Chương 1593: [1499] – Y06.399 – The Heart of the Iyr IX

As the sky turned purple, with the shimmering light dancing in the day sky, the Iyrman led the small group of children. He threw out a fist, the four children following after him, letting out short shouts. It was he who had to teach the four girls, his sisters, his cousins, each now at the age in which the Iyr had begun their physical education, not just for the sake of their health, but to begin learning how to protect one's self, one's family, one's home.

Due to the fact Kitool no longer followed the path of the Ool family, it was he, Faool, who was tasked with training the four. He was an Expert already, gaining more than enough qualifications to teach the girls. The title of an Expert was already great, for it meant he had reached what was expected of him, but he was still young, not yet twenty. He had gained the title young, perhaps among the youngest ever, but it was not this title he coveted.

He was not quite as talented as Kitool, not as talented as either Naqokan or Uwajin, or even as talented as Nirot, so well rounded she was for a Rage Dancer, but he was still considered more than talented enough to be expected to reach Master, even Grandmaster, if his heart was within the task. Perhaps, Faool thought, if the Iyr required it of him, he would reach the height of a Paragon.

There were those with lesser natural talent who had reached such heights, and though he had not thought much of it, perhaps, in this age, it would be required of him.

"All done?" his cousin, Jitool, asked.

"Yes."

"Bath time?"

"Okay," Faool replied, as the children all followed him, returning back to the estate to allow Kitool to assist in bathing them, for she had finished the three sisters' training, those who named themselves after snakes.

Once Jitool was done with her bath, thanking her sister dutifully, she rushed up towards the twins, who each embraced her, and Virot complained, though calmed within her aunt's arms, annoyed Jitool was too sweet, but out of all the children, perhaps even more than her triplet siblings, Jitool loved to play with them most. Maool rushed over to draw with Karot, the girl sketching a thousand more staves, even if one might have thought each was merely a scribble.

No, this was the greatest art of all, so her cousin would declare, for he was the greatest fool of all. Minool napped to one side, for once the girl was not causing trouble by trying to slip away from them all. Jazool, however, sat beside her red skinned nephew, who read a book silently to himself, Jazool sketching all manner of tiny doodles, for she learnt that the smaller the drawing, the more pages she could draw on!

"What are you thinking?" called a voice, as the red skinned Iyrman crossed his arms, raising his brows expectantly.

"I…" Faool paused a moment, his eyes darting between Jitool and Minool.

"Maool and Jazool, they take to the training fine, but…"

"Are Jitool and Minool not taking to the training well?"

"It is not that," Faool admitted.

"Jitool, her heart is sweet, but she is talented enough. I am worried, for the one with the greatest talent, though she is younger, I think it is Minool."

"Minool?" Faool sighed, for he understood just how difficult it would be for Minool to be so talented. Indeed, she may have been as talented as he, or perhaps, she was even more talented? He wasn't quite sure, but the girl, compared to her sister and cousins, she seemed to enjoy the training most, and was the most active, perhaps out of the children.

"It must be difficult to have such talented sisters," Laygak joked. Faool turned to meet Laygak's playful gaze, his gaze then falling upon the Gaks. Laygak, too, had the qualifications to begin training them, and he had. He had not yet reached the natural peak of his strength, but he had become an Expert, and that was, in many ways, more important to take the role of a teacher. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"…"

"If you wish to know, you should have the courage to ask," Laygak teased.

"What of your sisters?"

"They are all so talented, what am I to do?" Laygak continued to tease, the only problem was, that he wasn't exactly lying. He had noticed it, how well his two sisters, his two cousins, all so chonky were they, had taken to the training. Laygak wasn't sure if he had ever felt more terrified. Faool, too busy in his thoughts, hadn't picked up the depths within Laygak's tone, and his friend was glad for it. It was not just the Ools or Gaks training, for the Kans were training too.

