Chương 1714: [1611] – Y07.111 – Hearts of Fire I

The circular town expanded out from a central fire, the various districts flowing out naturally from the centre, and the river wound its way from south west to south east, the fish farms claiming a great portion around the river, while various little bayts sprinkled across, though the river continued out of the village proper to a lake, which was settled by five small forts.

The houses within the village were diverse, in size, colour, styling, even the woods were not the same between the various buildings, though they all sprawled from the central fire. It was a feast for the eyes, and the food they brought was a feast in a similar manner, and for their stomachs, for the rice was plainly coloured, but the various vegetables were colourful, the sweet desserts were more colourful, and the meats were various shades of warmth.

Kal Uli remained sitting to one side, silent as the rest of his companions, though enjoyed the food they had offered, the scent of the spices easing his heart. Jirot brought up a spoonful of rice to her brother's lips, though it was only a light spoonful, and the boy slowly accepted it, even from his sister, and slowly chewed and swallowed, and with the slow bite, he was done, drinking from his magical gourd.

Thankfully, Afraz was with them to distract the pair, alongside their greatmother, who spoke of her tales personally to the children and her ally of old, an old ally that he was.

"You did not see something like this last year?" Korin asked.

"No," Adam replied.

"I suppose you may not have passed through this place," Korin mused, for if they had, Kal Uli might have found himself dead, and the Shen at war with the village, though perhaps Ramizash would have been able to stop it, after suitable reparations were paid.

"What is this place?"

"It is a village close with Ramizash, and though he lairs northward, alongside Taymoraleaf, he protects this village the most, for it is upon the southern border, alongside the forest which is technically part of Northern Aswadasad, though Ramizash lays claim to it."

"Oh," Adam replied, though his face said he didn't quite understand anyway, and Korin smiled, dropping the deeper conversation.

"It is one of three villages close with Ramizash, you passed by the other two, but this one is home to his son, Alluard Ash, Rais of this village, though the term Rais alongside his name is greater than perhaps many others."

"How strong is Alluard Ash?"

"A hundred years ago he retired at the Peak," Korin said, causing the half elf to choke.

"A hundred years ago?"

"A hundred years ago," Korin confirmed.

'That's crazy.'

"He, more so than most villagers, despises the state of Aswadasad," Korin said, and the awkwardness upon his face said he could speak no more of it.

"..."

"Thank you," Korin said, glad the half elf had shown him mercy.

"Considering, you know, how handsome you are, and how fiery your hair is, are you someone descended from this village?"

"Perhaps I am, though I cannot be certain," Korin replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"There are some from further south who hold the same appearance as I, and there are those north who have hair tinged with blue, and those from the east with hair tinged by green."

"Ah?" Adam mused, thinking on how most of the people had fairly typical hair he was used to, though he supposed in a world like this, different hair colour wasn't the most out of the ordinary thing to him.

"Is he one of the Sword Dragons?" Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"No," Korin replied firmly.

"They are not friendly, not enemies, but they are not friendly."

"Why not?" Korin furrowed his brows, considering how he should explain it to the half elf, but as he thought of it, the more jumbled it became in his mind.

"Aswadasad is Aswadasad. There is Aswabayad too, but, we shall not consider them for, or, perhaps, no, yes, that is how to explain it.

Aswadasad is Aswadasad, and Aswabayad is Aswabayad, and the Zudhi Ejirate is the Zudhi Ejirate, and from the outside they are all those born from the ancient shendom of Aswabayad, and within these three similar, but separate nations, there are villagers, some might consider them to our land's tribesfolk, but, it is different to how they are in Aldland, for in Aldland the tribesfolk, they are distinct entities fleeing from Aldland, but in Aswadasad, the villagefolk, they are both a part of Aswadasad, and separate from Aswadasad, the same as Aswabayad, perhaps even further to the Confederacy.

The root is the same, and sometimes there is a kinship, to the point of being brothers, but depending on the circumstance, we are different, and the same. Thus, the Sword Dragons, and Alluard Ash, in many ways are similar, and in many ways are different." Adam, who was from where he was, smiled.

"I understand completely."

"You do?"

"Korin. If I was from any other place, I'd say what you said didn't make any sense, but... I'm from the UK." Korin considered the half elf's words, comparing the United Kindom to what he said, and in many ways, it made sense, and some ways, it did not. He did not quite understand Adam meant another place. Adam's eyes then darted to his triplets, who were eating the food tentatively, for the spices were too much for their tongues, and the children found relief in the copious cups of milk.

The smile the half elf wore did not hold a hint of sadness, for regardless of where he had come from, and no matter where he was, when he saw those around him, he understood he was home, for that was what his mind thought, and that is what his heart spoke.

"Are you a fool?" called a voice, coarse as sand.

"If you believe, within your home, I would not cause you trouble, you should settle down, halfblood," the fool replied, grinning wide like a beast, the crackle of lightning filling the air.

"Your blood may be wholly dragon, but you are still a child before me, boy," Alluard Ash stated, the Ashen Lord of the Hills, who was not just the strongest within the village, yesterday, but was the strongest in the village, today.

"As you are now, I would not even need to burn my Spark," Bael stated, causing some of the villagers to glance his way, and as Ash glared down towards him, he paused.

"You are too young to possess such."

"Look into my eyes, you old drake," Bael replied. Ash stared into Bael's eyes, and there he saw it, the unmistakeable expression of holding a Spark.

"How?"

"Do not compare someone with scales like yours, with someone with scales like mine," Bael replied, and with a sudden viciousness within his eyes, he stood, rolling his shoulders, ready to step into a fray.

"If you think I will step back, you will find..." Alluard Ash stopped, glancing down at the tiny form.

"..."

"..."

"Are you causing trouble?" the little girl asked, taking a bite of her wrap, formed of a pillowy naan and the most succulent sheesh kebab, the crunch of the onions fading with the unspoken threat.

"No," Bael replied. The girl held his gaze, chewing her food, and as she swallowed, she took another bite, holding Bael's gaze within her own for the rest of the bite, and as she swallowed, she licked the sauce off the corner of her lips. Then, slowly, she began to turn. A half step, and the half dragon, who was certainly a dragon, reflected off her amber eyes. Just a half step. She took another bite, chewing slowly.

'Since daddy cannot tease the Ashen Lord of the Hills, nor can papo Bael, okay?' The girl would not have stepped forward, but the tender kiss her father had placed upon her forehead had sealed Bael's Fate.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..." The girl took another half step away, and after another bite of her wrap, she turned, her scarf billowing in the breeze behind her, and she sauntered off, back to her father.

'The Iyrchild is so wise,' Ash thought, and though he was more than willing to draw his blade against every Iyrman here, even all at once, he would not dare to draw it against any of the children, from the three who were red of skin, cloaked in magic, nor would he do so against the two who looked like bavwa, and yet were undoubtedly Iyrmen, for though one of them was too meek to hold the Iyrmanly disposition, the girl, facing against one of them, stood tall and proud, wearing oppression as an Aswadian wore a beard.

"Daddy, was I cool?" Jirot whispered once she returned to her father.

"So cool! The coolest!" Adam peppered the girl with a shower of kisses.

"Of coas," the girl replied, flushing.

"Of course!"

"Of coas," the twins replied. It was then, the horns blared, and the Iyrmen readied themselves, for it was finally time.