[1044] – Y05.044 – Unwanted Apologies

[1044] – Y05.044 – Unwanted Apologies

“Sorry,” little Jarot said that morning as his father changed him, out of the ruined shirt he had thrown up upon, and his clothy.

“It’s okay,” Adam whispered, planting a kiss on his son’s cheek, washing the boy clean. “You smel-, silly boy, you don’t need to apologise for this.” Adam tensed up once more, the ache of his words spreading from his heart.

Jirot pouted slightly, but her father quickly distracted her with her own set of kisses against her cheek and forehead, helping the pair to wash their hands. Once the pair were adorned in their clothies once more, with little Jarot having chewed his teethleaf, Adam held their hands, leading them back to the courtyard of the shared estate. The older children had already left for their schooling that day, but they were still surrounded by their grandaunts, granduncles, and more.

“Babo!” Jirot pointed towards Malfev, but remained holding her father’s hand, allowing her father to escort her to him.

“My greatniece,” Malfev called, before his eyes fell upon his greatnephew. The old man smiled, patting his lap, but rather than leaping onto him, the pair remained glued to their father. He reached out to ruffle their hair, his heart pained due to the reason of their refusal rather than the refusal itself. ‘To calm this raging storm within, I will need to give up my position.’

“Daddy?” Jirot called. “Where is Lucy?”

“Lucy is working,” Adam replied.

“Working?” Jirot’s lower lip quivered. “She is coming home soon?”

Adam shut his eyes tight once more, feeling them grow hot and wet once more. His daughter, who had been so predictably troublesome, had become so shy. “I’ll tell her to come home quickly after her work, okay?”

“Okay.” The girl glanced down, before her greatfather quickly distracted her by brushing her hair, the girl smiling.

Mana: 25 -> 22

Spell: Sending

“Complete your tasks as quickly as you can and return back soon, Jirot, and Jarot, miss you so much.”

‘Adam!’ Lucy’s voice boomed within his mind, full of shock, and relief. ‘You’re such a slave driver! Why can’t we rest up?’

Adam stepped away, but he heard Jirot and Jarot whine behind him. “I just need a second to tell Lucy to come home quickly, because she’s bullying daddy, I’ll be back in just a bit!” Adam smiled towards his children, though the wrinkles around his eyes and the tense jaw revealed how little joy the half elf possessed.

Mana: 22 -> 19

Spell: Sending

“Jarot and Larot were killed. The Iyr brought them back. Jirot was hurt too. She wants to see you.”

‘Adam!’ The voice was full of anger and shock, and had come out too quickly for the young woman to process what he had said. A long moment of silence passed as Lucy contemplated how much of a fool Adam truly was. ‘Okay.’

Adam remained outside for a moment, bracing himself, before returning back to the shared estate. Virot crawled towards her mother, clutching at her trouser, the girl babbling to cuddle up to her mother. Adam closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, before lifting the girl up, sitting down beside his wife, Virot upon his lap. The half elf poked her nose, planting a firm kiss on her forehead, before brushing back her hair. The girl radiated warmth, her innocent eyes staring up towards her father, her smile melting away at his cooled heart.

“Did you want to surprise your daddy by learning to crawl?” Adam asked, his voice low, and though he smiled, his eyes remained tired. He pulled her up to his chest, allowing her to lay upon his chest, the girl babbling away slightly, before sucking her hand.

“I’m sorry, Vonda,” Adam eventually whispered.

“Did you tempt Fate?” Vonda asked.

“No.”

“Even if you did, you would have no reason to apologise,” Vonda said, clasping his hand in her own, brushing along the back of his knuckles with her thumb gently.

Adam glanced aside towards his wife, who smiled warmly towards him, but he could see that the light within her eyes was forced. He smiled in return, frowning a moment later, before leaning down to press his head against her neck, nuzzling against it. He pulled away slightly, tilting his head slightly, and she placed her head against his shoulder and neck, her breath tickling against his skin.

“It’s going to be okay,” Adam said. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Zijin stepped before Larot, who sat beside Jazool, the girl staring up at the Elder. Zijin smiled, reaching down to rub both of their heads gently, before brushing a hand along the boy’s cheek, who allowed him to do so, before he drew his hand away.

Zijin reached out and placed a hand upon little Jarot’s head, smiling towards the boy. “If they bully you, you must tell me.”

Little Jarot clutched his babo’s shirt, trying to hide from the Elder, while Jirot also did the same once he had finished brushing her hair.

“I have come to speak with your father, little Jirot. I will tell him he cannot work, and that he must play with you for the rest of the week, but I must speak with him of another matter. May I?”

“No work?”

“He cannot work this entire week, I will not allow it,” Zijin promised.

“You must tell daddy,” Jirot said, reaching out to pat the Elder’s shoulder. “You must tell daddy off, he does not listen to me.”

The laughter burst through the estate, causing the children to glance around, though the Iyrmen took great care in ruffling their hair, to make sure they were not frightened by the noises.

“I will tell him,” Zijin assured, before nodding his head to Adam, who stood. The Elder then brought his attention to Vonda. He held out his hands, and the young woman reached out to hold them. “If you have any requests, please make them freely, I will handle the matters personally.”

“You have already done so much, Elder, I have need for little.”

“Little or much, speak your requests, and they will be dealt with.”

“Thank you.”

Zijin led Adam out of the estate, towards the central estate that Zijin called his own. The Elder stepped towards the desk, but stopped, causing Adam to stop behind him. The half elf noted the Elder’s back, which was wide and strong, like that of a Jin.

“There are few Iyrmen who have not lost a child,” Zijin said. “Yet, few know the grief of losing a child who had not yet grown.”

“...”

“I, too, have lost a child, but she was older,” Zijin said, bowing his head lightly, the Elder shutting his eyes tight. “After the previous year, I should have declined your requests. I should have left more Iyrmen near the business. I am sorry, Adam.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Elder.”

“You understand why I blame myself,” the Elder stated, more an accusation against the half elf.

“...”

“You are not to work for the rest of this week, I have disallowed it.”

“Okay.”

“You should remain with your son, and assist in his feeding. When you are ready, return to me, and I will have prepared you the steel,” Zijin said, still unable to face the half elf. He was one of the few Iyrmen who understood Adam, for the half elf had trusted him that much. He understood not just what Adam was, but who he was, for the half elf had trusted him that much.

Zijin understood.

Zijin understood it wasn’t a matter of if, but when.

“Okay.”



It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.