Naqokan swung her greatsword, following a particular dance which worked and stretched her muscles, the young woman swinging her blade. She was an Expert, or rather, like her peers, a slight step above that of an Expert. However, considering she was a Rage Dancer, and just how tough she was, even compared to a typical Rage Dancer, she was more than able to clash with Masters. However, it wasn't enough. The Reavers were upon the horizon.

She could step out, for she was at least an Expert, and the Iyr had put a ban on those who were weaker than such. She should, shouldn't she? It was time for her to step out of the Iyr on her own after following the dragon known as Adam. She sighed, glancing towards the side. Meanwhile, Damokan and Kalokan pondered. Should they confront their cousin who had promised to assist them? Technically, there were still a few years before he needed to keep his promise, but…

The fire within their hearts rages, especially when they watched as their elder sister, Naqokan, whose talent was not entirely outmatched by Uwajin, trained their siblings and their cousins. Inakan also enjoyed training, though she tired swiftly, while Minakan still preferred the solitary life, though she would relent whenever her twin siblings, or their eldest sister, would call for her.

Mokan, thankfully, took to the training well, and would assist his elder sister dutifully, who always returned his affections twicefold. Then there was Alykan, who remained at the twins' side, almost glued to them. The Kan children, who were so well behaved, and seemed to possess great talent, were not the kind of children one would need to worry about.

The only problem was, the children were too cute, and the twins wanted to spoil them always, but the children were stolen away often, but what could they do, for they were unable to step into the terrifying domain known as being a fool.

"…" Larot remained silent, all the while listening to the knitting needles beside him as his grandmother knitted away, a blanket for the boy, who seemed to enjoy melting within at least two layers. The Iyr would often worry, but it seemed he was almost built like a Gak, and considering who their greatmother was, their worries eased.

"Virot, you must stop bullying daddy," Jirot finally said, for the girl had noted how quiet her father had become recently. Virot's mouth formed a small circle, the girl glancing aside towards her elder brother, who hugged her.

"What?" Jirot placed her hands upon her hips, staring down at her sister, who remained in utter shock that her elder sister would betray her like this. She turned towards her elder brother, beginning to complain, but he kissed her cheek, and the girl let out a huff. This entire month she had been defused so thoroughly. How annoying!

"Daddy, read!" Virot demanded, holding up a book to her father.

"Okay," the half elf replied, instantly taking the book from the girl, allowing her to angrily climb up beside him and then over onto his lap, crossing her arms, annoyed she was about to be spoiled. Thankfully, as all of his children, she took to the spoiling well, listening to her father as she leaned against his chest, little Xarot settled nearby within a pile of pillows, almost losing himself into them, but thankfully his elder sister and brother cuddled up beside him as they all listened to their father.

"Bavin!" shouted a young woman. Short dark hair, an axe beside her, as one might have expected of her. She was slightly taller than Bavin, but only because his shoulders were slightly hunched. She grabbed him by his shoulders, dragging from side to side, laughing towards him.

"Grandfather said if you do not return he will come and force you to bury yourself within a cave!"

"…" Bavin was only mostly sure that his grandfather wouldn't do such a thing.

"Who is that?" Rowan whispered.

"Bavin's twin sister," Jeremy replied.

"Oh?"

"By the way, did we tell you he was the previous Elder Wrath's grandson?" Rowan's eyes met Jeremy's for a long moment, his entire head beginning to pulse with the annoyance known as stress.

'You've got to be shittin' me.' As the month continued to pass, Jurot also spent his time with his children, from Damrot, who spent most of his time around Virot, save the few times the Iyrman plucked him away, and then Monarot, who nestled herself against her father's chest, which meant Xarot was often also against his chest, except for the rare time the fool plucked him away.

"Would you like to take a walk?" Pam asked, holding little Pamarot against her bosom, the girl against her mother's bosom, taking in her gentle scent.

"Okay," Jurot replied, realising the fortunes of his life.