Chương 1493: [1402] – Y06.302 – Troublesome Journey II

The toddler reached up towards her aunt's chubby hand, the girl's silver eyes almost piercing with innocent.

"You must not work hard, kako."

"I am not working hard," Pam reassured the girl.

"You are comfortable?"

"I am very comfortable," Pam stated, smiling warmly towards the girl. She couldn't help but feel that Konarot was her sister's sister. The girl's hand was so soft, similar to her own, though hers were thick from years of labouring within a bakery.

"We are watching over Damrot, so you can rest, kako," Konarot informed, as though Pam didn't understand.

"Thank you." Pam smiled, holding the little girl's gaze. When they had first met, the girl had almost killed her mother in a fit of rage. Now, she was almost unrecognisable. So soft and tender, though she continued to hold the responsible streak within her heart. Virot remained wrapped around her elder sister like a blanket, the girl sucking her thumb while Kirot held her, even as they sat together. Karot, on the other hand, sat beside Damrot, not noticing how his cousin was so happy to remain at his side.

Sometimes Damrot would look up and stare at his cousin for a long while, and Karot would meet his gaze, the pair smiling, before Karot returned his attention elsewhere. Damrot then looked up towards his mother, catching her eyes, the boy smiling with delight, his mother returning a gentle smile. Pam considered how the boy was growing up in the Iyr.

There was not a day she worried for his next meal, and though whenever he was sick she worried as a parent would, the Iyr's Shamans did not hesitate at all administering various remedies. She wasn't sure even the royals received better care for their children. It was awkward, however, that there was such little exchange of coin. She worked, but earned no pay. She gained so much, but spent no silver.

She thought about how many thousands of gold she had asked for her marriage, only to be unable to spend it within the Iyr. Such a strange life, and yet, how could she deny how well Damrot was being raised, her youngest who ate so peacefully, and even her future children.

"Mama," a babe called, the boy staring up towards a figure.

"You are your sister's brother indeed," the old Iyrman replied, one armed, one legged, though good enough to manage to catch the likes of the crawling Xarot. Jarot grabbed the boy by the back of his clothes, which went from neck to heel, the boy hanging in the middle of the air, blinking towards his greatfather. He smiled and cooed with excitement. It had only been recently when he…

"You can trouble me as you please," Jarot said, pulling the boy onto his chest, the pair cuddling one another.

'To think the Iyr would dare to keep them away for this long…' What could the old monster do? It was one thing to wield his blade against the entirety of Aldland alone, but against the Iyr, even with the Family Head and the Family Elder complaining, there was little they could do.

"Bab," the girl called, pointing towards the old one armed Iyrman.

"Yes, my Monarot?" The girl held out a hand towards the old man, beginning to whimper and complain, until he finally lifted her up, pulling her close to his chest.

"This foolish old man, how could he not spoil you?" Jarot rubbed his cheek against the girl's head, who began to suck her thumb, cuddling into her babo's chest. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. It was during that time, his grandson remained standing tall and proud, as though ready to cause trouble, for he was his grandfather's grandson.

"Magical weapons?" the Naqib asked, the young woman matching his pride for the moment, hiding away her nerves behind a practised smile.

"We, of the United Kindom, trade in magical weapons," Adam declared, holding the young woman's gaze within his own. He stood as one might have expected of him, not as Adam, but as an Executive of the United Kindom, not shirking away from the woman's gaze. Though he would not have shirked the woman's gaze as Adam, this time, there was no humour in his voice. The Naqib remained silent from the half elf's words, wondering why it was he of all people speaking up.

Though he did possess a tattoo upon his forehead, he was no Iyrman, and he was not of Black Mountain considering his attire and his bearing, and the fact he wielded an axe. However…

'Praise Noor I did not act the fool!' The young noblewoman thought, glad she had not picked a fight with the group. Since the group hadn't informed them of who they were in great detail, and she did not press them too much, they wouldn't cause trouble in return. However, things had escalated quite awkwardly thus far…

"You said you were present at the Awakened Forest?"

"My brother and I were there."

"I would like to hear the tale."

"Jurot, would you?" Adam asked, since Jurot would know what to speak of, whereas Adam thought back to that time and recalled how the Iyr had slaughtered so many soldiers… That day had engraved itself within Adam's heart, and even today, Lucy's heart suffered due to such a bloody vision.

'Hmm?' The Naqib glanced between the pair.

'Are they brothers?' Jurot spoke the tale for all to hear, confirming that Adam was indeed his brother, but also what had happened at that time. They hadn't known each other long when it had happened, his mother had been so ill, and they had run out of a specific herb, or at the very least, they did not wish to utilise their last reserves for an adult when a child may have suffered during that time.

'The Iyr…' The Naqib swallowed.

'It truly exists.' The presence of Black Mountain and the Black Lion eased the soldiers somewhat, and after they sparred together, the awkwardness between the groups all but dissipated. However, there was something the soldiers had noticed, and something the group themselves had noticed.

'It's been too long,' Brittany thought, her eyes upon the Executive. Even as they travelled, and they had passed by that date, the half elf had remained quiet, and held a heaviness within his heart.

'I hope nothing goes wrong…' The day passed by and the group continued along their way to Five Moons. The sun beating ahead of them, threatening to blind them as they approached the dark stone gates of the Order. The towers remained looming tall, the gates thick, also dark. The gates opened, revealing a familiar figure. Black from head to heel, her vestments, though similar to those of Black Mountain, held the slightest hint of purple, and the silver was even brighter.

Her beautiful face remained as a blessing to the world, as dark as the night sky, her eyes silver, her face the kind to cause men to war for, holding the supernatural fae beauty. A silver amulet fell in front of her, shaped in a crescent moon, and at her side she wore a pair of silver khopesh.

"The Moon Mother's blessings upon you," Mother Crescent greeted the group.

"Moon Mother's blessings to you," Adam replied, accidentally speaking up, though he spoke very differently to the Adam they knew of.

"It seems your journey has been tough," Mother Crescent said, motioning with her arms, inviting the group within.

'Who was it that defeated you so?' The figures eyed up the half elf, some with scorn, before realising this was the half elf their sisters had warned them of, but he seemed so… Just who was it that had beaten the half elf to submission in this way? Except, as he stepped in, his eyes darted around, meeting the gaze of a particular figure.

She was, like all the other women around, utterly stunning, her skin dark, almost black as obsidian, and eyes like the stars, for the silver held specks of gold, not like the Divine, but one could be easily convinced. The Full Moon of the Five Moons. As she held Adam's eyes, the thought of the half elf meeting defeat had disappeared, for his eyes held such an edge. However, what was it that caused the half elf to change from the fool he was only a few months past into this… What was it?

"Do you wish to speak?" Mother Crescent offered, hoping to ask the half elf all manner of questions, to understand what had happened.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm just deep in thought about this and that," Adam replied, his eyes trailing upwards, towards the bright sky. At first, Mother Crescent had thought to prod him, but she noted the eyes of the young half elf's brother, and took the warning to heart. Whatever it was, the half elf needed his own space. At the very least, he wasn't acting like a fool any longer, except… Did she really prefer him this way?