The smell of death marred the taste of the ale. The tiny figure, a figure who looked so much like a beardless dwarf, wiped the back of their mouth, letting out a loud sigh. It was a sigh filled with annoyance, the annoyance pressing down against the figures keeping an eye on the Lord of Earth every moment of the day, from the starlight to sunlight, from sunlight to starlight, from morning drink, to late morning drink, all the up to late night drink.

‘I should leave…’

Each figure reeked of death, not just that they had slain thousands upon thousands, but the death of those with bodies of ice and hearts of stone.

She was older than time, her wrinkles like ripples within a lake. She wore thick clothing, black as the starless sky, and wore a black, wooden medallion shaped in the symbol of Baktu. She wielded a staff made of the same black wood, but that was not the most notable thing about her.

Her tattoos were small, hollow circles, also a deep black. They were notable because an Iyrman’s tattoos were usually filled or hollow, with the central shape as the largest. However, her tattoos were all uniform and were smaller than those of other Iyrmen, and within the central circle was a symbol of death.

The figures who kept an eye on Lord Stokmar were the same, each prepared to face the Lord of Earth, and perhaps more terrifyingly, each eager. Save perhaps one figure, a heavily armoured warrior in black armour, who wielded a blade at his side, and carried a shield upon his back. Stokmar could barely feel his presence, and though his eyes stared at the Lord of Earth, they were cold and emotionless, so unlike the typical Iyrman.

‘He is more agreeable.’

The rising sun beat down upon the lazing Lord of Earth, who remained to protect the Iyr, or rather, to laze about it unless it required their assistance. It beat down across the entire Iyr, including those towards the edge of the Iyr’s land.

“Whoa,” Adam whispered, shocked to hear the figure’s tale, or rather, what little he had done to gain such recognition within Aswadasad. “I don’t think I heard much of his tale before today. I feel like I’d remember if I heard someone like that.”

“When you are surrounded by those who have such prestigious families, it must be a Balda’s ransom for you.”

“Balda?”

“An ancient figure who was extremely wealthy.”

“How many stories are there in the world?” Adam rubbed his forehead gently. ‘I can’t believe Jurot’s related to all kinds of monsters. No, what am even I thinking, of course he is.’

“Nana babo?” Konarot asked.

“That’s right,” Adam said, brushing his daughter’s cheek, her tail swaying from side to side. “Your nana’s babo was so great, wasn’t he?”

“Yes.”

Adam’s lips twitched slightly. “Doesn’t that mean you’re related to such an amazing figure?”

“Me?”

“That’s right! Aren’t you so glad your family is so powerful and strong? Since they’re so strong and powerful, it means you can stay small and cute forever.” Adam peppered her with kisses, the girl squirming against her father, a small smile encroaching across her lips.

Dunes and Korin watched as Adam embraced his triplets, showering them with his affection. Their eyes fell to Jurot, who was holding Larot upon his lap, the boy glaring at the world.

“Jurot, how come you didn’t show off my children’s nana’s babo?” Adam asked, letting out a huff. “You should show off something like that.”

“There are many stories to be told,” Jurot replied. “I will speak of his tale if you wish.”

“You should, you should. You probably know more than Dunes and Korin, since you know tales that happened around Aldland too! You should show him off to my kids, so they can…” Adam inhaled deeply. “So they can stay small and cute forever.”

“Tanagek the Dutiful’s tales are some of the greatest within the last few generations,” Jurot confirmed. “I will read them to the children.”

“Did you hear that? Papo is going to read the tales to you. Aren’t you so happy?”

Konarot glanced towards her uncle for a moment, before retreating to her father’s chest. “Daddy…”

“Yes?” Adam replied, reaching down to brush his daughter’s hair, noting her eyes glancing up towards him.

“You reading…”

“You want me to read to you?”

Konarot’s tiny head rubbed against her father’s chest as she nodded.

“Of course, my dear! If that’s what my daughter wants, I will read them to you!” Adam peppered her with more kisses, embracing her tight, before Kirot and Karot also climbed onto him to embrace him.

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“First there was Great Giahroh, Jarot, and now Hadi Tanagek…” Dunes said, his voice apprehensive. “Do you have any other ancestors who will cause my heart such terror.”

“Yes,” Jurot replied. “I claim only the stories between the Rot and Gek family, from father and mother, and the Fev family from my grandmother.”

‘The Fev family?’ Adam thought.

“There is Ramfev, who was active in the time before Tanagek.”

“Ramfev?” Dunes asked.

“He fought Black Rukh.”

Dunes raised his brows. “Ah, the… Sakru?”

“Bloody Hawk was his epithet in Aldland.”

Dunes let out the kind of sigh one would give to an Iyrman. ‘Of course.’ “Al Sakru, Hadi…” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Do you take the stories, even though they do not use your abilities? Hadi wore heavy armour and wielded a blade, and Al Sakru, he used… his fists?”

“The Fev family are known for their fist and staff techniques,” Jurot confirmed.

Adam thought of Mulrot. He was certain she was a Rage Dancer, though only because she was unarmoured. ‘Eh? Is she a Monk instead?’

“Grandmother was famous in her day, but she was overshadowed by her elder brother, Malfev.”

‘Now that I think about it, I don’t really know much about the Family Elder’s stories…’

“He was more active in northern Aldland, but his stories were also overshadowed by grandfather.”

“Seriously…” Adam glanced towards Jurot. ‘No wonder you’re such a monster.’

