Chương 1535: [1444] – Y06.344 – Training IX

Amira lay back in her chair, her daughter within her lap, holding up two bundles of knitted toys, the girl staring at them long and hard, alternating between hugging each and babbling to them, about this and that, and nothing in particular. Dunes held Enisa within his arms, the girl sucking her thumb, half asleep. She inhaled sharply for a moment, then let out a soft breath, returning back to her important thoughts, that of nothing at all.

The young man held his daughter within his arms, the peace in the air allowed them to remain silent in their thoughts. A knock at the door broke the silence, causing Dunes to sigh, and a moment later he appeared.

"Hello there!" Adam called, smiling brightly towards the four, though mostly towards the two who suddenly brightened up upon seeing him.

"Ahm!"

"Ahma!"

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything, my dear nieces!" Adam called, holding up a small bag of cloth, which caused Ranya to smile even wider. Dunes couldn't deny Adam a seat, the young man settling himself between the pair, while Ranya reached out a hand for the peppers he had brought, while Enisa reached out an arm for her ahm, who fed Ranya from his fingers. He handed them to Ranya, picking up the tiny little Enisa, who smiled so shyly, the girl rubbing her eye with a fist.

At times like this Dunes forgave the half elf for his mountain of foolishness, for he was a mountain of joy for his daughters, who he adored almost as his own. Dunes considered what would happen if something were to happen to him and Amira, but with Adam here, did he have to worry?

"You are growing up so quickly, huh, Enisa?" Adam asked, reaching down to pinch the girl's nose gently, the girl pausing in shock, letting out a burst of a giggle. She reached up to grab her uncle's face, her tiny chubby hands grabbing at his skin greedily, as though he would disappear too soon, as he always did.

"Adam," Dunes said, the half elf mid breath, about to make a joke.

"If you speak so carelessly, I will speak with my wife."

"Oh?" Adam replied, half smiling towards Amira.

"I will speak with your wife," Amira replied.

"Oh." Adam's smile became awkward, pulling his face away from Enisa's hands, then he quickly brought his head close to hers, causing the girl to twitch in shock, a squeal swiftly erupting from her lips in delight.

"Although, to steal you away, shouldn't I at least risk that much?"

"Enisa," Dunes called, reaching out a hand, his daughter glancing his way, staring at his hand for a long moment, but the girl returned her attention back to the half elf, squealing with joy.

"Ahma! Ahma!"

'I feel a little guilty, but unfortunately for you, she's too cute,' Adam thought.

"Enisa," Amira called, her voice soft, the woman reaching out her arms. Enisa smiled and sat up taller on Adam's lap, climbing onto the table, crawling to her mother.

'You should remember your place.'

'At least she understands the hierarchy,' Adam thought. The half elf eventually returned back to find his children napping near their babos and nanos, Jarot holding the twins, meanwhile the triplets all napped around their greatmother, Gangak, who wanted to hold them, but there were too many to hold comfortably, and she could not bear to hold only one or two of them within her arms.

"They played well," Malfev said simply.

"Play? I thought they were training?" Adam replied.

"The play will train them," Malfev assured.

"Thank you, granduncle," Adam said, noting how forlorn the old man looked, far more exhausted than a simple play suggested. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I am merely playing with my greatchildren," the old man replied, letting out a soft chuckle, walking away to stretch his legs. However, the words replayed within his mind, for his grandnephew was always so polite and sweet. The next morning, Adam ate his porridge slowly. He wondered why he felt so tired, his muscles aching lightly, but that soon disappeared as his daughter stood in front of him, holding up a die.

"It is time to play," Jirot said.

"I thought you had tutoring?"

"Mummy said I do not," Jirot replied, smirking up at her father.

"Oh," Adam replied, smiling warmly. Adam played Warriors and Wanderers with the children, taking a short while after to compose his notes. As he did, Malfev took the children away to train them, this time Jarot went to watch, wishing to deal with his aching heart.

"Virot…" Adam called, the girl's head snapping towards him, brows furrowed.

"Bread?" The girl's eyes softened slightly, and she nodded, accepting the bread from her father's fingers.

'She really is her aunt's niece.'

"Brother, can we play Warriors and Wanderers?" Lanarot asked, tugging on his sleeve, the girl's eyes hopeful.

