[1781-1790] - Y07.281-290 – The Light In Their Lives (Patreon)

01

'I was so depressed, the last couple of weeks have felt so long,' Adam thought, feeling the chill invade him once more. Yet, the bundle of warmth wrapped around his front forced the chill away. His eyes slowly trailed to the side. There, he saw beautiful eyes, those which were hazel, green within the light, and as their eyes met, those hazel eyes radiated brightly.

The boy reached down to his dummy, though Adam leaned in, their noses pressing together, lips against his dummy, and the two nuzzled one another lightly.

"Dahdee." The boy reached up, holding his father's ear with one hand, his dummy raised triumphantly to the sky, and as he made to throw it, for he was now within his troublesome twos, and he was the younger brother of a particular girl, yet the one who held him was the father of such a troublesome girl, and such a troublesome boy, and Adam easily clasped the boy's hand, holding the dummy.

"You think you're so smart, don't you?" Adam accused.

"Yeh!" Xarot cackled with such mischief, though he frozen for his father peppered his face with ten, eleven, twelve kisses, and for the two year old boy, such numbers were closer to infinite than they were zero. The warmth from his father overwhelmed the boy, who grasped his father's hand and shoulder tightly, and he pressed forward with such force, he threatened to headbutt his father, though Adam, whose grandmother was the Ascending Swallow, pulled his head away, and turned to allow the boy to smother him in at least ten, eleven, twelve kisses, and for the fool of a father, such numbers were closer to infinite than they were zero.

Adam continued to hold the boy within his arms, refusing to let him go, for though he was healed, he would not work today, so he held his son, and would not allow him to leave. The boy's warmth continued to melt the icy thorns within his heart, and as he was still young, the boy could remain within his father's arms for hours and hours, though as he heard a particular voice, his head darted aside, and though Adam did not wish to let him go, he was forced to by his heart, for the boy, he should know his siblings' warmth too.

The half elf's heart dropped.

Xarot knew of his father's warmth.

Didn't he?

A shadow formed over the half elf.

That shadow glared, pouted, and made to cry.

Pamarot sucked against her dummy lightly, staring up at the half elf, her eyes soaking in his features. As their eyes met, she froze for a long moment, her dummy falling silent. Their eyes continued to hold one another's gazes. Slowly, the moon grew ever closer, and as the soft lips planted against her forehead, the girl smiled, reaching out to clutch towards the half elf's collar.

It was with the softness of the children, the warmth of these innocent hearts, those whom would not remember the soft kisses within their minds, but within their hearts, the half elf found a solace.

It was these children who the half elf thought about, even as he walked through the Front Iyr, even as he approached a particular tree, and even as he threw his punches, his kicks, and as he did neither.

It was the shadow of this half elf which caused the girl to pause, and the children behind her to pause. Once more, the nightval air grew colder, too cold, even for nightval, for there was a time, regardless of the season, the air grew so cold, and the girl's hair stood on end. It was this shadow of her father, in which the girl saw something, a memory, a ghost, or perhaps, a shadow unseen. It was when the sun was upon her father's face, she would not see such shadows, for the joy was too bright. However, when the joy disappeared, or when it was busy fighting away the darkness within her father's heart, she could see it upon his face, those shadows.

It was those shadows which she understood, for she possessed those shadows within her heart too, and as her pupils shuddered, the chill ran through her chest, her breath escaping lightly, and yet the breath within was heavy, too heavy, and she slowly began to keel over.

It was then the shadow appeared, and as hand clasped her face.

"To watch a family's secret martial art," the hand's owner said. "Courting death."

"It is my family art too!" the girl replied, finding the strength within her voice once more, for the shadow upon her was not quite a shadow, it was a ray of light.

"I see..." Adam stared down at the little girl's eyes through the cracks of his fingers, and slowly, as though the rising sun, a warm smile and the shadow within the shadow disappeared.

"Daddy..." Jirot called. "There are so many shadows in the world."

"Right?" Adam replied.

"There are good shadows and bad shadows."

"What are good shadows and what are bad shadows?"

"You are a good shadow, daddy, and the bad shadows, are the Aldishmen."

"Ah..." Adam smiled, picking up his daughter, squeezing her tightly within his arms, planting a firm kiss on her cheek. "You are a good shadow too."

"No! I am the daughter of a Ray! I am a ray of sunshine! Not a shadow, daddy!"

"Then I'm a ray of sunshine too!”

“You cannot be a ray of sunshine, you are married to mummy, if you are a ray of sunshine, you cannot marry mummy, so you cannot be a ray of sunshine,” Jirot explained.

“Is Jarot a ray of sunshine?”

“Babo is…”

“Obviously I mean your little brother.”

“Daddy, I thought you meant babo because I thought you were smarter than to ask such a question.”

“You think I’m smart?” Adam’s eyebrows raised slowly.

“Just a little bit.”

“Hmph!” Adam placed the girl down. “Jarot, do you think I am smart?”

“No,” Jarot replied, smiling innocently.

“That’s right! I’m not smart at all!” Adam picked Jarot up, kissing him all over, and did the same for little Virot and little Damrot, who had come to call for the half elf so they could eat.

‘Daddy…’ Jirot thought, holding her sister’s hand, and through her sister, her father’s hand. ‘Daddy, even if you are sad, I will still bully you, just a little bit…’

“Daddy, we can play Warriors and Wanderers?” little Jarot asked.

“Of course, my boy.”

“Of coas!”

02

There is a great warmth in a child. The radiant eyes, beaming with such joy. The aggressive affection, that which bore from the innocence of not quite yet having learned temperance, and the boundless energy contained within such a ball of innocence, especially after a nap, and before their meals.

It was this warmth the half elf surrendered to, as the boy’s chubby fingers held onto his face, the squeals of delight almost like music as his son assaulted him in wet kissed, for in this manner too, the toddler did not know temperance.

“Xarot,” Adam called, his son’s arms wrapping around his head, their cheeks pressed together, the squealing words of the boy, unable to contain his delight. The boy’s warmth spread through the half elf, his icy heart furthered thawed.

Why was the toddler full of such affection?

He was a toddler.

“Xababy, hello, my beautiful little boy,” Adam said, pulling his son against his chest, the boy’s eyes darting up to him, and as they held one another’s gaze, the boy fell into another bout of affection, squealing, bouncing, and he grabbed his father’s head, leaning up to almost head butt his father, kissing his cheek with the wettest of kisses. “Did you miss daddy so much?”

“Yeah!”

“Oh! Silly daddy, silly daddy!”

“See!” Xarot accused, pointing towards his father, cackling with delight, though he closed his eyes as his father planted a firm kiss upon his forehead, and the boy buried his head against his father’s chest, filled with such a delight.

“My Xarot, my Xarot, my sweet, little Xarot,” Adam called, brushing the boy’s hair gently, brushing along the curve of his ear, and as he stared down at his son, his heart swelled, his heart skipped a beat, and his smile spread like the rays of dawn.

It was this sight in which the little girl soaked.

‘I knew I could trust you, Xarot,’ Jirot thought, for her younger brother, he was a mixture of herself and her brother, in the way that she loved to cause mischief, and in the way her brother was so sweet. It was this girl’s heart, gentle with relief, which soaked in such a sight.

