Chapter 5: A New Home

A New Home

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Adal originally intended to stay at the common path for only a week. Maybe two. He ended up staying three.

He couldn't help it. It was like a drug that kept drawing him back. The common path is completely different than the wasteland outside Swaying Forest. Here, there are so many people.

There are travelers coming almost every day. The longest Adal went without seeing another person was only a single day. He devoured so many different kinds of people that they started blending together.

Men, women, children. Soldiers, merchants, bandits, adventurers. Beautiful people, ugly people. So many different kinds. All these despite him never straying from the area of his hiding spot. So many people he devoured.

His stay also turns out to be a fantastic learning experience. He learned how to fight, how to sneak, how to attack. He learned how to gauge strength from sight, though he isn't good at it yet. He learned so much and he gained so much.

There are many people – mostly bandits – who had the same idea as him. They wait for people here, then they attack. This makes him realize that he can't just focus on the people he sees but have to look around his surroundings to see if there are others.

A few times, he had to chase down bandits watching from afar. So long as they are on foot, he can throw a few energy balls and he'll catch up. Other times, he catches the remnants of groups who are already attacked. Injured men limping along the path, some shellshocked and muttering names. Possibly names of people they lost.

He convinced one attacked group to give him information and they told him of a camp only a few miles away where a large group of slave raiders are holding out. What a treasure trove that was!

Adal was hesitant to attack at first seeing how large the group was and many of them had swords, but he soon learned that patrols consisting of only two or three men would go out on their own to ensure the area was safe. Even that small group would often break up into single men to make the patrols quicker. It made them easy pickings, especially as, despite their scary appearances, they weren't really that strong.

When the camp realized that they were being stalked, they sent out a large manhunt. A manhunt which ended up leaving only a few guards behind to watch over a large camp. More easy pickings. He did have to fight two guards at one point because a nearby servant witnessed him devouring one guard and screamed, but a single energy ball at close range tore both guards to pieces. Adal learned to start aiming at the ground instead of directly at people.

The camp had a lot of servants. They asked him to spare them. He, of course, didn't.

After, he went on a hunt for each patrol groups. They were groups of four to five, sometimes six to seven. It didn't matter. An energy ball at their feet would send them flying. Any that gets up get another energy ball and that would finish them.

That day, he must have devoured at least 50 people. Possibly more. He didn't really count. Plus the camp replenished his supplies and offered a place to hide all the materials he's been stealing from the people he attacked. He must have at least a dozen silvers' worth of merchandise. Even money is plentiful. He has four silvers just in money.

Sometime during this long feast, something had changed. Something inside of him. He can't really describe what exactly, but he feels different. The feeling gradually faded away, but even after, he certainly noticed external changes in him.

Mysteriously, he noticed he's more energetic. His hunger is more manageable than it used to be and he doesn't have to hunt as often or drink as much. He also noticed that doesn't sleep as often as he used to.

There's also the very visible thing about how much more powerful his magic attacks has become. He can still recall a time when he just barely got it to a level where he could only create small craters in the ground or destroy bark off of a tree. Now his energy balls can blow large holes in people and create craters large enough for him to jump in with both feet.

His speed and strength have also increased dramatically. He can run down people much larger and with much longer legs than him easily. He also discovered that he could easily lift fully grown men who are two to three times his size – and wearing heavy armor! – with ease. He tried throwing one man and he managed to throw him nearly 10 feet away.

The funny thing about all of this is that it seems to happen in an instant. As if the power just came all at once instead of gradually. One moment, he has to fight hard to win his battles then the next it is a complete breeze.

Adal didn't really fully understand why, but he's happy about it. Attacking people is now much easier. He now targets even larger groups.

However, he doesn't always go after everyone he sees. There were two times he decided it was better to back off. Both times were very large caravans surrounded by at least a dozen heavily armored guards. The caravans look extravagant and the riders look wealthy. The guards looked experience and dangerous. There were many swordsmen and archers. There were also people who weren't carrying weapons at all. Adal suspected they were the most dangerous.

A strong sense of danger told him to let them go even though it was a lot of people. He listened to his senses.

By the third week, he realizes he should get going, though he keeps telling himself just one more day. Finally, he attacks a mid size caravan with about seven people. This time, he doesn't destroy the caravan or attack the horses. Instead, he struggles to get them under control and maneuver them to the slavers camp where he loads up as much as possible. He still had to leave a lot behind.

Using the horses, he makes good time home. Whereas it took him four days to get to the common path, it only took him a day to get home. He makes a stop by his treasure hole where he hid everything he stole and creates a larger one to hide all the stuff he brought keeping only three things. Two swords and a bow.

