Chương 1600: [1505] – Y07.005 – First Rays of Dawnval V

"Shall we go to work," Vonda asked, holding onto her husband's hand, the pair cuddled to one side, enjoying a cup of tea and one another's company.

"We could, but…" The half elf sipped his tea, staring down at the liquid, noting the rays of dawn flickering across the surface.

"Shall we go for a picnic?" Vonda offered, wanting to ease the half elf's heart.

"Oh! That sounds lovely! I need to do a little bit of work, not enough for us to enchant, but just a little, so should we go an hour before lunch?"

"I will ask mother to watch over the youngest."

"Huh?"

"What is it?"

"When did you start calling Aunt, mother?"

"Since she calls me her daughter, I should call her mother in return," Vonda replied, simply.

"Right…" Adam thought about his wife's words, flushing lightly, not realising how adorable he appeared to his wife.

"Ah, right, I need to go do some fabricatin'."

"Yes, darling." Vonda took his hands, the pair exchanging a quick kiss, the half elf quickly retreating away, though greeted each of the children before he stepped away, including his youngest, little Xarot, who was half asleep, as well as his young nieces, though weren't they his daughters too? Meanwhile, Virot glared up towards her uncle, the girl sat down before him, her hands upon her knees, while little Damrot peeked up towards his father's face, noting the sharp angular lines of his father's jaw.

"The undead will rise soon," Jurot began, holding his niece's glare.

"Would you like to watch?" Virot turned her head, side eyeing her uncle, still glaring deep into his eyes. The corner of her lips shifted into a smirk.

'Your mother is a Ray of Hope, and your father is almost as kind hearted, so how did you gain such…' Jurot recalled his own sister, and the girl's elder sister, and left the matter there. As Adam sat, casting his spell, forming the ore into various armours and weapons, he paused, considering the last of the metal. It was this ore he would form into a very specific blade, the kind he should have crafted with his own two hands, rather than the magic afforded to him through Fate.

'Ah, right, I need a new axe too, don't I?' the half elf thought. Once he had finished the blade, he considered what kind of axe he would like for the next year.

His current axe was decent, but the enchantment on it was only Basic Enhanced, worth its weight in gold, no doubt, but if he was going to go blow for blow with the strongest this year, and if he didn't want to lose for the first time in front of his sisters and his children, he would need to enchant an axe that would be able to put all the most terrifying figures in their place. Adam winced, recalling the giant greatsword which had almost cleaved him in half.

'Right, there are also monsters like him too. What was it they called her? Sleeping Dragon of Arisa? Then there's all the Sword Dragons, or whatever they're called. It's one thing to go against the Grand Commanders, the Fariqi, of various Orders, but what about those guys who sleep in the shadows? Aswadasad, it's that kind of place...'

As the half elf returned back to the estate, he found not just his extended family, but a particular figure, tall, strongly built, covered in steel, and carrying a blade at his side that seemed to be formed of blood.

"Granduncle, what brings you-," Adam began as Shasen stepped towards him, the old man ruffling his hair, offering the young man a sweet.

"Thank you," Adam said, popping it into his mouth, the sweetness exploding in his mouth, quickly swallowing down his saliva as his mouth salivated. He supposed he would allow his granduncle to spoil him.

"I apologise for coming so late, but I had some other matters to tend to this morning," Shasen said, placing a hand upon his shoulder.

"It's alright, I know how you're all so busy, but I appreciate it anyhows."

"If you worry so much, you will gain too many wrinkles." Adam blinked, feeling the older man's firm hands upon his shoulders, though after the reassuring squeeze, the old man pulled his hands back.

"Ah, well, you know how I am." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Shasen let out a soft sigh, bowing his head gently, allowing the half elf to retreat towards his youngest, who was currently placing blocks together. Little Xarot placed a single block upon another, stared at it for a long while, then laughed and clapped his hands. Shasen considered the innocence Xarot held, for he had not been born then.

Perhaps it was not for the best, for he only knew of his siblings after such a terrible event, and such an event had changed them. Thankfully, they were still so full of affection.

'This is how it should be,' Adam thought, waiting for his son to notice him. Xarot eventually turned, noticing the shadow from his periphery, then noticing who it was, the boy squealing with delight as he rolled over to stand, the boy stomping his way to his father.

"Dada! Dada!"

"Xarot!" Adam half exclaimed, lifting the boy up, planting a firm kiss upon his forehead, then wrapped his arms around the boy.

"You slept for so long today, huh?"

"Kekeke!" As the pair embraced, Adam smiled, planting a kiss atop the boy's head, holding him close. Unfortunately for the boy, his father was stolen away, and what was worse was that his mother was stolen away too! Thankfully, his grandmother held him close, the boy sucking on his dummy as he lay within her lap, staring deep into her eyes, the woman beaming down towards him, causing him to smile so innocently.

