Omen: 15, 19

  Adam awoke in the m, excited to create something that day. He had already created a fairly det oerday, and today he could make something equally as good. ‘Nice.’

  He pyed with his sister that m, holding her hands as she stood and babbled, squatting every so often, before she finally sat down to rest. After a light training session, and a light breakfast, Adam went to smith.

  Smithing Check (Strength)D20 + 6 = 23 (17)

  Smithing Check (stitution)D20 + 6 = 19 (13)

  Adam thought about using his Omen, but decided against it. What was the use of using his Ome was already so good? He had mao smith an axehead which was almost identical to the axehead he had fed the previous day.

  “Not bad,” Redboulder said, staring at the axeahead. He held both the axehead Adam had fed. “Look here,” he said, dragging a thick finger along the side of the axehead he had fed that day. “Yeh folded this axehead five uhr ten times less thaher, d.”

  Adam nodded his head, unsure of how the Dwarf had mao spot such a detail. ‘Dwarves…’ “Thank you, master Dwarf.”

  “Adam,” Laygak called, bringing the hao the Half Elf, having fi but moments ago.

  “Oh,” Adam said, taking the handle before pg the axehead onto it, before nailing it together. “Nice!” Adam swung the axe around lightly, but he gaze of two Rot family members, before letting Nirot py with it. “Make sure Turot gets a turn too, and watch over him.”

  “I know how to do such things without your words,” Nirot replied, before taking the axe and going off to swing it.

  “Kids, huh?” Adam said, looking to Redboulder.

  “Ay,” he said. “Ah’ve got a few meself. It’s been some time since ah st saw ‘em.”

  “When you say some time, do you mean a few years or a few decades?” Adam asked.

  “Almost a decade,” Redboulder firmed.

  Adam he ck of Iyrmen about, save for Citool and the other Ool family members. Sonarot wasn’t around, and hadn’t arrived until dinner was made, along with the others.

  “W already?” Adam asked.

  “It is time for me to return to work,” she said. “I have been gone for too long, I feel it in my bones.”

  “Fair,” Adam replied, thinking about whether he should spend more time with the children so that the others could move around in peace. Then he looked towards Mirot, Gorot, and Kaygak. ‘Though, that might backfire. I suppose I’ll py with them as long as I don’t roll at least a 14 in the m.’

  Omen: 9, 10

  ‘Well, that was quite the ce,’ Adam thought.

  He spent that m with the Guests who were still in the Iyr. He trained with them in the m, teag Nobby and Brittany, though Jo with Brittany much better.

  ‘Should I apologise to him?’ Adam thought, looking at Jonn for a moment. ‘No, why should I apologise to him when he’s in the wrong?’

  “I’ve been thinking more about the inn,” Adam said. “I think… I want to focus on that once I’ve finished with my tasks in Dawnval. No, after I finish making the magical ons to kit everyone up, I’ll focus on the inn after that.”

  “Speaking of magical ons, I would like to know what you have pnned for your axe,” Dunes said.

  “Why do you think it’s an axe?” Adam joked, before smirking. “I don’t know. I think I’d like something which do damage, but…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I o figure out something which won’t have the Iyrmen covet my on. It has to be good, but not too good.”

  Dunes was sure that Adam was still salty, though he couldn’t bme the Half Elf. After all, he had spent so long making that on, and it was his greatest on to date. Though, he had hoped Adam would stop saying so many dangerous things in his viity.

  “Anyway,” Adam said, looking to Fred. “I was thinking about who would be a det person to take charge of the operation. I ’t do it. Dunes ’t do it. I’m not sure if Vonda wants to do it, but I highly doubt it. The Iyrmen ’t do it. I’m currently training Nobby and Brittany. So that leaves only one real possible answer, and that’s you.”

  Fred wasn’t sure why Adam had been looking at him, up until the st sentence. “What? You wao take charge of the inn?”

  “Yes,” Adam replied.

  “Why?” Fred asked, staring at the Half Elf suspiciously. They weren’t that close, and it wasn’t like he was someone who was trustworthy. They had only known each other for a couple of months, though they had fought together for some time.

