As the wind swept through the land of sun and gold, the millions of figures atop the hills of the capital moved like ants. Upon the back of a figure who towered over many others, the seven year old kept her arms wrapped around her brother’s neck, pointing this way and that way to inform him of various matters.
“That is an Aswadian carriage, because it is of Aswadian design,” the girl stated.
“I see.”
“In the Iyr, the carriages are designed differently.”
“I see, I see.”
“That is Aswadian clothes, because it is of Aswadian design.”
“I see.”
“In the Iyr, clothes are designed differently.”
“I see, I see.”
Indeed, the girl was full of such wisdom, to the point even her grandmother behind was nodding her head, and the two ahead were also impressed by the girl’s wisdom.
‘I see, I see,’ the pair thought.
It was within one of the many domes, overlooking the world, did the two watch over the pair. The two were adorned in plain clothes, sipping their tea. Though they wore no weapons, their martial bearing could not be denied, their hands rough, calloused, bruised from thousands of hours of training.
“Seeing him like this, it really does seem like he is but a simple brother,” the first said.
“It could be he is simply a brother,” the second replied.
“Did you not hear the rumours? He is a monster, one that surpasses even the likes of a Grandmaster. Even you and I together, could we even face the two who step ahead of him?”
“I am saying he is simply a brother, whether he is a monster or not, he is simple a brother.”
“You are lucky you have such grand relations.”
“I worked hard to be related to such a fellow,” the second joked, sipping her cup of tea.
Even as the myriad of underground networks kept their eye upon the half elf, he did not seem to notice in the slightest, though his grandmother’s eyes were far more keen, only spotting a handful of them. As they had yet to step forward, she would only consider them gathering information, and even if they each did step forward, there were only a handful of Experts about, and none who surpassed such a realm, and so she, alone, could flee with Lanarot, though should it be required, she could remain behind to fight as her grandson flew away.
No.
He would enjoy the fun.
“I’m sorry, Lanababy,” Adam finally said.
“I see.”
Adam glanced aside, noting the girl’s playful smile, her eyes narrowed, and he nuzzled against her nose. “Are you not going to ask why?”
“I can guess!” Lanarot replied excitedly. “Mm. It is because you claim victory so quickly?”
“How did you know?”
Lanarot cackled. “I know! Brother, I am sister’s sister.”
“You sure are so wise, our little Lanarot, who is so strong, even though she is so small, for she is her sister’s sister, and her niece’s aunt, and her mother’s daughter.”
“So she is, this Lanarot of ours,” Lanarot joked.
“Even though I claim victory so quickly, isn’t that cool in its own way?”
“It is too quick, Brother.”
“I suppose I am burdened by great strength.” Adam sighed, while Lanarot clutched around his neck tighter, and leaned in to kiss his cheek.
“Even if you are a fool, I will always love you.”
Adam flushed, reaching up to ruffle the girl’s hair, pressing their cheeks together. “Even if you are so wicked with your words, I will always love you.”
“Kekeke!”
As they finally returned to the complex, that which remained atop the Pale Princess Pyramid, thanks to the carriage waiting at the bottom to take them up, they returned to find only a few of their people within.
‘Is everyone out exploring the market?’ Adam thought, placing Lanarot down, the girl stretching her muscles after being her brother’s backpack, and then she rushed up to her cousin, Uwajin tensing up lightly until she felt Lanarot climb atop her lap.
“Oh? You have returned?” Chosen replied, placing the basket of food atop the table, opening up one of the cloth bundles to claim the donner in naan for himself, rolling it so the donner swirled around the layers of the fluffy bread.
“Lanarot said she wanted to play with Amal, but she’s not about,” Adam replied, the smell of the food coaxing him.
Chosen’s eyes darted around, and noting how many Iyrmen were missing, he assumed the rest of the children were also out. It was awkward for most of the children, save Lanarot, for even in Dahab, those with red skin and horns were not entirely accepted by a small group, while those with green skin were treated the same around the world, and then there was Amal, large and blue, and she would be mistaken for Sully’s own child, and there were many the fellow had offended.
Yet, this was the Iyr.
