Omen: 12, 15

“Oo,” Jirot said, looking up towards the Elder.

“Good morning,” Zijin said, reaching down to rub her head. The girl swiftly crawled away from the Elder towards her nana, who lifted her up.

Adam smiled wide towards the Elder.

“What?” Zijin asked.

“I definitely didn’t do something wrong this time.”

“That would have been taken into consideration,” Zijin replied, simply.

Adam frowned.

Zijin made his rounds, greeting the adults and the children, checking up on the estates to see if they needed repairs with his own eyes, before he motioned his head towards Adam.

Adam followed him, bringing along his twins. “They should explore the Iyr now and again with their father.”

Zijin was going to make tea, but decided against having boiling liquid near the grasp of the tiny pair, whose eyes were exploring the Elder’s estate.

The silence was killing Adam like a slow poison. “Hey, Elder Zijin. Should I know why the Iyr’s so different now?”

“The Iyr is on high alert for the next year,” Zijin replied.

“Should I ask why?”

“Two Great Elders are missing for the year,” Zijin said, simply. “Since one of them is Elder Peace, it is awkward for the Iyr, as we will be unable to call for a war immediately.”

‘So Elder Peace, and Elder Wrath?’ Adam thought. ‘She’s probably gone for a year to do something with Strom? Then Elder Wrath is probably gone for the war? Will it only last for a year, then?’

Zijin wondered if he should correct the thoughts on Adam’s face, but decided against it. He had already given Adam too much information, and it wouldn’t do for the Elder to spill all their secrets to the Half Elf.

“Whose the strongest Great Elder anyway?” Adam asked. If Elder Peace and Elder Wrath were gone, it meant that two of the Iyr’s greatest were indisposed. ‘Didn’t they say there were at least ten Paragons? So with the Great Elders, that would mean there are roughly twenty Paragons?’

Elder Zijin smiled, still refusing to let slip who the strongest Great Elder was.

“So the reason why the Iyr changed was because Strom died?” Adam thought. ‘Elder Peace’s departure meant that they had to close their gates to protect themselves? Elder Wrath’s departure probably wasn’t taken into consideration at the time, meaning they’re weaker than before…’

“Yes.”

“Damn. Just one guy can cause that much…” Adam noted Elder Zijin’s look and decided against finishing his sentence. “Are you sure you should be revealing this kind of information to me?”

“The Iyr has gathered at least two hundred Grandmasters and several Great Elders to deal with an issue because it needed to,” Zijin said. “Consider it a threat in case you step out of line.”

“I’m not that stupid.”

Zijin smiled. “Perhaps it was to put you at ease, so you can rest easy knowing that your children will be safe within these walls.”

“You know, Elder Zijin, you ain’t so bad.”

Elder Zijin smiled, wondering if he should continue trusting Adam with more. ‘No. There is only so much I can do.’ “I have spoken you today to speak of such matters because I trust you this much.”

“You trust me?” Surprise flashed across Adam’s face, who hadn’t expect any trust from the Elder. Considering all they knew of Adam, even Adam wouldn’t trust himself.

“You have given your trust to us, Adam. All those who know you, know how much you care for your children. You have allowed them to join the Rot family as Nieces and Nephews. I know there was trouble in doing so. If there are Iyrmen who do not obey the rules, even if they are the Family Head or Family Elder, you may speak with me.”

“Isn’t this a matter of the Rot family?”

“Yes, but there are rules every Iyrman must follow, even at the level of the individual. To accept your children based on whether or not they held your blood, or due to their race, it is not done.” Elder Zijin’s voice was firm in this regard. However, it was difficult if Adam did not request his assistance.

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“Well, I don’t know anything about that sort of thing…”

“There can be no misunderstandings in such matters,” Zijin said, firmly. “We are not Aldish. We are Iyrmen. We Iyrmen were once only Humans. Then came we, the Horcs, Half Orcs. Then, as you know, by Jarot’s virtue, Devilkin became Iyrmen. The rules have been put in place since the foundation of the Iyr, before even the time of Horcs, and such rules can never be broken, not unless it is to admit that we are no longer Iyrmen.”

Adam could hear the underlying anger within the Elder’s voice, and the shame which filled it.

Zijin sighed. “Your relationship is peculiar within the Iyr. You are a Nephew, and your children have been adopted in the same manner, rather than as true Iyrmen. Yet, you are a brother to an Iyrman, and they treat you well, better than just a Nephew, different than a true Iyrman, and yet similar in so many ways. Even I am uncertain of what our relationship is, Adam.”

“Right, it is a little awkward,” Adam admitted. It wasn’t that he wasn’t sure, it was that everyone wasn’t sure of their relationship.

“I ask that you allow us to make mistakes in regards to our relationship.”

“Sure, but what about when I make mistakes,” Adam asked. “The mistake was rather egregious, but what about when I do something that bad too?”

