Chapter 539: New Blood in Irun

Unlike their other trips, Kai was teleported into Irun with little idea where he was going. His only previous trip had been to the western regions, near the Frontier, and he knew a little about the northeast near Birtaegal. But this time the elites dropped off Mariyay in a southeastern city before leaving Kai and Omilaena in the far regions of Irun.

And the reason for that lay ahead: a straightforward gray building nestled among all of the spiky plants of Irun. The environment itself was familiar enough, so he was more interested in the fact that this was allegedly Tusquo's home. He hadn't seen the man in years, and all he had to go on was a brief letter in which Tusquo had accepted their invitation and invited them to meet directly.

"Nice little bungalow," Omilaena commented. "Adjacent to fuck all, though. Think Tusky and his wife are so loud they need the space so they don't bother people?"

"Omi, do I need to remind you about Irunians?" Kai asked wryly. Despite his tone, he was actually taken off guard, because her comment had reminded him that Tusquo was married now. On his last trip to Deadwaste, he'd missed meeting the man's wife due to her being away for training.

"Oh, I'll be on my best behavior. I want to play with delicious Irunian bodies, after all."

Kai cast her a flat stare.

"Got the last of it out, promise."

They headed toward the building, and the strange emptiness didn't last long. Tusquo appeared from within, his somber expression and gray robes matching the rest of the place and immediately making it feel more lived-in. Yet that expression might have cracked just slightly in a smile as he approached with rapid steps.

As they closed the distance, Kai quickly checked his old friend's soul.

<

Name: Tusquo Agyama of Irun

Total Power: 374

Manablade Class: 65 (75)

Physique Level: E-9 (107)

Soul Level: 7 (49)

Path of Steel: Steel 6 (93)

Ironpath Physique (+50)

>

It seemed like he'd advanced all his abilities since their last meeting, from his Manablade Class to his new Ironpath Physique, yet the total increase only brought him up to 374 total Power. He looked stuck at Physique E-9, reminding Kai that it really was a huge barrier on Deadwaste.

As they got close and clasped wrists, none of that mattered.

"Kai Clanless." Tusquo bowed and gripped his arm harder than normal. "It is good to see you again."

"It's been too long," Kai said, unable to stop a grin. "May I introduce my wife Omilaena?"

"We've met, of course, but I'm glad to meet you in your... new formal capacity." Tusquo went to clasp her arm as well, and Omilaena returned the grip and bow with surprising formality.

"Charmed," Omilaena said with exaggerated grace. All three of them began moving inward, past the outer gates. "I understand that you're married as well, but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your wife."

While they walked inside, Kai got a look at the outer courtyard. It wasn't so large, filled with various plants that were even more blade-like than usual. This was definitely an Irunian garden, likely planted and cultivated for this specific effect. Based on the fancy palaces with servants that Kai had seen, he guessed this garden was the work of one individual, perhaps a personal project.

"Regrettably, my wife is traveling in western Irun," Tusquo said as he opened the front door for them. "She sends her apologies that she could not greet you."

There was a whisper of a smile on Omilaena's lips, but she suppressed it. Kai guessed what she was thinking and had to admit that it had occurred to him as well. When they entered the spartan entrance room, he decided that Tusquo wouldn't mind the joke.

"You know," Kai said, "you keep talking about your wife, but there's always a reason why we can't meet her. One can't help but wonder if she's something of a myth."

"I see." Tusquo's smile was a strange one, and his eyes flickered inward. "As it happens, there is evidence of a sort."

Kai didn't understand at first until he felt a small presence, then he saw the child. He wasn't good with the age of children, but there was a little boy or girl only a few years old, staring at them from around the corner of the next room. They wore child-sized Irunian robes and a straight haircut, a stiff style he found surprisingly cute at that size.

"Hello, Ruotu." Tusquo bent down beside the child and touched their head with surprising affection. "Can you greet our guests?"

The child mumbled something inaudible.

"These are some of your father's old friends. It's good to be polite, isn't it?"

"Hello." Ruotu stepped out of the doorway and gave a little bobbing bow before retreating, first to their father's legs and then to the next room. Tusquo chuckled in a way Kai wasn't sure he'd ever heard before and straightened to speak to them.

