TUF: PREVIEW/DRAFT 41-50

CAUTION:

This is a very rough draft of the first third or so of the novel, and is not entirely indicative of the quality you might expect of the edited draft.

You can expect the edited draft on the 31st of August in 2025.

Thank you for reading and if you wish to comment your thoughts please use the appropriate Patreon post.

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FORTY ONE

‘What the fuck?’ Percy thought as the bushes nearby stood up and began to walk towards them.

“Oh?” Sal said, far too excitedly, knocking his arrow. “Percival, watch this!”

The boy snuggled up to the Mo’An’s bossom as the woman held him, his father standing ahead, preparing his magic. The arrow slipped past the trio, striking one of the bushes, while Kal, whose skin peeled from the whip from a spiked branch, cut the creature in half with his magical greatblade, flexing his muscles.

Zal’s thin blade cut through the same bush his brother had shot, his magic amplifying his blade, exploding with magical might, the same as his brother’s, while Shiva and Rayna slew the last.

Trick: Eldritch Blast

D20 + 5 = 8 (3)

Miss!

Percy narrowed his eyes, his companions managing to deal with the last of the bushes, the villager keeping an eye out from behind.

Victory!

XP Gained: +60

XP: 340 -> 400

“I swear I’m much better normally,” Percy said, while his son stared up at him for a moment, ebfore the boy smiled and squealed. “What do you mean? I would never lie to you!”

The boy giggled and laughed, all the while Percy tried to assure his son.

“Just you watch, I’ll definitely show you!” Percy stated, as though tempting Fate.

Unfortunately for him, or perhaps fortunately, they arrived safely at the large lake fortress. Percy noted the large number of Angyr around, not the few who stood off in one corner, but the babes, each roughly the same size as Daniel, though many with various different appearances.

They settled themselves within one of the many cabins, with some of the townsfolk hanging about, their eyes glued to the Angyr. The Angyr were also glaring towards that particular cabin, first eyeing up the Angyr child, but then their eyes met with the large figure whose eyes remained fixated upon them.

“Ah, it is he, the Little Chieftain boy,” one of the Angyr said, her hair golden, her eyes sparkling like the rays of the sun. She was adorned in breastplate, a long cape flowing down from her shoulders, a symbol of the sun emblazened upon her breastplate. A blade of, what seemed to be silver, hung at her side.

“You may call him so, but do not forget, sister, he almost killed our little one,” the other said, smirking towards their younger companion.

The third Angyr, of five, narrowed his eyes, noting the looks of the other Angyr, those with similar hair to his own, almost red, their eyes also sparkling like flames. ‘Hmph!’

Though it had turned to evening, with Percy being the last to arrive, they could finally settle the matter here and there.

The eldest of the Angyr stepped forward, the flames flickering off of her beautiful armour, the kind that made even the half dragons nearby envious. She stood tall and proud, as one might have expected of her, for she was born of the Divine Lords.

“You possess children of the Divine Lords,” the woman said, speaking clearly, for all to understand she was not here to jest. “We are keepers of such divine treasures. You have no right to hold them within your possession.”

Elder Kama inhaled deeply, sitting up a little taller from the young woman’s words. As she did, she noted the look from the Captain, who shook her head lightly, and the Supreme Elder narrowed her eyes. “If you wish for the children within their possessions, you must convince those who have adopted the divine treasures to surrender their children.”

“We promise a blessing, fine treasures, piles of silver and gold, and fine weapons and armoured to each who return the children to we, who are rightfully their family.”

The Malin around glanced between one another, their ears twitching upon the offer, each turning back to consider their words.

“Do you say you will grant us all of such, or one or two?” a Malin asked, an older man, in his venerable age asking a wise question.

“All of such for each child,” the Angyr promised.

The Malin rushed to whisper between one another, for such an offer was a truly grand offer. One or two of such was enough to surrender the children, but all? They imagined the silver and gold wouldn’t be much, but everything else, from the blessings to the equipment would be great, certainly.

“I don’t know why I’m here,” Percy whispered to Shiva. “I’m not giving up my son.”

“You must speak your refusal.”

“Huh,” Percy almost scoffed.

“Speak, stranger,” an Angyr called, the same who glared towards Kahn.

“You’ve come to the wrong,” Percy said. “I’m not giving up my son.”

“Name your price.”

“He’s not for sale, so there is no price,” Percy stated firmly.

“You must surrender the child.”

“I don’t think so.”

“You are making a mistake, boy.”

“What mistake is that?” Kahn asked, stepping forward, crossing his arms.

The Angyr narrowed his eyes towards Kahn. “We have some qualms, but this matter is above us. You must make him understand.”

“It is you who needs to understand.”

“He has sworn the oaths of fatherhood. It is not so easy to give up.”

“Let’s be clear,” Percy began. “This isn’t about any oath. This isn’t about anything other than this is Percival, my son. You could offer me the entire world, and I would decline, because my son is not for sale. That is the end of discussion.”

“What is this ridiculous farce?” the Angyr called, eyes darting towards Kama.

FORTY TWO

Percy glared at the Angyr who dared to covet his son, each now focused upon him, the Malin silent as they watched the scene play before them.

“Lady Kama, you promised to assist in this matter,” the older Angyr said, the leader, whose golden hair fell to her shoulders.

Kama narrowed her eyes once more, but it wasn’t a good idea to trouble the Angyr for no reason, especially since they were currently preparing to face against the Engwyn proper. “Will you not surrender the boy?”

“If you’re going to ask a father to give up his son, you should ask properly,” Percy dared to reply, even to Lady Kama, while his heart began to beat quickly at the blatant disrespect he was showing, his cheeks flushing crimson with annoyance.

