[1771-1780] - Y07.271-280 – Nightval is Overbearing (Patreon)

01

It was late in the night when the girl awoke. As her silver eyes opened, she took in the sight of the grey world, the ceiling tall above her. She rolled to the side, towards her father’s arm, and there, upon her father’s chest, she saw her elder sister, and beyond her, she could sense her younger brother. The girl’s eyes peeked up, towards her father, his sharp cut jaw, his long, thin nose, and then along his closed eyes to his leaf shaped ears. She reached up to her own ears, feeling their curves, as though checking to see if she was still his daughter. The girl turned, shuffling to her father’s side, and claimed his arm, her tail drooping on top of her elder sister lightly, as though to tell the girl that her younger sister was there, and she need not to worry. As the girl’s eyes stared at her father’s bicep, half covered by the sleeve of his shirt, she leaned in against her, rubbing her cheek against his bicep, and used it as a pillow to fall asleep once more.

She was six years old, and this would be one of the very many memories she would forget by the time she was older, but within her heart, she would remember it always. The chilly nightval air, which soothed her, Her brother’s scent, which was beyond her sister and brother. Her sister’s body under her tail. Her father’s bicep under her cheek. Although she would not remember, she would always recall it, the gentleness of this day.

“Oh my, oh my,” a voice called, causing the girl to stir, and she rolled to the side, towards her father, turning her head to face him. “You must have slept so well if you were drooling.”

“Daddy?” Kirot yawned, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand gently, and she half climbed on top of her father’s shoulder, staring down at his face, not quite understanding what he was saying, but seeing her father’s face, her tail swayed lightly from side to side.

“We are going to train, daddy?” Konarot asked.

“Why are you in such a rush to escape my arms?” Adam asked, hoisting his triplets into each other, squeezing them upon his chest, clasping his wrists together as the children squirmed upon him, squealing and cackling. “You punks! You think just because you’re so big now, you can dare to escape your father’s arms? Courting… trouble!”

“Trouble!” Konarot exclaimed, and as she squirmed, she was finally free, of her own strength, and she rolled off her father’s stomach, over her sister, who followed her a moment later, as Karot crawled over his father’s chest to follow his elder sisters, with their own strength, and not because their father had set them free.

Adam sat up, flexing his muscles, and as he spied the trio, they leapt onto their feet, and scrambled away, but he was upon them a moment later. As they rinsed their faces they readied themselves for their morning training, and Adam, greeting the new month, began his preparations to Awaken another Iyrman.

This morning, the nightval wind was biting with its chill, and as Adam threw a punch towards the three, he stared at it with an intensity. The intensity even caused his children to pause their training and watch, to watch him punching, but it was their father’s back they stared towards, for it was so wide, so expansive, greater than even the sky above them.

‘I’m still too weak,’ Adam thought. This was the morning after defeating a Grandmaster, unarmoured and biarmed. ‘I have to grow so strong, my children should have the audacity of the Princes and Princesses who have sucked dry the people beneath them, with the thoughts they deserved such fame, such power, such wealth. No. They should possess greater audacity than even the King and the Shen. That’s how strong I should become.’

As Adam threw a fist towards the three, his fist ended up a hair’s width from the bark. As he glared at the tree, he let out a soft sigh, and raised his arms around himself, like a bird unfurling its wings, and brought his palms to the earth.

‘Just you wait, you damn Reavers…’ Adam thought, staring at the tree ahead of him, but as he heard the steps behind him, he spun on his heel, clearing the snow under his feet, almost threatening to drown his third eldest daughter, who held a snowball within her hand, but was now covered in snow. “You seem to have forgotten. This father of yours, is your father.”

Jirot tossed the snowball onto her father’s leg, and glared up towards him. Adam glared down towards her in return, and then held out his hands, and as the girl noted the way he was holding out his hands, she turned, and fled away from her father.

“Kaka! Kaka! Save me!”

“Hyat!” Konarot leapt in front of her father, and Kirot followed behind her, each of them taking a position their greatmother had taught them, and as the trio squared off, Jirot panted for air, a shadow engulfing her. She stared up at the shadow. She blinked.

“Training hard?” Gangak asked.

“Hardly training,” Jirot replied.

The two smirked between one another.

“Nano, nano, nano,” called Konarot, rushing up to her greatmother. “Nano, thank you for my horns.”

Gangak blinked, furrowing her brows lightly, but she smiled. “What did your father say?”

“Daddy said we must thank you for our horns,” Konarot said, having not realised her father had easily defeated her by distracting her in such a way.

“I see…” Gangak reached down to pinch the triplets’ cheeks. “You are most welcome, my little Konagak, my little Kigak, my little Kagak.”

The triplets’ tails swayed adoringly as they stared up at their greatmother, who let out a soft sigh, and she reached down to pick them up, Konarot claiming her neck, Kirot and Karot each claiming an arm.

“Nano…” Jirot pouted for there was no space for her, until a shadow engulfed her, and the twins were picked up by their other greatmother.

“I have two arms, but no children to hold,” Adam grumbled, pouting.

“Do you wish to be held by your father or I?” Gangak asked.

“Nano…” Konarot buried her head into her greatmother’s bosom.

“Do you wish-,” Mulrot began, but Adam turned, sniffling, and he stormed off.

“I don’t need to hear it! I know the answer! I know it! This father of yours, do you think he is a fool?”

“Daddy, you did not hear my answer!” Jirot called out, letting out a huff.

“Jirot, you… I knew it! You are the one I trust most!”

“I pick nano, of coas!”

“Of coas!” came the echo.

Adam clutched at his heart, for though he had expected it, wasn’t his daughter still so cute? ‘Jirot! You! I knew I could trust you to bully me like this!’

As they returned, Vonda understood the children bullied their father well by the satisfaction upon his face. As the two exchanged kisses, Adam dropped down beside her, having finished quite a warm bath that morning.

“Darling, you need to eat more,” Adam accused. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but if you continue to slim down, they will think Pam is stealing all your food.”

“I will continue to train hard, so that my breath isn’t so laboured during my prayers,” Vonda replied, reaching to poke her husband’s nose.

“If that’s why…” Adam reached over and trailed a finger along the back of her hand. ‘Regardless of whether you’re a little thick, or a little thin, or a little muscular…’

Vonda flicked her husband’s forehead, since they were in public, causing him to pull back away from his thoughts.

The half elf cleared his throat lightly, turning towards his son, who climbed up beside him, the green skinned boy revealing to his father a plate of fruit, much of which he would feed to his mother and father, but he would accept a few bites from them too. Adam smiled, leaning down to kiss his son’s cheek.

‘You should be chubby though, little Jababy…’ Adam wrapped an arm around his son, claiming the boy for himself, as Jirot held a blade like finger towards her father, but since he was kissing her brother so well, she showed him mercy.

