“So, what was that about?” Adam whispered ohey had returned within the inn, sipping at his warm milk.

  “Manager Vonda has bee a Mother,” Jurot expined.

  “Oh,” Adam replied, slowly nodding his head. He tio sip his milk. ‘That’s so nice.’ “Oh!” Adam’s brows fshed upwards for a moment as the realisation hit me. “She’s a Mother now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Gosh, I wonder who the…” Adam sipped his milk. “No. I’m better than that. So what was that light?”

  “The Guardian of Faith spell which has firmed her assion to gaining the title of Mother.”

  “Ah, that makes… isn’t that a Fate spell?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh! I didn’t know she knew Fate spells.”

  “She has known them for some time.”

  “How do you know?”

  Jurot threw Adam a knowing look. “There are many steps to be taken to bee a Mother within Life’s Rose. The m prayers. The sing. The decration. The first prayers. The first reading. The first meal. The solitary prayers. It is ohe Guardian of Faith is revealed that she is sidered a Mother.”

  “Ah…” ‘I wonder what they all look like. Will I o do that to bee a Father? No, what am I saying? Aren’t I already a father already?’

  Jurot ignored Adam’s stupid face. “Mother Vonda must plete ten water fasts from suo su for the en days.”

  “Damn,” Adam said. “I tried water fasting once. I drank tea an hour in.”

  Jurot nodded, having no doubt it occurred sine Adam is Adam.

  “Should I return back to the order to bee a Father?” Dunes pondered. He was strong enough that he could also gaile, though it wasn’t timely to return at the moment, since he o solidify a few matters.

  “Well…” Adam pulled ba his seat and crossed his arms. “I’m growing up.”

  “Perhaps the world is ing to an end?” Dunes joked, before noting Amira’s gre towards him, causing him to hide his smile behind a cup.

  “Hopefully not any time soon…” Adam replied, more seriously thahers would have liked.

  “The festival will begin tomorrow and will st three days,” Jurot informed.

  “So we’ll probably see her after that? I guess we’re not in a rush, and I don’t mind not moving mu noonval. Who decided it was a good idea to make a season that’s so damn hot? Don’t they know fae ck metonin.”

  Jurot’s gaze fell on Adam for a moment.

  “Or is it menin? I think I need more metonin to help with my sleep?” Adam furrowed his brows. “Anyway…”

  “Where did you get that sword?” Amira asked, noting the new sword at Dunes’ side. It was quite a well built bde, made of silversteel, or steelver as some called it.

  “I bought it,” Dunes replied, gng towards Adam, who retending not to listen in on the versation, but the sly smirk said otherwise.

  “Why did you buy a new sword when you have such a nice magical bde?”

  “I will request the Enter to ent it.”

  “Aren’t you too greedy?”

  “Since I am a Manager, I not request freater Enhanced bde like those of the Executives?”

  “They’re Executives of the business, and you are a priest of Bck Mountain,” Amira stated firmly.

  Dunes smiled politely towards her, the same kind of smile which often riled her up. “Of course.”

  “Morn…” Amira’s eyes fell to Adam. ‘Even if he is ridiculous, he…’ Amira paused. She had been with Adam for a long while now, and she had heard so many ridiculous things. She had even heard about his meeting with a Lesser Divihough Dunes had not bee. Many things were unbelievable, but became more pusible as time passed but…

  ‘Did I not just see him defeat the Seventh Hope in a single blow?’ Amira thought. ‘Then go on to fight the First Hope and almost defeat him too?’

  The se repyed within the devilkin’s mind. It had been such a ridiculous se, she hadn’t really processed it within her mind or heart. Her eyes then so Dunes and the reason why he wao remain with Adam. At first, she had believed it to be such a ridiculously weak reason, but now…

  Adam is Adam.

  She uood the words now. She had thought she had known them previously, but she was wrong, for now she uood what the others spoke of when it came to Adam.

  ‘Leaving Dunes here to assist Adam while providing a positive influence from our order…’ Amira remained silent for a long while as the realisation hit her. ‘When did you bee so smart, Morn?’

  Korin’s eyes also fell to Adam, though he decided against thinking about anything in particur. It was already dangerous enough to be beside Adam, to think about him too, it was too much.

  It was ter in the day when the Aswadians gathered together, each p Dunes a drink.

  “You’re too old now, Dunes,” Korin said, his eyes pyful.

  Dunes replied back with a gre as if to dare him to say more, as though Amira was nearby, so was Sara. “You mean wise, Korin.”

  “If you were wise, you wouldn’t be stuck beside a Deyed Fireball,” Korin joked.

  “He’s not as deyed as I would like.” Dunes chuckled, while Korin joined his chug, the pair king their cups together and drinking.

  “Do you still io remain with Adam?” Sara asked, p Dunes a drink, before king cups with him and drinking.