"Forgive her, she's shy."

"You have a lovely daughter," Omilaena said with a polite smile. "How old is she?"

"Two and a half." Tusquo shook his head slowly. "Believe it or not, she's a handful. I'm glad that the incursions force us to space out children, because I don't know if we could handle two."

"But you want a larger family?"

"We hope to try for a son after the incursion."

Omilaena was handling the polite small talk while Kai was basically just trying to keep up. Tusquo had gotten married first, and now he even had a daughter. He decided that just standing there silently would be awkward, so he voiced his thoughts. "Seems like you're always ahead of me when it comes to stages of life. I've never put down roots anywhere, but now you're an Irunian leader with a family."

"Though the situation is reversed when it comes to power." Tusquo's fatherly expression flattened to business. "And on that note, I was heartened by your offer. We welcome your assistance, particularly as compared to Yuinafal's."

"Is that going to be a problem?" Kai asked. "I understand that he's been trying to block us, but I wanted to get your perspective on the entire thing."

"He is offering powerful resources, which will unquestionably strengthen Irun. The problem, as I see it, is that they threaten to replace our traditional arts entirely. Irun is not merely metal-working from any source, it is an ancient tradition."

"But his arguments are convincing others?" Omilaena asked.

"You well know that the source of our power is diminishing." Tusquo shook his head gravely. "And I cannot say for certain that they are incorrect, because the old ways may be the path to ruin. That said, I hope that they will not be lost, so I look forward to working with you."

"I have some new ideas. Good to see that you've been training that Ironpath Physique. Could be a good foundation for an overall Physique upgrade."

"Wait a minute," Kai said. "We want to help you, of course, but our competition with Yuinafal is based on training new Irunian warriors, isn't it? I understand that Yuinafal tried to take all of those from the academies for himself."

"So he did, but that is not such an advantage." Tusquo smiled narrowly. "The academies tend to produce exemplars in the conventional traditions, so their top students are strong, but limited. I know how Irunians seem to outsiders, but some of us are more flexible in our thinking."

"Like you gaining a Goralian Class?"

"Just so. But what I mean to say is that conventional students may be the least capable of absorbing these new arts, so I believe Yuinafal has made a strategic error. I can introduce you to some more unorthodox warriors, plus your wife will have many loyal volunteers after all she did for us before."

"I have to ask," Omilaena said, "how outside the law is this? I want as many resources as possible, but I don't want to disrupt your political situation."

"Yuinafal has great pull, because Irun needs to maintain its relationship to the Frontier elites, but you are a friend of Irun. This is all permitted, simply unusual."

"Speaking of that," Kai said, "I have a Goralian student back in the city who I'd like to take to the Insanity..."

He told Tusquo about Mariyay Hafkrir and her problems - Tusquo agreed that the Path of Steel had potential for her, but would need to discuss the matter with his superiors. It sounded like at minimum she could be tested and trained, so they'd go back to arrange things for her later.

After that, Omilaena and Tusquo discussed the details from their potential work, from Tusquo's personal training to the Irunian elites she had worked with last time. Kai was interested in all the details, but he had less to say in this discussion. The plan was for him to focus on his own training while taking care of any problems with Yuinafal, leaving the others to their work.

During the conversation Kai caught a glimpse of Ruotu peering from the other room, and he waved at her, but she only disappeared again. Still, he felt at ease now, having reunited with Tusquo and being welcomed into his home. They might have a difficult challenge, but they would be facing it with allies.

When he sensed a presence in the garden outside, Kai looked instinctively, in time to see a woman enter. She could only be Tusquo's wife, clad in the feminine cut of the classic Irunian robes. Her face had a sort of severe beauty, with elegant eyebrows that knitted together when she saw them.

<Shroud of Iron>

Kai instinctively checked her soul, only to find it blocked by a "Shroud of Iron" - that was interesting, because there weren't many Irunian shrouds, and this one actually blocked his enhanced spiritual sight. But he realized that the details might be secondary, because the woman sensed his sight and immediately glowered at him as if he'd caused offense.

"There you are," Tusquo said, stepping to her side. "Please let met introduce my wife, Quinta Agyama."

She did not look particularly pleased.