Just this once.

Meanwhile, as the gentle snow fell, Korin grasped his sword tightly in hand, and as he swung it violently through the air, his sweat poured through his heavy clothes.

“You’re still praying?” Dunes called, having finished his morning bath, having not seen Korin follow.

“I was beaten black and white by the Manager, and since I, too, am a Manager, shouldn’t I possess at least much strength as he?”

“I always forget Jonn is a Manager,” Dunes said. “He and I, we met Adam at roughly the same time, he shortly after I. I recall their fight, and back then, Jonn was quite talented, and under Adam’s light, he has grown quite well.”

“I will have to train twice as hard to chase after him then.”

Dunes stared at Korin’s silhouette, of a man he had known his entire life, and yet with the sword that was so desperate in his hand, he was almost a stranger.

‘I always thought you wished to become a Master to try and aim for Sara, but now that I see you, will you stop at merely a Master?’ Dunes thought, and yet, seeing his friend’s sword moving so desperately, he let out a soft sigh, and turned, wondering if perhaps he should have taken the path of an Oathsworn.

“Ahm!” called a little girl, rushing up to him with annoyance glistening upon her eyes. “Daddy is working too hard.”

“Indeed.”

“Ahm, my heart is wounded, and if you do not ease it, who knows what trouble I will cause…”

“You do not need to threaten me, my sweet niece,” Dunes said, reaching down to tickle Jarot’s cheek gently. “This ahm of yours, he will always ease your heart. Come, I will request permission to cast my magics for you.”

“I give you permission, ahm.”

“This ahm of yours does not wish to die.”

“You will not die, you are my ahm.”

“Indeed, but I am still no Iyrman.”

“Mm…”

“You must speak with the Elder on my behalf.”

“Elder Jaygak?” Jirot asked, her eyes glistening.

“Of course.”

“Of coas!”

Dunes chuckled, taking the children away to visit their favourite kako, who was now an Elder, so she was their favourite Elder, of coas.

02

It was upon this month, in which the snow continued to fall within the Iyr, in which the half elf approached the business, where he found a young fellow, a boy of ten, who stared up at him in surprise. He was still soft in the face, missing a tooth, and his hair was cut fairly short.

“How time has flown, young Omer,” Adam called, reaching out a hand, allowing Omer to low five, and as he held out his fist, the two bumped fists. As Adam held young Omer’s gaze for a long moment, he let out a soft sigh.

“You are well, Executive?” Omer asked, peeking up at the half elf, noting how he was slightly paler than typical, and if a man was so devoid of colour he must have been sick, or worse, Aldish.

“I am well, Omer, well, it’s just, thinking about how you are almost a man, it wounds my heart, for should you not remain small and cute forever, this nephew of mine?”

Omer smirked, and he sat a little taller, as the eldest of the children from Aswadasad, those who called Bilal their uncle.

“I hear you’ve been training well, but you are still a child, so don’t go too far. When you’re a little older, this ahm of yours, he’ll take you out, along with young Ali, and he’ll turn you into an Expert at least, and he’ll make sure you have some magical equipment, and a few pouches of gold, alright?”

“Thank you, ahm.”

“Executive,” Bilal corrected, causing little Omer to flush, and the half elf to huff.

“Since ahm Bilal… ah, right, now that I think about it, isn’t ahm Bilal older than me? I can’t exactly be your ahm either? Except most of you are younger than my children? Except, ahm Bilal, he was…” Adam wasn’t sure how much he was allowed to say, or even if he was remembering their story correctly, so he raised a hand and dismissed the air. “Either way, enjoy your birthday.”

“Yes!”

Adam winced lightly, but he turned towards Dunes, who carried a long case, and within it, a longsword, formed of fine steel. “I will entrust this sword to Manager Dunes, who will keep it safe for you until you are older, and maturer, and once you are ready, I’ll be sure to have it enchanted.”

Omer’s eyes sparkled. “Executive, can I play with it?”

“No!” Adam huffed, reaching down to pick him up by his pits. “A sword is dangerous! You can’t play with it! I’ll let you hold the sheathed sword to show off in front of everyone under the Manager’s guidance, but then you must put it away, okay?”

“Okay!” Omer flushed lightly as the Executive picked him up with such ease.

As the Executive stepped away, he trusted Dunes to watch over the boy, feeling the burn in his arms. ‘I can’t believe that little effort is making my arms tremble so much. Ah! I forgot to give him the gold…’

Adam could feel the weight of it all now. The other children, too, were roughly that age too. It wouldn’t be long before they would all begin to step out, though he hoped the business was adventurous enough for their liking, so they would remain within his arms forever.

Vonda reached out to pinch his cheeks, having waited for him, even when he mentioned he would remain for another hour to create a few more items, as he did most days. “What is it?”

“I’m too weak, aren’t I?” Adam replied, feeling his head begin to pound, and his tears threatened to slip down his face. “How am I going to protect them? They outnumber me almost a hundred to one, and even if you include the others, we’re still outnumbered, aren’t we? How are we going to protect them? What happens if someone attacks them? What happens if they’re killed? I can’t go around killing them all, can I? You’ll be upset, and then whoever is related to them will get revenge on them against the other children? Plus, what if I don’t raise them properly, and they’re the ones who cause trouble? I won’t be able to step forward, even if the others would, even when they’re in the wrong…”

Vonda wrapped her arms around her husband’s shoulders, pressing their cheeks together, and as she rubbed along the back of his head, she stared out towards the wall, with the understanding the half elf was currently suffering from the stress of Awakening so many Iyrmen. Her warmth spread through the young man, and as she pressed her cheek against his, she rubbed along his back.

“You will train them to become Experts, and you will request they remain until they are in their twenties, and by that time, they will marry, have children, and they will value the security you provide, and if there are some who will not, will they be as numerous as those will wish to stay?”

As Vonda spoke, Adam clutched at her even tighter, and as he held her close, he let out a soft sigh, the weight within his shoulders beginning to flow away. Yet, even then, the anxiety filled his heart, plaguing his mind.

“I should just make an Order…” Adam thought, wrapping his arms around his wife, and with that, the shame of being so pathetic in front of her flooded through his body, and he leaned in to plant a firm kiss against her neck. ‘What the hell am I doing?’

“Is the business not its own Order?” Vonda teased, brushing along his hair tenderly, and as her eyes fell down to his face, she leaned in to plant a firm kiss on his.

“Sorry, dear,” Adam whispered, holding onto his wife, whose weight atop him comforted him, glad she had pinned him within her arms.

“There is no need to apologise,” Vonda said, with the understanding she needed to do this, otherwise he could walk down the wrong path.

