“Why?” Adam asked. “Why are you all so cute?” Adam fawned over the six girls, Gurot’s cousins. Inakan completely ignored him, but the two Devilkin girls, Kavgak and Tavgak, stared up at him. The pair had been sitting, playing with their blocks, but upon seeing Adam, they focused completely on the Half Elf.

Kavgak, Jaygak’s baby sister, was the largest of all the children, even bigger than the likes of Gurot. Adam squeezed her cheeky together lightly, causing her to twitch backwards away from him, while Tavgak, Taygak’s baby sister, smiled up towards the Half Elf shyly and giggled.

Minakan, Naqokan’s baby sister, ignored him too, just like her cousin, but partly because she sat by herself elsewhere from the children, and continued to stack her blocks. Her face was contorted with the focused concentration of an Iyrman ready to slip a dagger between one’s ribs.

Jitool, Kitool’s baby sister, would often bring herself to Jirot and Jarot. She showed off her blocks before playing alongside the twins. Her cousin, Maool, Faool’s baby sister, often played beside Karot, who would allow her to set the pace of their play. The boy picked up the blocks when they fell and handed them to her.

“Jurot, it’s not right for them to be this cute,” Adam whispered.

“Cutest In The Whole World,” Jurot replied.

Adam’s eyes widened, and he stared down at all the children. “You’re a genius, Jurot.”

Jurot blinked, wondering what Adam was up to. He had been whispering about the gifts he had prepared, but had immediately decided to fawn over the babies instead.

Adam inhaled deeply to try and calm himself. “Damokan, Kalokan,” Adam called out for the twins. “Come here.”

The boy and girl walked over to him. The pair had been keeping an eye on Inakan and their own sibling, who was playing by herself.

“Have you been good?” Adam asked.

The pair nodded in reply.

“What a silly question, of course you’ve been good,” Adam stated, nodding his head slowly. “I forgot to give you two your gifts, but I didn’t forget about you!”

The pair blinked at him. They had waited for their gifts yesterday and assumed they had been forgotten by their Cousin.

Adam quickly left to find his leather sack, before he returned. He held out a pair of rings in hand, each made of a different colour metal. “I found these rings at a market, they were side by side, and I thought of you two instantly.” Adam held the rings out. “Perhaps in the future they could be enchanted with something to protect you, but for now, just accept them as they are.” Adam winked.

Damokan and Kalokan looked at the rings, one blue, and the other red. Damokan reached for the blue ring and Kalokan reached for the red ring. Adam narrowed his eyes. He swore that Damokan gave him a scale made of bloodsteel and Kalokan had given him one made of stormsteel. ‘These punks, are they giving me the stuff they don’t like?’

“Thank you,” the pair said, together, staring up at Adam with their innocent eyes.

Adam could see it within their the eyes, the memory of the promise they had forced out of him. Adam smiled, reaching up to ruffle their hair. “Grow up big and strong, okay?”

“Okay,” the pair replied, together.

“No, wait,” Adam whispered, frowning. “Stay small and cute forever.”

They blinked at him, before retreating away. They held onto the ring within their fists, clasping it tight. ‘Protect…’

“Naqokan, your siblings are so scary with how cute they are,” Adam whispered.

“Yes,” Naqokan confirmed, before realising something. She glanced around, almost beginning to panic.

“Are you okay?” Adam asked.

“Adam, I did not bring them a gift,” Naqokan whispered.

Adam blinked. His eyes stated that she wasn’t allowed to do that, but his mind rushed in a buzz. “Naqokan, didn’t you want to speak with the Elder?”

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“What?” Naqokan replied.

“You know, for that thing,” Adam said, raising his brows towards her. “The two things that you wanted? You can let the Elder know that the Enchanter will deal with the payment.”

Naqokan narrowed her eyes towards Adam, before she suddenly understood what he meant. “Yes. Thank you.”

Adam nodded, before sighing. Then he looked at the other teens. “Did you guys need to speak with the Elder too about anything?”

Nirot and Faool stood up, realising that they had made a mistake, and quickly fled to the Elder too.

‘These punks,’ Adam thought. ‘How can they do that to their little brothers and sisters? Should I beat the ability to love their siblings into them?’

“It is Maool and Minakan’s birthdays tomorrow,” Jurot said. “It is Jitool’s birthday the day after. Have you bought their gifts?”

“Have I bought their gifts?” Adam asked, almost scoffing. “Jurot, are you starting a fight with me?”

“No.”

“Have I bought their gifts? Have I bought their gifts! The utter audacity! Jurot, you can call me an idiot. You can call me a damn fool. But to ask if I’ve bought gifts for the six princesses?”

