The shock rippled through the Iyrmen, the serenity broken by the pebble that was their tale. All the Iyrmen had gotten used to hearing the tales of this particular group, which always went beyond sense. Yet, they could feel it now. The tingling within their hearts. Even now, this group could still shock them so.

Jogak’s heart thundered within his chest. ‘What?’

Raygak’s eyes shone with awe towards his sister, the boy’s mouth forming a tiny circle. He glanced aside towards the rest of the children, each a painting of delight, the older children also shocked and full of awe.

“I haven’t finished the tale yet,” Jaygak said, feeling the gaze of all her aunts and uncles, and all the children around. Since she rarely got to feel such, she basked in it for a moment, before continuing the tale.

Citool’s heart also thundered within her chest, though she did her best to calm herself. ‘What?’

Katool’s head snapped to the side, towards her elder sister, who held their youngest sister in her lap. “Sister?”

Kitool glanced down towards her sister, who had suddenly become so shy and nervous. She rubbed Katool’s head tenderly. “Yes?”

“You are so strong!”

Kitool continued to rub the girl’s head, trying to calm the tornado of emotions within her. “You will grow this strong too.”

“Yes?” Katool smiled slightly.

“You will, but you must eat all your vegetables.”

Katool frowned. “Maybe less vegetables?”

“All of them.”

Katool winced. “Okay.”

Kitool wasn’t sure if she should embrace the girl and encourage her, or to laugh. She pulled her sister in closer, the pair swaying slightly in their embrace. Minool used the opportunity to slip out of Kitool’s grasp to flee to her mother. Jitool watched her youngest sister dart around and she sighed, shaking her head, turning to glance towards both Jirot and Jarot, before being distracted by them sharing their potatoes with her.

Sonarot reached over to brush her son’s hair, tucking it behind his ear. “Well done.”

Jurot’s lips twitched slightly, and he glanced aside, his ears turning slightly red.

“Did you hear, Damrot?” Sonarot reached down to brush her thumb along the boy’s cheek. “Your father placed first.”

The boy squirmed slightly, turning his head away, shoving his hand into his mouth shyly as his grandmother doted upon him.

“Sister!” Raygak called, whispering loudly. “Good job.”

Jaygak smiled. “I should have aimed for first, but I did not have magic.”

“That is right! If you used magic, you would have placed first!” Raygak’s eyes continued to beam brightly, before he hugged his sister tight.

Adam decided to ignore the boy’s words, reaching up with a slice of banana to Inakan’s lips. “Do you like salya?”

“I like it,” the girl replied, chewing it slowly, nodding her head lightly.

“My daddy is so strong,” Jirot said, pointing at her father. “Daddy, you are first place.”

“That’s right.”

“Kako, you are strong too,” Jirot said, holding her hand out to Jaygak. “You are second place, but you are so gorjus, okay?”

“Adam is strong, but he must be, since he has no horns,” Jaygak joked.

Jirot reached up to her head. “I do not have horns?”

“You do not have horns, but you will become the Demon Lord, so it’s okay,” Jaygak assured.

Jirot smirked, sitting up taller. “Yes.”

Dunes felt Amira’s gaze upon him, but the young Aswadian kept his eyes closed, relaxing within his seat.

“You know…” Adam began, reaching up to rub his chin playfully, doing so since it felt right to be this dramatic. “Didn’t Sir Roseia come first place in the Noonval Tournament?”

“Yes! I know!” Jirot said. “She is first place, and daddy is third place.”

Adam winced slightly from how full of joy her daughter was at him coming third. “Who came second place?”

“Sir Karra!”

“Oh? Aren’t you so smart!” Adam reached over to ruffle her hair playfully. “My daughter is so smart! How can I…” Adam paused, letting out a soft sigh. “That’s right, Sir Roseia came first place, and this time, didn’t Jaygak beat her?”

Jirot furrowed her brows. She glanced towards her aunt, her hair bouncing slightly, her eyes full of curiosity. “Kako, you are so strong?”