03

It was upon this month, in which the snow continued to fall within the Iyr, in which the half elf approached the business, where he found a young fellow, a boy of ten, who stared up at him in surprise. He was still soft in the face, missing a tooth, and his hair was cut fairly short.

“How time has flown, young Omer,” Adam called, reaching out a hand, allowing Omer to low five, and as he held out his fist, the two bumped fists. As Adam held young Omer’s gaze for a long moment, he let out a soft sigh.

“You are well, Executive?” Omer asked, peeking up at the half elf, noting how he was slightly paler than typical, and if a man was so devoid of colour he must have been sick, or worse, Aldish.

“I am well, Omer, well, it’s just, thinking about how you are almost a man, it wounds my heart, for should you not remain small and cute forever, this nephew of mine?”

Omer smirked, and he sat a little taller, as the eldest of the children from Aswadasad, those who called Bilal their uncle.

“I hear you’ve been training well, but you are still a child, so don’t go too far. When you’re a little older, this ahm of yours, he’ll take you out, along with young Ali, and he’ll turn you into an Expert at least, and he’ll make sure you have some magical equipment, and a few pouches of gold, alright?”

“Thank you, ahm.”

“Executive,” Bilal corrected, causing little Omer to flush, and the half elf to huff.

“Since ahm Bilal… ah, right, now that I think about it, isn’t ahm Bilal older than me? I can’t exactly be your ahm either? Except most of you are younger than my children? Except, ahm Bilal, he was…” Adam wasn’t sure how much he was allowed to say, or even if he was remembering their story correctly, so he raised a hand and dismissed the air. “Either way, enjoy your birthday.”

“Yes!”

Adam winced lightly, but he turned towards Dunes, who carried a long case, and within it, a longsword, formed of fine steel. “I will entrust this sword to Manager Dunes, who will keep it safe for you until you are older, and maturer, and once you are ready, I’ll be sure to have it enchanted.”

Omer’s eyes sparkled. “Executive, can I play with it?”

“No!” Adam huffed, reaching down to pick him up by his pits. “A sword is dangerous! You can’t play with it! I’ll let you hold the sheathed sword to show off in front of everyone under the Manager’s guidance, but then you must put it away, okay?”

“Okay!” Omer flushed lightly as the Executive picked him up with such ease.

As the Executive stepped away, he trusted Dunes to watch over the boy, feeling the burn in his arms. ‘I can’t believe that little effort is making my arms tremble so much. Ah! I forgot to give him the gold…’

Adam could feel the weight of it all now. The other children, too, were roughly that age too. It wouldn’t be long before they would all begin to step out, though he hoped the business was adventurous enough for their liking, so they would remain within his arms forever.

Vonda reached out to pinch his cheeks, having waited for him, even when he mentioned he would remain for another hour to create a few more items, as he did most days. “What is it?”

“I’m too weak, aren’t I?” Adam replied, feeling his head begin to pound, and his tears threatened to slip down his face. “How am I going to protect them? They outnumber me almost a hundred to one, and even if you include the others, we’re still outnumbered, aren’t we? How are we going to protect them? What happens if someone attacks them? What happens if they’re killed? I can’t go around killing them all, can I? You’ll be upset, and then whoever is related to them will get revenge on them against the other children? Plus, what if I don’t raise them properly, and they’re the ones who cause trouble? I won’t be able to step forward, even if the others would, even when they’re in the wrong…”

Vonda wrapped her arms around her husband’s shoulders, pressing their cheeks together, and as she rubbed along the back of his head, she stared out towards the wall, with the understanding the half elf was currently suffering from the stress of Awakening so many Iyrmen. Her warmth spread through the young man, and as she pressed her cheek against his, she rubbed along his back.

“You will train them to become Experts, and you will request they remain until they are in their twenties, and by that time, they will marry, have children, and they will value the security you provide, and if there are some who will not, will they be as numerous as those will wish to stay?”

As Vonda spoke, Adam clutched at her even tighter, and as he held her close, he let out a soft sigh, the weight within his shoulders beginning to flow away. Yet, even then, the anxiety filled his heart, plaguing his mind.

“I should just make an Order…” Adam thought, wrapping his arms around his wife, and with that, the shame of being so pathetic in front of her flooded through his body, and he leaned in to plant a firm kiss against her neck. ‘What the hell am I doing?’

“Is the business not its own Order?” Vonda teased, brushing along his hair tenderly, and as her eyes fell down to his face, she leaned in to plant a firm kiss on his.

“Sorry, dear,” Adam whispered, holding onto his wife, whose weight atop him comforted him, glad she had pinned him within her arms.

“There is no need to apologise,” Vonda said, with the understanding she needed to do this, otherwise he could walk down the wrong path.

04

'It's really rough Awakening so many Iyrmen,' Adam thought once he was done, his face gaunt and pale, and he thought of his children's reactions. He stared down at his hands, noting how even the colour of the world seemed to fade away. Adam clenched his fist, finding how difficult it was, but as he slowly stood, allowing the Iyrman to step away, they turned to face him, and bowed their head respectfully, and Adam smiled in return, thinking to make a joke, but he decided against it.

As Adam stepped out, feeling the cool nightval air, he allowed the wind to caress him tenderly, and as he stood there, he felt the burn, the ache, and as he raised his hand, he felt the effort it required. It was humbling, almost, for this half elf, who fought a great many warriors, and yet, at this time, he felt as though he could tumble over, no longer the great oak, but a willow.

'I should have asked the Iyr to let me rest elsewhere for the week...' Yet, at the thought of not being able to see his children in such a weakened form, it wounded his throbbing heart. 'It seems I'll have to work extra hard next year...'

Adam inhaled sharply, the crisp air filling his lungs, and as he opened his eyes, staring at the large walls of the Iyr, he took in their sight. The stone, solid, covered in a sheen of white, and though the snow bore so heavily, the stone, newly formed, did not shudder.

'If only they could see me deal with all the Reavers,' Adam thought, staring at the wall long and hard, and as the snow piled, snow fell across the front, a small avalanche. As Adam raised his hand, he swallowed the snow whole within his hand, and then, let his heavy thoughts float away in the nightval air.

"Daddy!" called a voice with great strength, the girl rushing up to her father, prompted by her mother to not only behave, but to be nice, and behind her, a boy followed, along with another pair, and a set of triplets began to slowly drag themselves awake, noting the way their father appeared.

"My dear..."

"Virot, Damrot, daddy is back," Jirot said, pointing towards Adam, as though they did not quite understand who she was talking about. "You must give daddy hug and kiss."

Jirot, so wise was she, even as Virot made to inhale to refuse, she held up her arms, and bullied her father lightly, causing him to drop down to a knee, hugging the girl tightly, the pair exchanging kisses, Adam doing the same with little Jarot.

