Chương 1286: [1202] - Y06.102 - Trouble in Their Hearts II

'I didn't say too much, did I?' Adam thought, rubbing the side of his neck.

'They could probably figure out I'm the Enchanter, but… there's no way that would make sense. I can't be so strong I can take on their Grand Commander, and also be the Enchanter, especially since I spent so much of my time adventuring. Should I adventure more and set out more weapons to be sold so they don't figure it out?'

"Adam," Jurot called once his brother had stopped thinking so deeply.

"You should hold back."

"I can't," Adam replied firmly, more firmly than he had previously replied to his brother.

"You should not reveal your strength at this time."

"I have to."

"…"

"What am I meant to do about Jonn? Would they apologise? There's no way! Just because Jonn tried to defend himself, they'd blame him! Then what? Jonn, who swore his Oaths to me! What do I do, Jurot? Do I just abandon him?"

"He would understand." The Iyrman remained silent, allowing his brother to sit in his thoughts as the sun began to set.

"I wouldn't!" Adam winced slightly, and though he cringed, it was not the kind of cringe in which Adam was acting a fool, but the graver wound, the kind that struck at his heart.

"He swore his Oaths to me, so I need to be the kind of guy worthy of swearing Oaths to! If I abandon him now, who can anyone trust, huh?" Jurot understood Adam's words, for they were, as one might describe them, Iyrmanly. Was that why they were so close? Though the half elf was not an Iyrman, and though he disagreed with the more extreme, a word his brother would describe it, aspects of the Iyr, the half elf was not far off from an Iyrman himself.

"If I don't…" Adam swallowed, staring at the wall opposite him. It was growing later and later, but he had already meditated with the sword.

"They'll think they can come for my family again. I know it's stupid to reveal how strong I am, especially now, I know that, Jurot! If I don't… I don't want to lose the sword, but I don't want to lose Ranya even more." Jurot understood it wasn't just about Ranya, though the half elf's fears for Ranya were still real.

"They looked at Jaygak a similar way. Even with Jonn and I nearby to take all the heat, they still glared at her. Kitool sometimes felt it too, but you, Jurot? You got a different type of look, the kind that was just basic Iyrman hatred, the kind that comes from being so proud of your grandfather. Jaygak? There were people glaring at her, with thoughts of tearing her limb from limb. Ranya will get those thoughts too, but she won't have a tattoo stopping them.

So at the very least, she should tell them all who her uncle is. I'll make sure she's an Expert before she steps out on her own. She'll have Greater items, this sword, and a name that strikes fear into everyone."

"Okay." The darkness of the sky began to welcome them, the group gathering around within the large courtyard. Even now, whispers of the previous Order tickled Jonn's ears, who stared out towards the half elf he had sworn himself to. He could hear it too, the last thing the half elf had said to him before stepping away.

'Watch carefully.' The half elf stood within his puthral, like a purple statue. That red shield, Strong Shield, held the same power as his new shield, but he borrowed it from Nirot all the same. Since it now belonged to the younger Asorot, Adam wanted to make sure it had an even better story.

The small stones within the wall illuminated the figures around, their businesses folk, the soldiers assigned to escort them, and the various warriors of the Order, outnumbering them at least two to one, with a great many holding names from their mercenary days, and others throughout the various tournaments they had fought. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

'Why did he offer to face me?' Sir Harold thought, staring at the half elf before him, who was as still as a statue. The obsidian holy symbol at his chest caused the Honeysuckle Sword pause, for the Grand Commander recalled the beast he had seen in the last year. Back then, he had no idea this half elf would have slain the Vice Commander, and with such a swiftness too. He had been too focused upon other fights, and the words spoken after describing his fight was unbelievable. Then there was that.

The rumours that had begun to spread, about the Order of the High Garden, and the Grand Commander, Sir James Greatwood, who had gone seeking his justice, but then? Silence. The Iyr had slain them all, through treachery, it was said. Surely, the Iyr must have done something underhanded, but something like that? Something so obvious? Is that why they did it? They thought no one could believe it if they did something so outrageous? Or was there something else involved?

