Chương 1606: [1511] – Y07.011 – A World of Trouble I

"It is okay, Larot, it is okay," Jirot whispered into her brother's ear, gently brushing through his hair, holding him close within her arms.

"Even though daddy is gone, he still loves you. Daddy, he is always working so hard, but he must, because he does it for you."

"…" Jirot planted a firm kiss atop her brother's head, brushing his cheek tenderly, and let him go, allowing others to spoil him, even though this was her right as his elder sister, but she forgave her family, for her heart was so full of mercy.

'Daddy, you silly boy, how can you worry Larot like this?' Vonda eyed up her daughter, who stood beside the wall, her hands behind her back, the girl deep in thought, certainly about a particular fool of a father who she would always forgive. Meanwhile, that particular fool of a father, stood opposite someone he had certainly never seen before, and someone he certainly had seen before, but he couldn't quite recall. She was heavily armoured, adorned in full plate.

The metal was almost a liquid silver, with tiny black etchings against it. The other, was a lean figure, with skin almost ghostly pale, his eyes bright blue, his hair almost sun kissed, his smile bright, clean, professional. He was adorned in the finest of silks, so beautiful they were, no doubt work their weight in gold, with threads of gold which shimmered under the dawnval sun, and hidden within, various runes which afforded him protection one might expect for Kings and Queens.

"Greetings, Grand Mage," Iromin said, his eyes remained fixated firmly upon the Grand Mage's.

"Chief Iromin, a pleasure," the Grand Mage replied, his smile beaming further, already putting the figures before him on guard.

"Let us sit and talk," Iromin said, guiding them deeper onto the Iyr's land, where once a small village lay, though now only a small estate, typically unmanned, remained, though it allowed the Iyr to host such troublesome figures, especially the Wizards of Skool.

It was a wooden estate, a small cabin near one side, a small garden fenced by a short wooden wall, well within sight of the fortress nearby, and, for once, the Iyr had not secretly dug beneath, no tunnels which would assist them in a time of need, at least, not in this exact position.

As they settled within the cabin, bare, wooden, yet well built, the Grand Mage sat at the table, his guards beside him taking his flank, not that they were required here, for even if once the Iyr had hunted them down for their transgressions, that was a thousand years ago, and, as much as it pained for them to admit it, the Wizard's fault.

"May I speak with the Father alone?" the Grand Mage asked.

"No."

"It was worth a try," the Grand Mage said, smiling ever so wide, a genuine smile, at least, genuine for someone like he. His eyes then slowly floated their way towards the figure of note.

"I am Grand Mage Marcus, though you may call me Arch Marcus."

"I am Executive Adam, High Alchemist of the United Kindom, a Priest of Death, a Crazy Father, but you can call me Mo Adam."

"Mo Adam, a pleasure," Arch Marcus said, his eyes still sparkling with delight, the kind that caused the half elf's hair to stand on end.

"I apologise for arriving so suddenly, and upon such a day, and, my condolences." Adam narrowed his eyes, assuming his condolences.

"How may I assist you, Arch Marcus?"

"I am here to formally invite you to the Wizard of Skool." Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Adam blinked, with such ferocity, one might have thought he were trying to offend the Grand Mage of the Wizards of Skool.

"Excuse me?"

"Your talents are better suited within our citadel."

"Oh? Which talents are those?"

"Your ability to cast magic in the unique way that you do, your ability to shift Fate in the unique way that you do, your ability to brew potions the unique way that you do, and…" Marcus motioned towards the magical weapon to Adam's side. Adam narrowed his eyes, chewing on his thoughts for a moment, his own lips forming quite the dangerous smile.

"I seem to be quite the impressive specimen. It is no wonder you dare to covet what belongs to the Iyr, if all that is true, of course."

"We have those who are able to enchant, but none quite so…" Marcus smiled once more, leaving the last word unspoken, for there was no need to draw the Iyr's ire.

"I have no doubt you will decline, for, as you say, you belong to the Iyr, and I am here to complete what is expected of someone of my status, to obey the commandments set forth from generations past, and to offer you formally the position as a Mage, but I shall take no qualm in your refusal."

"Then, I refuse."

"Understandable," Marcus said.

"I hope, however, you are willing to conduct business with us at the very least."

"If you wish to conduct business, you will need to speak with Chief Iromin." Marcus continued to smile.

"Very well. I shan't waste any more of your time, especially on such a wonderful day, so I shall leave you with a parting gift." Adam eyed up the box, reaching towards it, opening it up to find a pair of scrolls settled within.

"Scrolls?"

"Locate Creature and Dream, and, the matter of you learning Fireball from a scroll, has been dealt with," Marcus assured, holding the half elf's gaze.

"Thank you?" Adam replied, uncertain of what that meant, however, for them to pass him each of these scrolls meant they knew him much more than he had expected. Then, Adam recalled just how easy it was to figure all that out, and how much it was because he couldn't help but speak of it.

"You do not need to worry, for I am your personal liaison, and your secrets shall remain safe with me," Marcus assured, flashing an even wider smile, the kind Adam couldn't trust. The Grand Mage turned towards the Chief, bowing his head respectfully, and then, without touching any of the snacks, he stood, leaving as abruptly as he had arrived.

They returned back to the fine carriage they had rolled into the Iyr with, disappearing out of sight, and the horseless carriage slowly began to accelerate, until it finally lifted off the ground, and began to fly towards the heavens.

"Wizards," Adam grumbled quietly, though spoke a little louder towards the end, for he did not fear them.

"What's with the Fireball thing?"

"You transcribed the spell into your book illegally."

"What, do I need a license to transcribe a scroll I paid for?"

"Not quite, but yes."

"Oh…" Adam furrowed his brows.

"Man, I really am in the United Kingdom, eh?" Iromin remained silent.

"Are you going to kill him for knowing too much?" Adam asked, side eyeing the Chief.

"No. This much was to be expected." Iromin wasn't entirely sure if that was true, since he knew a few things that were rather alarming, however, they trusted the Wizards of Skool to keep it a secret, and if they didn't, then who was he to deny such fun for the Iyr?

"Are you going to kill me for knowing too much?" Iromin turned to face the young half elf, holding his gaze for a moment, before stepping away, making his way to the fortress.

"I was just joking!" Adam called out, hoping the Iyr wouldn't kill him, for hadn't he done much worse than… whatever it was that he did then? The half elf returned to the fortress to check on it properly, for technically, it was meant to be his place of business. He greeted the Iyrmen politely, some of whom he recognised, and after spending a few minutes checking on the place, he made his way back to the carriage to return back to the Front Iyr.

"Adam," called a voice.

"Oh, granduncle, I didn't realise you were here," Adam said, having only just realised he hadn't seen Kamrot at Larot's birthday.

"I am to guard the fortress, though it pains my heart, for my adorable greatnephew must be so sad," Kamrot half joked, clasping the young half elf upon his shoulders.

"You must send my regards to him, and to your children."

"All of them?" Adam accused.

"One in particular, please," Kamrot replied, smiling playfully.

"Of course, granduncle, of course," Adam assured, patting the back of his hand gently.

"Is anyone bullying you? Tell me and I'll make sure to tell one in particular, and we'll see if they keep bullying you?"

"I am hard to bully, although…" Kamrot considered the others within the fortress.

"Ah! You should visit your grandaunt before you leave!"

"Grandaunt?" Adam raised a brow, though Kamrot dragged him into the fort, only to find that the woman had left. Kamrot blinked. Oh, right. The Grand Mage had visited.