WARNING: I did not read through or edit this at all. It is a massive chapter and I am currently too sleep deprived. The same is said for the feters Y05 is dohank you for your uanding.

  I would say this tent is optional, but I highly reend reading it because... you'll see.

  PART ONE

  Adam gasped as he emerged from the ke, g at the nearby bank as he crawled onto soft, sweet nd.

  “Why does it always have to be in water?” Adam asked, rolling over to the side, panting for air. His eyes fell upwards, towards the grey peaks which threatehe heavens. “Where are we?”

  “It is a world we use for training,” Jurot said, gng around. “I have wished to train within this world since I was a man. Now that we are near Masters, we are able to train here.”

  “How long?” Adam asked, spotting the greenery around them. They were in a small alcove, as Adam had bee aced to.

  “One year. Longer, if we wish. Each season is a week. We may remain longer, if we wish.”

  Adam groaned quietly, before following Jurot and Kitool through the nearby cave, which swallowed them with darkness. Adam checked his abilities, noting they were all there, though much of his magic seemed faint, for he did not have his book, or his amulet.

  “You should be wary of casting Third Gate spells her for now,” Jurot warned.

  “Alright.”

  As the group made their way out of the tunnel system, they followed the rough terrain of the mountains, before ing across a road as they stood over the edge of a cliff.

  Athletics (Strength)D20 + 8 = 21 (13)21!

  Adam nded with a grunt, rolling over as his armour jangled, before he hopped onto his feet.

  They followed the road for a few hours, before ing across a small vilge, holding a hundred or two people at most, dispersed among a dozen or so longhouses. The Chief, an older man wearing a leather shirt, narrowed his eyes at the approag folk, but upon seeing the tattoos, he nodded.

  “Which vilge is this?” Jurot asked.

  “Three Star.”

  “The city?”

  “Kozovi. A week to the East.”

  “What happeo Mavi?”

  “Lost in the war. Burnt down by the Shogur. Terrifying peoples they were. Their Warking died, though, and they retreated a year ago. They have yet to return. Who is this one?”

  “My brother.”

  The Chief noted Adam’s ck of tattoos, but nodded.

  “Is there work?”

  “Bears.”

  “Okay. We will stay the night and deal with them in the-,”

  As expected, the horns bred, and Jurot gnced aside towards where he heard the horns.

  Victory!XP +100XP: 19 500 -> 19 600

  Lay on Hands: 40 -> 35

  Adam’s warmth filled the young woman, who watched as her wounds kogether. She stared up at him in shock, and for a moment, Adam wondered if he had made a mistake, but as he go his brother, he didn’t seem to aowledge the magic.

  “You may keep the bears,” Jurot offered, ing his axe, havi with one bear mostly by himself, while Jaygak and Kitool had easily dispatched the other. Adam had barely punched Jurot’s bear, and had left his brother to have his fun.

  “Thank yous.”

  “We need copper and silver for the road.”

  “I fill a pouch.”

  “Thank you.”

  The m, the group made their way out, following along the mountain path.

  Omen: 5, 10

  ‘Bell?’

  [Yes?]

  ‘Will my Omens here affect my children?’

  [No.]

  Adam smiled. “We headed east, then?”

  “North.”

  “Why?”

  “Wyverns.”

  “Oh.” Adam stopped. “You mean there’s wyverns in the north?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s what I thought you meant, I just wao be sure,” Adam said.

  “ you summon your warhorse?”

  “No, I don’t have my…” Adam paused, cheg his spells. “Oh.”

  Mana: 25 -> 23

  Adam ted the words to his spell, motioning with his hands, and summoned forth Zeus, who took the form of a warhorse. “Hey, Zeus.”

  “…”

  “Let me sit up front,” Jaygak said, climbing on top of the warhorse, before Adam hopped onto him, sitting behind her.

  “I’ll remind you, I’m married.”

  “I’ll remind you, you don’t have horns.”

  Adam chuckled, Zeus trotting along the road, following Jurot and Kitool’s speed, rather than Jaygak and Adam’s. During their breaks, eating the bits of fruit and cooking the critters Jurot mao catch, the Iyrman whittled away at the wood.

