It was in this place, a humble place of Arisa, in which the Faro had assumed the half elf who put on little airs would prefer, which was the true battlefield. As they drank their tea, as they ate their small desserts, the moments passed, and once they were done with their small talk, the two would begin their bout.
‘Since grandaunt could probably defeat that woman, I’ll have to take on everyone else,’ Adam assumed, not quite actually wishing for them to fight, although it would be quite fun. However, the issue was that if they did fight, the half elf would need to bring down various Fireballs, and though would lead to much destruction, much death, and much disappointment. ‘At the very least I’m sure grandaunt could probably defeat the woman and then assist me after.’
These were this particular half elf’s idle thoughts, and for once, this particular half elf did not allow his face to reveal his thoughts, sipping away at his tea, taking bites of his dessert, and then it was time to discuss these particular matters.
“I hope you are willing to accept a few requests,” Lady al-Yasin called.
“If they are acceptable.”
“Yes…”
Adam’s lips twitched slightly, though he remained tense in the fact, all the while the woman composed herself, with the understanding the half elf was still on edge. Her request seemed simple enough, a few Basic weapons, a few Greater weapons, though with the requests the Amira had made, it seemed the half elf would need to spend a long time enchanting, and considering what he had prepared for the next year, and his current thoughts on how he would like to do business, it may be the case that once he returned to the Iyr, he would not step out once more until the year passed.
It was then Adam placed down his cup. His eyes remained staring within the woman’s gaze long and hard, with a steely look within his own, as though he was no longer the fool who made the stupid joke that had disarmed the woman. He even allowed her a few moments to prepare herself for the insanity which would follow.
“I was rather enamoured by the auction, in which I was rather rude to you in, so I have shown some mercy in return, and I’m sure the various herbs I sent eased the hearts of those whose pride I wounded.” Adam then raised a hand, and as he clenched his fist, killing the thought, closing his eyes to consider his next few words, and though the action was quite threatening, the young man sighed. “As you can tell, we had quite the awkward encounter this year, and thus you find me within your wonderful city before I should have returned.”
“Your misfortune is our fortune, which is a shame, but I cannot deny I dislike it,” the Lady replied, holding the half elf’s gaze for a long moment.
The half elf held her gaze with his steely look.
A small smile slipped upon his lips. “I appreciate you have such good humour.”
The half elf began to pour them all tea once more, and with her joke, and the good humour within his heart, the half elf leaned back, closing his eyes once more, considering his thoughts for a moment once more. “I rather enjoyed your auction, and noticed that the items reached prices that were rather eye watering, and even I, whose wealth is decent enough to say that I am rich, though perhaps not wealthy, felt the ache afterwards. I noticed the items reached prices that they usually didn’t reach whenever we auctioned weapons in Red Oak, a small town in Aldland, and so I realised the difference between a small town and the capital of one of the wealthiest regions in the world, so I’ve come to ask if you, like a few other nobles, would like to auction some of our weapons, those which are Basic, Greater, and those which are beyond those, or rather, Enhanced.”
The Faro’s eyes had widened with dragon greed for a moment, but upon hearing the half elf correct himself, she remained hungry for the opportunity, though considered if perhaps the half elf could offer her weapons beyond Greater.
“You intend to auction within Arisa?” Lady al-Yasin asked.
“That depends…”
“…”
“As long as the House on the Hill has nothing to do with it, I would be willing to hand over a few weapons for you to auction here.”
The Faro remained silent for a long moment, considering the half elf’s words, for it was not a surprise the half elf wouldn’t want the House on the Hill involved, for she recalled they had disrespected him so blatantly, and from the rumours, recalled how they had even interrupted his day with his children, a mistake even the Faro understood she must never make, for though she was a Faro, she did not possess anyone within her court who was as insane as he.
“That will be quite difficult…”
“Then you can auction weapons from the capital, and, of course, when we pass through and are accepting work, we shall listen to your requests.” Adam held the woman’s gaze with her own, since it was up to her whether she wanted to work with him or not. If the House on the Hill possessed that much influence, then she had to curse her own luck, or should speak with them to speak of how they should apologise to him appropriately, for though he had indeed been rather rude, they shouldn’t have tried to play him the way they did. ‘Seriously. Why didn’t they realise what kind of being I was? If they knew I was insane, if they knew I was a Crazy Father, and that even the Faro was apprehensive around me, shouldn’t they have treated me a little nicer? Do I need to be a little more insane?’
The tenseness in the half elf’s shoulders revealed more to the Faro, and so with a heavy heart she bid him well, sending along desserts and a more appropriate escort, Kal Fadi, who had remained nearby, behind a wall, as to not distract the half elf, and not to offend him, just in case the bout between his uncle and he had caused any ill will.
“How are you doing, Kal Fadi?” Adam asked as they rolled back across the land in the chariot.
“I am well.”
“I keep thinking about your blades, when you fought my uncle, and I can’t help but remain mesmerised by them.” Adam looked back to another time, his eyes sparkling lightly, and as he thought of the fight, a smile fell across his lips. “You’re so strong!”
Kal Fadi wasn’t sure how to respond, especially with one of the Ten Paragons opposite him. His heart ached, and he wondered if perhaps he shouldn’t have spoken with the Faro to send a few Experts along instead.
Somehow, however, the Kal, after being invited to speak with them, managed to slip away swiftly to return to work, though not before greeting the children, who excitedly met him that afternoon, no longer tired by a day’s travel, and as he slipped away he thought perhaps he had made a mistake in leaving so swiftly.
‘To remain was a mistake. To leave was a mistake.’ Kal Fadi let out a soft sigh, his confidence shaken after meeting the one called the Crazy Father, whose abilities were beyond impossible. Thankfully, however, that particular half elf didn’t seem too offended by the Faro. ‘Why do I think of it such a way?’
How terrifying it was that there was one who could even make him think the Faro of Arisa should not offend one who was barely no longer a boy. He was a youth not even yet half his age, and yet it was he many nobles found themselves tiptoeing around. Even the Faro, having met them this year, had realised the depths at which the half elf fell, for he was that close to the Iyr, he was that powerful, and he was that young.
The Kal, like the Faro, was just glad the half elf didn’t seem to hold the youthful will to reach for the sky, for if he was more like the Iyrmen, he would have already begun his ascent into defeating, and perhaps killing, a great many of their warriors, and at this time, with the Reavers plaguing the land, it was such a thing they could not afford.
However, if he was that kind of man, could they do anything?
Kal Fadi recalled Shaool’s glare within her eyes, and the softness in which she watched over the half elf, who she treated as if he was a slow nephew, and yet the half elf was not slow in the mind, for the most part, for though he was outwardly a fool, and taken by his emotions, he still understood how to speak to them, and the position he held. It was that, Kal Fadi thoguht, which was perhaps most dangerous of all.
PATREON FOR 30+ CHAPTERS!
Kal Fadi, don't worry, it's not you who is insane.
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