“I am not asking you to give him up, but if you will.”

“He’s not the boy,” Percy stated firmly. “He’s my son.”

Kama inhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a long moment. She peeked towards the Angyr, the Malin nearby, and finally the fool of a father. “I promised to assist them.”

“You made my swear a vow of fatherhood, but now you want to go back on your word and mine because you want to dance to the tune of the strangers who set fire to your people’s homes?” Percy raised his brow, turning to face Shiva. “I thought she was your Supreme Elder.”

Shiva blinked, wondering why his friend was trying to get himself killed. However…

“Percy is right,” Shiva said, noting the horrid looks upon the faces of the Malin, some in anger, some in shock, others doing their absolute best not to burst out in laughter.

“Percy?” Kama asked, noting the boy’s name had also changed.

“Percy is our Uldar, Elder Kama,” Shiva said, crossing his arms too. “He is a friend to we from Paragon’s Rest!”

“His son is our son,” Sal said, reaching out to tickle the boy’s cheek. “What an adorable son he is.”

“Hold on, he can be your nephew, but he’s my son,” Percy joked, doing his best to keep his voice from cracking. To hear the words from Sal’s lips, the shock swirled within his gut, tempered by the relief of his words.

“Even you, Elder Kama, cannot force us to give up our children,” Kahn said, for though others could speak the same, the young man, who would become Chief, would not allow even the Supreme Elder to infringe upon their rights.

Kama inhaled deeply once more, feeling the awkwardness rise within the air, as well as the annoyance within her heart, for this entire matter was so troublesome. She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes, closing them as she fell deep into thought. The seconds passed, turning to a minute.

“Great Kama!” the eldest Angyr woman finally exclaimed, breaking through the silence, her own eyes narrowed. “Is this your response?”

“Consider it reparations, for your misbehaviour against their village,” Kama said, holding Kahn’s gaze for a moment, the young man bowing his head and relaxing.

“This is greater than just a building, or a village, burning down,” the woman said, her voice firm as steel. “This is a matter of that is beyond the scope of even our wills, the will of the Divine Lords cannot be so easily parried.”

Kama inhaled the water, steam pouring out from her shell, and she stood, emerging from the water wholly, and suddenly the atmosphere shifted, no longer a tension from the Angyr, but a tension from the Supreme Elder. “No more. Your time here is done, Angyr.”

“You have no conception of the bounds of your mistake, Great Kama,” the young woman stated, narrowing her eyes towards the Supreme Elder.

Kama narrowed her eyes once more, almost closing them, but the pair remained glaring between one another. “You are right. It was my mistake in offering you such mercies after your transgressions. No. You may take none of the babes, for they are of our family, not yours. You may leave, and take your greed and insolence with you.”

“You would refuse our dealings?”

“Do you take me a conjurer of feeble trickery?” Kama roared, the steam rising from the lake around her, her voice so harsh, causing even the air before her to tremble. “Warriors! To arms!”

Percy held his son’s ears, thinking the Great Elder would have shouted much louder, while the boy squirmed, before noting his father’s face. He smiled, mirroring his father’s face, not noting the awkwardness upon his face.

The Angyr stepped backwards, the trio reaching for their blades, only to stop as the woman raised a hand towards them. The Malin had reached for their weapons, but it was Kama’s personal guards who had stepped closer, reaching for their own blades, as well as a handful of the Malin about, including a particular group.

Kahn held the Angyr’s eyes, claiming that particular one as his own, while Sal’s fingers twitched towards a bow, and Rayna rolled her shoulders. Zal stood near the babe, considering the opinion that Sal should have stepped back to watch over the babe, not him.

“We shall leave,” the woman said, and with that, she turned upon her heel and stormed out, without a doubt as to their safe retreat, for Kama would dare not to attack them like this.

As they marched out, the woman’s fury burned within her head. “Do not worry. We will gain our vengeance, one way or another.”

The other Angyr were glad she had been assigned, since she was so favoured that even if they failed so spectacularly, they would only receive harsh punishments, not those which were severe.

FORTY THREE

“You have taken your role seriously,” Elder Kama said, her voice soft and gentle, as gentle as it could be considering she was a giant dragon turtle, while Percival glanced towards her, and then away, clutching his father’s collar.

“Yeah, well, that’s what it means to be a father,” Percy replied, as though it were truly that simple.

“You may stop that now, young man.”

“What?”

“You do not need to behave so… fatherly.”

Percy furrowed his brows in confusion, looking down at his son, who tilted his head to look up into his eyes, the boy sucking his hand shyly, smiling against it. Percy leaned down to nuzzle his son’s ear, kissing his cheek. “Supreme Elder, come on…”

“I thought it was not an act, but to see it so…” Kama eyed up the boy, noting the way the boy clung to his own father. “My deepest apologies. I did know know the depths of your adoration. I did not mean to undermine your oaths, young man.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t blame you, since you don’t have an adorable son like you, isn’t that right, Percival?” Percy leaned in to kiss the boy’s forehead, causing the boy to squirm and smile within his arms.

‘How are you settling within this life of yours?’ Kama asked, though she spoke no words, the words entering Percy’s mind.

“Fine enough,” Percy admitted. “Now that I have Tricks, I can warm up a bath right away, so I don’t feel quite so bad.”

“A bath?” Kama asked.

“Yeah. Usually, you know, the water is cold, it takes forever to boil water, but with that trick, Tricks, it’s easy, plus with how useful it is in general, better than even the technology we had in some ways, it’s useful. I don’t even have to clean up my boy, I just magic it away for the most part.”

