Chương 1112: [1044] - Y05.044 - Unwanted Apologies

"Sorry," little Jarot said that morning as his father changed him, out of the ruined shirt he had thrown up upon, and his clothy.

"It's okay," Adam whispered, planting a kiss on his son's cheek, washing the boy clean.

"You smel-, silly boy, you don't need to apologise for this." Adam tensed up once more, the ache of his words spreading from his heart. Jirot pouted slightly, but her father quickly distracted her with her own set of kisses against her cheek and forehead, helping the pair to wash their hands. Once the pair were adorned in their clothies once more, with little Jarot having chewed his teethleaf, Adam held their hands, leading them back to the courtyard of the shared estate.

The older children had already left for their schooling that day, but they were still surrounded by their grandaunts, granduncles, and more.

"Babo!" Jirot pointed towards Malfev, but remained holding her father's hand, allowing her father to escort her to him.

"My greatniece," Malfev called, before his eyes fell upon his greatnephew. The old man smiled, patting his lap, but rather than leaping onto him, the pair remained glued to their father. He reached out to ruffle their hair, his heart pained due to the reason of their refusal rather than the refusal itself.

'To calm this raging storm within, I will need to give up my position.'

"Daddy?" Jirot called.

"Where is Lucy?"

"Lucy is working," Adam replied.

"Working?" Jirot's lower lip quivered.

"She is coming home soon?" Adam shut his eyes tight once more, feeling them grow hot and wet once more. His daughter, who had been so predictably troublesome, had become so shy.

"I'll tell her to come home quickly after her work, okay?"

"Okay." The girl glanced down, before her greatfather quickly distracted her by brushing her hair, the girl smiling. Mana: 25 -> 22 Spell: Sending"Complete your tasks as quickly as you can and return back soon, Jirot, and Jarot, miss you so much."

'Adam!' Lucy's voice boomed within his mind, full of shock, and relief.

'You're such a slave driver! Why can't we rest up?' Adam stepped away, but he heard Jirot and Jarot whine behind him.

"I just need a second to tell Lucy to come home quickly, because she's bullying daddy, I'll be back in just a bit!" Adam smiled towards his children, though the wrinkles around his eyes and the tense jaw revealed how little joy the half elf possessed. Mana: 22 -> 19 Spell: Sending"Jarot and Larot were killed. The Iyr brought them back. Jirot was hurt too. She wants to see you."

'Adam!' The voice was full of anger and shock, and had come out too quickly for the young woman to process what he had said. A long moment of silence passed as Lucy contemplated how much of a fool Adam truly was.

'Okay.' Adam remained outside for a moment, bracing himself, before returning back to the shared estate. Virot crawled towards her mother, clutching at her trouser, the girl babbling to cuddle up to her mother. Adam closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, before lifting the girl up, sitting down beside his wife, Virot upon his lap. The half elf poked her nose, planting a firm kiss on her forehead, before brushing back her hair.

The girl radiated warmth, her innocent eyes staring up towards her father, her smile melting away at his cooled heart.

"Did you want to surprise your daddy by learning to crawl?" Adam asked, his voice low, and though he smiled, his eyes remained tired. He pulled her up to his chest, allowing her to lay upon his chest, the girl babbling away slightly, before sucking her hand.

"I'm sorry, Vonda," Adam eventually whispered.

"Did you tempt Fate?" Vonda asked.

"No."

"Even if you did, you would have no reason to apologise," Vonda said, clasping his hand in her own, brushing along the back of his knuckles with her thumb gently. Adam glanced aside towards his wife, who smiled warmly towards him, but he could see that the light within her eyes was forced. He smiled in return, frowning a moment later, before leaning down to press his head against her neck, nuzzling against it.

He pulled away slightly, tilting his head slightly, and she placed her head against his shoulder and neck, her breath tickling against his skin.

"It's going to be okay," Adam said.

"Everything is going to be okay."

"Okay."

"Just…"

"I know." Adam inhaled deeply. He couldn't think of it now. He had to make sure Vonda was okay, and that the child would be fine. If no one had said anything to him, it meant that Vonda and the child were safe, or perhaps Vonda wasn't safe, but she was keeping it a secret. It ached his heart, and though he wished to ask, he placed his faith in his wife. There was a reason she could play him like a fiddle. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

His eyes remained upon his son, who sat within his greatfather's lap, listening to his greatuncle's tales. Malfev offered the boy cut pieces of fruit to eat from his fingers, but the boy continued to hide against his greatfather's chest. As the day passed, various Iyrmen approached the shared estate, most in their middle age, many older. It hadn't taken long for Adam to realise they were the Heads and Family Elders, mostly because they introduced themselves as such.

"Do you remember who I am?" The man wore lighter attire for noonval, and a wide hat to provide shade from its heat. The bottom half of a blue semi circle was flanked by green hollowed squares on either side, the same as the bald Iyrman nearby who had remained at the shared estate for too long.

"Mm," little Jarot replied, nodding his head lightly, smiling shyly.

"You are nano's nephew," Jirot said, accusing him with a finger, before retreating back to her babo's chest.

