Chương 1739: [1636] – Y07.136 – Radiance I

The estate loomed atop the hill, layers of gardens falling from the sandy gold pyramid, the water flowing between the various steps, petals floating within the streams, as though lovers whisked away by romance. As the carriages circled around the pyramid, they passed by dozens of doors, until finally they approached the upper level, in which green flowed freely from gold, for this was Aswadasad.

The trees ripened with fruits of every colour under the sun, the flowers remained unbloomed as shy virgins, and warriors adorned in cream stood tall and proud within the shadows, each carrying the aura of one who was Trained, sabres at their side, those with the white scarves, but many others were those who held the graver aura of an Adept, each wearing pale grey scarves, while a pair of women, twins, wore black scarves, each in their forties, and it was they who welcome the carriages through the gate.

The group finally stepped into the estate, a large garden with wooden complex near the centre, and a fountain of marble, that of a woman kneeling in prayer, in which from her hands poured water, greeted them.

"Ooooh," the children let out, their eyes sparkling with joy. The dozen servants each stood in two rows, while two figures, one an old man, another a young woman, stood ahead of them, each adorned in simple shalwar, black, neatly pressed, and of fine cloths, they greeted their guests with a loud, clear voice.

"May Lord Noor's rays illuminate your path!" One, the old man, stepped forward.

"I am Fariknur, the one tasked with commanding these attendants, and this is Farah, my niece, who is my second. I will guide you to your rooms." The old man guided the group to their rooms, the manor holding twenty rooms, each enough for a small family, and considering how many figures they were watching over, they required at least this many.

Adam was too busy admiring just how large this garden was, the kind in which just walking the perimeter was quite the workout, and as he admired the simple, but well made, furniture, furnishings, even the filigree, the half elf let out a soft sigh.

'Just standing here makes me feel so relaxed,' the half elf thought, the floral scent of the garden filling his nostrils and his heart, easing his worries. The triplets rubbed their noses and sneezed, letting out light coughs, and the killing intent which filled the room caused even the Aswadian servants to sweat, while Vonda reached down to assist wiping their noses, forcing the Iyrmen to stop their assault.

"The garden's smell is so powerful, isn't it?" Vonda said, fairly certain the woman wouldn't dare to poison them, not when so many of them were immune, or were able to rid of the poison easily. Those of the Amira's family have ruled for millennia, and she would not dare to take a swing at the children, not when the Iyr was so eager for blood, and not when she had met the Crazy Father.

"Mm!" the red skinned, horned triplets replied, while the green skinned, amber eyed twins sniffed the air, and Jirot even pretended to sneeze, causing little Jarot to pretend to sneeze after, for their senses were great too, and they were their siblings' siblings.

'Why are my children so cute,' the half elf thought, his lips forming a gentle smile.

"I wonder if the Amira is wise enough to come see us right away?"

"The Amira is wise, so she will come," Jirot replied, with a confidence that reminded everyone she was Jirot, not that anyone needed such reminding.

Vonda reached up to her forehead, her eyes falling to the servants, who seemed utterly bewildered as to how the fool could make such a joke about the Amira, and though Fariknur stepped forward, Vonda intercepted him, beaming with a gentle smile, disarming him for a moment, and as his eyes fell to the sun over her chest, he stepped back lightly, assisting her and her children to one of the many bathrooms. Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"Adam, to speak of the Amira so in one of her own estates, and not just any, but the Pale Princess Pyramid…" Korin shook his head, reaching up to hide his smile behind his hand, pretending as though he was brushing his beard.

"The Amira and I are this friendly at least," Adam replied, his eyes falling to the servants, wondering how much the Amira had spoken to them about their relationship.

"If this much offends her, I would need to lower my estimations of her wisdom, since we've already met, I've told her my story, and I'm sure she's done her own work, even if the Mustashalur didn't manage to send word ahead about me this time." Korin's brows raised in alarm.

"You knew?"

