[1744] – Y07.244 – Training Out Hearts IV

The crisp duskval air entered his lungs, and as the rain gently fell, it filled his mind as he continued to meditate. It was the the rain slightly shifted, and he opened his eyes, noting the bald head, the neat beard that fell down towards his chest, and the smile upon his lips.

“…”

“Did I interrupt your meditations?” Malfev asked, as though he thought he hadn’t.

Bilal stood. The older Aswadian man, though he looked forty, wore the business’ clothes, and carried a scimitar at his side. His hair was stark white, his long hair flowing down to his shoulders, his beard having grown in, hiding many of his features. Upon him, he wore an aura of death.

“The children, they wish to step out next year against the Reavers,” Malfev said, looking up towards the grey sky. “I assume you will wish to remain?”

“It would be best,” Bilal replied.

A long moment of silence passed between them.

“Would you like to spar?”

Bilal had felt it, the difference between them, but if he wished to spar, he would not refuse it. Even if Malfev was a step ahead, it did not guarantee victory, although the two fought only until they were out of breath.

Adam returned to enchanting once he could, continuing to Fabricate, at least an item each day, although he would often spend an hour, and then also an hour during his break, for he wanted to make sure he could Fabricate everything, from the armour, to the weapons, for he had many gifts he wished to give.

“Huu!” Inakan cried, allowing her tears to flow freely, and in an instant, she was within his arms.

“Inakan! What’s wrong?” Adam asked, and within his heart, he wondered if he needed to destroy the world.

“I am so weak, cousin Adam! I cannot even play!”

“Who said that?”

The girl cried harder, wailing so loudly, for at least her lungs were strong. “Cousin Adam!”

“I’m here, I’m here, my dearest Inakan,” Adam said, patting her back gently, as the girl stopped sobbing, and allowed him to wipe her face. “You are strong in your own ways.”

“Huu…”

Adam swallowed, his heart throbbing. “Do you want to be strong?”

Inakan nodded.

“Okay, alright, well, maybe cousin Adam can help, but can you wait?”

“Okay…”

“My dearest Inakan…” Adam was glad her birthday was soon, just a few days away, and as he thought back to what he could gift her, he was certain there was something. It was later in the day when he remembered what he had managed to procure a few years ago.

“Yes?” Vonda asked.

“Inakan cried about being weak.”

Vonda frowned. The girl had been born a little too soon. Her glasses were a result of the fact that her eyes were weak, but even the rest of her, she was still a touch smaller than her peers.

“I was thinking, you know, maybe we could give her the gauntlets?”

Vonda thought for a moment. “Which gauntlets?”

“The ones I got from the secret place that I… didn’t tell you about.” Adam winked.

“Ah, yes, I do recall them.”

“Although, I guess there are better gauntlets I could make her?”

“I’m sure she will enjoy them.”

“Are you sure?”

“I do not know why you asked me,” Vonda admitted.

“It's a big gift, and they belongs to you as much as it belongs to me.”

“Gift it if you wish,” Vonda replied, placing a hand upon his.

Adam wrapped his arms around his wife, hugging her tight, staring into her eyes, and the two kissed gently, Adam resting his cheeks against hers. “I love you.”

“I know.”

“It is a little crazy how half of the references I make are from Star Wars.”

“You still haven’t told me how it ends.”

“I mean, it doesn’t end per se, but, trust me, it’s bad.” Adam sighed, mourning the end of the movies. He only prayed they had made some more decent movies or shows after what he had seen. ‘Man. I kind of wish I had access to that sort of thing. Why didn’t I transmigrate, or whatever it’s called, to a place with a smartphone or something…’

A yawn filled the air within the business.

‘I’m not going to go even for a magical weapon,’ Jane thought. She had known the half elf for almost three years now, and even after seeing all the insane things she had, she wasn’t interested in stepping out against the Reavers. Even so, the northerner in her heart wondered if perhaps she should. ‘Stop it, Jane…’

Another young woman sipped along her tea lightly, without a single danger aiming towards her, a luxury within the Iyr. She stared at her companion in front of her, the one adorned entirely in cloth, hiding every inch of their physique, and as she glanced aside, towards Tanika, she wondered if the sand giant had figured out what Siten was. However, if she did, she made no indication of knowing.

‘Reavers…’ Tanika thought. She, too, had begun her training, and considering her physique, she had requested some specialised equipment from the Iyr, larger rocks, larger trees, and she had even begun to spar with a few Grandmasters of the Iyr. ‘What a life…’

Maharan, too, wielded his sword, eyeing up the quicksilver blade, that which could through the air as though it was magical. He was adorned head to toe in steel, a steel gifted to him by the half elf, and he had felt it too, a greater strength that he hadn’t previously possessed. All he had done was watch the half elf fight and he was already half way to an Expert? Is that how that worked? He was fairly certain it wasn’t, but he did not question it, and he considered the half elf’s promise.

‘Perhaps I could become a Grandmaster?’

The young fellow, from the Confederacy, continued to train lightly, although he considered how awful it would be to wear this heavy armour where the sun rose high and bore upon the people heavily. He sheathed his sword, and took off his helmet, feeling the brisk air upon his face.

He supposed he did miss home.

PATREON FOR 30+ CHAPTERS!

Adam is growing up. Inakan says she's weak and he didn't make her any belts of giant strength.