Jirot lay within the shade of the Iyr, feeling its coolness against her skin. Her twin brother lay beside her, his thoughts on nothing in particular, just enjoying life as it had come. The children were quiet because it was time for quiet, the rest of the Gek family children also relaxing, their voices low, if spoken at all.

Konarot held her finger hooked over her chin and lip, mirroring her baba opposite. The girl eyed up the board, blinking a few times, before finally moving a piece forward. Tonagek remained focused on the board, also waiting for a short moment, before he pressed the piece forward.

“Ock,” Konarot grumbled quietly, in the way Tonagek did whenever she made a decent play. The older man’s lips twitched into a smile, hidden behind his curled finger.

Kirot’s tail swayed behind her as she held her book, her gaze fixed on the letters and the shapes that formed the images. She also noted a few symbols nearby, those the Iyr used to mark certain levels of danger in relation to one’s strength. The letters were for Iyrmen only, but it was Sonarot, the Family Head of the Rot family, the girl’s grandmother, who allowed her to read them.

There was one Iyrman who had gone to complain. He wore no armour that day, the land far too hot to be wearing such heavy armour, but he carried a blade at his side. His eyes were stern, even as he spoke with the Elder.

“I understand your concerns, Family Elder, but I have approved of such actions,” Elder Zijin replied, offering Dogek a cup of tea.

Dogek remained silent for a long moment as he sipped his tea. “I will continue to raise my disapproval of the vague relationship between the children and the Iyr.”

“The Iyr does not need to worry when there are such dutiful Iyrmen, like you and your grandfather, who do not forget our rules,” Zijin said.

“Have you forgotten them, Elder?”

“I have not forgotten, but even if the children are only Nieces and Nephews of the Iyr, it is appropriate to learn this much of the Iyr.”

“Do you walk this line on purpose?”

“I do what the Chief has allowed me, and no more.”

“You believe such a relationship will be beneficial to the Iyr?”

“Yes.”

“What gives you such conviction?” Dogek asked, his eyes fixed to the Elder’s.

“Our sources of conviction are the same,” Elder Zijin replied, his own eyes unfaltering as they stared into Dogek’s eyes, who was not just the Family Elder of the Gek family, but someone who had reached the heights of a Paragon, and someone who had even beaten the Mad Dog.

“It was a foolish question,” Dogek admitted, bowing his head and drinking the rest of his tea.

Zijin leaned back within his chair, the Elder closing his eyes as he thought back to his past. “The life of an Elder is difficult. Though it has much glory, the sacrifices I had to make, as a son, a brother, a father, to complete my role, even now it pains my heart. My uncle, Rajin, knows of the pain too. If something were to happen, he must remain, shackled by the title.”

“Do you regret the shackles?”

“We cannot.”

Dogek remained silent. He stared into Zijin’s eyes. Even now, as strong as he was, Dogek understood. It was up to he and Zijin to make the difficult decisions, even if it pained them so. If they faltered for even a moment, the long history of the Iyr, which had managed to keep its children safe for thousands of years, could come crumbling down, and once more, they would find themselves near extinct.

“We cannot,” Dogek confirmed. He finished his tea, and excused himself.

“I will prepare rose red next time,” Zijin promised, causing the Family Elder to pause with his gait, before he continued his way to return back to his estate.

As the Family Elder returned, he watched as his niece carried her granddaughter away, the silver scaled girl’s eyes half open as the heat finally pressed the weariness within her. Sonarot lay her granddaughter down into the shade, beside the rest of the triplets. She also settled herself beside the rest of the children.

“I come nap too,” the tiny green skinned girl said, rushing up to her grandmother, dropping down beside the woman, while her twin brother followed a beat later.

“Your elder siblings are tired, but you are filled with such energy.”

“I want to sleep with kaka,” the girl replied, daring to defy her grandmother.

“Then you must be quiet.”

“I am always quiet, smelly…” Jirot paused, raising her brows to mirror her grandmother. “I do not say it, nana.”

Sonarot smiled, reaching out to brush the girl’s hair, before allowing her to take her place beside her elder siblings, the girl dropping down before sticking her thumb into her mouth. She turned towards her younger brother, reaching out to hold his free hand, the pair sucking their thumbs gently as they relaxed in the shade, slowly drifting off to sleep.

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

Dogek noted the look from his niece, then his nephew, before his eyes fell across the rest of the main estate, to the rest of his nieces and nephews, to those of the other three families too. He turned and swiftly left. ‘My place is at the extended family estate.’

“Dogek,” a figure called out, an older man who wore a blade that seemed to be made of blood at his side, holding a basket in one hand.

“Shasen.”

“You are returning?”

“I am.”

“Okay,” Shasen replied, the pair walking past one another. Shasen understood why Dogek had made such a face when he finally arrived at the shared family estate.

“Uncle,” an Iyrman who looked eerily similar to the children’s grandmother called. “You have brought drinks?”

Shasen placed the basket down. “Kamnuu handed them last night.”

“Aunt’s brew?”

Shasen nodded, noting how the others beamed. A small smile encroached upon his lips, before he settled himself into the shared estate, waiting for the children to awaken so he could speak his tales while seeping the sweet wine of Kamnuu’s make.

While the beating noonval sun bore down against the peace within the Iyr, the blue haze of early evening soon approached Central Aldland, within the walls of a particular Order.

