Chương 1569: [1477] – Y06.377 – Adam the Father VII

"Woosh!" the girl declared, rushing atop the snow in her thick coat, swallowed like she was some kind of pickle sandwich.

"Babo! Look! I am as fast as you! Woosh!"

"Oh my, how swift you are, my Jirot," Malfev said, beaming towards the children, his hands clasped behind his back.

"Babo…" Jarot looked up to his greatuncle, blinking innocently at the old man.

"You are so swift too, my Jarot." The boy smiled wide, stomping off in the snow, falling into a pile, though continuing on, for he was named after his greatfather, who could not be stopped by snow either. As the twins rushed about, their eldest siblings relaxed within the snow, not adorned in thick clothing, for their silver scales preferred the cold to the heat. Konarot lay within the snow, inhaling deeply, her lungs filling with the chilly air, relaxing her entire body as she felt deeper into slumber.

Kirot lay beside her, also doing the same, her small tail swaying under her, leaving a trail of snow under her. Karot stared towards the sky, mostly grey. The cold kissed against his flushed cheeks as the boy took in the sight, for though the sky was mostly grey, it was not boring in the slightest, the boy noting the shifting hints of grey all throughout.

"Babo, how can you jump so far?" Jirot asked, panting for air, the girl half laying in a pile of snow.

"It is the way of our Fev family, little Jirot," the old man replied simply.

"I can jump really far too, look," Jirot said, hoisting herself up with a grunt, and a grumble as though she were an old man. She prepared herself, inhaling deeply, running and them jumping straight up, turning around.

"See?" Little Jarot followed after her, and seeing their sister jumping, the triplets joined her, to show off to their greatuncle how well they could jump too, the old man considering showing off, but how could he do so, when his greatchildren were so much better at jumping than he? Malfev watched over them, the older Jarot and Mulrot settled nearby, the old man rubbing his aching knee, his wife holding a small skin of hot tea, taking a sip every so often, offering a sip to her husband now and again.

"Kako, here," Jirot said, offering Nirot a small clump of snow.

"Thank you."

"It is snow I brought for you, kako, you can keep it," Jirot said, squatting down with a groan as though she were an old man, piling the snow together between her hands, offering her other kakos and papos the small clumps of snow.

"How lovely," Laygak said, smiling down towards the girl, who smiled in return.

"It is cold, so be careful you do not grow sick," Jirot warned, reaching up to hold onto her papo's wrist for a moment, then sauntering away, only to stop as she came face to face with a looming figure. The girl gasped, her tiny mouth forming a small circle in surprise.

"I should have known…" the woman said, staring down at the girl. Her skin was pale, hinted purple, pale during nightval, her horns curling aside almost like a ram, her eyes, almost fluorescent, sparkled with annoyance. It was not the annoyance of a child troubling her, but the annoyance of a child troubling her with her adorableness.

"Kako!"

"Jirot!" Lucy exclaimed, tossing the girl up, causing her to squeal.

"I have finished my training, so I can play with you!"

"Yay! Kako! Kako!" Jirot hugged the woman's head, cackling with delight, for Lucy had been training for so long, and would only play with her now and again. Lucy didn't want to admit that she felt so heartbroken leaving the children alone now that their father was gone, and though their mother had remained with them, they needed someone who they could bully in peace. She had requested the matter with Zirot, who hadn't thought twice about accepting, allowing the pair to return.

Jarot flushed lightly, holding Mara's hand, the woman smiling sweetly towards the boy, allowing him to lead her to his sister.

"Kako…" Konarot called, blinking up innocently towards Lucy.

"Konarot, are you bullying me too?" Lucy asked, lifting the girl up, tossing her, as though it were an accident, but caught her as the girl's tail violently swayed from side to side, the girl flushing slightly, though smiled, for she was her sister's sister. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

'I should have remained here,' Lucy thought, but the flashes of the sight caused her to wince, and her heart grew heavier, since she was no Iyrman, and she had been unable to regain justice. Yes, she had gone to fight, but…

"Ock!" Virot gasped, spotting Lucy and Mara, the girl blinking. She pointed at the women.

"Kako! Kako Lucy! Mummy, look! Kako Lucy!" Vonda smiled, for as Jirot favoured Lucy and Mara, so did her younger sister.

"Dear, you will worry your father if you…" Unfortunately for Vonda, Virot was already storming her way to tackle Lucy and Mara, followed by Damrot, who kept falling into the snow, though stood up and continued on, completely covered in the soft snow, without realising it.

'Dear…' Vonda thought of her husband, hoping he was safe. She prayed he would return back home without getting himself killed.

"I should make my own Order!" Adam exclaimed, half drunk, his face flushed a deep red as the half elf accepted drink after drink, while Kal Uli remained beside him, promising the half elf to watch over him, not that he had much of a choice.

