Chương 1276: [1192] – Y06.092 – Trouble in Our Hearts II

The next day, the group left after saying their goodbyes, Adam being kept at bay so he did not pick a fight, leaving it to the Iyrmen to pick a fight. As they made their way out, Brittany glanced to the side, recalling that the Gaks were in the other carriage, and her eyes fell onto the hills and trees outside. She recalled the scene of the teen drawing the blade, her eyes full of such a brightness she had never seen from her.

'Stop thinking about something so stupid,' Brittany thought to herself.

'I'm no Iyrman.' Nirot had wished to speak with the Bellflower Sword, and though she had shared some of her tales, she had made sure Taygak and Laygak had met the woman. It was more important for them to meet with the woman, in order to pave the way for their future success. Nirot thought of the half elf cousin who she had disliked upon their first meeting, and the promise he had made to them all. If it was him, then surely…

She returned her thoughts to her cousin who she had watched grow into such a wonderful Iyrman.

'Taygak, this outing shall be the best!' The group made their way towards the next outpost, at the end of a newly formed road the King had invested in. Such a stay passed by uneventfully, partly due to the Blazing Petal Knight escorting them to the next town, that of Petal Grove. The next outpost, one that hadn't been there the last time they had made their way, was full of soldiers who paid respects to the Blazing Petal Knight, and the day after, they finally arrived at Petal Grove.

The town had a large fence around the outer fields, which spread out from the town almost like a spiral, just like the large walls around the town proper. Once more, they spent very little time within, and made their way to the Order of the Preserving Primrose, which, to Adam, wasn't the most inspiring name, though as he thought about it, it charmed him.

'What the…' Adam thought as they approached the fort atop the hill. It was quickly formed, that much was for certain, for it was unlike the Order of the Bellflower, which had entrenched itself upon the land. This particular fortress was utilitarian in design, no flourishes upon its wooden walls at the moment, but was it the walls which protected the fort, or the warriors within who gave off such an oppressive aura?

The Commander approached the gates, which opened to reveal a woman adorned in full plate, with a blooming flower upon her breastplate, something which made Adam wonder if she was from Mount Hua, and at her side she wore a magical blade. After a small conversation, the woman finally gave the group her full attention, but the glare in her eye told them how unfortunate that was.

Laygak saw who the glare was pointed towards, and quickly, he pat his sister upon her shoulders, grabbing the young woman as he dragged her forward.

"Taygak, greet the Primrose Sword!" The Primrose Sword's full attention full upon the teen, a heaviness falling upon the girl's shoulders, and yet she seemed almost entirely resistant to the heaviness as the girl stood tall and proud, huffing slightly as she gathered her breath.

"Hello! I, Taygak!"

'Hmm?' Silversky wondered why the girl seemed more defiant against the Primrose Sword, when she had been far more well behaved to the Blazing Petal Knight and the Bellflower Sword.

"Good afternoon, Taygak," the Primrose Sword, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Preserving Primrose, replied.

"Cousin Jaygak! Fight!" Taygak stated far too enthusiastically.

"Taygak, you must use your words," Laygak said, chuckling lightly as he pat his sister's shoulder gently.

"What she meant was that our cousin, Jaygak, clashed against you previously to protect our foolish cousin, Adam."

"Yes! Cousin Adam, fool!" Taygak said far too proudly, her eyes half beaming with pride, half glaring at the Primrose Sword. Sir Paige, the Primrose Sword, was uncertain of what the pair were trying to do, for they spoke with a mixture of reverence, but also the kind of tone that implied that they wanted to fight. However, she did recall a young Iyrman who had blocked her path, one who had seemed so ridiculous, a playful joker within the fort, until she finally bore her fangs.

"That young lady was your cousin?"

"Yes," the pair replied. Commander Silversky wondered just how many connections these Iyrmen had forged, for apparently they knew everyone, though he supposed it made sense since in the last year, certain Iyrmanly families with connections to a particular fool had been particularly active, but this was getting out of hand. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Where is she?" Sir Paige asked.

"Cousin Jaygak retired!"

"Retired? How old was that young lady?" the woman asked, since though she had the edge in their bout, the young woman, who was certainly in her early thirties or so, had an impressive showing.

"Twenty four."

"That young lady was twenty four?" Sir Paige replied, bewildered, for she had thought the woman was a young looking early thirties, not a slightly older looking mid twenties.

"Our cousin, Jaygak, became a Master at twenty three, when she clashed with you, but chose to retire within the Iyr," Laygak said, emphasising her achievements and age.

"What a shame, for she is so young, and had a great future," the Primrose Sword stated, though she was glad the young woman had stepped back, since she would have shown up all the warriors in her Order. A young woman like her, no doubt forged because she was the greatest in her family, would have been a terrifying figure in the future. The Primrose Sword glanced aside towards the trio of red skinned Iyrmen, only then realising Taygak had no tattoos, and she was suddenly glad she had remained rather polite.

