The days in the fort began to pass, the air solemn with a lethargy which struck upon them like a sickness. The fort brought much joy to the children, who were still awed by the newness of it all.

“We getta stay here,” Copper said, staring at the rest of the fort.

“We gots to work here later,” Daryl replied. “That’s what Cobra says.”

“They say we have to learn first,” Mia said. “We’ve got to learn lots.”

“Yeah!”

Cobra watched as the children explored the fort and their thoughts of their futures. They were banned from moving from one area to the next, with Adam stating the children should be watched over in the same area so they could all be found immediately. They also weren’t allowed to walk upon the wall without an adult, who would need to make sure the children didn’t accidentally, or purposefully, leap off into the river and their certain death.

“Kids are stupid, but it’s okay, because they’re so cute.”

“Why don’t you ban them from doing it?” Cobra had asked.

“They should know to do it only if they’re with us. If we stop them from doing it, they might find it more curious. It might have the opposite effect, but we have to do our best to instil that within them.”

The same rules didn’t apply to the Iyrmen children, who were allowed to step into the other sections of the fort as they pleased, including the inner area meant for the Executives.

“Is smaller,” Jirot had said upon first seeing the private area of the fort.

“Yes, but it’s our place.”

“I do not like it.”

‘Uh oh…’

Adam had tried to figure out how to make his children like the place, since they’d be staying there from now on. ‘I can’t continue to impose on the Iyr, not when they’re…’

A long silence fell through Adam.

Adam’s existence was awkward, but the existence of his children were even more awkward to the world. Not only were they marked for death due to their race, but they were his children, a Nephew of the Iyr, and though the Rot family had stated the children were their own, he wasn’t sure how that worked.

‘I should try and distance ourselves so the Iyr isn’t affected by it. Since they’re my kids, they should be free to do what they want. They shouldn’t be burdened by the Iyr, or by…’ Adam felt stupid thinking of anything more, understanding that his children would forever be in danger. ‘What am I meant to do?’

‘Stupid Aldland,’ Lucy thought, still fuming at the year. ‘Just you wait until we’ve spread our name, and then I can cause whatever mess I can.’

“Mnnnnn,” Jirot thought, staring at the board “No more.” She got up from the table and quickly rushed away from the Demon Lord, who blinked after her.

‘Are you abandoning me too, Jirot?’ Lucy thought as Jirot hopped onto her nano’s lap. ‘I’ll forgive you since the Iyrmen are scary, just this once.’

Vonda swept up at her temple every morning, with some of the children forced to assist due to their elder siblings, though they willingly prayed with Vonda. She formed a smaller prayer for the children, that which lasted only a few moments, before allowing them to leave.

Sometimes the children would come to Dunes for the same, but he was mostly left alone when he worked his temple. Except, some of the children preferred his prayers, since they were often more physical, swinging the small staves in front of them while chanting a prayer for Lady Arya, Goddess of War.

The meals of the fort brought many of the children together, and brought more children towards Dunes as the days passed.

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‘Divinity through the stomach.’ Dunes thought, recalling Ahmed’s words. He sighed, a small smile upon his lips.

“Why are you so stressed now that you’re in the fort?” Jaygak asked, noting how tense Adam was.

“I’m in the fort now, but there’s so much to do…” Adam glanced towards Jaygak, who could see the thoughts within Adam’s eyes, that which he couldn’t state allowed since he needed to dwell on them further.

“Are you stressed about tomorrow?”

“Of course I’m stressed about tomorrow!” Adam replied, letting out a long sigh. “What am I meant to do?”

“It’ll be fine,” Jaygak said. “Since I’m his favourite anyway.”

“You wish!”

It was the next day in which new visitors appeared within the fort. There were a handful of them, but they were all from the same family, symbolised by the blue circle and blue diamonds. Cobra eyed up up the group, noting the way the twins first approached Fakrot, before their eyes snapped to Adam, while Adam and the Mad Dog both called out to the teen with red skin and horns.

“My Churot,” Jarot called, embracing his grandson with his one arm, pulling the boy to his chest. “You have grown too much.”

“Grandfather…” Churot replied, wrapping his arms around his grandfather.

