“I don’t like it here.”

“Really? I thought you were having a ball of a time,” Adam replied, chuckling lightly.

“The Iyrmen… they’re scary.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’d think so, considering you got choked out when you appeared.”

She reached up to rub her neck gently, recalling the first time she was in this world. “I want to leave.”

Adam let out a soft sigh. He glanced around in her cabin, before pouring in some water into a set of cups, cooling and flavouring the liquid with his Tricks, before placing a cup in front of her. He accepted his thoughts and let them flow out of his mind, like a river parting around a rock. He inhaled deeply before letting out a long sigh.

“I can’t?”

Adam shook his head. “No.”

“…”

“I understand why you don’t want to stay here.”

“You can’t.”

“Really?”

“This place is your home, but it’s not mine.”

“Is this place my home?”

“You’re not an Iyrman, but you’re an Iyrman’s brother.”

“You got that much right. I think this place is my home. I think so. I don’t know, though. This place welcomes me, and I feel like it’s my home, but I have my doubts.”

“I didn’t have much, and now I don’t even have my world. It’s gone. The food here tastes different. It’s not the same. I lost everything.”

Adam slowly nodded his head as she spoke. “Of all the people in the world who understand, I’m the one who understands that.

“…”

“Difference is…” Adam thought for a long moment. ‘I probably shouldn’t tell her, but…’ “I died.”

“What?”

“That’s the difference between you and me.”

“…”

Adam sipped his cup of water, which he had flavoured. “Do you know what this tastes like?”

“It tastes sweet.”

“It tastes like my childhood. I used to drink so much of this mango juice when I was a kid. They’d come in this blue carton, and they had a white lid you’d need to twist. I think at some point they changed it from something else, this little lid you forced down, but I remember later that they had this top you had to twist. They probably changed the recipe for it too, but I don’t remember it exactly.” Adam sipped the water slowly. “I can only drink it like this, but… I’m not sure if it’s exactly the taste within my memories. A facsimile, if I’m being fancy.”

The girl had no idea what the word meant, but she listened intently to Adam’s words.

“The Iyr is scary. It’s scarier to people who know too much. You and I? We know too much. I’m trapped here, like you. I know a lot about the Iyr, too much. I know a lot about other things which the Iyr are interested in, some things they’re interested in to keep out of this world. In all fairness, they should have killed me a long time ago.”

Kiara frowned. She glanced down towards the water which tasted so sweet. She gathered he was a noble from how delicious this drink was. If he had this even once a month, he was probably someone from a wealthy family. Except, the way he spoke was far too casual.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“It sucks, I know. However, the difference between you and I is that I have a family here, and you don’t.”

Kiara pulled back slightly from Adam, her eyes growing wide.

“Relax, you’re too young for me,” Adam replied, feeling his cheeks fill with redness. “It’s not time for my marriage arc just yet.”

Kiara continued to stare at him suspiciously, wondering if she made a mistake for telling the Iyrmen to leave.

“I’m going to give you some unsolicited advice. Stay here. Work for the business as an enchanter. You don’t have to work a lot, but do something so you don’t feel bored. Cultivate a few hobbies. Find a nice Iyr lad or lass, get married, and just live a great life in the Iyr. You’ll live a better life than millions of people even across Aldland, never mind the rest of the world. If the Iyr ever bothers you, you come to me and I’ll deal with it.”

“You want to sell me off to the Iyr?”

“I’m not selling you off, I’m just telling you the easiest life that you can live without worries. Anything beyond that, you’re probably going to end up dead, and probably me too. No offence, but I don’t want to die for you. I’ve got way too many kids to watch over for me to prioritise you over them. I made a promise, but I’ve made more promises to my kids.”

Kiara remained silent for a long while. Adam continued to sip his water, offering her some more water and flavouring it once more.

“I really can’t leave?”

“Not for now. Perhaps in the future that could change.”

