Chương 1248: [1165] - Y06.065 - Dawnval Festival VIII

"This is the best part! Watch carefully!" Jirot stated, clutching at her father's chest, tugging at his shirt as she pointed towards the colourful skinned Iyrmen, most red, gathering together. The twins gasped as the flames filled the air, the large group of horned Iyrmen shooting out flames from their fingertips.

Their eyes took in the sight of the flames, the light, feeling the heat brush against their skin, and as the flames spread upwards, the way the red, yellow, and white illuminated the world, mesmerised the twins.

"It really was the best part," Adam whispered, reaching up to brush the girl's hair, while his son leaned further back against his chest.

"Did you see? That woman was named Jirot too and she was so strong."

"How can she lose to the Demon General?" Jirot replied, letting out a small huff.

"I will not lose to no Balakazor!"

"It's Balkazor."

"It is Balakazor, daddy," the girl stated, raising her brow incredulously.

"Is it?" Adam asked, leaning down to nuzzle her nose.

"Yes!"

"It is, daddy," little Jarot said.

"Oh. You know that daddy is bad with names. I'm so bad with my name, I might forget my name."

"How can you forget when your name is so lovely?" Jirot tutted at the half elf, reaching up to pat his shoulder with her tiny chubby hand.

"Right, right." Adam pulled his children closer, before the play finally ended, and the half elf had to find his triplets. He held his twins around his front as he approached the triplets, who were playing in the area closest to the Gek family estate. Konarot had completely focused upon her basket, but as she tossed the pouch, she smelled her father approaching, and the momentary distraction caused her pouch to fly off course.

However, since she normally did not throw very well, as the pouch veered to the side, it landed in the middle basket, that which was the smallest and worth the most points.

"Oh! Would you look at that!" Adam called out, dropping his twins down so they could charge their baba.

"Daddy…" Konarot smiled brightly towards her father, her tail swaying behind her. Kirot threw her pouch next, followed by her younger brother, the pair managing to toss them into a basket near the centre, though they did not manage as well as their eldest sibling, who stood proudly. Adam tossed his pouch casually as they played together, including as they kicked the ball against the wall, which was marked with overlapping ovals, each worth different points.

'The triplets and twins are both active. Jirot and Jarot prefer more story related activities, while my Konababy, Kibaby, and Kababy don't mind it if there is no story. Karot loves to draw, but what do his elder sisters like? Oh, right, dragonchess for little Kona, but Kirot? Kirot, my dearest, what do you like?' Adam's eyes remained to his second eldest, the girl following along her elder sister, keeping Karot's hand within her own.

The half elf's heart soothed as he watched them play so sweetly, his eldest daughters watching over his son well.

'My sons are all too meek, while my daughters are so vicious,' the half elf thought.

'Konarot, she's tough. Kirot is pretty tough too. Jirot… is Jirot. Virot takes after Jirot. Karot? He's too sweet. Jarot? Jababy, I don't mind if you aren't like your babo. Xarot… I can see how sweet you are already, my boy. I guess there's Larot, who…' The half elf's eyes darted aside, trying to find his red skinned son. Larot would often allow his older sister to do as she pleased, though spent very little time with the triplets.

'Is it because Jirot showers him in affection? It makes sense, since she likes colourful skin colours…' Adam frowned slightly at the thought.

'It's not like she's racist or anything, she just likes bright colours and contrast! She likes uncle Dunes too!' If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Tonagek noted Adam was currently fighting himself within his mind and left the half elf be. He pinched Jirot's nose gently, the girl stopping her ranting, her eyes questioning her baba.

"Do you think…" Tonagek noted the way the guy peered up at him. Her eyes began to soften slightly upon seeing the harshness within his eyes, causing the older Iyrman to blink it away, pressing his forehead against hers.

"I have not slept well recently."

"Why not?"

"The festival tires me. I am too old now, my Jirot."

"Like baba Jogak, you must retire too," the girl said, patting his shoulder gently.

"I may," Tonagek said, smiling ever so slightly.

"Will you take care of me once I am retired?"

"I watch over you, baba," the girl assured, patting his shoulder again.

"Yes, Jarot?"

"Yes," the boy agreed.

