Equipped: Armory of Legends

Chapter 6: Grandpa, 2nd most powerful in the Twilight Kingdom

Amanda rushed into the freezing room headed straight to her babies. She lifted the crying Marylyn and start comforting her then lifted up Adrian that face planted off the ground. Her magic control is phenomenal, the freeze did not hurt her babies.

Adrian is bleeding through the nose and mouth show a face of embarrassment and defeat but he did not cry.

“Mom you’re here. That bad guy wanted to take Marylyn away. You take Marylyn and run, I hold him off and try to get dad and Ralph” Adrian said while letting out a little whistle because he lost a front tooth and cut his lip.

Seeing her 5 year old son is hurt but still wanted to protect her and his sister while try saving his dad and a servant made her proud but her heart sank rock bottom.

A 5 year old can’t use mana against and expert like her dad is suicide but Adrian still wanted to face it head on. She became more worried about the future.

Oscar also heard this made him feel bad and leaving a very bad taste in his mouth for a long time to come. He was very amaze with Adrian’s courage. He wanted to see how Adrian overcome the situation but he took it too far. Remembering back, the kid had no mana but still stand tall against him.

“Come and fight me old man, I show you fire and wind magic when you least expect it” Adrian’s words shocked the father-daughter pair.

“NOW!” seeing the man was in a baffled state Adrian give a signal.

On Adrian’s command, a combination of fire and wind magic strikes at Oscars location, forming a fire tornado. In the searing heat, Adrian stands unmoved. His worried mother cast Ice shields on Adrian and herself to protect her babies.

The fire tornado receded leaving a destroyed baby room. Crack and scorched floor, blacken furniture, and burning fabrics. Among the destruction, a man was standing tall and unharmed, showing a smirk on his face.

"Adrian, I think that is enough. We cannot beat him. I am proud of your courage and play along with you plan but sometime a friendly scuffle admitting defeat is not a shame.” Malcom who is already woken up from being knock out, gave his stance which sounded like an excuse.

“Master is right young master. Fight on another day is better than fighting to the end. What’s more both of us are no match against the 2^nd strongest man of the Twilight Kingdom” said Ralph covering for Malcom while give a sage lesson to Adrian.

“Huh? Friendly scuffle? Why is the 2^nd strongest man of the Twilight Kingdom want from me and Marylyn? Is he into kids? That is more dangerous! Fight me old man!” Adrian did not let his guard down and assume fighting stance.

“HAHAHA…” a loud laugh echoed the destroyed room

Malcom and Ralph were laughing inside their hearts not daring to squeak a sound while Amanda is laughing like a hyena waking up Marylyn that just fell asleep a few minutes ago.

Oscar’s forehead pops a vein while showing an annoyed expression. He wanted to smack this kid to oblivion hearing that remark but it is also his fault not introducing himself properly.

“You guys sort things out. Ralph, please handle this room, make sure its fixed. I will go to the master bedroom to feed Marylyn. Darling stay with Adrian. Dad don’t make a fool of yourself again. Clear things out.” Amanda gave her words to the boys.

“Dad?” Adrian responds with a confuse expression on his face now dirtied with dry blood.

“Gulp” Malcom swallowing his saliva showing a pale face.

“Aye” Oscar responds while crossing his arms calming down.

“Yes Madam, right away” Ralph bow accepted the command and proceed guiding Amanda out, exiting the room with her.

After Amanda and Ralph exits the room, the 2 man and a boy is left in the destroyed room. Adrian is too busy wiping of the blood of his face using his sleeves to care about the two men. Awkward silence hits the room for a few minutes until Malcom spoke up first,

“Why don’t we have our conversation in the lounge room?” suggest Malcom nervously

The man and the boy just nodded their heads and follow Malcom to the lounge room.

Inside the lounge room, Malcom and Adrian was sitting across the kingdom’s 2^nd strongest man, Oscar Black.

“Can someone esplain to me what is going on? Mom called diss man ‘dad’.” Adrian spoke first shamelessly without caring about his missing front tooth or his pronunciation.

“Ah yes. First things first.” Oscar brought out 2 vials out of his coat inside pocket. One vial is filled with red liquid while the other filled with milky white liquid.

“Drink this boy. Drink the white one first followed with the red.” Oscar instructed Adrian on how to drink the liquids.

Adrian looks at his father to ask conformation to trust the man. Malcom replies with a nod.

Adrian grabs the vial with the white liquid, twist the stopper and gulp it down. It has a sour taste prickling on the tongue while leaving a bitter aftertaste in the mouth.

Adrian suddenly felt a breezy feeling on his skin then the feeling seeps into his bones. His gums in his mouth suddenly turned numb. The slot in the row of his teeth that missing a tooth felt like it is pierced by needles.

‘pop’ a tooth grew out of the gums. It looked white but a bit bloodied as it directly pops out of his gums.

Adrian is not surprise he had a hint that this world of magic has potions but not to these magical extend. Ignoring every other thought, he proceeds with the next vial.

Gulping it down, the red potion taste mildly sweet but the bitter aftertaste got stuck in his throat.

After drinking it, he felt a warm surge flowing inside his body. Some parts become hot such as his neck and face. When the effect settled down, his pain on his body is gone.

“Is this what is called a potion?” Adrian asked Oscar

“Yes. The white one is a bone potion. The red one is a health potion. Alchemist is an honourable occupation. Only licenced and verified one are allowed to do business so it’s quite common.” Oscar commented. Thinking it should be enough as an apology to Adrian.

“Enough useless talk, let me introduce myself properly this time. My name is Oscar Black. Marquis of the Twilight Kingdom. Titled, the 2^nd strongest man in the Twilight Kingdom. Head of the Black family and father of Amanda Black. Now she is called Amanda Cross so you can call me…”

Adrian put pieces of the puzzles together when hearing the introduction and coincidently speak at the same time as Oscar,

“Grandpa” both spoke at the same time in sync.

“BWAHAHAHA…” Oscar laughs like a senile old man again. Adrian already used to this after only hearing it once.

 “Boy, I’ve seen that you have been brave protecting your loved ones already amazed me. The letter Amanda sent me says you are a ‘genius’ seems to be true as well. Alright boy, I’ll do your parents a favour but I only scratch the surface. I don’t even do the royals this favour. Consider yourself lucky, boy.” Oscar adds

“Dad… What is he talking about?” Adrian asked Malcom

“Father-in-law will tutor you advanced topics that only senior students of the academy can learn.” Malcom clarifying Oscar’s intentions to Adrian.

“Trash, our talk is not over yet. Don’t think you’re scot-free yet” Oscar gave out his warning to Malcom.

Malcom feeling dead inside thinking, “From pebble to bug then dog then worm and finally trash”. Reminding of the names he had been called by his father-in-law.