Adam glanced between the guards, Jurot, and Sir Landon. The group were drinking tea together, eating the snacks provided by the arena, various fruits cut small and fried dough snacks.

‘What is going on?’

Jurot spoke their tale, stating his personal involvement clearly, while vaguely brushing past Adam’s actions. He understood the game which was being played, and though it annoyed the captain, she couldn’t help but admire his audacity. Learning more about Jurot did end up telling her more about Adam too, since there seemed to be a deep connection between the pair.

“Are any of yours in the Hundred Iyrmen?” Clara asked.

“My grandfather is fighting in the war,” Jurot confirmed.

“The same grandfather you mentioned?”

“Yes.”

“He’s fighting in the war with one arm?”

“Yes.”

Clara blinked. ‘Iyrmen are crazy.’ “Is he strong?”

“Yes.”

“The old geezer’s pretty strong,” Adam confirmed. “He’s one of only two guys to beat me in the last few years. Him, and a… Demigod?” Adam looked to Jurot.

“Idol,” Jurot corrected.

“An Idol?” Clara squinted her eyes. She was sure she had heard the term before, but couldn’t quite recall it.

“Those greater than Paragons,” Jurot explained. “Such as the Golden Dragon which protects the capital, Lord Stokmar, and other Greater Dragons and Demigods which roam the land.”

“That guy was one hell of a monster,” Adam said, his voice low.

“He is stronger than even the previous King’s Sword,” Jurot said, crossing his arms as he tensed up. He recalled the flames which had engulfed him.

“Now, now, Iyrman, you can’t say that,” a guard said. “The Traitor King was the greatest King’s Sword to date, even if he’s currently rebelling.”

“Jurot would know, since the Traitor King used two Fourth Gate spells to defeat him,” Adam said, smirking slightly. “You can ask Sir Landon, since he was around at the time.”

Sir Landon nodded, confirming their words.

Jurot had merely stated he had the chance to spar with the King’s Sword, and said no more as he continued the topic. Yet, to think the King’s Sword had to use two Fourth Gate spells against him, it was unbelievable.

“A fellow stronger than even Sir Merryweather?” Clara asked.

“Yes.”

“His fire was so strong that it knocked me out in a single burst,” Adam stated, his face souring at the memory.

“Fire? They say the south is being protected by someone known as the Fire Lord.” Clara stared at the pair, wondering if they knew anything about the figure. From what she gathered, the figure may be the same.

“Shama’s father,” Jurot stated.

“Who is-,”

“What?” Adam interrupted the captain, his eyes snapping to Jurot. “He’s Shama’s dad?”

“Yes.”

“You’re talking about the old man from the village? The one you drew your axe against? Asa?” Adam asked. He remembered their first meeting. Though the old man seemed to be quite mysterious and dangerous, he had been rather nice to them. ‘He’s Shama’s dad?’

“Yes.”

Clara was annoyed by Adam’s interruption, but she was focused on Adam’s reaction. The Half Elf was completely tense, his eyes wide, as though he had just come across a banshee. Even when Clara had pinned a murder charge against him, Adam had been fairly relaxed, but upon mentioning both Shama and Asa, a shadow loomed over him.

“You didn’t tell me?”

“It was not important.”

“I could have asked him to beat Shama up for what he did to Lucy,” Adam said, trying to ease himself with the joke. His entire body was tense recalling the situation. He clenched his fists together, and the guards could feel the tension in the air rise.

Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

“Asa assists King Merryweather with his rebellion,” Jurot informed the group. “He has already killed hundreds of soldiers, and has heavily wounded more. He arrives at a camp in the night, and slaughters many warriors with his fire.”

“So he must be the one who killed the Knight of the East,” Clara said. “Who else could face against such a great warrior?”

“It is unlikely to be Asa.”

“How do you know?”

“Asa is too useful in keeping hundreds and thousands of soldiers at bay. He must be at least as strong as the great Golden Dragon, and can only be harmed by magical weapons, which the army does not possess in great number. Another great warrior would be sent to deal with the Knight of the East, for even the Knight of the East could barely cut such a great foe.”

“It certainly wasn’t Sir Merryweather, or the Knight of Flowers,” Clara retorted. “Sir Royce was also said to have been engaged elsewhere at the time.”

Jurot nodded, agreeing with her words. However, the shared glances stated that Jurot may have known more, but he wasn’t going to let it slip. Clara frowned, but understood not to press the Iyrman. The Iyr was fighting on their side, and if the great being was truly so great, then there was a high likelihood that the Iyr would be able to deal with it. When it came to dealing with singular great foes, the Iyr was as good as any of their orders in such matters.

‘No,’ Clara thought. ‘They are even greater than even the orders.’

