The sun was had long passed its zenith, the golden glow reminding the land of its pride, basking the creams with a golden hue, the colours atop the buildings fluttering in the breeze, the scent of sweat forcing its way through the woody fragrances, as hundreds of thousands made their way through the pathways.
“I had so much funny, kako,” Jirot said, cuddled up to the demon’s bosom, the girl tingling with warmth not from the overbearing sun, but from her heart.
“I had so much fun too,” Lucy assured, holding the girl within an arm, and she was glad the shalwars of the land of sun and gold hid many of her features, though it was easy to mistake her for a devilkin, and while most smiled towards the woman as their eyes met, some let out sighs, considering her appearance the end of the world, as some had thought for millennia.
“I love you, kako.” The girl buried her head within the woman’s bosom, too embarrassed to look up at her.
Lucy’s heart skipped a beat, reaching down to scratch her back gently, glad her face was covered. “I love you too, Jirot.”
Little Jarot peeked up towards Mara, holding the woman’s gaze, and as their eyes met, he hid his head within the woman’s bosom too.
“I love you too, Jarot,” Mara said, tickling the boy’s cheek with a finger, causing the boy to cover his face with his hands, the gentle glow of red taking to his green cheeks.
“You are too young for me,” the older Iyrman replied, cracking his neck.
“What a shame,” Mara joked.
The older Jarot snorted lightly, grinning wide like a beast. “Perhaps in another life, when I would have wreaked havoc across the land, I could have accepted you as part of my harem.”
“Kako, put me down, I need to beat up babo,” Jirot stated, pulling away from the woman, holding out her fists on either side, ready to beat her greatfather.
“Am I wrong?”
“Yes!”
“Mnn…”
Though Jirot had begun the assault, it was her greatmother who jabbed her thumb into the side of the Iyrman’s neck, daring him to resist her ki as it invaded his body.
“At your age you dare to covet a harem?”
The old man could not respond, for his greatdaughter held her hips, glaring up towards him from beside his wife, and so he did not dare to resist being frozen in place. The woman jabbed his neck again, continuing her interrogation, shaming him in front of their greatchildren.
However, it was not just the glare within his greatdaughter’s eyes, but the look within his grandson’s eyes, the kind that looked at him as though he was no longer the reverent statue he could rely on, but full of such shame, even the old man remained kept at bay, the Mad Dog now a Beaten Dog.
“Grandfather, if you treat my grandmother like this once more, I will tell little Jarot and little Karot,” Adam stated, his tone empty, his eyes empty, his threat not.
“I have made a grave mistake.”
When the night sky filled the air, little Jirot sat up from beside her father.
“Daddy, I am still pissed off.”
“Why are you angry?”
“I am not angry, I am pissed off.”
“You cannot use the word, and if you use it again, I will tell mummy,” Adam warned, while Vonda glanced their way, and the girl flushed, looking aside towards her father.
“How can babo say such things? He cannot. He cannot speak the words.”
“We have disciplined him, and now he knows.”
“He does not know, daddy, for he is your grandfather, and you never learn.”
“Why are you talking about me when it was your babo?”
“Where do you think he gets it from?”
“No! I get it from him because he’s my grandfather!”
Jirot held a finger threateningly, and as she made to speak, she narrowed her eyes, considering her father’s words. “Oh yeah.”
“What do you say?”
“Sorry, daddy…” The girl reached up and pat his head gently, and the half elf calmed, wrapping his arms around his daughter, causing her to squeal, pinning her close. He leaned over to kiss his son, who smiled shyly in response.
“Mummy, I am trapped!”
“I did not hear you curse, I do not hear you cry,” Vonda replied.
Jirot blinked. She looked up towards her father, who smiled, and she accepted her Fate, planting her head against her father’s chest.
As the sun rose, the children trained and then joined their father in their morning bath, and after breakfast, the group gathered to play Warriors and Wanderers for a short time. It was before noon when Chosen finally stood, calling for Adam.