“I did defeat her.”

“Kako win, so kako is first place?” Jirot asked.

“Isn’t that the case?” Adam asked, reaching out to rub her head gently once more.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The pair of Gak boys, Raygak and Saygak, stared at Jaygak.

Jaygak?

Their Jaygak?

Jaygak beat Sir Roseia?

The King’s Sword’s daughter?

Who had placed first in their first tournament together?

Without magic?

Jaygak?

Their Jaygak?

The boys had grown up hearing the tales of the group. For almost half their lives, they had known Adam. It had been about that time since the half elf had managed to wrangle Jaygak and Kitool into his adventures. Jurot and Kitool were golden children, they were among the very best of their generation, so it was obvious they would reach great heights.

Jaygak?

Their Jaygak?

Jaygak was average. She was barely good enough to go out adventure, and among those who adventured, she was below average. They knew that, and even though she often bullied him, Raygak loved his sister the most. Saygak understood Raygak’s feelings, since Laygak himself was considered slightly below average too. However, to hear that their cousin Jaygak, the eldest of the main family, had managed to beat Sir Roseia, that Sir Roseia, they could only feel the sheer pride rush through them.

It was that kind of feeling.

It was Jaygak, their Jaygak, who had brought such a feeling upon this generation of Gak children.

Indeed, for though Raygak and Saygak had grown up with the same feelings as Taygak, that their family was still not ready to rise, but the four Gak girls? Kavgak, Maygak, Tavgak, and Faygak? They will only know a time when Jaygak, their Jaygak, beat the King’s Sword’s daughter.

Hope.

The hope that they could also help raise the Gak family.

Turot held the shield upon his lap, feeling the tingle of magic within it. It was red like blood, and had been used by his grandfather when he rampaged across Aldland. He had then gifted it to Adam, and the shield was then enchanted with Greater magic. The shield he had gifted had managed to place first place.

“I can hold it too?” Asorot asked quietly.

“You can hold it,” Turot said, sliding it to his brother’s lap, helping him to hold it for a moment, making sure his younger brother held it firmly, before letting go. He smiled as Asorot gripped the shield tight, staring at it in awe.

Adam glanced down towards the pair, glad that there was no awkwardness between Turot and Asorot. ‘What a great elder brother you are, Turot.’

“Should I continue the story?” Jaygak asked.

“Yes!” the children all focused upon the Iyrman.

Adam leaned back, whispering to his Aunt. “Where’s Taygak?”

“She is training.”

“Ah,” Adam replied. ‘Right.’ “Hold on, why is she growing up? I’ve got to…” Adam brought another piece of salya to Inakan’s lips. “No, never mind. She’s allowed to grow up.” ‘I’ll forgive you this once, since you’re so scary.’

“Kaza Adam? Mik, peas.”

“Of course, my Inakan,” Adam replied, bringing the cup of milk to her lips.

Inakan pushed Adam’s hand away gently. “Coad.”

“Ah.” Adam warmed it up using his magic, before bringing it to the girl’s lips once more.

Jaygak decided against speaking up about him interrupting the story, since he was in the middle of spoiling Inakan. Even she couldn’t help but to spoil Inakan, since it was little Inakan.

Raygak and Saygak each gasped upon hearing what Jaygak had done, their eyes filling with greater shock and awe. Jogak wasn’t sure he could be any more shocked by his daughter, but upon hearing the gift she had given to Urkina, he reached up to rub his brow. A mixture of pride and melancholy filled the father, who exchanged a look with his wife, who smiled warmly in return.

‘It seems it is too late.’

Upon the completion of the story, the children clapped their hands excitedly. Jaygak peeked and noticed the Gak children still holding such joy within their eyes. A small smile slipped across her lips.

“Now that the story is done, let’s give the gifts,” Adam said, far too excitedly, meaning certainly he had brought something ridiculous. He noted the looks from his aunts and uncles, and the half elf smiled proudly. “None of them are even magical.”