“You think the old geezer will be okay?” Adam asked, thinking about Jarot. As much as Adam pretended not to like him, Jarot was someone who had stuck his neck out for his children. “If Asa is as strong as Shama, then even the old geezer is going to have trouble.” ‘Should I keep calling him that?’

‘The old geezer?’ Clara thought, wondering why Adam was referring to Jarot in such a way. ‘Is he not your grandfather?’

“Grandaunts have also gone to war,” Jurot said. “He will not fight Asa alone.”

‘Otkan and Gangak?’ Adam thought. ‘If Shaool was with them, I’d feel reassured.’ “Nothing bad can happen to him. I still need to tease him about Jirot and Jarot when he returns.”

Jurot’s lips twitched slightly. “Grandfather is hard to kill.”

“You don’t have to tell me. Why else would I-,” Adam said, before quickly stopping himself. He had almost let slip something important, the fact that he had made Phantom, and when he realised his mind could have been read, he played music within his mind, and then flashed lewd images just in case.

No one seemed to react.

“We apologise for taking up so much time, Sir Landon,” Clara said, finally. She was too busy thinking about all the information she had learnt from Adam and the others. She hadn’t expected to learn who the great Fire Lord was, nor the fact that Adam and Jurot had faced his son, a being even greater than their greatest warriors.

“I hope that my champions will not be bothered again by such frivolous statements,” Sir Landon replied.

“As long as he stays out of trouble, I’m sure he will no longer be bothered,” Clara replied.

Adam remained still, doing his best not to give anything away. ‘Looks like I’m going to get into more trouble soon.’

“We apologise for the inconvenience caused, Adam. It appears that you had little to do with the Aswadian’s murder, and I shall write as such. It was a pleasure to hear of your tales, and I wish you both the best of luck in the tournament.”

“I do not need luck,” Jurot said. “I am an Iyrman. I will earn my place with blood and steel.”

“Yeah, but I’m no Iyrman, so I’ll take it all.” Adam chuckled lightly. He wanted to ask more about the situation, but decided not to get into more trouble with his words. ‘I must be maturing if I am trying to stay out of trouble. Is this what being a father is like?’

“Iyrman,” Clara called as Jurot began to step out. “If Sir Merryweather and Sir Royce faced Asa together, could they win?”

“No,” Jurot replied, almost instantly. He remained at the doorway for a short while, and when Clara bowed her head, he stepped out.

“How strong is Asa anyhow?” Adam asked.

“If grandfather and the Chief fought alongside King Merryweather and Sir Royce, I would not bet on them still,” Jurot said.

“He’s that strong?”

“We should consider he is as powerful as the Great Jaeryael at least,” Jurot said. “Even if all the Great Elders came together, their chances would be low.”

“Damn,” Adam whispered. “There really are mountains beyond mountains.”

Jurot nodded. Though Adam’s statements were weird, they did make some sense to the Iyrman.

As they stepped up to the nearby room, Adam paused. He recalled something he had been told earlier in the year. “Is it true that Lord Stokmar made half of all the mountains in Aswadasad?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

“Yes.”

“Okay?” Kitool asked as the pair stepped inside.

“Okay,” Jurot replied.

“Where are Nobby and the others?” Adam asked.

“They went to fight.”

“Ah! Did you bet on my behalf?”

“We did,” Vonda assured.

“Phew.”

“Did you kill the man?” Vonda asked.

Adam frowned. “No.”

Vonda bowed her head. “I knew you had not, but I wished to hear you say it.”

“I don’t feel comfortable killing people around you,” Adam said. “I barely feel comfortable killing animals.”

Vonda continued to smile towards the Half Elf, though her face was covered by her scarf.

“Let’s hope I don’t get into any more trouble,” Adam said. The group made their way up to the first floor in order to watch the fights, while Jurot and the others went to the walls for their fights.

“Did they ask you many questions?” Vonda asked.

“Yeah. It was really weird. They accused me of murder, and pretty quickly Sir Landon dealt with it. Then we started talking about my story.”

Vonda understood it must have been because of that. Some noble or another may have tried to embarrass Adam, but it was more than likely to try and gain more information about him.

Eventually, it was time for the older Iyrmen to fight.

“Sponsored by Marquis Logan Bluewater, the young knight groomed by the late, great Knight of the East, Sir Devon Clearsea!”

‘What’s with all these names being based on water and the sea?’

“Sponsored by Sir Landon Littlesea, the Iyrman with skin of steel, Chief Executive Officer Jurot!”

“Oh!” Adam stood up. “Let’s go! Woo! Jurot!”

“Sir Devon Clearsea is the nephew of the now deceased Knight of the East,” Vonda said.

“Is he strong?”

“He is,” Vonda said, noting the prying ears on their conversation. She decided against adding more, not wanting to draw more attention to them.

“I’m still betting gold on Jurot, though,” Adam said.