She eyed up the other two, who each held that woman's tattoos.

'They must be of the Gak family too.' Tagak smiled politely, while cursing Jaygak within his mind with a heavy heart.

'Jaygak! You should have…' He thought of his grandaunt, who had formed a great name for herself, but her story had been cut short. He had even thought of his own grandfather, who had managed to become a Grandmaster over time, but then had to die during the Year of Silence, for Fate remained unkind to the Gak family.

"Is becoming a Master at twenty three impressive?" said a voice, and since he had been well behaved, they hadn't expected him to speak up with such a statement.

"If Jaygak can do that much, then our Taygak can do even more!" The eyes fell upon the fool of a half elf, surrounded by those who especially disliked him, the half elf wonderful prey for those who were so close to Gold Port.

"I was a little annoyed by the look you gave to our Taygak, but seeing as how you understand, I suppose I can forgive you," Adam said, flashing a cheeky smile towards the Primrose Sword, she who had tried to cut him down when he was overtaken by his grief, ready to die. Except, it wasn't the grief that spurred his words, but the annoyance he was feigning instead of the respect he held for Jaygak for facing against such a monster to save him.

"Our Taygak will carve her name into this land soon, and I applaud your good senses for recognising her." Tanagek threw a look to Mosen, for the half elf held the same audaciousness as either of them, but it wasn't the audaciousness that made the pair raise their brows, but the fact that the half elf seemed seconds away from wanting to fight the Primrose Sword.

'Cousin Adam…' Taygak thought, flushing lightly from the expectations, and from how the half elf seemed so assured of his words, as though they were going to come true, regardless of Fate. Thankfully, there was someone who had inherited the wisdom of Jaygak. Laygak yawned loudly, holding his fist in front of his mouth as he thought about what he should say to save the half elf's life.

"You talk too much, Adam." Taygak's heart cooled as she came back to reality, lowering her gaze as she blushed even harder, having been swept away by her teenage heart.

"Why do you have to say the obvious?" Laygak asked, glaring at the Primrose Sword, taking her attention with the vicious look in his eyes.

"You should remember my sister, Taygak, since in the future, when you and yours cross your blades with her, it shall be this sister of mine, Taygak, daughter of Kaygak, who will break our family's curse!" Tagak inhaled sharply, feeling his heart pound within his chest, while Taygak's mouth opened in sheer shock from her brother's words. The fact that her brother had spoken the words so openly… no one could have expected him to cause more trouble than even Jaygak!

"Taygak, raise your head!" Laygak stated firmly, bringing all the heat upon himself.

"Do not forget, it was the Primrose Sword who raised her blade against our cousin! She who tried to deny us of our justice, after what happened to our Jarot and Larot! You cannot lower your head before them!" Faool had almost stepped forward to try and stop him, but Laygak's words had frozen the young Iyrman to his spot, since there was no way he could stop Laygak at this time. This was no longer about the life of the fool of a father, but something beyond, something which forced all the Iyrmen to step back.

"You can speak such words, Iyrman," Sir Paige said, taking a moment from his harsh words. She hadn't expected him to speak to her like that.

'Is he trying to protect the fool?'

'Though you are one of us, I cannot allow you to encourage my sister more than I,' Laygak thought, his heart beating wildly, the heat within him flooding through his body.

'I am a brother too.' Faool flexed, gritting his teeth as he stopped himself from speaking up.

"Hah?" Laygak called out towards the Florian Grand Commander dismissively.

"Do you think I, Laygak, will not draw my blade? Do you think I hold any fear of you, Florian?" Even Commander Silversky was taken aback by the Iyrman's words, and his eyes darted towards the rest of the Iyrmen, hoping they would stop him. Yet, each of the Iyrmen had crossed their arms, and stood silently, their jaws clenched tight, and even Taygak stood with her arms crossed, for the young teen had realised what her brother was doing, but her eyes trailed towards Adam.

Somehow, for once, Adam was pretty sure he understood what was going on. However, could he speak up? In this situation where Adam had asked to fight, and now it had turned to Laygak asking for death?

'Don't worry, Laygak. I'll definitely step…' Adam was pretty sure he could feel a pair of gazes upon his back. As much as he didn't want to fight either of them, since they had adventured this far, he couldn't let Laygak die. Jurot threw a look to Kitool, who was ready to stop the half elf if he stepped forward, but the pair were certain they could stop him with his words.

The only one that could allow Adam to act was the young teen, who stared at her brother in a mixture of pride and apprehension, unsure which filled her greater.

'Today is a good day to die,' the Iyrmen thought, though it was only for Laygak.