Jarot and Gangak remained at the shared estate for a few more days, understanding it would be the best time for them to spoil the children without Adam, since, as they had predicted, he would be right back to work.

‘Now that I’m almost done, I probably should send word to everyone about finishing their payments,’ Adam thought, making his way to enchant. He stopped on the way to the shrine. ‘Right, I also need to do that, don’t I?’

Adam completed all but one of the enchantments he needed to complete for the business for that year. However, the last enchantments he needed to complete, for the business and for his personal tasks, were the most important of all.

He held his youngest son within his arms, while the light rain fell across the Iyr. The gentle pitter patter of the water rhythmically falling. Konarot sipped along her warm milk, before offering some to her father, her siblings already finishing their own sips.

“It’s okay, you should drink it all up,” Adam said, reaching over a hand to brush her hair. ‘I should probably finish the weapon I owe to the fort, and then I’ll work on theirs? No, I should work on hers first.’

Adam continued to enchant until the last week of duskval, with one more day of enchanting left. However, in fear of Jirot’s wrath, Adam refused to enchant, for it was that time of year.

“Stop right there,” Adam said, holding out his hand towards his children. “Don’t you know it’s illegal to be this cute? You’re coming with me!”

Adam’s six children all wore the attire of the Iyr, with all those within the Rot family wearing identical outfits. They wore grey clothing, the Rot family symbol of a blue circle and diamonds embroidered along the shoulders where the outer shirt cut off at an angle. They also wore a deep blue sash around their waists, which kept their outer shirt contained together, rather than with buttons.

“Silly daddy,” Jirot replied, while her father reached over to pull her in close for a tight embrace. Eventually she sat down, ready for her father to brush her hair, the half elf smiling with such joy.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Adam asked, smiling towards Lucy, who had readied herself to brush Jarot’s hair.

“Adam…”

“Lucy….”

“This entire year I’ve behaved so well,” Lucy stated.

Adam inhaled deeply, before bowing his head gently. Lucy sat and brushed Jarot’s hair beside his father. Vonda watched them from the side, watching them silently. Konarot and the others waited for their father to be done, and even Jarot, who allowed Lucy to comb through his hair, allowed his father to brush his hair too.

“Ray Vonda,” Lanarot called, holding up a brush towards her, her tiny expectant eyes beaming with delight. Vonda smiled and brushed the girl’s hair, the girl’s heart beating quickly, understanding Vonda was someone of significance.

“Mama, look,” Lanarot said, bowing her head so her mother could see the top of her head. “Ray Vonda buhrushed my hair!”

“How wonderful,” Sonarot said, brushing the girl’s cheek, the girl's smile shining so brightly in the duskval air.

"It is Ray Vonda," Lanarot said, still shining brightly.

"Yes."

"I am Lanawoh, not Ray."

"Yes. You are Lanarot, daughter of Sonarot."

"I am your dohta, mama." Lanarot leaned in to kiss her cheek before she hugged her mother, her head nestled within her mother's neck, her breath tickling her mother's skin.

"Yes." Sonarot pulled her daughter up into a tighter hug, their cheeks rubbing together. She could smell her daughter, the oils of the Iyr, as well as the smell of dough. Her daughter's warmth bounced against her skin, and the pair continued to embrace each other tenderly.

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The gentle rain fell across the air, the air chillier than even the previous months. Adam held Jirot within his arms, knowing how much trouble she would be if he let her walk, while little Jarot cuddled up against his shoulder. Jurot held Larot, while the triplets followed their aunt, who remained near her brother.

“Hello, stranger,” Adam called, flashing a smile towards Vonda, who had all but disappeared in the past month. “How are you?”

“I am well, Adam,” Vonda confirmed. “How are you?”

“I’m fine too.” Adam felt Jirot reach out her arms for Vonda, causing him to frown. “I’m less fine now.” Adam relented, allowing Jirot and Jarot to embrace Vonda, while Adam glanced towards his triplets, who waited expectantly. ‘I’m not that strong…’

“I do not mean to steal your children,” Vonda said, holding the pair close while Adam wore his triplets.

“Well, I can’t blame you, since my children are the best.”

