Chương 1184: [1105] - Y06.005 - The First Shadows of Dawnval II

During bath time, Adam washed his face multiple times, doing his best not to look at the scars on their bodies, and by the time he and the twins entered the courtyard, the families had almost finished their breakfast. Jirot offered her brother a bite of her food, but the young boy shook his head.

"What about some crisps?" Adam offered, holding a small crisp to his son's lip. Persuasion Check (Advantage) D20 + 3 (Charisma) + 4 (Trained Bonus) + 1 (Elegance) = 19 (11) D20 + 8 = 28 (20) 28! The boy smiled shyly, before taking a small bite from his father's hand, and Adam rubbed his back gently.

"There we go! My son, he eats so well, doesn't he?" Adam peppered his son's cheek with kisses.

"Which flavour do you want me to flavour them?"

"Pawn cocktail." Adam continued to pepper his son with kisses, pulling the boy onto his lap, Jirot furrowed her brows expectantly, before she was smothered in her father's affection too. Vonda smiled, her eyes upon her son as he continued to slowly eat the crisps his uncle had cut and fried for him.

"Brother, I am going to learn now!" Lanarot said while Adam ate his own breakfast.

"Have fun, okay?" Adam picked her up, hugged her tight, the pair kissing one another's cheeks, before she did the same with Jurot.

"I love learning so much!"

"Hmm?" Adam glanced towards the triplets.

"Where are you three going?"

"They must learn too," Sonarot informed.

"What? It's… they're going to school?"

"Yes."

"What! It's their first day?" Adam gasped, jumping onto his feet.

"I didn't realise!"

"They are five now."

"Damn it! Didn't I tell you three not to grow up?" The complex emotions invaded through the half elf. Though he was mostly joking, seeing the three would soon be learning and spending time away from the rest of their family, it hurt his heart.

"I'll take them." Adam followed Sonarot, who led the half elf towards the large buildings near the shared estates, not far from the creative district. The buildings here was made of hard stone, far more expansive than the shared estates, with roughly a dozen children to one teacher, as well as several teens who assisted. Adam dropped to his knees, brushing his children's cheeks, planting a kiss on their foreheads.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were going to school today. I should have known."

"Daddy…" Konarot hugged her father, unsure as to why he was so sad, but she held him tight.

"I will learn good."

"I know." Adam embraced his triplets one by one, nuzzling their noses, before pressing their foreheads together against his.

"Have fun, okay? I'll make some pizza in celebration."

"Yes, daddy!" Adam watched as they shuffled their way to the outdoor class of young children, the half elf noticing how Kirot and Karot stuck together, right behind their eldest sister, while Sonarot led them forward. Adam's heart sank, the half elf reaching up to rub his burning eyes.

"Brother, will you walk me too?" Lanarot asked, her innocent eyes shooting through his heart.

"Of course," Adam promised, taking her hand within his own.

"Should we wait for… your mother?"

"Okay!" Lanarot beamed up at her brother, squeezing his hand gently. It wasn't long until Adam was saying his goodbyes to his sister, waving his hand as she quickly rushed up to find her friends, the girl pointing back and showing her brother off to everyone, the half elf smiling to the children.

"Okay?" Sonarot asked.

"Yeah," Adam replied, turning to look towards his aunt.

"I uh… I think I need to speak with Elder Zijin."

"Okay." Sonarot sighed, glancing aside as the pair returned back to the shared estate, though Adam continued down the road to the Elder's estate. She could see it. The heavy burden still upon the half elf's shoulders. The woman narrowed her eyes slightly. It felt just like that. Just like last year. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The calm before the storm.

Adam approached the Elder's estate, the courtyard open and clear, the centre holding a gazebo made of wood. The trees were in full bloom, and sitting beside the Elder was Churot, the boy glancing up towards the half elf.

"Cousin Adam."

"Cousin Churot." Adam smiled.

"Are they working you this hard already?"

"There is counting to be done."

"If it's our Churot, then the counting will be done so well, don't you agree, Elder Zijin?" Elder Zijin smiled, reaching up to scratch his beard, feeling the ridge of his tusk through his skin. The grey skinned Elder's hair fell down to his shoulders, braided together. His forehead held the same tattoos as the Bearded Dragon.

"Yes." Churot's eyes darted towards the peaches to one side, but he returned back to his work, deciding to keep the peaches to a slice per sheet he had written.

"How may I assist you?" Elder Zijin asked, and noting Adam's look, he smiled.

"Churot, take the papers you have completed to Elder Forest, and assist her until noon."

"Okay," the boy replied, and without a second thought, he picked up his books and papers, and began to walk off.

