Chương 1616: [1521] – Y07.021 – A Heart of Trouble I

She was a beautiful older woman, with short hair, recently cut, silvered through time, and the stress that was the position of Family Elder. She carried a similar set of weapons as one might have expected of someone who wore such tattoos, even though her beauty was that of the Kan family.

The other was a strongly built woman, whose hair was dark, though was beginning to lighten due to time, and the stress that was the position of Family Head, also recently cut short, though she looked near identical to her daughter, who apparently hadn't returned from assisting the villages, though she should have.

'Is that why?' Jurot thought, for to see one of the two was a surprise, but for both the Family Elder and the Family Head to step out to the Front Iyr to greet Lanarot, it was something that was completely unexpected. It would have made sense if it was… Lanarot rushed up to the women, though was quickly followed behind by her nieces and nephews, especially the eldest, and her two cousins, who almost drowned the pair with excitement. Jurot remained on edge, even if the children were filled with such large smiles.

It was only when Mirot reached a hand to Amalrot's head, the girl shyly pulling away to her mother, that his intensity faded.

"If I had known she was so well built, I would have claimed her as my own," Mirot said.

"She takes after my youngest."

"Since your sons are so well built, I thought to claim her as my own," Sonarot joked, greeting the woman with a half hug, though allowed her sons to claim their mother.

"Gurot, you seem to have lost weight," Mirot accused, all causing the boy to smile, and shake his head.

"Is it because you have grown?"

"Yes!" The boy cackled.

"What of you, Murot?"

"Mama…" Murot rested his head against her bosom, his heart pounding violently within his chest, threatening to burst with delight. Zirot and Jirot held one another's gazes for a moment, the girl smirking towards the woman, the woman smirking towards the girl, until they all greeted one another properly.

"Since we had not yet met our youngest, we thought to visit together, so we are no strangers to her," Mirot explained, noting her nephew's gaze upon her. Her eyes darted to met his, and thankfully, there was no accusation within those dark orbs, otherwise she would have to draw her axe to teach him a lesson, if even he had far surpassed her strength and would beat her well.

"Nana!" Jirot hugged the woman's leg, causing Mirot to hoist the twins up, who wrapped their arms around her neck, claiming the woman for themselves now that their uncles had already greeted their mother.

"Where is granduncle Tarot?" Lanarot asked, glancing between the pair.

"He is still working hard," Zirot replied, with a gentle smile upon her lips, reaching down towards her grandniece.

"Although, when he returns, I will crush him with the weight of much work, since I am not as reliable as your grandmother?"

"Grandaunt, you cannot bully granduncle, he is not as tough as grandfather," Lanarot replied, peeking mischievously through one eye, as the pair held one another, and then laughed.

"Granduncle is working too hard!" Adam grumbled, huffing slightly.

"It's been so many years since my children last saw him, they must have forgotten his face!" Zirot laughed, reaching out to ruffle the half elf's hair, beaming brightly.

"How are you?"

"I am well, as always, grandaunt. How have you been? I hope I haven't caused too much trouble for the Family Elder?"

"I am well, blessed as I am, but I do miss the adorable children who would watch over me," Zirot said, looking down towards his children, each of whom shyly smiled towards her.

"I'll be sure to send them back now and again," Adam replied awkwardly.

"Is the trip soon?" Adam chuckled nervously.

"I intend to step out early next month or so. There's quite a bit of work to do before then." The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"Nano, you must tell daddy! He is always working, and then he is going to leave? You are the Family Elder, and he must listen to you, nano!" Zirot continued to smile for a moment, glancing between the two, realising he had not told her yet.

"I see. I shall speak with your father, and if he does not play with you, you may write me a letter, and I will use my authority to make him play with you."

"As always, you are so wise as you are so beautiful," Jirot said, nodding her head gently.

'She has grown so much,' Zirot thought, beaming down towards the girl with such a bright smile. It was that girl who adores them so much, her trouble, aggressive, her affection, aggressive, her trouble, aggressive.

'To think of how poorly we treated such a precious soul…'

"Will you apologise for causing the Family Head trouble?" Mirot asked.

"What need of I to apologise to the Family Head who covets my children and my sister?"

"It is because they are worth coveting, I cannot help myself."

