Chương 1691: [1588] – Y07.088 – A Man of Heart III

The sparkling eyes of the red eyed children stared up towards the Fariq Thanwi, one of the elders of the Scarlet Sun, adorned in his cream attire, the scarlet turban atop his head, and his large beard barely contained by a fresh shaping. His moustache curled upwards into a playful smirk, the gentle smile on his face was soft, tender, holding a hint of exhaustion. It was he, whose blade had revealed itself to be decent, that of a Master, and yet, how many Masters did the children surround themselves with?

Yet, how many wielded magics so firmly, save for their father?

"Kal Rushad, your swordplay is amazing," Jirot declared, holding up a thumbs up towards the older Aswadian, whose lips formed a greater smirk, reaching up to cover his smile as he cleared his throat.

"I suppose if it is decent, perhaps you should visit the Scarlet Sun, and I will try to convince our Scarlet Sword to show you how the Sun Falls Low?" the older Aswadian stated, peeking down at the little girl.

"Papa, we will go to the Scarlet Sun, and you must behave, because it is the Scarlet Sun, and then when daddy fights the Scarlet Sword, you will see, daddy, he is strong, okay?"

"Okay." Adam stared deep into his daughter's eyes, which were so full of innocence. The girl had decided, by herself, that he should face the Scarlet Sword, right in front of the one of the greatest figures within the Order, and it was this girl's words which had set in stone the responsibility of her foolish father, who was not currently within her arms, for he who was within her arms was her younger brother, who was far wiser than her father, because he was her mummy's son. Rushad remained silent.

'Have I offended her in some way?'

"If we have time, we will visit," an old Iyrman said, whose eyes flared with hunger, his grin wild, and he flexed his wooden arm, this old man who had set his sights upon-, The old man's eyes slowly trailed downwards, towards the little girl who sat nearby, whose amber eyes seemed to accuse the old man of thinking such treasonous thoughts, thoughts which he was not allowed to possess, for she had claimed the Scarlet Sword for her father.

'It seems I cannot even claim the neck of the Scarlet Sword,' Jarot thought, as though he were able to claim the neck of the Fariq of Scarlet Sword so easily.

"What an honour," Rushad said, realising the figure who held such great power within this place, the girl's amber eyes oppressing even his shoulders.

"I see there are so many talented children, and though I wish to covet them, I must wait behind the Iyr, Life's Rose, and Black Mountain?" Adam's lips twitched.

'This guy, he's pretty wise, huh? Then he's definitely not anyone with that high of a position, and probably doesn't have much influence...'

"Kal, your sword play was beautiful, and filled with such great strength, and I can-," Adam began, only to feel Jirot's hand clasping his tenderly, as though to give him the courage to speak to such a figure. Adam paused for a long moment.

The halved elf's heart throbbed lightly, for the girl was so sweet and tender, and yet, she continued to bully her father in her own special way, this daughter of his, the ability to bully her own father coming so naturally to her that she would even do so when he was trying to be wise.

'Dear...'

'Since he causes so much trouble, you should bully him at least this much,' Vonda thought. Rushad's jaw tensed, with the understanding he should not laugh, but it was so difficult, for the girl was so eager to bully her father, and after hearing the halved elf speak of her, even if they didn't introduce her to him previously, he would have known she was Jirot.

"Kal, your sword play was so beautiful. It was filled with such great strength, I believe it would be a wonderful opportunity for those of… the younger generation to face against the tip of your blade."

"I shall give them permission, though I shall leave the matter to their hearts," Rushad replied politely. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Then, since our most handsome papo, who carves wood so beautifully, should step forward, shouldn't he step forward?" Adam asked, glancing aside to his daughter. The girl huffed, hugging the halved elf tightly.

"Oh my gosh! My papa, so smart, so smart!" As the girl planted firm kisses upon her younger brother's forehead, Jurot made to stand, only to stop when he saw the other stand at the same time.

"He said the most handsome papo," the Iyrman stated, for if they had said the strongest papo who could carve wood, or the one who carved wood the greatest, Jurot certainly could step forward, but since it was said their most handsome papo, and perhaps their favourite papo, of course, shouldn't he step forward?