The dragon turtle let out a hum of understanding, at least feining so. ‘You are able to enchant now?’

“That’s right.”

‘An alchemist, an enchanter, you possess a great many abilities.’

“Yeah, it is what it is.” Percy smirked slightly, reaching down to ruffle his son’s head. “Once Percival’s all grown, you’ll have two of each, and hopefully at that time I’ll be more knowledgeable.”

‘What can you enchant now?’

“Fire, storms,” Percy whispered. “Oh, actually Elder Kama, may we speak privately?”

Once they were within the tunnel, Percy explained his new pill, as well as the enchantments he could enchant more thoroughly.

“How many of such pills could you form within a week?”

“Right now, it’s about twenty, a little less actually, but soon I’ll be able to consistently make two a day,” Percy assured.

Kama thought of the materials required, and how much he could charge for each of the pills if they were for sale. “Please make twenty of each, and we shall pay you five gold for each, and consider them as part of your fortune to us.”

“Sure,” Percy replied, knowing he was getting utterly ripped off, but he appreciated their protection, as well as the fact that she had protected him well thus far, and most importantly, without her he wouldn’t have become a father. Now if only she helped him become a husband…

“Once you have completed the pills, I will send over weapons for you to enchant, and I will reward you,” Kama said.

“You’ll reward me?”

“As you enchant the weapons, I will consider a fine reward,” Kama assured. “I may pay you in gold, or I may reward you with something greater.”

“Alright,” he replied, smiling.

She was glad he was so eager to assist them. ‘With such pills, we could…’

Percy was asked to remain for the rest of the week, in which he created a few pills for the Elder, the Flaming Dance Pills, before continuing on.

‘I guess there’s no rest for the wicked,’ he thought, though he was laying in bed that evening, staring up at the ceiling. His son was fast asleep,t he boy tired from all the travel, as well as from being so adorable. Percy stared at the ceiling, which was entirely grey, but he could see it as though it were day thanks to the magical lantern beside him. ‘Alchemy and enchanting. I should be alright for the rest of my life as long as I have a little bit of strength. I need to hit Level Five before I think about any form of freedom.’

Except, was that what he wanted?

As he awoke the next morning, he worked out lightly, before bathing. He spotted one of the half dragons, the woman nodding her head towards him, causing him to return a nod. Once he was ready to work, he checked on his son, who was still snoozing, and stepped out to the cabin, beginning his work.

“You know,” he said at dinner, cutting into the fish. “I’ve been noticing a lot of looks my way.”

“Everyone is talking about you,” Shiva admitted.

“They are?”

“Do you know how many dare to speak up against the Engwyn?”

“It’s not just that,” Sal said, peeling an apple with his small knife with ease. “Some of them recall you speaking out against Lord Asura too.”

“Who?”

The pair stared at the fellow, who blinked, recalling the angelic fellow. “Ah, right, him.”

“They say you have earned the title of Uldar.”

Percy flushed slightly, smiling. “Well, I guess…”

Sal chuckled, reaching over to pat his back. “Are you still shy?”

“I’ve always been a little shy…”

As the week passed by, Percy finished making the pills, and upon handing over the pills. ‘Should I be a little cheeky?’

“What is it?” Kama asked, noting the look on his face.

“I just have a question, Elder Kama.”

FORTY FOUR

Percy sighed, but was glad she wasn’t too offended even though she ultimately refused. ‘I could have farmed so much XP with her…’

He eyed up the sword she had offered him, a fine blade, the kind that could be enchanted with a fine enchantment. It was long, slightly thinner than a typical blade, engraved with a symbol of some kind towards the base, the steel patterned with waves. ‘Damn, this is a really nice sword.’

Percy’s eyes then fell onto the gem dust the Elder had gifted to him too, far more than he expected, enough to enchant himself a blade. ‘She basically paid me twice as much?’

“Did the Supreme Elder gift you that blade?” Shiva asked.

“Yeah, she did,” Percy said as he cleaned the blade with a cloth.

“It is a fine blade, treated with her breath,” Shiva said, leaning in towards it. “It is not as finely crafted as Masterwork, but it is sturdier than a typical blade due to the treatment.”

“Her breath?” Percy stared down at the sword, noting the wave patterns once more. ‘Ah? That’s pretty cool!’

“Will you enchant it upon our return?”

“Probably. What do you think, fire, thunder, or lightning?”

Shiva thought for a moment. “Lightning.”

“Everyone’s got lightning, but then again, if we’re going to spend more time in Azarai, fire isn’t going to be that helpful, and there’s something weird about thunder, so I might have to go lightning…”

Shiva nodded, sipping a small cup of wine, considering Percy’s thoughts.

‘Should I enchant it with flat damage? It’s more consistent, though, with a dice the average is a little higher, especially with Critical Hits.’

Percy rested during the last day of the month. He had half expected a festival, only to remember it was the eighth month and not the ninth, the rain reminding him. He held his son against his chest as the gentle rain fell upon the land, the sound of the rain striking the earth.

“You hear that? It’s a familiar sound to your old man. The world isn’t quite as grey, though.” Percy brushed his son’s hair gently. “You’re going to have to get used to it.”

Sal shot a hundred arrows in the morning, then in the afternoon, and finally in the evening.

“Just three hundred today?” Zal joked.

“I just want to relax today,” Sal admitted. “Do you think I could ask for some lightsilver?”

“Do you think lightsilver grows on trees?”

Sal rolled his eyes, threatening to poke his brother with an arrow.

“Do you wish to try it?” Zal asked.

“Stay sitting down.”

“I’ll slap you so hard no one will know we are twins.”

“They will still know I am the handsome one.”

