Chương 1134: [1063] - Y05.063 - A Father's Grief I

Adam focused upon his son's nails, brushing the black onto them slowly, as though painting the most magnificent portrait. The boy remained still, frozen like a finely carved statue, his red face as typical as always, though filled with the deep, unwavering annoyance of an ancient being forced into a rebirth as the son of a foolish father who had let him die. Now, however, his nails were black, all thanks to the whims of his siblings.

"Look!" Jirot called out to her grandmother, revealing the nails her father had painted.

"Nana, is black and red and blue."

"Yes?" Sonarot asked, noting the blackness against her granddaughter's nails.

"Have you allowed them to dry?"

"Yes, I did it." The girl held out her hands in front of her, staring at her nails. Little Jarot also remained mesmerised by his nails, noting all the colours which swirled against the blackness, like a storm of light. Konarot's fingers had each been painted silver, but her mother added in small circles within the centre of her nails, each black, like her sister's. Kirot and Karot also wore similar styles, except Kirot's were small flowers, and Karot's were tiny diamonds.

"You have to let them dry," Adam said to his now second youngest son, understanding he didn't need to, though he held the boy within his lap anyway. Larot had almost made to move, but understood his father wasn't going to allow the boy to leave his lap just yet, so sat with his father. Adam held his son's hands within his palms, staring at the black nails. The half elf brushed his thumbs along the back of the boy's small hands, which were now so much bigger than when he was a babe.

'It's going to be okay.' The shared estate glanced to the side, as an Iyrman in grey appeared. She was older, and stood with a dignity one might have expected from her station as an aide. A bow remained hung upon her back, a quiver with ten arrowed at her side, above her short blade, another quiver hung at her thigh, with alongside a dagger. Her forehead was tattooed with a red eight pointed star flanked by purple ovals. The woman's eyes met Mirot's, and the pair of women bowed their heads.

"I will escort you," the old woman said, her voice clear and commanding. Adam and Vonda followed the old woman to the Chief's estate, the Great Elder finishing up with a fraction of his work, The Iyrman's eyes then fell upon the pair as they sat opposite him within his gazebo. Iromin pushed forward the fried dough snacks, along with the dried fruit. He held up a finger, then the rest of his hand, pausing for a beat. Vonda glanced between the pair of men, each of them wallowing in the silence.

From under the table, she could feel Adam's pinky hooking with hers.

"It is time to discuss the matter," Iromin said, pouring the pair a cup of tea. Vonda remained silent, turning her head to meet her husband's gaze, only to find his eyes glued to the cup of water.

"The Iyr… saved our boys," Adam said, controlling his voice to remain neutral, though his tone was tinged with sadness.

"I owe them a lot, but… I can't make this decision without you. They're… you're their mother too."

"When we married, I had a thought that the children may come to be raised as Iyrmen," Vonda admitted, her eyes glued to the steam rising from her tea.

"When it happened, the Iyr took great care of myself, of our children, and of Xarot. I owe much to the Iyr, Chief Iromin, but..." Vonda closed her eyes. She didn't want to accept or refuse, she wanted to leave it to her children. Yet, each of them held the name Rot. Already, the children had been told they were Iyrmen. Tears fell down the woman's cheeks, recalling what Sonarot had repeated to her, when the children had originally visited Red Oak the previous year.

'Nana. They do not like me because I am goblin?'

'That is right.'

'Is okay, I am daddy's dohta.' If only she had taken it more seriously.

"There…" Vonda began, meeting the Chief's eyes, tears streaming down her face, but she held the noble dignity which she had been raised with, first as an Eastlake, and second as a Sister of Life's Rose.

"There is no need to confuse the children. They have been informed they are Iyrmen, and I will not take it from them. I know that the Iyr will not break its rules for my children, and I know that the children may choose to give up their heritage when they are of age." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"As are the rights of all Iyrmen," Chief Iromin confirmed.

"We should ask them anyway," Adam said.

"I feel guilty not at least telling them." Iromin had only half expected Adam to say something like that, but he relented to the half elf, retrieving his children, save for his youngest babies. Iromin waited patiently as Adam embraced his children, three by two by one, holding Larot upon his lap. Adam felt the complex whirlwind of emotions stir deep within his chest and gut.

"Do you know why you were called here?"

"Daddy is in trouble?" Konarot asked, her ears falling, her tail slumping, Kirot and Karot mimicking her.

"Just how undependable do you think your father is?" Adam joked, feeling the strain against his shoulders, neck, and forehead as he tried not to laugh.

