Chương 1267: [1183] - Y06.083 - Red Oak II

As the darkness fell across the sky, Jurot poured them each drinks while Adam reached up with a piece of fruit and fed it to Blues, allowing the bird to eat out from the palm of his hand. The bird remained silent, a request from the inn owner so it didn't disturb the rest of the patrons, and since she hadn't asked the Iyrmen to find another inn, they made sure to repay her trust in kind.

"To drink in the Red Manor Inn…" Amokan began.

"It is good," Timojin completed.

"Is there something special about the Red Manor Inn's drinks?"

"They are good," Amokan replied simply.

'I guess they are pretty good, even though everything else is pretty okay?' Adam thought, sipping the wine which burst with flavour all across his tongue.

"It was created by one of the Redoaks, long ago. She promised the people their own Red Manor, and stated it would not be as opulent as her own, but the drinks would be fine indeed."

"It was not as opulent as her own, but the drinks are fine indeed," Timojin confirmed, the pair drinking lightly.

"Are you two sure yo-,""We are sure," the pair replied, cutting the half elf off.

"Alright, alright!" Adam huffed, still annoyed they wouldn't come with him to slay a dragon or two in Aswadasad.

"You still need to visit more often! If you make your little brothers and sisters cry… I'll drag you back myself!" The Iyrmen laughed at the half elf, even Jurot let slip a chuckle, causing Adam to furrow his brows towards his brother, wondering just what was so funny. As the laughter died down, they all mellowed within the silence after a good laugh. Amokan glanced aside towards the blade he had placed against the table.

It was well built, similar to the blade of his father, which he had practised with when he was a teen. The design cues were inspired by his father's blade, but the magic within the blade was different.

It was the same as the others around him, for Adam had apparently enchanted it to hold an identical effect to his own axe, something which all Iyrmen could utilise with great effectiveness, although if one was an Oathsworn, or a Priest of certain Divine, they would find the blade much more effective within their hands.

Timojin also eyed up his own blade, a blade gifted to him from the half elf, whose enchantments were identical to the blade of his best friend, though its design cues had been taken from his father's blade. His father, who had made quite a name for himself while young, like Tonagek, and yet had retired rather early within the Iyr.

One would have thought he would have followed Rajin's footsteps, but he had delayed his adventures for quite some time, so much time, Timojin wasn't sure if his father could step out again so easily. Didn't that just mean the pair of them had to fight for the sake of their families? Since the previous generation had paved the way for them, they would need to travel across such a clear road.

Dunes continued to sip at the wine, and made a mental note to have the half elf bring them to stay here whenever they were about. He didn't mind the simplicity of the ambiance, but the drinks truly were great.

'Hmm?' Dunes thought, glancing around the area, before his eyes fell upon his empty plates.

'Are the drinks so good because everything else is so plain?' It was later in the evening, the half elf's cheeks flushed with red, settled within his bed, that he thought of his home. He thought of the air within the Iyr which could sober one up with its harshness. He thought of the sun's rays which beat so heavily upon one's skin. He thought of his wife, who soothed his heart with just a look, and sometimes riled it up with the same look. He thought of his children, one by one, from his eldest to his youngest.

He thought of the other children too, from Gurot who allowed the half elf to feed him so easily, to little Minakan who preferred to keep to herself, whereas the younger Minool liked to escape his affection. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! Then, their faces flashed across his mind.

'Don't worry, my little Ranya, my little Enisa. I'll bring him back home safely, you don't have to worry about that.' The next morning, everyone gathered together over breakfast, eating their simple porridge, potatoes, and chicken, and though the food was plain, they were able to taste a particular flavour of chicken thanks to the half elf.

"I realised you didn't get to have a taste last night, so tell me what you think!" Adam eyed up the pair as they bit into the chicken.

"Hmm…" Tanagek replied.

"It is better than plain chicken."

"Better than plain chicken," Chosen confirmed.

"It tastes like it should be wet." Adam raised his brows in surprise at Chosen's words.

