Chương 1287: [1203] - Y06.103 - Trouble in Their Hearts III

The businessfolk watched. It was unlike the way the soldiers watched. They, too, did not watch in the same way the warriors of the Order watched. For the businessfolk watched a vicious beating, but they had seen it before. The soldiers were watching a monster tearing into one of the greatest warriors of their land. The warriors of the Order, they could only watch. They could only watch as their greatest warrior, their leader, their Honeysuckle Sword, was beset by a beast wearing the face of a half elf.

Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Attack: Thunder's Triumph (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) D20 + 11 = 29 (18) Hit! Thunder's Triumph: 3 -> 2 Critical Hit! Mana: 34 -> 31 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 2D6 + 8D6 + 9 = 72 (20)(11)(32) 72 damage! Attack: Thunder's Triumph (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 22 (11) D20 + 11 = 29 (18) Hit! Thunder's Triumph: 2 -> 1 Critical Hit! Mana: 31 -> 28 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 2D6 + 8D6 + 9 = 65 (17)(6)(33) 65 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Thunder's Triumph (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 23 (12) D20 + 11 = 26 (15) Hit! Thunder's Triumph: 1 -> 0 Critical Hit! Mana: 28 -> 25 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 2D6 + 8D6 + 9 = 57 (18)(3)(27) 57 damage! Adam raised his sword for a fourth blow, but he paused, for the Honeysuckle Sword had certainly almost fallen unconscious, but had forced himself up, in a similar manner to certain Rage Dancers.

"So?" Adam called out, his voice low, almost playful, as though this was just any other day for him, but they could see the sword shaking as the half elf tempered himself. Sir Harold hacked, coughing out blood, the Grand Commander keeled over upon a knee. His entire body flashed hot and cold, the ache setting deep within him, for he hadn't taken such a terrible beating since he could remember. No… had he ever been beaten so viciously in his life? Had it ever been so easy?

Even when he was beaten by his mentor as a boy, he had put up a greater fight.

"I… cannot surrender," Sir Harold replied, gasping and panting for air, still clutching his sword as he tried to will himself to stand.

"It's just a friendly spar," Adam had the audacity to say, staring down towards the knelt Grand Commander, for this scene would be engraved upon the hearts of the Order forever, even if they did try to draw their blades to attack. Sir Harold stared at the half elf, catching his eyes through their visors, and there he could see it. It was not hatred. It was not audacity. It was not even pride. It was not even one might expect, of a better beating their inferiors into their place. It was just pity. Pity for him?

The Grand- The thought stopped there, for everyone had seen it, and even in the darkness of sundown, the gentle glow of the stones embedded within the walls, it was clear as day. Sir Harold held out his blade with both hands, still knelt before the half elf. Adam sheathed Thunder's Triumph, and even as he reached for the magical blade, clasping his fingers around it, finding the blade was a Greater Enhanced blade with the magic it was giving it off, he was still prepared for the inevitable betrayal.

The half elf lifted the sword into the sky, letting out a roar full of frustration and anguish, and to those keen of hearing, guilt and shame.

'Do you see? Jarot! Larot! Jirot! Ranya! Do you see? No one can trouble you as long as I live!' The half elf continued to roar loudly into the air, the roars echoing through the fortress. The warriors prepared themselves, while the businessfolk heard the pain within those roars, even Tanagek and Chosen, who had only known him for a handful of months. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Brittany stared at the half elf, who had defeated a second Grand Commander, and yet with each roar, she understood. Even though he was strong, even though he could defeat the likes of Grand Commanders, to all those around, he acknowledged he was too weak. Whereas Adam was strong enough to defeat the Grand Commander, he was too weak to defeat the Order, and it hurt him so. Abruptly, the roaring, the crying, stopped.

The half elf let out a low sigh, and he held the blade upon his palms, staring down towards it, seeing the face of a weak fool staring back at him through the blade's steel. Then, beyond it, he saw the boots of the Grand Commander, and he closed his eyes once more, understanding what needed to be done.

"At the edge of this blade, I felt it," the half elf said, his voice dead, but filling with as much life as he could muster.

"I could feel the great strength of the Honeysuckle Sword, for his sword was deep, full of brightness, and indeed, heroic." Everyone could hear the emptiness within Adam's words, for all he could do, surrounded by the Order, shackled by the weakness that was not wanting to cause trouble for his friends and family, and the weakness of not wanting to escalate the matter further.

It was the acknowledgement that he was still weak, and could not face the system that surrounded him, even if he was certain he could drop several Fireballs and survive.

"I can this with complete honesty, at least! The Honeysuckle Sword lasted longer against this sword of mine, this sword of Ranya's, which was wielded by my hand, than even the Grand Commander of the Order of the High Garden!" Adam's voice filled with life with each passing word, the half elf exclaiming the words almost as loudly as he had roared.

"Out of respect for your Grand Commander, and out of the hope that in the future, this meeting will bloom into a beautiful flower of friendship, I hope you will consider accepting this blade as a token of our friendship." Adam bowed his head, bowing so deeply, he held the blade higher than his head. The scene of the half elf bowing in surrender to the Honeysuckle Sword engraved itself within the hearts of the businessfolk.

Commander Silversky stared at the scene before him, for though Adam had submit before the Honeysuckle Sword, it was still after he so brutally beating the greatest figure in the Order, the greater hope who should have led them to decades of prosperity. Even then, there was something even more important.

'It's true,' they thought.

'He was the one who defeated the Grand Commander!'

'I need to inform the King,' Commander Silversky thought, his eyes darting towards the other soldiers, who were certain this matter needed to reach the King's ears. They would need to watch for the blades of the business, but also the blades of the Order. As the Commander retreated into his cabin, he paused, glancing towards the Iyrman.

"May I help you?"

"Sleep well, Commander," Tanagek stated.

"I will take the first watch."

"…" As the half elf stared at the wall in front of him, he emptied his mind of the constant barrage of berating.

'Didn't I already know I was dumb? It's not like this is the worst thing I've done…' Dunes watched as the half elf finally fought off the pity, his shoulders relaxing with relief.

'Adam…'

"You fought well," Jurot said, sitting down beside the half elf, with wine he had procured from the Order, who certainly would have wanted to poison it, but what would they do if they only poisoned three of them?

"Don't worry," Adam replied, letting out a soft sigh.

"I held back." Jurot blinked, for only Adam could viciously beat the Grand Commander so, and still say he held back.

"You did?"

"Third Gate," Adam whispered back in their tongue, winking at the Iyrman.

'I could have done, what, an extra six… so twenty one? Eh, I pretty much did about two hundred anyway, so it doesn't matter.' Jurot was certain the half elf had still revealed too much, but this was the first time Adam had decided to reveal his true strength in front of the world. He had shown enough to the Iyr, but across this land? Though Dunes was certain the Iyrman was worried, he wondered if Jurot had to smile so proudly.

'Have I ever seen him smile so brightly before?' Jurot poured the drinks for Dunes and Adam, allowing Adam to pour his tiny cup. The Iyrman stared down at his drink, unsure of what to say to finish the day.

"Dunes," Adam said, holding up his cup.

"I promise you. One day, there will come a day when the United Kindom will become a force the lands will have no choice but to respect. Not just because of me, but because of all the monsters that it will hold."

"If you are working so hard… for only forty gold each month? Will you reduce our payments since we are not working as hard?" Dunes asked, raising his brows towards the half elf in worry. Adam let out a small groan.

"So that's what it feels like when I make a stupid joke during a serious moment?"

"If you know it now, do not forget," Dunes said, raising his cup of wine, sharing a knowing look with Jurot, before they both drank to such sentiments.