The Iyrmen

Jurot’s mind was empty. Every so often something slipped into the emptiness, the proper way to hold the axe, the proper way to fell the tree, but those only appeared once every few minutes as he cut down the wood.

It would sometimes seep in too. The darkness which kept whispering into his heart.

The Iyr was such a wonderful place.

What need was there to leave it?

It held his mother and sister.

These thoughts continued to cycle through the emptiness, but Jurot kept them at bay. He drank from his gourd, resting along with his two sisters, Jaygak and Kitool.

“I’m surprised he isn’t enchanting as much as he used to,” Jaygak said, basking under the warmth of the noonval sun. She had been spending the time in the Iyr enjoying the sun as much as she could, helping by cutting down trees and assisting the farmers.

Kitool only bowed her head, but said nothing about the matter. Adam was too confusing to understand, and though she kept an eye on him to inform the Elders what the Half Elf could do, she tried not to think too deeply about him, finding that her mind would rot from the heavy thoughts.

“He has worked hard,” Jurot stated. “He does not enjoy resting.” Out of the trio of Iyrmen, it was he who knew why Adam worked so hard. Adam, who wished to spend his days assisting the Iyr and creating great magical weapons. The gold would help him create a foundation, something which he could use for that.

“We’re lucky we got to meet him,” Jaygak said. “If we hang around him, we might actually become Diamond Rank.”

“Yes,” Jurot said.

“Or we will die a gruesome death,” Kitool said, trying to moderate the conversation, as was her role.

“Yes,” Jurot repeated.

“Speak for me,” Jaygak said. “If anyone’s going to die at Adam’s side, it will be me.”

“No, it will be me, for I am his brother.”

“You?” Jaygak tilted her head in an exaggerated motion. “You’re too strong to die before me.”

Jurot wasn’t sure how to respond to the point, since Jaygak was technically right. “If you die before me, then I will be too weak to stop it.”

“There’s a chance those conditions are met,” Jaygak said.

Kitool rubbed her elbow against Jaygak’s, both for comfort and as a warning.

“What?” Jaygak grumbled. “It’s true. Jurot’s stronger and tougher, and you’re far more skilled and mobile.”

“We have not fought in some time, we will not know who is truly stronger.” Kitool and Jaygak fought rarely, and though they sometimes sparred, they did not fight too harshly against one another.

Jaygak gave her a look. She, who had been born with a weak body, understood the difference between herself and the two. Whereas Jurot was no doubt going to be extremely powerful thanks to the way his family raged, Kitool was someone who had definitely taken after their grandaunt. Even if Kitool did not believe it herself, Jaygak was certain she was strong. If she and Jurot fought, it would have been closer than they would have imagined, though Jaygak was certain Jurot would have won.

Kitool caught Jaygak’s eyes, before the Iyrman sighed. She remembered what Jaygak had told her back then. She had now informed Jurot of her thoughts, and though she was often someone who joked, like Adam, the pair knew when Jaygak joked, and this wasn’t it.

They continued their work, cutting down the wood, clearing an entire section by themselves, before they returned back to their estates. Later in the evening, Jaygak and Kitool sat in the corner, staring at the stars as they began to appear.

The pair did not speak of the matter from earlier in the day, leaving the words unsaid.

“Adam is close with the children,” Jaygak said.

They were words she had heard from Jaygak previously. They were her answer as to why she was so morbid, speaking of her death so easily. “He is.”

“I’m sure, compared to me, Taygak will do much better.”

“She will only do so because you have dug the foundations for her success,” Kitool said.

Jaygak threw her a look, letting her know that the pair were Iyrmen, so there was no need for Kitool to try and make her feel better. “You just need to keep your promise.”

Kitool threw back almost an identical look. The pair were Iyrmen, so there was no need to confirm whether Kitool was going to keep her promise. If one could believe in anything, it was an Iyrman’s words.

Jurot was going to read Lanarot a story soon, but he thought about telling Kitool and Jaygak about the darkness in his heart.

You’re too strong to die before me.

Jaygak had spoken the words like they were fact, but Jurot knew that life did not work that way. Yet, she seemed so reassured by them, by the fact Jurot was more powerful than her. He decided to allow Jaygak to keep that strength. He would remain the lightness within her heart, as she, Kitool, and Adam was to his own. He swallowed his worries and kept the darkness within his heart.

