268. The Show

268. The Show

‘These guys are in their early teens,’ Adam thought. ‘They’re fucking insane.’

Here they had a bunch of kids, each of whom were learning to become machines of death, each skilled enough with their chosen weapon they could balance them atop their nose and moonwalk.

Adam remained silent, watching as the Iyrmen quickly left, leaving them in silence. It was then the audience erupted in chatter, sharing drinks and snacks, all the while talking about their family who had been on display.

“My sister is the strongest,” Turot said, his lips twitching upwards, staring up at Adam smugly.

“Of course she is,” Adam said, ruffling his hair. “The future Elder Peace’s big sister needs to be strong, right?”

Turot let slip a little giggle, squeezing his hands together like Lanarot did, before he began to chat with the others. The children stood up to chat in the walk way towards one another, and Adam leaned back to look at Kitool.

“Your cousin was pretty cool,” Adam said.

Kitool bowed her head. “He was, yes.”

“Did you do something like this?” Adam asked.

“Yes.”

“Damn,” Adam said. “Do all Iyrmen do it?”

“Most do.”

“Pretty cool,” Adam said, leaning back. “It’s only been, what, an hour and a bit. What’s next?”

“A play,” Kitool said. “It should last a few hours, with small breaks in between.”

“They’ll be the actors in the play?”

Kitool nodded.

Adam wondered what other surprises the Iyr had for him. As the minutes passed, the Iyrmen passed out more snacks, fried stuffs and water, as well as juice. There was also a small bottle of wine, which Adam began to sip slowly, tasting how sour it was.

‘Damn it.’

Adam remained mostly silent, letting the children talk to one another. Some Iyrmen from the row behind them, tapped his shoulder, and he looked back towards them. It was an Orcish Iyrman, in his late early thirties or so.

“You are a Half Elf?”

“That’s right,” Adam said.

“Which family are you with?”

“The Rot family.”

The Orcish Iyrman nodded. “Who was on display in your family?”

“My Cousin, Nirot,” Adam said. “She won the bout with the axe.”

“The one who won the bout with the axe was a young man,” the Orcish Iyrman said.

“Axe and shield, sorry.”

The Orcish Iyrman nodded.

“Yours?”

“Otfan,” the Iyrman said. “There are not many Half Elves who join the Iyr.”

“I’ve heard.”

“I believe you are the first.”

‘Is that a rickshaw?’ Adam thought, watching as someone cloaked, in black, with a bird mask pulled the young woman along, before she hopped off of it. ‘Nice.’

Once the story was done, there was a roar of applause which filled the arena, all the while the Iyrmen youth stood to accept the applause for some time, before clearing the platform.

Adam stretched his body, going for a quick walk around the area. He glanced to the Iyrman beside him. “I forgot who Razfan was,” Adam admitted.

“Have you heard the story before?” Razfan asked.

“Yeah,” Adam said. “On my first journey to the Iyr.”

“It is obvious, due to the Jarot’s contributions to the Iyr.”

“Jarot’s contribution? What did he do?” Adam asked. “Oh, you mean the Rukhs?”

“No,” Razfan said. “You do not know?”

“Know what?” Adam asked.

“You will be told sooner or later,” Razfan replied, simply.

“Alright,” Adam said. “Keep your secrets.”

Drums signalled the end of the break some time later, and then there came ten Iyrmen, who walked out from the tunnels. Adam didn’t recognise any of them, but he noted their different weapons.

He recognised one of the weapons.

The Iyrman with the spear caught Adam’s eye, bowing his head before pointing his magical spear to the Half Elf.

Adam nodded his head back, surprised to see the spear so soon.

“Adam, son of Fate!” the Iyrman shouted. “I will fight for you this day.”

Adam turned a little red, but smiled. ‘Well, that’s embarrassing.’

“Did you make that spear?” Turot asked.

“Yeah,” Adam said. “I did. I finished it yesterday.”

Turot smiled and nodded his head, chuffed to bits that Adam was his cousin.

Suddenly, they came.

From the three other entrances came out three creatures. One was a large boar, with tusks which would skewer any Iyrman in its path, its fur as white as snow. Another was a large bear, one Adam had fought before, a Nightval Bear. The last was a large wolf, an Elder White Wolf.

Three of the Iyrmen leapt away from their comrades, ready to clash with the creatures. As one might have expected, the Iyrmen had no issue dealing with their enemies.

The Iyrman wielding the spear Adam had created had gone to fight the Nightval Bear, and with some struggle, managed to kill it.

Adam clapped his hands as they won, the display of prowess was amazing, though he was still thinking about the youths earlier in the day, who had been most impressive.

More creatures were shown, a tiger which was white, with six legs, a panther which was black, and lived in a constant state of flux, its body shimmering. There was also a Twilight Fox, which Adam hadn’t expected.

It had caused some alarm when it bolted up towards the crowd, towards Adam and the others, but an older Iyrman punched it back down towards the platform without a word. Adam had reached for Phantom, but it was not needed. The Twilight Fox was quickly slain by one of the older Iyrmen who made up the ten.

The death of the Twilight Fox signalled the end of the show.

“Did you want me to go and fight them?” Strom asked, having sat at the top of the walls behind the crowd, hidden by the brush and sloped height.

“No,” Chief Iromin replied.

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Chief Iromin babysitting Strom still.