Virot whined, and charged her father, until he relented, hugging her tightly, and planting kisses upon her cheeks, and Damrot was soon under his uncle's affection, before, finally, the triplets were able to fall under the shadow of their father's affection.

Larot blinked. His eyes slowly trailed towards the side, towards Jirot, who had betrayed him, and had picked him up to offer him to his father. As the boy glared towards his father, Adam leaned in, and pretended to kiss the boy, though hugged him tightly. Larot compromised, allowing the one who called himself the little one's father to do such a thing.

Xarot pouted upon seeing his father, and revealing he was his sister's brother, made to cry, causing great trouble through the complex, as he set off the other little ones to cry, from little Monarot to little Pamarot.

"Xarot..." Jirot called, her voice heavy, but she could not tell him off, for he was crying rightly, and she hugged the boy tight. "It's okay! Daddy is strong!"

Xarot's piercing scream filled the air, causing Jirot to stumble away, her ears ringling, though a finger upon her cheek was so warm.

Lay on Hands: 50 -> 49

The ringing stopped, and the girl turned to her father, flushing lightly. "Daddy! You cannot use magic!"

"If my daughter is hurt, of course I will use magic!"

"Of coas!" came the echo.

"Daddy! If you are like thi-," Jirot began, holding up a finger, but a shadow loomed over her, and as the girl slowly turned her head to see her mother, she closed her eyes. "Thank you so much, daddy."

"Did you bully her?" Adam teased, holding his wife's gaze.

"If I bully my daughter, who can stop me?" Vonda replied, lifting up the girl, planting a firm kiss against her cheek, doing the same for her son, but then she was forced to do so for all the other children about. By the end of it, little Xarot was sucking his thumb, his entire form splayed out upon his mother's front, and as Adam peeked over to him, the boy turned his head, looking away.

'I swear it wasn't this bad last time.'

"Daddy, you must rest for the next week," Jirot said. "I will run the games of Warriors and Wanderers, and you must listen to the stories, and draw, and only play lightly, okay?"

"Okay."

"You brat!" came a shout. "I was wondering why you were gone for so long, it was because..."

The old one armed Iyrman had to pause, because otherwise he would speak too much, and though they were among good company, the wind would carry his voice. As little Jirot marched up to him, the old man turned, clasping his hands behind his back.

"I must go speak with the Elders! How dare they treat my grandson like this! My grandson, who is so weak, and not tough at all, and-,"

"Jirot, if your greatfather does not stop, this father of yours, he will ask you for help to beat him well," Adam said, for at this time, the children could not hear such things about their father, no matter how true it may be.

Little Jirot rolled up her sleeves, and as the old mean half leapt away, Adam, his twins, the pair who followed the twins, and even the triplets began to chase after the old man.

They perhaps understood the darkness which had begun to take root within their great father's heart, but not the darkness which had begun to take root within their greatfather's heart, as the old man's heart pulsed, and throbbed, and though, in nightval, he had begun to see his hands shake once more, he would not allow his heart to die just yet, for there were Reavers to kill, Aldish to kill, and greatchildren to spoil, which just so happened to be related to the first two matters.

05

Adam's stomach raised, only a tiny amount, and as he opened his eyes, he understood why it was so difficult for him to breathe. His eldest daughter remained laying over his stomach, threatening to force him to choke, he remained under her, with her tail curled behind her. His arms, too, were pinned down, by her younger siblings, who did not show their father mercy either, even when he was so thin and gaunt.

Eventually little Karot stirred, rolling off his father's arm, and as he awoke, he turned, looking back to his father, and his sisters, and as he rubbed his sleepy eyes, his father reached out, ruffling his hair lightly. The boy smiled, flushing, and he crawled over, and nuzzled his face against his father's neck.

"Did you sleep okay?"

"Good."

"Did you have nice dreams?"

"Mm."

"What did you dream of?"

"I don't know."

Adam leaned in, rubbing his cheek against his son's, who stared up at his father, and the boy smiled shyly again, hiding his eyes behind his hands, and then as he cracked his fingers open to peer through them, he found his father staring through the gap, and the boy hid his head within his father's neck once more, giggling lightly.

"I guess it's time to have a bath and pray with mummy..." Adam said, looking down at his daughters as they also began to awaken, and as their eyes fell up to meet their father's, they all hugged tightly.

Konarot squatted and leapt up, reaching out her hand, "I will help you up, daddy."

"Oof..." Adam groaned, as his triplets each waddled up to him and began to pick him up, the trio's tails swaying, as they helped him up onto his feet. Adam inhaled sharply, and kept his pain within him, allowing his chidlren to lead him out to go bathe.

Adam held his wife's gaze, noting the smile upon the woman's face, who was enjoying the great pain, and the adoration of the children who were looking out for him. Meanwhile, little Jirot sauntered her way towards her mother, hugging her leg aggressively.

"What is wrong?" Jirot asked.

"Bad dream."

"Karot doesn't remember his, but it was good, so maybe he stole away all the good dreams from you."

"Sorry, Jirot..." Karot pouted.

"Karot, you cannot allow daddy to tease you like this."

Karot looked up towards his father, pouting.

"I'm sick! You can't treat me like this!"

"I think daddy is doing it on purpose now..." Jirot half accused, the girl holding her mother's gaze, the woman's lips forming a wide smile.

After their bath, the children joined their mother and their father in prayer, although it was led by their mother, and their father merely assisted them.

"Daddy, even though Mother Soza is asleep, it does not mean you can bully mummy." Jirot held her finger up to her father.

"Do I bully mummy?"

"So incorrigible," the girl said, turning her head, holding her mother's hand as they made their way to eat breakfast.

"What did your father do this time?" Jurot asked.

"I had a bad dream today."

"A nightmare?"

Jirot narrowed her eyes, not wishing to admit she had a nightmare, for she was a big girl now. However, the shadow of a pair of arms wrapped around her, and as Adam pulled her up onto his lip, he planted kisses all over her face, and as he stared down towards Little Jarot, the boy blinked, and was suddenly within the shadow of his father’s affection.

“Do not worry! Within these arms of mine, who can hurt you?” Adam asked, as though he was his grandfather, for while he was the Mad Grandfather, wasn’t he the Crazy Father? As the half elf continued to kiss the pair, Jirot turned to Konarot, with the understanding that today she and Jarot would need to take care of their father.

It was upon that day in which Jirot and Jarot read to their father, even as their siblings went out with their babo to train, and their babo stared down at the twins, however, he came across a green wall whose amber eyes were so resolute.

“Do you understand, babo?” the girl asked.

“I understand,” the elder replied, and with that, he allowed the children their heart, for though one’s body must be trained daily, sometimes, there was something more important than one’s body they needed to take care of.