Little Jarot’s eyes remained on his younger brother, then upon his father, they trailed to his twin sister, who looked so much like he, though with a touch of chubbiness, and finally, his eyes fell to the other boy and girl, the two who sat on either side of them.

The half elf blinked.

“Daddy!” Virot exclaimed, holding up a finger, in the same way a particular child like to hold her finger, for the two were sisters. “Hugging me!”

“Virot!” Adam sniffled, lifting the girl within an arm, his right, for to pick up Virot with his other arm was a great risk, and so he held the girl to his chest with his dominant arm, and peppered the girl with a great many kisses, and the girl returned the great many kisses.

Jirot’s eyes trailed to the side, towards her twin brother, who was slightly younger than she. The boy’s face was full of such innocence, and was sweet, gentle, without the understanding of what he had just done. ‘Papa is so strong…’

It was within the arms of these children Adam continued to force away the chill, and continued to do so, for every morning he awoke with his meditations, and went upon his run, and he embraced his children with affection. He would eat, he would enchant, he would exercise, and he would bathe, and once more, he would spend time with the children, not just his own, but also those he called his own, and those whom were his cousins, his nieces, and those who would one day become his nephews.

Father John, not the one who was a priestly fellow, but the hard working father, took in the sight of the half elf. It was only then, seeing how the half elf was no longer holding himself back, and then, as his eyes trailed to meet with Nirot’s eyes, the Iyrman shaking her head lightly, he understood. It was he, this half elf, who had faced a great many beings, and even in front of his eyes, had claimed great victories, who required the easing of his heart, and it was his triplets who would provide such warmth.

“Seriously! You’re all so cute, my little Garaeth, my little Owaen, my little Tristaen, how can you do this to me?” Adam asked, picking them up one by one, spinning them around, causing them to squeal and giggle with delight, these children who always remained so quiet, except when they were beside their father, a particular Iyrman woman, and this particular fool of a father, and, often, the likes of his children.

“I understand daddy possesses a darkness within his heart, but even I cannot allow this to go unpunished,” the green skinned girl said, the one who had brought her father to the triplets, but she, too, wished to spoil her cousin.

“Just this once,” Jurot said.

“Papo, do you understand?”

“…”

“This is how much I love my daddy,” Jirot said, clashing her hands behind her back, and she turned away from her uncle, for her cheeks formed a flush, having not wished to admit to it, but it needed to be said in that moment, so her papo understood the sacrifice she had made.

“Do you wish for me to beat your father?” Jurot asked, his voice a touch lighter.

“If you dare to face my father, you will see, for though you are so strong, when it comes to my daddy, I am the strongest,” Jirot threatened, her amber eyes suddenly taking her uncle within her sights. Jirot, seeing that her papo understood, led her twin brother away, for there was someone she needed to speak to, now that her task had been complete.

“I knew I could trust you,” the Elder said.

“Of coas,” Jirot assured, and she reached out a hand, accepting the Elder’s reward, a gentle hand holding, both she and her brother, they who had worked so hard.

Elder Jaygak smiled, though once the children had been thoroughly spoiled by the reward of an Elder, she wrote within her journal, for they could not drop their guard, for if the half elf fell into his depression once more, the consequences of such a travesty would form a great blot onto the children’s hearts.

‘I will need to inform the Chief…’

03

It was within the temple of iron he forged his body. It was within the Temple of Tempest he forged his mind. It was against within the temple of the Iyr in which he forged his steel.

Tork panted. His sword arm quivered, the twitching muscle fibres burned through his arm, and the slick sheen of sweat forced its way through even the chill of nightval as his heart thundered within his chest.

‘How can the difference between us be so big?’

“Your sword’s wounds are too deep,” Jarot said, cracking his neck lightly, his axe slipped within his axebelt at his side. “If you are a Lead within the business, your steel should match.”

“I am not a Lead within tha business,” Tork replied, still panting.

“You are not?”

“Nay.”

“…” Jarot narrowed his eyes. “I will speak with my grandson.”

“I will speak with tha Little Boss,” Tork replied, and as he held the Mad Dog’s gaze, the pair shared a knowing smirk.

“I will go beat your brother well,” Jarot said, raising a hand to greet him, making his way.

‘Did you not defeat Yasha before you came to face me?’ Tork thought, and once more, he considered how monstrous the Iyrmen were, and how monstrous the Executives’ families were, not just those who possessed the name Rot. Of course, there was one who was most monstrous.

“What?” came the gasp.

“It is true…” Tork said.

A glare fell upon the half elf.

“You’re not?” Adam asked, the green moon of his daughter upon his periphery. “I could have sworn you were a Lead.”

“Perhaps I was, but I dunnay care for tha role, however…” Tork revealed his sword, the edge mangled as though a dog had mangled a stick.

“How did that happen?”

“I am sparring with your grandfather daily.”

“Oh,” Adam replied. “Daily?”

“Yes.”

“Does Lady Tempest ask you to die that eagerly?”

“If tha Lady wishes for my life, the Lady may have it, but I merely wish to possess a greater sword, one that can survive the Mad Dog.”

“Don’t you have one of the Flameblades?”

“I do not wish to wield tha Flameblade, for perhaps your grandfather will find his heart alight, and accidentally slay me.”

“My grandfather wouldn’t…”

“…”

“I’m pretty sure there are a few decent spare swords around, I’ll see.”

“Thank you dearly.”

“Although, next time, if you can just talk to me in front of speaking with the Little Boss…” A nose pressed against Adam’s cheek, the gentle breath threatening his cheek.

“I thought it would be funny,” Tork replied, holding the half elf’s gaze.

‘This guy. He’s gotten so cocky. It seems if I don’t keep an eye on-,’ Adam thought, but the kiss at his cheek distracted him.

“You must give mister Tork a nice sword, okay, daddy? Then I will give you more kisses.” Jirot reached up, patting her father’s flat cap gently.

‘This guy, I’ll have to find him a nice sword, since he’s such a loyal retainer,’ Adam said, his hands upon his knees, as though he were an Emperor.

In the business, a particular Priest stared down at his sword, noting the gnarled steel. ‘Should I ask the Executive for a new sword?’

The next morning, Lead Rick approached him, carrying a new sword. It was of simple design, but the blade was of a steel which glittered dark with obsidicule, the beautiful gemsteel that denoted it as a blade that was not quite magical, but not less than a Basic sword.

“Look at what I-,” Tork began, holding out the sword, before noting an identical sword laying across his brother’s lap. ‘Little Boss, I thought I was your favourite?’

At the shrine, Adam yawned, preparing to enchant. ‘I hope the twin brothers enjoy their new swords…’

The sun within the sky barely peeked into the Iyr, however, Adam’s mischievous smirk was so obvious to see.

“What did you do?” Vonda accused.

“I granted the twin brothers the same sword,” Adam replied, still smirking mischievously, wearing his daughter’s face, the kind of face that suggested he had caused a great deal of trouble, even if perhaps it was only a minor deal of mischief.

‘My husband is so cute,’ Vonda thought.

“Darling, I’m handsome, not cute,” Adam replied.

