Chương 1790: [1687] – Y07.187 – To Home II

They spent a short time in Arisa, that day, the next, and with the rays of dawn greeting them from behind, they approached the great ship they had arrived on, the crew having been paid a pretty penny to remain for the entire time they had explored Aswadasad in case something like this happened. However, as the waves caressed the ship, a darkness emerged from the water, and she revealed herself once more.

Her shell was formed of jagged mountains, skin scaled blue and green, like that of an algae seen through clear water, each tooth of its mighty maw threatening to crush any with ease. Once more the Iyr went through the theatrics, with Sonarot dropping a chest, and as the children leaned over the edge to look at the dragon turtle, their mouths agape, eyes gleaming. Adam smiled, glad the fear within them was not quite so prominent, and once more, he thought he should reward Great Urkina for her favour.

He reached into his cloak, and from within his ring, he brought out a pouch.

"Great Urkina!" a girl squealed, holding a pouch tightly within her hands, and while within her father's arms she trembled lightly, though trusted her father would not drop her, for her father's arms were safest.

"Child of the Iyr…" Great Urkina replied, voice rumbling through the air.

"A gift of gratitude!" Jirot exclaimed, tossing the pouch forward, and Great Urkina, unmoving, opened her giant maw, and easily swallowed the pouch, letting out a low growl of approval, for the gems within the pouch, even if they were only tiger eyes, though they were not, that, too, would be an acceptable gift, though she assumed the gems within were worth a touch more, for the scent of a particular fool remained upon the pouch.

"My gratitude to you."

"You have to tell Great Urkina your name," Adam whispered, planting a kiss on his daughter's ear gently.

"I am Jirot! Daughter of Ray Vonda of Life's Rose and High Alchemist Adam of the United Kindom!"

"I shall remember your name little one, and that of your brother, Jarot, and your eldest siblings, Konarot, Kirot, Karot, and those of your aunts, Lanarot, Amalrot, and Taygak." Jirot gasped, turning to her father, her lips forming a tiny circle, along with little Jarot, who remained gripping his father's neck tightly, not wishing to look over the edge.

"It seems Great Urkina did not need to be reminded of your names, for you are so memorable!" Adam declared, kissing all over his daughter's cheeks. Great Urkina, on the other hand, glanced over to the side, towards a particular figure who appeared to be a half dragon, though was certainly a dragon in disguise. His lips formed a gentle smile, which turned even more vicious, though by that time Urkina had submerged, her shell still peeking out, and began to escort the group along their way.

"So cool…" Jirot whispered, her tiny heart beating so rapidly. They passed from town to town, and as they passed through the fort, Commander Dana welcomed them once more, but swiftly they continued along their way, traversing the sea, then the ocean, passing from Aswadasad to Floria, in which they darted across the land with such swiftness, until they finally approached a particular town.

The walls were built upon raised ground, the gate, set under the walls, coaxed them at the end of a long, swerving road, that pained any traveller's soul upon the way there, though they were thankful they were within their carriages. The guards stood tall and proud, their bows at the ready, their eyes falling down upon the caravan of carriages, and as the group approached, a figure stepped out, an old woman, whose bald head held a single tattoo which revealed her affiliation.

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"It is we of the Iyr, and we would like you to inform Lord Asa we have arrived," the bald woman said, smiling warmly.

"Does the Lord know-," one guard began, the other reaching out a hand to grab his shoulder.

"You may inform the Lord," the older guard said, who allowed the young man to step away.

"My nephew."

"It is good to see the guards of Ever Green are so thorough," Shaool replied.

"My younger brother asked me to deal with him," the guard admitted, flashing quite the smile. She was middle aged, perhaps in her fifties or so, though was almost Aswadian in the way that she was actually in her sixties.

"What is your business in Ever Green?"

"We are passing through to the Iyr, for our children enjoyed their time in Aswadasad, but it is time to return."

"Did they also enjoy their time in Floria?"

