Chương 1689: [1586] – Y07.086 – A Man of Heart I

Lanarot understood she had made a great mistake, for now she was under the oppression of her eldest brother. However, how could it be considered a great mistake? She was trapped within her brother's arms, this brother who adored her so deeply, and had always spoiled her so well. Though he would spend so much time with his own children, he still made sure to play with her, and even today, he had taken her with him to the auction, even leaving his own children behind.

As she pressed her head against his chest, she clutched at his collar within a hand, the other hooked around his neck, for it was not she who was trapped in here with him. The half elf cradled his sister against his side, his left arm a shield.

'You've grown…' He stared down at the top of her head, the girl nestled firmly against his chest, his warmth the same as ever, even if he wore the attire of the Aswadian people. A mixture of a proud warmth and chilly regret swirled within the half elf's heart, who had not yet spoiled the girl appropriately. He only spoiled the girl for this lifetime, when he should have spoiled her for the previous lifetime, in which she lost both her elder brothers.

'This fool of a brother of yours…' The tension on his shoulders grew, though was kept at bay by the girl's rough affection, which threatened to choke him if he had not reached the peak of a half fae's natural strength.

"Mo Adam…" called a voice tentatively, as though he was trespassing upon a sacred moment.

"I only just recalled, but there is a chess exhibition tomorrow afternoon which may suit your daughters' fancies."

"Haven't I already promised your family a century of prosperity?" the half elf joked.

"Seriously, this debt between us is only growing even greater!"

"You have spoiled us greatly enough with the gifts of such fine steel," Tamil replied, smiling politely.

"A gift of steel?" Adam's lips twitched, and he made to speak, though the idea flashed across his mind, and the half elf's lips widened further.

"Indeed, a fine gift."

"It will take place at the Three Rivers Library. It is only a short carriage ride from our complex, so you may arrive an hour before noon, and we shall leave shortly before noon."

"Thank you, akh Tamil, though will it be alright? If we bring the children, then…"

"Is there an issue?" Tamil replied, only to realise the issue after he spoke the words, but he had already said it was fine, and the half elf smiled so politely.

'All shall remain well?' As the wisdom slipped through the air, Kal Rushad stepped forward, a bright smile upon his lips.

"As we leave, may I escort you back to the estate? I would like to show off the Scarlet Sun's swordplay to the children." The other members of Scarlet Sun's eyes shifted quickly to the Kal, who was often too friendly, but"Kal Rushad, do you think just because you'd invoke the name of my children, I would let you come along to try and form a connection with me?" Adam replied, with a sudden bluntness, holding the older Aswadian's gaze.

"You are the Crazy Father," Kal Rushad replied. The half elf held his gaze for a long moment, causing the half elf to turn his head slightly to side eye the man, the corners of his lips curling upwards like the Aswadian's moustache.

"Of course."

"Of course," Lanarot whispered.

"Don't you start." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Lanarot glanced up towards her brother, turning her head slightly to side eye the man, the corners of her lips curling upwards like the Aswadian's moustache. As they stepped out of the auction house, their pouches empty, Pam hooked an arm around her husband's roughly. Though she wished to admonish him, what could she say? She did not wish to learn to wield a blade?

She did not require such a fine blade, one that even enticed him? She was not ungrateful, though what was she meant to do with a sword that cost several lifetime's worth of gold? The complicated aura from his wife caused the Iyrman to try and empathise with the woman for a moment, but if she did not wish to speak, he was uncertain of why she was so conflicted. Who did she think he was?

Mulrot followed the half elf for she was responsible for the little girl until the three would take responsibility for her if something were to happen. She considered the spear her granddaughter had brought for her, with silver which was certainly from her brothers.

It was awkward to carry it in the way of the Fev family, for it was too threatening, considered to be brandishing a weapon in public in the various lands, and they could not bring such a threat upon them while the children were within their protection, so she could not familiarise herself with the spear. It was quite the spear, however, and from the little of wielding such a spear, it was finely crafted, and felt so wonderful within her hands.

Her eyes fell to her grandson, the half elf who towered over many, then to her first grandson, he who was but two finger widths shorter now that his hair was trimmed so neatly, yet their presence was so similar, for the pair had far surpassed her. Even though she had managed to claim the title of Grandmaster this year, against either of them, they would without a doubt defeat her. The sharpness had returned, the bluntness of her fist now like steel once more. Her eyes ascended to the sky.

It was this same sky which had offered her infinite possibilities in her youth. It was two generations ago when she stepped across the land, across Aldland, and whereas her husband had managed to claim a great name for himself, engraving himself within the nightmares of the Aldish, her name was mostly known within the martial circles. It was this sky, which expanded far beyond the horizon. At this time the sky was so clear.

"Kal Rushad, will you be stepping out to face the Reavers?" Adam asked, blinking innocently, not quite understanding the awkwardness within his words.

"I may do so," Rushad replied.

"I think I might be heading out next year, so it would be nice to go with a few familiar faces, so if you are able, I'd like it if I could fight by your side," the half elf said, as though he wasn't quite so obviously politicking. Rushad blinked, at first thinking the half elf was criticising him, but to see him trying to form a connection with the Scarlet Sun, the Aswadian smiled.

"If you send word, we may meet within Arisa and journey together."

"That sounds wonderful," the half elf admitted.

"I hope Kal Uli will also come along, but even if he doesn't, I'll feel reassured with the Scarlet Sun!"

"It is at times like this I… I wish I could see the Mustashalur of the Black Lions fight, for it is said the Mother of Lions was one of the few who could dare to even bully the King of Floria."

"Yeah, the Mustashalur is a little…"

"A little…?"

"I don't want to say, because if words gets back to her, then I'll have to run away from her in front of my children," the half elf joked.

'It seems you still understand your place within this world,' Rushad thought, though the half elf's words remained quite playful. It was not as though he was more powerful than even the likes of the Mother of Lions.

"I wonder if the Sword Dragons will also step forward," the half elf mused.

"It would be rather fun to fight alongside, well, maybe not fun, romantic, I suppose? To fight alongside all the Orders of Aldland, Floria, and even Aswadasad, it would all be so…"

"It would be quite the tale."

"Yes! That's right! It would be quite the tale!" the half elf half exclaimed eagerly.

"Did you hear that, Lanababy? Your brothers will soon be fighting alongside all these Orders against those terrible Reavers!"

"Yes!" Lanarot replied excitedly.

"I will fight them too!"

"Lanababy, you have to give us a chance to have fun!" Adam half complained to his sister.

"Hmm…" Lanarot pat her brother's shoulder gently, wrapping her arm around his neck tighter.

"Since you have asked, I will show mercy."

"Isn't my sister so magnanimous?" Adam joked.

"No! I am not magnanimous! Jirot is magnanimous! I am beneviolent."

"Benevolent?"

"Yes."

"Well…" Vonda smiled as she side eyed her husband, and the half elf's cheeks flushed lightly, not understanding how wonderful it felt making good jokes. He tried to still his heart, for he did not wish to get addicted to the feeling. Thankfully he had already planned his greatest joke, thought one might consider it his worst.