“It’s scary here.”

“It’s scarier outside, so much scarier.”

“Why do you leave?”

“I’ve got work to do.”

“You can’t stay here and enchant?”

“I’m not publicly known as an enchanter. I’m Adam, a fool of a father, and someone who causes nobles all kinds of trouble, and a warrior with magic who can beat up quite a lot of powerful figures with enough luck. Unfortunately, I need to grow stronger. The Iyr is great and all, but I need to be stronger to deal with the threats I’ll need to face.”

“What kind of threats.”

“You don’t have to worry about them.”

“I’m not a child.”

“To me, you are. Once you turn eighteen, we can have another conversation, but until then, I’m telling you to stay in the Iyr and keep a low profile. As much as I want to tell you more, there’s no need. If I tell you, you’ll be in greater danger, and that’s antithetical to my role as your protector.”

“Sometimes they let me sit and speak with the people, but I don’t want to go around to too many people.”

“We can house you in the extended family estate of the Rot family, there you’ll be alright.”

“Do you stay there?”

“No, but…” Adam rubbed his forehead. “Sure. I guess you can stay in the shared family estate.” ‘I can’t be too paranoid. She probably just wants to be around the people she’s familiar with. It must have been pretty scary.’

Kiara remained silent as she thought on Adam’s words.

“Do you feel annoyed?”

“No…”

“It’s okay if you feel annoyed. Just be thankful you’re dealing with me and the Iyr, and not the stupid nobles of this land. Do you know how much they annoy me? You can’t even imagine.” Adam let out a sharp sigh. “Anyway, it’s okay if you resent me a little. In a few years time, I’ll be a lot less patronising, and maybe we can do something else for you. I’m still pretty weak, and I don’t have much influence, so I can’t do anything for you.”

“Okay…”

Adam shrugged his shoulders. “Did you make any friends while I’ve been gone?”

“No…”

“I’m sure we can get you some friends. Is there anything else you want to speak to me about while we’re alone?”

“No.”

“Alright. Come on, let’s introduce you to everyone properly.” Adam stood, finishing the rest of his water, before cleaning the cups with his Tricks.

“Where are you going?” the aide asked, stopping Adam and Kiara.

“We’re going to the shared estate.”

An awkward silence fell through them. “You should meet with the Elder first.”

“Sure.” Adam followed the aide towards the Elder’s central estate, where Churot sat, perusing through the books. “You cooking the books, Churot?”

“You do not cook books, cousin Adam.”

“That’s right.” Adam walked over to ruffle his hair. “They’re already getting you to work?”

“Only a little.”

“Elder Zijin, how did you manage to sneak Churot away? Was the old man distracted by my daughter bullying him?”

“Are there other ways to distract him?” the Elder joked, a small smile across his face. “Are you here to ask for the young lady to stay at the shared family estate?”

“How did you know?”

“I have been tasked with watching over you. If I did not know that much, they would no longer have such faith in me.”

“Well… yeah, alright, fair. Is that okay?”

“You will need to ask Sonarot and the others. If they accept, I will not refuse their words.”

“Thanks.”

Konarot charged towards her father as he stepped through the entrance, the girl hugging his legs while Kirot and Karot followed after her.

“Did you miss me?” Adam brushed their hair.

“Yes.”

“It was only a few minutes.” Adam smiled, lifting up his daughter, allowing her to wrap herself around his torso before he lifted Kirot and Karot, waddling his way inside. “Aunt.”

“Adam.”

“Kiara was feeling a little lonely, and we thought it would be a good idea for her to stay here, in the shared estate.”

Sonarot glanced towards the young woman with silver hair and silver eyes. She knew Crowseer had something to do with her, and it was a surprise she was still alive. Having Kiara stay here around the children was a terrible idea.

“If she harms the children, we will kill her,” Sonarot said in their tongue.

“If she harms the children, I will kill her,” Adam replied in their tongue.