“A woman’s mind is a castle,” Vonda replied.

‘Damn it! My wife is too funny, too beautiful, too wonderful!’ Adam inhaled sharply.

Vonda decided to ignore his obvious flirting.

That evening, the purple took to the sky. The winds a whip of ice, and the air was heavy, burdened by expectations. The expectations wore eyes of amber, glistening with curiosity. The hand of green reached up, brushing along the hair, and then down around his furry cheeks and jaw.

"Daddy, you have to be honest," Jirot said.

"I'm always honest."

The girl side eyed her father, inhaled sharply, but paused, letting out a gentle sigh as she showed him mercy. "Daddy, I am going to tell Virot to feed you, and you must be nice to her, okay?"

Adam clasped his hands together, as if in prayer. "My dear, my sweet daughter, who is always so kind to me, always so merciful, I promise to be nice to your younger sister, my youngest daughter, who is as sweet, and as merciful as you."

"Okay, daddy, okay, I will tell her to feed you, and you will be nice, and Virot, she will give you a kiss, and you must kiss her back."

Adam wrapped his arms around the girl, smothering her in affection, the girl letting out a gentle sigh, but she leaned in to press her lips firmly against her father's cheek. "Since you are so sweet, my daddy, I will show you mercy."

"Thank you, my dear, thank you."

"Virot, you must try your best not to bully daddy, okay?" Jirot said.

"Kaka..." Virot grumbled.

"Do you think I do not know? I know, Virot, I know, but..." Jirot reached over to her darling sister. "You must be nice, Virot, you must be nice, and then I will give you a big kiss, okay?"

"Okay!" Virot stood, grabbing her father, kissing his cheek, and she dropped down beside her sister, awaiting a kiss.

‘I did not mean that,’ Jirot thought, however, she leaned in and planted a firm kiss upon her sister’s cheek. “You must let daddy feed you now.”

Virot blinked. Her sister did not fall for her trick? Even though her trick was so good? Her kaka was a genius.

04

The sword was sharp. As it blurred through the air, it cut it cleanly, as though it could cut even the wind.

'So this is the famous jeticule?' Mork thought, and as his eyes fell across the scattering light, that born from the nightval sun, his heart swelled, and he sheathed his sword. 'What are you doing, allowing a sword to bring out such childish glee...'

The sword rested against the wall.

Mork stood within the centre of the temple, his eyes staring up towards the white sky, feeling the wind against his skin. His hands clasped behind his back, he rubbed under his pinky with a thumb, lost within his thoughts.

'In days like this, I wonder, my Lady...' Mork let out an awkward sigh, a gentle smile upon his lips, almost a smirk. 'My Lady, you will have no need to worry, for though I remain within the Iyr, my soul already belongs to you. My sons and daughters, they shall be born within your embrace, and I will not allow the Executive to steal them because they're so cute.'

As the sun reached its zenith, the sword blurred through the air, cutting it clean, as though it could even cut the wind. The sword was sharp.

'Jeticule...' Tork let out a gentle huff, and as he held the sword ahead of him, he stared through the sword, and yet he could still see the scattering light, that born from the nightval sun. Tork's heart swelled. He swung his sword, cutting down, then diagonally, and finally across, doing so again, but this time the opposite way. 'I could cleave a boar in half...'

Tork sat within the fresh snow, panting, and leaned back against the wall. He closed his eyes.

The sunlight peeked through the forest.

"We'll get into trouble," Mork said, chasing after his twin brother.

"Ah'll take the punishment!" Tork replied, leaping over the brush, and he thrust the sword forward, the same sword he had found under a rock. It was a beautiful silver, the kind of silver that was more precious than simple silver.

"If you can take my half too!" Mork exclaimed after him with annoyance.

The deer dropped, and Tork half tumbled against the tree, panting lightly. He continued to grip the sword tight in hand, and as the rain began to fall, he raised it up towards the sky. "Withah sword like this... couldn't even someone like me become a great hero?"

"If someone like you becomes a great hero, the word'll end," Mork grumbled, panting, eyes glued to the dead deer.

"Did ya know? There's great steel everywhere. There's so much, like dawngold, quicksilver, and the gemsteel, but this sword, ain't it better than them all?"

"A sword like that is a harbinger of great disaster..." Mork said, his voice heavy.

Tork opened his eyes, and no longer could he feel the wind of dawnval against his cheeks, but the wind of nightval, and no longer was he against the harsh bark of a tree, but the smooth stone of a wall.

Tork raised the sword, unsheathing it, staring at the scattering sunlight. 'The harbinger of great disaster...'

It was under the evening sky, in which there was a harbinger of a great disaster.

Adam's shoulders raised, his hands in front of his face, as though trying to contain his daughter's rage.

"You think I will not?" Jirot huffed, holding out both of her fists towards her father, the girl's anger quaking through her tiny form.

"Dear, I, it's the last time this year that I'll have to do it, and, and, I won't do it next year, all next year, because I'll be busy with the Reavers, won't I?"

"What? You are too busy all this time, and you will be busy all year next year?"

"Dear, I-,"

"Fireball!" Jirot exclaimed, opening her hands.

"Huah!" Adam cried, falling to the snow.

"Fireball!"

"Huuu!"

"Fireball!"

"Haaa!"

"Fire-," the girl called, though she froze as she floated in the air. Slowly, her eyes trailed to the side, her amber eyes full of such a glare. "You dare?"

"Your father is weak. You are so strong. If you continue to cast such spells..."

"Then you must take the Fireballs in his place."

"I must do so, for he is my grandson, and it is my fault for failing to raise him," Jarot said, bowing his head, placing the girl down, and as she turned, her hands splayed out towards him, she glared towards him long and hard. Jirot sighed, grumbling, turning her head. "You are your mother's daughter after a-,"

"Guiding Bolt!" the girl exclaimed, pointing her finger towards her grandfather, who leapt backwards into the snow with a groan. Jirot blew upon her finger and sauntered off. "Hmph."

'Kaka is so strong...' little Jarot thought, and if she could defeat her greatfather, didn't that mean she would be able to defeat him when he was big too? Ah, what was he saying? Of course he would stay small and cute forever for his daddy.

Adam sat up, letting out a sharp breath, for taking three Fireballs, and those from his daughter, would kill even the likes of he, even with his special relationship to fire. “My daughter has grown too powerful.”

“What madness do you speak?” Jarot asked, sitting up from the snow, which fell down his face onto his lap. “My greatdaughter, she will grow even more powerful, because she wishes for it.”

“If she grows any more powerful, doesn’t that mean she won’t need us any more?” Adam asked, his hands upon his knees, as though this was the gravest matter.

Jarot, his hands upon his knees, also considered the matter, deep in thought. Then his eyes trailed to his grandson. “Since she adores her greatfather the most, I will not have to worry.”

“She adores this father of hers the most, that’s why she cast her spells upon him thrice, and for her greatfather, a singular First Gate spell.”

“It was a Ninth Gate Guiding Bolt, obviously,” Jarot replied, his voice stern.

“Why would she use a Ninth Gate spell?”

“What? Do you think my greatdaughter cannot wield such spells?”