  “You’re looking for purpose in your life, aren’t you?” Adam said. “So why don’t you bee the manager of the inn? If you don’t feel like doing it, you tell me and I’ll find someone else.”

  “I don’t think I’m suited to being a manager of an inn,” Fred said. “I ’t do oo well or anything like that.”

  “I’m not asking you to actually mahe inn,” Adam said. “You’re the face of the inn.”

  “The face of the inn?”

  “Yeah, you’ll be the…” Adam wasn’t sure how he could describe it. “You know. I’ll do all the hard work, and on the face of things it will seem like you’re the one managing everything. I’ll even teaost of what you o know, once I learn what it is we o do.”

  “It’s still a rge responsibility,” Dunes said. “Even if yoing to be the face of the inn, it requires a lot of work, and there’s a lot of trust needed.”

  “Well, who else am I meant to pick?” Adam asked. “The Iyrmen ’t do it, and it’s not like either of you are willing.” He looked to Vonda. “Are you?”

  “Perhaps?” Vonda replied. “I do not think I’d make a very good face when I hide half of mine.” Her eyes shut, and she smiled, stifling her giggles.

  “Right,” Adam said, clearing his throat. “Anyhow. Fred. I’ll pay you a sary and you’ll be treated well. You’ll have to work hard, even if it isn’t to do with numbers, but I’ll make sure it’s rewarding, both with and for your soul.”

  “My soul?” Fred asked.

  “Yeah,” Adam said, staring at the man, his eyes full of determination. “That’s what’s important to yht? Doing something worthwhile? So why don’t you mahe inn, and as more inns begin to develop across the entire nd, you might feel a greater sense of aplishment.”

  “Inns across the nd?” Fred wasn’t sure if that ossible. “Aren’t you dreaming too high?”

  “There’s a phrase from where I e from,” Adam said. “Aim for the moon, and if you miss, you fill find yourself amongst the stars.”

  ‘What does that mean?’ Fred thought, though he felt something stir in his heart. Adam always said stupid things, but there was something romantic about the phrase.

  “Just think about it,” Adam said. “A dozen inns, maybe more, all across the nd. No doubt there will be huge problems, from the o other Innkeepers, perhaps even Adventurers. We’ll have to fight to survive against a harsh world, and a harsh people. However, we’ll provide a service that is so good, that people will have no choice but want to defend us. If aries to take us over, then we’ll crush them, no matter who they may be.”

  Adam could only imagine what he was talking about. “Like I said, it will be more than an inn. It’ll be a tiny little fort, ean more like a vilge. We’ll create our own produce, ons, and more. The Guards will be equipped with great ons, magical ons, and will be traio be great warriors. Experts, maybe even Masters.”

  Fred stared at Adam. “Experts are difficult enough to train, but Masters? Masters are srandmasters are even rarer, and those who be sidered Paragons. Only the previous King’s Sword be sidered a Paragon, but even that’s debatable.”

  “I’d say he was,” Adam said. “I’m sure he is. Sir Merry and Sir Royce.”

  “There are maybe ten, twenty Grandmasters in a nd of millions. There may only be a hundred, maybe a few more Masters, outside of those who work directly uhe Nobles. Even if you’re strong, even if Jurot and the other Iyrmerong, you’re no Masters.”

  “Nht now,” Adam said. “I became an Expert in a single year, and I’m sure I bee a Master in maybe two more.” Adam quickly froze. ‘Hold on. I ’t do that. If I Level Up too quickly, won’t it be chaotic?’ “Well, if I wao. I’ll probably not do that.”

  “Right,” Fred said.

  “If you don’t want to, then it’s fine. I still o find a nice spot. If the inn isn’t feasible, then I’ll just au some ented ons…” Adam then realised that may be difficult sihe Great Elders seem to still distrust him. “No. Actually, I should make a home base for us first.”

  Vonda smiled. ‘Every time he talks with us, his dreams get smaller.’ “Perhaps a home base will be the first step towards the inn, and then yency?”

  “Yeah,” Adam said. “You’re right.”

  Click banner for Patreon and e join my Discord too!

  Adam talking himself out of doing cool stuff...

  So this is what it means to be a realist.