Jirot read to the half elf, sitting upon his lap, as little Jarot remained beside her and their father, leaning against his father’s bicep, and every so often, their father would bring a small block of cheese to their lips, or a cup of milk, or water, and little Jarot, over the course of the hour, half sleepy that he was, listened well, and had eaten quite a bit of cheese, roughly five small blocks.

‘Oh. I need to feed him something else, probably…’ Adam thought, considering the pain eating only cheese caused, and so as they took their break, he brought them over a potato, which the trio shared, for it was a large potato, and as they ate their potato, Adam felt their weight, their warmth, against him. Then, finally, it was his turn to read to them, and as he did so, a pair of shadows appeared, and there, Dunes and Korin appeared, their eyes falling upon the half elf and the children.

“…”

“…”

As the two pairs stared between one another, while the fool of a father remained trapped between the two forces, still, the Aswadians stepped forward.

“Adam, our Jirot, our Jarot,” Dunes called, carrying with them bottles, though thankfully they were of a juice from the Iyr, rather than anything alcoholic, and as they settled themselves opposite the half elf and the twins, they began to pour the drinks for them. “I heard your father was sick, so I came to accompany him, but it seems your father has better company?”

“Ahm, if you understand, I will show you mercy…” Jirot said, her eyes holding the older Aswadian’s eyes.

Dunes smiled. “I suppose then I will be unable to read to my niece and nephew, nor my akh?”

“Daddy, ahm Dunes is so smart too?”

“He is a Priest.”

“Ah. Of coas!”

“Of course!”

06

Korin held Adam within his sights, and considered him for a long moment. It was this Adam, whose cheeks were cut so sharp, who was so gaunt, who was considered one of the strongest beings he had ever met, greater than a great many of the great warriors whose names were known so greatly across the lands, and yet could the word great be used to describe a man who looked like this? He supposed, perhaps, it wasn’t as though Adam wasn’t great, for seeing him like this, still eagerly holding onto his children as Dunes read to them, pampering them with his attention, his affection, that this young man was perhaps greater than great.

Korin wondered if, perhaps, the half elf was such a great figure purely because of his children. An Adam without his children, what kind of Adam would that be? Would that be an Adam who had grown to this height, with this great strength, or would it be an Adam who did not have the need, the drive, the hunger, to become this powerful?

"Daddy, it is time for a nap, because you are sick, you must nap," Jirot said, hopping off her father, holding out her hand towards the half elf.

"I should at least host your ahms since they came all this way, shouldn't I?"

"No. You must nap. You are sick, daddy, you are a patient, and my patience is running out, and away, and it is as fast as nano," Jirot warned, the girl still holding her hand away.

"If you wish to cuddle with this father of yours, you can be honest," Adam said, causing the girl to blink, and she closed her eyes, taking a long moment to swallow down the hope within her heart.

"Daddy..."

"Okay, okay." Adam hoisted himself up with great effort, and he reached down, and with greater effort, he lifted the twins up.

"Daddy..." Jirot called, worried.

"This father of yours, he can hold you all at least, for you are still so small and cute, my Jirot, my Jarot, who trouble me the least..." Adam said, though as Jarot nested against his chest, the boy could feel the way his father's heart pounded so violently with the great effort required.

Korin was certain the only reason the half elf was so great was because of his children, and as he waved at the children, he turned his head towards Dunes, who let out a soft sigh, also waving towards the children. Yet, Korin's sigh was deeper, and his heart grew heavier, and he was taken by a great sullenness.

"I hate you," Korin said.

"What did I do?" Dunes replied, but Korin was already marching away.

It was within a particualr room of a particular complex that a particular girl dragged the blanket over, and as she squatted besider her father, she half fell against his hand, as he guided her down beside him, and the blanket soon engulfed the trio.

"Daddy, you-," Jirot began, but as her father's large arm swallowed her whole, the girl fell within his embrace, and the two held one another tightly. Little Jarot, too, cuddled up beside his father, within his father's large arm.

"I'll get better," Adam assured, staring up at the ceiling, feeling their gazes upon him, peeking down to meet their amber eyes, full of such worry. "It's a magical exhaustion, not quite an illness. I just need to eat, drink, sleep, and then it'll get better naturally over time."

"You are always working so hard, daddy..." Jirot whispered, pressing her head upon his chest, and wrapped her arm around him.

“This father of yours, he has to work hard, but once he’s done working hard, he can spoil you, right?”

“Right…”

As they cuddled, Adam felt their weight against his side, feeling their heads against his biceps, the two sucking their thumbs as they lay, quiet. He could feel his daughter’s thoughts spilling out against him, and to his side, he could feel little Jarot’s fingers trailing across his shirt, clutching it tightly in hand, as though refusing his father to escape from his grasp. As the half elf closed his eyes, he considered his children, just these two for now, those he had to pay special attention to.

‘I hope the other children aren’t upset…’ Adam thought, trying to balance the fact that his children were Iyrmen, and though the eldest trio would also come across great trouble, and then there was little Larot, while the rest would only know trouble near Floria or so, it was Jirot, who would certainly cause great trouble in the future, and little Jarot, who was so meek, and took the name of his greatfather, the one they called the Mad Dog, he needed to watch over the most.

As the half elf tensed up, his face taut, he could feel the guilt within his heart begin to explode, but he fought away the tears.

‘What am I thinking about? I need to spoil them all!’

The twins were fast asleep by the time their father pulled them closer towards his chest, his entire body engulfed in a chill of anxiety, as though trying to refuse the world’s treatment of his children, the children who were so sweet, and were so lovely, and did not deserve to be treated that way.

Adam let out a soft exhale, and in his exhausted state, glared at the ceiling. He saw the faces of the Vice Commander, the Grand Commander, the Grand Malawi. Then, the flashes of the Radiant Blade’s eyes, which held the audacity of a woman that did not know her place, daring to glare at his children, at his greatuncle.

‘What am I thinking about so deeply?’ the half elf thought, slowly closing his eyes. ‘I need to spoil my children more.’

Adam’s thoughts came upon how many magical items he could enchant, and how many warriors he could court, and the amount of warriors he needed in order to form a small army to keep them away, those who would dare to cause trouble.

‘I should just become a Duke again.’

07

“Daddy, can you hear me?” called the gentle voice, a whisper against the half elf’s soft ear.

A moment of silence passed.

“I am glad you are my daddy.” A pair of lips, gentle as a cloud, pressed against his cheek.

A moment of silence passed.

The silence continued.

It was a long silence.

Then, Adam stirred, inhaling deeply, and he opened his eyes slowly, looking down towards his daughter, who he had to pretend he hadn’t noticed what she had done, then to little Jarot, who, though shy, was not as shy as his twin sister.

Jirot stirred a moment later, and since she was who she was, she was the one who was best at acting, rubbing her eyes lightly, staring up towards her father. The girl was equally as impressive as her father in acting, for Adam would never have guessed, and it didn’t seem as though the girl had noticed her father had been awake almost the entire time.