“You! Obviously she can wield them, but why would she wield them against you? Someone who is so-,” Adam froze in place, his eyes trailing to the side, where he found a pair of girls with their arms crossed, and a boy who smiled so innocently.

“Daddy, you cannot bully babo,” Konarot said.

“You know babo is so weak!” Kirot declared.

“Daddy, you must be nice,” Karot said.

The two who had suffered under their sister’s anger remained silent for a long while.

“When did you all become so funny?” Adam asked.

‘At a time like this, it’s awkward to ask,’ Tork thought, and he glanced down, towards little Virot, who held up her finger towards him.

“Guidibow!”

Tork stumbled and fell into the snow.

“Virot, you cannot Guiding Bolt the innocents!” Jirot gasped, rushing over to Tork. “Karot, you must heal mister Tork!”

Karot reached out to Tork’s shoulder and hummed.

Tork sat upright. “Thank you, Little Boss.”

“Did you come back to ask my daddy to make you a Lead?” Jirot asked.

“Something like that.”

“My daddy, he has been so incorrigible these days,” Jirot grumbled, turning, clasping her hands behind her back. “I will speak with mummy, she will deal with him.”

“Thank you,” Tork replied.

05

"You have come a long way just to drink some tea," Adam said, holding up his cup of tea, as though he were an old merchant who had spilled rivers of blood to attain his position, his shoulders pulled back, his chin raised lightly, his eyes firmly fixated on the horc before him.

"Ah think ah prefer it when your grandfather beats me with his steel," Tork replied, sipping his tea.

Adam remained silent for a short moment, sipping his tea. "I will tell the venerable elder that is the case."

"You certainly are a Father of Death." Tork cleared his throat lightly, and upon seeing the half elf's lips forming their gentle smirk, the two continued to drink their warm tea, finishing the tea before it turned cool from the nightval air.

"I hope the tea was to your liking, honoured guest," Adam said, holding Tork's gaze within his own.

"It was too good for my tastes, for ah am a man who prefers the cheapest cuts'a meat."

"I, too, was once a man of the earth, before I crossed the river of heaven, and soared above the golden clouds, and now, they call me, the Golden Dragon of the Iyr. What a foolish title, for when there is the likes of Lady Jaeryael within the capital, how can this humble elder be compared to such a maginificent deity?"

"Even in this play, there is still Lady Jaeryael?"

"I suppose I didn't have to include her, but... I don't know, I think dragons are the likes of beings you should have in every world, whether for good or for evil."

Tork's eyes raised, staring towards the tip of the roof's edge, and then fell upon the half elf once more. A moment passed between them. "How long would it take for me to reach the realm of a... Master?"

"To become an Expert, I did so in about a year or so, and to become a Master, I think it took five? However, I was very fortunate, in a great many ways, some which could only be afforded to me."

Tork closed his eyes, accepting the half elf's words. "Thank you, Executive."

"Is that all you wanted to ask?"

"I just wished to hear it from your mouth," Tork said, and with that he stood. "Thank you for the tea, Executive."

"Any time," Adam replied, watching the horc step away. 'I wonder what...'

'It seems, my heart is still young, and I can't help but still feel regret,' Tork thought, letting out a soft sigh. 'What an idiot.'

"It seems you need a drink," a young man called, whose skin was as beautiful as spilled blood, his smile curling up like a crescent moon.

"Yer a Gak, not a Jin," Tork replied.

"I suppose the firewine of the Gak family is not suitable for you northerners, who prefer the cold..." Laygak replied.

Tork and Laygak held one another's gaze for a long while. As the stars accompanied them, they sipped the firewine of the Gak family, which burned Tork's tongue, as though he had licked the sun. The coughs and splutters did little to deter him from sipping more.

"I am of two minds of the next year," Laygak admitted, as their faces were almost as flush as one another.

"What are yer two minds?"

"One mind belongs to an Iyrman. It is that mind which tells me to draw my sword, and slay one, two, three, perhaps four or more. The second mind... it belongs to Laygak, of the Gak family." Laygak sipped more of the firewine, bowing his head, slamming his hand upon the table to stop himself from keeling over. "A thousand years ago, when the Gak family possessed the name Jogak and Gangak, the Firestorm, the Blade, it was they who stepped out to deal with the Demons who had dared to step onto the lands of the Aldish, and it was they who were betrayed by the very same Aldishmen they assisted. Since then, the Gak family has remained near the bottom of the Iyr. Grandaunt, she was able make a name for herself, my granduncle too, but..."

Tork swallowed the icy atmosphere, which cooled his tongue, but brew a sourness.

"I finally received a fine martial epithet, but my heart remains enduring with the thought of retirement."

"Ta think, an Iyrman like you, with greater talent than me or my brother..." Tork held Laygak's eyes. "I mean ta say, to think that an Iyrman, who, though you say you are talentless so often, are still stronger than me, and you're half a decade my juniour, and you're talkin' as though yer weak."

"I am weak."

"Is it that yer weak, or... is there something else."

Laygak fell silent, and he stared at the cup of firewine. "Now that I have spoken my worries, would you like to speak yours?"

"Ah'm not sure a monster like you would ever understand, since it could never happen to you, considering who you are."

"Of all the Iyrmen who could understand, it would be I, I assure you."

Tork smiled. "It was on a night like this, though the sky was clearer, with the stars twinklin', and the moon ever so bright... Ah found a sword."

As the two drank and spoke their tales and their worries, they finally stumbled their way towards a room, in which Naqokan and Faool the pair away. As the two stepped out, they came across one another under the nightval sky. Faool bowed his head, turning, making his way to sleep.

“What of you?” Naqokan asked.

Faool stopped. He turned, catching Naqokan’s eyes. The two held one another’s gaze for a long moment. “I will do as I am asked.”

Naqokan bowed her head, and turned, and considering Faool’s seriousness. Just like Kitool, the two were dependable as Iyrmen. However, what of their hearts? Were their hearts as cold as the nightval air this night? Naqokan stopped, her eyes falling to the sky. ‘How can I think of something so stupid…’

06

“Stop it, mister Adam,” the girl said, whose skin was a beautiful green, her horns peeking out from the sides of her head, wearing an ivory shalwar, a scarf wrapped around her head, in a way to only revealed her pretty face, and his even her chin.

“You are so cringe, mister Adam,” the girl said, whose skin was a beautiful green, her horns peeking out from the sides of her head, wearing an ivory shalwar, a scarf wrapped around her head, in a way to only revealed her pretty face, and his even her chin.

Adam turned his head, and his daughter’s head snapped away, suddenly finding great interest within the grey sky.

“Kekeke!” the twin girls cackled.

“You!” Adam’s arms blurred through the air, and he pinched their cheeks, causing the girls to pull back with a squeal. “If you listen to Jirot, you will find yourselves in great trouble.”

“It is not our fault you are so cringe, mister Adam!” Alya stated, pointing at him with an accusation.

“So cringe, mister Adam, so cringe!” Asya confirmed, also pointing towards him.

Adam’s head snapped to Jirot, who jolted slightly, turning her head quickly again, her face tense with guilt, her lips pursed slightly. Adam’s eyes then met his son’s, who shrugged his shoulders, and the half elf huffed.