  “I do.”

  Amira groaned, p Dunes some wine. “You should return back to Aswadasad a married first.”

  Dunes chuckled, hiding his gentle flush behind the alcohol. “Married? I already have one child who picks fights with nobles and orders, how I look after another?”

  Amira betrayed a smile for a moment, before they ked cups and drank. “Have you told us all the secrets yet?”

  “No,” Dunes replied.

  “Will you?”

  Dunes waved his hand. “You will find them out in time.” Dunes didn’t want to say more, especially not when he had kept a particur thi. It wasn’t his secret to share, sino doubt it would paint a huge target on Adam’s back, while simultaneously making sure Adam got himself out of trouble.

  “We should return back to Aswadasad soon,” Korin said. “We have been gone for too long.”

  “I have sent word back to the order,” Dunes said. “I io send word to the Priest ander soon.”

  “Did he not shout at you st time?”

  “He did, but he must hear me out before he shouts at me, for it is the way the magic works.”

  “You will be disciplined once you return.”

  “I will accept whatever punishment, though I hope I am saved by my panions.”

  “If you wish to get yourself in trouble, you do so without getting us in trouble!” Amira replied back, barely taining her voice since she couldn’t do much to Duhat day.

  “Then I will trust in Adam to protect me when Bck Mountain ot.”

  “You!” Amira grabbed Dunes, bringing his head into a headlock, while Dunes chuckled. “Do you think just because it is your birthday I won’t beat you?”

  “Yes.”

  Amira let him go with a huff. “I will g more drinks.”

  “I should go speak with Adam,” Dunes said.

  “Did you not spend all day with him?”

  “He wao speak privately in the evening.”

  “Ha! It seems the priests find him so attractive.”

  “He is not gay.”

  “He’s not?” Amira asked, vaguely recalling the se pying out previously.

  “No.”

  “He is a half fae?”

  “He is.”

  Amira remained fused as Duepped out, going to kno Adam’s door, before the pair made their way to drink in a private room.

  Adam poured Dunes some wine. “You know, I’m finding a greater appreciation for wine.”

  “You drink so mu the Iyr.”

  “Yeah, I guess I do, but I gotta be careful otherwise it’ll put my throat on fire, or make my tongue numb.”

  Dunes chuckled. “We have simir jokes in Aswadasad.”

  “Seriously…”

  Dunes winked, holding up his cup. Adam gently ked it, before the pair sipped their wine.

  “How are you feeling?” Adam asked.

  “I feel well, and you?”

  “I’m doing pretty well…”

  “Good. Why did you wish to speak with me so te in the evening?” Dunes asked, as though he didn’t know.

  Adam smirked slightly. “Happy birthday, Dunes.”

  Dunes chuckled. “Thank you, Adam.” Adam had been so coy earlier in the day, pretending as though he didn’t know it was Dunes’ birthday, and just taking him out to buy something for Taygak.

  “I’m gd we met, Dunes.”

  “I am gd we met too, Adam.”

  “You know…” Adam inhaled deeply before exhaling. “I’m very gd that I have all the panions that I do. Rarely, you’ll push me further into trouble, but I ’t bme my brother for that. I had no idea I was su idiot I’d wo priests, one who riest of War, to stop me from being an idiot and pig fights.”

  “You rarely pick fights, Adam. It is just that fights e to you.”

  “Yeah, well…” Adam poured Dunes more wine. “Like I said, I’m happy to have you with me.”

  “I am happy that I am here to watch over you too.” Dunes smirked.

  “Dunes?”

  “Yes?”

  Adam waited a moment until Dunes was sipping his wio tinue. “When you and Amira have children, I’ll be allowed to spoil them, right?”

  Dunes mao not choke on his alcohol. “It depends on how much you’ll spoil them.”

  “Are you going to stop me from getting them all kinds of gifts?” Adam asked.

  “What kinds of gifts.”

  Adam grumbled quietly. “I ’t believe the Iyr is stopping us from handing them Greater reater ons…”

  Dunes chuckled. “We shall see if you will bee Uncle Adam as you are Father Adam, isn’t that right, Brother Adam?”

  Adam chuckled. “Should I also bee a Father?”

  “Are you not already a father?” Dunes joked. “No. They would restrain you too much, and it may be difficult to gain Sixth Gate spells.”

  “Sixth Gate spells? Who, me?” Adam raised his brows. “You say some dangerous things, Dunes.”

  “At some point you had as many children as you had access to the knowledge of Gates,” Dunes said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Is it still true?”

  “I’m not that strong… yet.”

  Dunes sighed. “The greatest gift I have received is the knowledge that you are not yet that troublesome.”

  “I thought the sword for your future wife would be good enough.”

  “Shall I speak of the new Mother?”

  “I apologise gravely, Manager Dunes.”

  Just a bit of banter.