Chương 1615: [1520] – Y07.020– A World of Trouble X

She was a painting of joy, the girl adorned in the blues of her family, her forehead dabbed in the vague shapes that were meant to form the blue circle and the diamonds of her family, and the smile of her face was so like her family, the side eyed smirk the girl revealed spoke of her family's name, even if it came from those who were newly appointed as her family in her lifetime.

The various families showered the girl in their affections, for she was so big now, standing tall and strong, the girl receiving their affections politely.

"Kako," Konarot called, revealing the drawings. The trio had drawn within several pages of a book, which she could then use as a diary, or for her school work.

"What a beautiful gift!" the girl said, pulling the trio in close, planting kisses on their cheeks, for the drawings, weren't they greater than even gold? How much gold was there in the world? At least a mountain's worth, but what of her nieces and nephew's drawing? Even her brother only possessed a small hill's worth.

"Kako, look," Jirot said, revealing the storybook she had found, of a warrior by the same name as her aunt.

"What a lovely gift from my lovely niece and nephew," Lanarot said, pulling the pair close, for though at one point they had almost overtaken her height, Lanarot was continuing to grow, while the children remained the same, and within her heart, they would always remain the same, for she was their aunt, even if she was only a year and a half older, her arms wrapped around the pair.

"Kako…" Virot held up a cup, and with that, she had earned her aunt's tender affection, the girl flushing lightly, all the while her aunt showered her in praise, for wasn't it the greatest cup of all? Damrot held up a small bowl within his hands, and Lanarot sighed, holding her nephew close. Her heart was full of worry, for he had not inherited their families blood thirst, indeed, her nephew was too sweet, so sweet, she couldn't help but kiss his face all over.

"Damrot, you are so well behaved," Lanarot said, something she spoke only to him, and not his cousin. Thankfully Virot continued to smile innocently. Jurot stared down towards his younger sister, the pair holding one another's gaze. Lanarot pouted, side eyeing him, but forgave him once she was within his arms, the pair hugging one another tightly.

"You have grown."

"Yes! You must be careful, brother, or I will grow more powerful than you."

"Am I able to defeat you even now?" Lanarot flushed, the girl rubbing her cheek against her brother's, the pair tightening their hug.

"As long as you know."

"I know," Jurot assured, feeling her weight within his arms, and within his arms, she was almost weightless. Perhaps that was the price of knowing this strength, and though his heart ached, the warmth of his sister's adoration eased him.

"I know." Then, he stood, waiting for his turn. His skin pale, though no longer did dark tendrils reach across his face, instead a large smile encroached upon his lips. The pair smirked towards one another for a long while, until, finally, they were smirking at one another while in each other's arms.

"Lanababy."

"Brother." The half elf held her gaze for a long moment, and then, the pair leaned in to nuzzle one another, and hugged each other tightly, not quite as tightly as Jurot and the girl, but no less full of warmth. The half elf's heart beat swiftly, for though his body ached, even if cowered before the will that was the half elf's foolishness, a foolishness which had endeared himself to this family, and earned the title of brother from this sweet girl, who protected him from the great wrath of the Iyr.

"Tell me, Lanababy, what is it that you wish for?"

"I want a shield."

"What kind of shield would you like?" Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"A strong shield."

'I ended up giving Strong Shield away, but…' The half elf brushed her hair gently, fixing her little hair piece, then tickled her nose with his thumb.

"If you want a strong shield, I can give you one that will match your grandfather's shield." Lanarot formed a tiny circle with her mouth, then hugged her brother's neck once more, almost head butting his chest.

"Thank you, brother!" Once the girl had received a great level of attention, her mother led them all away, from her daughter, to her son, to her most troublesome grandchild's father, and all their families too, making their way through the spacious roads of the Iyr.

The various Iyrmen around waved towards the little girl, whose birthday it certainly was, considering the audacity and ribbons, until they finally approached one of the estates within the centre of the Front Iyr, formed of wood and stone, and the will of the Iyrmen. A short, lean figure, wrinkled by time, sat at the ready, her various charcoals eager to be unsheathed, as the large group settled before her.