“Even though I have brought such wonderful gifts, I suppose if my adorable little twins don’t want me here, I will go to work.”

“Mister Adam…” Alya called.

“Leave your gifts before you go,” Asya said.

“How dare you corrupt my dear twins!” Adam half exclaimed, picking up his daughter, blowing a raspberry into her neck.

“No! Daddy! Stop! Not in front of my cousins!” Jirot squealed, the girl pulling away her head, but her father, in this way, was even more powerful than she.

“Do you two think your ahm will be able to protect you from me? Don’t you know? I defeated even the Radiant Blade, twice, and if I wanted to, thrice.”

“If ahm wished, he could defeat the Radiant Blade thrice, and if he wanted to, frice,” Omer said, crossing his arms, raising his brow towards the half elf.

“Isn’t it quadrice?”

“Whatever you wish to call it, my ahm can do it.”

‘This punk, when he become so cute?’ Adam swallowed lightly, turning his head. “You have grown up, Omer.”

“I must be this grown, I am ten years old.”

“Stop it!” Adam held out his hand, turning his head, sniffling. “You! You punks! How dare you grow up like this? Even if your ahm can defeat the Radiant Blade frice, I will still be able to beat him up, and in front of my children, I cannot lose.”

“In front of us, ahm cannot lose,” Ali finally stated, also crossing his arms.

“You can’t say that! You aren’t ten yet!”

“I will be ten soon!” Ali replied.

“No! No! How can you do this to me? Even you, Ali? Even you? You, you’re going to betray me too?” Adam reached out his arms towards Ali, who leapt out of chair. “What? How dare you!”

“Ahm has taught me for so long!” Ali replied, holding up his hands, ready to throw out a palm to stop Adam.

“You!” Adam sniffled once more, and his arms swallowed his son whole, almost crushing the boy within his arms. “Jarot! My Jarot! You! You won’t raise your hands against me, will you?”

“Daddy…” Jarot wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, gently patting his back. “If I must, I must.”

“Why must you?”

“If mummy asks me.”

“If mummy asks you, I suppose I can allow that…”

“Daddy, you may go work, and we will watch over our cousins,” Jarot assured, rubbing his cheek against his father’s.

“Jarot…” Adam sniffled again, planting a firm kiss on his son’s cheek, and once he placed him down, he pointed to his daughter, who shuffled towards him, accepting a hug and a kiss, and once he was done greeting the rest of the children, he allowed Dunes to continue the birthday for the children. Vonda smiled, waving her fingers towards the girls, who flushed lightly, enjoying the gold necklaces with the sun the Ray had gifted them.

Vonda followed her husband.

“These punks! How can they grow up? Did I give them permission? Even Ali, he’s going to turn ten soon! Did you hear that, darling? That guy, ahm Bilal, he’s going around teaching them how to fight? Why’s he doing that? He should just let them stay small and cute forever! It’s all his fault! That’s it! I’m going to grow stronger and I’m going to conquer the world!”

Vonda understood. If he was being this much of a fool, he was close to exploding, but through this, he’d be able to calm his heart. He continued to rant and rave until they finally arrived at the shrine, until he faced the wall, glaring towards it. The half elf sniffled, let out a sigh, and then began his enchanting, without Vonda speaking a word against the words he did not mean.

As the late afternoon sun appeared, the children stared towards their mother, raising their brows, accusing her.

“It seems your father is busy…”

“Mummy, do you think just because we love you so much and because we kiss you, we will forgive you for not bringing our troublesome daddy home?”

Vonda smiled, holding a deeper smile than the girl realized, especially at the last word. “Yes.”

“Mummy, I will forgive you, like always.” Jirot hugged her mother tightly, causing the woman to smile further.

“Of course.”

“Of coas!”

It was upon Adam’s return, Jurot’s eyes took in the sight of the half elf, whose steps were firm, even as his entire body had been ran ragged. ‘It seems…’

“Daddy! How dare you? You dare! You! It is my daddy who dares! We will see what I do to you!” Jirot declared.

Thankfully for Adam, a shadow approached the estate, and in order to teach her father a lesson, Jirot darted over towards him.

“Ahm! Ahm!” Jirot called.

“I have come to inform your father of a grave matter,” Dunes said, placing Ranya down, who was engulfed by her cousins.

“How grave?” Jirot asked.

“I have brought Ranya, but Enisa wishes to eat with your father.”

“I will eat with her!” Jirot declared.

“Did Enisa ask for Jirot?” Adam asked.

Dunes remained silent.

“It seems my darling niece has asked only for this fool of an ahm of hers?” Adam mused, half side eyeing his daughter.

Jirot gasped. She turned, though first hugged Ranya, and then rushed over to her mother, pointing towards her father. As her father left, the girl turned to her mother. “Oh no, mummy!”

“Yes…”

“I bullied daddy too much…” Jirot sniffled lightly.

“I told you.”

“Mummy! You are so wise! I always make the same mistake, but mummy, you are so wise! So wise mummy!”

“Ranya,” Vonda called, holding out a hand, and the girl rushed over, allowing her aila to pick her up, and the pair exchanged kisses. “You trained so hard, but you are full of such energy.”

Ranya flexed her arms. “Yeh!”

As the pair made their way away, Dunes prayed to Lady Arya, hoping the girl would forgive her, for Enisa had not asked for Adam, though certainly, if she knew of Adam’s heart, she would have called for her ahm.

07

As the days passed by, Jurot kept an eye upon his brother for the next few days. Adam's anvil of a heart was hammered by the children's bullying, not just his own children, although only lightly, and from the likes of his nieces and nephews, the children of the business, seeing the half elf for the rest of the week, also hammered him with their bullying, for Jirot and Jarot spent much time playing with the children.

"Daddy," Damrot called. "Monarot needs the toilet."

"Do you need the toilet?" Jurot asked.

Damrot blinked. The boy flushed. He nodded with acceptance.

Damrot sat on the toilet, and Jurot cleaned his daughter's crotch. The Iyrman considered the pathway to this life, in which he wrapped the clothy around his daughter, and assisted her in washing her hands. Damrot, too, washed his hands now that he was done.

"You are learning well, Damrot."

Damrot flushed again, and he bowed his head, allowing his father to ruffle his hair, who could not resist.

Jurot returned back to the estate, carrying his son against his chest, and his daughter by the back of her coat as she half flew across the snow, the girl's eyes staring down at the white snow, her lips forming a wide smile.

"Papo, papo, papo," Virot called, rushing over to her uncle, though she hugged her brother first, and Damrot hugged her in return.

"You are back?"

"Back," the girl confirmed. "Shaman calling Damwoh."

"I will take him," Jurot said.

Virot blinked. "No?"

"I must."

"Ock!" Virot held onto her face, having made a great mistake, though she froze in place as her uncle picked her up.

"I will take you too."

"Okeh."

"Papo, Virot already visited the Shaman today," Jirot explained.

"We will visit a nearby estate, for the Shaman must have requested she cause some trouble so she must remain healthy."

"It is I who is healthiest of all," Jirot said, side eyeing her uncle, who returned the side eye, and the girl waved, Virot waving as the two children nestled up to the Iyrman's neck.

