“You know of me?”

“Who does not know of the Seven Hopes?” Jurot asked, ignoring how Adam had glanced away awkwardly.

Thomas remained silent for a moment before taking his place opposite the Iyrman, surrounded by Iyrmen. “You keep interesting company.”

“My brother attracts much fun and glory.”

“Your brother?”

“Adam,” Jurot said, motioning his head to the young half elf.

“A fae brother?”

“Only half,” Adam replied.

“You do not have a tattoo.”

“We are brothers, but I am no Iyrman.”

“Is such a thing possible?”

“Apparently so.”

“The customs of the Iyr are so… queer,” Hope Thomas said, his voice cautious.

Adam smirked slightly. “That they are. To think a group of…” Adam stared at Jurot. “Those who are so eager for death are also so eager to protect life.”

“The Iyr protects life?” Hope Thomas’ tone was obviously derisive.

“The Iyr watches over my children with such fervour,” Adam replied. “My sweet, adorable children…” Adam crossed his arms, inhaling deeply.

Jaygak understood what Adam was doing. In order to keep himself from doing something stupid, he needed to be stupid in another way.

“You have children?” Thomas asked. “Who remain within the Iyr?”

“That’s right. They stay with their family. Their babo is probably playing with them right now. I’m sure Jirot is bullying him as we speak. Ha! What is she doing? She should be bullying her father right now!”

‘…’ Thomas stared at Adam with a peculiar gaze, unsure of what the young man was doing. He then glanced around to see how the others seemed to be ignoring the half elf at the moment, even the demons.

“It is such a grand temple,” Kitool said. “I came here when I was a girl, but I do not recall it.”

“We have always welcomed the Iyr within our temple.” Thomas glanced to the children to the side. “They do not seem like Iyrmen children.”

“They are not,” Kitool confirmed.

“Why is it that you have so many children with you?”

“They are future members of our business.”

“Which business is that?”

“The United Kindom.”

“An Iyrman business?”

“We work closely with the business, but it is not a business of the Iyr.”

“What kind of business is this business?”

“We deal with magical items.”

“Magical items?”

“We trade magical items.”

‘They trade magical items?’ Thomas thought.

“Oh!” Adam said. “Wait, is this the place which asked us for that mace?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied.

“Oh, that makes so much sense,” Adam whispered. “What about the eg-,”

“Adam,” Jurot interrupted quickly.

“Did you assist in retrieving the artefact?” Thomas asked, realising what they were talking about.

“Yes,” Jurot replied.

“Thank you for your assistance in that matter,” Thomas said. “Though we ask that you keep such a task a secret.”

“Everyone here knows,” Adam said.

“There are some who do not,” Thomas said, looking to the demons.

“They were there too,” Adam replied. “At least, Lucy was, I’m not so sure about Mara.”

“Lucy and Mara…” Thomas eyed up the demons, who remained silent, with one who glared at him, the other trying to avoid his gaze.

“Is there some kind of connection between Baktu and Mother Soza?” Adam asked.

“Baktu is the son of Mahtu,” Jurot replied.

“Yeah, I know, I meant because of the-,”

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“Adam,” Jurot said once more.

“Ah, right, my bad.” Adam flushed, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

“Who is Mahtu?” Thomas asked.

“Mother Soza.”

“Mother Soza is Mother Soza, Iyrman.”

“Baktu is just their way of saying Lord Sozain, and Mahtu is their way of saying Mother Soza, basically,” Adam explained.

“It is a lie the Iyr speak to appear as though they are Aldish, but their Lords are not the same as our Divine.”

Adam let out a surprised chortle. “Well, I’m not sure how right that is. The Iyrmen don’t lie, and they certainly don’t want to appear to be Aldish. They’re different.”

“Yes,” Jurot replied. “We would not wish to be Aldish.”

“I shudder at the thought!” Jaygak said, elbowing Lucy gently from beside her, though the demon remained silent, trying to make herself appear even smaller.

“You Iyrmen, you gain your strength in such wicked manners,” Thomas said, shaking his head lightly. “I will pray you will one day see the Mother’s light.”

“Wicked manners?” Adam asked.

“Sacrifices of blood and death.”

“Isn’t that how everyone grows more powerful?” Adam asked. “I have no doubt the Aldish go around killing all kinds of things to gain strength. I know that in the south, uh, Floria, they have trained themselves against the Aswadians, while the Aswadians have trained against them.”

“The Iyr’s ways are far more like the tribesfolk than like us Aldishmen.”

“Thank Baktu for that,” Adam replied. “Had they been Aldishmen, I would have been killed already, and my children probably wouldn’t have been looked after quite as well.”

“You have quite the negative opinion of our people.”

“Not all of them,” Adam said. “I mean, I’ve surrounded myself with decent Aldishmen. Farmers, porters, decent folk. Then, of course, Sister Vonda, who is no doubt the best of all the…” Adam wasn’t sure how to refer to her as. “She was a noble who was more than tolerable within our motley crew.”

“Sister Vonda is a Sister before she is a noble.”

“Which is why we like her so much.”

Thomas wondered why Adam was trying to pick a fight with them. “Your adoration of Sister Vonda is appreciated, but you should keep it appropriate.”

“My adoration for Sister Vonda is the source of my respect for the Order of Life’s Rose,” Adam replied, staring at the Hope. “Speaking of which, which of the Seven Hopes are you?”