It was then the old Iyrman understood why she was informed to request a few apprentices assist her, but if she could not sketch the family portrait of so many figures, why did she become one of the Iyr's artists in the first place. The charcoal within her fingers trembled only for a moment before she let out a soft sigh, and it fell still.

"Would you like to hold Amalrot?" Sonarot asked, noting the conflict on the half elf's face.

"Oh! If you must insist, Aunt, of course I will!" Adam said, snatching the girl up, who yawned tiredly, but instantly rested her head against her brother's chest.

"Amalrot, you silly girl, you have to stay awake." The girl yawned once more, nuzzling her face against the softness of his shirt, sucking upon her thumb.

"I didn't expect it to be so easy to defeat you, you don't have to worry, but to think I would need to use my secret technique immediately…" Adam let out a soft sigh.

"Jurot, we have to do that."

"Okay," Jurot said, reaching into his tunic, revealing something wrapped in a paper and string, and as the half elf accepted it, he pulled apart the string.

"Daddy is showing no mercy," Jirot whispered to her mother with a grave seriousness, almost causing even the Ray of Hope to crack.

"Amalrot," Adam said, revealing his secret weapon, half wrapped within the paper still, the kind that had been coated in a certain liquid to allow it to remain cool while kept out of sunlight.

"Cheese." Amalrot's hand darted through the air with expert precision, grabbing onto the half elf's wrist, the girl sitting upright as she stared at the stick of yellow right in front of her, and with that, the artist was able to sketch the family, that of Sonarot, her children, and her grandchildren, and though there were well over a dozen, if she was unable to do so, then why did she become one of the Iyr's artists in the first place? It was a battle of charcoal.

"Good job, Virot, Damrot, Xarot, Monarot, Pamarot, you all…" Adam blinked towards Pamarot, who snoozed against her mother's bosom, and he understood why she had been so quiet during the sketch.

"You all were so well behaved, so quiet, well done, well done."

"Daddy, I was so good too," Jirot said, half shocked she wasn't complimented on not causing trouble, the girl glancing aside towards her mother in utter disbelief.

"Yes, but you are a big girl now, so we expect it from you," Adam replied. Jirot blinked.

"Oh. Oh yeah."

"Even so, well done to you all for sitting so well, and watching over your younger siblings," Adam said, reaching down to ruffle their hair gently.

"Do you know what time it is now?"

"It is time to play!" Jirot said excitedly. The half elf smiled. Jirot's smile quickly dropped, for today was the first of the month, which meant… As the girl stared at her ahm in front of her, who sat opposite the pair of twins with a gentle smile, the girl sighed.

"Ah! How was your aunt's birthday?"

"It seems you have betrayed me too, ahm," Jirot said, holding his gaze darkly. Dunes blinked, and for a moment his heart ached, recalling the rain, but the memory flashed away as quickly as it had arrived. Indeed, for thought he girl sat with a great pain within her heart, it was not quite so serious, as she eventually returned to her studies. However, why did she, of all the children, have to say something like that to he, of all the adults?

As Dunes walked the pair home, he met Adam's gaze, and let out a soft sigh.

"What happened?"

"She remained quiet for so long, and then, when she finally spoke up, do you know what she said?" Dunes began. Adam's tears slipped down freely, all the while his jaw ached from trying not to unhinge itself as he refused to laugh, covering his face with both hands.

"Sorry, Dunes. It seems my daughter…" Dunes remained silent as the half elf continued to cry, doing his absolute best not to laugh, to the point it was beginning to hurt his throat. Then, finally, the half elf's laughter filled the estate, and Dunes sighed, looking up towards the sky.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have-," Adam began once he had calmed down, but if he had continued, he surely would have begun laughing once more.

"I am going to tell Jirot." The half elf gasped for air, struggling to breathe after another bout of laughter, until he spotted Jirot, her hands upon her waist.

"Are you bullying my ahm?"

"Jirot! It was because you bullied your ahm!"

"I am allowed to! Ahm is my ahm!"

"He's my friend!"

"Stop bullying my ahm!" Adam's laughter filled the air once more, unable to contain himself. Jurot couldn't help but also tense his jaw, for Jirot was currently berating her father because she was the one who bullied her ahm. However, his eyes darted to the side as he spotted a set of familiar faces, those he hadn't expected to see that day, though he had expected to see someone.