Zal rolled his eyes.

Meanwhile, Shiva enjoyed his time within the lake fortress, sparring with a half dragon, as well as talking with some of the fortressfolk. Kahn, too, spoke with the fortressfolk, who were more familiar with him, and Rayna too, who enjoyed her time wrestling and swimming.

As they made their way back home, they travelled through a different way, Sal leading the way, still assisted by the villagers. Along the way, Percy found a few herbs, but otherwise their journey back was uneventful.

Except for the caravan.

“Kahn, how do you do,” the Malin said, pulling along his cart, a handful of others also pulling their own carts.

“Din, well, as always, what of you?”

“Fortunate,” the man admitted, who wore a thick moustache that curled all the way up to his earlobes. “I just finished trading in Frune. Are you wishing to procure anything?”

“Let us see your wares.”

“Oh, what’s this?” Percy asked, noting the lantern, though it seemed not to be lit with fire, but held a magical orb within.

“A beautiful lantern that requires only magic to run,” Din replied. “I can part with it for fifty gold, for it requires greater magic to restore its light, though it lasts for an entire month.”

“What kind of greater magic.”

“They say equivalent to a Second Gate spell.”

“Oho? Well, well, well…” Percy rubbed his chin. “Can I see how it works?”

“You may,” the man said, allowing him to hold the lantern.

The lantern glowed all around gently, but as he turned the top of the lantern, he found that all four sides of the lantern shuttered, save for a fist sized hole that emphasised the light into a beam.

“Nice! How much? Fifty gold you said?”

“I did.”

“Ah, damn, why didn’t I bring more gold? Shiva, can I borrow some coin?”

“Din,” Kahn said, reaching into his pocket, and then he held out the tiny bone coin for Zal, who chipped the bone coin, handing it back to Kahn. Kahn then held it out to Din, who accepted it, bowing his head. “We’ll send you the gold in the next few weeks.”

Din smiled, bowing his head gently.

“These herbs too,” Sal said, closing the pouch. “I’ll chip a bone too.”

“You think I care if you chip a bone?” Din joked.

“Kahn,” Sal called, and Kahn nodded to Din, who relented. Sal handed the pouch to Percy.

“Who is this one?” Din asked.

“An Uldar,” Sal replied.

Din’s eyes fell to Percy’s wrists, though his wrist was covered by a sleeve. He managed to catch sight of the tattoo when Percy turned the top on the lantern, the young man smiling brightly, brighter than even the lantern. “Ah! You’re an Uldar, are ya?”

“That’s right.”

“You should have said so,” Din said, reaching out a hand, clasping Percy’s within his own, smiling warmly. “I thought it was weird Kahn was treating an Engwyn so nicely, I didn’t realise you weren’t one.”

“I get that a lot.”

“Shame.”

FORTY FIVE

“Who goes there!” called a voice, as a large figure appeared, the woman glaring at the group. She was tall, thickly built, and wore grey scaled armour that seemed to be made of stone, carrying a large staff, as well as a large blade which hung loosely upon her side, though her hand clutched something else within a tight fist.

“Kasaki Vir, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Kahn replied. “What brings you this way?”

“Herbs were stolen, and I heard a caravan passed by with my stolen herbs,” Kasaki said.

“These herbs?” Percy asked, reaching into his pack, before undoing the pouch to reveal the herbs within.

“Yes.”

“Ah,” Percy said, tying the pouch together. “Well, that is a shame.”

“What are you doing?” Kasaki asked, noting him holding out the pouch towards him.

“Returning the herbs to you,” Percy replied simply.

“…”

“I don’t want to make potions with stolen herbs, that’s bad mojo,” Percy stated, mostly disbelieving his words, but he wasn’t sure if there was some kind of magic that made it awkward to use them.

“You will return them?”

“Yeah.”

“What would you like in return?” Kasaki asked, her eyes darting towards Kahn and the others, before reaching out for the pouch.

“If I could make a request, if you could move closer to the village, that would be nice,” Percy said, though he wasn’t sure if she would accept.

“Which village?”

“Paragon’s Rest,” Kahn said.

“The home of the Hero?”

‘The what now?’

“Yes,” Kahn said, bowing his head.

“I will consider it.”

“Wonderful,” Percy said, clasping his hands together. “Shall we all return together then? It’s not far off now.”

“Din is no thief, he would not have stolen the herbs, so another may have stolen them and sold them to him,” Kahn said, making sure to clear the air.

“I am glad they are returned,” Kasaki replied simply.

“What’s this about a, what was the word she used, Hero?” Percy did not use the word hero, for it was a slightly different word, whereas the term Hero, with a capital, meant something deeper than just the typical word.

“Our village was founded because of the Hero,” Shiva said as they continued to make their way back home. “She slew the Shadow Lord Oskaros, who brought death to all those before him, but with her blade of light and righteous fury, the Hero slew the Shadow Lord and brought peace to the nearby lands.”

“What was her name?”

“She has no name.”

“You forgot her name?”

“It was her request,” Shiva stated proudly. “If her name was Talia, then we thank Talia, but if she has no name, then could not all become a hero, or if they wish for it, a Hero?”

“That sounds pretty cool,” Percy admitted.

“It is quite cool,” Shiva agreed. “She retired within Paragon’s Rest generations ago, and we buried her under the mound near our village.”

“Ah! So that’s what that mound is?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about all this?”

“You did not ask.”

“…” Percy blinked. “You know what? Fair enough.”

Kasaki eyed up the boy who the Mo’An carried, the boy snoozing away most of the day, but when he awoke, he cooed so tenderly and sweetly, especially when Percy held him close.

