Omen: 7, 12

“Cousin Adam, you must play with us today,” Katool demanded, pointing up at him.

Adam blinked, staring down at the girl. His entire body tensed up as she stared up at him with a look of annoyance. “Kitool, your sister is terrifying,” Adam whispered.

Kitool decided against responding to Adam, understanding where this was going, and not wanting to humour him.

“Her cuteness is terrifying.”

Kitool nodded, though she had not needed to be told about such matters.

“Cousin Adam, you must play with us today!” Turot declared, also pointing up at him, puffing out his cheeks.

“Why?”

“You are Cousin Adam,” the boy said, staring up at the Half Elf with Iyrman conviction.

Adam narrowed his eyes, his brows furrowed in thought. “That does make sense. I suppose I should, then.”

Turot nodded, and Katool smiled. Adam joined the children, who led him around the Iyr. There were a few Iyrmen who looked his way, noting that he wasn’t an Iyrman, and yet he was walking around with a bunch of the Iyr’s children. However, seeing the axe at his side, the symbol of the Rot family, his leaf shaped ears, and the fact he was walking alongside Turot, they put the pieces together and left him be, though still kept an eye on him.

Adam tossed a snowball towards Katool, who ducked just in time, though she hadn’t needed to, before Taygak managed to strike his side with a snowball. Adam fell, and Taygak hollered in excitement, before she was struck by Saygak. Taygak fell, and Saygak smiled, with a snowball swooshing past his head, hitting the ground. He turned, finding Raygak stuck in shock, for he had snuck up on his cousin with ease, and had the most perfect shock.

“This is not right!” Raygak shouted, before he was pelted by a snowball from Turot.

The group eventually found their way to a stall to eat, eating fried pastries, some of which were full of cheese, which oozed out as they bit into the flaky crust.

‘Man, what I would do for a cheese and onion bake from big G right now,’ Adam thought, though he thoroughly enjoyed the pastry.

“Adam, come,” Taygak said, motioning with her hand before leading the children, and Adam, away. She made her way towards the sound of fighting, and there they found Jaygak, adorned in armour, swinging a blade as she warmed up her body.

“Cousin Jaygak, we come,” Taygak said, throwing out her arm to reveal the rest of the children.

“Have you all come to watch me fight?” Jaygak asked, smiling at the group.

“Yes,” the children replied.

“Then I can’t lose,” Jaygak said, ruffling the children’s hair. “Have you come to bet?”

“Sure. A hundred gold?”

“On me winning or losing?”

“I won’t bet against you, Jaygak,” Adam assured.

“Right,” Jaygak replied, her voice full of doubt.

“I can’t believe you would say that after all we’ve been through,” Adam said, pouting.

“I do not have Stormdrake.”

“Oh…” Adam fell silent for a moment. “Then maybe I should bet against you.”

Before Jaygak could annoy Adam, she was called to fight. She waved a hand at the children before marching her way to the stage, under the thunderous applause of the nearby Iyrmen. Opposite her was an older, taller Iyrman, who wore no armour and carried a large greatsword.

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‘Damn,’ Adam thought. ‘This is going to be rough for Jaygak.’

The fight went as Adam expected. Jaygak leapt into the fray with a roar, clashing for a moment with her opponent. The young Devilkin Iyrman tossed out her fire magic, which almost reached the audience, causing them to cheer, before the greatsword fell against her, causing her to take a knee under its might. Several more exchanges, and Jaygak surrendered, panting heavily. Her opponent had lost the first two exchanges, but the next few, he had made it up.

“You have fought well,” the Iyrman said, shaking her forearm.

“You as well,” Jaygak replied, before stumbling towards the children.

They smiled up at her eagerly, and pat her armour. The other children nearby also did the same, giving her all kinds of praise.

Jaygak sat down beside Adam, frowning. “If I had Stormdrake, I would have won…”

“Right, right,” Adam said, patting her back.

Jaygak sighed, ignoring the gaze of her younger brother against her back. “Adam,” she whispered. “I want to be stronger. I don’t want to lose in front of Raygak…”

Adam placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. There’s no shame in losing for an Iyrman.”

“I don’t want to hear that from you!” Jaygak growled, quietly. “You don’t want to lose in front of Lanarot or your children!”