  “So what have you been up to anyway?” Adam asked, nibbling on the sour fruit. “Kitool I see now and again, but you? You all but disappeared.”

  “I’ve been w,” Jaygak replied, spinning the spit as she roasted the poor creature.

  “W?”

  “W.”

  “Alright.”

  Jurot blew on the symbol, it to Adam. “Adam.”

  “My, my, my. A gift for me? Wasn’t yesterday teically our birthday, if it was the first of the first?”

  “You may use it for a holy symbol,” Jurot said.

  “Shouldn’t- oh.” Adam felt how heavy the wooden symbol was, then tur over, notig the silver the wood g to. “That should do it.”

  “Adam…”

  “Yeah?” Adam replied, noting the tone in Jurot’s voice.

  Jurot’s jaw tensed up. ‘I ot say it.’ “We should be careful.”

  “Alright,” Adam replied, noting Jurot had thought better of saying what he truly felt.

  ‘How I ask him to buy sves?’

  As the week passed, they found an arming ck of wyverns, but plenty of wolves. As they rode to the small stone walled town, Jaygak and Adam sat upon piles of wolf skins. The half elf noticed the town was smaller thahe vilge from the other world, with this town, though fairly developed, numbering perhaps a few thousand strong.

  Jurot held out one of the few silvers he had for the guard.

  “ons sheathed,” the guard warned. “Don’t act a hero here.”

  “Okay,” Jurot replied, bowing his head.

  They stabled their warhorse at the side of the inn, Jurot holding out a silver to the stable girl, who tipped her hat towards the Iyrman, before coaxing the magical steed to a pile of oats and a bucket of water.

  As they stepped within the inn, the warmth bsted Adam, who almost melted. “For the love of all the Divine, please tell me there’s a bathhouse nearby.”

  “Three ers to the left,” the innkeeper called, the man nodding his head. He wore fairly simple attire, but it was the suspi in his eyes at these heavily armoured strahat stepped ied the rags upon their foreheads, w if that was their trademark. “You mercs?”

  “Yes.”

  “You any strong?”

  “Yes.”

  “Baronness is lookin’ for mercs. How strong are you?”

  “You follow us and see.”

  The innkeeper ossing his towel over his shoulder, motioning his head. He stepped out, grabbing a crossbow, the dagger at his side much rger than a typical bde. He led the group to an impressive estate, for a small town. It was smaller than aended family estate, though the walls were greater, and the towers formed a grand defence.

  The Baronness eyed up the four as they approached. She was short, her face marked by wrinkles, her hair as white as snow. She he four before her. One adorned in mail, one in full pte, and two without armour, but were no doubt the kind that were quid nimble, and perhaps, savage.

  Adam gowards the nearby guards, four in who stood at the attention with spears in hand, the fifth in full pte, a rge sword hanging at his hip.

  “If you are to e under my age, there is a matter of bandits.”

  “Okay.”

  The Baroness narrowed her eyes.

  “We will plete this matter,” Kitool said. “Is there a reward?”

  “A hundred gold s upon the end of the matter,” the Baroness assured.

  “We will set out in the m,” Kitool said, before the group were dismissed.

  “I think we should let Kitool do the talking,” Adam said.

  “You do not wish to speak?” Kitool asked.

  “I don’t feel like dying.”

  “My son is growing up,” Jaygak whispered.

  Adam threw her a look, narrowing his eyes. “Watch it, missy. You’re on thin ice.”

  “Cool.”

  Omen: 12, 15

  The m, Kitool and Jurot led them through the nearby woods, skirting around traps they spotted, before ing across a rock that was covered in vines across one face. Kitool o Jurot, who gripped his axe, and as Kitool flicked open the vines, Jurot charged in, Kitool following swiftly within. They had leapt in silently, before a yelp brought Adam and Jaygak’s attention, and they charged in to find Jurot and Kitool in the middle of a melee with almost a dozen figures.

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)(Fnking)D20 + 9 = 23 (14)D20 + 9 = 26 (17)Hit!1D6 + 1D3 + 7 = 11 (2)(2)11 damage!

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)(Fnking)D20 + 9 = 23 (12)D20 + 9 = 26 (16)Hit!1D6 + 1D3 + 7 = 14 (5)(2)14 damage!

  Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)(Fnking)D20 + 9 = 23 (4)D20 + 9 = 26 (18)Hit!1D6 + 1D3 + 7 = 9 (1)(1)9 damage!

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)(Fnking)D20 + 9 = 27 (18)D20 + 9 = 28 (19)Critical Hit!2D6 + 2D3 + 7 = 20 (8)(5)20 damage!

  “That was quick,” the Baroness said, her eyes peering at the four who had dragged along the ten bandits, each tied by the rope, with the four ready to beat them. Kitool had already made an example of one who had tried to slip away, darting after her aing her senseless, causing ao carry her.

  “That’s what I said,” Adam muttered to himself, havien four of them himself with a single blow each. ‘I fet hoeople are sometimes…’

  The feast before them revealed the Baroness’ favour, the ale bnd, the chi supple, the fruits juicy. Adam ate slowly, sav each bite, hoping to take a few for his evening bath.

  “I only appreciate wihe Baroness said, smiling towards the four.

  Adam threw Jurot a look, and as he opened his mouth, he noted Jaygak’s raised brows, and the smirk upon her face. He frowned. ‘You know what? I’ll think twice about saying it.’

  Jaygak’s smirk grew.

  “Now that you have proved yourself, there is another heavy purse of gold. There are small skirmishes upon the border with the various savagekin. You will assist for a month, your pay the sum of two hundred gold for your little group.”

  “We would like a letter of reendation,” Kitool said.

  “If you plete your task in a satisfaanner. You may sleep within the barracks, and you shall leave in the m to the outpost.”

  ‘Gotta let her think she’s important for the letter,’ Adam thought. ‘The sheer gall of a Barohinking we aren’t close to royalty. The gall, I say!’

  “Don’t chuckle like that,” Jaygak said, ging upon seeing his smile.

  “It’s a free try.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” Adam shook his head. “Anyway, I’ll see you guys soon. I’m going to see what a gold gets me ihs.”

  “You’re married.”

  “Hey!” Adam frowned. “That’s uncalled for. What you get fold anyway?”

  “She’ll-,”

  “I don’t want to know!” Adam quickly snapped, flushing slightly. “I surrender, Jaygak. Please.”

  “Fine.” Jaygak smirked wider, seeing the cracks within Adam’s armour.

  Omen: 10, 14

  “They’re our help?” one of the teen boys said.

  “Gods help us. They don’t even have swords!” the other teen said, the pair adorned iical armour of breastpte hter , wielding bdes upon their side. They each looked identical in other ways too, from their haircuts, to their disdain, and to their faces.

  “You must be Joorow, is that right?” The eldest of the children was a young man, twenty or so, though it was difficult to uand his age due to his long stache, like tendrils of embers which curved upwards.

  “Jurot,” Jurot replied, revealing how quickly one should say his name, so it didn’t sound so utterly ridiculous.

  “Lord An Fyrtwick, and I shall lead our pany. You shall have o py with my brothers, they have their guards to bother.”

  “Oh thank the Divine!” Adam whispered, letting out a loud huff, rubbing his forehead. “I get enough grief from spoiling my own children, never mind spoiled other children.”

  “Adam!” Jaygak elbowed him i.

  Health: 112 -> 111

  “Letter of reendation,” Kitool whispered.

  “Oh, my bad. Where are my manners? Ah! There they are.” Adam pihe air fmboyantly, fshing a charming smile. “Shall we?”

  Lord An eyed up the half elf. “trol your man.”

  “Adam, stop ag the fool,” Jurot whispered, before catg Adam’s eyes. “You are embarrassing me in front of the nobles.”

  Adam’s lips twitched, the half elf refraining from smirking. “Sorry.”

  The group made their way out, each carrying sacks of wheat and dried stuffs. They followed the trail to the nearby outpost, at least a dozen miles away. Of course, the house guards, and the nobles, did not o carry so much of the food, but Adam, Jurot, and Jaygak didn’t pin. Kitool, oher hand, rode the steed, which carried her sack. Her eyes remained vigint on the sery around them.

  The wooden outpost greeted them, small, barely enough for a couple of dozen soldiers. However, with the newers, it was almost fifty strong.