"No, no. You're here because…" Adam had already told them they were Iyrmen, but did they understand what that meant?

"I want you all to be Iyrmen."

"…" Konarot looked to the Chief, narrowing her eyes slightly, tilting her head.

"I am Iyrman?" Jirot asked, the girl holding her brother's hand.

"Jarot is too?"

"Yes, that's right."

"I can be Demon Lord?"

"If you want to be the Demon Lord, you can be the Demon Lord too."

"I want to be like daddy," Konarot admitted. Jirot blinked, her eyes dancing towards her eldest sister. She looked up towards her father too, the confusion upon her face confusing her father. The girl blinked again.

'I can be like daddy?'

"Well, daddy isn't an Iyrman, but daddy is the brother of an Iyrman, and…" Adam fell quiet, unsure of how to explain to his children why he didn't want to be an Iyrman. It was mostly due to the fact he didn't want to be so restrained, but also, so that the Iyr could cut him loose with ease.

"I want to be like mummy and daddy," Jirot said.

"Mummy and daddy are not Iyrmen?"

"Yes, but, mummy and daddy, we have our special circumstances," Adam said, dropping to his knees, letting Larot go. He pulled both Jirot and Jarot in close, feeling how small they each were still in comparison to their elder siblings.

"Daddy wants you to be Iyrmen, just like nana and babo, and like papo and your cousins."

"I can be like nana?" Jirot asked, even more shocked, only to then realise her brother wanted to be like babo. No, nana was different. To be like nana, was it even possible?

"I want you to all be Iyrmen, even though daddy is not. It doesn't matter if you are Iyrmen or not, all of you are still my children, and not even the Iyr can take you from me!"

"I am Iyrman, daddy," Jirot said, brushing her father's cheek, noting how tense and stiff her father had become.

"Silly daddy, how I can be Iyrman if I am Iyrman?"

"You're right, how silly," Adam whispered, feeling the girl's kiss against his cheek, hugging his head to her chest, brushing through his hair.

"That's right, you're all Iyrmen already, so why am I even worrying?"

"…" Konarot pouted slightly, confused by all this talk, frustrated that she didn't understand.

"You do not have to worry," Vonda said, brushing her eldest daughter's hair.

"The gem will belong to you, even if you are an Iyrman."

"As was promised," Iromin assured.

"Daddy also has a special surprise for you all," Adam said, rubbing his cheeks against theirs.

"Daddy won't be working any more, but before he goes to finish up some work later, daddy is going to teach you how to use magic and how to enchant. Since you're all Iyrmen, it means you won't abuse this power, daddy will make sure you can be the best enchanters ever!"

"Enchanting?" Jirot asked.

"With the magic?"

"With the magic!" Adam smiled wide, kissing each of his children's cheeks one by one.

"When you grow up, you'll be able to enchant anything you want. I'll start with Konarot first, but the rest of you, I'll make sure to Awaken you all!"

"Silly daddy, I'm already woke!" Adam burst out into laughter, causing the girl to laugh, and to close her eyes as her father kissed her face all over. Iromin remained silent, trying to catch Vonda's eyes. The young woman noted his gaze upon her, but she remained focused upon Adam. She glanced down at her children, each of whom who smiled at Adam, not understanding that their father was passing on their inheritance. She met Iromin's eyes, before a small smile encroached upon her lips.

"Since you have stolen away my children, you should allow at least that much," Vonda dared to say to the Chief.

"…"

"I'll start a little later, I still need to speak with the Chief. Do you all want mummy to take you to go see babo Malfev?"

"Mummy! We can see babo?" Jirot asked, her amber eyes sparkling up with excitement towards her mother. Vonda smiled warmly, reaching out to brush the girl's cheeks.

"Okay, I will take you."

"Yay!" Larot glanced aside to his mother and father, noting the awkwardness between them, before he followed the rest of the children out. Adam's smile remained on his face as they left, the half elf wiggling his fingers at his children as they left. He had taken advantage of the situation to push through the last of his wishes into the world, and his chest swelled, understanding that he was no doubt the luckiest husband alive.

He had no idea how he had met someone who allowed him to cause so much trouble, nor how she also managed to be a Ray of Life's Rose, with enough power to let him get away with so much.

"I know that I'm causing you trouble Chief, and I hope that you'll forgive me, but would you mind discussing the most important matter first?"

"What is it?" The smile remained on the half elf's face, but his forehead strained, his face beginning to turn red.

"Which bastard was it?"