As the trio embraced one another, the children hopped onto their feet, with their father’s help, his large hands against their backs, and he felt their hands against his arms and shoulder as they helped him up, stifling a grunt as he stood. Adam paused a moment, inhaling sharply, and squatted, picking up both of his children within his arms, and as the fire of the twinge within his body spread through him, he let out a growl, waddling forward with twitching legs.

‘Okay, maybe I should never ever Awaken another Iyrman ever again?’ Adam thought to himself, with the knowledge he wouldn’t be able to do that. Awakening an Iyrman was too useful, to be able to assist the Iyr in his unique way, and the way the Iyrman would be able to assist the business, the utility of assisting everyone else around him, in exchange for his family worrying for him. If his children would be upset by it all, then he would just need to figure out a way to overwrite their sorrow, their worry, with his great strength.

Adam’s form was large, but in the way that it cast a long shadow, a dark shadow, and Vonda’s heart dropped, her entire body filling with quite the chill, although the shadow swiftly disappeared as the half elf smiled, beaming at the children, and his wife, though she kept an eye upon him the rest of the day.

It was one thing for Adam’s depression to take him, but it was another thing for them to allow it to fester, for it was a curse, the kind that would threaten not the world, but himself, and as Vonda’s eyes fell upon Jurot, he bowed his head, having sensed it too.

Thankfully, that afternoon and evening, there were those they could trust, for the trio were led by the eldest of the children, and so courageous were these children, who half engulfed their father in their affection, for after their afternoon nap, and with the snow all around them, they were full of a fire, these children with their silver scales and tiny horns.

“Daddy, I can cook for you?” Konarot asked.

“Uh, maybe later, when you’re a little older, I mean, you can ask mummy, and she’ll help you cook, and then you can cook with Kirot and Karot, and we can all cook together, and surprise your little kakas and papas, okay?”

“Okay!” Konarot replied, beaming up with a smile. The girl then rolled her dice, and as she stared down at them, she rubbed her chin. “Daddy, what does a seven mean with these two dice?”

“Seven is the most common number, so it’s to be expected, and if it’s a seven, let’s say it’s a pass?” Adam replied.

“Yay! Daddy, I passed.”

“Why are you so happy about passing when you’re cleaving me with a giant monster?” Adam asked, leaning forward towards his daughter, his brows furrowed. The girl blinked. She flushed lightly, and smirked, side eyeing her father lightly, and picked up the dice once more. “Isn’t it Kirot’s turn?”

“Yes!” Kirot replied, picking up her dice, as Konarot palmed her face, and allowed her sister to go.

Karot stared down at his sword, trying to understand how, even though the bonus was smaller, it was bigger. ‘Daddy is so bad with numbers…’

Adam peeked down at his son who was thinking something so offensive, but he showed mercy to the boy, reaching down to brush his hair tenderly. Once the trio were done, with Konarot leading the game, Kirot assisted with writing down the notes, many of them scribbles, and yet somehow the girl understood what they meant, and as Karot managed to draw something wonderful during the session, they all went on an afternoon walk.

“Daddy, when I am a big girl, can I turn into a dragon?” Konarot asked.

“You may be able to, with some magic.”

“Can Oathsworn Fighters turn into dragons?”

“You aren’t just an Oathsworn Fighter, you are your father’s daughter, so you will be able to learn a little bit of magic, like Polymorph, although you have to be careful with True Polymorph, because if you end up staring a dragon for too long, you will remain a dragon forever, and you will be too big, and daddy will be unable to pick you up, and it will break his heart.”

“Daddy, I’m going to be a big silver dragon forever,” Konarot said, cackling lightly, for she was her sister’s sister.

“Daddy! I will be a big, mm, red dragon!” Kirot declared.

“Why a red dragon?”

“I want to be like nano,” Kirot admitted, flushing slightly.

“Oh ho? Oh my, oh my, you are so cute, my dear. If you wish to be like nano, you can be like nano, that’s okay.” Adam tickled her head. “What about you, Karot? Do you want to be a dragon too?”

“I want to be…” Karot thought for a long moment. “I want to be a shield.”

“A shield?”

“Then, daddy, I can catch all the swords, and you will not be hurt.”

“K-Karot!” Adam cried, picking up his son with ease, planting firm kisses all over his face, before doing the same for his triplet. ‘My children! They’re so cute!’

Jurot let out a soft sigh as the half elf returned from his later afternoon walk, though he wore the two who would deal with the darkness which threatened to bloom, the ones known as Damrot and Virot, and, if they did not assist, he would have to entrust in a particularly chonky, reliable little girl.

08

The sun’s rays were meek this day, as it had been throughout the season of nightval, in which grey and white took to the sky, and imposed itself across the land. Yet, upon this day, a particular child wore green attire, for it was time for her to assist. She was red of skin, her eyes like rubies, and as she held the piece of paper in front of her, staring at the few words upon it.

“Cousin Adam?” the girl asked, holding onto her chin in great thought.

“That’s right.”

“Mm,” the girl replied, nodding her head emphatically, her curly black hair bouncing as she did so. “Sick?”

“Yes.”

“Mm,” the girl replied, nodding her head emphatically, her curly black hair bouncing as she did so. “Not good.”

“Not good at all.”

“Mm,” the girl replied, nodding her head emphatically, her curly black hair bouncing as she did so. The girl held up her hand, and beckoned him down towards her. “Come!”

Adam leaned down, and the girl grabbed at his head, and tip toed to kiss his cheek, and she pulled back, examining his face.

“Kiss booboo,” Kavgak stated. “Better?”

“I’m feeling a little better.”

“Mm…” Kavgak tapped her chin lightly, deep in thought, and she turned, looking towards the piece of paper once more, and then back to her cousin, who was still so pale, still so gaunt, and she tapped her chin with her finger. “Cousin! Come!”

The girl stormed her way towards a particular figure, a woman who was tanned, her striking eyes warm, tender, and as she eyed up the pair, she noted the way the girl wore green, the kind of green that was almost black, and today, she was a Shaman, the woman supposed.

“Cousin Ray!” Kavgak called. “Cousin Adam sick. You must heal.”

“You are the Shaman,” Vonda accused.

“Yes,” Kavgak declared, for she was indeed a Shaman this day.

“What did you do?” Vonda asked.

“I kiss!” Kavgak stated, and she raised her shoulders, her hands splayed out towards the woman. “Cousin Adam still sick!”

“I will try to help…” Vonda said, leaning in towards Adam. Adam’s heart skipped a beat, her breath against his cheek, her warmth flashing against his skin, her lips, soft, tenderly, against his bare skin.