“There are no-,”

“Jurot, I’ve never been more offended by any question in my life!” Adam picked up Konarot, huffing slightly. “Did you hear that, Konarot? Do you see how your uncle bullies your father? I can’t believe it.”

Konarot glared up at Jurot, pointing up at him. “Stop!” She then wrapped her arms around her father’s head and hugged him, kissing her father’s forehead before brushing his hair back.

Jurot thought about the question he asked. “It was a stupid question.”

“I can’t believe it,” Adam whispered. “I spent all this time acting like an idiot for these kids and you dare to suggest I’d forget their birthdays. Did you forget how much money I spent on the gifts?” Adam then noted the way the adult Iyrmen looked his way. “Obviously not enough, but it was more than a bit.”

“How much did you spend?” Sonarot asked.

Adam felt her gaze on the back of his head. “Hmmm. I don’t remember exactly how much I spent?”

“Do you know the estimate?”

“…” Adam wasn’t sure if he should admit to how much he had spent. “Less than one thousand.”

‘Did he spend more than a hundred gold?’ Sonarot thought, reaching up to rub her forehead. ‘Adam.’

“I think it was less than a thousand…” Adam whispered. “No, no, it must be less than a thousand. I’m not that stupid, am I?”

‘Did he really spend a thousand?’ Jogak thought, staring at the Half Elf.

Eventually, Adam was saved. He, along with Jurot and Kitool, made their way to the park. Sonarot also came with them, bringing along Adam’s five children. The older children also went with them, holding the hands of their younger siblings. Citool, Lavgak, and Arokan brought up the rear, in order to keep an eye on the babies, and to take a break from the newborns. The teens had remained behind at the shared family estate, since they would have their own time to be showered in praise.

‘Ah, so it’s a barbecue?’ Adam thought, several older Iyrmen each were cutting pieces of meat to fry and grill them, offering the food out to Adam and the others, as well as the visiting Iyrmen who had come to greet Jurot and the others who had placed well.

The youth were especially excited. They were going to meet those who had placed so well, during the most turbulent time of the Iyr, when it’s gates were closed. The young teens greeted those who had placed, before the younger children were allowed to, then, finally, the toddlers were made to shake their hands.

They each took their turns to speak of their fights. Adam looked to Jurot for support, his brother choosing to assist Adam in telling his tale. Adam only spoke of his battle against Sir Karra and Sir Roseia.

“So I beat them up,” Adam said, holding up his clenched fist. “One strike. One kill.” Adam made a noise as he punched through the air, audibly shifting the air.

“Oooh!” The Iyrmen children clapped.

“I had to surrender though.”

“Why?” a child asked.

“Because…” Adam crossed his arms, sighing. “They were nobles.”

“They were nobles,” the child replied, before bobbing his head up and down, understanding why Adam had to surrender. The other children nodded too, with the younger few not quite understanding why.

“You, too, must do well to honour your ancestors,” Jurot said. “You do not have to fight in a tournament, but you should do well for the Iyr.”

“Yeah,” Adam said, nodding his head. “Not just for your ancestors though. You all have little siblings, don’t you?”

“Yes,” the children replied.

“Good. Make sure you do well to honour your ancestors, but also make sure you help out your little brothers and sisters. Jurot and I came first and third, but just you wait until Lanarot grows up.”

Lanarot looked over their way, sticking a piece of bread into her mouth. She had heard her name, and glanced between her brothers. She blinked, chewing her bread slowly, before furrowing her brows at Adam questioningly.

Adam lifted her up and placed her onto his lap. He rubbed her stomach gently. “Are you happy? Your papas placed well in the tournament.”

“Stwong?” Lanarot asked.

“Yes, your papa is very strong,” Adam confirmed.

Lanarot smiled, before offering Adam a torn bit of bread. She glanced towards her other brother. “Papa, stwong?”

“Yes.”

“Good,” she said, breaking him some bread too before offering it to him. “Eat. Stwong.”

“That’s right,” Adam confirmed, brushing her hair. “Eat up the bread and become strong.”

Lanarot smiled. “Yes!” She held up her arms and flexed them for her brothers.

“Wow! Do you see how strong my little sister is?” Adam kissed her cheek. “Lanarot, you’re going to protect me now, aren’t you?”

“Yes!” Lanarot smiled even wider.

Adam beamed down towards his children with the largest smile. “See? Your daddy is strong!”

Konarot pat Adam’s leg, before giving him a thumbs up. “Good.”

Adam’s lips formed a cheeky smirk, and he did his best not to laugh. “You know what? Next time daddy will come first place! I won’t let anyone stop me!”

“Oooh!” the Iyrmen children replied, clapping their hands excitedly towards the statement.