“Do you know him, mister?” Elsie asked between bites of the fried meat the order had prepared for the group for their generous donation.

“Yeah,” Adam replied, trying to ignore the presence of the figure. “You don’t have to worry about him though, alright? How’s the food?”

“It’s good,” the girl replied, smiling as she brought another piece of meat to her lips.

“Should I flavour it for you?”

“Yes, please,” Elsie replied, and Adam waved his hand casting his magic upon the girl’s food.

Trick: Tricks

“A simple trick,” Vonda said, noting the gaze of the nearby Order members upon hearing the world of magic. She smiled politely, and the Ray disarmed their glares.

“Sorry…” Adam flushed red, having forgotten where he was. ‘I should think more often.’

The Order members wore breastplate made of bronze, but it was their helmets, fashioned in the shape of an eagle, which impressed Adam most. There were only a handful around, though with the Prince’s return, a few more appeared, escorting the fire giant about.

‘Man, am I glad for a Prince and a Ray…’ Adam noted how their gazes seemed focused on the two demons, who remained silent as butterflies. Adam then glanced to the side, towards the figure who wore a crow upon his head.

As the evening sun continued to fall, the group found themselves within one of the cuboid buildings of beige within the large Order. Though a couple of Order members patrolled atop the walls, the group were given their privacy.

“What are you doing here?” Adam asked, sitting opposite the Idol.

“Walking,” Crowseer replied, his cane resting up against his inner thigh as he relaxed, while under the intense gaze of the Iyrmen.

“Don’t give me that,” Adam growled, feeling an annoyance which could only be brought from Crowseer or himself. “Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused me in the Iyr?”

“I presume not much considering you are still alive.”

“You’re lucky my brother is amazing, because otherwise I’d be dead, and you’d be hunted down.”

“That would be quite unfortunate for me,” Crowseer admitted, smiling behind his veil. “I would not survive long if the Iyr wished to hunt me down.”

Jurot inhaled deeply, before nodding his head, full of pride since Crowseer understood.

“Seriously.” Adam let out a huff, reaching up to rub the side of his neck, feeling it pulse against his palm. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

Crowseer smiled innocently.

“Don’t do that! I can’t see what you really look like behind that veil of yours, but you’re so scary as it is.”

“I have no intention to bring you any harm,” Crowseer assured.

“Yeah?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“That does make me feel better…” Adam let out a small sigh of relief. “It makes sense since you don’t want to be hunted by my brother.”

“He would be unable to defeat me.”

“Yeah, well, once Jaygak and Kitool are Paragons, they could probably take you out.”

Crowseer’s smile widened from behind his veil. “I would find that most difficult.”

“So…” Adam leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “What kind of trouble are you going to cause this time?”

“The die has been cast, I am merely wandering the land, as I always have.”

‘This guy always has to reply so weirdly.’ “Yeah? How did you manage to get into the Order without any issues?”

“The Orders and I have a certain relationship.”

“Yeah? What kind?”

“I cause them no trouble as I wander, and they will not cause me trouble.”

“So am I special then?”

“Of course you are, but do you wish to speak of that within the air of the Aldishmen?”

Adam frowned, but he dropped the matter. “Well, if you’re not causing any trouble, then I guess that’s fine.”

Crowseer reached up to the brim of his hat, gently pulling it down, while Maurice pulled back and upwards, not wanting to seem like she was bowing to any of them. “I am not so troublesome I would stress you when you have so many worries.”

“What am I worried about?”

“Your unborn child is-,”

“Crowseer,” Jurot said, his entire body flashing red hot, his entire body tensing up.

“I wish your child a healthy birth,” Crowseer said, bowing his head towards Vonda, Maurice pulling back once more, as though looking down upon them with her beak. “Since you are a Ray of Hope, I have complete faith that your child will be born healthy, and she will certainly cause you great trouble.”

“Of course she will,” Adam said, his lips twitching into a nervous smile. “She’s going to be born healthy and then she’s going to bully me, that’s just how it is.”

Crowseer remained silent for a long while, hesitating only because of how angry the Iyrman had become even upon the mention of the unborn child. “I pray all your children are healthy and live a long life.”

“Of course they will, since I’m their father.”

“They will grow well within the Iyr,” Jurot said.

“As long as they remain within the Iyr, they will certainly grow well,” Crowseer stated, his lips still in the shape of a smile, and he bowed his head again, tipping down his hat to cover his unseen eyes. “All who grow within the shade of the Iyr have no need to worry of Death’s cold grip.”

“We are not Aldishmen,” Jaygak said. “No child of the Iyr may be claimed by Baktu.”

“How unfortunate it is for those who are born and die within the Aldish lands.”

“Such is their Fate, to be born in such wicked lands,” Jaygak replied, frowning, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Crowseer clasped his cane tight in hand and stood. “… I should retire for the night.”

“Good night, Crowseer,” Adam said, feeling the chill within the air.

“Good night, Adam.” Crowseer tipped his hat once more.

Jaygak’s eyes remained upon the Idol, who could defeat even the likes of King Merryweather. She didn’t like the way he had worded his sentences, how he left some things vague and murky, and other things crystal clear. ‘For your sake, my nieces and nephews shouldn’t be within your gaze.’

‘What am I to do, young Iyrmen?’ Crowseer thought, feeling their vicious gazes upon his back as he retreated into a nearby cube. ‘The die has been cast.’