“Look at how well behaved you are!” Percy leaned in to plant a firm kiss on his son’s forehead. “Don’t worry, once we’re at Paragon’s Rest we can play again properly.”

“Da!”

‘Is that his son?’ Kasaki wondered.

They continued back to Paragon’s Rest, the world leaving them be upon the last leg of their journey. As purple painted the sky, Percy tucked his son into bed, the boy tuckered out from travelling for a few days. Percy was glad nothing had happened to his son.

“Hey, Shiva, could we head to the mound?”

“Okay,” Shiva replied, pinching his daughter’s sleeping nose, the girl smiling at her father, reaching out to him.

“We can wait a bit until after little Maya is asleep,” Percy said, chuckling.

The pair made their way to the mound, a simple mound that had no identifying markers. Percy stared at it for a long while, bowing his head gently towards it.

“Thank you so much for being such a hero they made a new word for how much of a hero you were so they called you a Hero.” Percy raised a hand, saluting the mound.

Shiva nodded his head, bowing his head towards the mound. “There is a tomb nearby, but we cannot go see to it, for it is not our role.”

“Tombs are pretty scary.”

“It is not the tomb, but the spirits which defend the tomb, which are scary.”

“Yeah. That sounds about right…”

FORTY SIX

“Oh, so now you want me to pick you up? Yesterday, when I came back, you were all crying, and complaining, but now suddenly you’re reaching out for me?” Percy asked, picking up the girl who held her hands up for him, the young man holding the girl to his chest. “Seriously…”

“Oo!” the babe called, revealing her pink smile to him.

“Fine, fine…” Percy reached down to poke her nose, causing her to stare up at him in shock, before she smiled even wider.

“Gagaga,” the girl called out to him, blinking up at him innocently.

“What? Really?”

“Oo!”

“That’s crazy. You’re telling me that…” Percy inhaled deeply and shook his head. “Now that’s something, huh?”

The girl stared up at him for a long while, before sleepily yawning, the girl wanting to return back to slumber after being awake for a short while. Percy took the chance to go work, wondering what he should make. As he made his way to work, he stopped. His body ached from the travel, and though he had some work to do, he hadn’t taken a proper day off in a while.

‘What should I do?’

“Are you taking a break?” Sal asked, spotting the young man walking through the village.

“I am,” Percy admitted.

“I didn’t expect you of all people to take a break,” Sal joked.

“Yeah, I realised I was still feeling the journey thus far.”

Sal hoisted himself up, brushing his knees. “I’ll take you to meet Chip.”

“Who?” Percy hadn’t heard of Chip before, but after Sal escorted him to the edge of the village, he realised why.

“Now, now, don’t complain,” Sal called out, brushing the small bird’s neck tenderly with a finger. “This is Percy. We left right after you hatched, so don’t blame me.”

“Teet teet.”

Sal sighed, before raising the bird to Percy. “Ignore him, he’s just annoyed he didn’t get to accompany us on our journey.”

“I suppose it’s the Angyr’s fault for causing us such trouble,” Percy said.

“Exactly! Did you hear that? It’s the Angyr’s fault, so don’t tweet at me.”

‘No wonder I’m so close with Sal,’ Percy thought. ‘We’re both idiots.’

“Hmph! Once Shiva masters his family’s path, we’ll see what kind of curses you’re spouting!” Sal grumbled, leaning in to allow the bird to gently peck at his cheek, before placing him upon his shoulder. “Don’t cause too much trouble.”

“Teet.”

Sal just sighed, reaching up to rub his forehead.

‘It’s not like I can say anything…’ He thought.

“What are you thinking of so deeply?” Sal asked.

“I’m just… grateful.”

Sal raised a brow.

“You know. Everyone helping me out. Welcoming me so much.”

“Is there a need to be so grateful?”

“Yeah. I mean, you all helped me out so much, so I should be grateful and do my best to repay you for your kindness?”

Sal pat Percy’s shoulder. “A man burdened by duty is too slow to fight.”

“Wouldn’t they be too quick to fight?”

“I just thought it sounded poetic.”

“Ah.”

Percival awoke much later, and after eating, his father held the boy close.

“Look, it’s mister Sal,” Percy cooed.

The boy smiled up towards Sal for a moment, but his eyes fell back to his father, the boy smiling even more brightly, squealing.

“You need to tell him he needs to have children too, what an unfilial son, right?”

Sal laughed. “I hear enough of it from my own father!”

“He’s right!”

Sal laughed more, causing the boy to smile and almost hack out a laugh himself. The Mo’An’s eyes fell upon the trio who spoke between one another, including the babe within their conversation, all the while she knitted more for the boy.

As Sal held the boy, he spoke a tale to the boy. “They say peaches were born from his tears. How? I’m not sure, it is an ancient magic, from ages past. My tears cannot sprout peaches, but the Shaman’s may?”

“Oo.”

“If you wish to learn… you should ask your father, I am sure he could somehow do so.”

‘Should I start working on my own sword tomorrow?’ Percy thought, having completely zoned out from the conversation. Though he could borrow the previous blade, he had returned it to the Chief, and it would have been best for someone else to use it. ‘I probably should so we have an additional sword.’

Zal arrived much later, having brought along some spices potatoes. “Say what you want about the dwarves, but since they brought potatoes to us, I can’t help but respect them.”

“I thought the halfzers brought potatoes?” Sal asked.

“Did they?” Zal furrowed his brows, for once the pair discussing the matter with seriousness.

It was later in the evening when Kahn met with Shiva, rubbing his forheead.

“What is wrong?” Shiva asked, as his daughter snoozed on his chest.