Adam stared towards them as they left. 'I thought you guys were keeping an eye on me by letting the children bully me, but now even Jurot is bullying me? I suppose my brother is cute too...'

Jirot returned to her kako, placing a hand upon her knee. "Are you comfortable, kako?"

"I am," Pam replied, knitting lightly, as Sonarot, her mother in law, who was greater than an Expert, knitted too.

"When papo returns, I will bully him for not looking after you."

"Thank you," Pam replied, reaching out to her niece, brushing the girl's cheek gently, doing the same for little Jarot, for even though the triplets would take care of her, Jirot and Jarot would take care of her as much, and would even stop causing trouble all for her sake. She decided against telling them that Jurot was taking good care of her, since he would only escalate his tender care towards her. Although, perhaps that much affection would be too much...

The tiny girl blinked. As the man's eyes stared at her, she turned her head, sucking on her dummy, staring towards her papo beside her, and then back to the man before her, the one who they called her baba, even though his forehead wasn't tattooed. The girl stared at his bare forehead long and hard, until, finally, after a long consideration, her face contorted, and she made to cry. She blinked, almost immediately stopping her tears. The girl sucked on her dummy. She smiled gently, staring up at her papo, with the most guilty gleam within her eyes.

"Jirot has been taking such good of you, huh?"

The girl's eyes filled with realization, and she turned her head, trying to find her kaka, though Adam's kisses distracted her, and she squealed. Her papo's fingers gently brushed along the girl's sides, her face buried against his neck, breath tickling his neck from her nostrils, her dummy lightly kissing his skin every few moments.

"You must think because you're so cute that I'll forgive you, and obviously I will, especially since you are my adorable little daughter, isn't that right, Pamarot?" Adam mused, as the girl confirmed it with a kiss from her dummy. "Even though you can bully me, you can't bully your little sister or your brother, ok?"

A figure stomped through the snow, carrying a small basket, covered by a blanket. He placed down the basket onto the table nearby.

"I shall entrust this basket to you, Konarot, for you must not allow anyone to steal it from your kako," Chosen said, pinching the girl's cheek lightly, greeting each of the children one by one.

"Where have you been?" Adam asked.

"I am patrolling the perimeter," Chosen replied, yawning lightly.

"I guess since you're a Master, you need to work hard to repay the Iyr, huh?"

"Indeed, though I might require some support from those who are more powerful, but who can I ask?" Chosen asked, peeking down towards little Jirot, who smirked up towards him.

‘I completely forgot that the Iyrmen still go around doing patrols,’ Adam thought. ‘I would have have expected them to leave it in the hands of… I guess it makes sense, since they have to be self sufficient, plus the Iyrmen won’t get bored. I wonder if I should… No. I prefer enchanting.’

Chosen leaned in to nuzzle little Pamarot, who pulled away from him, turning to look up towards him once more, and as the two shared a gaze, the little girl smiled innocently. Chosen twitched, feeling a gentle thumb upon his leg.

“Monarot!” Pam called, gasping.

Monarot blinked from Chosen to her mother. The girl smirked, and turned to flee, only to find herself within the middle of the air.

“Do you think you can strike me for free?” Chosen asked, winding his hand back, and as he made to spank the girl, lightly, a hand clasped his forearm from within his side. He turned.

“Jirot, your papo Chosen was about to his your kaka.”

Jirot gasped, her eyes darted to her papo. “Courting death!”

“If she strikes me, I sh-,”

“Karot, I will entrust you to protect your kaka.”

Karot blinked. The boy turned his head towards Chosen. The boy pouted.

“To think you would use your ult immediately,” Chosen said.

“For the sake of my children, I will always ult first,” Adam replied, his voice dark, holding Chosen’s gaze within his own.

Chosen then slowly shifted his upper body, and half slapped his hand with the girl’s bottom instead.

Adam’s mouth dropped in utter shock, and he turned towards Jirot. He pointed to the Iyrman.

Jirot exclaimed so loudly, she mispronounced the spell, but certainly, she wielded at Tenth Gate, for once Chosen placed down Monarot, he fell to the ground, and lay completely still. “You! You! You!”

“I am not angry, papo,” Karot said.

“You are not?” Chosen asked, turning his head to look at the boy.

“I am just…” Karot inhaled deeply as he prepared his own ult. “Disappointed.”

Chosen twitched, and lay still once more.

Jirot, like her twin brother, and her other siblings, each formed circles with their mouths. ‘Papa is so vicious…’

08

"Daddy," the boy whispered into his father's ear. The man did not stir. "Okay, daddy. Good night."

Adam's cheek twitched lightly as his son kissed his cheek, and for a moment, he threatened to destroy the world, but he awoke, and found his son and daughter, each upon him, and as he peeked to the side, he found his wife snoozing away, trapped under a girl, who was splayed out all over her.

'How dare you bully my wife...' Adam thought, but considering who the girl was, he surrendered, unable to defeat her. Gentle kisses, he slipped away from his children, like a shadow, and the crisp air awoke him from his slumberly haze. In this morning, the first of the last nightval month, there were others already out, warming their hearts and bodies with their exercises.

"Did you sleep well?" called a voice, and a hand managed to brush through Adam's hair.

"I pretended I was asleep and little Jarot kissed me on my cheek and fell asleep on top of me," Adam replied.

"Little Karot cuddled up with me all night, while his sisters pinned their greatfather down to stop him causing trouble.”

“Even greatfather is unable to defeat the eldest,” Adam said, smiling slightly. “From the very beginning, Konarot liked to beat him up.”

“Why are you bullying me so early in the morning?” Gangak grumbled, reaching down to pinch his laughing cheeks. “Are you going to run?”

“Would you like to join me?”

“You are too slow,” Mulrot said, and with that, she half blurred away from the half elf who blinked, and rushed after her. The woman slowed, allowing the half elf to catch up to her. "Are you feeling better?"

Adam's cheeks flushed with a guilty heat, the pang of his heart, for how could he make his grandmother worry? "A little. I'm sorry for worrying you."

"At my age, the Iyr has requested us to remain, for there is little they require of we wrinkled elders. I have all the time, and some of that time, I make sure to spend it to worry for my children, my grandchildren, my greatchildren."

"The greatchildren are all so well behaved so you don't have to worry about any of them..."

"I worry I have too few."

"Jurot is slacking so much, but soon Nirot will have three more."

"How are you so glib when it comes to matters like these?" Mulrot teased, pinching his cheek lightly.

"It's not that I'm being glib, but that I'm annoyed. She's had almost a year and half and she hasn't managed to seduce him?"

"Perhaps she should just drag him away and force him to accept?" Mulrot let out a gentle sigh. "To think I have to worry about Nirot of all my grandchildren."

"Well, she is aunt Mirot's daughter..."

"Ah." Mulrot smiled, letting out a gentle sigh, and as Adam bolted forward, she flew past him.

It was at that time the children awoke, and accompanied their mother to pray. It was at athat time, she held one particular child. It was at that time, the girl stared up towards her mother.

"Uh oh," Jirot said.

"Do you know what I'm about to ask you?"

"It is something difficult..."