“Hold on, I want to hug him too,” Adam called out, fuming beside the old man. “Happy birthday, Churot.”

“Thank you, cousin Adam,” Churot replied, finally allowed to hug the half elf.

Adam ruffled the young Iyrman’s hair. “Fifteen, eh? You’re so much bigger than when we first met. Who gave you permission to grow up?”

“I do not need permission to grow up,” Churot replied simply.

“He’s grown up too much…” Adam continued to ruffle his hair. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Are the Iyr working you too hard? Should I go speak with them?”

“No. No.”

“Your grandfather and I will cause trouble if they’re being mean to you, so make sure you let us know, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You should greet us too!” Cirot declared.

“Yes,” Sirot added.

The twin sisters within the Rot family, each of whom had turned seventeen a week ago, glared at the half elf.

“I see my cousins have grown up a lot too. You’re still kids, though.” Adam glanced towards Fakrot, who nodded towards the half elf, glad he was refuting the pair so eagerly.

“It is not fair that cousin Naqokan accompanied you on your adventures.” Cirot stood taller, her eyes still glaring at the half elf.

“So what?”

“You say we are kids, but we are considered-,” Sirot began, before noting the glares from both Adam and her father from behind her.

“What will they say if I marry my cousins?” Adam narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want to hear it from either of you any more.” ‘Seriously. How many women do I need to fight off?’

“Nano!” Jirot called out, pointing towards the older woman. She narrowed her eyes towards her, before smirking lightly, cackling while her greatmother picked her up to pull the girl to her bosom.

“Are you causing trouble?” Mulrot asked.

“No!” Jirot cackled once more, while little Jarot found himself against his greatmother’s bosom too.

“Did you miss me?”

“No?” Jirot replied, waiting to see how her greatmother responded, before cackling.

Mulrot planted a kiss on the girl’s forehead. “I missed you, my greatdaughter.” She settled herself to the side, reaching out to ruffle the triplets’ hair, before Gurot shuffled his way to her.

“Nana.”

“Have you lost weight, my Gurot?” Mulrot asked.

Gurot smiled shyly.

“No way, how can our Gurot lose weight when he’s around me!” Adam called out, before noting the looks from the farmers and porters. “I mean….” Adam glanced towards Jurot, motioning his head to Mulrot.

“Yes?”

“Shouldn’t you introduce everyone?”

“You will not?”

“They need to know who they are.”

Jurot still wasn’t sure why Adam didn’t want to introduce them. “These are my cousins, Cirot and Sirot, daughters of Fakrot.”

‘Oh,’ Cobra thought, noting how similar they appeared to the handsome Iyrman.

“This is my grandmother, Mulrot, the Family Elder of the Rot family.”

The farmers and porters and the East Portians glanced between one another.

The Family Elder? That sounded important. Yet, it didn’t seem like they were treating her with much reverence.

“The Family Elder is the President’s mother, so you better treat her appropriately,” Adam stated, his voice carrying a heavy weight within it.

“I have little business with the business,” Mulrot stated, kissing Jirot’s head. “I will only come to see these children who I miss dearly.”

‘Doesn’t that mean she’s the Mad Dog’s wife?’ Cobra thought, her eyes snapping between the pair. ‘Is she as strong as him?’

“Did you have fun with your other cousins?” Adam asked.

Churot stared up at him questioningly.

“I mean, because it’s your birthday.”

“Yes.”

“You did not meet the extended estate?” Jarot asked.

“No.”

Jarot slowly nodded. It would not have been difficult for the Iyr to allow for both, but it was awkward to display such abilities in front of the outsiders.

“You didn’t meet them?” Adam asked.

“No.”

“Oh… I feel so special.” Adam smiled, ruffling his hair a little more fervently. “Shall I give you your gift now?”

“Okay.”

“Don’t be so shy!” Adam embraced the teen closer. “What a cute kid my cousin is!”

“Nana!” Lanarot called, arriving with her mother right behind her. She charged over towards the old woman who lifted her up.

Adam glanced around the fort, his eyes falling across the entire group. The little Iyrmen, the older Iyrmen who made up his companions, and then those who had adopted him and his own into their family. His eyes burned slightly as the tears welled, but he blinked them away rapidly.

‘I really am so lucky in this life.’