“It is hard to forget your deeds when your family recites them any time you leave,” Zijin said. “It would be difficult to press you when you have done so much.”

Adam frowned slightly. “So what’s the limit?”

“Do not threaten the Iyr,” Zijin said. “Anything else will be discussed between the Great Elders, and I will speak on your behalf.”

Adam remained silent for a short while, thinking about what he could say. He decided to censor himself. “Alright.”

“You are a great young man, Adam. You have already accomplished so much. You are an Expert, but can defeat Masters and Grandmasters. You have slain two Dragons, and have defeated a Prince of the Fire Giants in single combat. You, who could make thousands of gold monthly, have no need to ever step foot outside the Iyr. Yet, I do not know your goal, Adam. What is it that you dream of? Do you intend to become an Iyrman?”

Adam didn’t expect an onslaught of questions from the Elder, whose eyes stared down at the Half Elf with no emotion. “In terms of becoming an Iyrman, I’m not sure. Most likely not. I’m different, too different. There are things I can do and things I can’t do, and some of those things follow along the Iyr’s beliefs, and others which don’t.”

Zijin bowed his head.

“In terms of my goals and dreams…” Adam lifted up his children, kissing their foreheads, while they looked up at him and giggled. They bounced on Adam’s lap, throwing their hands about. “It’s more than just being a great father. Don’t take this the wrong way, Elder, but I want to create a small version of the Iyr. It will be a place with similar rules to the Iyr, and though it won’t be at the same scale of the Iyr, I…” Adam paused for a moment. “I want to create something which will assist the Iyr against a great foe.”

“A great foe?”

“A foe so terrible that, even after witnessing the greatness of the Iyr, and even if you were as twice as powerful as I imagine you to be, I can’t help but still fear it.”

“Is there such a foe?” Zijin’s eyes remained emotionless, but his mind thought back to the Chief, who must have known about this great foe.

“I’ve seen it, Elder.” He stared past the Elder, looking to his previous life. Flashes of the creature came to his mind, and the fight in which he had seen, between the other Brit and the Eldritch horror. “I pray it never comes, but, knowing who and what I am, that’s just wishful thinking.”

Elder Zijin remained silent. He was confident in the Iyr, to the point of even slaying God. Even Adam dared to speak so easily of the Gods, and yet even he paused for thought at a threat?

“Of course, I don’t think my goal can come true. An army of Paragons? Only the Iyr can manifest such a thing, not me. Still, a small unit of Paragons. A business which will shake the foundation of the world, with weapons and armours which will be simple and effective. That will be used to bankroll my goal, my dream.”

Zijin was glad that Adam understood how terrifying his goals seemed to be, it meant that his actions were not quite so thoughtless, and there was a strange comfort in that.

“Oiyoyoyoyo,” Jirot said, reaching up with her hands to catch a small butterfly that passed her by.

“Right, and then there’s putting my children through university,” Adam said, winking at the Elder.

Zijin remained silent, deep in thought. “Are you still willing to give up time with your children to grow stronger?”

“I don’t want to miss too much of their time when they’re young, but… I think I have to. I’ve got some porters and farmers who are waiting for me.”

“The land will remain chaotic for some time. Aswadasad and Aldland has broken in two, and it is unknown of what the next year will bring to this land.”

“Right, Sir, uh, King Merryweather? He’s declared independence or something?”

“The King of Aldland tried to break the treaty with Aswadasad, and…” Zijin wasn’t sure if he should say more. “An unfortunate streak of misfortune occurred in the past month, and King Merryweather has raised up arms against King Blackwater. It appears to be the case that he has killed the previous Duchess, and he intends on creating a separate Kingdom through the war.”

“What has the world come to?” Adam asked. ‘Misfortune, eh? Is it because of me? Is that why Strom asked me not to…’ Adam rubbed his children’s cheeks. ‘Who am I kidding? Am I really that egotistical to think everything is because of me?’

Elder Zijin, too, thought about how much connection Adam had with the events which had passed. The Iyr had managed to connect him to the events due to his ability to shift Fate, but if Adam truly had such great abilities, then he would be considered the most dangerous individual in the land, perhaps the world.

“Who do you think will win?”

“The forces of Aldland are not to be underestimated,” Zijin stated, firmly. “The King has raised more than thirty thousand soldiers, but another one hundred thousand soldiers will be raised, though their quality will be lacking. With the Orders, we Iyrmen, and greater numbers, it will be difficult for the south to win an aggressive war, and a defensive have been difficult, but…”

“But?”

“The two greatest Knights are within the south, and most of the soldiers within the south are more experienced, save for those in the north, and there is a great being who has recently joined the south.”

“A great being?” Adam asked, for a moment thinking it had arrived.

Zijin smile, easing Adam’s worries. “A great being who even Lord Stokmar would think twice before fighting.”

‘Yo, what?’