"With blackjack and hookers!" Condition: Poisoned -> Normal Kal Uli realised that was the sign for him to deal with the half elf's poison, the half elf instantly sobering up thanks to the warm magic.

"I just realised none of you understood that joke," the half elf said, flushing lightly, since he couldn't go around talking about that kind of thing, not when everyone knew he was married to a Ray.

"Perhaps you, of all people, could make an Order," Zayan agreed, reaching out to pour Adam a drink, though noted Uli's look, and instead poured the half elf a cup of chilled water.

"Hmph! To think the Fariq was someone like that! If I had known, I would have beaten him senseless!" Uli reached over towards the half elf, only to realise he was no longer drunk.

'…'

"A part of fighting is knowing not to underestimate your opponent," the Heart Sword said. Adam furrowed his brows towards the handsome young man, glancing between the others, and then back to him. He shook his head, dismissing the Heart Sword's words, then turned towards Zayan.

"One day, I'm going to run a gauntlet of all these Grand Commanders, all these Fariq, and I'm going to just…" Zayan chuckled, sipping his cup of wine, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"Mo, shukhur, I hope you are able to complete such a task soon, for I would love to see it."

"Ah, whose to say?" Adam replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"I've already defeated quite a few great figures, those I cannot say, out of respect for them. Although, keep an ear out, for I'll be heading to deal with the Reavers soon, and I'll be making quite a name for myself. Next year, or the year after, it depends on how busy the business is."

"You are so strong indeed, Mo, so it is a surprise to hear you have not stepped forward to deal with the Reavers," the Heart Sword admitted, gazing curiously at the half elf.

"I imagine those who are threatened the most would go," Adam said.

"Why must I travel across the width of an entire country, across an entire sea, to defend someone else's land when I see a great number of Fariq, Fariq Thanwi within the safety of their walls. I mean, I've already killed… one? Two? One Reaver at least, more than many of the Fariq and the Fariq Thanwi who you know."

"Ahaha! I did not mean to criticize you, Mo, for I just wondered since you seem so eager for a fight, I know they are eager for a fight too."

"Eager to fight? I'm eager to stay at home, to spoil my children, to make sweet love to my wife, and to forge a thousand and one swords, as the Aswadian saying goes, but what can I do? What can I do when there are those who draw their blades against my friends, my family, my children?" Adam inhaled sharply, wincing.

"If others are eager to fight, I will draw my blade, it is not a matter of eagerness."

"Ahaha, it is no good to criticize the Orders so, for they may take offence."

"It's a good thing you're handsome," Adam replied, glancing aside towards Zayan, rolling his eyes at the Bear of the Mountains.

"Aila, what of you? I saw your fight, and to say that I was impressed, it would be quite an understatement. How did you come to become a guard for a noble?"

"Your praise is too much, nephew, I am but a humble woman of copper origins," the Silver Panther replied, the woman smiling with apprehensive delight. For though she was quite strong, to go against someone like the Fariq Thanwi, Kalim the Elder of Amber, that was someone who she may be able to clash with, but defeat? If Lord Noor was extremely displeased with the Amber Blade, perhaps she would be able to leave a scar. The inn around them grew silent as a figure stepped forward.

He stood tall, though slightly hunched. Thick hair, cut short, a sharply pointed goatee, his dark eyes sparkling. He wore his breastplate, with various designs that would protect him more than his blade.

"…"

"May I sit?" Kalim asked. Adam fumed even greater upon seeing the old man, his cheeks filling with heat.

"Nephew, why are you upset with this ahm of yours? I fought justly, unlike my Fariq!" Kalim said, causing many others around to look away and suddenly busy themselves, not wanting to involve themselves with such dangerous individuals.

"Ah, sorry ahm, I didn't realise it was you, my just ahm, who treats me so well," Adam said, standing up, reaching out to clasp the old man's hands with his own, the half elf flushing red with guilt, for Kalim had been rather fair to him.

"It is fine, but what am I meant to say to my granddaughter, for I did not claim victory as I promised?" Kalim teased.

"Tell her you were defeated by someone who could defeat your Fariq, so what were you to do?"

"Oho? Could you defeat my Fariq?"

"What else am I to tell my daughter?" Adam asked in return, shrugging.

"I would be unable to show my face if I lost to someone who wasn't a Paragon." Jirot sneezed.

"Oh my, have you played within the snow too long?" Vonda asked, reaching down to wipe the girl's nose.

"No!" the girl said, her skin pale, flush with crimson, her voice strained by her sickness.

"Daddy is speaking ill of me!" Vonda smiled wide, for if the girl had said so, it must be true.

"Oh dear."