Fruit was the eighth wonder of the world, Adam supposed, especially after seeing the girl snoozing peacefully once she had eaten her fill. However, even this sight, of a child well cared for, for a fool like a father, could not ease his heart. The anxiety continued to remain as he thought of what could happen to the girl if he surrendered her to the mermen, who were the kind to pick a fight with him at such an inappropriate time.

Adam thought about what Lord Strom, or rather, Emperor Hadda, had done to instil such a deep fear within the mermen so many years ago.

'It can't be the only way…'

Kitool could see the darkness across Adam's face, a darkness that should not fall upon the face of the husband of a Ray of Hope.

"The Rot family is well known, even in these lands," Kitool said, appearing beside the half elf, sitting in her own chair, her cup of tea full, without the half elf having noticed. "They, who fight unarmoured, like we of the Ool family, are suited for this land, where the heat kills as much as steel."

Adam was glad he had picked that particular Subclass for a Priest.

Soul of the Forge

You gain resistance to fire damage.

You gain a +1 bonus to Defence when wearing heavy armour.

"Yeah," the half elf replied shamelessly.

"Fred fights in heavy armour, the same way as Jonn fights in heavy armour, but as they both fight in heavy armour, the principles in their path is different," Kitool said, speaking the obvious to ease Adam's heart, since they rarely spoke. She just hoped he wouldn't take it as her treating him as a fool, just a friend speaking nonsense.

"I guess while the Rot family fights with their rage, the Ool family fights without rage," Adam mused, considering the pair who were considered so powerful. His eyes then scanned Kitool's face, recalling how she had fought Jurot in the tournament, only losing because she decided to hold back. It was then the woman had put the fear of the Ool family into his heart.

"Our paths both derive from nature, though they say that our path is derived from dragons, others say it is derived from the Divine," Kitool explained, thinking back to her studies. "Across all cultures, there are those who learn such a way, taking from the nature around them, and that nature, sometimes it is full of dragons, sometimes the Divine."

Adam thought about how martial arts had developed on Earth, and considering how much influence the early martial arts took from nature, he supposed it made sense it was the same way.

"It is often said the Aswadians are the greatest at such a technique, for there are so many who learn such a path, though the Iyr matches them," Kitool said, without even a hint of annoyance in her voice. "However, those who know, across the various lands, thousands of miles north, east, south, west, there are two considered the strongest."

"Let me guess, dragons and giants?" Adam mused.

"Half dragons, but giants are considered a touch beneath, since they prefer their weapons more than even the half dragons," Kitool replied.

"Oh?" Adam replied, certain it would have been them. "I guess there are a few more, but I feel like they're all wrong."

"On land, the title of the strongest in the path of our family, are the half dragons and the mermen."

"The mermen?"

"On land, they are considered equal to the half dragons."

"On land?"

"On land," Kitool confirmed.

'Damn! That's crazy!' Adam thought, raising his brows in surprise. His eyes fell down to the mermen girl who snoozed away happily. 'Should I find her an underground… undersea? Undersea master to train her?'

Stolen novel; please report.

Even this, however, was not enough to deal with Adam's dourness, for such a blow was great indeed, that not even the knowledge of the mermen being great warriors could deal with the chill within the half elf's heart.

Chosen dropped down beside the half elf, yawning, stretching his neck from side to side, rolling his shoulders.

"Are you alright?" Adam asked.

"I am well," Chosen replied simply, smirking slightly. "What are you thinking of so deeply?"

Adam smiled awkwardly, but it soon disappeared. "You know, thinking about it, I don't think I can stop being a fool."

"Then be a fool."

Adam flinched from his words, shaking his head lightly as he took in Chosen's sight, who smiled, but held a raised brow as though his simple words were the answer. "What?"

"When you must act a fool, act a fool," Chosen said, casually. "When you must act elsewise, act elsewise."

'What the hell are you talking about?' Adam thought, frowning slightly at Chosen trying to sabotage his want to become a respectable fellow.