'Why are all my grandsons so meek?' Sonarot thought, brushing the boy's hair with a finger, but she didn't mind that one bit, especially as he reached up to claim her finger. It was around the time Adam and Vonda cuddled together, feeding each other their sandwiches, that the children were training. As always, Malfev watched over the six, Lanarot, and her fives nieces and nephews, each following his instructions well. Thankfully, his sister, Mulrot, also remained close at hand.

"Ock!" Jirot gasped.

"Nano…"

"Come, Jirot, Jarot," Mulrot said, leading the children away.

"Do you need the toilet?" Malfev asked, his eyes darting between the four.

"No."

"It is no shame to use the toilet, yes?" Malfev said, making sure they all understood.

"Yes," the children agreed. Malfev smiled, though his heart throbbed lightly. He continued the training, each of the children taking to it well, and for once, it was Jirot who fell behind, though it was not her physical abilities which they feared. Lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled. Malfev glanced aside, for Mork was once more playing with fire by summoning down… Oh, right. It was no longer the Twilight Month.

"Shall we end our training here?" Malfev said, escorting the children away to the baths, and once they were bathed and changed, they returned to the estate.

"Mister Bael! You are awake!" Jirot gasped, charging towards the azure scaled half dragon, who was certainly a dragon, the fellow yawning.

"I couldn't miss the birthdays," Bael said, greeting each of the twins, ruffling their hair, causing them to squeal.

"I did not bring too much, I was too busy with my slumber."

"You slept so much!" Jirot gasped.

"One whole month!"

"So I did." Jirot blinked.

"You sleep so much, mister. I slept for a long time too, but you slept even longer."

"It is because we are so strong that we must sleep for so long," Bael joked.

"Ah, of coas," Jirot agreed, nodding her head. The triplets stared up at Bael, who offered them each a small dagger formed of coralsteel, the children eyeing up the glittering steel, allowing their younger siblings to admire the shiny metals.

"I acquired these when I beat that merman brat," Bael informed.

"Prince Merza?" Jirot asked.

"Is that his name?" Bael asked, as though he didn't know, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"You bullied him so much."

"I don't want to hear that from you, or your father," Bael said, causing the girl to flush lightly, her eyes glancing aside with the kiss of a smirk upon her lips. Bael smiled, glad he had regained so much of his strength, for he would need to step out soon. His eyes darted towards the children's grandmother, who had dared to speak so brazenly towards Emperor Shama. He bowed his head lightly, and the woman bowed her head in return, the pair coming to an understanding.

'Should I beat him up?' Adam thought, sitting to one side, and yet his children hadn't come to greet him. Bael was not Morkarai's friend, so he could beat him up freely, however, he had come along at that time, so he supposed he had to show mercy. Also, seeing him beat up Prince Merza too, freely at that, caused him to smile slightly.

As the day continued to pass, many others began to visit, bringing gifts, including a familiar bald Iyrman, who wore the same blue tattoos of the Rot, and carried an axe upon his side, a shield upon his back, and carried a sack slung over his shoulder.

"Did you think we forgot?" Kamrot asked, grabbing each of the triplets within his powerful arms, the triplets each embracing him tightly.

"I brought gifts from the Main Iyr, and your nana sends her regards."

"Nana is so busy she cannot see us?" Jirot asked.

"She is," Kamrot replied. Jirot pouted, glancing down at her potato.

"But, but, babo? She is so busy, Virot will forget her face!"

"I will send word to her then, but…"

"I know, I know, she is the Family Head…" Jirot grumbled quietly.

"I am going to forgive her because she is so pretty."

"I will let her know you have shown her such mercy." Jirot let out a soft sigh.

"Yes. I am so magnanimous."

"So magnanimous," Konarot joked. Jirot flushed.

"Kaka, you cannot bully me, just because it is your birthday."

"Okay…" Konarot hugged her younger sister, kissing her cheek.

"Do you forgive me?"

"Of coas, of coas," the girl said, kissing her sister's cheek back, hugging her tight.

"You are lucky you are so pretty, kaka."

'I hope she understands that's just a joke,' Adam thought, his nerves suddenly spiking once more. He winced lightly, though Vonda squeezed at his hand, calming his heart. Vonda couldn't help but wonder if perhaps her husband would take his role more seriously, that of a Father of Death this year… Thankfully, the Father of War appeared, coming to spoil his nieces and nephews on their birthday, and kept their father company.

Vonda, the Ray of Hope, was glad that though her husband was a fool, he had managed to endear himself among many, each of whom were willing to watch over him, even as the darkness threatened to overwhelm him.

'I hope the darkness doesn't swallow you whole, Adam…'