“Even if they are not magical, they must be more than what they should,” Sonarot replied carefully.

“This time I didn’t go too far,” Adam said, with a certainty that almost disarmed the Iyrmen around. “This time both Jurot and I went too far.”

Jurot nodded his head, before the group undid the large packs, revealing their gifts for the children. They each handed out the items for the children, greatswords to the Kan family, staves for the Ool family, and one for Saygak, axes and shields to the Rot family, and swords and shields for the Gak family. The weapons were all made of icesteel, save for the weapons handed to the Gak family, including Saygak, which were made of firesteel. The shields, thankfully, were made of typical steel.

“I missed some of your birthdays, but I hope you forgive me,” Adam said, embracing each of the children one by one, spending extra time embracing the youngest children, especially Minool who wished to flee from his arms. “I brought back a great story, didn’t I?”

“We will forgive you, just this once,” Raygak joked.

“Yes,” Jirot said, reaching out to grab the handle of the axe her father had gifted to her, though Sonarot scooped it up, gathering the weapons together and tying them up.

Adam flashed a large smile, unable to contain it. ‘How can these kids be so cute?’

Raygak threw a look towards his sister. His sister, who had not only beaten the King’s Sword’s daughter, but had gifted Great Urkina such an amazing weapon. It was then the boy truly understood the meaning of the word Adam sometimes used. ‘My sister is the coolest!’

“I need to go for a walk,” Jaygak said, hoisting herself up, deciding to ignore her parent’s gazes.

“I will come too!” Raygak said excitedly.

Jaygak reached over to ruffle his hair. “You should stay and explain to our sisters the significance of my gift to Great Urkina.”

“They understand.”

“They do not because it hasn’t been explained to them,” Jaygak said, brushing along the boy’s forehead, which was bare for now. “Can you do it?”

“I can do it!” Raygak assured, beaming up at his sister, seeing her in a new light.

Jaygak smiled even wider, basking in the look, before she turned and continue out of the estate. For a moment, she regretted passing her weapon, but eventually understood it was the right thing to do. Her tale was more than sufficient, and would soon be outmatched by the younger Gaks.

Mirot’s eyes fell upon her nephew, who fed his sister from his fingers. Then her eyes fell to Adam. “Jurot, Adam. You did well.”

Jurot bowed his head in return, and Mirot reached out to rub his head tenderly, before she reached up to Adam’s head. Adam paused for a moment, before bowing his head for the woman, allowing her to rub it.

‘Eh?’

The shared estates of the Iyr were made up of three rows of three estates, though only the three outer estates housed the Iyrmen. The central estate was different, due to it holding the estate of an Elder.

The Elder had pale skin, tinged with grey, dark eyes, and had long hair, also dark, with a pair of braids which fell in front of his shoulders. He wore a long fur cloak over his thick clothing, also dark. A greatsword lay near him, though it was more like a handle stuck within a slab of metal. However, perhaps his greatest weapon was the teen sitting beside him, with red skin and a pair of horns atop his head, who remained focused within his calculations.

“Are you still working our Churot too hard?” Jaygak asked.

“Churot works as hard as he wishes,” Zijin said, noting the look within Jaygak’s eyes. “Churot., you should go greet your cousins. I’m sure Adam wishes to spoil you.”

“Okay,” the boy replied, slipping a piece of paper into his book to mark the page for the Elder, before he hoisted himself up. “Welcome back, cousin Jaygak.”

Jaygak smiled, hugging him gently, resting her cheek atop his head. “Have you been well?”

“Yes.”

“If I had known that you were here, I would have called for you when I spoke the tale.”

“The story was good?”

“Yes.”

“Then it was good,” Churot stated, before walking away, stalked by another of the Elder’s aides.

Zijin leaned back in his chair, motioning a hand for Jaygak to sit opposite him. The table was covered in papers, the papers of the first month of dawnval, which were required to make sure the rest of the year remained smooth. ‘I did not expect us to have this conversation so soon.’