“It has only been one day, has he already caused trouble again?” Iromin joked, watching as the Orcish Elder approach him. He pushed the snacks forward, and poured the Elder some juice, which had been diluted with water.

“No,” Zijin said, sitting down opposite the Chief, helping himself to some of the snacks.

“Then it is Jaygak?” Iromin asked.

“No.” Zijin smiled.

Iromin leaned back, deciding against continuing his jokes. If Zijin was smiling like that, then it meant it was a serious matter, and he needed to concentrate.

“I have watched so many children grow up, from my own estate, to the eight I now oversee.” Zijin smiled, his eyes flashing to the past for a moment. “Today, three of those children came to me to claim their rights as Experts, and yet they are all so young. It fills me with great joy, Chief.”

Iromin could connect the dots of who Zijin meant. There were few young Experts from the eight shared estates which Zijin looked after, but if it was three Experts, then it had to be those three.

“I expected Jurot to come, as his intentions have not changed since he was a boy, especially after the matter with Balrog. Though the odds were still low, Kitool had come too, wishing to follow the steps after her grandaunt. However, it was Jaygak who came to me first, before breakfast.”

“Breakfast?” Chief asked. To speak with an Elder before breakfast, it meant it was serious business. Jaygak did not bother Elders before breakfast, her pranks exclusively dealt at an appropriate time.

“Chief Iromin,” Elder Zijin began, staring into the Chief’s eyes, “we should allow them the chance to reach for the sky. They have grown in strength so rapidly, and their goals are to support the Iyr as firm pillars.”

“That is their goal for now, but they are still young, and their goals could change,” Iromin said. It was not something which they could discuss at this age, for this conversation was had when they were twenty one at the earliest, but usually around twenty five years old.

“Even if it did, I hope that you are willing to allow them the chance to grow more powerful before the next year.” Zijin held the Chief’s eyes. He had come to inform the Chief of this matter right away, which would have usually been delayed, but he had come specifically to ask for it to be approved instead.

It was too soon.

That was the response Zijin had expected. There was a lot about the matter which needed to be thought about, from the company the three held, to the fact that two of the three had suddenly changed their intentions. Throughout the years, Jaygak and Kitool had aimed for a sensible position.

Steel was a decent rank for Jaygak, who had been born with a weak body, and though she was strong now, she was not quite as gifted as Jurot or Kitool. Kitool had the ability to reach for greater heights, though reaching the same heights as her grandaunt would have been slightly more difficult, it was still very decent for someone like Kitool.

“I will take it into consideration,” Iromin said, eventually. There was a lot to think about the matter, especially since there was an important figure who was involved.

“I have asked Adam to enchant for the Iyr during nightval,” Zijin said.

Iromin waited, wondering why Zijin had mentioned Adam in such a topic. He had the feeling that they had not moved on to a new topic.

“He wishes to become stronger too,” Zijin said, keeping the Chief’s eyes within his own. “I hope that you are willing to give him an opportunity.”

The Chief remained silent for a long while. He still wasn’t sure he had heard Zijin correctly. He had, somehow, asked for Adam to be included in such a right. “What has he done for you to speak on his behalf?”

“Has he not done enough for the Iyr? He has allowed us to test how his abilities work, and it has only been a great boon for the Iyr, one which deserves an appropriate reward.”

“To test his enchanting and to understand his abilities better, it benefits both Adam and the Iyr, and we have shown him much favour already.”

“Whatever you say, Iromin, even I know that Adam benefits the Iyr on a larger scale than we benefit Adam.”

“For now.”

Zijin stumbled for a moment, taking a pause. ‘Ah.’ It appeared to be the case that Zijin did not need to mention such a matter.

“The Iyr will soon change,” Iromin said. “Next year is going to be a difficult year. A Year of Silence, it will be called.”

Zijin bowed his head, retreating from the matter. Even if he wanted to help Adam, even he couldn’t press forward against something like that. Next year was truly going to be difficult for them, and for them to allow Adam to do such a thing before the year, it would become awkward for them all.

Iromin remained quiet for a long while. He had heard the tale, the tale of Adam and the others losing to Shama, who seemed to be quite close to Lord Strom. It was perhaps he and Shaool who knew best how strong the pair were, considering the Iyrmen had lost against Lord Strom, even with the help of Jarot and Otkan. Yet, Adam and the others had faced such a frightening foe, and not quite in the same friendly way he had.

“I would also consider allowing Adam’s companions to use some of our pools eventually,” Zijin said.

Iromin leaned further back, almost looking down at Zijin. The statement had shocked him the most. No, perhaps offering Adam use of the pools was more shocking. “Sharing the pool with outsiders?”

“We are not the only ones who possess such pools,” Zijin said. “Some cities have their own pools, though it is not known to all, the rumours have spread far and wide. We know many of the Orders also possess these pools, and it has been confirmed that the Iyr has a pool.”

A pool.

It was quite the understatement. Some even believed that the Iyr had a few more than just one, but the amount of pools the Iyr possessed, even Zijin didn’t know, and was certain there were some which were even secrets to him, the Chief of the Iyr. He assumed that each of the Elders knew of pools which only they knew of.

“Why are you going so far?” Iromin asked.

“He has been here for a year and a half, but already there are so many things which have changed,” Zijin said.

“These two matters are independent of one another.”

“I do not know for certain if they are, but is it really a coincidence?” Zijin asked. “Adam appeared and the Great Twilight appeared the same year, and so had Lord Strom. Even now, the Iyr has to prepare for something which has never before occurred, with Elder Stor-,”

“I understand your point, Elder Zijin,” Iromin said, stopping the words before he could hear them. The stress pinned the Chief for a moment, before he let out a long sigh. ‘Is it really because of just one man? No, not just one man, but several Anomalies…’

Yet, Iromin couldn’t help but remember. All this Chaos… Adam had mentioned the name Belle, too. Was it really because of the God of Chaos, who seemed to be missing from Adam’s previous world? A realm which was a mirror to this, yet so different, and yet, so similar too.

“The Great Elders will think about these matters,” Iromin assured. He sighed once more, the same sigh which revealed that the Chief thought this all to be troublesome.

Elder Zijin bowed his head, eating some more snacks, before finishing his juice. “Thank you, Chief.” He stood and bowed his head once more, before leaving. After a few steps, he stopped, causing Iromin more stress.

Zijin turned and smiled at the Chief. “Adam has more adorable children who have connections to him now.” He then continued off.

Iromin wondered why Zijin had said it so weirdly. Of course Adam had more children around him, considering the seven new children who had just been born. Yet, if that was what Zijin had meant, he would have said it much more simply.

‘Hmm?’ Iromin thought, a wandering thought tickling his brain. Due to all the stress, there were a large number of things which he had pushed to the back of his head.

Adam’s relationship with his Cousins was interesting. He was quite close to them all, and there was no doubt he would assist them in the future, considering how quickly he moved with his heart. However, it was not just that, but the fact that there were other children who had a connection with Adam.

The Great Elders had heard the matter from Lykan, who had explained it through a paper he had sent by burning.

‘The Goblins.’

Iromin tapped the table before him, before narrowing his eyes. ‘It couldn’t be…’ Iromin made a note to keep an eye out on the Goblin children.

Then the thought came to him about another group of children which had been adopted into the Iyr by someone related to Adam. ‘No. If it was true, Adam would have spoken to us.’

Iromin’s entire body tingled, and he bowed his head, the stress overwhelming him.

‘Please, Baktu.’