"You may take the peaches," Zijin said, allowing the young Iyrman, still not tattooed, to take the peaches away.

"He's so… tall now," Adam said, in a tone that said more to Zijin. The Elder poured tea for the half elf, and revealed the dried dates to the half elf, allowing him to snack.

"…"

"I, uh…" Adam began, sipping his tea to wet his mouth, before he placed down the cup on the table, hearing the gently tuk sound it made. The tuk cleared his mind, but only for a moment.

"I heard Jarot hasn't been eating since the Twilight Month."

"We did not know he wished to eat your pizza, or we would have informed you earlier," Zijin said.

"I know," Adam reassured the Elder. The half elf opened his mouth to speak, but took another moment to compose himself.

"The twins still… cry in the night. I wonder, if maybe, it would have been a good idea to change their memories, but… I don't think I could do that."

"We could."

"No," Adam replied immediately.

"No. I can't do it to them. They…" Zijin watched as Adam wiped away the single tear running down his cheek. There were many Iyrmen who understood Adam's pain, but there were few who had lost children as young as his. The only child who had been killed had been Churot, but he had been killed as a babe, not remembering such a time. The boy grew up quiet, but was also so different to the other children around him, like a handful of Iyrmen born in each generation.

"I wonder if I made the right choice," Adam admitted.

"Do you regret it?"

"I don't know. I don't know if I'm allowed to. I fully intended to die. I got my revenge. I got out. I can't believe it still. I didn't…" Adam fell silent, staring at his cup.

"I didn't think about life if I survived. I can still see the scars. Not just on their bodies, but in their hearts, mine, everyone else's. I can see it, sometimes, when the old geezer. He tenses up, just like me." Zijin slowly nodded.

"It hurts."

"I know."

"I mean… why did it have to happen to… I didn't even…" Elder Zijin could see it, the grief torn fresh, the half elf asking the same questions he had before. Zijin reached out a hand, placing it upon the half elf's shoulder.

"You should… head to the business soon. It will help you to be among not just your family, but your friends too. I will request for the younger children to head to the business too, so that you do not miss Katool's birthday."

"You know me so well. Am I really that-,""Yes," Zijin replied, not allowing Adam to finish the sentence, the Elder smirking slightly.

"I like you, Elder Zijin. You're cool."

"I know," Zijin said, smirking wider, causing the half elf to narrow his eyes slightly.

"Is that a reference to…?"

"I was interested in learning about this Star Wars."

"You know… it still trips me up that I'm in a world full of dragons and someone mentions Star Wars."

"Do you miss your first world?"

"Yeah. I miss it a lot. There's a lot of magic here that replicates it, but… I mean, I came from a very peaceful country. I mean, not a peaceful country, but the wars we fight are in someone else's home, and sometimes, sometimes, they were justified, or so I think. The one I'm thinking of that happened in my life time? That one? Not so much."

"What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it because then you'll think my country is stupid, and as much as I criticise it, I do rather love it." Elder Zijin slowly bowed his head.

"You were unmarried?"

"Yeah."

"No children?"

"Yeah."

"I recall before you had children. You… seemed so different, but also so similar, to the way you are now. You are still as… cringe? Is that the word?" Adam frowned.

"Yes."

"You were… far more immature, but now. With your strength. With the wisdom of… a Ray as a wife, and not age. No. With your age too." Elder Zijin poured the half elf more tea, noting the half elf flushing from the praise.

"Adam?"

"Yes?" Elder Zijin remained silent for a long while.

"I heard you wished to head to Aswadasad this year."

"I was planning on it, yeah."

"It is very warm."

"So I heard."

"It is a shame you decided to go when Jaygak decided to retire. She would have liked to go."

"She can come with. We've got our steeds, so… not a lot of walking, hopefully."

"Will you take Taygak?"

"Probably not… I hear it's going to be dangerous."

"I believe you will be able to protect her."

"I don't know. I'm not that strong. It's not like I'm a… Paragon or anything." Zijin smiled.

"You are stronger than a Grandmaster, at least."

"Maybe." Zijin raised his brow, recalling all of Adam's feats.

"With your enchantments."

"Yeah, but that's cheating."

"I will request that you do not work for this week at least."

"A whole week?" Adam gasped.

"Elder Zijin! Isn't that too much? What else am I meant to do? Spoil my children? Take my wife on a bunch of dates? Train Taygak?" Elder Zijin laughed.

"If you know what to do, why do you not do it?" The half elf smiled. He supposed Elder Zijin had the right idea.

"I always feel better after talking to you, Elder. Thank you."

"You should not thank me yet," Zijin said, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

"You will know when to thank me."

"What does that mean?"

"It is going to be a good year, this year." The Elder smiled a knowing smile.