The Priests

“I keep forgetting how queer Adam is,” Dunes admitted. He sat opposite Vonda, the pair of them relaxing after meeting with so many Iyrmen to speak of their tales to them, and to bless their children with fortune. It wasn’t a magical process, but the children enjoyed the words the Priests spoke to them.

“You forget?” Vonda joked, smiling at the Priest of War. “I am reminded of it daily, with all that he does...”

“That’s because you keep your eyes on him, and I keep my eyes on the Iyrmen,” Dunes replied, smirking at the woman.

Vonda shifted her scarf slightly around her face, feeling her cheeks turn crimson. “He is a good man, Adam.”

“A good man, frightened by something,” Dunes said.

“Do you know what he is afraid of?”

“He, like any normal man, is afraid of loss.” Dunes decided against saying more. Adam would reveal more when he was ready.

Vonda remained silent for a long while. She had tried to form a picture of Adam within her mind, but he was too queer for her to figure out entirely. “His business is quite queer as well.”

Dunes nodded. “A business which encompasses so much. I am still not certain if I wish to accept.”

“Why not?”

“I am looking for someone, a friend,” Dunes said. “I have been searching for her for a some time now. Since it is Aldland, I am worried.”

“Why do you worry if she is in Aldland?”

“She is a Devilkin.”

“Oh.” Vonda bowed her head slowly. There were many others who would have pretended not to understand, but that was not Vonda.

Dunes sighed. “If I was to find her, then perhaps I would think more about the matter, but for now…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I am fortunate to have met Adam. My life has changed so much. I found my father, and though it was not something I truly cared for, it is at least nice to know. However…”

“Your friend is important to you.”

“Yes. I hope that we will make progress towards it soon. I may ask the Iyr for assistance, though I am uncertain if I can afford the price. I am certain Adam will assist me, as he has promised.”

“Is your friend from your Order?”

“Yes.”

“She should be safe,” Vonda said, trying to reassure him.

“She is no Priest.”

“A Guardian?”

“No,” Dunes said. “She does not use magic.”

Vonda frowned slightly. That would certainly make things more difficult. “Is she a Noble?”

“Does that matter?”

“It may assist.”

“No.”

Vonda placed a hand on his shoulder. “I am certain that Adam will assist you.”

“Yeah.” Dunes smiled. “I’m sure.”

“When I first met Adam, I was sure that Fate had brought us together,” Vonda admitted. “Though I do not agree with everything he says or does, he is a sensitive soul, with a kindness that I do not expect from most.”

Dunes smiled. “Certainly.” He tapped his magical sword, which may still be one of the best Adam had made so far. “I cannot help but feel beholden to him.”

“I sometimes think he does it on purpose.”

“I’m sure it’s on purpose, but…” Dunes shrugged his shoulders. “I trust him more than I would the average person.”

“You were there when he went to assist with the White Dragon?” Vonda asked.

“I was. It was…” Dunes wondered how much he should say. “He rushed to help right away.”

“For a Princess?” Vonda asked.

“No,” Dunes said. “For a baby.”

Vonda smiled at the distinction, before Dunes regaled her the tale.

Those Who Were Lost

Fred assisted the Iyrmen to keep himself busy, and Jonn trained Nobby and Brittany when he had the chance. He sometimes spoke with Iyrmen to tell them of his story, and some of the stories he had gained under Adam.

The pair would sometimes spend time with one another every evening, speaking a little of their lives. They had been brought to the Iyr by Adam, who had found them when they were lost in life.

“He would have kept his word,” Jonn said, finishing a cup of wine.

Fred nodded his head slowly. Jonn and Adam had fought when they first met. Adam offered his gear, and Jonn offered his Oaths. When Adam had won, Jonn had refused to offer his Oaths, and instead followed Adam to see what kind of man he was.

“Are you going to keep following him?” Jonn asked.

“I’ve got nowhere else to go,” Fred admitted.

The Half Elf looked around at the Iyr, to the families which put them up for the evening. Sometimes they’d sleep with the shared family which Adam knew, and other times they were put up by another family, and sometimes they would be offered a cabin outside of the estates.

