[903] – Y04.003 – Long Goodbyes

[903] – Y04.003 – Long Goodbyes

“How can you do this to me?”

“Adam,” Jurot said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Do you wish to be so cringe so early within the year?” Vonda asked. couldn’t believe his brother and wife were bullying him like this so early. “It’s my birthday. If I can’t be cringe today, when can I be cringe?”

“Do you wish to return to the Front Iyr?” Vonda offered.

“They’re taking the triplets too...”

“Then you may go.”

“Are you coming too?”

“I would like to spend some time with Mother Florence.”

‘Damn.’ Adam thought about how awkward it was. The triplets were having their birthday, and so was their mother. ‘If she stays here, then it’ll feel too distant. Konarot’s already awkward about their relationship. Should I just keep the triplets here? No, I’ll keep all of the children here, but what about their aunt? Lanababy’s going to go too. Can’t she stay too? No, the Iyrmen already said the children have spent too long outside of the Iyr.’

Vonda held Adam’s hands within her own. “It will be fine, Adam.”

Seeing the look on Adam’s face, even Mother Florence felt bad. She had intended to leave quickly at the beginning of the year, as the wedding had passed, though she wished to spend more time with Vonda. However, seeing the conflict on the half elf’s face, regardless of how much she disliked the boy, she couldn’t refuse how he embodied much of Mother Soza’s love, especially with his children, who were... special.

“I will leave today too,” Mother Florence said, taking Vonda’s hands within her own, as the holy acolytes did. Technically, Vonda should have taken the Mother’s hands in her own since she was a Ray, but Vonda refused to do so to Mother Florence.

Vonda smiled warmly towards the older woman, the pair remaining silent for a long moment. “I wish you a peaceful journey.”

“Ray Vonda...” the Mother called out, squeezing the woman’s hands, brushing the Ray’s knuckles gently. “Do not forget, you are still a Ray of Life’s Rose. If you need any assistance, we are but a Sending away.”

“I will send word when I can.”

Mother Florence reached up to the young woman’s face, brushing the young woman’s cheek with her thumb. She did not see the eyes of the young woman before her, but that of a young girl, who knew a deep dark secret, one which only the Mother knew, and perhaps now the young woman’s husband.

“Mother’s blessings upon you, Ray Vonda.”

“Mother’s bessings upon you, Mother Florence.”

“We should escort the Mother and the Seventh Hope,” Amokan said, still wiping his blade clean from slaughtering the beasts only a few minutes ago. The handsome Iyrman’s smile contrasted his bronze skin, his long dark hair a mess, his eyes filled with a ferocity that had not been satiated by simple beasts.

“Are you asking for a fight?” Adam asked. “You haven’t even spoiled Inakan enough and you’re planning to leave.”

“We should leave soon since we have completed our tasks.”

“You should relax for a little while longer. What’s the rush? You’ll be gone for a few years at least, so you should spend more time spoiling your sister.”

“Will you not spoil her?”

“I will, but that’s different, and this is different.”

“We cannot send the Mother and Seventh Hope alone.”

“Who said we’ll let them go alone? We’ve got tons of people we can send. We’ve got Nobby and...” Adam thought for a long moment. ‘No, we can’t just send Nobby, he just got married too.’ “Dunes and...” ‘No, they just got married too. I forgot this is the newly weds arc.’ “We can send Lead Fred and Lead Jonn to escort them.”

“What of their return? They cannot return just with the pair of them.”

“I’ll send Brittany along too, and the farmers, they can go too.”

Amokan crossed his arms. He wanted to leave, but Adam was making it difficult. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Adam was Jurot’s brother, so he needed to take the half elf seriously with that relationship in mind. Plus, once he was Chief, he would need a good relationship with Adam to keep him in line.

“We can go,” Nirot said, too excitedly. “We can escort the Mother and the Seventh Hope.”

“Executive Kitool.”

“Perhaps, in some ways she might be better, but I’ve seen how your arrows tear through bears twice the size of me. You’re an Expert now, trained by Iyrmen, and your arrows have struck through hydras. Last year I asked you if you wanted to compete against the Whirlwind Arrows, and I wasn’t doing that because I thought you’d embarrass yourself.”

Brittany’s cheeks flushed slightly. The magical blades at her side, gifted to her by the business, felt so heavy. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

“Mister or Executive, yeah?” Adam winked. “If you don’t want to go, that’s fine, I’ll send Jonn, but I want you to go. The Iyrmen, they might get a little crazy, but with you around, they won’t do anything too silly, and they’ll come back home safe and sound.”

‘You want me to shepherd the Iyrmen?’ Brittany’s eyes remained cautious and incredulous.

Adam smiled in response. “Don’t worry, you just need to show your face. Leave the talking to the Iyrmen.”

“Okay.”

Adam bowed his head, dismissing the young woman. He watched her leave, going to prepare herself. ‘She’s got to learn to show off more.’ Adam made his way to the Silver Fate Squad.

“Jaygak?” Adam asked, spotting the Iyrman speaking with her cousins, who had lined up before her.

“I was just telling them they shouldn’t get themselves killed.”

“Asking Iyrmen not to die?” Adam joked.

“What am I meant to say to Taygak?” Jaygak asked.

“You could tell her he died a good death, isn’t that right, Laygak?”

“Cousin Adam is right, for once,” Laygak replied.

“What do you mean for once?” Adam narrowed his eyes at the Iyrman, who was no doubt Jaygak’s cousin. “Anyway, your task is to escort the Mother Florence and the Seventh Hope safely. You should prioritise Mother Florence’s safety while escorting them, do you understand?”

The Iyrmen exchanged glances between one another. They understood the relationship between Vonda and Florence, though the Mother didn’t seem too happy about Adam.

“Okay,” the Iyrman replied.

“I’m sending Brittany with you, she’ll be representing the business too. Once your task is complete, you can spend a short while relaxing, but then you’re to escort her back to the business safely.”

“Okay.”

The groups gathered at the gates of the large fortress which imposed upon the islet between split rivers. The businessfolk and all the Iyrmen gathered about to say their goodbyes to the esteemed visitors of Life’s Rose.

“Mother’s blessings upon you Ray Vonda,” the Seventh Hope said, standing tall and proud within his full plate armour. A fellow considered a Master, even if he was the weakest of the Seven Hopes, he still gathered respect from any commoner within Aldish lands, and the surrounding lands, even the Iyr.

“Mother’s blessings upon you, Hope Thomas.”

“Though you may remain within the Iyr’s land, do not forget your roots.”

Ray Vonda smiled a polite smile towards the Hope. “I will never forget my roots.”

“Hope Thomas,” the voice cut through the air.

Hope Thomas’ body filled with a deep chill, which crept into his heart. His eyes slowly turned to meet Adam’s, the half elf grinning wide towards the Seventh Hope. The Hope’s arm throbbed from the memory.

“May Lord Sozain watch over your journey,” Adam’s lips said, but his eyes spoke another sentiment. ‘You punk! How dare you talk like that to my wife? Didn’t I beat you hard enough?’

“Mother’s blessings upon you, Brother Adam.”

Adam slowly nodded his head. “Yeah.”

Vonda let out a soft sigh, though allowed Adam his moment. She was glad he didn’t start any bother with the Hope while he remained with them, and she was even more grateful that the Seventh Hope had learnt to keep his mouth shut around the Iyrmen. ‘Mother Soza guide you both.’

Adam really should have beaten him up harder.