  “Fyrtwick! You’ve deigo show up?” another young noble called, grinning wide at An. He had fiery red hair too, swept back, with a streak of silver that looked almost like a stream through his hair.

  “Since you’ll run away at the first sight of the savagekin, the Fyrtwicks should make sure to rally the soldiers.” An reached out to shake the other noble’s hand, and though they both gred at one ahe smiles upon their faces were far friehan Adam expected. “Is there a vote?”

  “Tonight.”

  Adam washed up at the nearby stream. He didn’t feel particurly dirty, but he always felt better after a bath, even a cold shower at the nearby river. ‘I should have brought a basin and warmed up the water with my magic.’

  In the evening, the nobles voted to leave upon the m, and so the group of fifty marched, heading south east towards the frontier.

  “How is it that every time we have to help a noble in war?” Adam whispered. “Seriously.”

  “At least this time you don’t have to py kingmaker,” Jaygak replied.

  “Yeah, guess so.” Adam sighed. “I don’t feel like killing.”

  “You may not have to.”

  “I hope so.”

  Jaygak pat Adam upon his back as they tinued on their way, following the road. Adam was surprised to see only three donkeys joining them, w where the nobles’ horses were. ‘At least they wear full pte, mostly.’

  Adam whistled upon seeing the rge group before them, a hurong, each tall, strong, each heavily furred. Most were wolfkin, though Adam spotted a few felines within the group.

  “We will fight today,” An said, frowning to see they were outnumbered by so much, though they wore leathers and scale, rather than steel. However, their bdes were still deadly, and their hammers deadlier so, especially the handful of bullkin who remained behind.

  “Who should we send to duel?” Ler, the fiery red haired noble, asked. “Yours or mine?”

  “I will go,” Jurot said.

  “They aren’t your typical bandits, Joorow.”

  “Good,” Jurot said, stepping forward, much to the surprise of most others around him, for they hadn’t chose.

  “He must be pent up from not killing,” Adam noted.

  “How could you tell?” Jaygak joked. “Was it how eager he was for battle, or was it him saying he ent up earlier?”

  “A little bit of n A, mostly n B.”

  “What?”

  “Churot would have found that funny as hell.” Adam refrained from bursting out with ughter, and Jaygak relented, for if Adam was trying that hard not to ugh, it probably was quite funny.

  “Anyone want to bet? I’ll bet on my brother. One gold.”

  “One gold,” Rreed. “They’ll be sending one of their better wolfkins to fight him, since he’s not wearing armour.”

  They did indeed send a wolfkin, one who wielded a rge greataxe, uhe rest of the wolfkin, who wielded a pair of bdes.

  “You should surrender, furless,” the wolfkin growled.

  Jurot donned his shield, uhing the axe Adam had crafted for him with his magic. Jurot cracked his neck.

  “I warned you.”

  Unfortunately for the wolfkin, Jurot hadn’t warned him. As they stepped forward to engage one another, Jurot’s axe struck mightier than the wolfkin expected, and forced the beastkin back. Even as his greataxe tried to push the Iyrman back, Jurot quickly khe wolfkin down, his axe pointed down, poised to finish him.

  “Thank you,” Adam said, accepting the small gold , pocketing it.

  “Another!” Jurot decred, letting the wolfkin step away.

  “I bet he beats the guy too.”

  “One gold?” Roger asked.

  “Five.”

  “Very well.”

  A bullkin stepped forward. “Your mistake was to ask for another.”

  “Your mistake ting,” Jurot replied.

  The pair gred between one another, before the air burst, and they cshed harshly. Jurot realised his oppo was at least an Expert, the pair g wildly, their axes threatening to tear one another apart. Thankfully, Jurot’s shield deflected the harshest of blow, though as the pair tio dahe dance of death, they seemed almost equally matched.

  Unfortunately for the bullkin, Jurot was the grandson of the Mad Dog, and his body was fed through fighting dragons.

  “I surrender,” the bullkin said, panting for air as she k upon one knee.

  Jurot inhaled deeply, stepping baodding his head towards her, allowio retreat back to a shocked group of beastkin.