The Iyr was a place Jonn had only heard of when he was in his Order. He had heard so much about it, from its history of being full of savages, to its mighty deeds across the wars and skirmishes of the land. The Iyr had been instrumental in increasing the land up North, though they hadn’t managed to promote such a growth in West Aldland.

Yet, he had been told that many of the stories were likely exaggerated, though there were some members of the Order who believed the opposite.

They secretly run this land.

That’s what one of his trainers had said to him, and though he did not believe it, even now, he still couldn’t help but feel the Iyr they were seeing was merely the surface of a deep lake, which held unknown monsters, those which allowed them their lives.

Fred stared down at his cup. ‘Can I do it? Can I relax like this in the future, outside of the Iyr? Can I get married and have children?’ The thoughts remained for some time as he imagined himself finding a woman, getting married, having children.

He winced, thinking about it all burning down, as it had so suddenly back then. He hadn’t been a man, then, and he had barely managed to escape with great fortune. It was over the course of a day that he had lost everything, and everyone he had ever known.

‘I need to remain far enough away from Elves,’ he thought, before his eyes darted to Jonn and Adam. The pair were strong, and he had grown stronger too, but the Elves were so much stronger. Yet… ‘I suppose Half Elves ain’t so bad.’

The Trainees

Nobby trained hard in the morning, and assisted the Iyr with general labour to assist in building his body’s strength and stamina. Brittany trained hard in the morning, and would continue more focused training for a short time, before she would also assist the Iyr. She wanted to train her body slightly, to gain more strength, stamina, and agility. She was learning how to move her body to remain balanced at all times, trying not to fall with all the blocks of wood she was carrying.

“Do you think we’ll become Experts?” Brittany asked, laying down near Nobby, who was eating food.

When Nobby ate, it was a rare time the Iyrmen left him be. “Yes.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Adam said so.”

“You believe him?”

“Mister Jurot said it too.”

Brittany noted how the words held the same reverence as when he had spoken about Adam. “Yeah.”

Nobby slurped down the rest of the soup, before eating seconds. He was a large young man, so the Iyrmen were glad to feed him seconds and thirds. “This year or next.”

“Do you really think he’ll give us magical weapons?”

Nobby looked to Brittany for a moment, before looking back at his food. He wondered why she asked, considering she was allowed to use the magical weapons they had found in the temple.

Nobby didn’t think much about his future. He’d work hard to become an Expert, and then he’d work for Adam. He would get paid, and as long as he managed to receive a wage which could help his family, he cared for little else.

“Adam paid for Anne’s schooling,” Nobby said. “He is good.”

Brittany stared at Nobby for a long moment. Adam really did do a lot for Nobby, and she had done quite a lot for her too. He had seemed hesitant at first, but he had kept his word.

“Do you think he’ll train us to be Masters?” Brittany asked. Masters were typically those roughly Silver Rank in terms of the Adventurer’s Guild’s system.

“He can.” Nobby replied.

“He can, but will he?” Brittany asked again.

Nobby remained silent for a long moment. “He can.”

Brittany bit into a fruit, wondering if she should ask. Becoming an Expert would unlock a life she never would have expected. If she wanted to, she could have worked for Adam for a few years, before going off to explore the land with a different party. However, being a Master meant something.

Experts were well respected without a doubt, even Nobles respected Experts. Masters, on the other hand, held even greater respect among the minor nobility, and even they had to be polite to such figures.

“The Order of Wings has someone called Robin,” Brittany said, recalling what she knew of the Order. “They say she’s the strongest.”

“How strong?” Nobby asked, his ears twitching.

“They say she’s a Paragon, and she’s younger than King’s Sword,” Brittany said.

“Wow.”

“The Order of Wings is like that, isn’t it? They don’t have a home, but they go around the land, protecting it. Not just Aldland, did you know? Aswadia, Dragonland, and even up north. They say there are Giants far north.”

“Wow.”

Brittany smiled, thinking about all that she could do if she was that strong. “They’re so strong, but they aren’t free. They choose not to be free. They say they’re strong because they need to kill monsters. Monsters. I wonder what kind of monsters need seven people who are so strong?”

“Dragons?”

“Big ones?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Brittany said. “You think I could become a Paragon?”

Nobby remained silent for a long moment. “He can.”