Chương 1621: [1526] – Y07.026 – A Heart of Trouble VI

There was so much the half elf wished to say. Though he had planned to say so much, he was uncertain of whether to begin. He had told himself he would be earnest, to genuinely thank the old man, but as his voice reached his threat, it clogged up, an awkwardness seeping into him, his cheeks flushing lightly. Meanwhile, Jarot awaited for his grandson to speak up, all the while watching the young man fight against his heart at every thought.

Adam cleared his throat, since it had been far too long for him not to speak up at this time.

"You old geezer, are you going to refuse my gifts?" Jarot raised his brow, for his grandson seemed to hold quite the tone, and if he wanted the old man to draw his axe, he may as well?

"What day is it, that my grandson spoils me so?"

"Does it need to be a special day for a grandson to spoil his grandfather?" Jarot grinned wide.

"I will not refuse them." Adam unwrapped the first, a beautiful axe, well made, one that was near identical to the axe he would wield soon.

"This axe was designed by your greatchildren, and it matches the axes your grandsons are going to be wielding."

"A fine axe," Jarot said, the words more true than perhaps any other word he had previously spoken.

"I have also gifted you a shield, one that Lanarot will also gain, since she wanted a Strong Shield." Jarot chuckled, fairly certain the half elf was joking. However, the second joke was even funnier.

"You brat! What am I to do with a shield?"

"Grandfather, I have a few more gifts, but first…" Adam's smile slowly faded as he thought about what to say. He stood before the old man, with a shield that was rather plain, though well made, round, with engraving hidden within of various messages he had for the Rot family, though they may never see it considering how well they watch over their weapons and shields. Jarot waited for the half elf to speak up, battling his head once more.

"It was raining that day…" Adam whispered. Jarot's smile dropped slightly, for it was those words which struck his heart deeply. Flashes of his memories returned to him, and his elbow pulsed, that which once wielded such fine shields.

"I won't be able to protect my children by myself, I know that much, so I need your help."

"We will all assist you," Jarot replied firmly, hearing the softness within his grandson's voice.

"No. I'm sure everyone else, they can help, but this is something only you can do," Adam began, wincing slightly.

"I'm going to tell Jirot and Jarot today, but I know they won't want to step out." Jarot cleared his own throat, feeling the grave aura from his grandson, tempering his own.

"So, these gifts I'm leaving you, I hope you'll accept them."

"Is there a reason to refuse my grandson's gifts?" Jarot replied, half confused, for he was his grandson's grandfather.

"I'll let you unpack the rest, and I hope you'll adorn them quickly." Adam let out a pained sigh, feeling the heaviness within his chest, for he needed to speak the words, yet he couldn't. As he was about to step out, his legs remained firmly glued to the ground.

"Do you think…" Jarot brushed along the cool metal of the shield, though his eyes then turned to see the side of his grandson who seemed frozen by his fear.

"I know granduncle Tangak would have liked the children, but what about granduncle Zaool?"

"Zaool was a fool too," Jarot assured, sadly, his arm pulsing once more.

"Then, I hope you'll be able to forgive me." Adam reached up towards his glistening eyes, rubbing them with the back of his eyes, stepping out, for he was too cowardly to remain. Jarot narrowed his eyes, though his heart ached lightly, but he reached for the gifts in the two packages. As he revealed them to himself, he froze in place, and as he opened the second gift, his body pulsed in pain once more. The old man winced.

'What a vicious grandson…' Jarot thought, for only they could wound him so deeply.

'You are your daughter's father.' This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As the half elf returned to the estate, he inhaled sharply, and as he stepped within, his triplets each swarmed him. He lifted the trio up one by one, starting with Konarot, then Kirot, then held Karot within his arms as he carried the boy to the side.

"Daddy! You are back?"

"I am back."

"Where is babo?"

"Oh? Babo? Oh my, oh my, where is babo? I came back, but babo has not?"

"It must be important if babo is not back," Jirot replied simply, looking out longingly towards the exit. Adam blinked. The half elf smiled, though excused himself quickly, and though Jirot's eyes fell upon his back, following him into the house, the half elf continued to a small basket, in which he took out a pocket watch, the gentle clicking near silent. He stared at the numbers, and twisted the knob, a thin hand circling around once from where the current hands faced.

'I should send word to Filliam,' Adam thought, brushing the pocket watch lightly with a cloth, and slipped it into his robes, hanging the chain within a loop.

'Did I even send him his gifts?'

"What?" Jirot gasped, her mouth wide.

"How can this be?"

"Kaka!" Virot called out, confirming her words.