“I am the Seventh Hope.”

“The youngest of all the Hopes?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Thomas replied, his voice growing slightly more stern.

“So the Hopes are ordered by age?”

“Age and ability.”

“Ah,” Adam replied. ‘So he’s the weakest?’ He gained a vague sense that he had been told this only moments ago. “How strong are you?”

“I took my vows when I became what the people refer to as a Master.”

“Oh!” Adam eyed him up. “That’s rather impressive, a Master in your twenties.”

“Thirties.”

“Wow, you do not look thirty!” Adam replied, noting how young Thomas appeared. Then he noted the glare in Thomas’ eyes. “I mean it genuinely.”

“I am sure you do.”

‘Why does everyone always take what I say in the worst way possible?’ Adam pulled back slightly.

“You are powerful,” Jurot said. “I would wish to face you.”

“I have no need to prove my strength against Iyrmen,” Thomas replied.

“You were talking so much smack, but now you’re pulling back?” Adam asked.

“Talking so much smack?”

“It means you were speaking so poorly of the Iyrmen, but now that you’ve been challenged, you’ve decided to step back.”

“I have no need to prove myself to you or the Iyrmen. Mother Soza knows of my faith and capabilities.”

“Right, right,” Adam replied, barely able to contain his eye roll.

“I would like to see my brother face against you if I cannot,” Jurot said.

“Right, I’m not an Iyrman, so you don’t have to be so afraid of me,” Adam teased, before Jaygak kicked him gently. “I mean, uh, it would be so great if we could spar so that I could, uh, you know, because I’m a Priest of Death and you’re the Seventh Hope, it would be my honour.”

“I am a Hope of Life’s Rose, it is not becoming of me to beat any man or woman who wishes to be beaten within the temple.”

“I’m just curious, since I know the quality of warriors is different depending on the order, and even the Iyr has great respect for your order. I want to know how strong I am in comparison.” Adam was fairly certain he hadn’t faced anyone high quality yet. Adventurers and such, sure, but a Hope? That was completely different, wasn’t it?

“You would win,” Jurot said.

“I would?” Adam replied.

“I would bet on it.”

“What are you speaking of?” Thomas asked Jurot, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Your brother could defeat me?”

“Yes.”

Thomas looked to Adam, eyeing him up. “The lies of the Iyrmen are few and far between, but it is a myth they do not lie. Various myths have already been dispelled recently. From the lies of claiming the Awakened Forest to the south, to their inability to assist in the wars, the statue known as the Iyr is beginning to crumble. Once it crumbles, we will welcome you with open eyes.”

“What did you say about the Awakened Forest?” Adam asked.

“The Awakened Forest in the south,” Thomas replied. “It was three years ago, the Awakened Forest formed in the south. Duke Lionheart claimed it, but the Iyr forced their way with the threat of death. The Duke did not wish to risk the lives of the innocent Aldish souls, and so retreated. He is most noble, as one might expect.”

“Oh?” Adam asked, smirking wide. “Duke Lionheart claimed it? You’re certain?”

“It is widely known.”

“I don’t recall seeing you in the forest,” Adam replied.

Thomas narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“What I mean is, when the forest threatened to swallow my brother and I whole, I could only wish for the Seventh Hope to be there to protect us,” Adam replied, keeping the young man’s gaze. “I recall the Aswadians had also tried to claim the Awakened Forest as their own, but they weren’t smart enough to back off. They even tried to shoot us, but thankfully Elder Peace was there, otherwise I’d have a crossbow through my throat.”

“You mean to say you were there?”

“I mean to say it was my brother who claimed it,” Adam said. “I watched him claim it.”

“Of course, any braggart can say such things.”

“Well, I might be a braggart, but can’t you confirm it? I’m sure you have the ability to cast a spell to see if I’m telling the truth or not.”

“To use the Mother’s grace for such a trivial affair would be a dishonour.”

“Right, right, it’s a shame to use the Mother’s grace for the truth, especially when you’ve realised you’ve been speaking misconceptions about a matter to the people who were there.” Adam raised his brow. “Then you spoke of how the Iyrmen were not able to assist in the wars? Last I recalled, it wasn’t under the command of an Iyrman that three hundred Aldish lives were wasted, something which I thought would bother you, since you worship the Goddess of Life.”

“It was certainly a tragedy, and I prayed for the lives lost during the massacre,” he said, his eyes falling upon Adam once more, and then his ears, before he continued. “I mean to only speak of their inability to assist during the civil war.”

“Last I recalled,” Adam continued, his lips forming a smirk, “during the civil war, the Iyrman unit was the one which had the best results.”

Jurot nodded. “Over three thousand Aldish dead, only four Iyrmen were killed.”

“The Iyrmen were not a part of the main fighting force,” Thomas replied. “The so called courage of the Iyrmen is to remain hiding within the fort.”

“Hey,” Adam snapped, his eyes glaring at the Hope, whose lips had formed the smallest smirk. “You have no right to speak so ill of those Iyrmen.”

“Those Iyrmen, elderly and crippled, were but a hindrance on the battlefield.”

Adam grit his teeth, clenching his fist, his eyes full of fury. ‘You damn son of a bitch!’ “You have no-,”

Adam felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned, seeing the redness which had engulfed his brother.