“They wish to crown the victor for your segment soon, since the omens are poor for the Twilight Month,” Grand Duchess Aeda said, sipping her tea.

Even now, Adam could feel the intense pressure falling down upon him. Before him he could really see it, that she was truly a Blacksnow, wearing her heavy furs, her pearl necklace, a simple ring, and her oppression as though it were fashionable. He glanced aside towards her guards, each of whom were famous for being quite strong, among the strongest across the land, each adorned in their full plate, each wielding great magical weapons.

“Since our Nightval Blade dropped out, the top four are yourself, Jaygak, Princess Adda, and, though she was defeated, Sir Roseia.”

Adam’s lips dared to twitch upwards, though he quickly stopped it from spreading, since he could still feel there was more to say. “So…”

“The tournament will end once each of you have faced one another,” the woman said. “Jaygak will face Princess Adda tomorrow, you will face Jaygak the day after, while Princess Adda will face Sir Roseia first, and then you will face once another for the final placings.”

“Are you okay with me placing first?” Adam asked. “Wouldn’t you want your great granddaughter to come first?”

“If Princess Adda defeats Jaygak and Sir Roseia, then she comes to face you, if it ends with a draw, both of you will place first.”

“Ah?” Adam hadn’t thought of it that way. “I bet quite a large sum to place first, so how will that come to play?”

“You will receive your money, one way or another,” the Grand Duchess stated. “It is only tens of thousands of gold.”

“Does the Princess know of this? I’m sure she has the pride of a Northerner, so how does she feel about me holding back to allow her to take first place alongside me?”

Jurot wondered why the half elf was picking a fight with the Grand Duchess, but he remained silent, since he hadn’t gone too far. He also wished to speak about that too.

“It does not matter. You will do as you are told.”

“As you wish, Your Grace,” Adam said. “Now, say that Jaygak defeats Princess Adda, what happens then?”

“Jaygak will not be able to defeat her, since it is not a fair fight,” the Grand Duchess replied, simply.

“Alright.” Adam frowned. “Then, if she has to lose against Princess Adda, then,” Adam began, pausing. He thought for a long moment. “If Sir Roseia manages to beat Jaygak, will she come second or third?”

“Third.”

“Why?”

“The bets to be paid out if she came second would be too much.”

“How much?” Adam asked.

“A few thousand gold, perhaps tens of thousands.”

“If Jaygak beats Sir Roseia, she places second, and you can use my winnings to pay for that position,” Adam said. “If Sir Roseia wins, then you can say that…” Adam paused. “No, it’s fine. If Jaygak wins, she comes second. If she loses, she places third, and I’ll pay for it through my winnings.”

“This is North Amber, boy.”

“I know,” Adam leaned back. “Since you want me to step back, that’s…” Adam paused. “Hold on. No, I won’t pay anything from my winnings. You want me to give up my position for first to allow your great granddaughter to come first alongside me, and that’ll be my condition.”

“…” The Grand Duchess wondered if Adam understood he was being threatened, but seeing the look in his eyes, it seemed as though he didn’t seem to care one bit. “What makes you so fearless?”

Adam raised his brows and leaned back. He turned his head. “What do you think?”

Jurot remained silent for a long moment. “My name is Jurot.”

“…”

“I am a Rot, so I am related to the, Kan, Gak, and Ool families too. From my father’s side, I am the grandson of the Rot and Fev families. Through the Fev families, I am related to the Mak, Laf, and Zys families.”

History Check (Intelligence)

D20 + 3 = 6 (3)

Adam sat up slightly upon hearing that Jurot was technically related to the Mak family. ‘What? What the hell, Jurot? You’re related to two crazy old men?’

“From my mother’s side, I am the grandson of the Gek and Fan families,” Jurot dared to say, revealing more than most Iyrmen should. “Through the Gek family, I am related to the Nuu, Ooj, and Sen families. Through the Fan family, I am related to the Kat, Var, Wir families.”

The Grand Duchess narrowed her eyes, hearing a particular name among them.

Adam sat up once more. ‘Eh? You’re related to Okvar too?’ Adam furrowed his brows. He understood that Jurot wasn’t blood related to the families, but rather, through the community. ‘Wait, did he say Kat?’

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“From the Rot family, we have the Mad Dog. From the Gek family, I am proud to say I am related to Duteous Dogek. From those I can call my granduncles and grandaunts, there are many more among such abilities, including Butcher Marmak, who is to Aswadasad as my grandfather is to Aldland. I could speak of many other names, but it is enough to say I am related to Mad Dog and Duteous.”

‘I keep forgetting how many families an Iyrman can be related to going back just a couple of generations,’ Adam thought. ‘Will they allow Turot to become Elder Peace if he’s technically related to the current Elder Peace?’

“I didn’t realise you were also related to Marmak,” the Grand Duchess admitted. ‘He is considered to be related to such…’ “Did you say Duteous Dogek?”

“Yes. He is my grandfather’s brother.”

The Grand Duchess fell silent. Duteous Dogek was a great name himself, but he was also the grandson of Tanagek the Dutiful.

Tanagek the Dutiful.

She had been alive when that Iyrman walked across the land. He didn’t make such an impact, since he barely stepped out of the Iyr, but when he did, it was an event her family paid special attention to, since it was their duty to do so.

‘Tanagek the Dutiful...’

The Grand Duchess remained silent for a long while. She had all but forgotten Adam’s stupidity, instead she wholly focused upon Jurot. Jurot, who, from both sides of his families, was related to perhaps some of the greatest monsters the Iyr had ever raised. Mad Dog? Even at his worst, the Grand Duchess hadn’t put Mad Dog on the same level as The Dutiful.

There were few stories with Tanagek, but every story which mentioned him, was something which would allow a single Iyrman to go down in the history books forever.

