Chương 1138: [1066] - Y05.066 - Mistakes Were Made II

"No, no, I won't take it to heart," Adam assured.

"Even if I had the convenience of being mad at them, I understand where they're coming from."

"Shall I speak with them?" Vonda asked, placing her hand upon his, brushing along it tenderly.

"No need for that, mummy," Adam teased, flashing a smile and a cheeky wink at his wife, which only pained her heart as she could see the bags under his eyes.

"I feel a little guilty bringing Taygak, but they should realise I showed them mercy, since I didn't bring along Raygak or Saygak, right?"

"Adam," Vonda admonished, intertwining their fingers together, before resting her head upon his shoulder, feeling his cool skin against hers.

"The Iyr's helped me out a lot. I'm indebted to them so much, more so than any other entity. I mean, you could make an argument for… the pair of them, but, the Iyr? I don't know. They've done a lot for me constantly, and the fact they've kept me alive this long with all the trouble I've caused?" Adam rested his head against his wife's, just basking within the warmth of his touch.

The pair sat alone within the room, the room which Adam had become familiar with, having spent half of his time resting within it during his sickness. They were only allowed short moments before the guilt took them, and they went to check upon their children. Yet, every moment Adam treasured more than all of his gold, not willing to trade even seconds from his wife for thousands of gold. The rains brought in the grey of duskval proper, the farmers ready and eager to harvest their fields.

Adam hadn't expected the figure to come visit him, especially when they had such little interaction. He was preparing for the next day, in which he'd awaken another of his children, but he wasn't going to refuse a Great Elder. The Great Elder wore thick furs, and carried with him a maul, one that one might not have expected considering his position. His skin was a paler red, but his horns curled up almost like a ram.

The Great Elder sipped the tea Adam poured from his Persevian tea pot he had painstakingly bought when he was not wealthy, exactly, but still too poor to be spending so much on such a luxury.

"How's the tea?" Adam asked.

"Delicious," Elder Teacher assured.

"Persevia makes the finest tea pots."

"That they do," Adam confirmed, though he had drunk from very few tea pots in this life, only in the dozens.

"Did you have need of me, Great Elder?"

"I have some matters to discuss with you. Firstly, I would like to apologise for overstepping our rights. We made a mistake."

"I know, it's fine."

"It is not," Elder Teacher said firmly.

"You cannot allow us to overstep our rights. It is why the Iyr has lasted through the transition of Aswabayad to Aswadasad, and the return of Floria and Aswabayad to prominence."

"Well, either way, all is forgiven." Elder Teacher bowed his head.

"I wish to make a request of you."

"What do you need?"

"Upon your return, I would like to speak of you of how you would teach Taygak, and if you would be willing to teach some of the other children."

"Upon my return?" Adam asked.

"Your return to the Iyr, once you have completed your task." Adam furrowed his brows, staring into the Great Elder's eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, before holding the Great Elder's gaze for a long moment.

"Of course, Elder Teacher." This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Elder Teacher remained silent, holding the half elf's gaze. He hadn't expected to see such a gaze. Though, it was Adam, so it made sense that the half elf held such a gaze. The Great Elder sipped his tea, but his mouth still found it difficult to open.

"Elder Forest and Elder Wrath both send their apologies about the matter too."

"Like I said, all is forgiven." Adam smiled slightly towards the Great Elder. Elder Teacher continued to sip his tea. He and Adam sat in silence, the Great Elder's jaw constantly tensing and relaxing. There was a long moment of silence once he was done with the tea.

"Would you like some more tea?" Adam offered, ready to pour.

"No, thank you," Elder Teacher replied, his voice low and rough, as though he was chewing chalk whilst he spoke.

"If you need anything, let me know," Adam said.

"Thank you." Elder Teacher stood, spending a moment in thought, his jaw tensing again, before he bowed his head.

"I must return to my duties."

