The air inside the mercenary camp had changed since the duel. Whispers swirled like wind through the tents—of the stranger who bested their invincible leader and was spared. But none dared speak ill of Adam now. Even the most savage warriors in the Baghdud army stepped aside as he passed, their eyes lowered. He wasn't just a fighter. He was something more. Something they didn't quite understand—but feared.
After the encounter with the children, Adam turned to Inwaar. His tone was firm, but not defiant.
"I want them cleaned up, fed, and placed in a safe tent. Treat them with care. They're under my protection now."
Inwaar nodded, understanding something deeper in Adam's request. Not pity—but responsibility. A man like Adam didn't make idle gestures. He made decisions with purpose.
"It will be done." Inwaar said simply, and gestured to his men to handle it.
Later that evening, as the sky deepened into a tapestry of stars and cold wind danced over the camp, Adam approached the tent where the children had been placed. The firelight from within flickered softly, casting long shadows on the grass.
He pulled aside the flap and stepped in.
Inside, the boy and girl were sitting on a small carpet, eating bread and stew from wooden bowls. Clean clothes hung loosely on their frail bodies, and for the first time, their faces weren't caked with dust and blood. The girl had been given a light purple shawl, the boy a worn but warm tunic. They looked up in unison, startled, but relaxed once they recognized him.
Adam smiled—gently, this time. A warmth he hadn't felt in years settled in his chest.
He knelt beside them, speaking softly.
"What's your name, son?"
The boy hesitated. His fingers trembled as he gripped his bowl, eyes darting nervously, before he finally spoke.
"R-Ryan, sir."
Adam nodded. "Ryan." He repeated it like a vow. Then turned to the girl. Her eyes were wide and cautious.
"And you?"
She hesitated longer. Her lips parted, but no sound came.
Adam softened his tone further. "It's alright. You're safe now. You can tell me."
The girl lowered her head slightly, her small voice nearly a whisper. "Jasmine."
The name hit Adam like a gust of wind. His eyes flickered for a moment. The name—Jasmine—it was his mother's.
He exhaled slowly. A strange sensation settled in his heart. Fate? Coincidence? Destiny?
"That's… the first time I've heard someone with my mother's name," he said, voice almost reverent. Then he smiled gently. "Nice to meet you, Jasmine. From now on, you're with me."
Ryan looked at him, eyes hopeful but unsure.
"We'll be traveling far. It won't always be safe," Adam continued. "But as long as you're with me, no harm will come to you. You have my word."
Adam stepped out into the cool night and made his way back to Inwaar's tent. Inside, the mercenary leader was seated, staring at a map lit by candlelight.
"I need a horse," Adam said, "and some food supplies."
Inwaar didn't look up. "You leaving so soon?"
"There's no safety here. Not for them."
Inwaar finally met Adam's eyes. "Take what you need. I'll have my men prepare it by dawn."
That night, the camp settled into uneasy slumber. But peace never lasted long in a mercenary's life.
The Attack
Adam was jolted awake by distant screams and the clang of steel. He bolted upright. Smoke billowed into the sky, and the sharp scent of fire filled the air.
Without hesitation, he sprinted to Inwaar's tent.
The old warrior was already armored, sword in hand.
"We're under attack," he said grimly. "A rival band. Came in from the west."
"Let me help."
Inwaar shook his head. "No. You have a long journey ahead. You must leave. Now."
"I can fight—"
"You can die, too," Inwaar snapped. Then his voice softened. "Go, Adam. Take the children and leave. When the time is right, we will meet again."
Their eyes met, the unspoken respect between them more powerful than any oath.
Adam nodded, then turned on his heels. He ran to the children's tent, scooped Jasmine into his arms and urged Ryan to keep close. The camp was chaos—flames licking the sky, warriors shouting, swords clashing.
He spotted a horse, mounted quickly, pulled Ryan up behind him, and with Jasmine held tightly, they rode out under the cover of smoke and stars.
The Refuge
By morning, the world had grown quiet. The sun cast its golden rays across a valley where birds sang like nothing had happened. Adam had found a small cave the night before where they could rest. There, he finally breathed.
But they couldn't stay long. They resumed their journey shortly after, traveling light, staying hidden. They had crossed a sparse forest when they spotted something unusual: a modest wooden house sitting alone in the middle of the wilderness.
Adam stopped. "Stay here," he told the children.
He approached cautiously, sword drawn. When he knocked, the door creaked open, revealing a startled couple.
The man raised a farming tool; the woman gasped.
Adam quickly sheathed his sword. "I mean no harm. Please, we just need shelter for the night."
The man lowered the tool slowly. "You… you're not a thief?"
"No," Adam replied. "I have two children with me. We just need rest."
The couple hesitated, then nodded. "Come in."
Adam fetched the children, and soon, the small home was filled with warmth—both from the hearth and the kindness of strangers.
That night, they shared food—simple bread and stew. The couple, Alex and Lucy, spoke of their life on the edge of the world.
"We've always wanted children," Lucy said softly, her hand resting over her husband's. "But the stars never blessed us."
Something stirred in Adam's chest. He looked at Ryan and Jasmine, then back at the couple. These were good people. Kind. Honest.
He set his spoon down.
"Would you… would you take them?" he asked suddenly.
The room fell silent.
Alex blinked. "Take them?"
"As your own. Raise them. Protect them. Love them."
Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes. "But… they're your children?"
Adam looked down. "No. But I chose them. I saved them. And I've kept them alive. But my path… it's not meant for peace."
The children looked up at him, frightened.
"You'll be safe here," he said, voice cracking. "With them, you'll have a home. With me… you'll only have danger."
Jasmine's eyes filled with tears. "But… we want to stay with you."
Adam smiled, pulling them both into a hug.
"I'll never forget you. And you'll never forget me."
They slept well that night, wrapped in warmth and safety.
By morning, Adam was gone.
Only a note remained, placed beside their beds:
"We shall meet again, if God permits. My dear children—be strong. Protect yourselves, protect this home, and never forget that you are loved."
Ryan held the note tightly in his fist as Alex placed a hand on his shoulder.
From that day on, Ryan and Jasmine became the light of the couple's lives. They grew strong, surrounded by love.
And Adam—Adam continued his journey through shadows and fire, his heart a little heavier, his soul a little warmer.
But somewhere in the distance, a promise echoed in the wind:
We shall meet again.