He demolishes the caravan and devours one horse, but choose to keep one. He loads the swords and bow onto a sack on the horse and rides it into the village. Everyone stares at him the whole time with wide eyes. He passes Riva who smiles radiantly at him.

Adal even catches his father in the market who stares at him and the horse he is riding on with disbelief.

"Want a ride home, dad?"

The man lets out a shaky breath. "I'm done here. Lets go."

He climbs on and they go home together. His mother and sibling hear the noise and come out. Their jaws collectively dropped.

"Adal!" Wida cries. "You've come home! And with another horse?"

"And also some stuff for the market." He says.

Inside, he places the swords and bow on the table for everyone to examine. His mother stares at it in confusion.

"I can tell they're well made but I can't tell how well made. I don't know how valuable they are. Roko?"

"I…know the swords can probably get at least a silver each if we can find a buyer from Bear. We'll try to sell them for two each. The bow? Those are really hard to make well. I'm going to try to get three for it."

"So even if we only get half for all, it'll be at least three silvers?"

His father nods, then looks at him. "How did you get all of this? And the horse?"

Adal already had a story in mind. "I found the horse tied up against a tree near a large cave. I went in and found four dead people."

"Soldiers."

He shrugs. "Maybe. They wore ragged clothes, but two of them had these swords and one had a bow. The last used a club, so I didn't bother to take that. I figure the horse were theirs, so I took it too."

"You robbed dead people?" Bird asked.

"They weren't going to use it. They're dead."

"I…agree." Roko says hesitantly. "Robbing is for the living people. Besides, I think taking from the dead is how adventurers do get their treasures."

"I think it is." Ada agrees. "And I'm an adventurer now."

"Did you see a lot of people?" Data looks at his brother. "Were there bandits?"

Adal thinks on how to answer. "Yes…there were. I killed them." His parents startle at the answer. "They didn't have anything valuable on them, though."

His siblings look at him with terror. His parents are silent. He thinks perhaps he should have said he didn't meet anyone.

"Well, you held up your end of the bargain. More than your end. " Roko says. "I won't say another word when you want to go out. You can also use the horse when you want."

"No big deal. We have two now."

"Right. Right."

Later that day, he is chopping wood. His father had returned to the market to haggle for the swords and bow. His mother is inside making clothes. Data takes this time to approach him.

"Yes, Data?"

Tears fill his little brother's eyes. "I understand. I get it now. It's not luck. You are strong. You are really strong." Adal remain silent. "I used to hate you because I thought heaven is always on your side. Giving you everything."

"But that's not it. You do things that I can't do. That I'm too scared to do. The thought of fighting and killing bandits scares me to death, Adal. It makes me freeze and I can't even move or breathe. You talk about it like it's nothing."

"You're too strong. I don't understand how to be like you, but I understand why you're strong now. You will be the hope of our family."

Data hugs him and Adal hesitantly returns the hug before sending the boy back inside to help their mother. Truthfully, he doesn't understand what it means to be 'the hope' of their family. He doesn't know what Data expects him to do. Make money? That's easy. If that's all they want, he can give them it. Beyond that? He doesn't know. All he knows is what he wants.

Some days later, he meets with Riva who greets him with a strong hug. He's being hugged a lot nowadays.

"Update me." She says. "Did your journey turn out fruitful?"

"Very much. I got everything I wanted out of it."

Her eyes light up. "So you formed contacts with merchants?"

"Merchants, soldiers, and even mercenaries."

She is shocked. "Really? How? Why would they care to associate with a poor boy from a random village?"

"To offer me a job should I ever grow up to be a strong man. The merchants did offer to buy things from me, though."

"That's…good. That's good!"

Of course, there are no merchants. Or anyone else. If Riva ever sends him out to sell things, he would just bring back some of the silver he has stashed away.

She swallows. "And what of your strength? Have you grown any stronger?"

He smiles. "Massively stronger. Want to test me again?"

"Of course."

They go to the power stone again. Adal wastes no time eager to gauge his own strength. He places his hand on the stone and Riva begins counting. The stone repels his hand at 64 seconds. Both of them are stunned.

"Oh my God!" Riva cries in sheer bliss. "You are an Earth grade! This is a miracle! I can't believe you reached Earth grade in only a few weeks. That is even faster than you told me!"

Adal is silent. He…is not happy.

How is this possible? He went from 20 seconds to 53 after devouring just a handful of people. These past few weeks, he must have devoured at least a hundred, yet his time only went up to 64? A mere difference of 11 seconds?

Why? Why is it such a small increase? What went wrong? Riva is too excited to see he doesn't share her enthusiasm.