"I suppose I can't blame you for that," Adam replied, his lips twitching slightly.

"Have you been well, Family Head?"

"Who are you calling the Family Head?" Mirot reached out with a strong hand, clasping his shoulder lightly.

"What happened to my nephew who beat me so viciously?" Adam flushed, clearing his throat lightly.

"If you say something like that, my children will misunderstand."

"Since you are such trouble, I am sure they already know," the woman said, smiling, and with that, she pulled away. Adam smiled awkwardly, though paused, for was their relationship that good they could comfortably joke like this?

'Huh?' As the Family Elder and Family Head revealed all the gifts for little Lanarot, they also spoiled her with their affection, for it had been so long since they had seen one another. After which, when the Family Elder and Family Head were greeting their various compatriots, Jurot and Adam took their sisters to the business, showing off the seven year old, while the business members each gifted the child small gifts.

It was upon their return when the Family Elder beckoned for the half elf to follow her, the pair heading out for a walk. She had already understood she didn't need to worry about Jurot, because Jurot was born and raised within the Iyr, and even if he was not the most intelligent, he knew of the Iyr's protocols, and, for the most part, he had behaved like an Iyrman. Adam, however…

"Have you not informed the children?" Zirot asked.

"That day hasn't come yet."

"What day is that?"

"There is only one day that they can be told, and that day has not yet come."

"If you have your own plans, I have worried needlessly," the woman said, silencing the half elf's words by ruffling his hair, the woman beaming once more with a smile.

"If you require more warriors, you may inform me, and I will inform the other families Elders and Heads, for there are not just one or two warriors within our four families, and I am certain those of the Jin, Geks, and Sens, and perhaps a few others, would be willing. No, in a matter like this, it is certain all families would send their warriors."

"I have entrusted the matter to the Iyr, and I will entrust Aunt and yourselves to make the necessary preparations, for I haven't been any good at that sort of thing." Zirot placed a hand on his shoulder and allowed him to return, and though she wasn't able to remain for long, she watched the form of her grandnephew step away. Thankfully, she, too, had made her own preparations to deal with the hearts of the children, especially the pair.

'Tarot, you fool. At this time, the children need you most. Will you refuse to return even now?' Yet, as she thought of her fool of a husband, so weak he was, for he was her age, and yet had not even reached the rank of a Master, she closed her eyes and thought of the conversation with Elder Forest not long ago, within one of the many fields of the Iyr, under the stars.

"You intend to refuse?" Elder Forest had asked, the woman adorned in her full plate, a glaive upon her back. This matter was hers, for she was in charge of wealth when it came to the Iyr's land, and the wealth of the Iyr including its might.

"What need is there of I to become a Grandmaster or a Paragon?"

"It is best, for this time, there are special matters to deal with."

"If sister has accepted, I will entrust her, and since Flame Brand and the Descending Swallow have accepted, there is no need for I to step out."

"Even Flame Brand has accepted."

"…" Elder Forest let out a soft sigh.

"If you do not intend to regret it, I can say no more."

"Elder Forest, it is your duty to watch over the many branches which form the Iyr's families, but I only have to watch the singular branch our families form. The Rot family, it does not require this assistance, though we are grateful." Zirot smiled.

"Even Flame Brand did not need to step out." Elder Forest held the woman's gaze for a long moment, she who had been with the beauty of the Kans, and the strength which could have placed her among the greats. Indeed, even in her retirement, she was still greater than a typical Master, and should she have placed greater effort, she would have already claimed the title of Grandmaster, perhaps beyond.

The last Family Elder had been similar, for Mulrot was not too far behind the woman in terms of experience, and she, too, had been a member of another family before taking the position of the Family Elder. Even so, Elder Forest hadn't been so certain she would have known about the Gak children.

"There is no need to worry, for I will not inform brother of this matter," Zirot said, though she would eventually inform her husband, who would inform his brother.

"What need we to worry of the Mad Dog?"

"The Mad Dog of today, perhaps." Zirot was certain, for after what had happened to the children, the Mad Dog had already begun his return to the world. She was also certain that her grandnephew, whose heart remained cracked, barely contained together, that he, too, would begin his ascent to the world.

'Since your grandmother is known as the Ascending Swallow, it only makes sense for you to ascend too.'