No," little Jarot said, turning his head away from his elder brother, who offered him a slice of cucumber.

"Hungry?" Karot asked.

"No…" Jarot sipped at his milk, before throwing a look to Jitool, who also offered the boy a cucumber.

"No…"

"We can go see nano?" Jirot asked, raising her brows to her grandmother.

"Which nano?" Sonarot asked.

"Mm…" The girl reached up to her chin.

"Nano Mulrot?"

"She is not in the Iyr."

"Nano Gangak?"

"She is not in the Iyr."

"Nano is working?"

"She must complete her duties," Sonarot said, reaching down to wipe the girl's face clean.

"How can they do this to me?" Jirot asked, letting out a long sigh.

"Daddy is back?"

"Your father will return soon." Sonarot smiled, brushing the girl's hair.

"I going to bully daddy so much," little Jarot said, before sitting up taller, his eyes darting to his grandmother to see if she'd tell him off.

"You can only bully him a little," called a voice from nearby, and the handsome older man approaching, wearing a greatsword upon his back, a wore a seriousness upon his face.

"…" Halikan eyed the figure who wore the same tattoos as her.

"What brings you here, uncle?"

"I… am bored," the Iyrman replied with an accusatory look.

"Babo?" Jirot called.

"Yes?" Tarukan replied.

"If you are bored, we can play today?" Jirot asked, her brows raised expectantly.

"Okay," the old man said, dropping down beside his grandniece, whose eyes bulged from through her glasses, only surpassed by her toothy smile. Tarukan reached down to brush Inakan's hair.

'How could they not allow me to go?'

"Babo," little Karot called, offering the old man one of his slices of cucumber.

"Thank you." Tarukan plucked the cucumber from the boy's hands, before feeding him with it.

"Should they call me Silver Strike instead of Steel Strike?" Karot blinked at the old man, unsure of his joke, though the nearby Iyrmen chuckled, causing him to smile shyly.

"I know your stories!" Jirot declared.

"You are fighting so far away!"

"Yes," Tarukan replied.

"You are so strong, babo, so strong!" Tarukan's lips twitched upwards slightly.

"I am… acceptable."

"You are second place?" Jirot asked.

"Babo tell me you cannot beat…" The girl thought of the name.

"Skull."

"Skullcrusher," Tarukan said, reaching up to his head, rubbing the phantom pain.

"I could not defeat him, because he is too strong."

"Is okay, babo." Jirot pat his knee.

"My papo is first place."

"…" Tarukan blinked.

"What of daddy?" Vonda asked, smiling gently towards her daughter.

"Hmm? Daddy?" Jirot asked, before closing her eyes.

"Oh dear, oh dear, I don't 'member?" The girl glanced away from her mother.

"Daddy is first place too," little Jarot said.

"I remember now," Jirot said, reaching up to brush her brother's forehead.

"Daddy is strong too."

"When your father returns, he will tell you a greater tale," Sonarot said.

"When daddy come back, I will bully him, only a little bit?" Jirot said, partly asking the old man who had appeared.

"You should bully your babo, Jarot, more," Tarukan said, still annoyed that the old man had told him that tale of all tales to his greatdaughter.

'You have not changed at all, cousin Jarot.'

"I will not bully babo," Jirot said, before glancing towards her grandmother.

"Just little bit."