Jurot thought of all those he was related to going back a couple of generations. He hadn’t mentioned the Silver Sword or Steel Strike, certain the woman knew of that much, but what of Ruzys? She had stepped out of the Iyr a few years ago, a Gold Rank, that was to say, in between a Grandmaster and Paragon, and upon the level of Sir Wick before them. Then there were all the Mithril Rank Iyrman he was related to, or he could just mention Shaool, his grandaunt, a Paragon.

‘Wait, are you the chosen one?’ Adam thought, glancing to Jurot. ‘With your hugging skills, you’re basically a Gary Stu at this point.’

‘This young man is related to such great figures from both sides of his families.’ “Are they grooming you to become a Chief?”

“Amokan and Timojin wish to become Chief, I wish to become Gold Rank within the Guild.”

“Diamond Rank,” Adam corrected. “You should do at least that much for Damrot.”

“…” Jurot nodded.

‘Diamond Rank?’ Grand Duchess Aeda thought, but she allowed the thought to drop. “Very well. I will open the rankings in such a manner, but I hope you will not make a fool of yourself again.”

Adam smiled awkwardly. “As you say, Your Grace.”

The Grand Duchess dismissed the pair instantly, wanting to think upon her thoughts. She should have dug into the Iyrmen deeper. She had been distracted by Jaygak, who held the same name of that woman. ‘I have grown old if my thoughts are upon romantic tales of the Iyrmen.’

The Grand Duchess wrote within her journal that evening, of the untouchable Iyrman, and his stupid brother. She had hoped her children would take her words seriously, and to keep the Blacksnow family sturdy for generations to come.

“Do you think I have taught them well enough?” Grand Duchess Aeda asked, reaching up to press against her pulsing forehead.

“You have done your best, Your Grace,” Sir Wick replied, standing within the shadows of the candlelight.

“Those fools. If I die now, how will I trust they will continue to build, no, even to maintain what I have built for them?” It was at times like this, times when she met certain figures that could topple down what she had built, that the old woman fell deep into such thoughts.

‘Should I kill him?’ She checked her notes, where she had underlined the word beside Jurot’s name. ‘I shouldn’t rock the boat in such turbulent waters.’ She had all but ignored the half elf’s name, unlike the Great Elders of the Iyr, which held the same feelings for Adam, that the Grand Duchess held for Jurot.

That evening, Fate’s Golden gathered together, with Adam buying drink after drink for those within the inn, buying bottles upon bottles of wine.

“Can’t be touched, can’t be stopped, can’t be moved, can’t be rocked, can’t be shook,” Adam half sung, rocking from side to side, his fists held up as though he was boxing. “Woo! I’m gonna win, baby, I’m gonna win!”

“You still need to face Princess Adda,” Jaygak teased, poking him with her foot. “Second place isn’t winning, either. I’m going to beat you, and then Jirot and I are going to constantly tease you for second place.”

“End of discussion, you will not win because I will not lose,” Adam replied, still half singing. ‘Damn, I can’t believe the lyrics work so well.’ Adam hadn’t realised he had misspoken the lyrics, but he continued to shimmy and drop gold coins like it was his business.

“It is time to sleep,” Jurot said, reaching up to Adam’s shoulder.

“Come on, Jurot! I gotta-,” Adam said, before catching Jurot’s eyes, which were busy glaring at other figures. “Alright.”

“If you’re paying for your own drinks, we’ll lose our streak!” Jaygak shouted, catching the people’s attention, dropping a pouch of silver and gold. “Drink! Drink up! Drink and cheer!”

“Ah’ve always said yous Iyrmen were good foke,” a half drunk patron said, raising her glass in the air.

The inn filled with the drunken joy paid for by Adam’s victory.

“Jurot,” Adam said, half leaning against his brother. “First place.” He gently punched his brother’s arm. “You gotta win-, god damn, bro. Leave some muscle for the rest of us.”

Jurot assisted his brother to the baths, understanding that Adam would want to bathe first. Adam eventually began to sober up within the bath.

“Jurot?”

“Yes?”

“You’re too big.”

“I have been training well.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, you punk,” Adam replied, reaching up to hide his eyes. ‘You’re already so big, so why are you training your muscles?’ “I feel sorry for Pam.”

“She likes how big my muscles are,” Jurot said, flexing them.

“Yeah, I’m sure she does like how big you are.”

Jurot paused. He narrowed his eyes. ‘What is he talking about?’

‘Damn it, Jurot! This isn’t fair! At least let me win at one thing, damn it!’

“…” Jurot allowed his brother to act the fool while in the tub.

“Heh,” Adam managed out. “Right. Don’t I have more cute kids?”

‘Cringe.’

“Even if you are stacked in every way, you punk, at least this brother of yours has more cute adorable children. Yeah, right, right, that’s what I have.” Adam smiled.

“…”

Adam leaned back into the tub, the water pressing down against his entire body. He threw a look towards Jurot, who caught Adam’s eye. “Two bros. Chilling in a hot tub.” Adam smiled slightly. He shook his head, and looked away to the side. ‘He wouldn’t get it. No one would.’

“…”

“Sometimes, I’ll say something, and understand no one understands. It hurts, a lot.” Adam reached up to wipe his wet face. “Then I think of all I have. My family. My friends. All this gold.”

Jurot wished Adam stopped mentioning his wealth all the time.

“Even without all the gold, I wouldn’t trade this for anything else.”

Jurot nodded.

“I’m gonna face Jaygak soon.”

“Yes.”

Adam looked to the side, feeling the brisk cold air even through the walls of the bathroom. He didn’t wipe away the wetness on his face. ‘Damn it.’

Jurot allowed his brother to act the fool, allowing the half elf to ease his heart.