"It is, however..." Vonda wrapped her arms around her daughter, holding her close, the girl resting her head against her mother's bosom. "This is the last time your father will have to work hard and become sick."

"I do not like it, mummy."

"I do not like it either, but it is the last time this year, and your father, he does not like it, and he finds it difficult, but he has chosen it as his duty, and I understand it hurts, but I would like for you, just for the next two weeks, to bully him only lightly, and to watch over him as you watch over your kako."

Jirot grumbled nothingness against her mother's bosom, but slowly her eyes trailed up. "Mummy, does that mean..."

"What?"

"Daddy will give me a new sibling?"

Vonda turned her head, closing her eyes, focusing her strength on not bursting into laughter.

That day, Adam was bullied only lightly by his daughter, and the next day, when they handed their gifts to Ali, the girl assisted Ali in bullying him only lightly, and then once he had returned from work, Jirot brought Amalrot to Adam, for he had yet to grow too sick, and so he could hold her.

Jurot held little Jirot within his gaze for a long while. He closed his eyes. 'I should have entrusted the matter to her...'

"Jurot..." Pam called.

Jurot opened his eyes. He turned to look towards his wife. "..."

"Pamarot needs to be changed."

Jurot carried the little girl away with him, holding her close to his chest.

A set of tiny steps charged Pamarot, and the child placed her hand upon her knee. “Comfortable?”

“I am. Thank you, Kavgak.”

“Good!” Kavgak said, holding up a thumbs up, as her little sister stared up towards Pam, and held up a thumbs up, before the two scurried away.

Pam leaned back again, her hand upon her stomach, feeling the baby within, who seemed to be quite active that day. She stared up towards the sky, hoping the child would be born during that month, and not the next month, in which Twilight would take the world.

“Virot!” Adam half exclaimed. “Virot! No!”

Virot, reaching for the teapot turned towards her father, who had burst over towards her, and the girl turned, although she immediately bumped into her greatfather, who lifted her up with a single motion.

“You cannot touch the teapot, it is too hot,” the old Jarot warned.

“No!” The girl replied, and she winced, shaking her head lightly, trying to force away the throbbing pain.

“Virot, you silly little girl, what are yo-,” Adam said, but as he saw the way she was fighting off the pain in her face, he poked the girl’s cheek.

Lay on Hands: 50 -> 49

“Better?”

“Bettuh,” the girl replied, feeling the warmth of her father’s magic, before turning her head. “Daddy is magic?”

“We’ve already had this conversation!” Adam pinched the girl’s nose. He leaned in to plant a firm kiss onto her forehead. “Daddy married mummy, after all.”

“No!” Virot turned her head. “Virot marry mummy.”

“Virot, I told you, no more bullying daddy,” Jirot said. “If you keep this up…”

Virot continued to look away from her sister, not wanting to see the look within her elder sister’s eyes. Even she, at her age, understood.

“Just a little bit,” her babo whispered into her ear, kissing her cheek, causing the girl to melt against him, cackling lightly.

09

The morning was quiet. Too quiet. The quietness was dangerously quiet. Every so often, as the young woman glanced in a particular direction, she met a pair of amber eyes staring over a cup towards her. Each time the amber eyes acknowledges her gaze, and then glanced away, only to return her gaze towards the young Iyrman once more.

"Ock!" little Jirot said, standing like an old man, stretching her back lightly. "I must go to study, but first I must give my greetings to my lovely papos and kakos."

Nirot understood what Jirot was about to do.

As the girl went about her greetings, she stopped in front of Nirot, narrowing her eyes. She reached up to her chin.

"Hm?"

"..."

"That dark hair. That strong physique. Those clear eyes. Indeed, you must be my nana, Mirot, who is always so lovely to me. Ock! I mean, you must be the Family Head, who is so lovely to me."

Nirot opened her arms, causing the girl to blink, and within a moment the arms rained upon the girl, trapping her in close for a tight hug.

"Even if you try to bully me, you cannot," Nirot said, and she leaned in, planting a firm kiss on the girl's cheek.

"What are you saying, nana? What are you saying?"

"These strong arms, do they belong to your nana?"

"My nana's arms are so strong, so they must be so, but since they are not as strong as nana, then you must be kako Nirot, but you are so big now, I could not recognize you," Jirot said, side eyeing his kako, speaking such harsh words.

"It is my birthday today, so how can you bully me like this?"

"Since it is your birthday today, I will bully you a special way, kako," Jirot said, and she sprung her trap upon her kako, clasping her arms around the young Iyrman's muscular neck, cackling, leaning in to return the firm kiss upon her kako's cheek.

"You truly are a genius," Nirot teased, picking up her nephew, hugging them tightly, though her eyes fell upon the rest of her nieces and nephews, and then aside to her four brothers.

There was much adoration that morning, as the children all handed over their gifts to the young woman. Adam's children had gifted a great many of their kakos and papos gifts for their birthdays, however...

"Kako, you are nana's daughter, so you are like a mother to me, but because my mummy is so amazing, it is difficult for you to take such a high position alongside my mother, so do not worry yourself, you should accept my affection like this," Jirot said, and she slowly turned her head, the girl side eyeing her kako, who side eyed her in return.

"If you keep bullying me, since it is my birthday, I will bully you back," Nirot said, and she held up a blade like finger, causing the girl to gasp, who raised a finger, but then clenched her fist, and brought it down, narrowing her amber eyes up towards her kako, since she could not threaten her kako this day, it was her birthday after all.

"To think you could defeat my daughter, although, I suppose you require it being your birthday, unlike her favourite kako," Adam said, smirking playfully.

Nirot stared down at the girl, who raised her brows and shook her head gently, warning her kako, for even if it was her birthday, she could not dare to suggest what she would wish to suggest.

"This is why Pamarot is my favourite niece," Nirot stated.

"Pamarot is your favourite niece because she is the youngest," Jirot replied, placing her palms together, as if accepting her victory.

Nirot blinked. The young woman leaned in, pressing their foreheads together. Jirot smirked.

'My niece is a genius...'

Konarot, Kirot, and Karot each handed her a silver piece of jewellery they had bought her from Aswadasad. Jirot and Jarot both handed her a beautiful scarf, the kind that had been designed with a thousand and one symbols on the surface, each embroidered beautifully with an expert hand.

Nirot accepted the gifts, and the affection of the children, even the teasing from her younger brother, who handed her a sword, and even her second brother, who handed her a bow, somehow managing to tease her more than the boy who she had known the longest.

"Kako, since it is your birthday, we should..." Jirot began, but paused. "I mean, kako, before I study, I must check upon the business as the Little Boss, and you must come with me, because it is your birthday."

"I do not wish to work on my birthday."

"Kako, I know you are wise, and you will follow," Jirot said, holding out her hand.

Nirot smiled.

Adam exhaled lightly, and stood, watching the forms of his children pulling his cousin away, and engraved the sight within his heart. He turned, making his way to continue the last Awakening of the year. The burden upon his body had already begun, having grown slightly paler, his body heavier.

“Daddy, I am worried,” Jirot said, sitting upon her father’s lap, hugging him tightly.

“What? Why are you so worried? Do I need to beat someone up?” Adam asked, wrapping his arms around his daughter.