“Cousin Ray, so good! Cousin Adam so red. Not sick.” The girl reached into her cloak, and then glanced down towards her pocket, and scribbled something onto her paper. “All done!”

As Kavgak sauntered off, to take the paper to her other cousin, Jurot, Adam’s eyes slowly trailed to Vonda, who hid her lips within each other, her smile expanding further out, reaching her eyes, which sparkled with such tender delight.

“If you don’t stop seducing me…” Adam warned.

“What will you do?”

‘Damn it,’ Adam thought, as his wife return shot was far too terrifying. The half elf let out a soft sigh, and as a shadow emerged on the pair, Jurot’s eyes stared at the pair, the accusation loud within his eyes, but he understood what Kavgak had thought. Even so, she had managed to return the colour to his face, even if she did end up cheating by invoking the Ray.

A pair of footsteps rushed over, stopping as though the girl hit an invisible wall, half skidding across the floor. It was the fasted they had ever seen the little girl, who was a little less little than the other little children about. Her red skin peeked out from her coat hood, which was fluffier than even potatoes, so a child would say.

“Cousin Adam…” Tavgak blinked, holding the half elf’s gaze. “Better?”

“I’m feeling a little better, but this cousin of yours, he needs a few more days in order to recover,” the half elf assured, reaching down, and as he brushed the girl’s cheek, she blinked, and smiled, flushing slightly. Adam stood, grunting, and picked her up, holding the girl within his arms, his back screaming towards him, arms burning. “This cousin of yours, he’s still strong enough to pick you up, right?”

“Right…”

“I’m still strong, aren’t I?”

Tavgak flushed, slowly bowing her head, but hid her face within his neck.

Adam’s heart ached, and he closed his eyes. The only positive he could think of was the fact that this was the last month in which he could…

Adam looked aside, away from Tavgak, his eyes closed as to not reveal his thoughts.

Oh.

Dear.

It was the eleventh month.

“Cousin…” Tavgak called.

“You think you can bully me because you are such a big girl, huh?” Adam grumbled, leaning down to nuzzle the girl, who blinked up towards him innocently, and turned her head, flushing.

“Yes…”

“Tavgak!” Adam gasped, planting firm kisses along her cheek, the girl squealing and squirming, until the half elf dropped her, and as the two smaller, but chonky girls had rushed up towards their cousin, they paused, as Tavgak retreated, and the girls also screamed, running away from the half elf who stomped his way after them.

Laygak’s eyes followed the children, their steps leading them in a circle around the estate, and as they fled from their cousin, they turned, seeing he had stopped, but upon seeing them, he pointed towards them, and called out to the girls, and this time his steps were swifter, so the next time they turned, they found he was right behind them, causing the girls to scream, and they fled away from the half elf with greater favour.

The young Iyrman’s lips formed a wide smile, and he let out the most satisfied sigh, though as he smiled, it began to grow heavy, and the burden spread throughout his shoulders. Then, as he chopped through the air, it was as though he chopped through his anxiety, and he forced the thoughts away. As he turned his head, he found a particular little girl staring towards him, the one girl who perhaps shouldn’t have seen him that way.

“…”

“…”

“I request that you show me mercy.”

“We will see, papo,” the girl replied, sipping from her cup of sour milk.

09

It was upon this day, the sky cast by white and grey, that the figure, whose shadow cast far and wide, sauntered to and fro. It was this figure, tall, thick, built like a wall, for he was the grandson of a particular fellow, and he wore a wooden club at his side, his hand out, waving across any figure he could see, or any he could not.

"You are working hard," called a voice, of a figure who was recovering, their gaunt face almost disappearing from the world, all the while they cut an apple.

The figure's eyes darted to Adam. A gentle smirk took his lips. "Hardly working."

Adam narrowed his eyes, and side eyed the figure, the two continuing to side eye one another. "If you're working hard, you can have part of my apple."

Gurot wiped his head, letting out a huff, like his father would when he would work upon the field, and shuffled up to his cousin, who handed him the treasures that were such delicious apples, and those from his cousin’s fingers were the third greatest treasures, and the third most delicious apples, after his mother’s and father’s.

“I always feel reassured with you, my dear Gurot,” Adam said, offering another apple slice to his cousin, who raised a brow towards him.

“I am big. I am strong. I will take care of you, cousin Adam.”

“I am so relieved with you taking care of me, my big, strong, reliable cousin Gurot.”

Gurot smiled, content as a mouse having eaten a giant block of cheese, but he opened his lips for more apple slices. It was Gurot who was perhaps as reliable as Kavgak when it came to watching over him, for as Kavgak had taken the role of a Shaman, Gurot had taken the role of a guard, to make sure no Aldishman could further curse the gaunt half elf.

As though hearing her name upon the wind, Kavgak sauntered up to the half elf, reaching out to his knee, almost slapping it, the girl blinked, and her eyes darted up to meet her cousin’s eyes. “Cousin Adam bettuh?”

“I am better.”

“Good,” Kavgak replied, patting his knee lightly. Her finger became accusatory, pointing directly up at him., “Comfohtable?”

“I am comfortable, yes, thanks to Gurot.”

Kavgak turned, looking to Gurot, who finished his apple slice. “Of coas.”

“Of coas,” Gurot echoed.

‘To think even you’ve been corrupted this way,’ Adam thought, though his heart gently throbbed, and he smiled.

Thankfully, Tavgak, Maygak, and Faygak each watched over the half elf once Gurot was done, who went to play with his brother, changing shifts, or so they said, though when the three girls watched over Adam, it was he who read to them, allowing little Tavgak to change the pages, for she was so gentle, and then Faygak, and as Maygak reached up, Adam understood the book would suffer, yet, the girl managed to pull the page with such a swiftness, it sharply struck the air, whipping lightly, before slowly floating down, and even as she pushed down with a finger, since it was upon the corner, she managed to turn the page without a single crease.

“Maygak! Look at that! You are so gentle, just like Faygak!” Adam planted a firm kiss upon the girl’s cheek, who smiled shyly, a satisfied escaping her lips. Adam revealed the paper to all the children.

“Wao!” Konarot gasped, and the children, all gasped in awe with her.

Maygak flushed even harder, burying her head within Adam’s chest, her tiny horns pressing against his chest. The large hand upon her head caused the girl to bury her head further, marking his skin with a bruise, though as her cousin picked her up, the girl whimpering lightly, he allowed her to hide her head within his neck, and planted a kiss on her cheek.

“Our Maygak is growing up to be so big…” Adam whispered, tapping the girl’s back lightly.

“Maygak. Big.”

“Since you are so big, you can read for us, can’t you?”

“Maygak. Small.”

“Right, right, you are so small, aren’t you, Maygak?” Adam peppered kisses all over his cousin’s cheek, and as the children swarmed him, he peppered kisses all over them too. He was still lightly pale, lightly gaunt, but he was heavily foolish.

