“You are Mo Adam?” Lani asked, quickly bowing her head lightly as she greeted the half elf.
“Aha? You’ve heard of me?” Adam replied, chuckling to himself. “That’s right, I’m Mo Adam, Executive of the United Kindom, and the Crazy Father.”
Lani recalled the rumours she had heard of the half elf, but there was no way any of them could be true. Well, perhaps if he could defeat one of their Blades, then she might have been able to believe them, but there was no way he could do that.
“I am Kal Lani, Sword of the Lady,” the young woman said, though her words came out awkward, as though they were words from a stranger. She could still feel it, the great blade at her side, the Legendary Enhanced weapon which almost made her drunk with power. It all felt like a wonderful dream, though she hoped she wouldn’t wake up from it for a while.
“It is my honour to meet you, Kal Lani, Sword of the Lady,” Adam replied, bowing his head in return towards the young woman. “I heard a little about you from Korin, though he said he didn’t want to say much since he was afraid I would corrupt you with my foolishness.”
“My brother spoke highly of you to me,” the young woman admitted. “He said many things, much of which I find unbelievable, but he said that one thing I cannot doubt is that you have a good heart.”
Adam flushed lightly. “I suppose I am pretty unbelievable. That being said, your brother is very talented, and I respect him a lot. I hope that he’ll be willing to accept a position within the business too, since I trust him a lot.”
“He is a Brother of Black Mountain, so that would be difficult,” Lani replied, daring to speak up against the half elf.
Adam smiled, chuckling lightly. “I suppose you’re right. However, let’s see what he has to say when we meet him, shall we? He may refuse once he finds out that his younger sister is the Sword of the Lady, right?”
Lani flushed lightly, her ears also turning red hot from hearing it from another’s lips. ‘Sword of the Lady.’
“This might be a little embarrassing to admit, but… I don’t really know what the title means. Could you care to explain it to me, that way I’ll understand how to treat you upon our journey, and how to assist you in your experience as we travel together.”
“The Sword of the Lady is a legendary title, given to those who-,” Lani began, only for her heart to fill with awe, since she was now considered among such figures. “It is… a title that was given to the likes of even Great Brandon, who was considered among the greatest Swords of the Lady. It’s a title that is given to a singular warrior in grave times, though sometimes it was given during peace times for one reason or another, but it is a title that bestows hope. From the Order to the person, from the person to the world.”
“To put it shortly, do you just have to grow stronger?” Adam mused.
“I have the expectation to reach the Peak,” Lani stated.
“Oh? I suppose that is a little difficult, but we can at least help you reach Master,” Adam said, rubbing his chin. “Although, I wouldn’t mind if you remained with us so we could raise you to a Grandmaster, a Paragon, or even the Peak.”
Lani narrowed her eyes slightly. ‘So… this is Adam.’
Adam raised a brow towards the young woman, whose eyes were full of doubt. “Why are you looking at me that way?”
“I am just a little tired, Mo Adam, I hope you take no disrespect,” Lani replied.
“Ah? Do you think just because you’re Korin’s sister, you can lie to my face like that? You punk!” Adam laughed, though quickly stopped, unsure if he was meant to be disrespecting the young woman like that. “What I mean to say is that as someone who has a great level of respect for your elder brother, I hope you are willing to speak your mind. I will take little offence from someone who is like a cousin to me, for your brother is pretty much a cousin to me.”
“I just thought that you were exactly as my brother described, although I worry that your tone will invite trouble,” the young woman admitted, causing the half elf to burst into laughter.
“You don’t know the half of it! I’ve already annoyed the King of Floria, a Merman Prince, as well as a large number of nobles,” the half elf admitted, almost with pride. “Although, I suppose you can say that I am so strong that I can offend a great many nobles and get away with it?”
“Are you that strong?”
“Well, I’m at least stronger than your First Blade, aren’t I?” Adam teased.
“Hmph! The First Blade is much stronger than you think, Mo Adam!” Lani replied, standing a little taller. “He is the greatest warrior in Black Mountain, and he…”
Adam blinked at the young woman, who stopped upon noticing the half elf’s expression. ‘Wait. She doesn’t know?’
“What is it?”
“I just need a moment to compose myself,” the half elf said, closing his eyes, feeling his chest pulsing as he did his best not to laugh, his throat constricting air so that the half elf would choke before he laughed. “Kal Lani, were you out of the Order until recently?”
“I was patrolling the nearby lands,” Lani confirmed.
Adam wondered how to make this the funniest joke, closing his eyes as he thought deeply.
“What is it?” Lani asked.
“I… Dunes, come here.”
“Mo Dunes,” Dunes replied, approaching the pair, noting the awkward way the half elf was standing, pondering upon something so deeply. “What is the matter?”
“Mo Dunes…” Adam said, clenching a fist, covering his lips, just in case. “Kal Lani here was patrolling the nearby lands until recently. She believes I am unable to defeat the First Blade.”
Dunes suddenly understood why the half elf was standing in such a way, giving him such an intense, awkward glare. Dunes’ lips twitched into a wide smile. “It would be rather difficult to defeat someone like our First Blade, the number of figures who could clash against him are high, but the number who could defeat him? There is one within our company who may have an easier time, though one could expect of such from a half dragon, but I wonder who else could face him?”
“Jurot, my brother, could probably face him, clash with him at least, and it would be rather difficult for him to lose, since he’s so damn tough,” Adam said, at first speaking with pride, ending with annoyance, with a touch of fear. “Kitool, too, since she’s so scary.”
“I can certainly attest to that, but you, Mo Adam?” Dunes said, rubbing his chin. “Certainly, it would be unbelievable for many to believe you could defeat the First Blade. The only way to know would be for you to offer to face him in a spar, and perhaps then we could understand?”
“Mo Dunes,” Lani called, narrowing her eyes, doing her best to temper her annoyance. After all, Dunes was very obviously teasing her, as he always did. “I heard rumours that you wished to join the business, but you are still a Mo of Black Mountain, and you should take pride in that.”
“I suppose the only way for us to know if for me to face the First Blade in a spar, isn’t it?” Adam asked, smiling gently towards the young woman, who could hear the playful tone in his voice.
“It is difficult to request the First Blade for a spar, since he is so busy with great matters within the Order,” Lani replied, obviously annoyed.
“Should we stop teasing her?” Adam asked.
“It is too fun,” Dunes replied.
“What?” Lani asked, her eyes catching Dunes’ gaze. “What is it?”
“It just so happens in order for the Malawi to take my request seriously, I had to face the First Blade in a spar, and though it may be unbelievable…” Adam smiled. “You should ask him who gained victory.”
“I will do just that, “Lani replied, calling the half elf’s bluff.
Adam watched as the young woman sauntered up towards the First Blade, though quickly her steps grew heavier and awkward as she shyly shuffled up to the First Blade. She was surprised when his attention turned towards her instantly, having all but forgotten she was the Sword of the Lady. She gained a moment of courage, speaking politely and respectfully, the half elf imagined, glancing over in their direction, causing the half elf to smile and wave his hand towards her, before her attention returned back to the First Blade.
First Blade Salim blinked, before speaking two words. The girl’s body jolted in surprise for the second time that day, her mouth almost opening agape, before she quickly closed it, her eyes darting towards the half elf.
‘Your sister is pretty cute too,’ Adam thought, basking in the moment, wishing to tease Korin with it later. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t bully you too much since you weren’t there to see your sister’s ascension to becoming the Sword of the Lady. Although, if you don’t let me spoil your cute kids, I might just have to bully you, just a little.’
PATREON LINK
Sometimes we have to bully our younger siblings.