"You are right!" The Iyrman laughed, reaching down to ruffle their hair gently.

"Do you remember my name?"

"Gofev!"

"Haha! I am Tamfev, but you remembered me, yes?"

"Yes," Jirot replied, though her lips curled into a pout.

"I have brought gifts for you, would you like to see them?"

"Gifts?" The Iyrmen who appeared throughout the day each brought compliments and gifts for the children, each speaking of how adorable, cute, smart, wise, brave, the children were, though mostly spoke of how adorable they were. The gifts ranged from tea cups and bowls, while other Iyrmen brought shields and axes their families did not use, but held value with their stories.

Some remained at the shared estate, greeting the others about, and spoke their tales to the young children, while the old Jarot allowed a few others to come and speak with him, speaking of how he had beaten, or had been beaten, by either the Family Elder themselves, or their relatives. Jirot and Jarot remained within their babo's chest, though listened intently to the words of the Iyrmen, each figure exuding an aura of Iyrmen.

What they didn't sense was the intense killing intent they gave off once they left, before the Iyrmen soothed themselves. Adam had counted the number of families, but once he reached fifty, he stopped. There were many others after, and the half elf noted the number surpassed a hundred.

Each Head and Elder was also not like the average Iyrman, each more like Sonarot and Jarot, that was to say, they were once considered great warriors for their age, and though they had settled down, the Heads were greater than Experts, nearing Masters, and the Elders were greater than Masters, nearing Grandmasters.

"It was your greatfather who almost took my ear," the woman said, pointing towards her mangled ear, which was more like a half torn leaf.

"I can still hear, for he missed within, but he had almost cut into it. Had I not managed to force his axe away with my blade, I would have-,""Ha!" Jarot growled, grinning wide.

"I was so wild when I was young!" The woman flushed slightly, glancing down towards the boy. She smiled, reaching down to ruffle his hair.

"I should leave, for the others wish to spoil you too. How adorable you are, will you join our-,""Hmph!" Jarot began to growl.

"Leave, before their babo beats you again! Do you see? Your babo will not let anyone take you from his arms!"

"Mummy?" Jirot asked. The old Jarot pulled back slightly, glancing to the side.

"Is your mother anyone? Your mother is your mother! Do you wish to leave your babo's arm for your mother?"

"I want mummy," Jirot said, her amber eyes staring deep into her babo's eyes, breaking through his defences with ease. As Jarot hoisted himself up, eyes fell to the new Iyrman who stepped into the shared estate. The Iyrman's eyes scanned across all the Iyrmen about, the dozen or so Elders, each who had come to greet the children, before they met Jarot's, only for a moment, and he stepped forward. Zijin stepped before Larot, who sat beside Jazool, the girl staring up at the Elder.

Zijin smiled, reaching down to rub both of their heads gently, before brushing a hand along the boy's cheek, who allowed him to do so, before he drew his hand away. Zijin reached out and placed a hand upon little Jarot's head, smiling towards the boy.

"If they bully you, you must tell me." Little Jarot clutched his babo's shirt, trying to hide from the Elder, while Jirot also did the same once he had finished brushing her hair.

"I have come to speak with your father, little Jirot. I will tell him he cannot work, and that he must play with you for the rest of the week, but I must speak with him of another matter. May I?"

"No work?"

"He cannot work this entire week, I will not allow it," Zijin promised.

"You must tell daddy," Jirot said, reaching out to pat the Elder's shoulder.

"You must tell daddy off, he does not listen to me." The laughter burst through the estate, causing the children to glance around, though the Iyrmen took great care in ruffling their hair, to make sure they were not frightened by the noises.

"I will tell him," Zijin assured, before nodding his head to Adam, who stood. The Elder then brought his attention to Vonda. He held out his hands, and the young woman reached out to hold them.

"If you have any requests, please make them freely, I will handle the matters personally."

"You have already done so much, Elder, I have need for little."

"Little or much, speak your requests, and they will be dealt with."

"Thank you." Zijin led Adam out of the estate, towards the central estate that Zijin called his own. The Elder stepped towards the desk, but stopped, causing Adam to stop behind him. The half elf noted the Elder's back, which was wide and strong, like that of a Jin.

"There are few Iyrmen who have not lost a child," Zijin said.

"Yet, few know the grief of losing a child who had not yet grown."

"…"

"I, too, have lost a child, but she was older," Zijin said, bowing his head lightly, the Elder shutting his eyes tight.

"After the previous year, I should have declined your requests. I should have left more Iyrmen near the business. I am sorry, Adam."

"It wasn't your fault, Elder."

"You understand why I blame myself," the Elder stated, more an accusation against the half elf.

"…"

"You are not to work for the rest of this week, I have disallowed it."

"Okay."

"You should remain with your son, and assist in his feeding. When you are ready, return to me, and I will have prepared you the steel," Zijin said, still unable to face the half elf. He was one of the few Iyrmen who understood Adam, for the half elf had trusted him that much. He understood not just what Adam was, but who he was, for the half elf had trusted him that much. Zijin understood. Zijin understood it wasn't a matter of if, but when.

"Okay."