"Of course." Vonda watched over the pair as they played, Lanarot showing her brother the doodles she had made of her magical items. She possessed a beautiful axe, which she had wrapped in ribbons, a shield which was so amazing, so she drew a shield on the shield, and then her necklace, which was almost a sea of chains, though granted her great defences.

"What? The Baronness is ill again?" Lanarot reached up to her chin in thought.

"How many times has she become ill, brother!"

"So many, so many."

"She is not weak of body?"

"No, not that you think."

"You are sure?"

"You are sure," Adam replied.

"I have to roll!"

"Okay, okay, go ahead," Adam said, noting her roll.

"With an eleven, plus three, that's… fourteen? I mean, you think she's relatively healthy, remember, she was healthy up until a few years ago."

"Is it poison?" Lanarot asked.

"Oh? Why do you think it's poison?"

"It is always poison in the stories."

"Ah, well… what else could it be?"

"A curse?"

"A poison, a curse, maybe something else, but you'll have to think hard on how to find out."

"Ock!" Lanarot held her head, as though thinking made her head ache.

"Brother, I want to fight!"

"Do you want to fight a minotaur?"

"Yes!"

"There is that minotaur in the Eastern Fields, beyond the mountains of gold."

"I go to the Eastern Fields and beat up the minotaur," Lanarot replied eagerly, clasping her hands together, feeling the dice against her palms.

"Right, so…" Adam paused.

"Lanarot, aren't you meant to be training with the others?" Lanarot blinked, furrowing her brows slightly, before smiling wide.

"I am training with brother."

"What we're doing isn't really training…"

"With brother Jurot, silly."

"Ah," Adam replied.

"Alright, then let's play hard before he comes to steal you away!" Lanarot smiled with such glee, all the while Jurot could not break through the shield that was her joy, He had just been about to take her to train, but since she was so eagerly playing Warriors and Wanderers, he decided to get bullied by his niece, who forced him to tie ribbons into her hair, while his son watched. Pam considered asking him if she should train, but her daughter complained, hungry for attention, and milk.

The peace within the Iyr would not last.

"What?" Jirot asked, holding up her hand towards her father, as if to ask him what he was doing.

"I have to go, just for a little bit, but I'll be back very soon!" Adam said.

"You think I can be tricked easily, daddy?" Jirot asked, her brow slowly raising.

"You have school anyway and before it'll be done, I'll be back."

"If you do not, daddy," Jirot warned.

"If you do not."

"I should work too," called a voice. Jirot's mouth gaped open, even little Jarot's, even the triplets looked to their mother with shock, their tails shooting out behind them. Vonda smiled innocently.

"You! You think I am small you can bully me?" Jirot almost exclaimed, her lips a pout, her fists clenched tight.

"I'll speak with mummy for you," Adam said, shuffling closer to his wife, leaning in to her ear.

"Darling?"

"I should assist, since you are so busy," Vonda stated. Adam inhaled sharply, glancing aside to his daughter, who was glaring at her father, certain he was going to try and bully her.

"Darling, I'm just going to do a little, nothing much. I'll be back in an hour and a half or so."

"I should still work."

"What? How can you do this to me, darling?" Adam wrapped his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder.

"I just came back, so we should spend some more time together."

"Very well, darling."

"You see that, Jirot? Daddy made sure mummy is going to stay."

"I will remain for this week."

"This whole month, mummy!" Jirot replied, holding up her finger.

"It should be even more!" Adam said.

"Darling, if you dare to bully us, we'll have to work together to cause a mess, and we'll include babo Jarot too!"

"Yes!" Jirot agreed, standing up as though ready to fight, though quickly she shifted on her feet, half confused, since she couldn't fight her mother.

"Don't worry!" Adam declared.

"This father of yours is strong! I'll make sure mummy plays with you for the next three weeks at least!"

"Did you hear, mummy?" Jirot asked, holding up a finger.

"I heard," Vonda confirmed.

"Good! If you say you did not, I will tell nana!"

"Okay," Vonda replied with a gentle smile.

"What am I to do with you?" Jirot asked, rubbing her forehead. Vonda blinked. This was the first time Jirot dared to treat her like Adam.

'What an uncomfortable feeling.'

"Darling, if you think that so obviously, it'll hurt my feelings…" Adam grumbled quietly.