Chương 1628: [1533] – Y07.033 – Rebirth III

It was in the middle of bantering with his sister and his cousins when he felt it, not for the first time in what felt like a year, and instantly he brought out his spear as death came for his neck. As the clashing of steel rung through the air, his palm, with the strength of an iron hammer, struck forward, but as his inner energy exploded outwards, the wall in front of him did not budge. As though riding the wind, he retreated away, feeling the ache within his body already, even after the momentary clash.

Upon seeing who formed the iron wall ahead of him, Malfev was surprised. It wasn't because the person surprised him, nor the fact he was difficult to deal with, but it was the beastly wildness in his eyes, the vicious grin that was so unlike those he had seen for the last generation, and the fact he wielded a shield once more.

"To think you would dare to worry my greatchildren so much and come back with such a shameless smiles upon your faces!" Mulrot, too, was unable to hide the surprise upon her face, for the memories began to flood back of the old Jarot she had barely managed to claim as her own, the wild beast who perhaps did not even consider the idea of romance, and yet, somehow, relented to her.

"It seems his favourite is well known," Gangak joked, noting the life which had returned to Jarot's face, as well as the clarity, and the thirst for blood. Just how many years had it been since she had last seen him like this?

"Though he defends you from me?" Jarot mused, and then, a flash of wildness, but he resisted the urge, stretching his neck lightly. Malfev had stepped out for so long and had returned with a greater strength, seeing upon the horizon Paragonhood, and yet, in that time, just a month for Jarot, the old beast had regained his previous might. It was not that long ago Malfev had said he would have been able to defeat the Mad Dog.

However, that Jarot was one armed, one legged, and did not hold the fire within his heart, and this Jarot, though it had been a handful of weeks since the old beast had seen them, he had changed so much.

"We have returned," Mulrot finally said, wanting her husband to acknowledge her, her eyes filled with a glare, for how could he speak to two others before his own wife?

'It seems we are not the ones who returned,' Bloodblade Shasen, thought. Their thoughts were soon drowned out by the excited squeals and screams of the children who threatened to drown them, the old for Shasen, Malfev, Mulrot, and Gangak had finally returned after their journey.

Thankfully, though the children had gone to their elders first, a small group also charged the younger pair who had returned, Tanagek and Chosen, who held a sharpness across them, and each wore new scars, Tanagek across his cheek and brow, a blow that narrowly missed his eyes, and Chosen across his nose and cheeks, though thankfully it hadn't pierced too deeply, just marking his skin slightly paler.

"Brother!" a pair cried, with Danagek and Chisen each tackling their elder sibling.

"Papa!" Dagek and Chasen called, each awaiting their turn to be picked up, for the two had finally returned, though seemed so different now, and yet, not different at all, each still very much the brothers they knew.

"Nanos! You are back! Nanos!" the children squealed with delight, rushing towards the pair, swarming them, with the triplets swarming one, the twins and their younger sister swarming the other, all the while little Xarot held onto his father, unsure if he should rush to them.

"If you want to go, you can," Adam said, placing the boy down onto his feet, and he turned to look at his father, then his greatmothers, taking a few steps, then stopping.

"You must have missed us so much," Mulrot said, ruffling the children's hair. Gangak lifted up the twins, the pair grabbing her head, kissing her jaw, the pair squealing excitedly, almost threatening to destroy her eardrums.

"My sweet Jarot, I hope you did not cause trouble." Little Jarot blinked, but he and his sister burst into laughter, while the youngest began to cry, until Gangak finally picked the girl up, who instantly quietened, and pouted up at the woman until they exchanged kisses. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Nano, you are back," Konarot said, her tail swaying in such a way it formed circles in the air, along with her younger siblings.

"Why have you all become so thin?" Mulrot asked, reaching into her pocket to reveal various small sweetcubes within the paper, allowing them each to claim one. She glanced aside, towards little Lanarot, and little Gurot and Murot, each of whom waited patiently to greet their grandmother.

'It is so difficult to be a big girl,' Lanarot thought, but she waited patiently, until she finally hugged her grandmother, embracing her tight.

"I missed you, grandmother."

"I missed you too," Mulrot said, brushing the girl's cheek.

"Oh dear. I haven't seen you in so long and you have grown up." Lanarot flushed slightly.

