401. Noonval Festival I

401. Noonval Festival I

Omen: 8, 13

“Who is this little cutie?” Adam asked, pinched Lanarot’s cheeks, causing her to laugh, before she sucked on her hand shyly. He peppered his adorable little sister with kisses.

She was wearing a blue, sleeveless dress, with a frilly skirt which looked like ripples in a pond. Atop her head was a long hat, which she kept reaching for to take off so she could suck it.

The rest of the Iyrmen, Adam, and the companions who had joined him that day, also wore summer clothing. They were all either sleeveless, or cut at the knees, or both, and many also wore hats. Some of the older Iyrmen wore less than the sleeveless outfits which were cut at the knees, though they carried with them umbrellas made of light cloth or paper.

Adam decided not to look at his various Aunts and Uncles, though Lucy’s recently dour eyes were sparkling. For once, she did not say anything, instead silently admiring the Iyrmen’s forms.

“It’s not just my sister, but the rest of my Cousins who are so cute today,” Adam said, ruffling the children’s hair. He also ruffled Asoyah’s hair, who wore the Rot’s family colours. At the children’s sides were small gourds full of water.

“Make sure to drink lots of water throughout the day,” Adam said.

“Yes,” Taygak replied, with the rest of the children grunting out affirmatively.

“Lanababy, do you want to be with papa?” Adam asked, rubbing his cheek against hers.

Lanarot babbled affirmatively. “Papa,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

“I’ll stay with you then.”

Adam and his companions made their way out, with the adult Iyrmen looking to Sonarot, though she remained with the rest of the children, guiding them around the festival.

The Iyrmen all wore the summer outfits, and averted his gaze every so often away from others, all the while Lanarot looked around. Her eyes were trying to find where the sounds of music were coming from, as she babbled and pointed about. Eventually, she squirmed out of Adam’s arms, and decided to lead the way with her tiny steps.

Adam noted quite a large number of Iyrmen who were pregnant, many of them sitting off to one side and chatting away with other pregnant Iyrmen.

Off to the sides of the main roads, there were many Iyrmen cooking. A large number cooked doughy snacks, while others made skewers of meat and vegetables, and some offered cool drinks.

Adam packed a small basket of food, and carried Lanarot to one of the shared family estates, sitting down in the corner before he offered her some food. There were plenty of Iyrmen all around him, some of whom were relaxing, others who were wrestling.

Lanarot bit into the bread, staring at those wrestling, chewing happily as she watched. Adam broke some bread and meat together, before eating his own food. Jurot, Kitool, and Jaygak were nearby, whereas his other companions mingled with the other Iyrmen nearby.

They continued to explore the festival, taking small portions of food with them from the various stalls. Lanarot stared up at an Iyrman who was playing a panflute, but she did not run from him.

“I can’t believe you’ve done this,” Adam whispered, before watching as she stormed off towards the wrestling Iyrmen. She squealed and bounced, throwing her arms in the air, before clapping wildly.

Lanarot continued to lead them through the festival, finding all manner of bread snacks, which she devoured like a little Dragon. Her eyes were taking in the sights of all the different colours of the Iyr, as well as the music of the Iyr, which would often cause her to stop and look about.

The girl yawned and Adam picked her up. “Oh my gosh, Lanababy,” Adam groaned. “Why are you such a chubby girl?”

Lanarot rested her head against his neck, pushing away her hair, but Adam let it rest against the back of her head.

“I will feed her,” the woman replied. She was a member of the Rot family, and Adam recognised the boy as someone who had been born shortly after Lanarot.

“Ah, well,” Adam replied, awkwardly, before looking down to see Lanarot’s face, which was on the verge of tears. “Lanarot, baby, go on. Thank you.”

The woman replied with a smile, taking Lanarot, letting her drink alongside her own son. Lanarot looked up at the woman for a moment, but noting the pattern on her forehead, the girl smiled and drank quietly.

The boy was placed on the table, where Jarot rubbed the boy’s back. He looked back to Adam, staring at the Half Elf. He began to squirm and his face contorted to cry, and Adam quickly excused himself. Upon seeing his granduncle, the boy stopped crying, instead staring up at the old man.

Jurot returned to the estate with Nobby behind him, following like a lost puppy. “He wrestled well,” Jurot explained, before taking a seat beside Adam.

“Did you win?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Nobby replied, simply.

“Well done.” Adam poured some wine for the young man, before he was taken away by the Jin family, who were eager to speak to the wall of muscle.

Adam chilled his water with Tricks before sipping it, offering the others the same, chilling more drinks, before he realised he could chill the jug instead. ‘Magic is so useful.’

Churot stared down at the jug which Adam had chilled, before he chilled his own water with his magic. He smiled up at Adam, before drinking it slowly.

“Are you enjoying your magic?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” the boy replied.

“And you’re being a good, sensible boy, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” Adam pat the boy’s head, before ruffling his hair once more. “I’m glad you’re enjoying your magic.”

“Thank you, cousin Adam,” the boy said.

Adam noted the way Churot referred to him, a cousin and not a Cousin, and he smiled.

Lanarot eventually returned to them, sitting on the edge of the table, babbling at her grandfather. Jarot brushed her hair gently, before offering her some water. She grabbed the gourd with both hands and slurped noisily, the water partly falling down to her chest, which Churot dried off using his Tricks.

Adam’s eyes fell to the Demon nearby, seeing her all by herself. She was quiet, mostly, staring up at the sky, the sun beating down from above.

‘I should talk to her,’ Adam thought, before taking a pair of cups as well as a bottle of fruit wine.

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Soon this arc will end.