Instead, Chosen considered what he had been thinking about within the capital. After seeing Adam defeat the Radiant Blade, and after clashing steel nightly, he realised part of his strength was certainly not because he was Cho of the Sen family, born and raised within the Iyr, but he who was a companion of a particular half elf.
It was even more pronounced for the Gaks. Jaygak, who had managed to claim the title of a Master before even he, Cho of the Sen family, he who was considered a Golden Child, it was no doubt thanks to Adam. Even Laygak, who had reached higher than an Expert, and could defeat many of his peers, and then Taygak, who was unrivalled at her age, facing against those a decade her senior.
It was Adam who had managed to raise their strength, and thus, unspoken were the words, the Gak family’s curse would be put to an end.
“Cousin, I have someone I would like you to meet tomorrow,” Chosen finally said, biting into his thick bread, wrestling it apart, and as his smaller cousin approached, he tore apart some bread for her, the girl accepting the bread, confirming she was indeed her sister’s sister.
“Oh? Who is it?”
“He is someone with some talent, and…” Chosen smiled innocently, causing the half elf to raise his brows in return.
“You already brought the twins to me, but if there’s someone else, I’m more than happy to meet them, although, our business already has so many warriors, so who knows?”
Chosen smiled, for his cousin had no idea that he would be forced to accept. Did he think this cousin of his was only a Master in terms of martial skill? Though, what was a Master against someone like Adam?
“Amal!” Lanarot exclaimed, rushing towards her mother, who carried her sister, and the girl greeted her mother too, holding out her arms to accept Amal, though her mother placed the girl on the floor first, and Lanarot hugged her tight, her mother having saved her back.
“Kaka!” Amal returned, rubbing her eyes, smiling as she hugged her elder sister in return.
“Cousin has returned with food.”
“Food!” the girl declared excitedly.
“You must thank cousin,” Lanarot said, and her sister tapped her chin towards her. “To cousin, you silly girl! Gosh, you are so silly!”
Sonarot stared down at her daughter, who was certainly her brother’s sister, thankfully, also her other brother’s sister. Sonarot’s eyes then fell to Adam, who was already looking towards her, the half elf taking that opportunity to greet her.
“Welcome back, Aunt. Did you enjoy spoiling Amal?”
“I do not think I can afford to spoil… little Amal,” Sonarot joked.
“Hmph! I see, so the business needs to pay its President more?” Adam joked in return, though his words were half serious, causing Sonarot to smile, and she ruffled his hair gently.
“Oh, did Jurot not go with you?” Adam asked, glancing aside.
“He left with Pam.”
“Oh dear…” Adam thought about how his brother was not exactly as wise as he when it came to romance. “No, no, I’m sure he’ll be okay.”
“I, too, am certain he will be fine, for, thankfully, Pam was born and raised as a baker, and though Jurot is an Iyrman, even he enjoys desserts.”
“I wonder if it’ll be a boy or a girl.”
Sonarot closed her eyes to refrain from laughing, having not been prepared for the half elf’s joke, which, for once, was good.
“Amal, you must eat your food, not wear it,” Lanarot said, dabbing her sister’s mouth with a cloth, while the girl smothered herself in donner and naan, though, thankfully, Chosen, having known that Sonarot had probably fed her quite a bit, had only cut a quarter portion, having cut Lanarot’s portion, for she must have eaten quite a bit too.
Tanagek stepped back into the estate to find Chosen had already returned, and he carried his basket of desserts, having wanted to outdo Chosen who certainly would have brought desserts, and yet as he held Chosen’s eyes, he realised Chosen was a step ahead of him, having brought proper meals instead. At the very least he would claim an equal victory by buying desserts.
Amal stared towards the balls of dessert. She was full, but…
“Amal! No! Not like this!” Adam called, as the girl spilled all the food she had eaten in order to make space for dessert, for she had already used her dessert stomach previously with her mother.
Sonarot stared down at Amal, who complained, wanting to eat the dessert, but Adam took her away to bathe her. She turned towards her nephews, glaring towards the pair of them.
Chosen and Tanagek remained silent, with the understanding they were not to blame, but they would not speak the words in front of their aunt’s glare.