  “Not bad,” Roger cooed towards An, before slipping five s into Adam’s hand.

  “Ten gold says I beat two of theirs simultaneously,” Adam offered.

  “Very well.”

  “Hey!” Adam called out, stepping forward. “I’ll fight two of yours at once.”

  A pair of wolfkin stepped fng between one another, unsure if this was how the duels were meant to go.

  Adam donned his shield, and stretched out his wrist as he held his axe, befripping it tight he bottom. He bowed his head towards the beastkin, who bowed their heads iurn.

  Battle OrderD20 + 1 = 5 (4)

  Health: 112 -> 74

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2Health: 74 -> 79

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 13 (5)D20 + 8 = 15 (7)Hit!Mana: 25 -> 24Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 18 (2)(2)(7)Damage resisted!13 damage!

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 9 (1)D20 + 8 = 21 (13)Hit!Mana: 24 -> 23Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 19 (3)(3)(6)Damage resisted!13 damage!

  Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 13 (4)D20 + 8 = 22 (14)Hit!Mana: 23 -> 22Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 25 (6)(3)(9)Damage resisted!17 damage!

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 18 (10)D20 + 8 = 21 (13)Hit!Mana: 22 -> 21Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 24 (2)(3)(12)Damage resisted!18 damage!

  The wolfkin and Adam cshed, and though Adam raised his shield, their bdes were swift, and the half elf stumbled back away from the pair. He gripped his axe tight, and as it fshed white hot, it slipped through their rage, striking oh a vicioushey hadn’t expected. As his bde cut dow pushed baother.

  The howling shocked Adam, the beastkin shaking their shields, howling out violently, before they charged forward, javelins in hand.

  Health: 79 -> 58

  Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1Health: 58 -> 63

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 19 (11)D20 + 8 = 23 (15)Hit!Mana: 21 -> 20Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 19 (3)(2)(7)Damage resisted!13 damage!

  Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage)D20 + 8 = 9 (1)D20 + 8 = 15 (6)Hit!Mana: 20 -> 19Ability: Divine Smite1D6 + 1D3 + 2D6 + 7 = 22 (6)(3)(6)Damage resisted!14 damage!

  As the wolfkin cshed with Adam, he focused, inhaling sharply, before his axe struck the wolfkin viciously, knog him down as the army charged towards them. Two figures immediately passed Adam, while the soft jangling informed the half elf that Jaygak was right behind.

  Though they were outnumbered, Adam, Jurot, Kitool, and Jaygak, each fought with the strength of five warriors. While the stro of the enemy was an Expert, the four had almost reached the heights of Masters.

  “It’s a little difficult without Great Moon or Bloodseeker,” Jaygak admitted, managing to knock down three soldiers with a burst of strength. “Will I be able to defeat at least six of them too?”

  “Six?” Jurot growled from within his rage, knog down two beastkin. “You should defeat at least ten.”

  “Six is fine, but you are a Gak,” Kitool said, dispatg three without breaking a sweat, a breath, before spinniaff in front of her, causing the beastkin in front of her to pause.

  With swing of their axes, bde, staff, the group knocked out a soldier. After defeating a couple dozeween them, Kitool slipped away, allowing Jaygak, Jurot, and Adam to tinue fighting, while she assisted the nobles who seemed to be struggling against a handful of their own foes. Her spinning staff knocked down several soldiers, while her kicks forced more away from the nobles, her spinning staff causing the beastkin to pause.

  “Nine,” Adam said, his brows raised in arm, having mao roll three natural 20s in a row, almost kidding the soldiers.

  “Ten,” Jurot inhaled deeply, befng down. “Twelve.”

  “Twelve?”

  “You included the two wolfkin duels?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I had not.”

  “Show off.”

  “I maen too,” Jaygak said, pleasantly surprised she had mao keep up.

  “Thirteen,” Kitool said, returning to the group, the four of them dealing with about half of the army themselves, allowing them to flee.

  “Your meraries are… impressive.” Roger said, staring at the four, his face full of restrained worry.

  “So they are,” An replied, staring at the four with a face full of restrained fear.

  “Hey,” Adam called out, pointing ter. “Ten gold.”

  Roger swallowed, nodding his head. “Ten gold.”