"When I say I only pretend to be stupid, and my heart breaks because sometimes it feels like I'm not pretending. However, in this way, I'm not that much of a fool," Adam replied, and as his eyes darted from wall to wall.

"If nothing else, I'm paranoid."

"You? Paranoid?"

"I think too much." Adam's gentle smile towards Korin did not ease the warrior's heart, for the fool's eyes said something more. As the sun crested towards the heavens, she appeared. She was, as one might have expected, a beautiful woman. Her skin was like bronze, her eyes like emeralds, and silver flowed from her neck to her fingers, while a golden sun lay against her chest. She was adorned in seas of cream, from her head, which hid away her hair, down to the rest of her body, only her hands peeking out.

Beside her stood a woman radiating the most terrible aura, a woman who wore waves of white, the cloth hiding much of her body, and at her side she wore a single blade, that of a long blade, lean of steel, but many had found their end to it.

The scarf wrapped around her face to hide all but her eyes from the world, the eyes which scanned across the Iyrmen with a deep glare, and then towards the seven children, noting how different each looked, one a slightly tanned, another blue and as vast as the ocean, three red, and two green.

"I hope I am not intruding," the Amira said, the smell of spices floating through the air as the large group ate, and as the servants bowed deeply, she approached the group without a hint of fear, for the blade at her side, not the one she wore upon her finger, but the woman beside her, was not so unwise as to trouble the Iyrmen here. Adam bit into his dessert, peeking towards his wife.

"You should introduce us," Vonda stated. Adam, in thinking he was being smart by not talking, realised his wife's wisdom far surpassed the sky. He quickly chewed and stood, flashing a smile towards the Amira, swallowing quickly, almost choking, then quickly drank his milk, wiping his mouth.

"Greetings Amira," Jurot said, having waited for the half elf to make to speak. Jirot's lips formed a tiny circle, revealing whose daughter she was, for the half elf also stared at his brother the same way.

'I can't believe you've done this!'

"Greetings, Kal Jurot." The Amira let slip a practised smile, though her eyes darted between the children, who fell into a quiet cackle, while any semblance of the terrifying ego the half elf seemed to be nowhere to be seen. Leaping from the carriages, a handsome man, with silver and red hair, with a thick beard which fell to his chest, landed onto the earth.

He carried several boxes, some within his arms, others tied to him, for though he was who he was, he really didn't want to make multiple trips from the carriages to the group. He was adorned in a breastplate, simple in design, well crafted, and at his side he wore quite the blade, beautiful, crimson, deadly. Also, he was there.

"Aha! If it isn't my nephew!" Zahid called out. The pair of women side eyed the fellow. Adam blinked.

"Oh ho! Ahm! How do you do?"

"I am well, I am well," Zahid called, approaching with a waddle, eventually placing down the boxes, grunting as he stretched out his back, before holding out his arms.

'Was he always this casual?' Adam thought, though he approached, allowing the man to hug him, while Zahid laughed.

"I see you have grown more handsome since we last spoke! It must be because you are surrounded by so many of your beautiful family!" Zahid stated, bowing his head to the Ray, and the woman greeted him, equally as bemused as the others around the Kal, the middle aged man then beamed down to the children. He looked down at the green skinned girl. Then he looked to the Ray. His eyes fell to Adam, who smiled, making to speak, but the Kal spoke first.

"I see."

"Huh?"

"You have worked hard, Ray, little Jirot," the older man said, letting out a soft sigh. Adam blinked. Jirot let out a soft sigh, nodding her head.

"It is our burden to bear." Vonda tensed her jaw, doing her best not to break.

'When did you become so funny?' Adam thought, his eyes glistened as he tried not to cry from holding in his laughter. Amira Miriam furrowed her brows towards Crimson Blade, who was always a bit of a fool, but held such a great dignity as the Commander of the Malika's Golden Guard, but what dignity he possessed seemed to be gone with the wind. Kal Zahid smiled, and behind that smile, he understood he needed to work hard today to keep her alive.