Chương 1791: [1688] – Y07.188 – To Home III

Amethyst illuminated over emerald, for the evening sky was beautiful in Ever Green, even as they approached the large estate, which was no longer quite the humble place it had once been.

It bloomed towards the outskirts of the town, the entire estate formed of wood, with a large central fire tended to by only a half dozen servants, while another dozen maintained the estate, the gardens within were almost as vibrant as those found in Aswadasad, and no longer did five buildings remain, from the original height of twenty, for now there was eight. Each were adorned in all manner of designs, some painted as if slashed by a child's brush.

The central bonfire smouldered lightly, coaxing the old drake towards it, though he refused its allure.

"Are you alright, ahm?" Adam called from beside the man, having walked with him on the way to the estate, since the old man still preferred walking.

"I am well enough," Lord Asa, Hearth of Floria, replied.

"I can brew you a potion if you need it."

"I only need fire, and there is plenty to burn within Ever Green, which is as bountiful as even the capital of Aldland, so I am told."

"Have you ever been to the capital?"

"That is an awkward response considering my title."

"Ah." Adam paused a moment.

"Oh, right. I forgot you were a monster."

"…"

"I didn't mean it like that, I mean like how my grandfather is a monster, so brutally powerful, you know?"

"Oh, I know," Asa replied with a gentle groan, a sigh which said enough.

"I once fought under your grandfather's axe, and now that I have seen his face, I recall his beastly appearance from a few years ago. Yes, it was, as expected, the Deathsingers who bring such death."

"My grandfather is a little special."

"I am sure he is, for he is your grandfather," Asa joked. Adam side eyed the old man, who only smiled, the half elf flushing boyishly. The old man allowed them to settle within his estate, which was the safest place in all of Ever Green, for it was the most dangerous to all those who would cause trouble for Ever Green.

It wasn't long before a young teen stepped within, dark of skin, dark of eyes, eyes glistening with the brightness of youth, and upon his chain tunic, a tabard that was bright red, and he wore a pack slung over his shoulder, and though one might consider the shortblade at his side as his protection, it was the figure in full plate trailing behind him, never more than five steps away, one may suggest was his protection.

Little Ara turned to look towards the visitors, tilting his head, for some seemed familiar, until his eyes came across a figure who was familiar, for he had leaf shaped ears, but he seemed so different, so less… purple?

"Ara, how do you fair?" Adam asked, holding up a hand.

"Mo, I am well, and how are you?" Ara asked, approaching the group, noting the large group, though his eyes fell to a pair of children.

"Bavwa?"

"They are my children."

"Your children are bavwa?"

"No, they are Iyrmen."

"Iyrmen?" Ara narrowed his eyes, full of suspicion.

"They are the nieces and nephews of Lion King."

"So they are lions?" This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Adam's laughter pierced the air, grinning wide as Ara smiled up towards him, though his eyes were apprehensive as he glanced aside towards the twins.

"Perhaps they are?"

"I am not bavwa, I am an Iyrman." Jirot's finger pointed towards the teen threateningly.

"You are an Aswadian?"

"Yes."

"You live within Floria!" Jirot accused in tongue of sun and gold.

"I am…" Ara paused, not quite sure how to respond. Then he furrowed his brows.

"You speak the tongue?"

"I can speak it well, for I learned within the Iyr!"

"It is because you are an Iyrman."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Good." Ara stared up towards the Lion King, who nodded his head, and the boy smiled, nodding his head in return, and with that, the child handed over the letter to Asa. However, before he left, the half elf invited the boy to meet with the rest of his family, from his wife, who he greeted respectfully, to his grandmothers and grandfather.

"You are the son of the Blood Knight?" Jarot asked.

"Yes!" Ara replied confidently.

"It is your father who took my leg from me." Ara looked down at the Iyrman's legs, and then glanced up towards him in confusion, until Jarot revealed his wooden leg.

"You still have two legs?"

"It was a gift from my grandson."

"Your grandson is so lovely."

"Yes." Jarot glanced aside to Adam, who was glancing aside as if he wasn't listening, his cheeks flushed a gentle red under the purple sky.

"My father is the strongest," Ara said. Jarot grinned wide like a beast, but a gasp filled the air.

"My daddy is the strongest!" Ara looked down to the little girl, who glared up towards him, and the teen narrowed his eyes.

"You two, since you both call Lion King ahm, you should treat other nicely," Adam said, reaching down to tickle the girl's cheek.

"How can he speak such bukwas?"

"He believes his father is the strongest, and you believe your daddy is the strongest, and it is only once we cross paths can we finally see who is the strongest, but can you blame a son or a daughter speaking of their father in such a way?"

"No…" Jirot flushed. Adam peeked to Ara.

"No…" The teen pouted.

"Good, good. Ara, since you are older, you must be nice, and Jirot, since you are younger, you should be respectful, especially since you are so intelligent and so wise, because you, an Iyrman, have been able to read so many books within the Iyr, and you are a Ray of Life's Rose's daughter, and Ara, since Jirot here is the daughter of a Ray of Life's Rose, I hope you are willing to treat her kindly, even if her words are sometimes vicious."

"Yes…" Ara's eyes fell upon the Ray's face, and the boy flushed slightly, for she smiled so warmly, just like his mother.

"Do you still believe you can take his father's leg," Asa asked in the tongue of dragons.

"I already said I wouldn't take it, didn't I?"

"Ah, I recall such a mercy."

"Anyway, I've grown a lot stronger, and my equipment is pretty decent now."

"I could smell so."

"What do you think?"

"You are one hundred years too early." Adam let out a gently huff, glaring at the fire ahead of him as he sipped his tea, pouring another cup for the old dragon. His eyes fell onto the two demons, who were keeping Jirot and Jarot company, and then his eyes returned back to the flames.

"If the Blood Knight fought your brat, would he win?" Asa laughed.

"No. The distance between you and that brat is nothing compared to the distance between that fellow and that treacherous brat of mine."

"Trea-," Adam began, only to recall the relationship between them, and instead quickly sipped his tea.

"Do you think your son will covet your position?"

"Karot wouldn't, Jarot wouldn't, but Xarot? I'm sure, because I stole away his mother from him for a few weeks, he shall grow up with such resentment within his heart, and when he grows up, he will get his revenge, and since I am a fool of a father, I shall grant it to him."

"You should be careful, for even a child so full of love can turn their blade against you."

"Not my children," Adam replied simply, and he straightened up, a chill running through his heart.

"Even if they did, so what? If they want to turn their blade against me, then it was I who failed them!"

"There are those who just behave so," Asa replied, recalling how many of the children of his peers had turned their blades against their families, and how it was not exactly a special case for even a child with no reason at all to do so, for that was life as a dragon.

"I'm sure if I can't deal with it, my wife, my beautiful wife, who is so wise, who is so merciful, will be able to do so." Asa stared down at his cup, and he smiled, finishing his tea, as a woman appeared. She wore clothing of the Aldish style, not quite loose and billowy, a green like the blades of grass under dawn's light, a long scarf which snaked around her head and hung over her shoulders, a darker green, almost black.

She wore gloves, which held the toddler within her arms, and her eyes darted between the figures, as the babe blinked towards the world angrily. A pair of figures accompanied her, no less armoured than the one who escorted Ara, and no less deadly. The woman's eyes darted between the figures, recognising a great many, and with every passing moment, she fell greater at ease. Adam furrowed his brows to Ara, and then back to the child.

'Oh yeah. I forgot he had a younger sibling. Uh oh. Did I bring a gift for them?'