[1396] – Y06.296 – Sorrowed Hearts VI

“I do not know if I am able to reject you.”

“Why are you making it sound like I’m bullying you?”

Korin chuckled, sipping his goat milk. His mind wandered to the half elf’s request.

“Anyway, what way are you going to earn the Lady’s hand in marriage?” Adam asked, interested in his friend’s romance.

“I suppose I will have to find myself at least a Basic set of equipment, or Greater, perhaps?”

“Ah, wait, isn’t Sara related to the Matriarch?”

“Yes?”

“We ended up meeting with her and completed some business with her,” Adam said, thinking about how much could impress a woman like that. “You can’t just impress her with all Basic equipment, it’ll have to be all Greater.”

Korin was fairly certain all Basic equipment, along with his abilities, would be enough to impress that old woman, but for Adam to speak up like this…

“Since you aren’t being helpful…” Adam needed to speak with the one who held the keys to the relationship. “Lady Sara, what kind of equipment would impress the Matriarch of your family for Korin’s sake?”

“A set of Greater Equipment, a Greater Enhanced sword, and he must reach Master,” Sara said, knowing her worth. Of course, she may reach old age by the time he manages such, but she was willing to wait.

“Done,” Adam said, bowing his head lightly, Sara returning a bow of her own.

“How long should I work for you?” Korin asked meekly.

“Did you even want to work for me?” Adam replied, his tone full of annoyance.

“It is not that I am uncertain in working for you, rather…” Korin smiled awkward. “I am uncertain on my future path.”

“You want to marry, and presumably I’ll have a lot of nieces and nephews to spoil, right?” Adam looked to Sara, since it was ultimately up to her.

“Perhaps.”

“Yeah…” Adam considered for a moment. “Will they inherit your… fine magics?”

“Yes.”

Adam tapped the table, considering this information, having all but forgotten. ‘If she’s a Blood Mage, that means her children will become Blood Mages. They’re already hated everywhere, and she’s also a devilkin, so...’

Sara wasn’t used to this Adam who was not acting a fool, but rather considered the situation more seriously.

“Where do you want to raise your children?” Adam finally asked, holding the woman’s gaze.

“I would like them to grow within the Order,” Sara admitted.

“I agree,” Korin said, though they hadn’t even married yet.

Adam leaned back and fell deep into thought, considering their words. However, there was something even more important than what he was thinking about. “How much do I have to donate to the Order for you two to become our people? Not our people, but to remain with us, at our business, while still being members of your Order?”

“The Order must agree first, and you must give up at least two Greater Enhanced weapons to the Order for them to consider such,” Sara replied.

“Okay. We’ll discuss with the Order, and if they agree, and you are still interested, we’ll do that.”

Dunes couldn’t help but admire how easily Adam spent all that gold, but he was wise enough not to draw similarities between Adam and the nobles he so despised. Although, considering how cheap some nobles were, he supposed he was very unlike them too.

“Those of my persuasion are also unwelcome within Aldland,” Sara began.

“Yeah, even Iyrmen are troubled…” Adam scratched his cheek. “I guess they’re less troubled?”

“I am Lady Sara, descended of those who once ruled the Red Sea, and my children will remain the same.”

“If you become the Niece of a family, they'll provide you some support, wouldn’t they?”

“I would like my children to hold the same protection as yours,” Sara suggested, not so much tying her children to the Iyr, but rather, tying them to the figure before her.

“That’s difficult since my children are Iyrmen.”

“Excuse me?”

“My children were adopted into the Iyr more formally,” Adam said, struggling with swallowing, revealing the circumstances between such a decision. Even now, it hurt, not because it was a bad decision, but because it was a decision made through his weakness, though he were a father.

“They are Iyrmen,” Jurot confirmed.

Sara considered the words. She supposed it made sense, since the Iyrmen had acted so thoroughly, so if it was for the sake of one of their children, no, they were a little light, but she supposed it was an awkward situation.

“Can my children be raised in the Iyr too?”

“As Iyrmen?” Adam asked.

“No. I will support the Iyr with my magic, and I would like them to remain within the walls of the Iyr.”

“You'd have to ask an Iyrman I guess.”

Sara looked to Jurot, who crossed his arms and though. He looked between Sara and Adam, both of whom were looking at him expectantly. Jurot considered Adam within his thoughts and how much he favoured the pair, who they had travelled with for some time, and had even fought alongside against such vicious foes. He also considered Sara, who had assisted with her noble title too.

“If the Iyr raises your children, you will work for the business?”

“Once the payments are dealt with,” Sara assured.

“You wish for the children to be raised by the Iyr, but not to be Iyrmen?” Jurot asked to confirm.

“Correct. I will raise them. I wish for them to be safe within the walls of the Iyr.”

Jurot continued to think about her request. He supposed, technically, it could happen. Jurot then looked up at her. “If you work as an enchanter for the business for twenty five years, it can be done.”

“I can't enchant.”

“The business will teach you,” Jurot said, causing even Adam to raise his brows towards the Iyrman.

She blinked. “The business will teach me?”

“Yes.”

‘What is he saying?’ Sara thought. She hadn’t expected such an offer, but she supposed now that they were here, she would need to consider the fact that they were insane.

“Twenty five years is the time you must work for the business. as long as you work for the business for that time, then your children may remain in the Iyr. Once those years pass, you may choose to stop working as an enchanter for the business, and the children may be raised within the walls of the United Kindom. If you continue enchanting for the business, they may remain within the Iyr.”

“What about me?” Korin asked.

“You will train the warriors as Oathsworn,” Jurot said. “Do you wish to learn enchanting too?”

“Can I?”

“Yes,” Jurot confirmed. “Your children too, and such will be offered to Dunes’ children too, if they wish to remain within the business.”

Dunes let out a troubled sigh, the kind that was full of heaviness from the burdens he would need to shoulder.

“I prefer fighting,” Korin admitted. “Instead, I’ll trust that at least one child will be taught enchanting.”

“Okay,” Jurot said.

Adam remained silent, letting Jurot sort it all out, since he seemed to be working something out. He had no idea how much power Jurot’s words held, nor how power Jurot could wield, though from what he had seen, Iyrmen individuals possessed quite some power, as long as it was wielded within their family’s constraints.

“If you can offer that, we will agree,” Sara stated, since it wasn’t a loss to any of them, she supposed.

The children would be raised within the walls of the Iyr, and the business would gain an enchanter and an expert Oathsworn, soon to be trained into a Master, who would train their warriors. Jurot considered the thoughts for a long moment. Though there was a separation between the business and the Iyr, the Iyr held such great influence within it. It was also a way to form connections to other figures, through a more open form of communication, one under the Iyr’s sight.

Jurot considered the three options to make such an offer true. The first was for the Family Elder, his grandmother, to accept the offer. The second was for the Family Head, his aunt, to accept. There was also the third option, but he had thought for too long.

Lani sat nearby, having heard the conversation. ‘The business is going to make them into enchanters?’

“Now that I think about it, this conversation went easier than with Dunes…” Adam mused.

“That is because Korin is an Oathsworn, and Lady Sara is a Lady,” Dunes explained. “I am a Priest, so my considerations are not just about me, but my prayers. However, the Order may have to think twice, since the two were meant to bring the Order and the noble family together.”

“Then I’ll just bring them together,” Adam said, as though it were truly that simple.

“…”

‘I should send word to Vasera now that we’re done here,’ Adam thought, as though it were truly that simple.