“Papo, you are going?” Karot asked.
“I must go to introduce your father to someone,” Chosen replied.
“Okay…” Karot looked down at the floor, twiddling his thumbs. The boy’s tail drooped.
‘It is Karot who is most dangerous,’ Chosen thought, and he continued to think it as they all made their way to the estate, the young Iyrman trying to recall where it was, meanwhile little Karot, Kirot, and Konarot were all swarmed around their father, lazily snoozing away during the carriage ride. The Twin Sun and Moon Dragons and Baztam remained nearby, for they were tasked with watching over the triplets, and remained outside the carriage, riding along the front and top.
As they continued, Chosen continued to ask around, until finally someone seemed to know who he was looking for, and finally, they came across a particular estate, and as he hopped out, he knocked on the door, until a child opened it, blinking up towards him innocently, and a woman behind him staring at the Iyrman. She swallowed, and as he smiled, the woman grew paler.
“Is ahm Vadim here?”
“Ah! Vadim? Vadim!” The woman picked up the child and pulled them away, calling for a fellow, and a half burned man waddled over with his stick, one arm, one leg, and one eye, and as his good eye ran along Chosen, he narrowed it, and smiled.
“Cho?”
“How do you fare, ahm Vadim?”
The man, smiled. “Noorshukhur, I am blessed in this life.”
“I have brought my cousins,” Chosen said, turning to see the other three Iyrmen. “I have also brought my nieces and nephew, and others.”
“Noorshukhur, so many guests.” The older Aswadian smiled warmly, half his lips glued together by his burns, but he motioned his head, and he half hopped backwards against his staff to give them space. As a particular fellow passed, Vadim smiled. “It seems it is my time today?”
“You are still young yet, ahm,” Adam replied in his tongue, causing the old man to smile wider.
“The Son watch over you, Mo.”
“Greetings, ahm, I am Mo Adam,” Adam replied, clasping his palms together and bowing his head gently. “These are my children, my eldest Konarot, then Kirot, and then Karot.”
“I am Vadim.” The old man smiled an awkward smile towards the children, who hid behind their father, their tails swaying.
“Greet the ahm, you silly brats,” Adam called, reaching down to tickle the tops of their heads, the children all mumbling their words. “My children are so shy. I should have brought Jirot instead, although Jarot is a little meeker.”
“Five children? You are so blessed, Mo!”
“I have far more than five, but these are the five I brought to Aswadasad to heal their wounded hearts,” Adam explained, tickling their cheeks.
Vadim looked towards the other Iyrmen, feeling their heavy aura, though it was thankful Chosen understood the mood.
“Kal Vadim, this is my cousin, Tanagek, named after Hadi himself.”
“Oh?” Vadim’s brows raised in alarm, reaching out a hand. “I am no longer a Kal, for what use is a man with one arm and one leg?”
“I am Tanagek,” Tanagek replied, reaching out to clasp the man’s hand, who smiled so brightly.
“If you are named Tanagek, you must be as talented as your cousin.”
“Yes,” Tanagek replied.
“My cousin is a man of few words, but his still sings enough for him,” Chosen informed, letting out a soft chuckle. “Is your grandson about?”
“He is at work, but I can call for him if there are so many guests,” Vadim said, still acutely aware of the Iyrmen nearby.
“Please.”
“This is my uncle’s uncle, Baztam, the Black Storm, and these are Vibak and Bibak, the Twin Sun and Moon Dragons, who are here for the sake of my children,” Adam explained, smiling innocently.
“Ah? I know of these names, of great Iyrmen, heroes all.” Vadim greeted each of them with a smile.
“We shall remain to one side,” Baztam said, standing with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning the people around, finding few of them as great threats, but he was still tasked with protecting Karot, and so would need to consider the fact they may end up harming the boy.
‘I wonder what his story is,’ Adam thought, glancing aside to Chosen, who smiled the most guilty of innocent smiles.