Inakan accepted the colourful ribbons passed to her, along with the tiny bits and bobs the older Iyrmen had crafted for her, from the tiny cup Taygak had forged, to the spoon Laygak had carved.

“Blue wibbon, okay?” Jirot said, handing over the ribbon she and her brother had picked out. She then embraced the girl and kissed her cheeks, before allowing her brother to do the same. She looked towards her father, who smiled, the little girl quickly rushing up to him as she giggled.

“You are so good, Jirot. What a lovely gift you both gave.” Adam ruffled their hair, while Konarot and the triplets handed over a piece of fabric their father had gifted to them, also embracing the girl. “All of you are so good! What lovely gifts you’ve all given!” ‘My kids are really the cutest!’

The adults assisted their young children in giving away their gifts, some of them crying as they could not continue playing with their items, before they were distracted away.

Shikan let out a long sigh. ‘Two years old…’ Now that the child was two, he worried less about the girl’s survival, and more about how to keep her from getting herself killed from exploration. Once the gifts were passed, Shikan picked up his daughter, who smiled up towards him. Shikan stared down into her innocent eyes, the eyes which had yet to know how cruel the world was.

The Iyrman carried his daughter to one side before he brushed the girl’s hair with a brush, fixing it before their visit to the extended family estate. He picked a ribbon and tied it within his daughter’s hair, and before the girl could reach it, he lay a small scarf across her shoulders, distracting her with the knitted clothing.

“Are you taking my Inakan away?” Adam asked, his heart already aching.

“We must go visit the Kan estate.”

“How can you do this to me…” Adam held out his arms, raising his brows expectantly. Shikan surrendered to the girl to him, allowing Adam to hold the girl close to his chest for a moment. “Inakan…” Adam rubbed his cheek against hers. “If anyone bullies you, make sure to tell me, okay?”

“Kekekeke,” Inakan replied, giggling wildly before Adam showered her with his affection, doing his best not to ruin her hair, rubbing his cheek against her cheek and the top of her head.

Adam handed Shikan the girl back, glancing aside as he crossed his arms behind his back. “Don’t miss me too much, Inakan.”

Lucy remained silent. Adam had worked too hard the past month for her to call him cringe, and she wasn’t stupid enough to call him cringe on Inakan’s birthday.

“Will you work today?” Sonarot asked, already knowing the answer to her question.

“No, no…” Adam watched as the Kans prepared for the children to leave to the extended family estate. “Wait…”

Once Adam had embraced the little Kan children, the Kans left, heading to their estate with the birthday girl. Adam watched as they left, narrowing his eyes to refrain from tearing up. ‘How can you grow up? Do you think I’ll forgive you because you’re so cute?’

‘Cringe,’ Mara thought.

“Daddy,” Jirot called, pointing up towards the half elf. “You take me to babo.”

“How do you ask nicely?”

“Pwease.”

“Okay.”

Mirot also decided to go to the extended family estate, preparing both Gurot and Murot. Due to the number of children, Adam pulled along a rickshaw full of the little ones, while Mirot followed behind. Mirot knew better than to push the rickshaw herself, deciding against giving Adam any reason to complain about not spoiling the children.

The old one armed Jarot laughed upon seeing his family arrive. “I did not think you would come since it was Inakan’s birthday.”

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“Jirot demanded, politely, that I bring her.”

Jirot climbed down from the rickshaw with her brother before the pair rushed towards their greatfather, who swept the pair up into a tender embrace.

“Babo!” the pair cried aloud.

“How well behaved my greatchildren are!” He planted firm kisses on their heads before pulling back to relax as the pair babbled away loudly towards him.

Konarot led her younger sister and brother to their greatmother, who reached out to rub their heads tenderly.

“Konarot, Kirot, Karot.” Mulrot smiled, offering the children slices of fruit she had cut.

“Nano,” the triplets replied, embracing their greatmother.

“Nana,” Gurot called, standing tall and proud, waiting for his hug.

Mulrot picked the boy up, feeling how heavy he was, even compared to the triplets. She pulled him close to her chest, brushing his chubby cheek and his hair, before reaching out a hand towards Murot, who tried to climb up. Konarot assisted him as the boy climbed up towards his grandmother and giggled playfully, clutching at her shoulders as he tried to stand beside her.

