Chương 1722: [1619] – Y07.119 – Hearts of Fire IX

The ringing of steel continued to sing in the air, and with the showing of the young Iyrmen, the expectations had reached new heights. The young Iyrmen did not disappoint, for though they were in their early twenties, they had surpassed the title of Experts. As Laygak sheathed his blade, he bowed his head lightly.

"I hope my swordplay did not disappoint." His opponent, a young woman who was a year or two his junior, frowned. Laygak had informed her that he was the weakest, and yet when it came time for their steel to meet, he easily dispatched her without even needing to use all his strength.

'It seems the Iyr has sent their greatest youths,' Ramizash thought, his eyes falling across the young Iyrmen who seemed to hold such a grave aura. Though the Iyr had claimed victory in all but one instance, much to Tanagek's chagrin, the air remained light, until finally Ramizash and the Rais invited the Iyrmen to eat and drink within the central building, that which was a dome which could easily host a hundred, or a dragon and a dozen.

The building was also darkened by dragonfire, the brick rough to the touch, sturdy, and the wooden furniture within was formed of the kind of wood which made Jurot and Laygak caress it gently. The various rugs all formed of countless colours and designs, those from even further east, as well as various peoples across Aswadasad, and the Aswadians knew, none came from any of the cities.

As the desserts were brought out, Ash settled himself opposite the half elf, all the while the fool peppered his son with a thousand kisses for eating but a tiny morsel of cake, causing the boy to flush and squirm. The eldest of his daughters, Aisha, also remained, while the others returned to their slumber, for it was best to sleep through noonval, while others with their dragonblood might have found noonval to be the best time to rampage. Finally, it was time.

"I don't really want to, I'm not good at it," Adam grumbled, planting a kiss upon his son's head, and as his daughter made to complain, he kissed her soft, warm cheek, the girl brushing her hair, narrowing her eyes towards her father, who was so wise.

"Kitool would be best," Jurot admitted, holding his large little sister on his lap, loudly munching on the fruit.

"Okay," Kitool replied. The young Iyman spoke the tale as Iyrmen would, especially to those who were like Ramizash and Rais, and as she described their journey across the land, from the first time they stepped out seven years ago, to now, the three listened intently to their words.

It wasn't long before they understood the gravity of the tales, nor the ridiculousness that was not just the half elf before them, but the two other Iyrmen, and the other youths, finally encompassing each of this generation of Iyrmen, including one who was not there.

"To survive an encounter with the Lord of Flames," Ramizash mused, falling deep into thought, considering who Emperor Shama was, and all the rumours surrounding him. Adam remained silent, for once allowing wisdom to overcome him, the half elf sipping away at his milk, having chilled it with his magic. They could feel it. The anger which had drawn to the surface.

'Survive? Is that what you call that?' Adam's eyes trailed to the side, towards Lucy and Mara, who held the twins on their laps, Jirot cuddling up to Lucy's bosom, half asleep, and Jarot was the same within Mara's bosom, the twins holding each other's hands.

"You may be strong, but can you hold such killing intent for the Emperor?" Ash asked, for though he was audacious, the half elf's audacity pressed towards foolishness.

"You know…" Adam began, narrowing his eyes.

"I've fought a great many warriors, and when it comes to fights I've had with individuals, I've lost twice. I've lost to the Lord of Flames and my grandfather." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"You…" Ash began, pausing.

"You fought a great many Paragons, many of the Fariq and Fariq Thanwi."

"Yes."

"Do you state you claimed victory against them?" Adam's lips twitched slightly.

"At the very least, I didn't lose."

"What of that youngster, Isam?"

"Kal Isam? We fought, and I did not lose."

"Are you stating you claimed victory?"

"I, at least, didn't lose," Adam replied firmly, his lips forming a wider smile, holding the half dragon's gaze.

"If you and I fought, do you think you could defeat me?"

"If you didn't fight, and I didn't fight, and it was today?" Adam glanced aside. Omen: 1, 2"Today, of all days, you would not claim victory against me."