“Daddy, if you always resort to violence, you shall be no more than a beast.”

“Dear, you use Fireball all the time when you are angry.”

“Are you calling me a beast?” Jirot gasped.

“I will tell mummy you are teasing me too much…” Adam threatened.

“Have I shown so much mercy?” Jirot gasped, and she climbed on top of his lap, hugging his neck, and furiously kissed his face all over. “Daddy! I am worried!”

“What are you worried about, my dear daughter who I adore so much?” Adam replied, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“I am worried, I have so many people to love, but my heart, is it able to love so many people? I do not wish for papos or kakos to receive a lack of my affection.”

“Do any of you receive a lack of love from me?” Adam asked, and Jirot flushed.

“Daddy, in this way, you are a genius.”

“Even if I am a genius, you are still my daughter, and so you’ll have inherited this from your foolish father.”

Jirot rested her head against her father’s shoulder, and soon Little Jarot accompanied her.

“Thank you, daddy…”

Adam smiled, kissing both of his children, and accepting their kisses in return. As he held Konarot’s gaze, he winked, and the girl smiled.

10

The estate was small. A singular cabin, blocked in by a wooden fence, that which was a head taller than most, though the gate was hidden away only by a curtain. The cabin was bare, holding only the bare essentials, the main body forming a singular room, a door leading to a bathroom. There, a singular figure, gaunt, pale, a ghoul of a man, meditated within the centre.

'You may,' Jaygak had replied. She did not need to ask why, for the look in Adam's eyes answers her question.

As Adam opened his eyes, he glanced aside, towards the small book, a small sheet of paper marking where he had left off. It was not any book, but a particular scripture, that of the Lord of Death, and beside it, another, one he had borrowed from his wife, a scripture from the Mother of Life.

A cry revealed the void Adam's lack of presence had caused.

"Papa!" came the cry. "Papa!"

"Amalrot..." Lanarot called gently, and as her sister turned to face her, Lanarot held out her arms, but the blue girl screamed even louder. "I have cheese."

"Huuu!" Amalrot called, staring out to her elder sister, who was so sweet to her, and Lanarot took her hand, taking her to their room, only to be blocked off by their mother.

"I will bring the cheese," Sonarot said, not wanting to reveal to Amalrot where they kept the cheese, just in case. It was not just so the girl did not eat all the cheese they kept within their coldjar, but also because if the girl tried to climb up, and she fell, she could harm herself, or worse.

The softness of her mother's bosom spread through her body, tang of the cheese coated the girl's tongue, and her salty tears dried. The girl turned her head, finding her brother approaching, and she pouted, reaching up a hand. "Papa..."

"Amalrot," Jurot called, picking up the girl, leaning in to plant a kiss on her cheek.

However, Amalrot pointed outwards, to the entrance she had spotted her brother leaving that morning. "Papa."

Jurot turned, finding his sister in law, and the children, all of them, but there was one figure who was not here. "Has Adam not returned?"

"Papa!" Amalrot stated, distressed. "Papa Adam gone!"

"Adam will return soon," Jurot assured, rubbing the girl's cheek, brushing the girl's chin with a thumb. "You have no need to worry, for not even the Divine can stop your brother from returning to play with you."

Amalrot pouted.

"I will bring you cheese."

Amalrot hugged her eldest brother, sucking her thumb.

'I would have lost Amalrot to Adam...' Jurot thought, and though he had known that, he hadn't realized just how terribly he would have lost. When it came to steel and blood, he would lose to Adam, when it came to flesh and blood, he would lose to Adam, and, recalling what had happened two years ago, when it came to fire and blood, he would lose.

“Brother, our sister’s lungs are so powerful,” Lanarot joked, meeting her elder brother’s gaze.

The shadow of a smile formed on Jurot’s lips.

Vonda reached out to poke her daughter’s cheek. It was this daughter of hers, whose amber eyes questioned her mother’s poke, who was the most vicious with her words, and yet it was her eyes which glistened with the greatest of worry. “You must conserve your strength, for when your father returns, he will be able to resist your bullying.”

Jirot scoffed. “Daddy! Daddy cannot resist my bullying! That is why, mummy, you asked me to show mercy.”

“Your father, he will return stronger, you will see.”

“Hmph!” Jirot clenched her fists tightly in hand, and narrowed her eyes. Except, if her mother had spoken such words, it meant it was true, and so Jirot would need to prepare, for even if her father was a fool, he was still wise enough to marry her mother.

As the days passed, the children’s eyes darted about the estate, but they could not find him. He was here, they knew it, but that here was elsewhere, and the distance between here and here, it was so large.

Thankfully, Vonda’s warmth radiated outwards, not just to her own children, as she fed her sister with bread, her other sister with fruit, and her nieces and nephew, and she watched over her cousins, each of whom would call her cousin Ray, Ray cousin, and sometimes cousin, and then would remember the honorific a touch later, for she was never just Ray Vonda.

“Mummy, you are so good at painting!” Jirot declared, holding up the painting, her amber eyes glued to the piece of art. When she saw herself in the mirror she looked a little different, but within her mother’s drawings, she almost radiated such innocence. Her mother also managed to invoke her brother’s warmth, even beyond what one could see in a mirror.

“I am glad you enjoy my painting,” Vonda said, reaching down to pinch her darling daughter’s cheek, leaning down to stare deep into her eyes, nuzzling her nose.

The girl, having seen her mother had picked up on the trouble she was about to cause, smiled innocently.

Karot smiled, holding up a picture of himself to his sisters, each of them revealing their own pictures, while little Jarot held up another painting of himself and his sister, but this time his mother had managed to paint the troublesomeness of his sister appropriately, and the great confidence the boy held within his heart, buried deep, so deep perhaps only his mother could see it.

As the gentle snow fell, one afternoon, a particular set of triplets jerked away from their slumber, and with a sudden alacrity, charged outwards, almost tackling the shadow which stepped back into the estate.

“Oh my, did-,”

“Fireball!” came the shout, Jirot held out her gloved hands, and the shadow fell.

Jirot blew against her gloved palms, rubbing them gently as she turned to her mother, smirking.

Vonda let out a soft sigh. “It seems it is I who underestimated how powerful my daught-,”

The shadow stood from the snow.

“Fireball!” Jirot exclaimed once more, holding out her palms, causing the shadow to fall once more.

Amalrot, squealing, charged out towards the shadow, and quickly the shadow sat up, for even if he could handle two Fireballs, a single moon known as Amalrot was a little too much, and even as Jirot held out her hands, readying another Fireball, her mother’s hand fell in front of her face.

“Will you Fireball Amalrot too?” Vonda asked.

“Ock! Mummy, of course, not, of course not!” the girl exclaimed.

“Of course not,” Little Jarot mumbled after.

“Alright, alright, no more bullying me, because we have to bully Lady Jasmine today,” Adam said, lifting up Amalrot with a grunt.

Jirot turned to her mother, with utter bewilderment. “Daddy has grown too powerful, mummy.”

Vonda smiled slightly. “In this way, your father has always been powerful.”

Jirot narrowed her eyes, and flushed lightly, her cheeks tingling. The girl smiled, readying herself to bully the Lady.