"Adam," Chosen said, suddenly no longer smiling, his tone so unlike himself. "Are you not the grandson of the Mad Dog?"

Adam felt the blade strike him true, not a blade of steel, but a blade of… one could not even call it the harsh blade of truth, for there was one blade even more vile, even more wicked, one could wield.

It was that blade, the sinful blade of doubt.

Adam's entire body tensed up, ready to fight Chosen, who he had already beaten senseless, and yet…

"Whose grandfather?" Adam replied, flushing red, glancing to the side.

Chosen remained still for a moment, but a smile slipped across his lips. "Are you still worried about your children? Your children, who are Iyrmen?"

"Well…"

"There is no longer doubt, so why must you doubt?"

Adam swallowed slightly, unsure of how to take Chosen's words, but… "I just don't know what I want to be."

"You are Adam."

Adam could still feel it, the doubt within his heart, but upon hearing Chosen's words, there was something else. What was it?

Ah.

Chosen, seeing that the half elf sighed so gently, stood, leaving him be to his thoughts. 'When you are that strong, how could you hold such doubts in your heart?'

"Thank you," Jurot said, clasping Chosen's forearm. He had originally thought to send Laygak, but Laygak had refused.

'I am not the right person,' Laygak said. 'It must be Chosen.'

Chosen? Chosen, who was playful, but not as close, and yet, even he worried for the half elf. That was what it was. The distance between them, but knowing that even with such distance, there was that kind of love.

"Prepare the peach wine when we return," Chosen replied simply, winking at Jurot, who nodded in return.

It was evening when Laygak began to train for the second time that day, practising his swordplay, which was efficient, even if it was not deadly due to the lack of his strength. His heart was spurred on by the fact Jurot had come to him first, filled with pride he did not allow it to go to his head, instead sending the appropriate figure.

John, seeing the Iyrman train, joined him, training lightly, only to be stopped by Nirot once he had pushed too far, for he had found it awkward to stop when the Iyrman was training with such a heavy heart.

Yasha, too, was glad Nirot had stopped him, because she found it awkward when the pair refused to stop, taking the opportunity.

Nirot's heart, however, burned, for she wanted to train so harshly too, but…

"What is wrong?" Faool asked as Laygak continued to swing his blade.

Laygak panted heavily, sweat pouring down ever pore of his body, the ache set deep, the kind of ache that would take days to recover from. Yet, though he had heard the voice, he continued to swing his sword, glad the gentle rain which fell across the city, washed away his sweat and his tears.

Tagak, seeing his cousin fighting away his inner demons, meditated. They were of similar abilities, and though Laygak was a touch more experienced, therefore his natural abilities were further enhanced, and yet even Tagak was still stronger. Tagak, who was considered fine enough as an Iyrman, and yet, for a member of the Gak family, considered a great talent.

'You do not understand, Faool,' Tagak thought, for though Faool was not quite a great a talent as the likes of Nirot, Naqokan, or Uwajin, even Tagak was less talented than the Ool. Of course, it wasn't as though he expected Faool not to understand that, Faool was wise enough to understand.

'Did you see?' Rigak had said, smirking up at her elder brother. 'I have defeated Unrivalled. You do not have to worry, I will become Unrivalled!'

Shouldn't it be the Gaks to change their fortunes?

No, for his sister, shouldn't it have been him?

Tagak let out a choked sigh, never having been more glad it had been raining.

Tanagek watched the training, including from Faool, who took a low stance, following the routine of his family, from warming up, to stretching, to the typical flow movements, but it was Laygak he held within his sight.

'It is but a letter,' Tanagek thought, the guilt of feeling such pity filling his heart. He thought about Taygak, and how well she fought, how much she had already completed during this journey, indeed, greater than even the likes of Jurot, Nirot, Uwajin, everyone of his generation, at such an age. 'You do not have to wait long, brothers.'