As the days passed, the other children also watched over him, from the strong, dependable, mighty Inakan, who watched over him well for a few minutes before she was too tired to do so, to little Mokan, who watched over him well, for a few minutes before he had to watch over his elder sister.

Minakan stared up at the half elf. The girl blinked. She turned, with the understanding the half elf understood.

Alykan turned her head, blinking towards the half elf, and followed after her elder sister, with the understanding the half elf understood.

Jitool, thankfully, was as wise as her eldest sister, and so read to the half elf, turning to check upon him, as though during her reading he had managed to heal. Minool was away, like Minakan, the two solitary figures, though one was a little swifter than the other. Maool, too, sat and read, the girl taking the book from her cousin every so often to read. Jazool sat, listening intently, and it was she who managed to claim her cousin’s lap, though she had forced Larot to sit nearby.

‘How is it that Jazool is the one that’s able to deal with Larot?’ Adam thought, his eyes falling down upon the girl, who stared at the pages, reading the text as her elder sister did. ‘Jazool, you can’t have a crush on my son, he’s like two thirds your age. Besides, he’s your nephew. Also, I can’t allow you to steal him away from me, I haven’t even been able to conquer the world for him.’

“Cousin Adam,” Jazool called.

“Yes, Jazool?”

“Why are you so weak?”

“It is you, Jazool, who worries me the most.”

Jazool blinked. The girl gasped. “What? I am not your daughter!”

Adam coughed, glad he wasn’t drinking anything at the time, for he fell into a great laughter, as the girls accompanied him in his tears.

10

It was upon that morning, when the icy winds of nightval fell upon the Iyr with a harshness, and the void left behind by a particular absence, did a cold anxiety fall upon them.

Then, the shadow loomed.

“Hoi hoi hoi,” called the voice, of a man who was tall, face lightly kissed by the sun, and a grin that suggested trouble, for he was who he was, and he was related to who he was related. He stood, tall and wide, his fingers splayed, as though ready to grab. “I have regained my strength! All those who bullied me while I was sick! They shall all be tickled.”

The mass of children blinked towards the fellow, and as his fingers wiggled in the air so menacingly, they stood, bolting in all manner of directions, screaming, squealing, cackling. However, even for the children, who had begun to learn the way of the Ool and Fev families, they were not swift for this fellow, who towered over them, twice and thrice as tall. The arms, so large, which threatened to swallow them whole.

“No!” Jirot squealed, for though there were a great many children, some of whom had bullied the man, was there any who had bullied him as much as she. “Daddy! Daddy! How you can pick me up first!”

“…”

“Do not say it,” the girl said, turning her head, no longer wishing to hear, for she knew the reason, they all did, and as the two hugged one another tightly, he placed her down, and turned.

Little Jarot blinked. The two hugged tightly.

Konarot glared towards her father, no longer running, her eyes glued to the half elf, her hands on either side of her, fists clenched tightly.

“It seems you believe the three of you are enough to deal with the likes of this father of yours?” Adam said, his eyes falling upon the trio, two of whom were ready to throw down, and the third of whom was standing tall, his lips pursed lightly, to stop himself from smiling so brightly.

Adam raised his hand, and as his hand blurred through the air, Konarot threw a punch, yet, her father was no longer the weakling he had been for the last week or so, and his hand snaked around her arm, and grabbed her by her pit, and the other, in the blink of an eye, caught her by the other, and she was within the air now.

“Ock!” Kirot gasped. “Even my eyes, my Paragon eyes, because I am a Paragon, could not track daddy!”

Adam glanced aside, and as the pain in his neck flared, his eyes darted back to Konarot, her chop against his neck, the girl gasping, for certainly, her chop, which was the chop of a Paragon, because she was a Paragon, had been unable to defeat her father.

“I have made a grave mistake,” Konarot said, her voice low, gruff, accepting her Fate. She closed her eyes as her father peppered kisses all over her face, and as she stood beside her younger twin siblings, the trio sighed, as their father lifted up Kirot, who aimed a palm to his face, but Adam swung his head back, and as it swung back like a pendulum, though Kirot tried to dodge, he kissed her earlobe, and she sighed, planted beside the four, as Karot remained alone against his father.

Karot’s finger pointed towards his father, like a blade. Adam blinked. Had Karot ever pointed at him like this before. The finger hung, menacingly.

“…”

“…”

“I will tell mummy.”

“I suppose Karot did not bully me, so I cannot bully him in return,” Adam said, opening his arms, and Karot rushed up towards his father, the pair hugging tightly.

“I did not bully you,” Jitool said, the shadow of her cousin upon her.

“Are you certain?” Adam replied.

Jirot spun upon her heel and made to flee, but she was in the middle of the air before she knew it, and accepted her Fate, the kisses and the place beside her nieces and nephews.

“Daddy has become too strong,” Jirot grumbled, glaring at her father. “Daddy was sick, and now he has recovered, his muscles are bigger.”

“Mm!” the children replied, even though Adam was only wearing slightly thicker clothing for the cold.

As the shadow loomed over the girl, she stood tall and proud, her fists on either side of her, in the same way as her niece.

“…”

“Kavgak. Good.” Kavgak inhaled deeply, taking in the sharp chilly air, glaring up towards the half elf, as though daring him to tickle her.

Adam held out his hands, readying himself to fight, as Kavgak held out her fists in front of her, but it was her head tilted down, revealing her horns through her hood, her eyes still full of a glare. The half elf wondered if he’d be able to defeat her, this girl who was so much like Taygak, even though she was Jaygak’s sister. No, she was too difficult to deal with, so he slowly stepped back, and the moment he did so, the girl rushed forward, chasing after the half elf, the chonky boulder of red trailing his shadow. Even when she face planted into the snow, she stood, and without wiping off the snow, as the half elf stopped to check on her, she took the chance to chase after him once more.

“Tavgak!” Kavgak called, and with that, the children who remained chased after the half elf, who skid to a halt behind his wife, who turned to greet the children, who stopped ahead of her.

“It is time for breakfast,” Ray Vonda said.

“Cousin Adam lucky,” Kavgak threatened, motioning between their eyes with her fingers.

“I shall claim defeat, for Kavgak, you are too difficult to deal with,” Adam said, holding out his arms, allowing the remaining children to swarm him, exchanging kisses. “This cousin of yours, even though he can defeat the Radiant Blade four times in a row, he cannot defeat Kavgak, can he?”

“Three,” Kavgak stated, holding up three fingers.

“Ah, well, now that I am healed, I believe I can defeat her four times,” Adam said, standing tall, peeking down at the children.

“Wao.”

It wasn’t a lie, for if he rolled well enough, surely he could defeat her four times…