"How can we make the most use of this? Should you go into service for a wealthy family? That is a possibility, but…the only family here is the damn Bears." She says with disgust. "I guess becoming a freelance merc is also possible. They make good money too. There's so many ideas."

He clears his throat. "I want to keep doing what I'm doing now."

"What? Why? Is it that profitable?"

"Very profitable. I brought back a horse, which you saw, and you must have heard my family sold some fine things too."

"We all heard. Your father made four silvers from them. They were fine weapons. We were all envious. Are you saying you could get more?"

"Absolutely."

She licks her lips excitedly. "Our future is secured, darling. We will not have to worry about poverty ever. Maybe…maybe I can even become independent now. Perhaps you can convince your family to let me stay for a few weeks while you go out again? Then when you return, perhaps there'll be enough money for us to buy a home."

"No need to." He says. "Can you still get that house for two silvers?"

"Yes, I can. Maybe even a little less as the place is terrible during winter."

"Then I think it's time to enact the plan to last ten seconds against one of the Bear family and get them to pay me two silvers."

She scowls. "I'm still against the idea as it's risky. Moreso now that you don't really need to do it. If you can find more weapons from a trip, we can just get the money that way."

"There's no guarantee I can get them again. Besides, can you sell them and take the money before your family confiscates everything?"

Adal knew this wasn't necessary. He actually has more than the amount needed hid away. If he wanted, he can solve their problems in an instant and with no need to engage in a fight against the Bears.

…but, somehow, the idea of doing so excites him.

He is an Earth grade now. He wants to test his new power. Where else can he easily find an Earth grade if not the Bear family? If he should happen to make money in the process, even better.

Besides, this is more attractive in a way. He can test his power in a non-fatal fight where he only has to last against them. Not actually defeat them. It'll be a good way to gauge his strength without too much risk.

Riva frowns. "I guess it is the easier path. Say I'm willing to go with it, how will you do it? They only make that offer after the annual power tests. They don't even make it every year."

"I'm not sure. I figure I would just ask them to make me the offer."

"That's your idea? Geez. You're lucky to have me." She declares. "I have an idea. Offend their egos. Offend their egos then offer to go against them for the same deal."

They brainstormed over the idea and eventually decide on a scenario. At the market, they will begin talking – loudly – about how clever and fast Adal is. The idea is to convince a member of Bear to want to fight him. He will demure and say he will do so only if he is allowed to forfeit after ten seconds for two silvers.

The decision on who to challenge isn't difficult. Roccoco Bear. The newest competent Earth grade of Bear and thus among the weakest. Adal also likes him because his close range fighting style is advantageous for him. He really hates fighting long distance types.

The idea delighted Riva too. Humiliating a Bear is wonderful. Humiliating Roccoco Bear is even better.

They set to put the plan into action. A few days later, Adal asks his father if he could go with him to the market to help sell supplies. His father stares curiously, but agrees. An hour after they arrive, Riva shows up and gives him a meaningful look.

Adal looks around and sees a Bear servant nearby. He walks up to some kids standing there.

"Hey, are any of you here willing to fight me? If you win, I'll pay you 50 coppers."

This piques the ears of every single person in the area.

"What? Did I just hear him right?"

"The fool is paying 50 coppers to win a fight against him?"

"Does he think he's an Earth grade?"

They didn't really plan that part about challenging random kids. Adal just winged it figuring that's the best way to get attention.

His father quickly gets wind of this and rushes over. "Boy, am I hearing things right? You offered 50 coppers for someone to beat you?"

"Yes, I did."

"You damn fool! Have you lost your mind? Are you even getting anything in return?"

He thinks it over. "Whoever loses to me has to pay me 50 coppers."

His father fumes. "And where are you going to get 50 coppers in case you lose?"

"You could pay for me." His father grows angrier. "Am I not making much money nowadays? You know I can easily make it back."

The reminder gets a lot of people nervous. News of what Adal did in wasteland passed around quickly and the story changes with each person. There are stories that he killed five bandits. That he raided a cave slaughtering many more. That he stole a horse and ran away with it. He may have killed as many as 15 bandits! That's where he got the swords and bow.

Some people thought the stories were ridiculously exaggerations. Boy, if only they knew the truth.

The news, though, makes the kids hesitate. They are quite aware that they may not be capable of facing Adal. However, the adults have no such thoughts. Meta the Blacksmith soon steps up.

"I'll take you on. Get your 50 coppers ready, boy."

It is part profit and part revenge. He wasn't too happy when Adal beat his wife during the competition. He wants to turn things around.

Out of his periphery, Adal sees the Bear servants rushing home. This plan might work. The funny thing is that Riva didn't even get a chance to take part yet. She may not even need to.

