672. Passing Days VI

672. Passing Days VI

“Adam,” Elder Zijin said, finishing up with his paperwork for the morning. “How may I assist you?”

“I was wondering, could I get a spell scroll for a certain spell?” Adam asked. “Rather than paying me the gold for the Basic weapons, I’d like to get scrolls for some spells.”

“Which spell?”

“Find Steed.” Adam paused for a moment as the Elder waited. “It’s so that we can move a little swifter while we’re out an about, or to have a an extra... mount around for stuff.”CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

“Stuff?”

“You know. Carrying stuff for us. If we’re in combat, it’s an extra body. That sort of thing.”

“You should be careful being so reliant on magic, or magical steeds.”

“Yeah, I know, but I think having it as an option might be good. The plan was to make a figurine which could cast the spell, once per week, or when it’s refilled, but having a few spell scrolls on hand would be nice.”

Zijin remained silent for a long moment, before bowing his head slowly. Adam had enchanted so many weapons, but he also possessed the ability to enchant much more. “Very well.”

“Thank you.”

Adam continued to alternate between working and taking a break, though on a particular day, the third of the month, he took a moment before heading to work to call out to a particular Iyrman.

Nirot held the axe in hand, feeling the strange tingling sensation at the handle. “What is it?”

“It’s an axe that I made a while ago,” Adam said. “I had it enchanted for your birthday. You just turned eighteen, and back where I’m from, that means you’re an adult.”

Nirot narrowed her eyes towards the Half Elf. “Yes?”

“I, uh... I’ve been giving everyone else great gifts, but you’re my Cousin too, Nirot.”

“Yes.”

“Well, enjoy your day.” Adam excused him, heading to work.

Nirot stared at the axe in hand. It was a magical axe, that was for certain, but she had no idea what it did. However, it seemed to be a Basic item, otherwise she would have felt a greater tingle from the handle. She reached into her torso pocket and pulled out a small bracelet, one which her brothers had made and had gifted to her earlier in the day. She rubbed along the smooth metals, before wrapping it around her axe, swapping her mundane axe at her side with the magical axe.

The days continued to pass. Snow continued to blanket the Iyr. Adam continued to spoil the children.

“How can you keep them away from me even on this day?” the older Iyrman asked.

“We’re going to explore the festival and eat,” Adam replied, standing in front of his five children, as though to protect them from their greatfather’s affection.

“My Jirot and Jarot are bundled up so adorably, yet you would deny me my rights?”

“I have rights too, as their father.”

“What of my rights as their greatfather?”

Adam and Jarot both faced off against one another, their eyes glued to one another. The distant music revealed the festival was already underway, with some of the teens working to assist with general labour.

“Babo,” Little Jarot called.

“My boy,” Jarot called back, chuckling with adoration towards his greatson.

Little Jarot, wrapped up as much as he was, shook slightly as he giggled and squealed at his greatfather. He hoisted out his arms, waiting for his greatfather to pick him up, his eyes lit up with joy.

Jarot tried to kneel to pick up his son, but it was awkward with his wooden leg. Adam hoisted the boy up, placing him onto his greatfather’s torso, which Little Jarot wrapped himself around. Jarot wrapped his arm around the boy and held him close, leaning in to nuzzle his nose. “How can you do this to me, my boy? Why do you not come to see me?”

Little Jarot cackled lightly before he embraced his grandfather’s neck, struggling to wrap his arms around the older man’s thick neck. It was still well muscled, even after a whole season in which he could not walk as much as he wished.

“Babo!” Jirot shouted, pouting up at her greatfather.

“I did not forget you, my girl,” Jarot assured, before offering the boy back to his father, who helped him down. “Come. Let us explore and eat.”

“Num num,” Jirot confirmed, while her greatfather ruffled her hair, embracing her lightly for a moment before he held her hand.

Adam spent the first day of the festival with his family, that of his children, brother, sisters, and the old man. Jurot kept an eye on the young girl, while Jarot watched over the twins with Adam’s assistance, and each vaguely watched over the triplets, who behaved sensibly.

Adam ate well that day, not just because all they did was eat, but also because the twins kept feeding their greatfather with their hands. The triplets also fed their father from their hands, and Adam placed a hand on their heads. They wore slightly thinner clothing than the rest, enjoying the cold more than the other children. Adam had noted that the triplets slept more often during nightval, though were also more energetic, playing furiously for hours at a time before napping for hours at a time.