"Of course," Adam replied, watching the Great Elder step away. Elder Teacher returned back to his estate, taking his place within his gazebo, glancing out towards the scenery around him. He chewed upon his lower lip, before reaching up to rub his forehead, covering his eyes. The factors he had considered upon meeting with Adam had led him to a conclusion, but upon seeing the half elf's eyes, so resigned to his Fate, his heart sank, and the heat of rage boiled within him.

He had gained the justification, but lost the will to use it. Meanwhile, Adam poured out small cup of tea, and brought them out to his wife, then his Aunt and the rest of the older Iyrmen around.

"Uncle Shikan," Adam called.

"I'm sure it's a bad time to ask now, considering how late it is, but is there any chance you, or someone, could take some coin to Life's Rose?"

"You wish to donate?"

"In a certain sense," Adam whispered back, hoping his wife was too far away from him to hear. Shikan narrowed his eyes, taking in Adam's steely gaze, before bowing his head.

"Okay."

"You don't need to go. You can send someone you trust, since Inakan's birthday is coming up soon."

"It is fine," Shikan assured. Adam slowly nodded his head in return.

"You can take a few people from the United Kindom."

"No," Shikan said.

"It is a family matter." Adam paused for a moment, clenching his jaw.

"Yeah."

"I can go," Citool offered. Adam glanced towards Kitool's mother, narrowing his eyes slightly. A small smile encroached upon his lips.

"Aunt, do you remember?"

"…"

"There was a time when Katool, when she was still a little girl, maybe three, four, five. I told her one day she'd grow up, or something like that, and she ended up crying?"

"I do not recall."

"I recall it, vaguely. I remember looking at everyone, since I wasn't bullying her, for once, and you allowed her to think I was bullying her. I'll never forget." Citool smiled slightly, hiding the sadness away from her expression from seeing the glint of joy emerge from the darkness upon Adam's face, before it was finally swallowed away.

"I will be sure to tell Katool you are bullying me today." Adam blinked.

"Please forgive me, aunt." Citool reached up to brush along his cheek for a moment, her rough fingers trailing along the contours of his face, before she pulled her hand away.

"I will discuss it with Katool." Adam slunk away to his wife, settling himself beside her, their fingers hooking together, the pair drinking their tea to calm Adam's feigned tortured soul.

"Daddy, you are bullying nana?" Jirot asked, raising her brows towards her father.

"I'm not!" Jirot glanced towards her mother, and after exchanging a look, the girl returned back to her book.

"Okay, if you say it."

'Seriously, my daughter, how can she be so cute?' Adam thought, sipping his tea, barely tasting the berry flavour. The half elf continued to watch as his children napped and played, his thoughts falling to the Kan and Ool families. He would need to finalise the matter later soon, but as he continued to think, what had he done for the Kan and Ool families? They had done so much for him, watching over his children with such affection, and yet he did very little for them in return.

For the Ool family, he had assisted Kitool slightly, but what of the Kan family? He did so little for the two compared to how much he had done for the Rot family. The Gak family had received some magical weapons, one of which was apparently quite powerful, something along the lines of Legendary Enhanced, or perhaps greater. That was still nothing compared to the eight treasures he gifted to the Rot family. Adam let out a soft sigh, feeling the ache within his shoulders.

'I should do something for them before I leave, but… I have no time. I need to make sure that my children have their inheritance sorted out. Should I leave the other families some inheritance too? The business has more than enough, and I could at least throw around at least ten thousand to each family, and to my darling wife, and still have at least forty thousand left…'

"Kaza Adam!" Inakan called out, grabbing the half elf's sleeve, tugging it.

"You must read!"

"What am I to read, Inababy?" Adam replied. The girl blinked through her magical glasses. She placed her hands onto her waist, inhaling deeply.

"Book!"

"Ah, of course." It was in moments like this that Adam understood he was still one of the luckiest people alive. Unfortunately for him, that ran out after he awoke a child, and he had to meet with her.