Chương 1335: [1250] - Y06.150 - Bullying III

Laygak spotted the pair, who were busy spending silver and gold, proving to all that he was truly allergic to gold. Taking the moment to be Fate, Laygak let out a low sigh, and Faool followed him, the Iyrmen heading towards the Priests.

"Adam," Laygak called out, noting the half elf's hair was fair shorter, revealing more of his leaf shaped ears to the world, and made him look slightly younger, even for a half fae.

"Laygak!" Adam called, before turning his head from side to side.

"Do you notice anything different?"

"You are wearing your amulet slightly lower," Laygak joked.

"I can always trust an Iyrman's keen eyes!" Adam cackled lightly, reaching out to shake the Iyrman's forearm.

"What's up?"

"The sky?" Laygak replied, confused, but after a moment realised what the half elf meant.

"I wished to speak with you."

"Alright," Adam replied, still smiling, taking a moment to feel the air.

"Shall we head back to the inn, then?"

"I will lead us to a nice inn," Laygak said, nodding his head to Faool, who stepped beside Dunes.

"Mo, will you accompany me to procure a spear?" Faool asked.

"I am better at finding swords," Dunes admitted, though he took the hint and nodded. Laygak led Adam to a small inn, the closest inn that he had spotted, the rough dome like a beacon, and as he stepped into the sandstone building, the open courtyard holding at least a dozen tables, he handed a gold coin to a worker. The worker bowed their head slightly, and led them up the staircase to the side, up to the next floor, where they unlocked the door with a key, changing the colour of the knob to red.

Laygak handed another gold coin, ordering tea and desserts, before stepping into the small, private room, sitting upon one of the two plush seats, while Adam took the other, the small round table separating the pair. Adam glanced around the fairly bare room, which held only the pair, and a set of gems in the ceiling, which provided a glow. The half elf wanted to make a joke to break the atmosphere, but could see Laygak was currently in the middle of thinking something important.

"I wish to know your plans for Taygak," Laygak finally said.

"My plans for Taygak?"

"You are working hard to assist her," Laygak said, the young Iyrman clasping a finger within his palm, revealing his nerves.

"How far do you plan to go?"

"Well… I'd like for her to become a Paragon," Adam replied, as though it were that simple. Laygak stared into the half elf's eyes, for he said something so ridiculous, and within his eyes was something the Iyrman didn't expect. The look in his eyes, to Laygak, was one of permission.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?" Adam replied, offended.

"We're family."

"We are, but why Taygak?"

"I mean, it's only if she wants to be a Paragon. If she doesn't, I guess, if you want to be a Paragon, I can make you into one, or Raygak, or Say-, actually, I don't think Saygak can…" Adam thought, recalling the young man wanted to be a Blood Mage, and it was awkward for him to grow more powerful than a Master.

"What of Kavgak and Tavgak?" Laygak asked.

"Are you picking a fight with me?" Adam huffed, his entire body tensing up.

"My sweet little Kavgak and Tavgak! They're going to stay so small and cute forever!" Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Laygak was fairly certain Adam was going to help them, so he relented, glancing to one side, falling deep into thought once more.

His face did not reveal the complex emotions which swirled within his heart, and Adam was too busy thinking of his adorable cousins, especially Kavgak, who adored Adam as much as his own children did, the girl always wishing to hear him read, or to allow him to feed her, even to the point Laygak was certain she spent more time with the half fae than himself, even when Adam was busy enchanting.

"Why do you show us so much favour?" Laygak whispered, not wanting to hear the reason.

"I just want to spoil my grandmother's family," Adam said, smiling slightly.

"That's all." Laygak felt the sharp sting within his heart, for though his family did not partake in such a dower action, it was still a mark against them.

"Do not forget, she was my grandaunt before she was your grandmother."

"Isn't a grandmother closer to her grandson than a grandaunt to her grandnephew?" Adam replied, his lips forming a small smirk. Laygak laughed, flashing a wide smile, leaning forward to slap Adam's palm, the Iyrman slinking back a moment later as he chuckled. Sometimes, sometimes, when Adam wasn't being a damn fool, he could actually be quite funny, or at the very least, tickle them with laughter with jokes that struck them deeply, if others could not.

"You don't have to worry about a thing," Adam assured, his tone low, clear, affirming.

"If anyone says you cannot spoil Taygak so, you must inform them that I, Laygak, brother of Taygak, have given you permission," Laygak said, his nerves suddenly slipping away, and whatever fears he held for the future began to dissipate.

"I will leave her in your hands, cousin."

"I appreciate that," Adam said, reaching out a fist, allowing Laygak to thump it.

"Do you want to become a Paragon?"

"I wish to marry and whittle my wood," Laygak replied simply, accepting that was all he would amount to, choosing his Fate.

"I didn't need to know that last part," Adam said, side eyeing the Iyrman, who tilted his head and smirked slightly, the pair doing their best not to laugh again.

"If you ever change your mind, you can come to me."

"I will not," Laygak replied, raising his brows, almost offended, causing Adam to tilt his head.

"You do not even have horns." The worker stopped outside the door as the laughter thundered out, and after a moment, they knocked upon the door and entered, holding a tray of tea and snacks for the pair, noticing the half elf was still shaking in his seat, tears flowing down from his eyes from how hard he was laughing.

"I'm serious, Laygak," Adam called, spluttering out the last of his laughter, the half elf slowly sitting up once more.

"If it's tomorrow, the next year, the next decade, the next century, you let me know."

"You have promised to help Taygak, it is all I wish for."

"It's tough being an elder brother, isn't it?" Adam said, reaching down to pour the young man the tea, pushing the tray closer to him, to allow him to eat first.

"It is easy to be an older brother who gives up, it is harder to be a younger sister who must carry the name of one's entire family upon her back, to break through the curse which plagues us," Laygak replied simply, shrugging his shoulders, hoping his sister would forgive him.

"Though, an older brother should be the strongest, so should I make you an Idol before I make her a Paragon?" Adam joked, causing the young Iyrman to smile, sipping the hot tea, the vapours tickling his face. Adam sipped the tea too, feeling how cool it was upon his tongue, though supposed it would have been rather hot to others.

"I have accepted my place in life," Laygak admitted.

"If Jaygak is not the one, then it must be Taygak. Jaygak, she stepped back after becoming a Master, something she said she would do, and I believed she would do it, but not so soon. She stopped her rise too quickly, and stepped back for Taygak's sake."

"Then we've got to make sure our Taygak rises high, right?" Adam replied. Laygak slowly nodded his head, sipping the tea, falling deep into thought. His heart remained aching for the Jaygak that could have been, for the Flame Brand that could have been, and he hoped it would not ache for the Taygak that could have been.

"Though, like I said, if Taygak doesn't want it, then what can I do?" Adam stated, sipping the tea, the citrus flavour dancing on his tongue. Laygak sighed, accepting the words, for he didn't want Taygak to step back, but it was her decision, as it was his decision to step back, as it was Jaygak's decision to step back. As long as it wasn't like their grandaunt's decision to step back…

"I trust you, Adam. I trust you as much as I trust Nirot and Faool, Jurot and Kitool. To me, you are no different than any of them. So please, Adam. Whatever you can do for Taygak, whatever you would have promised to me, promise it to Taygak instead."

"Damn it! Did you catch on that I wanted to spoil you too?" Adam grumbled, annoyed he had been caught so quickly, before peeking at the young Iyrman.

"Ah, what am I to do? I guess I'll have to spoil our Taygak even more so that my heart is soothed?" Laygak smiled, for though Adam was a fool, and truly, he was a fool, he was no liar.

'I will leave it to you, Adam.'