They explored the festival together, eating the foods the Iyrmen had made, while the children played the various games. Konarot managed to land the beanbag within a large basket. She smiled towards her father. Kirot prepared herself, tossing the little beanbag with all her might, which struck the tiniest basket in the centre, the hardest of all to land. Her lips formed a circle. A moment later, another beanbag struck the central tiny basket, and Karot glanced towards his father in shock.

“Whoa…” Adam glanced across the beanbags and the baskets. There were several baskets, each growing smaller towards the centre, the bullseye, while the larger baskets spread out from the centre. “Whoa, good job, good job!”

Jirot snorted before she grabbed her own beanbag, holding it out in front of her. “I am Demon Load.” She inhaled deeply before tossing her beanbag into the air, the beanbag rising up high, arcing down slightly before it fell within a straight line. It struck the side of the central basket before it slipped within it. Jirot turned to face her father and the others watching, her own lips forming a tiny circle, surprising herself.

“My kids are so amazing!” Adam called, reaching out to take them all into his arms. “Wow, you’re all so amazing!”

“My turn!” Jarot said, before grabbing a beanbag. “I am Jarot!” He tossed the beanbag high, which landed upon an outer basket.

“Wow! Amazing!” Adam said, grabbing his son and pulling him close, distracting the boy’s failure with his affection. “Of course my children are so good at throwing things, they’re always running about and causing trouble!”

“Not trouble, daddy,” Konarot said, pouting.

“When you’re this cute you’re always trouble,” Adam said, pinching her cheek, before blowing a raspberry into her neck.

Lanarot tossed her beanbag, which fell against the side of an outer basket. She furrowed her brows before looking to her brother. “It is buhroken?”

“It may be so,” Jurot said, unable to tell her that she missed. ‘My sister throws well.’

Adam made sure to feed his children every few bites, sharing his own food with them, while cleaning up their faces with a handkerchief. Vonda also fed his children, offering them the various desserts she had gathered for them, while sneaking some bread into Lanarot’s mouth, the girl smiling as though she was doing something naughty.

“Fighting, papa, fighting!” Lanarot called excitedly, hearing the distant sounds of metal striking metal.

“Jurot, do you want to take her to watch the fights?” Adam asked.

“I will do it,” Jurot said, placing Larot down, before guiding Lanarot away. She reached for his hand and held it as they made their way out.

‘My brother and sister are the cutest,’ Adam thought, leaning back as he held Larot against his chest. “Oh? Are you sleepy?”

Larot replied with a yawn, while the other children also began to quieten. Vonda and Adam took them to an estate, with the Iyrmen paying close attention to the pair. There were already several other children preparing to sleep within the courtyard. Adam placed Larot down in the corner, while an Iyrman approached.

“Are you Adam?” the Iyrman asked, one who was slightly grey of skin, with tusks at at the corners of her mouth. Her tattoo was that of a central red tilted cross with yellow hollow ovals emanating out from it. She wore a bronze tag.

“That’s right.”

“Okay,” the Iyrman replied, before stepping away.

“Are you a member of the Var family?” Adam asked.

“I am,” the Iyrman replied, bowing her head knowingly.

Adam bowed his head in return. ‘I should really speak with Okvar more.’

“I am not Vah, I am Roh,” the tiny Jirot said, yawning, before she rested her head against the pillow.

Adam ushered his children to sleep, before quietly slipping away as other Iyrmen watched the sleeping children. He sat against the side of the estate, sitting at a free table, while Vonda sat opposite him.

“The Iyr’s festivals are always so lively.” She glanced across towards the centre of the district, where most Iyrmen were enjoying their time.

“I’m glad they made the outskirts quieter,” Adam admitted.

“Adam?”

“Yes?”

Vonda felt her heart beat swiftly. She had tried to push through the words before her throat stopped her, but it seemed her body was too keen on betraying her. “I am glad we are friends.”

“Me too…” Adam smiled. “Who else is going to keep me from being such a chaotic moron.”

Vonda smiled. “Konarot will stop you, since she is so wise.”

“Jirot will enable me.”

Vonda smiled wider. “She will.”

While they enjoyed the peace, a little girl screamed for blood, while her elder brother held her upon his shoulders.

‘Your lungs are so strong,’ Jurot thought, the shadow of a smile upon his lips.