"I should not worry you until you are older," Tonagek said, brushing their foreheads, which would one day be tattooed with his sister's family tattoos, if they so wished for it.

"Daddy!" Konarot called, holding up a chess piece.

"You want to play some dragonchess?" Adam asked, his daughter replying with a head nod. While they played together, Kirot and Karot watched, though did so upon their father's lap. Adam had them alternate turns in moving pieces for him.

'Wait, wouldn't this feel like…' Karot and Kirot sat beside their elder sister a moment later, helping her move her pieces, so the trio were against their father.

'He is thinking too much,' Dunes thought, while Jirot and Jarot charged at Lucy and Mara. Ranya sucked her thumb, her head resting against the Priest's chest, but as she noted the half elf, she stirred, sitting up within her father's arms.

"Ranya! My adorable little girl! How was the festival?" Adam asked, reaching up to tickle the girl's nose. Ranya squealed, hiding her face within her father's chest. She turned back towards the half elf and babbled at him noisily, hiding within her father's chest once more.

"You can't be saying that sort of thing!" Adam laughed.

"Checkmate," Konarot said, stopping her father's laughter. Adam stared at the board, his brows furrowed as he took in the sight of the pieces and their positions, eventually giving up since he wasn't any good at the game.

"Good game, well played."

"Geegee, daddy." The half elf smiled slightly, shaking his daughter's hand. He brushed along it tenderly with a thumb, before letting the girl go.

'Aren't I so lucky to have such an adorable daughter?' Jurot arrived not a short while later with Damrot, while Pam held Monarot, and Vonda held Virot, who sucked her thumb, her eyes half glazed over. Damrot's eyes quickly awakened upon seeing his uncle, the boy smiling wide and reaching out a hand towards the half elf.

"Oof! My Damrot, my Damrot, did you enjoy the festival?" Adam asked, taking the boy within his arms, kissing his cheek and blowing into his neck. The boy squealed and squirmed, until Adam could finally steal Virot, who stared up at her father, tired from being so troublesome all day long. She let out a sigh before smirking, though as Adam checked her clothy, he realised she didn't leave him a gift.

"Are you being nice to me today since it's the last day?"

"Boo," the girl replied, rubbing her sleepy eye.

"Xarot, Monarot, you both are too chubby!" Adam said, the two staring at the half elf with large smiles, before returning their attention to their mothers.

"No. What am I saying? You're both not chubby enough!" The older one armed Jarot huffed quietly, though as Mulrot raised her brows towards the old man, he settled down.

'I had to surrender them for the week! I will have to forgive you. Just this once. Since you are so cute."

"Did you rush your play today?" Dunes asked.

"I had to, since… you know." Adam shrugged his shoulders.

"I feel so tired, so I might call it an early night once the sun starts setting."

"You look tired."

"I feel much worse," Adam admitted.

"I should be fine after a few days though. Working that much does take a toll on my body. I'm surprised I haven't gotten sick again."

"We can take a few days to allow you to rest."

"Nah. We'll spend a day or two extra in each town, but we should get a move on quickly. Once the Reavers get a foothold, it'll be more difficult to leave. I have a few regrets still, but there's not much I can do about that. I'll have to figure something out for the gifts for them another time." Dunes' eyes darted towards Vonda, raising his brow towards her for a moment.

"What was that?" Adam asked, noting the way Dunes threw a look to his wife. Adam's eyes darted to his wife's, not that he needed a reason to look into her eyes. The look within her eyes was innocent, meaning she definitely did something.

"What did you do?"

"I have been working hard too."

"Oh. Yeah, you have. Karot was saying, though he didn't know what you were up to…" Adam stared at his wife for a long while. The half elf blinked.

"Oh?" Vonda smiled.

"I should have told you to save you the stress, but I wanted to be certain I could complete them."

"My wife is too amazing!"

"You are lucky to have married her," Dunes said.

"I whisper a prayer every morning to Baktu. I tell him it would be too unfair if he took me too soon, when my wife is so amazing and doesn't deserve something like that." Adam noted the winces on the pair's faces.

"Hey! That wasn't a joke, that time!"

"Oh, Adam…" Vonda sighed, feeling Xarot stir within her arms.