Tawid could remember it. It was around ten years ago when he clashed blades with some of the most powerful with Aswadasad. He had long gained the title of a Master at that point, his blade could cleave through the average man as though they were made of dates, but as he fought across some of the most terrifying figures in Aswadasad, he understood just how the land had kept its title as one of the most powerful countries for thousands of miles.

Sand Sword, The Sword of Fire, Radiant Blade, Spear of the Ten Rivers, Sleeping Dragon of Arisa, Monster.

Many were twenty or thirty years his senior, and they who had retired, especially the Sleeping Dragon of Arisa, were among the greatest warriors across the land. He could name those that could even face against the Fariqs and force them to step back, if it ever came to such.

Even Radiant Blade, who he had fought towards the end, and was considered among the weakest of those he had fought then, she was still someone who danced around him with ease, though he had still managed to put up some resistance. He could remember that blade that she wielded, so bright, so heavy with duty.

Yet, the axe he had stumbled against this morning, of a young man who walked so casually up to him, to beat him as though he were just a boy, was it not heavier?

Adam sipped the tea lightly, having no idea he had brought an existential crisis to the half dragon, as another half dragon had brought to him. His heart had lightened after his victory, the great tension within his body since he had fought Isam had melted slightly, although he knew Isam and Tawid were very different, in that Isam was at the peak, whereas Tawid was perhaps about half as powerful, and had let down his guard. Also, he had almost died upon that day, which caused him to tense up for a moment once more.

Dunes was glad nothing had escalated, for Tawid was among some of the people one could not trouble without causing issues for themselves. With Uli present, he had been less worried, for though Tawid was close to the family personally, Uli’s duties were to the royal family too, and he was uncertain who would be considered closer, but since they were both so close, it should have been fine.

He would have felt far more confident if it wasn’t for the fact Adam was involved.

Tawid eventually listened to Adam’s tale, in greater depth, though the half elf remained obviously reluctant to share a few details, only making small jokes about certain matters.

“Ah, well, the Grand Commander and I had some issues, and after a duel, well, his sword belongs to the Iyr and I’m here to do some business.”

Adam was also reluctant to share details about the various other Grand Commanders he had met that year, even throwing Uli a look when he mention the Fariq of the Black Lions, speaking highly of the Grand Commander, but remained intentionally vague about their meeting.

However, reading between the lines, recalling the viciously casual beating he had received, Tawid understood. Except, was it true that Adam was so weak just a few years ago? Then what explained his rapid rise in power? There were few in history who had matched such a rise in power…

“I get it, I get it,” Adam said, motioning with a hand as though trying to dismiss away the thoughts. “I cause a lot of trouble, and though it hasn’t gotten me killed yet, yet, yet to be sure, you shouldn’t give me that kind of look. It’s bad enough when Dunes and my dear wife give me such a look, but for a random stranger to worry over how ridiculous I am, it feels far more real.”

‘What did that mean?’ Tawid thought, taking a moment to figure out how to navigate this next conversation.

“Anyway, that sword of yours, it looks beautiful, and from what I saw, it seems to hold quite some power!” Adam had felt the gentle chill of the blade when they clashed, revealing its icy nature.

“It is a blade that was gifted to me by the Shen,” Tawid admitted, allowing the half elf take it. “It is a powerful blade, and if you can see, right upon the flat of the blade, the halfzer script. Though it strikes with a chill, it is when one fights a larger opponent, say a drake, a dragon, wyvern, although also beasts that are larger, like tigers, it strikes even heavier.”

“Oh! Now that’s quite the weapon!” Adam had once enchanted a similar weapon, for the Gon family, he vaguely recalled.

“It is a great weapon indeed.”

“Enhanced, one might say,” Adam joked, smirking slightly, raising his brows to Dunes who rolled his eyes lightly but nodded.

“Yes…” Tawid smiled awkwardly. “You deal in magical weapons?”

“We do, yes.”

“Which kind?”

“All kinds. Basic to Greater Enhanced. Elemental damage, usually. Sometimes the kind that smite one’s foes, sometimes the kind that smite consistently for a short while, sometimes permanently, depending on the strength of the enchantment, and the heaviness of one’s gold.”