  Victory!XP Gained: +600XP: 20 100 -> 20 700

  Quest plete: The First FightsXP Gained: +100XP: 20 700 -> 20 800

  It didn’t take long for the o tie up their foes, ready to cim them as their own.

  “You will receive a share of the sves,” An said.

  Adam narrowed his eyes. “We’ll take our share in gold.”

  “It would be useful for you to-,” An froze, as Jurot stepped in front of Adam.

  “We should take the sves and free them,” Jurot said iongue.

  Kitool and Jaygak both gowards Adam with surprise, for even though they had travelled with him all this time, and even though Adam had let his displeasure of svery known, they hadn’t expected him to react so violently about the matter.

  Adam stepped back, growling out. “What an uncivilised nd. You deal with it, Jurot. I’ll have no part in it.”

  The group swiftly set up camp, Adam patrolling around the area, while the beastkin were settled within cages of wood, watched over by a handful of servants, and a heavily armoured knight with a very long pointy stick to keep them behaving.

  ‘I hate this pce,’ Adam thought. ‘It’s not like I ge anything, not unless I kill a whole lot of people, and stay here for a few decades to make sure things are stable.’

  The day, a gentle rain fell upon the nd, as another army of beastkin approached, a hurong. The leader was a bullkin, who wore a long, thick over his neck, ected to a bar of silver. Upon his back he wore ahat could level trees with a single swing.

  “Bring to me your stro,” he called, his voice low, calm, and filled with a quiethat uled the noblemen.

  “A wicked beast,” one of the twins whispered.

  “Doesn’t know its pce,” the other added.

  Adam inhaled sharply. He gnced aside towards Jurot. “What?”

  “He has asked for our stro.”

  “Why are you looking at me?” Adam asked. “He’s talking about you.”

  “You are stronger.”

  “Most of my strength es from my magical items, and…” Adam shook his shoulders, his armour jangling. “I don’t even have pte. You? You’re strong because you’re you.”

  Jurot’s ears turned red slightly, but he stepped forward, donning his shield, and hoisting up his axe.

  “What is your name?”

  “Jurot.”

  “Jurah. I am Ka’al.”

  “Ka’al.” Jurot bowed his head.

  “You are the stro?”

  “I am one of four who face you.”

  “Who are the others?”

  “Adam, Jaygak, and Kitool.”

  “You may send them to face me too,” Ka’al said before a beastkin barked. He narrowed his eyes. “Ah. You are the one who defeated some of ours yesterday?”

  “Yes.”

  “They say there was a force of four who had defeated half the army.”

  “Yes.”

  “Impressive.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I have not heard of such a thing happening in this geion. You seem… young?”

  “I am twenty three.”

  “How did you bee so powerful?”

  “I have fought a lot.”

  “I see.”

  “I am almost twenty four.”

  “…”

  “…”

  Ka’al drew the greatsword, readying himself to fight. He inhaled deeply, grumbling a prayer to himself, seeing as how Jurot was waiting. ‘Finally. A true warrior.’

  Jurot could feel it. His oppo wasn’t a nobody. He was strong, that much was for certain. He was strohan the beastkin he fought yesterday, and strohan any of the others they had met in this world.

  ‘Bully Guy is going to lose,’ Adam thought. The pair fought recklessly, and while the bullkin’s axe was mightier than Jurot’s smaller axe, Adam uood just how powerful it was to have a brother like Jurot.

  Jurot was nimbler than the bullkin, but he was also tougher. Then, of course, there was the shield. Though it was a simple enough shield, a simple shield was often times the differeween life ah. Even Adam, when he wielded his axe in both hands, only dealt one additional point of damage, in exge for two points in his Defehe two points in his Defence was just enough to denote which person was going to live or die.

  Except, Jurot wasn’t just ah a shield. Jurot was nimble, far more nimble than the average guy. He was also tougher than the average guy. Except, for a Rage Dancer, both of these together formed their Defence.

  Adam’s Defence was 16 from his armour, 17 from Defence, 18 from his magid 20 with his shield.

  Jurot’s Defence almost matched his own, 18 or 19, though he wore no , like Adam, and did not enha through magic. Jurot’s Defence was that high because he was a Rage Dancer, and he was crazy strong.

