Adam stood still with a grim expression. It was not until Askyros had drawn his last breath that he finally retrieved his sword.
"Thank you for the lesson." [Adam]
Adam threw Krino to the side, causing it to vanish into thin air. He then placed his hands together in a respectful manner and tilted his head forward.
"...Rather polite aren't you?" [Krino]
("Do you mean the way I treated Askyros' body or how I threw you aside?") [Adam]
"Both I would say." [Krino]
"Hmph." [Adam]
While his thoughts were filled with Krino's complaints, he simply picked up Pandora's box and headed for the portal that was opened previously.
"Ignoring me now are you- uh what is that?" [Krino]
Out of the corner of his eye, Adam saw a faint glow that caught his attention. He turned to get a good look at it, and he realized it was the journal that Askyros had held onto before. The plain cover was now full of detail with a dim blue light brimming from it's traces.
("It's… changed?") [Adam]
He placed Pandora's box to the side and picked up the booklet. He brought the booklet closer and the image on the cover became clear.
("It's a drawing of someone holding a sword and a hammer.") [Adam]
He began to turn the page open, but was hit with a feeling of nausea.
"Ugh!" [Adam]
"Adam?!" [Krino]
Words echoed throughout his head with a familiar voice.
"I... Askyros… have chosen my legacy... As the guardian of the fourth lotus… I forfeit my life…" [Askyros]
At that moment, everything turned dark.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Suddenly, cries filled the air. He heard the wailing of a child. Opening his eyes, he saw two large silhouettes before him.
"He's awake?" [Man]
Among the two, one of them was a grown man with a disheveled beard. His eyes were full of excitement as his gaze rested on Adam.
("Where am I? Who is this?��) [Adam]
Observed his surroundings, taking notice of the background. He found himself in a bedroom, one made out of logs and seemingly primitive to Adam. Unlike the homes he was used to, this house didn't have paint or wallpapers at all.
"Wagooh.." [Adam]
("Huh?!") [Adam]
A small voice exited his mouth, surprising himself.
"He stopped crying already?" [Man]
("My mouth is moving on it's own!") [Adam]
"Here, let me hold him." [Man]
("Wait, what?!") [Adam]
He felt something shift beneath him and the grown man seemed to grow in size. Beside him, Adam noticed a woman wearing a frilly apron. On top of her head was a cloth used to hold her brown hair together as a cap.
"Careful…" [Woman]
She held her hands up trying to help, but the woman didn't actually take action.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing Medina. Heh! Even if I did drop him, it wouldn't do much considering he's my son!" [Man]
"Hmph. I don't know what my sister sees in you." [Medina]
Adam was brought into the man's arms and was turned to face the spot he was originally in. He saw a woman sitting upright in bed. She had lucious brown hair that extended past her shoulders and was wearing a gown patterned with flowers.
"Now, now… Don't be too harsh on him. Alyk is just a bit… thick-headed sometimes." [Woman]
"I don't think even "thick-headed" begins to describe him." [Medina]
"Haha…" [Woman]
She smiled nervously and began to leave the bed.
"Wha- Honey what are you doing?!" [Alyk]
The man startled the woman, keeping her from standing up.
"Yes dear?" [Woman]
"You shouldn't get up yet, you're still recovering." [Alyk]
("Recovering?") [Adam]
"I'm just getting myself a cup of water." [Woman]
"Let me handle that, I'll go get it for you. Here, Medina, can you hold the baby for me?" [Alyk]
("Woah!") [Adam]
Alyk repositioned Adam to fit into Medina's arms and exited the room.
"Haa…" [Woman]
She gave off a sigh and readjusted herself back under the blankets.
"...He surprisingly cares a lot about you Feida." [Medina]
"That's what I like about him." [Feida]
"Hmph. Also, "Honey"? Who does he think he is?" [Medina]
"He's my husband. What's wrong with him calling me by a nickname?" [Feida]
"What's wrong is that I still haven't accepted him yet." [Medina]
"We've been married for 3 years already, why don't you accept him already?" [Feida]
"He's dumb, has too much pride, and seems unreliable." [Medina]
"He's… kind of dumb, true… and is a little prideful…, but Alyk is reliable when it counts." [Feida]
Medina looked unconvinced, but she just let it slide.
"...So? What about this little guy?" [Medina]
She cradled Adam with one arm and poked him in the cheek.
"Oog…" [Adam]
("Stop that!") [Adam]
"What's his name?" [Medina]
"His… name?" [Feida]
"Yes, his name. What is it?" [Medina]
"Um…" [Feida]
"You didn't even think of a name yet…" [Medina]
"Well… Alyk and I are still thinking about it." [Feida]
"Th-thinking about it?! It's been 2 weeks since he's been born!" [Medina]
"Waaah!!" [Adam]
He felt tears welling up in him, tears streamed forth as he bawled his eyes out.
("This is so embarrassing…") [Adam]
"Ah?! Wha-?! Uh, Shh…" [Medina]
She held Adam with two arms and rocked him back and forth, lulling him to a half asleep-half awake state.
"Phew… Kids are tough to deal with…" [Medina]
Just then, Alyk came running into the room with a cup of water in hand.
"I heard crying from outside! Is the baby okay?!" [Alyk]
"Waaah!!" [Adam]
("Not again…") [Adam]
He burst into tears again, crying as loud as he could.
"Great… Just… Great…" [Medina]
"Alyk…" [Feida]
He rested a hand on her face while shaking her head.
"What?" [Alyk]
"Just… Give me the water." [Feida]
Unsure of what he had done, Alyk handed her the cup of water with confusion on his face. After taking a few sips, Feida handed the cup back to Alyk.
"...Do you need anything else?" [Alyk]
"Can you stand in the corner and be quiet until the baby falls asleep?" [Feida]
Though his wife asked him like it was a request, Alyk knew in an instant it was an order.
"Y-yes ma'am…" [Alyk]
He dragged his feet to the corner of the room with his head hung low.
("Wow, she has him wrapped around her finger…") [Adam]
"Anyway, as for his name…" [Feida]
She held a hand to her chin and pondered to herself.
"I have one." [Feida]
"You do? And so fast?" [Medina]
Feida simply smiled before speaking.
"I do, I think I'll name him… Askyros." [Feida]