Chương 1800: [1697] – Y07.197 – Darkness on the Horizon VII

"Oh, you're coming along, granduncle?" Adam asked as they prepared the carriages, but a short travel away from the next village, especially within their carriages.

"I do not believe I am allowed to go," Kamrot said, wearing a set of triplets, while Jirot and Jarot held each of his hands.

"You are free to leave, granduncle, I assure you." Adam held Kamrot's gaze for a long while.

"He really has become so funny," Kamrot said.

"I told you!" Jirot declared with such desperation. After saying their goodbyes, the carriages made their way westward, through the forest, towards the final village, and the business which awaited them. The village met them, though Adam paused a moment, only to realise he had seen it change previously, though had mostly forgotten that it had. Many of the buildings were similar, though the layout had changed. The fortress, too, had changed, and he had forgotten that too.

It was layered, three layers, staggered, and not as symmetrical as the Iyr typically enjoyed, with the inner fortresses leaning leftward, towers looming over to spy upon the village. The inner layers were raised from one another, and it was filled with roughly a hundred or so Iyrmen, each at least Experts, but many Masters, Grandmasters, and there, two of the Ten Paragons, who watched the carriages roll into the village, and then beyond, until they came to the fortress. Except it was not they who greeted the group.

"Kako! Kako!" came the cries of the children, who darted out of the carriages, as a two of them leapt upon her.

"Jirot, Jarot," Jaygak called, picking the pair up, allowing them to smother her in their affection, a hand clutching at her face as the girl's lips showered her face all over, while another pair of arms wrapped around her neck, and his head against her neck.

"Kako!" Jirot squealed noisily, causing Jaygak to wince, but the woman nuzzled each of them tenderly.

"Isn't it Elder Jaygak?" Adam teased, standing with his triplets, who awaited their turn to greet their kako, the Elder.

"Ock!" Jirot gasped, covering her mouth.

"Sorry!"

"Actually, I am currently on break from my duties, so I am your kako, just for today," Jaygak said, peeking down at the girl, who smiled brightly, and hugged her head tightly.

"I must greet everyone else too."

"No!" Jirot cackled.

"What of your elder siblings?"

"Mm…" Jirot pulled back slightly, and allowed the woman to greet her siblings too.

"Red suits you," Jaygak teased, embracing each of the children one by one.

"Kako…" Konarot called in return. Jaygak held out a fist for Lana, who bumped it lightly, and she poked Amalrot on her sleepy cheek, and finally, she embraced Taygak tightly.

"I hope you did not bully too many?"

"Lightly," Taygak replied, hugging her cousin tightly in return.

"It seems Laygak had managed to impress you if his eyes are so bright," Jaygak accused, causing Laygak to stand up a little taller, a small smile encroaching upon his lips. As she finished greeting the others, she noted the look in the eyes of Kitool and Jurot, and she nodded, before the group all began to settle themselves within the fortress.

"Whoa…" The twins stared up at the fortress, each who were so like one another in many ways, their shalwars, their turbans, each carrying silver sabres at their sides, equally as handsome.

"I did not realise the Iyr's fortresses we so…" Vadim admitted, staring out to the giant fortress. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"It only really became like this recently, due to the Iyr's need of the fortress, though this is usually where the business calls home."

"Here?" Vadim's brow raised, staring at the half elf with his one good eye.

"It had for some time, though recently…" Adam smiled a smile devoid of joy.

"You don't have to worry, for there shall be little trouble here, not even the Reavers dare to step within these lands." As they settled themselves within the fortress, one of the Ten Paragons stepped forward, but as they did, Shaool stepped forward to greet them.

"Shaool."

"Mayvis," Shaool returned. The woman was large, well built, who wore a spear upon her back, and a shield dangled at her side. She was tall, thick, with the great strength one might expect of her. Her skin was tan, her eyes dark, her hair lightened by time, and the scar across the side of her neck painted a smile that was not found upon her lips.

"You must follow the-,""Consider the hearts of the children," Shaool replied. Mayvis paused.

"Nano!" called the twins, rushing up to Mayvis, smiling brightly towards her.

"Jirot, Jarot, how do you do?"

"Good, nano! How are you?"

