Chương 513: 482. Nightval Festival IV

Omen: 7, 9"We are sorry, Adam," Mulrot said, sitting opposite the Half Elf. The light of the noon sun barely broke into the Iyr, providing them with gentle light, but very little warmth.

"We have said things no Iyrman ever should."

"Ah, well…" Adam replied, awkwardly. The heat of the tea flowed upwards, creating a barrier between the pair. They sat within Elder Zijin's courtyard, the Elder remaining nearby, writing some matters in his books. Sonarot sat off to one side too, sitting near the older Jarot, while the twins cuddled up to his side.

"It's not like I can't sympathise. I'm a bit of a troublemaker, and it's not like bringing in Goblins to the family will ever bring you glory." Mulrot winced at the words which she had stated back then. The words had formed a rift between herself and her husband, and her daughter, the Family Head. It was not a rift which would have destroyed the family, and when it was required, they would have worked together for the Iyr, but the mood was something which she could not stand.

"We have always been those who pride ourselves in our words and actions, but we have betrayed your trust," the old Family Elder said, warming her hands against the cup of tea. Adam wasn't sure how to respond, looking to Jarot sitting off to one side, with Jirot and Jarot beside him. When he had heard that Mulrot had come to speak with Adam, he had forced his way in to attend, bringing his greatchildren with him. It was an obvious message to Mulrot, who knew his stubbornness.

"Since we have accepted you as a Nephew of our family, and that you are Jurot's brother, it was only natural to accept your children into our family. We, who are of the Iyr, used a foreign notion of family when discussing your children. Even if they are not your blood, you have accepted them, in the same way that the Iyr accepts its children."

"I hope you understand why I felt so sour when you accepted only the three children who shared blood with me," Adam said.

"Though, I'm certain if they didn't share my blood, you still would have accepted them back then, but it was still wrong to judge them like that."

"What?" Mulrot asked, tilting her head.

"It has been confirmed that the triplets are Adam's children by blood," Zijin said, writing more notes within his book.

"We were not informed of this matter," Mulrot said. Adam frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"We were not informed they were related to you by blood," Mulrot said. Adam looked to Jarot, who nodded his head slowly, his face revealed that this was the first time he had heard of it. After all this time, no one had told them that the Half Dragon children were Adam's by blood. There was always a joke that they were Adam's and Entalia's, though they expected the children to be Talias by blood, and given to Adam to raise for some reason, but for them to actually be Adam's children…

"So?" Adam asked.

"Is that relevant?" He had thought this entire time they had accepted the Half Dragons because they were his by blood, but to think it was actually because of their race… His blood began to boil at the thought, but he sighed out, trying to calm himself, though the frustration was still evident on his face. Mulrot sighed too, rubbing her forehead.

"No, it was not relevant."

"You know, I can't help but wonder why you've decided to accept them now," Adam said, looking to Elder Zijin.

'Was it about what Strom said?'

"I heard that I caused a bit of an uproar recently, though I wasn't told of the details." Zijin instinctively knew it was because of Lord Strom, for who else could reveal such secrets without giving the full context to cause trouble?

"I do not know what you are speaking of, but must we have an ulterior motive?" Mulrot asked.

"Then, it has to be that, right? You've come to me because you feel bad about what you did. It's not a terrible reason, I suppose. Or is it because you think that I, an Enchanter, won't give you any benefits if you deny to assist them?" Adam asked.

"I know Enchanting, Alchemy, Smithing, and though the Iyr has these in greater quantities, is there anyone who gives away magical weapons, whether they are Basic or Greater, so freely?" Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Benefits are irrelevant," Mulrot stated, firmly. Adam raised his brows, throwing Jarot a look, who bowed his head in shame.

"Really? You're going to say that after all this?" Mulrot rubbed her forehead again.

"No." She sighed.

"You are right."

"Relax," Adam said, smiling slightly.

"Isn't that how it is between us anyhow? The extended Rot family, and perhaps the Iyr can be included in this. You want stuff from me, and I want stuff from you. You'll protect my children until I have my own place, and I'll raise them from then on. Our relationship with one another is transactional, like it always has been, and more than likely, will always be."

"Is your relationship with Sonarot also transactional?" Mulrot asked, aware of the woman sitting nearby.

"No," he admitted.

"Lanarot is my sister. Jurot is my brother. Aunt is my Aunt. Even if you, the extended Rot family, and the Iyr, reject me, that won't change. If they choose to reject me themselves, then that'll be that." Mulrot bowed her head, taking Adam's words as fact.