"I am certain they did." The guard nodded her head, and smiled warmly, glad the old woman understood that they were terrified of accepting the children. He was old. Thin. Dark eyes holding a hint of red. One may have assumed he was a typical old man, but as he stepped through towards the carriages without an ounce of fear, and with the guards parting way to allow him to step through, one understood it was he.

Adorned in typical Aldish clothing, white, though during noonval his clothing was lighter, and unbuttoned to reveal much of his upper chest.

"It is good to see the Iyrmen here," the old man said, and as he did, the door of a carriage blasted open, and he stepped out, a man who held a beastly glare within his eyes, and his wooden fist clenched tightly, threatening to reach for his shield. Unfortunately for him, a particular pair peeked out of the window towards him, one who had called for the other, and the other who held up a finger threateningly.

"Hmm…" The old man stared at the young man, whose face was wrinkled though he was not even a thousand years old, not even a hundred.

"I recall a familiar face within the crowd and…"

"How do you do, Lord Asa?"

"I am well," Asa replied, stepping over towards the carriage, and he reached out a finger, poking the girl's nose.

"My, my. You have grown so much, Jirot."

"Yes! I am almost six years old!" The girl held up her whole hand to reveal she was five. Asa looked down towards the other, reaching out a finger to poke the boy's cheek.

"You must also be five then, little Jarot." Jarot blinked.

"Yes."

"To think the Iyr has brought so many Iyrmen to kill me," Asa said, turning to look towards the rest of the Iyrmen nearby, and then to the guards, whose jaws were free fall into guffaws.

"At the very least you have brought the right group, for there are many I recognise." How many years had it been? The old Jarot remained glaring at the old man, skin of bronze, a smile of silver, and with a tongue of gold, and yet his power was among the greatest across all the lands, for he was no less than Lady Jaeryael, the dragon who remained within the capital of Aldland.

"Is there a need to kill a dying old man?" a smaller Iyrman called, whose sword was the kind of sword that tore apart flesh viciously. Asa laughed, reaching up to his chin, scratching a beard he had shaved freshly that morning, feeling his bare skin against his fingers.

"Yes, a dying old man. I only have a few centuries left in me."

"…"

"…" Asa laughed once more, and with that, he beckoned the Iyrmen to follow him, and they stepped out, making their way to an estate, one that had been prepared for them, thanks to the King, who understood, for he was a wise good King, whose wisdom was perhaps only surpassed by his swordplay. Ever Green's roads were wide, for it was Ever Green. Small clusters of buildings dotted the area, small, but stacked high, three to five stories tall. It was green.

Indeed, for this was Ever Green, green as ever, with as many parks as roads, and though the town was taken by grids, the grids yielded to ancient architecture, and the natural landscape. It was this place, with its fresh air, that their hearts soothed, for it meant they were close to home.

"Daddy, what did you tell Lord Asa about me?" Jirot asked, holding onto her father's arms, feeling him flesh under her hands, but she squeezed at him harder, holding his eyes with her glare.

"I just told him bits and pieces about you," Adam replied, leaning down to threaten his daughter with a kiss, and as she threatened to squeeze his arms once more, she finally turned her head, allowing her father to kiss her cheek.

"Hmm…"

"What's wrong?"

"Do I like Lord Asa, or do I not like Lord Asa?"

"Why do you like him?"

"Daddy, you met Lord Asa a little bit after I was born."

"Ah! That's right! You were so small back then, like a little pear, I could hold you in one hand!" The girl flushed.

"I know, daddy, I know!"

"You are still so small and so cute!"

"Daddy, I am so big now!" The girl held up her fist to his chin, the girl glaring deep into her father's eyes.

"So why do you dislike him?"

"He is not wise."

"He's not?"

"If babo was fighting him, he should know to be beaten well." Adam stared down at his daughter, half side eyeing the girl.

"Daddy, even you know that is funny."

'Damn it.'