"Mother, mother!" the boy called, clutching at the spear tight. "Look!"

"What is it, betta?" Eyla replied, noting the spear he was clutching tight, quickly rushing over to him. She held onto his hands as her son clutched the spear so tightly.

"It is a spear the Lion King gifted to me!"

"The Lion King?" Eyla saw the brightness within his eyes, though no doubt it was someone teasing the boy. She had him explain the situation to him, and after realising it happened in front of Lord Asa, it could only mean…

Asa smiled towards the approaching woman, who wore simple clothing of a deep green, a long scarf that wrapped around her head and hung over her shoulders, warm in colour, like fire. She wore gloves, though they were half hidden between the nooks of the babe within her arms. Her eyes darted between the various figures around, while Ara's eyes remained fixated on one. Three heavily armoured guards escorted the trio.

"How do you fare, Lady Eyla?" Asa asked, assuming why she had come all this way, she who preferred to remain home and out of sight.

"I am well, Lord Asa," the woman replied, bowing her head lightly, more so for her own comfort. "I was hoping to speak with the one called the Lion King."

"You're really popular, huh, ahm?" Adam whispered, teasing the old Aswadian, though he remained silent, sipping his tea.

"We have such an esteemed guest," Asa confirmed, motioning a hand towards the older Aswadian, who looked to be about fifty, but was certainly older, who still emanated a great strength, subdued by time. "Kal Ashmir, this is Lady Eyla."

"I am Ashmir, though you may know me as the Lion King," Ashmir said, standing up to greet the woman, who seemed to be only slightly older than Dunes.

"I am Lady Eyla, though I was born in one of the small villages in Aswadasad," she admitted. "I wanted to thank you for your kind gift."

"There is no need for thanks, for it is a heavy responsibility," Ashmir replied, noting the woman agreeing with her eyes.

"I grew up hearing of your tales, Kal. It would be our honour if you could bless this child."

Ashmir was no Priest, and would have refused if not for the fact that she seemed to ask so earnestly, and due to the glare at his back of a young half elf, who dared him to refuse. Ashmir placed a hand on the child and muttered a gently prayer and well wishes. Once he was done, he sat to speak with the woman.

Adam excused himself, allowing them to speak in peace, and since he had little else to speak with Asa. He dropped down near his Iyrman companions. He eyed up the trio, noting the young babe within the woman's arms, the boy with such glistening eyes, and then the young Aswadian woman who was now a Lady.

'At least King Merryweather knows how to treat other talent properly,' Adam thought, letting out a light huff, his heart heavy with an annoyance that had built up for years. 'This is exactly how they should treat me.'

Adam gave up his thoughts, since he had aligned himself with the Iyr, so thus would draw great suspicion on himself. However, where was it? The respect he deserved as the strong in a world where might was right?

'We ended up invading two countries for their oil and we still got to act like the good guys because we were that strong. This world is the same, so why are they still treating me like I'm a nobody?' Adam thought, feeling the boiling annoyance rush through him. 'No, I don't even want to be treated well, but you should at least not disrespect me, right? Should I just reveal that I'm the…'

'He is thinking too deeply,' Jurot thought, noting how the half elf was riling himself up, but before he could speak up, the half elf relaxed himself, falling into a meditation.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

"Taygak," Adam eventually called.

"Cousin Adam."

"The boy seems to be a couple of years younger than you," Adam began, seeing how delighted the boy was. He was roughly twelve years old, and as he took note of that, he thought back to when he first met Taygak, when she was but eight or so. He closed his eyes, thinking about how she was so similar to the Taygak of then, but also so different.

Taygak waited for the half elf to continue, noting the pained expression on his face.

"That means he'll become your peer when you're out adventuring," the half elf continued, considering Taygak, Ara, as well as the Blood Knight. "He's the Blood Knight's son. Lord Asa said I'd be unable to defeat to defeat the Blood Knight at this time, so you have to avenge me, so don't lose to him."

"Okay."

