“It would be best for Elder Zijin to continue to watch over Adam,” the Chief stated after informing the other Great Elders of the matter.

Elder Teacher remained silent. He was in the awkward position in which he didn’t come across Adam much, other than when the young half elf had awakened the first Iyrman scribe mage, the Iyr’s first wizard. Awkwardly, he had taken a stance against the young half elf recently. His eyes fell to Elder Forest and Elder Gold, both who had more personal dealing with the young half elf.

Elder Forest, who was the most recent Great Elder outside of the Chief to make a deal with the young half elf, crossed her arms as she fell into thought. She threw a glance towards Elder Gold, who caught her eye for a moment, before the pair returned to their thoughts. They were put in the awkward spot of still viewing Adam as a threat, even though he had only helped them, especially with his introduction of certain mathematical concepts.

Then there was the matter of Churot.

Churot.

He was an Iyrman like that of Elder Teacher, with red skin and horns on his forehead. He was born into the Rot family, and the circumstances of his birth had been terrible. If it weren’t for his birth, certainly that old man would have continued to rampage across the land when the spirit took to him. Churot, who was the first scribe mage of the Iyr, and who had understood the mathematical concepts the best. The boy had assisted his Elder and the pair of Great Elders so much in the past year, the Year of Silence. It was only today the boy had completed the calculations for many of the Iyr’s logistics for the entire season of dawnval.

Even upon hearing Adam’s ridiculous ability, they couldn’t help but think of just how much it would assist the Iyr. Although it was another reason to kill the young man, whose existence was borderline unbelievable, who brought chaos wherever he walked, who did nothing but worry the various Iyrmen. Even so, the young half elf had given them a collar and leash to keep him in check.

‘Even if we are unable to use his children against him, they are still within our grasp,’ Elder Forest thought. Then her thoughts went to the old man who doted after the five children. There was no doubt the old man doted on the children with all his heart, but there was the thought that part of it was to keep the Great Elders at bay.

Elder Gold’s thoughts were also on the young half elf. They had created an unprecedented deal within the Iyr. The Iyr had guaranteed the lives of many outsiders, but they had never guaranteed the lives of Iyrmen for an outsider. There were so many factors to take into consideration, reasons to kill the young half elf, and reasons to let him live.

Elder Wrath leaned in to speak. “I do not believe it is a good idea to keep him alive, but Elder Zijin has yet to falter in this regard.”

“I am in agreement with Elder Wrath,” Elder Teacher said, before the pair eyed up the last two Great Elders who had yet to make a decision.

‘Elder Zijin…’ Elder Gold recalled the day when Elder Zijin had come to speak with her. It had been about Adam, of course. He had offered Churot’s assistance to the Great Elder, and though it was unconditional, the Elder had stated they shouldn’t forget the roots of Churot’s assistance.

In order for the Great Elders to make a move against Adam, there were several hurdles to overcome. The Chief, Elder Zijin, the Family Elder and the Family Head of the Rot family. Only one of these hurdles would have been difficult to overcome, even the old Jarot would have been nothing compared to such authority, but all four together?

Then there was Elder Story.

“I agree,” Elder Forest said.

Elder Gold remained silent for a long while. The votes had been cast, so her vote wasn’t important, though she had also been the most likely to agree. However, she thought back to the meeting with Elder Zijin, and the warning he had given to her, and the promise he had made. “If it is Elder Zijin, then I will cast my vote to agree.”

The Chief hadn’t expected them all to agree. It was most surprising that Elder Wrath of all people had been the first to agree, since he was the most vehement against the young half elf, even considering their distant, fated connection.

“Will we speak of Adam’s new ability?” Elder Gold asked, putting forward the second most important topic onto the table.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“We should leave it within Elder Zijin’s judgement for now,” the Chief stated.

“…” Elder Gold wondered if she should press for it, and she could see Elder Forest was also struggling for it too. The ability, which they trusted to be true since it was Adam, was something which very few possessed, and it was something which technically fell under their domains. Elder Gold, who dealt with the wealth of the Iyr when it came to external affairs, and Elder Forest, who dealt with the wealth of the Iyr when it came to domestic matters.

This time, Elder Wrath and Elder Teacher waited for the other pair to vote.

‘He must be speaking of the tale now,’ the Chief thought, waiting for the pair to cast their votes.

“No!” Jirot complained, yawning as she rested her head against her nano’s shoulder.