"Adal, don't do this." Roko whispers harshly. "I don't remember Meta's magic test score exactly, but it was much higher than yours. He's also an adult now so it's probably even higher. Besides, he's a grown man and a blacksmith. He'll hurt you."

"Do not be afraid, dad. I will win."

Meta heard that. "Step aside, Roko. You heard the boy. He will win. I will pay 50 coppers if he does so."

"You fool. You damn fool." Roko mutters but steps back. "Your mother will kill me."

When Roko moves back, so does everyone else forming an empty circle for Adal and Meta.

"How old are you, boy? It's eight now, right?"

"Yes. Why does it matter? Come at me."

"Brave."

Meta rushes towards him with his fist cock. Adal does as he always does. He throws an energy ball at Meta's feet. The ensuing explosion knocks items off nearby store stands and throws Meta into the air. He lands hard on his back stunned.

Everyone is shocked. Meta takes a few minutes to get himself back together and tries to push himself up, but falls back down again groaning. He doesn't try getting up again.

"I believe this is my victory." Adal says.

No one contested it. No one even says anything, though some of Meta's friends move in to drag him away. Moments later, the Bear servants return with several family members. To Adal's delight, Roccoco is one of them.

"What happened here?" One of the Bears asked.

"That boy. He easily beat Meta the Blacksmith."

"Huh. Too bad, we missed free entertainment." The man shrugs. "I heard, though, that there was an offer of 50 coppers?"

"Yes. Meta will have to pay the boy now."

The man stares at Adal testily. "Well, aren't we wealthy? And arrogant too to be offering a reward for fighting."

An older Bear woman who came snorts. "Some people should know their place, but what does it matter? He just beat a blacksmith."

They begin turning to walk away. Adal tries to think of something to get their attention.

"Can you take on a member of Bear?" A voice asks from the crowd. It is Riva.

Everyone's eyes widen. The Bears immediately turn back in a rage glaring at the voice. Roccoco, in particular, is enraged when he sees it's Riva.

"Riva! Your eyes must be as bad as your morals! You think just because he beat a blacksmith, he can beat one of us?"

"I don't think a family of rapists should be talking about my morals." She shoots back.

"You dare make that accusation against us? Is your family willing to face the consequences for it?"

"I thought we were just saying insults, not accusations." She dodges. "After all, you insulted me first. A man abusing a lady? How shameful." Roccoco is visibly trembling in rage.

"Shut your mouth, whore!" The older woman yells at her. "You have no right to speak!"

"All I did was asked a question and I asked Adal over there. I just wanted to know if he could beat a member of Bear."

"Of course not!" The entire Bear family said at once.

"Then how about you match against him?"

She huffs. "Hm. Fine, let us do it. I'll prove Bear is unmatchable. Then you can shut your dog mouth."

"No." Adal says. "I do not wish to fight against a girl. Besides, you're an adult. Isn't it unfair for you to go against a kid?"

The woman raises a skeptical eyebrow. Roccoco snorts mockingly and steps forward.

"Alright, then how about me? We're the same age and even took the magic test at the same time. I'm also a boy."

"Yes, you're better, but I still feel that it's unfair."

"Why?"

"You are a Bear and everyone knows you are an Earth grade. I would be risking serious injuries against you."

He smirks. "So you're admitting Bear is stronger then?"

"Stronger, yes. I can last ten seconds against you, but I can't beat you."

That doesn't make Roccoco happy. "You arrogant dog. You think you can last ten seconds against me? Alright, lets do it then. I will concede defeat if you last ten seconds against me."

"What about my risk of injuries?"

"I will pay the 50 coppers. Isn't that enough compensation?"

"Against an Earth grade? No, I don't think so. If I last ten seconds, pay me two silvers like you offered at the competition. If I don't last it, you owe me nothing."

There is a lot of muttering in the crowd. Most can't believe he's going through with it. Roko is blistering mad continuously whispering to his son of what happened to his younger sister.

Roccoco is very amused by all this. "Two silvers if you last ten seconds and nothing if you don't? Sounds good to me. I get to teach a fool a lesson for free and stretch my legs a little."

With the match confirmed, everyone, even the Bears and their servants, create a clearing. The crowd steps even further back fearful of getting caught in an attack.

As soon as Roccoco enshrouds his fists in flames, Adal begins counting loudly. The crowd catches on and counts too. Roccoco maneuvers as if to launch himself forward, but Adal doesn't let him.

He starts launching energy balls in rapid succession at Roccoco's feet. The first two surprises Roccoco and throws him backwards, but he manages to pull himself behind cover after. The crowd instantly stops counting, but Adal continues. When he reaches the count of ten, he stops.