"I am well, for my greatchildren have returned, safe and proud," Mayvis said, lifting the pair up, and her eyes fell upon her nephew.

"Did you return with glory."

"I am too weak for such," Fakrot replied, letting out an awkward sigh.

"You lost?" Mayvis asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Baba faces the Sabres of Dusk, and he fought so well!" Jirot declared.

"Ah? The Sabres of Dusk?" Mayvis smiled wide.

"If it is against the Sabres of Dusk, what can you do?" Fakrot flushed slightly, the pout upon his lips evident, though as he caught the eyes of the children, he smiled.

"I will train hard to make sure I am able to defeat him next time."

"Yes! You can do it, baba! I believe in you!" Jirot held up a thumbs up. Fakrot let out another sigh, but continued to smile, glad the children's hearts seemed lightened after what had happened. After all, soon the land would be painted red, and they will hear of it, the strength of the Iyr. Vadim eyed up the warriors around him, and he could feel it, emanating out of them, the will, the heart, of steel, of blood.

It was this place, the mythical Iyr, which he had thought of often, most of the time incidentally, for sometimes one might speak, and the exception was the Iyr. It is difficult for a nation to grow Grandmasters, many understood, save for the Iyr, many understood. His eyes then turned to those with grey skin, the two who had accompanied him with a particular tattoo, and there was a third with the same tattoo here, and they greeted one another, before that Iyrman stepped towards Shaool.

'Is he…' Vadim thought, as the Iyrman stepped to Shaool and Mayvis.

"It seems my cousins have watched over you well," Ravar, one of the Ten Paragons, said, reaching out to poke the noses of the twins.

"Yes! Babo Okvar is always so nice to me, so nice."

"What of Takvar?"

"Babo Takvar…" Jirot turned her head, finding Takvar staring at her with a look of betrayal upon his face.

"If babo Takvar gives me his dagger, who knows what I will say?"

"Do you wish for me to beat him?" Ravar asked.

"You?" Takvar replied, raising his brow towards his cousin.

"It has been quite some time." Ravar clenched his fist, cracking his knuckles, and the two sent out their aura against one another. Jirot palmed her face, wiping it slowly, letting out a long sigh.

"Iyrmen…"

"You are an Iyrman too," Ravar replied. Jirot blinked.

"I am my mummy's daughter."

"Ah." Jirot awaited for him to continue.

"What?"

"Of course," Takvar said.

"Of coas," the twins echoed, and they approached Takvar, high fiving him. Ravar glanced between them, and as the children stepped away, he turned towards his cousin.

"Did all three groups pass by?"

"Just the one." Ravar hummed knowingly, and with that, the two considered how the world would soon be stained sanguine, and they returned back to their duties, though Ravar's duties were to remain on standby until there was danger, so he remained near the children.

"By any chance…" Ravar looked out to the twin Aswadians who wore their steel sabres.

"They are Weal and Woe Sabres disciples," Takvar confirmed.

"Has Adam even claimed them?"

"So he has." Ravar shook his head, turning to look towards the Golden Savages, then to the other Iyrmen who accompanied him.

"Does he plan to conquer the world?"

"He has stated he has no wish for it," Takvar replied.

"Many times."

"If he says it enough, will he believe it?" Takvar chuckled, a wide grin upon his lips, and he stepped away. Tanika settled herself to one side. She stared out towards the Iyrmen. Her eyes darted between them all.

'To think I did so little this year…'

"You should prepare yourself, for next year, we will step out to deal with the Reavers," Bael said, as though reading her mind.

"No, I cannot."

'How are you able to-,'"It is easy to read your face."

"…"

"Yes." Tanika frowned slightly, but then again-,"You are my squire."

'Stop it!' Tanika thought and Bael smiled knowingly.

"Hey, how come Tarvol is hanging around with the Ten Paragons?" Adam asked.

"He is one of the Ten Paragons."

"He's what?" Adam replied, his head snapping towards his brother.

'Since when?'

"He has been for many years," Jurot replied.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"You know, I was wondering why he had come along with us…" Adam mused.

'What the hell, man. The Iyr is full of monsters.'

"Yes," Jurot replied to Adam's thoughts. Adam side eyed his brother, who stepped away, going to speak with Jaygak, who called for him with her eyes.