“Come on, I’ll put you to sleep,” Adam said, reaching out for Jirot. The girl squirmed away from him for a moment, before she eventually reached out for her father. He kissed her leaf shaped ears and embraced her tight, feeling her warmth against him. He lifted up little Jarot too, nuzzling against a leaf shaped ear gently, before kissing his cheek. He allowed them to say good night to the others first before he carried his youngest children to bed, followed by his triplets.

Adam assisted his children in brushing their teeth and washing their faces, before he changed them and their clothies for bed. “Oh? What’s this? Aren’t you all too young to not wear your clothies?”

“I can myself, daddy,” Konarot replied, standing up taller, her fists clenched with pride.

Adam pulled her head to his chest. “How can you all do this to me?” He nuzzled Kirot and Karot’s noses before tucking them into bed. “I’ll read you a story next time, okay?”

“Okay…”

“Daddy, sleeping?” Jirot asked, yawning once more, twitching slightly as slumber almost took her.

“Later.”

“I will sleep with you,” Mirot said, placing Gurot nearby, planting a kiss on his forehead before she lay down on the thick blanket beside the children.

Jirot smiled as she saw her nana right beside them and a wave of sleepiness took her into the sea known as slumber. Jarot’s eyes remained focused on his father for a moment before he closed them and he fell asleep too.

‘Should I tease Jurot for not having cute kids?’

Sonarot, who had taken Lanarot to use the bathroom before bed, assisted in tucking her to bed. Before she could pout, her mother kissed her forehead. “Good night, Lanarot.”

“Good night, mama. Papa, good night.”

“Good night, Lanababy.”

Adam planted kissed on each of their foreheads, resisting the urge to kiss Gurot, afraid he’d wake the boy up. “Turot, Asorot, you must protect little Gurot in his dreams.”

“Yes,” Turot whispered firmly, Asorot nodding his head.

Adam and Sonarot returned to find another Iyrman had appeared, sitting beside Citool. She wore a spear against her back, and though the spear was one of the two Ool family weapons, Adam wasn’t certain he had seen many wield one. On her forehead was the tattoo of the Ool family, a blue semicircle within the centre and three red, hollow ovals extending out from each side.

‘Kitool’s grandmother?’ Adam had only ever seen the woman a few times. He knew little about her, except the fact her husband had died back when Jarot and the others went to avenge Churot’s death. ‘I guess it makes sense she would want to be here. I guess the grandparents want to hear their grandchildren’s tale.’

Jurot began the tale, though the trio shared the glory of regaling the tale to their family. Once they mentioned Adam raining down Fireballs upon his enemies, the young man placed a hand on his holy amulet, the symbol of Baktu pressing against his palm. Though the old Jarot grinned, he noted how dour the young half elf had become.

Adam had spent the last week thinking about how many people he had killed, typically with a single word, and a few hand motions. ‘No wonder they don’t allow mages to grow too powerful.’

“Adam is right,” Jarot said, disrupting Adam’s thoughts.

“Of course I’m right,” Adam replied.

“There are no princes or princesses in the Iyr,” Jurot replied.

“Adam was a duke, therefore my greatchildren are princesses and princes.”

“You wish for your greatchildren to be nobles?” Gangak asked.

Jarot winced, and for a moment, Adam swore they were actually related. “It is not up to me.”

“This is why I wished for them to be my greatchildren.”

“It would not change anything.”

“They would grow well under my guidance.”

Jarot huffed in response. “It is fine if they are not royalty, for they are still my greatchildren.”

“It’s not like they aren’t nobles considering how well they’re being raised in the Iyr…” Adam glanced between the Iyrmen.

“Even I wouldn’t joke about that, Adam,” Jaygak said.

“I take my words back.”

“The tale is a good tale,” Jarot said. “You should be proud to bring such glory to our families.”

‘Good thing the kids won’t know about it.’ Adam sighed.

“You did well, Adam.” Jarot pat the young man’s shoulder.

“I killed way too many people.”

“Yes.” Jarot paused. “It had to be done.”

“Did it?”

“You had no time.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good enough reason.”

“Did you do it to become a duke?”

“Partly, but…” Adam thought about that world and how awful it had been for the people. He had killed a lot of people in order to put in place, what he assumed to be, a stable foundation. “I guess I really am British.”

“You feel guilty?”

“Yeah.”

“Killing does not come easy to even we Iyrmen.”

“I don’t want it ever to come easy.”

Jarot pat the young man’s back. “You have brought back many gifts?”

“Yeah, though not as much as I would have liked since I didn’t want to die.”

“You did not wish to die?”

“Adam has gained a new ability,” Jaygak said.

“What is it?” Jarot leaned in towards the half elf.

“Ah, right.” Adam inhaled deeply, and the Iyrmen around prepared themselves.