Chương 1240: [1157] - Y06.057 - The End of Dawnval II

Adam sighed, holding his twins within his chest. He had spent the entire day playing with his children, playing at the park, then at home, playing Warriors and Wanderers. It was towards the evening when the old Jarot informed the children, taking the anger and complaints upon himself, though very quickly Jirot and Jarot showered him in their affection, half ignoring their father. That was until Adam had revealed his hidden card, something he had kept close to his chest.

The two snoozed upon his chest, with Jarot and Gangak sleeping in the other room of the cabin. The half elf stared at the ceiling, feeling their bodies shift with every breath. They were both still so light, one still lighter than the other.

'Right now, I can't grow stronger, but… one day.' Adam swallowed, feeling the stress fill his body. He felt the prickle of heat against his skin. His eyes shut tight, trying to force away the light which threatened to engulf him. It had only been a short time before he had found Jirot and Jarot. Adam had come across the figure known as Shama, a figure who was definitely among the strongest he had met in this life. Strom, or Emperor Hadda he was more likely to be known as, was equally as strong, apparently.

Lord Stokmar, the Lord of Earth, may have been considered greater. Adam had met them all within the span of a couple of years of arriving within this world. Shama had been a terrifying foe, and even now, he was uncertain if he could even scratch the Lord of Flames. If he stood side by side with all his companions, could they do much more this time? No. He couldn't. He was certain of that much.

'Lady Ulaveil, right?' Adam thought, recalling one of the Lesser Divine he had met.

'They say she's strong too…' Somehow, though Adam had met the Divine, she hadn't tried to kill him. It was another figure, Starsword, one of the Thirteen Guardian Stars, who had tried to kill him the previous year.

'Starsword's strong…' Adam thought.

'If there are figures like Shama, Stokmar, and Starsword, couldn't I…' The dangerous thought gripped at his heart and the half elf tensed, feeling the chill invade.

'No! I can't think like that! Even if they're strong, there's a reason why Starsword came to hunt me!' Adam thought back to his fight with the Paragon earlier in the year. He had used his Omens twice, and he hoped nothing bad happened because of him. It hadn't been a year since he had met Starsword and yet he used his Omens?

'A year to Starsword is probably, what, a few minutes? He's lived…' Adam tried to recall how many years Starsword had been alive, but as he did, he heard Jarot's breath hitch within his throat, and the half elf rubbed along the boy's leg, forcing away the nightmares.

'Not yet. I just need to wait. Just a little bit longer. Slowly. I need to grow stronger slowly. I don't care who you are. Shama. Starsword. Hell, even if you're the Lord of Order, you discount Divine, not even a proper member of the Greater Divine. You think you're a big shot?' Adam recalled his meeting with the Divine, the only time he had dreamt in this life. He recalled how the Lord of Order had tried to cut him down where he stood, though in front of the God of Death, who was he?

Not even the Lord of Order had permission to kill him from Lord Sozain, known to the Iyr as Baktu.

'I wonder how strong the Divine are…' Jirot whimpered, causing her father to pull her closer, and as he kissed her forehead, the girl stirred, hearing him call out to her.

"Daddy?"

"Oh dear, oh dear. Did daddy wake you up?"

"Hnn!"

"Sorry, sorry. Go back to sleep. I just missed you, that's all."

"I miss you too daddy." Adam planted a kiss on her forehead, allowing the girl to return back to sleep, the little green skinned girl sucking on her thumb as she did. The half elf smiled sadly, leaning his head back onto the pillow, staring at the ceiling. Slowly, his smile dropped, and he glared at the ceiling and the stars beyond. Larot opened his eyes, his eyes turning to the side, feeling the it slip out. It was the kind of killing intent that was being contained, but a strand leaked out, waking the boy.

'What kind of dangerous thoughts are you having now?' As Adam woke the next morning, he peered down at his twins.

'Eh?' He remained frozen under his children until they finally awoke, and the half elf, lifted them up within his arms, allowing them to wake up within his arms as he carried them out towards the baths.

"Daddy?" Jirot called out, confused, the girl rubbing her eyes. The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Mmm?" Jarot yawned, the boy clutching at his father's collar, tilting his head.

"You two slept so well last night, ho ho!" Adam smiled wide, planting kisses on their heads.

"I'll tell mummy that she has to sleep with us tonight, okay?" Jirot remained focused upon her father's face, trying to understand how she wasn't in the cabin, and why her babo wasn't carrying her. Meanwhile, little Jarot's face brightened, and he rested his head against his father's neck, and though he was still tired, he was glad that he could sleep with his father and mother tonight, even though he would probably forget by evening.

The old one armed Iyrman had stolen away the pair after their morning baths, the twins having arrived early enough to eat along with the other children that morning.

"You both slept so well last night! Did your father protect you all night?"

"Yes!" Jirot replied.

"Of course, since I'm first place," Adam stated proudly, the half elf smiling wide.

"Yes! Since your father is first place, it is the case that he can protect you all night!" The old Jarot leaned in to nuzzle into his greatchildren's necks.