"I'm not stupid, you know?" Adam said, frowning.

"I know that the Iyr tolerates me, not because I'm a Nephew, but because I have something else no one else has, and you want that from me."

"You are a Nephew of the Rot family, Adam," Mulrot said, her voice deep, full of the authority of a Family Elder.

"That is why you are welcome."

"I keep saying and doing stupid things, but that doesn't mean I'm actually that stupid," Adam stated, firmly.

"Before, I would have continued believing in that, even if it wasn't true. But now, I have children." The stress returned to Adam's face.

"Five precious little boys and girls. Lanarot, I know that she'll be fine. She has the Iyr, she has you, but what about my little ones? Jirot and Jarot, who were apparently refused their rights for the basis that they've got the wrong kind of green skin and are too small. Konarot, Kirot, and Karot, who are precious to me, yes, but they're probably precious to others for very different reasons.

If the Iyr chooses to turn its back on me, if the Rot family chooses to turn its back on me, no matter how small the chance may be… I don't believe the entire Rot family would bat for me if the entirety of the Iyr decides to force me away, and even if you would, I would prefer that you didn't. If that comes to pass, then who would they have? Me?" Adam shook his head, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"Do you know how many people I've offended? Sure, you can say the Iyr won't do anything because I'm a Nephew. In fact, I'm certain it has stopped them from killing me, but what about outside of the Iyr? There are so many who want me dead because my ears are slightly pointed. I'm not even from this land and they want me dead because of what other, different, Elves, who I am not related to in the slightest, did to them after they tried and failed to start a war." Adam shook his head again.

"I have no doubt that, at the very least, Aunt, my brother, and Jarot, would look after them." Mulrot continued to frown. After all, such worries should not be had by Adam, who had been adopted into their family as a Nephew. To think that he thought so little of them, and though he had every reason to, it hurt her deeply. The words cut her, like tiny razors barely sinking into the first layer of her skin.

"If you had refused, I would have been fine with it. You didn't refuse, though. You made a choice, a choice to accept only those worthy of your family name. They have my blood, sure, but that's not what mattered to you, even if you decide to pretend after, or maybe you aren't pretending, it doesn't matter. You only decided to accept them after you were ashamed. Ashamed that you were more Aldish than even me." Adam inhaled deeply, and let out a long, slow sigh.

Whatever frustrations he had, it had all come out, and though the words may end up biting him in the back, he didn't care.

"I don't know how any of this works, but it seems to me that the Iyrmen, so proud of their rules, decide not to follow them with it doesn't benefit them, even if they say otherwise. I, at one point, trusted you, Family Elder Mulrot," Adam said, awkwardly, unsure of what to call her.

"I trusted you because you were Jurot's grandmother, in the same way that I trusted Jarot. However, I trust Jarot today because he is my children's greatfather."

"We made a mistake," Mulrot said.

"We are sorry, Adam."

"Yeah, you did make a mistake. You can get away with making those mistakes because you, your Rot family, your Iyr, you're way stronger than me, and I need your help. I'm certain if I was ever to make a mistake, you wouldn't give me a second chance."

"That is not true."

"Can I believe that?" Adam asked.

"With so much at stake?"

"Yes," Sonarot said.

"I will give you a second chance." Adam bowed his head.

"If you say so, then it must be true." The thought crossed his mind that even Sonarot could betray him, but he pushed it away. If Sonarot would betray him, then there was really no point in him living, and there was no chance for his children to live either.

"I will inform the family, as the Family Elder, that your children are now Nephews and Nieces of the family, by Jurot's right," Mulrot said.

"Alright, thanks," Adam said. Sonarot sat down beside Adam, holding the back of his hand. She had noted that Adam, who had been poured tea, hadn't drunk a drop. She pulled him to his chest, hugging him tight.

"Your children will always be welcome within our family, Adam."

"Thank you," Adam said, letting her embrace him tight. He remained within the shared family estate that day, sitting with his children, his triplets having chosen to sleep in the snow beside him. Jarot, too, remained with him and his greatchildren.

"You're not going to enjoy the festival?" Adam asked. Jurot, who had sat near Adam, shook his head.

"No," he said, crossing his arms. He, who still felt the guilt eating at his heart due to what happened back then. He, who had sat silently while his grandmother refused the children.

'I should have said something.'