"Since you say so, it must be true," Jirot said, hugging her younger sister, and then followed her to the side, where she found a small bug, the children watching it as it began its journey to do bug things. A small golden serpent, a thesselrym, flew through the air, and darted around the children, before settling itself upon a certain figure's shoulder. Yellows snapped to attention, the thesselrym turning to look towards Adam.

'You think I won't cook you, huh?' Adam glared at the creature he had saved.

'If you dare to seduce my wife, watch what I do to you, you punk.' Yellows, with the understanding the half elf had wished to claim her shoulder, nuzzled into the woman's cheek, and then flew across the air, towards little Jirot, who nuzzled the creature, and allowed it to lay over her shoulders like a scarf, revealing the bug they were watching to it.

The half elf swallowed, feeling every second pass by, the unspoken promises in the air, all the while his eyes remained vaguely upon the tiny figures in the distance.

"Brother, you look so lonely," Lanarot accused, climbing up to sit beside him, with an exaggerated huff.

"How can I be so lonely when my lovely sister accompanies me?"

"Yes, that is true," the girl agreed, allowing the half elf to half hug him.

"Ah, right. Do you remember your birthday gift?"

"The best shield!"

"It just so happens that, perhaps, this brother of yours has managed to procure a shield that matches your grandfather, and has the same enchantments?" Adam mused.

"That is because you are so amazing, brother!" Lanarot said, hugging his strong arm, pressing her cheek against his shoulder.

"It's in the…" Adam paused.

"Perhaps I'll convince grandfather to trade you his after he has used it?"

"Really?" Adam smiled, reaching down to pinch the girl's nose.

"I can do that much at least, can't I?" Lanarot flushed, still hugging his arm tight, burying her face against the side of his arm, all the while the half elf tickled the back of her head gently.

"Brother! I will be as strong as grandfather too!"

"You have to work hard then."

"Ock! I always have to work hard!" Lanarot grumbled.

"It's because grandfather is so strong, it's all his fault!" Lanarot blinked, considering her brother's words, her brows furrowed deeply.

"Oh yeah." Adam winced, trying his best not to laugh, for seeing such a serious little Iyrchild speak as foolishly as him… Ah. She was his sister, after all. Then, as the seconds ticked away, as the children returned, Jirot speaking a tale, and then they prepared their snacks, and as the girl bullied him so relentlessly, but with her sweet affections, the half elf noted an hour had passed, and thus, it was time.

"Jirot, Jarot, come here," Adam called, standing from his seat, holding out his hands. Jirot's eyes made the calculations quickly, though seeing the dourness within her father's eyes, she rushed up to claim a hand within her own, little Jarot doing the same. Yet, this was not enough, for he lifted the pair up, holding them within his chest, recalling how he was able to hold them within his hands when they were just babes, barely the size of pears.

'I've given you so much attention, I'm sure the trio are probably feeling a little jealous…' Adam thought, swallowing, but he held the twins closer, the guilt striking deep. He sighed, feeling the weight of his shoulders only grow. After this year, he'd be sure to spoil all his children properly.

"Daddy…" Jirot grumbled quietly, preparing her heart for the inevitable betrayal.

"Jirot. Jarot." Adam inhaled sharply, smelling their gently scents, those of the Iyr's oils, the Aswadian uthur, and the smell of the food which permeated the air.

"Even though your father is weak, at the very least, this father of yours loves you deeply." Jirot blinked, flushing slightly, glancing aside.

"You know that, right?" Adam asked.

"Hmm…" Adam looked down at the girl, for the boy smiled, already knowing, even though his sister caused trouble. Adam held his daughter's gaze, causing her to flush.

"I know, daddy, I know…"

"Daddy…" little Jarot confirmed. Adam winced once more, his entire body tensing up, and his heart shuddered in such pain. He didn't want to speak the words, but if he could not speak to his grandfather, he had to speak with his children.

"Soon…" the half elf began, his voice strained.

"Next month… we're going to be leaving the Iyr."

"You were buttering me up for this!" Jirot accused.

"You think I'm some kind of delicious potato? Like a succulent potato plucked from the earth in noonval, when they taste best?" Adam narrowed his eyes, all the while the girl held up a finger threateningly, as though she hadn't just commit the sin of such prose upon her father. The half elf's lips twitched into a smile slightly, though quickly disappeared, as the pulled the twins to his chest once more. The half elf's heart throbbed.

"Dear. I meant… myself, your mother, your elder siblings, and even you two, will be…" the half elf stopped upon hearing the gasp, feeling how his daughter's body jolted so violently within his arms, her eyes full of such a deep shock, such deep betrayal, such deep fear.