‘This is really unfair,’ Adam thought. ‘How can I live with myself knowing no one can have as adorable children as I.’

Lucy and Mara, who had followed Adam silently, stared at him from behind.

‘Cringe.’

Zirot sipped along her tea, relaxing within her chair. She glanced towards the demons, who were still training with her daily. They also assisted the Iyr with general labour, but when in the land of the Iyrmen, it was not difficult to find those eager to assist with general labour.

Adam sat down opposite Zirot. “How have you been grandaunt?”

“Well,” Zirot replied, pouring Adam a cup of tea. “How have you been?”

“How can I be anything other than happy when my adorable children bully me so much?” Adam asked, raising his cup towards her before shifting the temperature of the tea so it wasn’t quite so hot. He sipped the tea, which held a subtle earthy taste, which he quickly changed to taste like strawberry milk. “Where’s granduncle? I don’t see him around.”

“He is training to take the place of our Grandmaster,” Zirot said. “Rirot has fallen ill, so I may train to become a Grandmaster too.”

“Rirot?” Adam asked. He had barely met the other Rot family members, and vaguely recalled the name.

“She is missing an eye.”

“Ah,” Adam replied, slowly nodding his head. “She’s ill?”

“She may pass soon.”

“Oh…” Adam blinked, surprised Zirot was speaking of her relative’s death so easily. “I hope not.”

“Rirot has lived a great life.”

“I should go see her to pay my respects.”

“It would be nice.”

“Can I see her today?”

“I will take you.”

Adam followed the older Iyrman through the extended estates, each estate a superblock like the shared estate, except they only ever reached two stories tall if they had more than a single story. The extended estates were far larger, more expansive, though it was to be expected since they were near the outskirts of the Main Iyr.

Rirot was found within one of the outer estates, a smaller estate which consisted of several cabins with a large courtyard between them. The woman sat within a corner, surrounded by her companions. She was thinner than most Iyrmen, especially those of the Rot family. Her hair had grown thin, cut short recently. Her dark eye seemed distant, strained.

‘She really has lost a lot of weight.’

Several other Iyrmen sat with her, one from the Rot family, though the others wore tattoos of other families Adam vaguely recalled. Each were wrinkled and white haired, and carried their family’s weapons.

“Hello,” Adam said, noting the way the Iyrmen were staring at him. They glanced across his ears quickly, and then his attire, before assuming who he was.

“Adam,” Rirot called, reaching out a hand to pat his head.

Adam bowed his head awkwardly. “I wanted to meet you.”

“What is it that you need?”

“Nothing,” Adam said. “Just wanted to say hello and check on you.”

Rirot smiled. “Thank you. Have you brought your children?”

“They’re at the… they’re with their babo and nano.” Suddenly, an awkwardness filled Adam. ‘Is she really dying?’ Adam’s heart began to beat quicker, a small layer of sweat beginning to form across his forehead.

“What is the matter?”

“Just…” Adam flushed, his heart throbbing harder. “Could…” Adam’s throat tightened for a moment. “Could I bring my children here to hear your tales.”

Rirot’s eye filled delight. “I will speak them.”

The older Iyrmen eased up near the boy, leaning back, one nodding approvingly towards the half elf.

As Adam stepped back, he felt a sweat fill him. He swallowed once more, though found it difficult.

“Okay?” Zirot asked, escorting Adam back to retrieve his children.

“Yeah…”

Zirot reached up and rubbed his head. “You must not be brother’s grandson. You are too well behaved.”

Adam glanced towards her. “Well behaved? Me? How can I be when I’m Jirot’s dad?”

Zirot smiled. “Yes. It is so.”

As Adam stepped back into the extended family estate, Konarot charged up towards him. He let out a soft sigh as he picked her up. “Come on, we need to go and see nano Rirot.”

“Nano Reeroh?” Konarot asked.

“Yes. She is the family’s Grandmaster. She’s very strong.”

“Strong,” Konarot replied firmly. “Like daddy?”

“Stronger,” Adam said, almost choking on his words.

“I will come too,” the older Jarot said, allowing the twins to cling to him tight as he held them with his arm and his forearm. He glanced towards Adam, whose mood had darkened, much worse than even when Jurot had left. ‘He is too soft hearted, but he is wise.’ Jarot wasn’t sure if Adam was doing this to ingratiate himself within the Rot family, but it was a great move to make by the young half elf.