Welcome to Gaia! ::

via Moose on Discord
Coming back to Jauhar and settling hadn’t been as much of an adjustment as seeing his younger brother as a father. That…had taken some time, and while Eurig still grappled with the idea it was much easier to process now that the children were coming into their own. As little bundles they didn’t seem real, but now he could safely say his niece and nephew had him wrapped around their fingers.

Eurig hid a yawn behind his hand as he walked, the other stretching from one side of his torso to the other so the leafling could pop his back. It had been another long night and sleep had evaded him so he’d decided to come by to visit with the children and – Hadn’t he just seen Ares come this way? Between the flora and his general tiredness he’d lost track of the boy. “Ares?”

via Moose on Discord
“Your spear?” He shouldn’t be surprised, but Eurig’s brows still drew together as he came closer. As the boy came into view he craned his neck to get a better view of the stick and uttered a silent, exhausted, curse. Maybe he should have just stayed in bed – read a book, shaved his stubble – but now…he was already in too deep to leave.

“What’s wrong with it? Looks fine to me.” Certainly look about as spear worthy as a child could make, anyway. Was he old enough to even train with them? How old had the twins been when they started? How old was I? Ujana had started them all out with hand to hand early enough so to hear Aishans doing it earlier wasn’t as concerning as it might have been.

via Moose on Discord
“Oh, is that right?” He raised his brows, dramatically nodding his head with a surprised look. Ignoring the fact that of course Eurig knew as much about spears because his own Aishan mother wielded one, but for the sake of his nephew he could embellish a few features. Much like, say, the very same effort the boy was putting into being glib with him.

“Well, a proper spear is used by a proper warrior so yours looks about good for you then.”

via Moose on Discord
"I'm sure it will." Eurig smiled and with it came a cross of genuine support mixed with condescension. If his nephew believed he could make a worthy weapon then Eurig would do all he could to make it so. However, one couldn't let the brazen attitudes of little boys go unchecked, could they?

"So you'll be tough with your spear, but what happens if you drop it? Or if someone takes it from you? What will you do then?"

via Moose on Discord
"Why should I? You haven't asked for my help and it's only teasing-," Eurig lowered himself so that he was crouched on his knees, bringing him a little closer to Ares' height, "-because you're getting called out. If you get riled up like this all the time you'll never be a good fighter."

Which wasn't exactly true. His mother's emotions ran wild and she was unchecked on the battlefield. Since that wasn't the kind of lesson he wanted to give, though, Eurig just offered the same warm smile he'd kept since coming out here. "How about this? I can teach you hand to hand combat and in return you'll help me with chores around the tavern. I could use some help scrubbing tables and washing dishes." He was sure he could make some kind of arrangement with the boys parents for a few days out of the week. They might even be thankful for it.

via Moose on Discord
"Yep; just cleaning." At least until he was strong enough to help with the bigger stuff. Eurig wasn't about to saddle a kid with moving barrels and fixing tables. "If we work on the basics and build up your core by the time you're ready to hold a spear you'll have a head start."

Which was something Eurig suspected he might need. Sentiments toward hybrids had changed since he'd been a kid, but some worldviews remained and he hadn't known Aishans to be a flexible sort. They valued strength and commitment, that much he knew, so if Ares could show them his dedication he'd be set. As much as a boy could be in the sisterhood, anyway. "But it's a trade. The moment you stop doing chores I stop teaching you."

via Moose on Discord
Eurig's smile brightened. He wanted to reach out and ruffle his nephew's hair, just as he had when he was smaller, but...Well, he'd already made so many strides so why push him back?

"Sounds good. I'm excited; the last two I helped train was your dad and your Aunt Ika. Maybe one day you'll even be able to beat her." That one was definitely a stretch. Ika was...Eurig didn't want to ponder it. Ujana trained and fought for the thrill of it; Ika dedicated her life to it and trained as if war would break out any day. She was more than a little daunting on a good day but maybe...maybe Ares really could outseat her?

"It's a little late to get started on training, but we could work on a plan over lunch? If you're hungry."