“I am plagued by nightmares…” Kahn closed his eyes. “I see burning within my dreams. It unnerves me so.

Hmm... Shiva listens to his worries.”

“Do you hear anything?”

“Not yet.”

“Hmm…” Shiva narrowed his eyes.

“My niece is growing well.”

“She often wishes to hold me, but sometimes she reaches for me, and when she sees Kayla, she reaches for her, even if she had escaped her arms…”

“Gia would do the same to me,” Kahn admitted.

“So it is from your side she inherits her troublesomeness.”

“I don’t want to hear that considering your father.”

Shiva smirked.

FORTY SEVEN

“Percy,” Shiva called at the end of the week, which Percy had decided to work through.

“Yeah?” Percy replied, before following the young man to one side, the pair resting on a log. It was later in the day, right as Percy had completed his enchanting.

“Kahn wishes to become a Great Chief,” Shiva informed.

“Right?”

“Do you know what it means?”

“I assume it’s some kind of Chief among Chiefs.”

Shiva bowed his head, though he remained quiet for a long moment, his eyes trailing across the trees around them, the very same which had grown during his own lifetime. “In the next twenty years, perhaps even as little as ten, we assume there shall be a great war. It is war of wars, a war to end all wars.”

“I’ve heard that before, twice.”

Shiva glanced towards him, but Percy shook his head, awkwardly smiling.

“Perhaps in my lifetime I will see it. I will see the land of my people return to us. To drive the outsiders from our homes, from our land, from our temples, from our fields, to recover our artefacts, our ways of life, our history. You said one day they will speak of me highly. I can see it already, Percy. That day, it will come soon.” Shiva smiled, patting Percy’s knee, as though he knew something others did not.

“In all fairness I wasn’t trying to think about anything like that for a while.”

“We wish to meet Elder Kama once more, to speak with her of our wishes, to speak of…” Shiva held out his arms wide, as though trying to swallow the world whole.

“Once I’m done with my enchanting, we can head out,” Percy offered, already feeling the ache already invade him.

It wasn’t long before Percy had finished enchanting the sword, using not the sword which had been gifted to him, but another, leaving his own behind.

“Don’t miss me too much, alright?” Percy ruffled his son’s hair, the boy clutching at his collar, trying to hug him tight. “Don’t be too worried either, your hair will go white, not that there’s anything wrong with you, you’d look so cute either way.”

“Hoo!” Percy pouted.

Zal let out a soft sigh, noting the way his brother was looking at him, and he placed a hand on Percival’s head. “Grow steadily, little Percival.”

“How are you the one with a child and worse at dealing with them?” Sal teased.

“You are always leaving so much.” Kayla poked Shiva’s cheek. “You should bring a gift.”

Shiva flushed slightly, embarrassed he hadn’t done much in that regard. He eyed her up for a moment, before smirking, noting how she had gained some weight. “Do not worry, I will bring many gifts.”

Kahn, Rayn, Zal, Sal, Shiva, and Percy all made their way out. The group were more than enough to deal with most trouble on the way out, and as they passed by the villages, Percy greeted a few familiar faces.

Somehow, they made their way to the lake fortress without much hassle, other than the falling rain that accompanied them on their way.

Kama could smell a familiar scent, taking her out of her thoughts. The Angyr had yet to retaliate from their ruined pride, and when it came to enemies, they couldn’t underestimate them, especially now that the Angyr tried to reclaim the babies.

Shiva and Kahn went to speak with Kama, until she finally called for Percy.

“How is your son since we last spoke?” Kama said.

‘Is that a joke?’ “He’s appropriately chubby, that is to say, he’s quite well.”

“Once you left, I considered a gift,” the Elder said, glad they had returned so swiftly to them.

“What is this?” Percy asked, accepting the small box from the drakken fellow, opening it to see a small marble of green.

“It is a poisonous pill for your son, Percival, when he reaches a year of age.”

“You want me to feed my son poison?” Percy asked.

“He is an Angyr of such. He should take it so he may gain the resilience that is expected of him.”

“It won’t hurt him?”

“A little, perhaps, but if you remain at his side, and prepare a health potion, he will remain safe.”

‘I’m not sure if that’s exactly what I should be doing as his father…’ “What is the pill called?”

“The One Hundred Poison Pill.”

Shiva raised his brows, swaying his head from side to side in approval. ‘Sounds fancy.’ “Thank you, Elder. Do you by any chance have anything for little Maya?”

‘Maya? She is…’ “I do not, this time, but I shall prepare a gift for her too.”

“Thank you, Elder Kama,” Percy bowed, and then returned back to his group.

The Elder had prepared a fine gift for her indeed, a lovely little dagger, the kind that Percy eyed up, imagining all the enchantments he would wish to place upon it in the future.

Upon their return they came across another Chief canditate, a rival for Kahn, though she was a tiny little fox compared to him, and another caravan, in which they procured a herb that caught Percy’s fancy.

‘I hope it wasn’t stolen,’ Percy thought.

As they continued on their return, Percy didn’t even need to be a trained hunter for his senses to scream towards him, his hair standing on end.

“Daniel,” a voice called from the woods. “No, Percy is it?”

FORTY EIGHT

“It was my mistake scaring you,” the figure said, trotting to a log, dropping onto it with a grunt. He placed his sheathed blade against the log, and he leaned in to clasp his hands together, waiting for the group to gather themselves after beating them senseless.

Percy hadn’t seen anyone, or anything, deal with the group as quickly, as effectively, or even as nonchalantly as this random guy they met in the middle of the forest. He was adorned in full plate, with no particular engravings, and other than an earring on his left ear, he seemed just like any other guy one might meet. Pale skin, brunette, a short but scruffy beard.