Adam spent the second day of the festival with the other children, with their elder siblings also watching over them. From Taygak to Kitool, they each enjoyed their time with their one year old siblings, who sometimes cried for their mothers and aunts, but were often soothed by their older siblings, or Adam.

Adam yawned, stretching out his muscles, before he was commandeered by Lanarot to read her a story. He sat on the blanket, ready to read her a bedtime story, one of the Rot family.

Sonarot blinked. ‘He will not say something ridiculous?’

“Daddy!” Jirot pointed up at him, her finger accusatory.

“Yes?”

“Weading book!”

“Yes, I’m about to do that.”

“Okay.” Jirot narrowed her eyes, waiting for a moment, before she shuffled up beside him. Jarot sat beside her and stared up at his father expectantly. The triplets gathered around too, but almost immediately fell asleep, snoozing lightly.

Adam smiled and read for the children. Still, Sonarot waited, and waited, and waited. Yet, as she stared at the dark ceiling, hearing the light snoring of her family nearby, she closed her eyes.

‘...’

She wasn’t sure how she felt about Adam maturing.

Adam spent much of the last week with his children, taking them daily to the extended family estate. The twins loved to play with their babo and the Demons, with the rest of the extended family also enjoying their company.

The triplets did not come as often, spending their time sleeping. The Shamans had checked on the children to make sure there was nothing wrong with them, but as far as they could gather, not being experts on Half Dragons, the triplets seemed fine.

‘I made quite a lot from the flaming swords,’ Adam thought. His cut was much lower than he expected, almost losing a third of it, but he didn’t mind much. The Iyr had taken a little more, having informed Adam they were going to do so, but he had almost doubled his money so he didn’t mind much. The Elder had also gifted several scrolls to the Half Elf, which he was more than happy to accept.

The Iyr never forgets.

Elder’s Zijin’s words remained ingrained within his mind. It was a vague sense of hope, a hope which Adam prayed would come into effect if something happened to him. There was of course the Rot family, but it was always nice to have extra insurance, just in case.

“Adam,” Jaygak called, causing the Half Elf to stir from his thoughts. “Elder Zijin is calling for you.”

Adam hoisted himself up, doffing his children, before he patted the snow off his back. “Well, if the Elder’s calling for me, I suppose I should go and see him.”

Jirot glared up at her father, as if daring him to leave. Adam glared back at her, narrowing his eyes at her. Jirot huffed, pointing up at him. Adam pointed back down towards her. Jirot gasped, before looking up towards Jaygak, rushing towards her leg. She pouted towards her horned aunt.

“I know,” Jaygak said, picking the girl up. “How can he do this?”

Jirot hugged Jaygak, glancing away from her father, refusing to look at him.

“I’ll be back soon, Jibaby,” Adam said, making his way out.

“No!”

Adam smiled.

Elder Zijin, for once, had just a single black book on the table. It was a nondescript black book, though it did seem out of place, and ominous to the Half Elf.

“Elder Zijin,” Adam called.

“Take a seat, Adam.”

Adam did so, only pausing for a moment, before he dropped down ahead of the Elder. Adam made to speak, but something told him to keep his mouth shut, a gently tingle at the back of his head. ‘Am I dying today?’

Elder Zijin remained silent. Moments passed. “I have asked you if you wished to grow stronger many times.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, vaguely remembering how many times Elder Zijin had asked him if he wanted to grow stronger. After his defeat to Shama, and what with him becoming a father, Adam had thought about it often. Shama was strong. No, he was insurmountable, stronger than any Iyrman Adam had ever met, and Adam had met plenty of Iyrmen who could kill him.

Adam thought back to Shama. The fight which he had instantly fallen. The fight which had killed Lucy. The fight which had almost killed the teen Iyrmen. The fight which had lost him Wizard’s Axe, Wraith’s predecessor. He thought back to how Shama had then arrived at the Iyr, and nothing was done. He thought back to how Shama had even tried to cause trouble in the Iyr. He thought back to how Sonarot had admonished Adam and Jurot for being rude to a guest, a guest who had killed their friend.

Adam thought back to how Sonarot had the gall to then admonish the Emperor, then to the Chief stating that the Iyr was always up to fight even someone like him, and then the strange Iyrman who had appeared to watch over the Emperor.

‘No,’ Adam thought, thinking of the Emperor.

If Shama was an insurmountable mountain, then the Iyr was the sky beyond.

With all it’s resources. With all it’s warriors. With all it’s secrets.

“Yeah,” Adam stated, more confidently this time.

I hope you all enjoyed the double chapters!