  Unarmed, unarmoured, Jurot was the seost terrifying figure within the group, perhaps in some ways, he was the most terrifying figure.

  However, Adam hadn’t expected that. As the pair fought, Adam realised why he had thought so soon. Though Jurot and the bullkin fought with great passion, Ka’al was not fighting like Jurot. The greataxe sometimes missed Jurot, but every time it struck, it struck with twice the force of Jurot’s own blows. He fought as viciously as Amokan, who always threw caution to the wind, and used his bde to bisect his oppos.

  ‘e on, Jurot.’ Adam bit his lower lip, regretting not going ahead. With his Shield spell, he could increase his Defeo 24, meaning the bullkin would need a Critical Hit, a one in ten ce sidering the way he fought. His smites would have also quied the battle, but Jurot? Jurot fought not with magic, but by something eveer.

  Rot.

  One of the greatest weaknesses of the Rot family was that, against e Dancers, they did not possess anything special. Their abilities were great against other warriors, but more importantly, Oathsworn, who could still bypass the resistane Dancers, save the Rot family’s way of dang.

  ‘If I had gone first…’ Kitool was fairly certain she could have won if she had mao go first and stuhe bullkin in pce. If she hadn’t, then she would have fallen quickly, since she was not as tough as her panions.

  Meanwhile, Jaygak was under no illusions, for she uood she wouldn’t have been able to hahe bullkin. The only time she truly thrived was against magical foes when they were uo use magi the dark, in plete bess, and, wherever there was fire.

  Though she was watg the fight, her mind wandered. She thought of her younger brother, who had so excitedly held Stormdrake. She thought of Taygak, who had given up Bloodseeker to Enisa. Thehought of Kavgak and Maygak, each who were still so small.

  ‘I wonder if it’s Fate,’ Zijin had said.

  ‘What?’ Jaygak replied.

  ‘You… retired.’

  ‘…’

  Zijin stared at the wine before him. ‘It was always my biggest regret, that I was uo help the Gak family. I couple of years, I thought if I could help Taygak, she could inspire Raygak, and he would have a fair being a Master. I always thought Raygak held the most potential when it came to his geion of Gak children. I am certain that when Taygak leaves, she will do well, but she will stop, like you, fak. I thought, for the st few years, Raygak would be the oo raise your family’s name…’

  Jaygak recalled it, the smile on Zijin’s face. It was not the smile of trouble, like her niece’s smiles, nor was it a smile of joy, as one might have expected. It was the smile of hope.

  ‘Iy years, when my hair and bears are white, when perhaps your hair will whiten from the stress, we will see it.’

  ‘See… what?’

  Zijin smiled, pushing his personal notebook in front of the young girl. It was a book only meant for Elders. Jaygak had tentatively reached for it, and there she saw it.

  Four names.

  Kavgak.

  Maygak.

  Tavgak.

  Faygak.

  Jaygak had read the notes in the Elder’s handwriting, each letter written with care, each word thoughtfully structed. Then came the reendations.

  ‘Will they allow it?’

  ‘That is for my successor to worry about,’ Zijin joked, for he had done all he could to pave the way for the Gak family.

  Jaygak hadn’t been blind to it. She had seen Kavgak lead the four year olds. She had seen the way not even Maygak releo her elder sister when it came to her sweets. She had seen the way Tavgak pyed so graciously with the children. She had seen Faygak, though so shy and sweet, refuse to surrender her toys with her grip, even to the likes of Taygak.

  The four letter word known as hope had been buried deep within, for all she could do was have faith that the children would grow well. They would need an Elder who would push them forward, and the Iyr to do what was expected of it, and they needed another four letter word.

  Fate?

  Luck?

  Jaygak’s eyes fell to the figure beside her, who tapped his bicep lightly, the gentle jingling of sounding like the gentle rain.

  Adam let out a relieved sigh as the bullkin dropped to a knee, causing the beastkin to fall silent. Their h almost inspired a win, but their leader had been uo bury the wall known as Jurot.

  Just like that.