"You are just joking, grandmother." Mulrot smiled, and the girl flushed more, hiding her face against her shoulder, until her grandmother lifted her up, and the pair held one another tenderly. The woman carried the girl away and joined her companions who returned.

"It is good to see you have returned, uncle," Sonarot called, holding a particularly chonky blue girl within her arms.

"I see much has changed," Malfev said, his eyes trailing towards the old man, who fumed as Gangak remained pinned by the twins, who should have been pinning him instead, and yet, as always, he forgave them. Sonarot smiled in return, but said no more, for Malfev was surely deep in thought about that.

"Nano, do you see? Babo has two arms and two legs like me!" Jirot declared.

"Yes, I see."

"I was worried, because I am as beautiful as you, but people will say I am not his greatdaughter because we are not similar."

"In one way you are similar." Jirot glanced aside innocently.

"I wonder how we can be similar?"

"You! Will you bully me like this, my Jirot?" The old man clenched his fists tight, his heart aching, for certainly she was his greatdaughter considering she had inherited his troublesomeness! Who else could she have inherited it from?

"Babo thinks because he is handsome, and because he has two arms and two legs, he can now misbehave." Jirot tutted.

"I cannot?" the old man asked. Jirot blinked. He had spoken so earnestly, she had to think twice about what she had said.

"Just a little bit?"

"Just a little bit," the old man said, peeking down towards little Jarot, who smiled upon their gazes meeting.

'I should slaughter a few warriors upon our journey.'

"How does it feel?" Mulrot asked, feeding little Lanarot from her fingers, as she had been unable to spoil her during her birthday.

"Good," the old man replied, staring at the twins, seeing their eyes so full of delight, soaking in such a beautiful sight, for tomorrow morning they would wound the children's hearts once more. Gangak said nothing at his words, instead embracing all four of the children, each of them flooding her with their affection, specifically the two girls, who were so free with their kisses, while little Jarot and Damrot remained upon her lap.

The old man had given his arm up for her brother, and had regained it for the sake of her greatchildren, so what could she say? As the group settled themselves, a grey skinned Iyrman appeared. He was tall, strong, his thick curls silver, his eyes sharp, though certainly not as sharp as the greatblade upon his back, which held a fairly typical design, save for the fact it was dark, as though covered in coal dust.

"What are you doing here, you old goat?" Jarot growled.

"I apologise for arriving so late," the grey skinned Iyrman said, who wore a familiar set of tattoos to the half elf, those of a red crescent moon, the tips pointed towards the sky, with red crescent moons floating outwards.

"I completed my meditations yesterday and only heard of the matters."

"If you are to come late, do not come at all!" The old Iyrman ignored the Mad Dog, his eyes falling upon the children, from those with green skin and amber eyes, to those with silver hair and eyes, and the hornless red skinned child. Of course, he did not think they were goblins, half dragons, or a demon, for they were Iyrmen.

As he stepped forward, he reached into his cloak, and brought out trinkets of silver, offering them each to the children, each worth at least fifty silver by weight alone, the children barely able to hold such heavy items.

"If you were going to be so cheap, why come and visit?" The old Iyrman turned to meet Mad Dog's gaze for a moment, smiled politely, and after glancing down towards the twins, he stepped out, making his way to a particular cabin.

"Who was that?" Adam asked.

"Ashrat," Jirot informed.

"Do you know every Iyrman?" Adam asked.

"Not all of them daddy, you silly boy. I only know four or five hundred?" Jirot thought, though that didn't include the various other deceased Iyrmen whose stories she had read. As the evening chill accompanied him to the cabin, Ashrat knocked on the gate of the estate, waiting a moment.

"Killer Star, I should have…" Baztam began, though paused, noting the look within the Iyrman's eyes.

"What is it?" Ashrat undid the strap upon his swordbelt, handing it to Baztam.

"I must go speak with the Chief."

"…" Baztam accepted the sword from his friend.

"If you are not to use my blade, your nephew may use it, or whoever you see fit," Killer Star Ashrat said, waving his hand as though to say it didn't matter.

"I need to speak with the Chief."

"Why do you sound so dour?"

"I intend to die," Ashrat replied simply.

"What did you see?"

"I am too old," Ashrat replied simply.

"It is best for my daughter to take the position." Baztam watched as the Iyrman stepped away to find another cabin to sleep in, though holding the magical blade within his hand, he pondered the Iyrman's words. If he was too old, it meant the dangers on the horizon would come in the next couple of decades.