"Do you think you would have claimed victory?" Ash asked narrowed his eyes.

"That depends," Adam replied, placing down his cup, holding the half dragon's gaze.

"If my daughter tells me I can't lose, then I won't lose. If she says I have to win, then I'd have to win." Ash held Adam's gaze, noting how the half elf's eyes trembled, moving slightly side to side, as though he was calculating.

"Speak openly, young man. We will keep your secrets."

"I don't know how strong you are, so I can't say entirely, but… if my daughter tells me I have to win, then I'd win." Adam held his gaze, and considering how the half elf still had most of his Mana after defeating the Paragon, he narrowed his eyes.

"Would you be able to claim victory if you fought the Amber Blade and the Elder of Amber back to back?"

"It would be difficult," Ash admitted.

"Then, by that metric, I would defeat you," Adam stated, filling his cup full of milk, sipping it lightly, the sour milk dancing along his tongue.

"Why are you so quiet?" Ash began, and noting Adam's confusion, the old half dragon leaned in.

"You hold all this power and you have not revealed yourself?"

"I've revealed quite a bit to quite a few people, but if I continue, won't they expect too much from me?" Adam leaned back, closing his eyes. He considered why he didn't step out for a moment.

"If I reveal all this power, too many people will feel threatened, and so many expectations will fall on my shoulders. Right now, I'm content with going across the land and having some light fun, and helping out where I can."

"Do you have any intentions of claiming land for yourself?" Adam let out a small hum, opening his eyes to see the piercing red eyes of the half dragon glaring at him so openly, and the half elf's lips continued to raise, a playful smirk on his face.

"What need of I of land? The Iyr and I have our dealings, and I have more than enough land for myself at this time, and should I need more, I will work harder, and when I work harder, someone will deal with me swiftly, so I can't dare to covet more."

"Then what is it?"

"What?"

"Your dream."

"I want to live a long, easy life, loved by my family, my friends, and perhaps, by the people, and I want my children to grow up happy and healthy, and I'd like a hundred children, a thousand grandchildren, ten thousand great grandchildren, and, one day, I'll cut the neck of the one you call the Lord of Flames, and teach everyone that you can't swing at my friends and family so easily."

"Did you show mercy to those of High Garden?"

"If you can call what I did to them mercy, I suppose I did," Adam replied, holding the half dragon's eyes, and upon the surface of his eyes, a wicked venom grew. It was then Ash realised. The half elf's dreams were just that, dreams, so ephemeral, and they would remain within the half elf's mind, for the look within his eyes stated he would not be able to contain himself, the hatred ran too deep within his heart.

That dream of his was impossible, for it had already been shattered, and the last few words held the core of the half elf's dream, the threat, the promise.

"For a Chosen of Baktu, you have not slain as much as I thought you would," Ramizash admitted, finally speaking up, for the mood had turned slightly, to the point the great dragon was uncertain if he could allow it to continue that way.

"I am a husband of a Ray of Life's Rose."

"Do you place her above even Baktu, who has chosen you as his own?"

"Always," Adam replied simply, causing the dragon to raise his brows in alarm, and even his wife's brows twitched.

"Baktu and I, we're close, and he knows exactly how close we are, but he chose me for a reason."

"What reason is that?"

"Did you think I could all do this because I am a Chosen of Baktu?" Adam asked, saying far too much in his statement, silencing the dragon. Dangerous. It was the only word that came to mind for Ramizash, who only just realised the half elf was not what he expected. Even after this conversation he had barely cemented the half elf, but did he dare to suggest the reason why he was so powerful wasn't because of the Lord of Death's great power, but something else?

"Lord Ramizash, I am only a step above a Master," Adam said, noting the way Ramizash's eyes had widened.

"What?"

"I am a step above a Master, but one day, I will be a Grandmaster, and then, further in the future, I will become a Paragon. Then, above that, I will take a position at the Peak, and, should the world require it, I will take my place as an Idol."