‘He really did just beat us without drawing his sword, huh?’ Percy thought.

“How are you enjoying this new life of yours?” the stranger finally said, causing Percy to sit up taller in surprise.

‘What?’ Percy’s heart began to thunder in his chest. “What are you talking about?”

The stranger laughed, waving his hand dismissively in the air. “You don’t have to be so on edge, man. I’m here to check up on you, that’s all.”

‘What the hell?’ “You…”

“Don’t worry, I had nothing to do with it. Like I said, I’m just here to check up on you, see how you’re doing. Though, considering everyone here…” His eyes fell across the group, and he did his best not to linger on a particular fellow. “I must have come within the first year?”

“…”

“You have a… daughter?”

“A son.”

“Ah! Percival, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” Percy stared at the stranger, who was so ridiculously strong, that if he wanted to kill them all, he could have. ‘He must be a…’

“What a wonderful son you have. You should be careful, since he’s an Angyr, but he’s a sweet one.”

“What are you?” Percy finally worked up the courage to ask.

“A Whim,” the stranger said, holding out his arms, as though the word was something so grand, the figure chuckling playfully.

“A what?”

“A Whim. A thought. A momentary expression. I came to check on you, then, before anyone in this world notices me, I’ll leave.”

“I mean…” Percy looked at the others around him, all who remained silent, leaving it to him.

“You’re a hundred years too early to be considered someone in this world, no offence,” he said to the others, waving his hand once more.

“How strong are you?”

“If you were all… what do they call it in this world, Paragons, right? I might have had to think twice about approaching you like this.”

‘Damn, what a crazy strong guy!’

“You rolled rather poorly, didn’t you?” The Whim brushed his beard, eyeing the young man up.

“Yeah.”

“Hexblade?”

“Yeah.”

“You didn’t pick Druid?” the Whim asked, raising his brow.

“I thought about it, but…”

“High Charisma will save you from big problems, hopefully?”

“Yeah.”

The Whim laughed, nodding his head. “It got me out of quite some situations too. I should thank mum and dad for my handsome good looks, otherwise…”

Percy noted the look on the stranger’s face, the kind that said he had countless tales to speak of.

“Are you happy?” the Whim asked.

“Yes.”

The Whim smiled, a genuine smile, they could all see. He pat his knees and stood, having heard enough, while the others seemed to tense up. “I’ll give you some advice…”

Rayn stopped in her tracks, dropping down to both knees before him, her fingers clasped around her greatblade, the woman had been ready to swing, but the overwhelming pressure froze her in place.

“You should wait here for one day, otherwise…” The Whim was pretty sure he couldn’t say too much, otherwise his life would be at risk. “It’ll be bad, but it’s better than the alternative.”

“Thank you?”

“Take care of yourself, Percy. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll meet again, and we can sit and chat. If you reach Level 20, I might come by again, if I’m not busy.”

“Yeah, alright.” Percy swallowed, watching as the guy slapped Rayn’s shoulder to heal her for all her health, doing so for him too.

Health: 1 -> 18

“What’s your name?”

“You can just call me Ted.”

“Is it Theodore?”

“…” Theodore smiled and waved a hand, making his way out. He thought about how much he could affect the world, but this much was his limit before he was noticed. He had to let the dice fall where they may. He reached into his pocket, taking out a pocketwatch which told the time, and more, checking the messages he had received within it.

‘Ah, I got to go meet that crazy father?’ Theodore sighed, staring down at the face of his pocketwatch. ‘Who says I can’t delay it for a few decades?’

FORTY NINE

“We should return home swiftly,” Kahn said, still nursing the phantom ache within his body. He had never faced anyone with such power before. ‘That man, he may someone who is able to face against the like of Lord Asura.”

“I don’t think so,” Percy replied. “I think we should take his words seriously. He’s a being from above, beyond the skies and stars.”

“You know of him?” Kahn asked.

“No, but we come from the same place.”

Shiva sat up a little taller, narrowing his eyes. “He is from your homeland?”

“He’s from the place I was born,” Percy stated specifically, not wanting to say further, and not considering it much deeper than that.

The group ended up making their way to the nearby village, which had not met this fellow, and they stayed there for the day.

“What is your relationship with someone like him?” Shiva eventually asked.

“We are countrymen,” Percy assumed, since his accent was from his homeland.

“Is your relationship good between countrymen.”

“Uh, sort of. I don’t think he comes from further north, or the nearby island, otherwise everyone is just okay with each other.”

“Have you fought previously?”

“Hundreds of years ago, but otherwise we’re all part of the same country.” Percy shook his head. “He probably never thought of me, I never thought of him.”

They stayed at the village for the next day, before continuing along their way back to Paragon’s Rest.

At Paragon’s Rest, Kahn found his wife, who rushed up to him and the pair embraced. Kahn’s brows furrowed, glancing aside to his daughter, Gia, who clutched at her father’s shirt with both hands.

“What is wrong?”

“The Engwyn, they came and assaulted the villages. They burned down the nearby villages.”

Kahn’s eyes grew wide. “How many died?”

“A few, we escapes before they arrived. Some of the scouts were missing, but we found them, and a few warriors died to bide time for some villagers to escape.”

Kahn held his wife, picking up his daughter, holding her against his chest. The girl rested her head against his shoulder as the pair held one another. The others greeted Kahn, as well as Rayn and the others. Kahn held his daughter, feeling her light weight against his arms.

Zal also picked up his own child, who was still young, young enough he would not remember this. His eyes met his wife’s for a moment, before he closed his eyes. ‘I will need to patrol more often.’