As they discussed, they finally approached the topic of purchasing various uthurs, especially those which were less obtainable, and those which were pure and strong. Tawid seemed more amicable after the bout with the half elf, who had so thoroughly defeated him, with such a casual manner, as though he were off for a spot of tea.

“Alright, I guess if you don’t need any magical weapons right now, that’s fine. We can pay in gold, and if we need to, we’ll get some gold when we make a deal with the Shen.”

“It is not so easy to make a deal with the Shen, for he has so many who enchant weapons for him already,” Tawid admitted. “You are also foreign.”

“That’s fine with me. I mean, if he wants me to work with the Aldish exclusively as the Reavers tear through Northern Aswadasad, I won’t force him to buy from us, that would be ridiculous.” Adam shrugged his shoulders, flashing an innocent smile.

Tawid understood why Dunes was so exhausted as the half elf chuckled, but bowed his head. “You are going to get yourself in quite some trouble.”

“Hey, like I said, it’s up to the great Shen if he deigns to offer us a decent deal for our weapons, we’ll get on it soon, though we’re taking a short break at the moment.”

‘He must be a noble,’ Tawid thought, making the wise decision not to speak the words aloud.

“Also, no, I don’t have any plans for world domination or conquering anything,” Adam stated firmly, just in case.

“You do not?”

“Firstly, I think there’s quite a few people who could defeat me, but secondly, well, I prefer to stay home.”

“I have not heard of you yet, so I wonder…” Tawid began, allowing the half elf to understand through his curious tone.

“For now, I just let selective people see me in this way, as a monster with decent enough power to clash with the greatest. In the future, I’m sure it’ll be advantageous for my name to spread through the land, but there’s no need for it.” Adam shrugged his shoulders, saying no more, since Tawid probably understood the basic reasons.

“There is a wisdom in such.”

“There’s going to come a time in… I don’t know, ten, fifteen years, where I might need to step out properly. When my children are considered men and women, that’s when I might take my epithet more seriously, and go out and cause some trouble, to make sure people do not trouble my children.” Adam’s eyes held a darkness within them, his thoughts upon a great evil he would commit if something were to happen to his children. He closed his eyes, feeling a tremble within his heart, but he forced it away.

Dunes could feel the heaviness of the half elf, and he thought about such a situation too. Adam, in just a year, had certainly grown even stronger, somehow, and it wasn’t just that he had grown stronger, there was something else. Though dark thoughts plagued him, an overcast storm clouding his mind, the half elf had also begun to think of life upon the scale of not just weeks and months, but years and decades.

Tawid noted the darkness, for the half elf thought of it as casually as he had sipped his tea, and as casually as he had beaten Tawid. “How many children do you have?”

Adam smiled, and gushed over his children. They discussed for a short while longer, until Adam finally procured what he needed to from them, and after some more tea, the trio decided to leave the half dragon in peace, allowing him to ponder on the one known Adam for a while longer.

Tawid pondered and pondered and pondered, until he finally wrote a letter, and sent it to his various companions and contacts, and even sent one to the royal palace, hoping they would read it. Though Uli alone was enough, Tawid’s insistence would assist in speeding along their meeting.

Tawid inhaled the warm air, the gentle fragrances all around him, the half dragon within the garden once more. He saw the ghost of Adam opposite him, and drew his blade. He wondered if he had not brought forth the will of his blade, which took some time to concentrate upon, if he could have at least proved a worthy adversary.

‘Just how powerful is he if he is able to dispatch Grandmasters with such ease?’ the half dragon pondered, and for a moment, his thoughts fell upon the Fariq of the Black Lions. ‘No. That would be impossible.’

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Yeah, don't think too hard, Tawid. 

Also, I posted up the preview for TUF on Patreon if you want to check it out. It's currently available for all the paid Patrons, as well as the typical +40 chapters. 

At the end of the month the edited novel should be up.

Also I'll be posting up an additional chapter for each new paid Patron for this month too!