  Victory!XP Gained: +300XP: 20 800 -> 21 100

  Due to the appearance of fures, the borders had been secured, by the g of armies, and by the g of two monsters. The beastkireated, and for the month, they remained in the shadows. Though the armies were sent out, the beastkin were o be seen, or rather, some were seen, and upon seeing one of the fures, they returo the shadows.

  Quest plete: iesXP Gained: +200XP: 21 300 -> 21 500

  “What of the letter of reendation?” Kitool asked, accepting the pouches full of gold and silver.

  “That requires some time,” the Baroness replied simply.

  “Do we need a reendation?” Adam asked.

  “It is useful to have.”

  “Let’s at least go back t with royalty. I mean, no offeo yood self, Baroness, but our circle is usually a little more… prestigious, back where we’re from. We should have gotten a letter of reendation from our friend if it was going to be a big deal, but hey ho, that’s life. e o’s head out before they accuse of something and we have to burn down another castle for causing trouble.”

  “Why do we always have to burn down their castles?” Jaygak asked. “It looks back upon some of us more than others.”

  “That’s how it works. They accuse us of something, I get mad, then we end up killing them all, taking our repehen leaving. It’ll be up to their ruler to put in another noble family that knows its pot ours. If the ruler has a problem, then, well, I mean… we’ve probably killed more Kings than we’ve put onto a throne, right?”

  “That happened so far away, they probably haven’t heard of it,” Jaygak replied.

  “Not my fault they couldn’t see how strong we were while holding back against the beastkin. If they want to get rid of us, they’ll wo hundred soldiers to protect their nds, and more to kill us. She’s smart enough to know that, aren’t you, Baroness?”

  Baroness Fyrtwick blinked, gng towards her eldest son, who returned a fused look.

  “Look, you’ve fused them. They think you’re making it up.”

  “Once she accuses us of something, we just show her.”

  “So yoing to wait?”

  “Well, obviously. I’m a civilised man, I wait to defend myself rather than, you know… whatever they do here.” Adam waves his hand dismissively. “I mean, look, they haven’t even gotten rid of svery. What else do you expect from such a… folk.”

  “Are you going to mess with these people too.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don’t call them people, that’s… that’s offensive. I mean… sure, they have… rhythms. s. Very, tiny castles, and…” Adam eyed up their attire, “colourful rags. Just because someone has det armour or onry, does not allow them to sit at our table.”

  Jaygak gred at Adam, who gred at her iurn, and before either of them could break, Jurot and Kitool escorted them out.

  “I really appreciate that,” Adam said, fist bumping Jaygak. “I really, really hat.”

  “It felt refreshing to me too,” Jaygak admitted. “I’m almost impressed by how noble you could act.”

  “No one could it better than Greynd,” Adam said, almost too proudly. “Should we wait for them to arrest us? I drop a Fireball or two and we head out.”

  Almost like clockwork, the knight and fuards appeared, staring at the four, two of whom remairaight faced, while the other two beamed from behind their helmets.

  ‘I probably shouldn’t burn down the castle, the onfolk could probably use it,’ Adam thought, already preparing to cast his magic. ‘Why did they bring only four though?’

  As they rode away to the city, Adam sighed. “I feel almost like a thief.”

  “Do thieves usually gain an additional hundred gold for threatening a noble’s life?” Jaygak asked.

  “I guess not. Plus, if I’m stealing from a thief, is it really theft?”

  “Are they thieves?”

  “The root of nobility is theft, isn’t it?”

  “I thought it was murder they call killing?”

  “Yes, but also theft.”

  Jaygak narrowed her eyes.

  “Think about how the Aldish-,”

  “You really are smart.”

  Adam smiled, all the while sitting while fag the back of the road, the least romantic way of riding. “Do you think Vonda makes exceptions for nobles?”

  “No.”

  “This is the problem with having such a perfect wife. I o be better to meet her expectations.”

  ‘Do you feel that bad?’ Jaygak thought.

  ‘Should I pick a fight with nobles?’ Jurot thought, w how he should cheer his brother up.

  ‘We should adopt a few children,’ Kitool thought, who was no doubt the wisest of them all.

  “Adam?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Why didn’t you call them Fartwick?”

  “I do have some css, Jaygak.”

  What? Intelligent nobles? In my story?