"That…is ten seconds. I believe you said you will concede defeat now."

For the second time, the crowd is stunned. Roko is stunned. Riva couldn't believe her eyes. The Bears are stunned too.

Roccoco finally gets out of cover and he's bleeding from his forehead and holding his arm. This shocks the crowd even more. Not only did Adal last the ten seconds, but he actually injured Roccoco.

A buzz goes around and there are distinctive musing of whether Adal could have actually won if it was a normal match. Roccoco hears them and clenches his fists in anger.

"Let us continues fighting!" He calls out.

"No, I refused. I spent all my energy doing that." He didn't but continuing seems dangerous. "Even if we keep fighting, I might only get out four or five more balls."

"So it was a coward's strategy? Keep me away until the time is up?"

"A win is a win." Adal shrugs. "And I believe you owe me two silvers."

Roccoco's eyes widen. He clenches his teeth even harder, but gestures to a servant to pay. Adal receives the silver gratefully. The Bears walk away most of them still too shocked to really react.

When they leave, he walks up to Riva and holds out the silver. She is stunned too, but quickly gathers herself holding up a finger for Adal to wait.

"I now declare myself independent!" She loudly says. "You all hear me? I am now independent and no longer beholden to my family."

The crowd hardly even reacted. There are too many things happening. Riva turns to him and nods. He hands her the silver.

Adal loudly declares. "Riva, I am now giving you these two silvers. It is yours. You owe me nothing for it. Do with it as you please."

She grins in joy and walks away. He then leaves in the other direction gesturing to his father who follows numbly. At home, his father walks into the house and falls into a chair. Wida notices.

"What's wrong with you?"

"I…I don't know what the hell is going on anymore. Our son beat Meta the Blacksmith today in a match."

"What!" Wida turns and examines Adal carefully. "But he doesn't even look injured!"

"Because he isn't. He beat Meta in a single hit."

"What!"

"That's not even the best part. He challenged Roccoco Bear to a match next."

His mother drops into a chair. She examines Adal again. "Are you going to tell me he also beat a Bear in a single hit?"

"No, he just lasted ten seconds. Ten seconds where he blasted Roccoco nonstop with those magic balls of his. Roccoco got injured. Adal won because he lasted ten seconds. He won two silvers for it."

His siblings stare at him with a mix of surprise, admiration, and even a tinge of fear.

"I'm not hearing this." Wida says. "Our son lasted ten seconds against a Bear, came out uninjured, and even injured him? How? How is that possible?"

His father takes a shuddering breath. "I'm not even done yet. Right afterwards, Riva, the daughter of the fish merchant Toro, declares independence from his household and then our Adal gifts her the entire two silvers."

"He gave her an entire two silvers! Why?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask. I'm still trying to process everything else that happened."

"Adal? Why did you do it?" His mother asks. "What is your relationship to Riva?"

It is now he realizes he didn't quite think that far ahead. It didn't even occur to him his father would be a witness to the entire event. So not knowing how else to respond, he did it with honesty.

"Riva needs the two silvers to buy a house."

"What house costs two- wait, do you mean that house that belong to the pottery merchant far off near the wasteland?" He nods. "That girl! Does her foolishness know no bounds?"

Wida swallows and continues. "That still doesn't explain. Why did you give her the silvers? What is she to you?"

Adal clears his throat. "My betrothed."

His mother is overwhelmed. His father awakes from his stupor.

"You damn brat! Your betrothed? Toro did not approach me about any marriage offers, so that means you two decided on your own?" Adal nods. "Who even gave you the right? Only the fathers determine the marriages! You can not get married without my permission and Riva can not without her father's permission."

"Riva is independent now. I don't think she needs permission anymore."

Roko is enraged. "You are still eight. You can not declare your independence yet. So you still need my permission."

"Yes, I do. So I'm waiting until I no longer need permission."

"Damn you!" Roko explodes. "She is many years older than you!"

"Seven!" Wida cries.

"She is also a tainted girl. Don't you see you can do much better? You have a great ability to make money! You are proven to be incredibly strong now. You could easily do much better."

Adal thinks it over. "She is very smart, though. Much of my success right now came from her ideas. She will prove to be very useful to me, I think."

"So can other women!"

"I don't want other women. I don't even want a wife, to be honest. They are useless to me."

"You need a wife to have children!"

"I don't want children." Roko fumes hard at this response. "I don't know how to take care of them and I don't really want to."

"Well, aren't we a selfish lot? So you don't intend to take a respectable wife or even raise children at all. What the hell are you going to do with your life?"

"I'm going to become powerful."