Dunes threw a look towards Adam, as if to state he cannot think of such things when he was more terrifying. “Are the Fev family as impressive as the Rot family?”

“Each of the Iyr’s families are impressive, in their own way.”

“Can you say something like that?” Jaygak asked, carrying Kavgak and Mavgak in her arms. “The Gak family still has yet to rise again.”

“It is likely I am born within such a time,” Jurot replied, before he and Jaygak glanced towards Adam.

Adam inhaled deeply. “Jaygak and Laygak, you two can make a mess, but Kavgak and Mavgak are going to stay small and cute forever.”

“First you are small then you are big,” Jirot said, storming onto the scene as her babo stepped towards them, his metal leg clacking across the floor.

“What is this? Are you picking a fight with your father?”

Jirot inhaled deeply, smirking towards her father. “Yes. We are fighting now!”

“How can we fight when I’ve already lost?” Adam lifted his daughter up, peppering her with kisses.

“Daddy,” little Jarot called, before Adam snatched the boy up to his chest, the pair embracing tight.

The warmth filled Adam as he embraced his children tight. ‘I really should have beaten the First Hope!’

Vonda remained silent as she approached the group, taking her seat beside Dunes. It wasn’t the first time he had such a thought after returning, and it wouldn’t be the last.

“Did you hear about the tale of your nana’s babo?” Adam asked. “Tanagek the Dutiful?”

“Yes!” Jirot replied.

“You have?”

“I spoke of one of his tales while they were with me,” the older Jarot replied, sitting down beside Gangak.

“Very stwong,” Jirot said. “I am stwong too!”

“That’s right, you’re so strong, since you’re my daughter!”

“Daddy is stwong?”

“I’m just a little strong, you know?” Adam smirked.

Jirot returned the smirk. “No!” She cackled with delight as she squirmed and escaped from her father’s arms, rushing to her babo, giggling wildly.

“My children’s family have such grand stories…” Adam said, allowing his triplets to climb upon him once more. “I should do something big too…”

“You have done so much already,” Vonda said, already feeling the stress rise within her. “You may take it slowly.”

“Yeah, slowly…” Adam said, though his facial expression went from playful to serious. ‘Right. I really should do it more slowly…’

A chill ran through Adam’s spine.

‘Bell… I didn’t do too much, did I?’

[…]

‘…’

“If you wish to cause a mess, you should, since you are my grandson!”

“Whose your grandson?”

The older Jarot burst into laughter, causing Jirot and little Jarot to laugh too. The old man wrapped an arm around the pair, pulling them closer.

“I can’t believe your family is so stacked,” Adam said.

“Stacked?”

“Stacked with great monsters.”

Jurot, still unsure of what Adam was saying, nodded slowly, for he understood at least that Adam was saying his family was powerful. “I will create a greater story for my children and-,” Jurot realised quickly what he had done, having fallen into Adam’s pace.

“When are you going to give me grandchildren?”

Jurot could feel the intense pressure from his grandfather. His ears turned red, causing the old man to pull off the intense pressure.

‘Does he…’

“Before you cause a mess about this, old man… is there any way you can cause a mess since Churot’s birthday is soon and he isn’t about for me, us, to spoil him?”

“They will bring my Churot soon,” Jarot confirmed, his lips twitching slightly.

‘I guess he’s already threatened them?’ “Good. Speaking of, Churot’s family is pretty stacked too. I mean, he’s got the Rots, the Fevs, and the Gaks.”

“He is fortunate,” Jaygak confirmed, holding the pair of children closer to her chest, rubbing her cheeks against their horns.

“I keep forgetting Churot is related to you,” Adam admitted. “How can he be related to you when he’s so smart?”

“Kitool is related to him too.”

“What?” Adam replied, his brows raised in shock. “Really?”

“His grandmother was born into the Fev family, and Kitool’s father is her nephew.”

Adam blinked. “Yo! I didn’t know that! So that means Kitool has Sha-, grandaunt Shaool,” Adam quickly stated upon feeling the glares from Jarot and Gangak, “and the Bloody Hawk? Doesn’t that mean that Churot is related to the most amount of…” Adam tried to keep the family relations within his mind, but he stopped. “So really, you’re all related to one another?”

“In a way.”

“I guess that makes sense. No wonder Churot is so smart, he’s related to Kitool after all.”

Jaygak frowned. She hadn’t expected the obvious conclusion. ‘…’

“Churot’s not allowed to grow up either,” Adam stated.

“Yes,” Jarot added.

“Our Churot is helping the Iyr well,” Gangak said. “Unlike the Aldish, who are threatening to starve one another now.”

“What’s that about?”

“The Priests of Nahtu across Aldland are pressuring the King due to the devasation he caused within Floria,” Gangak informed. “They are threatening to not cast their magics upon the fields.”

“Their magic?”

“Plant Growth. A Priest of Nahtu has such an ability once they learn Third Gate spells. They can call forth a ritual over the course of many hours to enrich the plant all around over a large distance. If they do not cast such spells, the amount of land required will double, and the farmers required to work such land would increase. In Aldland, only Priests of Nahtu can cast such a spell, so the King cannot ignore it.”

“The King has made questionable decisions,” Jarot stated, recalling what had happened over a decade ago. “He may allow the famines to spread through Aldland.”

“The duchal families are already strengthening their grip,” Gangak replied.

Jarot groaned in response, wondering how the King would react.

‘Oh?’ Adam thought. ‘The duchal families are strengthening their grip?’

Vonda noted the smirk on Adam’s face. ‘Oh, Adam…’