"Well, you're right about that, which is scary good. Who are you? Korin?"

"Korin?" Chosen asked, though he felt as though he knew that name from Adam's stories.

'Ah! The Oathsworn who could cook?'

"I'm disappointed that you don't like it that much, but at the same time, everyone is entitled to their opinions, no matter how wrong they could be." Adam crossed his arms, revealing just how annoyed he was with their lack of praise for such a flavour.

'Seriously, if only your taste was as good as the way you swung your swords!' After giving the half elf a chance to calm down, the group began to discuss their plans now that they were in Red Oak and were losing two of the Iyrmen.

"Should we drink?" Nirot asked, wishing to order another bottle for the start of the day.

"We might have to leave today," Laygak replied.

"Would we really…" Nirot let out a defeated sigh, since they were travelling with Adam, who wasn't known for his ability to rest.

'At least we are taking carriages this time.' The Iyrmen could recall the blisters which had plagued them when they travelled with the half elf, though it was the wounds of the good fights that made it all worth it. Mana: 34 -> 31 Spell: Sending"Lord Marshal! Good morning! We wish to make our way to Floria. We have a gift for the King to make things right."

'What gift is this?' Mana: 31 -> 28 Spell: Sending"The good kind! A lovely magical weapon, though that is just to start, since we have a greater offer."

'Very well.' Laygak glanced aside to the half elf who had finished casting his spell, with the workers glancing towards the half elf, but leaving him be due to the Iyrman's warnings, and the fact that Adam was still technically a Priest, which soothed some of the workers, who were glad to see a Priest casting spells. Upon seeing their reactions, Adam smiled.

"Brother Dunes, Brother Mork, would you care to lead a prayer this morning?" Mork made a motion with his hand which looked exactly the same as how Adam would gesture a mobile phone, the excitement filling the half elf, though it quickly dissipated when he realised what Mork was asking for, and Jurot nodded to promise the Priest. Tork grumbled towards his brother, who held the bottle of wine to his cheek, rubbing along it tenderly.

"We are working, Mork!"

"Are we?" Mork replied, raising his brow.

'At least you waited until we were within the carriage before acting the fool.' Tork glanced aside towards Ashmir, who wore a skin full of water, and another full of wine.

'I should have filled a skin with wine too...'

"You guys, I'm serious!" Adam grabbed their forearms and shook them.

"Alright?"

"We will consider it," Amokan promised.

"It will be difficult," Timojin replied more pragmatically.

"Seriously!" Adam slipped each of them a gem worth fifty gold a piece.

"You won't refuse a gift from your cousin, will you?"

"We will be sure to spend them upon gifts for the children," Amokan replied. Adam let out a huff, though he smirked slightly, shaking his forearm.

"At least you know how to spend it wisely!"

"Iyrmen are always good at spending gold," Timojin stated.

"That's right!" Adam laughed with them but as the laughter died down, the half elf tensed up, trying his best to let them slip through his fingers. He caught their eyes, the half elf inhaling sharply.

"Thank you… again." Amokan placed a hand one of Adam's shoulder, as Timojin did the other.

"Please give the Priest Commander our greetings," Amokan said.

"If you want to give it to him, you can come along!"

"It would be awkward for us to come along, since grandfather crippled one of their greatest warriors when they were travelling through Aldland," Timojin said.

"What? You didn't tell me that!" Adam thought about Uwajin who was coming along, the woman no doubt already snoozing away within the carriage.

"It was her own fault," Timojin said, but let the story drop, especially since he was taking someone else with him, who had crippled one of their greatest warriors during her time in Aswadasad. Full of stress, the half elf left within his carriage, the group making their way southward towards the fort. Amokan and Timojin watched the three carriages slip out of the southern gate, while the guards glanced towards the pair, vaguely recognising the pair.

"Can we do it?" Amokan asked.

"…"

"Can we reach for the title of Chief while returning to the Iyr?"

"It would be an impressive feat," Timojin replied. The pair remained silent for a long moment, ruminating upon the thought. They smiled.