"If there is a fight, then I should step forward," the handsome young man said, his body was as though he was sculpted from marble, as though he had been born within the Rot family. He wore a moustache which reached around to his chin, his goatee short, but thick, his eyes like a sea in duskval, a wild smile upon his face. He waited. And waited. The apprentice turned to his mentor, waiting for him to admonish him, to tell him to step back.

"I must warn you," Rushad began, causing the young man to relax, and ready to fight, "my apprentice is talented enough to aim for the position of the next Scarlet Sword."

"Master, even if you must-," the young man began, only to stop, confusion dancing along the surface of his eyes.

'How cute,' the halved elf thought, though he smiled.

"Our Laygak is talented too."

"Not quite as talented as he," Laygak noted.

"Oh? I don't think so, though?" Adam smirked, and his siblings stared at him in awe, but then again, if he was their brother then he should be this audacious.

"I would consider him equal to John," Jurot said.

"Oh?" Adam's eyes swiftly darted to the apprentice, who was well built, but if he was as talented as John, suddenly the situation wasn't quite as comfortable as he had originally thought.

'If he's as talented as John...'

'The next Scarlet Sword...' Laygak thought. Looking at this young man, whose eyes held the arrogance of the kind found within the Ool, Rot, and Kan families, he was certain this young man would take the title of the next Scarlet Sword, unless the Scarlet Sun lacked wisdom.

"Did you hear that, Laygak?" Adam called.

"I heard," Laygak replied.

"However, I must warn you, I shall wield one of the three swords of the Gak family."

"Then, I won't hold back!" the young man declared, grinning wide, reaching for his blade.

"I will even allow you to wear your armour!"

"No," Laygak said, beginning to strip out of it.

"If you will not fight within your armour, I will not either." Gangak bowed her head gently, for Laygak needed to be careful, he was within Aswadasad now. Jurot assisted Laygak out of his armour.

"You may beat him lightly."

"Do you think I can defeat him?" Laygak asked, chuckling.

"If you had chosen not to retire so soon, and if you were as old as he, I would have no doubt," Jurot confirmed. Laygak snorted lightly, for though he would lose, he would lose with his pride intact. The Aswadian's words may have held ill intent, or perhaps they may not have, but he, whose skin was red, whose horns curled around his head, could not allow someone like the handsome Aswadian get away with speaking such words, especially not in front of his younger sister, who would one day defeat the Scarlet Sword.

"Oi, Laygak, what are you doing?" a fool called out, and before he could continue, a pair of hands grasped at the halved elf's face.

"Papa, you cannot be rude. You must call him papo Laygak, you silly boy!"

"..." Adam stared into his daughter's eyes.

"Sorry, kaka."

"Oh my gosh, so polite," the girl said, holding her brother within her arms, against her chest, brushing his hair tenderly.

"..."

"..." Adam held Laygak's gaze for a long moment, meanwhile Laygak's eyes began to tear up, though he waited, for the half elf must have thought it important if he was about to interrupt such a grand bout.

"Ehm. Papo Laygak?" Adam called out, though he did not change his voice, even if it was slightly higher pitched than typical.

"Yes?"

"..."

"..." Adam could feel his daughter's gaze upon the side of his face as he spoke.

"Papo Laygak, you should use kako Taygak's sword, since you are going to defeat the future Scarlet Sword."

"..."

"..." Laygak's eyes slowly trailed to the side, seeing the gaze of his younger sister sparkling so expectantly. The young Iyrman was certain the sword at least matched one of the three swords of the Gak family, but at the same time, shouldn't he use the... He supposed the sword his sister was wielding was now also technically one of the swords of the Gak family?

"Do not underestimate the Iyrman," Rushad stated firmly.

"He may be related to the one known as Flame Brand."

"I would rather face Flame Brand," the apprentice joked.

"Take my words seriously, Ghazi."

"Master, you worry too much," Ghazi replied.

"It is a young man from a family no one has ever heard of."

"Even if the name Flame Brand is not as well known as Butcher Marmak, to we who live with steel in our hands, with blood in our hearts, you cannot underestimate someone who could be related to such a figure," Rushad stated firmly.

"You worry too much, Master," Ghazi said, swinging his blade to practise.

"If she was here, you would understand," Rushad said.