Paragon’s Rest had quaroupled in size, and Percy noted just how many were working on building longhouses and fences. The hundreds of Malin worked together instantly, the Shamans assisting one another in dealing with the nearby fields, while a few remained on duty with their patrols, others building and assisting with general labour duties.

“The Engwyn have lit many fires,” Shiva said, feeling his heart light aflame.

‘I wonder how much they burned down,’ Percy thought, not realising how poetic Shiva was being. He found his son, whose head turned to meet him, the boy sucking on his hand before reaching up for his father with both hands. Percy’s heart, which had thundered the entire way, finally relaxed.

As evening came, Kahn, who had greeted many of the people within, stared down at his bowl. He stood, causing many around him to stare at him.

“The Engwyn tore us from our homes, but it was not enough. They desecrated our temples, but it was not enough. They stole out relics, but it was not enough. They dishonoured our dead, but it was not enough. They pillaged and violated our peoples, for centuries! But! It was not enough!” Kahn’s fury was evident for all to see, his daughter holding onto her mother.

“Even within these forested hills they encroach, burning our fields! No more, I say! They beg for death! They beg for slaughter! It is enough! We will make them beg for their lives!”

The Malin nearby began to cheer and roar, hollering from Kahn’s words.

“I will make the pilgrimage!” Kahn exclaimed. “I will rally the villages! You will see it, when in return, a collection of scarves greater than all previous!”

They all cheered for the young warrior, who was always ready to fight the Engwyn, and had been forced back for some reason. They could see the redness on his face, the veins ready to pop, his face almost ready to turn bestial, the shaking of his fist as he tried to restrain himself.

Percy held his son close to his chest and though the boy whimpered, he did not make to cry, safe within those large arms, even if Percy was half the size of most other men here.

FIFTY

The Malin each reached out to slap his hand, many already pledging themselves to Kahn.

“We will show them what it means to face us Malin!” one exclaimed, taken by fury.

“Why did you take so long, eh, Kahn?” Bart asked, clasping hands with Kahn. “I told you we should have taken our metal to them!”

“I will make the rounds and ask for the scarves,” Kahn promised, not smiling, but he nodded his head.

“We should speak with those who retired recently, they will wish to hear of it!”

“I will entrust that to you.”

Bart grinned, nodding his head.

“Will you assist me?” Kahn asked, dropping down beside Percy.

“How would you like me to assist you?”

“Pills, potions, weapons,” Kahn requested.

“I can give you decent enough discounts, but if you provide me the materials, I’ll slip a few fire hound pills your way. Then, in the future, if I grow a little stronger, I might even join you.”

“No, stay here. You must craft as much as you are able. You are a decent warrior, but you are invaluable creating such fine pills, potions, weapons.” Kahn was sure Percy would do much more than he said, though what he had promised was more than enough.

Percy nodded in return, glad he didn’t need to step out, though it might have been a decent time to do so. Unless, of course, he accidentally joined the one unit that was meant to be wiped out, lost to even the history books. “Kahn, I know you’re enraged right now, but…”

“Yes?”

“Are you willing to listen to me?”

“I am willing to listen to you, Uldar.” Kahn held onto Percy’s shoulders, bowing his head, before letting go.

“Right now, from what I’ve seen, from what I can guess, we’re too weak. My pills and potions, they can help close the gap, but I need to know more about the land, and more importantly, I need to grow stronger.” Percy glanced around, unsure of how strong they were compared to the Engwyn who had forced them away to these hills. It was one thing to defend one’s hills, another to try and take another’s hills.

“Do we appear so weak?”

“When I say weak, I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is, the cost of revenge, the cost of taking back the land, is too high right now. If you attack right now, things will escalate, sure, but we aren’t prepared yet, in my opinion. We only have a few pills, a few potions, a few weapons. Give us more time, give me more time, allow me to grow more powerful, not just with my combat capabilities, but my crafting. Allow me to learn greater pills.” Percy glanced around, and then looked knowingly into Kahn’s eyes.

Kahn considered the young man’s words, understanding what his eyes were saying.

“Allow me to fully bloom into a great magical warrior,” Percy said, his eyes saying a little more. “Then, who knows, the kinds of things I could brew…”

Kahn understood it wasn’t just about his alchemy.

“Then, all you’ll need is a few good warriors, and you’ll be able to wipe out so many of their soldiers, not just their typical guards, but their elite. What was that rank? Expert? Gather twenty warriors, each Experts, and you’ll be able to wipe out a band of fifty that make up their army. When I become an Expert, I will gain access to great abilities, and with the way my abilities work, I’ll be twice as powerful as a typical Expert if I take the right route.”

Kahn let out a soft sigh, considering the young man’s words. He couldn’t ignore him, he was an Uldar, and they had travelled for so long already, and he was his brother in law’s friend. He was also an alchemist, an enchanter, and decent enough as a warrior.

“I know why you want to do it now. It’s the best time now that everyone’s on edge. All you have to do is to ask for the nearby villages, ask some people to pledge themselves to you, and that you’ll prove yourself.” Percy leaned in. “I’ll show you, Kahn, what it means to have such a grand band of warriors.”

“…” Kahn hadn’t expected Percy of all people to be so zealous.

Shiva listened intently to his words. Once night imposed itself, Shiva called for Kahn, seeing how deep in thought the man was.

“Take his words into consideration,” Shiva said. “I have yet to regret them.”

Khal could feel it within his heart. This was the best time. The Engwyn had gifted him such a perfect opportunity and he could finally return to the battlefield, but now…

Kahn walked under the stars, trying to understand what he could possibly do. The decision he made that day, it was the most important decision he would make to this date.