On the outskirts of Glassford City, Elrod, the elven twins, Adam, Edward, and Lisa had gathered under a large tree.
Elrod was fondly rubbing his Ithikari's head. "So are you going to explain or not?"
The question was not meant for the elf's familiar but for Adam. All the kids simultaneously glanced at him. By now, they had already heard—or seen—what had transpired at the city square.
While Daneli and Atiel were curious as to why Adam did what he did, Edward and Lisa knew the reason all too well. The couple's expression turned crestfallen after learning that Kevin was still alive.
Adam lowered his head and stared at his feet, fidgeting with his fingers. He was unable to come up with a proper excuse. Actually, there was no excuse for what he had tried to do.
He had thrown caution to the wind and decided to kill Kevin, completely disregarding the consequences of doing so. If Elrod and even Hemingway as a matter of fact hadn't intervened, he would have perhaps been hanged at the gallows by now.
In the end, the youth decided to come clean. He raised his head and looked at Elrod. "My Lord, I… I was too reckless. Forgive me for putting you in such a situation—"
"I don't care about that," Elrod interrupted. "If I let someone lay a hand on you despite me being around, do you think I'd have a face to show to Berger?"
Adam was stunned, and so were the others. It was only now that they realized how deep the camaraderie was between the elf and the gnome.
"I see…" Adam's lips curled up into a warm smile, knowing that the Old Man had a great friend like Elrod.
He then decided to come clean. He told Elrod about the enmity that he and Kevin shared. The youth began by telling him about how Kevin had sent assassins after him in Hannes City. Then spoke about their scuffles in school, and finally told him about his battle in the secret plane.
To say that Elrod was shocked would be a major understatement.
"You… faced off more than thirty Magi on your own?!" The elf asked incredulously.
"Uh-huh." Adam nodded smugly.
Elrod was silent for a moment and then burst into laughter, "Hahaha! You're alright, kiddo."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})On the surface, it looked like he was greatly impressed by Adam's ability, and yes, no doubt he was. But inwardly he was thinking something else entirely.
Ah, what a magnificent recruit he would make within the Brotherhood! Not only is he a genius at Herbalism, but it turns out he's also a monster when it comes to combat.
Thinking this, he glanced at Adam and grinned, "Kid, I hope you will be coming to the Acadian Empire after graduating from the Clover Academy?"
Hearing the name of the Empire that he had been yearning to go to for so long, Adam couldn't help but nod excitedly. "Of course, my lord. Besides, it's what the Old Man wants as well."
"Good, good, very good." Elrod was very gratified. If Berger wanted Adam to cross the Murky Mountains and head to the Empire, perhaps he had already decided to introduce the youth to the Brotherhood.
The elf then walked took out a hexagonal token made out of wood from his space-type storage ring and handed it to Adam. "Here, I want you to have this."
Adam curiously looked at the token that had geometrical runes carved on it. "What's this?"
"This will grant you passage to the Baja High Forest."
"Whoa!!" Adam's eyes shone like the brightest of stars. "You mean this is a VIP card or something?"
Elrod's lips twitched. "That's a strange way to put it, but yes. Having this token means that you're a guest of the Baja Elves."
"Nice! Ehehe~" Adam laughed foolishly, playing with the token.
Elrod turned around and gave one token to Edward and another one to Lisa. "The twins have told me how much you've helped them inside the secret plane. I want you both to have this as well."
Edward and Lisa were ecstatic and couldn't stop saying 'thank you' to the elf over and over again.
Adam suddenly thought of something and walked toward Elrod. "My Lord, this is my parting gift to you." The next moment, he waved his hand and a large wooden barrel appeared in front of him.
Elrod sniffed the aroma wafting out of the barrel and asked with a chuckle, "Is this the famous Adam's Tears?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Hehe, you know it!"
Adam then walked toward Daneli and gifted him another barrel of vine. "Here, something for you to remember me by."
"Hmph!" Daneli harrumphed and made a displeased face. "Who the hell wants to remember you?"
"Fine, give it back."
"How can you be so shameless? Get lost!" Daneli hurriedly put away the barrel, afraid that Adam would take it away. He quite liked this wine.
"I hope we'll see you soon, Adam," Atiel beamed as she bid farewell to the youth.
Soon, the elves bid farewell to everyone and hopped onto the Ithikari. Elrod glanced at them and smiled. "The next time we meet, it will be on the other side of the Murky Mountains. So long!"
With a loud shriek, the majestic Ithikari flapped its wings and took flight. Within a few moments, it had turned into a small dot as it disappeared into the horizon.
Adam looked at his teammates and smiled, "Time for us to head back home too, yeah?"
"Yes."
"Let's go."
The trio made their way back to the city. The following day, they would depart with the rest of the surviving students of the Clover Academy.
…
One month later, the traveling party consisting of the students of the Clover Academy finally arrived at the main gates of Moon City.
Adam peeked his head out of the carriage window and gazed at the tall city walls. "It's good to be back."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})He was truly happy to return home. While he and Edward were thrilled, the same couldn't be said about Lisa. Throughout the whole journey, her heart had been gripped by anxiety and nervousness.
Edward clasped her hand and comforted her, "They're going to be alright. Just trust Adam."
"Yeah, yeah, trust me!" Adam laughed out loud. However, inwardly, he was also feeling nervous. He didn't know if his plan had succeeded. He could only hope it did.
Lisa could only nod with tearful eyes.
The carriage entered the city and Adam instructed the driver to drop them off at his villa. After about twenty minutes, the carriage finally arrived at his house.
Adam was the first one to get down. He looked around anxiously, and when his gaze landed on Barry and two more people standing beside him, seemingly waiting for their arrival, he couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
It all worked out in the end.
He turned around and called out to his friend, "Lisa, come out. Someone is waiting for you."
Lisa's body shuddered and her breathing turned ragged from anticipation. Could it be…
She hurriedly stepped out of the carriage and when her gaze landed on the two people standing beside Adam's butler, she immediately broke down.
"Lisa! Lisa! You're back!" A young boy with blonde hair and emerald eyes excitedly ran toward her and hugged her tightly. "I missed you, Lisa, I've missed you so much!"
Tears endlessly streamed down Lisa's face as she hugged the boy back. "Little Jamie…"
As the siblings hugged each other, finding comfort and warmth in each other's embrace, another person ran toward them and hugged them both.
"Oh, my sweet little child." The woman knelt on the ground and bawled.
Lisa hugged her as well. She couldn't stop the tears from flowing. After all these years she had finally reunited with them.
"Mother… you're alright…
"You're alright…
"I'm so glad!"