"Are you ready?" called the gruff voice, almost bored. Sir Harold glanced aside, towards the dark skinned Aswadian, who he had chatted to in the previous year. It had taken a short while to realise who he was back then, and even after he had cut his hair short, and his beard was far neater, the Florian recognised the fellow, who continued to hold a heavy presence even standing as casually as he was. There was no doubt about it. The Lion King was stronger than him.

"I am," Sir Harold replied, grasping his blade with both hands, the longsword brimming to life with the urge to sing for blood. Adam drew his blade, which tingled through his hand. Except, it was not the fight he was focused upon, but the memory.

'No! No ahm, no! No!' Ranya cried aloud, gasping, quickly grabbing the pepper with both hands. She had cried and complained so loudly, the others glanced towards her, watching as the girl shook her head towards Adam, her face still full of shock, bringing the pepper to her chest to hold it as her precious pepper.

'I see,' Adam thought.

'Since I only defeated one Grand Commander, you would not share your pepper. Don't worry, I'll beat up another one, so you can feed this ahm of yours from your own hand.' Though Adam's thoughts were playful and light, as he opened his eyes, peeking through his visor, and through the Honeysuckle Sword's own visor, their eyes meeting, the Grand Commander could see it, just how seriously he was taking this fight.

"Yeah."

"You may begin," Ashmir said, wasting no time. Battle Order D20 + 1 = 3 (2)'You will find that I am not as easy to defeat as a simple Vice Commander,' Sir Harold thought, as his blade shimmered with purple and orange, and all around them, they could smell the sweet scent of the flower.

Though the scent invoked the sweetness of a noonval day, it held within the might of a Fourth Gate spell, one threatening to tear the half elf asunder, spurred by the chant of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Heroic Honeysuckle. The magic exploded as the Grand Commander's blade struck heavily upon the crimson shield, a shield which was once wielded by a terrifying foe who had made his name across Aldland, and another who had used it to create an even greater story.

The blade struck with such force, it dented the shield, with the will of a quick, clean victory, and yet, somehow, the blade scraped across the front, sending sparks into the air, and the purple and orange continued to hum and throb through the blade, rather than sending the half elf's mind into two pieces. Full plate was a great thing. It granted a wonderfully high Defence, one that would make all people envious.

Defence: 18 However, Adam had also prayed over his mundane armour, with his Blessing of Forgia, though it was Baktu he prayed to. Defence: 19 Then there was his ring, borrowed from one of his companions. Defence: 20 His beautiful cloak, the colours picked by the most adorable children in the world. Defence: 21 Adam was also adept at wearing armour, providing even greater protection from his more defensive oriented Fighting Style.

Defence: 22 Not only did he have the Blessing of Forgia, he had increased his defensive capabilities with the Soul of the Forge. Defence: 23 Indeed, Adam's Defence was among the greatest, matching even the likes of great dragons, and yet… Then there was his shield. Red as blood. Filled with stories one could only dream of. Defence: 25 The Mad Dog, who had gained another nickname based on the shield had gifted it to his grandson, Turot, who had gifted it to Adam.

Adam had enchanted it, not wanting to die, no matter what one might think considering how often he provoked the nobility, and though he had gifted it to Turot back, he hinted at Turot to hand it to his younger brother, Asorot, who handed it to Nirot, to make sure she survived to return.

Defence: 27 To say it was difficult to strike Adam would be an understatement, for the half elf hadn't even spent a single point of Mana to increase it further, for Sir Harold, the Honeysuckle Sword, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Heroic Honeysuckle, one of the greatest warriors in all the land, with his ability to cast Fourth Gate spells, and to clash with even King Merryweather himself, had not been able to strike through such a great Defence with either of his terrifying blows, which would have killed an Expert outright.

"I suppose… it's my turn then?" the voice whispered with the most sinister tone.