“Raygak will always be proud of his older sister because she’s an Iyrman,” Adam said. “What do I have, Jaygak?”

“Smithing. Alchemy. Enchanting. Expert in both blade and magic…” Jaygak narrowed her eyes.

Adam coughed. “Yes, but…” ‘That’s a good point, I do have a lot of…’ “I don’t have horns?”

Jaygak sighed, sitting up taller. “That’s true. If only you had horns, I’d have tried to seduce you into my family.” She had already refused when her Family Elder, Gangak tried to bring the topic up.

“What a shame,” Adam stated, his voice heavy with British sarcasm. “At least my children have horns.”

Jaygak nodded, before forming a thought within her mind. It started off a spark and turned into an ember. ‘Two girls. They both have horns…’ She looked to Raygak, realising that they weren’t too far away in age. ‘No, he’s too stupid.’ Her eyes fell to Saygak.

“Jaygak, are you thinking something stupid?” Adam asked.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re right, what am I saying?” Adam said, nodding his head. “You’re always thinking something stupid.”

Jaygak tensed up for a moment, ready to strike him. ‘No, I’m not Lucy.’ Not being able to do anything to him did stir up her nerves. ‘I’ll slip a pepper into his soup.’

“Why don’t you come with us and play?” Adam asked.

“I just want to drown my sorrows in pizza and wine,” Jaygak replied, sniffling.

“Sounds like a plan!”

Taygak led them to an Iyrman who was baking pizza, the children each grabbing a slice, while Adam and Jaygak went to find a drink for themselves. They quickly reconvened, with Taygak carrying a small basket full of extra slices.

“Wasn’t your big sister so amazing?” Adam asked, sipping his wine. “She almost won against such a strong, older Iyrman!”

“That is right!” Raygak declared, chewing his slice. “Sister is so strong.”

“Jaygak, strong,” Taygak said, nodding her head.

Saygak held up a slice of pizza for her as she sipped her wine, nodding his head.

Jaygak looked down at all the children who were pampering her, before she wrapped her arms around them, feeling her heart stir. “Why are you all so cute? My cousins are the cutest!” It was then it struck her heart, the reason why the Iyrmen spill blood.

Iyrheart.

“I’ll become strong! So strong that you can tell everyone how amazing your big sister is!” Jaygak declared.

“My sister is so strong!” Raygak shouted, before biting his pizza angrily.

“Strong!” Katool shouted, with the other children all shouting, causing the other Iyrmen nearby to glance their way.

Adam laughed, chuckling lightly, before trying to hush the children gently.

“It seems you have awoken Jaygak,” called a familiar voice.

Adam jolted up, looking back to see Sarot, who was standing tall behind the Half Elf. “What’s with you Iyrmen? Every time…”

Sarot looked down to Adam, before motioning with his head. “Come, Adam. We must talk.”

Adam pat his chest, trying to calm his heart, following the old Iyrman away. They stepped out to a corner, where they were mostly alone, as alone as anyone could be within the Iyr.

‘Is this guy going to stab me?’

Sarot turned, causing Adam to jump, reaching for his chest once more. “Adam?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry,” Adam said, clearing his throat.

Sarot had many questions for the Half Elf, though he wasn’t sure which he should ask. “Why did you give Jaygak such a great weapon?”

“I’ve been asked this question a lot,” Adam said, smiling. “She’s my friend.”

“That is all?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you not wish to hand it down to Lanarot?” Sarot asked. “It is such a great weapon, one which even the Iyr covets.”

“Lanarot?” Adam asked, raising his brow towards the old Iyrman. “Lanarot? A sword? How could you suggest such a thing. Just because I’m her brother, that doesn’t make her any less of a Rot.”

‘How did he turn this back to me?’ Sarot thought, sighing. His eyes remained on the Half Elf, whose brows were furrowed, obviously offended by such a question. Sarot knew this would be one of the last times he would meet with Adam.

“Good,” Sarot said, nodding his head. “You are a Nephew of the Rot family.” He placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, squeezed it, and left.

Adam blinked, turning to watch the old Iyrman leave, wondering what had happened.

‘He is certainly brother’s grandson,’ Sarot thought.