"You don't have to bully him or anything, you shouldn't do that, but if you ever cross blades, you can't lose to him," Adam said, since the boy was probably going to be trained by his father, who was considered one of the top three powerful figures in Floria, and probably top five across Aldland, meaning his son would inherit that will.

"Okay!" Taygak assured.

"Even if you do lose, it's not a dishonour, I'll just feel annoyed I wasn't good enough to train you properly," Adam admitted.

"Cousin Adam, good," Taygak stated, pausing for a moment, before getting up to place a hand on his shoulder. "Okay?"

Adam flushed lightly. "Of course. I understand, cousin Taygak."

"Good." Taygak pat his shoulder reassuringly, but since it was Taygak, it was quite threatening to the half elf.

'A descendant of the Hadi?' Lady Eyla thought, her eyes darting to the young Iyrman to one side, who had finished his training, bathed, and had changed into attire more common in Aldland, as well as a blanket, which he lay over his shoulders to warm himself up. Beside him another Iyrman sat, one who no doubt held his own stories. '…'

Tanagek peeked open an eye towards the Lady, who carried her babe within her arms, the Aswadian woman bowing her head gently towards him, Tanagek returning a bow of his head.

"You are Tanagek?" Lady Eyla asked.

"I am. How may I assist you?"

"I am Lady Eyla. I am from a small village in Aswadasad. I am fortunate to become Lady of Floria. If you are willing, I wish to hear tales. Iyrmen are well known."

"My tale does not compare to your own, Lady Eyla, but if you wish to hear it, I will request another speak the tales in your tongue."

Dunes smiled awkwardly, for he had heard quite a few of Tanagek's tales while on their journey, and was more than honoured to speak it to Eyla.

The Lady listened intently to the tales, having dragged her son along to make sure he listened, the boy's eyes lighting up constantly, since Tanagek's tales were already so grand, and a Mo of Black Mountain spoke the words. To have fought so many great creatures and even great warriors.

It was then that tale was brought up.

Dunes paused for a moment, since he had finally reached that point in Tanagek's tale. There was much to say about that, but how much could he say? He glanced aside to Tanagek, who nodded, before returning his attention back to the woman.

Eyla's eyes darted towards the half elf who tickled the blue girl's cheeks, the girl smiling with such delight, turning her head away from the half elf, then looking back towards him, Adam tickling her nose, the girl squealing loudly in response.

"Ada! Ada!"

"That's right! I'm Ada, but one day, perhaps you'll call me dada?"

"Dada!"

"What! Fine, if you insist!" Adam pulled the girl up and peppered her face with kisses, only to find an Iyrman looming over him.

"You cannot," Jurot said.

"What! What is this? Look, your ahm is bullying me, Amal! How can he do this?" Adam complained, but the girl squealed with delight, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Mister," called a voice. "Are you strong too?"

Adam turned, noting Ara looking at him, his guard glaring down at the half elf, as well as the Lady and her baby, then the rest of the glaring guards. Adam noted the look of the guards, the way they glared at him, and without a doubt, he was certain they knew who he was.

"Strong?" Adam replied. "Apparently, they call me strong in Aldland and in Aswadasad."

"My father is really strong," Ara stated. "At first he was my uncle, but now he's my father, since he married mother."

"You must be so proud to have such a strong father," Adam said, unable to contain his smile, it was that kind of smile, as pure as the babe within the woman's arms. "Your father is indeed quite strong, for he defeated one of the few people to ever defeat me."

"Really?"

"When it comes to one on one battles, I was beaten up senseless by two figures. One of them is Lord Asa's son, who is as strong as Lord Asa, and the other was my grandfather, who your father defeated a few years ago." Adam's smile faltered for a moment, for he was certain he couldn't speak of it more. However, there was no need to burden the child's heart with what his father did, for that was between Adam and the Blood Knight, and even then, he would not go so far as to take the man's leg, not when his son beamed so brightly.

"My father is that strong!"

"Did you know?" Adam asked.

Ara replied with a questioning look.

"I am a father too," Adam said.