"Jirot, Jarot, my father has made you some jam buns this morning," Pam called, the woman placing down a jam bun for each of them.

"Will you each try it?" Little Jarot peeked down at the jam buns, though he recalled they were among his father's favourites.

"Daddy, we can share it?"

"I'll try not to eat it all since I love jam buns so much!" Little Jarot smiled.

"It is okay, daddy, since you need to eat to be big and strong."

"If I'm bigger and stronger, everyone will be jealous!" Adam sighed, crossing his arms.

"How can I be so strong and handsome?"

"It is because you are-," Jirot blinked, quickly catching herself from saying something too mean, "not very smart!" Adam noted the hiccup in her words, realising she was showing him mercy that morning.

"Yes but mummy is so smart and pretty and strong!"

"Mummy is mummy," Jirot replied simply. Vonda smiled, reaching down to brush the girl's forehead gently with a thumb, before returning her attention back to Virot, who complained when her mother pulled away from her. Virot complained again as Nirot brought Xarot from one of the outer cabins, the boy having just awoken, and she offered him to his mother.

Nirot then stole Virot away, who complained louder, until Sonarot pinched her nose, causing the girl to quieten as she stared up, eyes full of betrayal, before quickly filling with a shyness. Little Jarot nibbled into the jam bun lightly, but offered most of it to his father, his amber eyes shining. Adam smiled, taking a bite of the jam bun, offering it to Jarot's lips, but the boy shook his head.

'Hmm?' Adam thought as his son refused. This time, Jarot wasn't pulling away, and he didn't look uncomfortable. Adam didn't want to push his luck, so decided to slowly eat the rest as Jarot watched, the boy smiling brightly towards his father as the jam bun disappeared.

'Eh?'

"Was it yummy, daddy?"

"It was, yeah. Did you like it?"

"Yes."

"Let's ask granduncle Bam to make us some more tomorrow, yeah? Let's have one each?"

"Okay!"

'Eh?' Adam thought, trying to understand why Jarot seemed so eager to eat a jam bun. However, Jirot brought the jam bun to his lips, and the boy nibbled on it lightly, before the girl offered it to her father, and the trio shared the last jam bun together, though Jirot ate most of it as Adam only nibbled at it himself. As the week passed and Adam enchanted, the half elf managed to sneak some time away for himself and his wife.

"I'm sorry, Von… da." Vonda raised her brow questioningly as the pair walked, hand in hand, through the Iyr.

"I thought about calling you Von, and then it sounded weird," Adam admitted, chuckling lightly. Vonda smiled slightly.

"What are you so sorry about, darling?"

"I just… you know. After everything that's happened, I should be spending more time with you, and the kids, and you. I tried not to neglect you, but at the same time, I'm a little confused on how to take you out for dates since… there's not really a cinema around these parts, and I can't buy snacks or anything, or… I guess I could buy clothes, but I'm not sure how to go about that? There's no clothing shop around these parts, so…"

Vonda tried to recall what the cinema was, but she understood the gist of Adam's words.

"It is difficult."

"Once I'm back from Aswadasad, I promise to spend more time with you, and not just at night." Adam winked, wincing slightly as his wife elbowed him gently, the half elf chuckling.

"You will have to spend a lot of gold in Aswadasad to make it up to me," Vonda joked, flashing another smile towards the half elf.

"I'll spend so much gold they'll call me the Adam of Adams," Adam joked back, the half elf's grin quickly encroaching across his face.

"Is there anything specific you want?"

"I'd like some more books," Vonda admitted.

"They have some lovely paper in Aswadasad, especially near the south, but you could find some in the capital for certain. I'd like some scarves too, and some of the Aswadian attire, which feels the best to wear during noonval."

"What a terrible time for me to go," Adam joked, since he was certain they'd leave right at the start of noonval.

"I'll try and come back quick."

"I'll wear it next year, perhaps during a date in a city?"

"Well, I mean, it is dangerous now, darling, so… I'll try and find the perfect time."

"If it's too dangerous for long, you will need to rid of the Reavers yourself?" Vonda half joked, but considering it was her husband, he probably could fight them well enough.

"You're joking but if you ask me to, I'll go and beat them up."

"Not kill?"

"Would you ask me to kill them?"

"I might, since there are limits we must respect…" Vonda sighed. She squeezed his hand.

"Just return to me safely, my dear."

"I promise." Vonda's eyes darted to meet Adam's, the woman smiling wider.

"Since you have promised."

"Yeah," Adam replied awkwardly, recalling the last year, when he couldn't utter the words. He stopped, pulling Vonda close to him, staring into her hazel eyes.

"I promise." Vonda rested her head against his chest, allowing the half elf to hold her so tenderly, even with curious eyes focused upon them. She let out a large sigh of relief against his chest, the stress from worrying about the half elf escaping through her. The guilt filled the half elf, who clutched at the woman tighter. He leaned down to nuzzle her neck.

'Damn it! I need to spoil her more! What kind of worthless husband am I?' Vonda had no idea just how much gold Adam was about to spend to try and make it up to her.