Omen: 18, 18

‘I guess I can’t enchant even if I really wanted to…’ Adam thought, trapped under the weight of his children. The twins drooled over his chest and stomach, while his arms and legs lay trapped under his triplets’ silver tails.

“Are you working today?” Adam asked Jurot over breakfast, holding Inakan in his lap as he fed her.

“Yes.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I am needed in the fields.”

“Oh, fair.”

“Are you going to work today?” Jaygak asked.

“I can’t,” Adam replied, feeling his eldest daughter’s glare against the back of his head. “I fear I will be unable to handle the reprisal.”

“She has you by the leash.”

“You’re just jealous that my daughter is cute.”

“That is beside the point.”

“That is the point.” Adam continued to feed Inakan, who slowly ate the food, feeling the texture of the oatmeal within her mouth as she pressed it against the roof of her mouth with her tongue.

‘Should I keep waiting before I tease him?’ Jaygak thought. Adam had doted on the children too much recently, but he still seemed bothered by the events within the other world. “It’s not fair that you keep Jirot for yourself. She adores my grandaunt the most, so she should play with me too.”

“I can’t allow you to corrupt her.”

“Jirot, come here,” Jaygak called.

Jirot threw her head aside to find out who had been calling her. She looked up at the red skinned Jaygak, shoving a sliced vegetable into her mouth. “No!”

“Jirot, come to daddy,” Adam called, reaching out a hand.

Jirot smirked towards her father, and with a menacing whisper she replied. “No.” She remained silent, still smirking towards her father.

“Do you want to change her clothy?” Adam asked.

“She is your daughter.”

“That’s right.”

Once they had finished with breakfast, Adam brought the children together to read to them. He read the tale of an Iyrman from the Kan family to the children, of one of the many who had gone on to become a Chief. Once he was done with the story, he relinquished the babies to their mothers so they could be fed and napped.

“Asorot, the hydra winds its head back and snaps it vicious maw towards you,” Adam said, rolling his die. “Oh no! That’s a natural twenty!”

The children gasped, with Asorot’s lips stuck in a small circle. The boy frowned. “How can it do this, cousin Adam?”

“Of course it had to do this, since you are so strong,” Adam replied, as though it were a fact.

“I will gain my vengeance.”

“No,” Saygak said. “I will cast my spell!”

“Oh, what are you casting?”

“Fates and Pots,” the little Gak replied. “Cousin Adam, you must roll again.”

Adam rolled once more and the children all gasped. “Wow. I’ve never met anyone unluckier in my life. That’s another natural twenty.”

Saygak frowned, before marking the spell on my sheet.

“No!” Turot shouted, raising a hand towards Adam to stop him. “I will protect my little brother.”

“Oh yeah? How are you going to do that?”

“My shield is very good,” the boy said, picking up the little card with the shield’s statistics. The shield, Very Good Shield, was indeed a very good shield.

“Oh, I gotta roll again?” Adam picked up the large twenty sided die once more. “There’s no way I get three natural twenties in a row.” He rolled the die, the children leaning over to watch it roll. It struck off the side of the tray before it settled within it.

Even Damokan and Kalokan made faces upon seeing the roll.

“This is all my fault,” Adam said. “The hydra must know that I gifted you the vest.” Adam shook his head.

“This cannot be!” Turot stared up towards his cousin in shock. “This is not right!”

“It is not right!” the children agreed.

“I’m afraid that’s how it is,” Adam replied, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s a one in eight thousand chance, but three natural twenties in a row is still a possibility.”

Asorot sat in shock, glancing around towards the other children, unable to believe Adam was able to roll so well three times in a row. “You are so lucky, cousin Adam!”

“Of course I’m lucky! Have you ever seen anyone as lucky as me? What adorable children I have! What adorable cousins I have! Who in this world can be as lucky as me?”

“Cousin Adam!” Raygak held up a little slip. “I critically hit last time so the hydra must roll a bad dice.”

“Is that right? Where does it say that?”

Raygak pointed to the first ability of his weapon. “It is Big Bad from Big Sword.”

“I see, Big Bad. When you critically hit, the enemy rolls their next attacks with bad dice. Wow, that is big bad, isn’t it? Alright, well, everyone’s trying to save Asorot, even though he’s raging and can handle the critical hit.”

“We must save the villagers,” Katool said, brushing her hair behind her ear, pulling up her chin nobly.

“Right, right. Alright, well, let me roll one more time.” Adam picked up the die, shook it within his hand for far too long. “Okay, are we ready?”

“Yes!”

“You know what, maybe I’m just being really lucky today. Konarot, come here.”

Konarot, who had been lazing around nearby, hoisted herself up and rushed to her father, fighting away the sleepiness within her. She rubbed her eye. “Daddy?”

“First…” Adam hugged the girl and they kissed each other’s cheeks. “Okay, now, I want you to roll the dice.”

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“Okay.” Konarot picked up the dice before she half tossed it into the tray.

“Wow, look at how unlucky you are!” Adam noted the three on the die, while the other children nodded approvingly towards the girl. “It’s only right since Ritetu has to keep the balance. You can’t be lucky and have me as your father.”

Adam pulled his daughter onto his lap while the sleepy Kirot and Karot sat beside him. “Okay, Kirot and Karot will also roll the dice too.” Kirot and Karot smiled, their tails swaying gently.

‘I really am so lucky…’

“Anyway, the hydra tried to snap against your neck, and even with Saygak’s magic, it pushed through, and even as your brother tried to intercept with his shield, another head clamped against it, but finally, the blow from Big Sword managed to cause it to wince, so it missed you as you ducked out of the way.”

“I am too nimble, cousin Adam,” Asorot replied, nodding his head as he sat up taller.

“You are too nimble. Too swift, too nimble, too tough. What kind of hydra can deal with the mighty Asorot?”

“Yes!” The boy puffed out his chest in pride. “Grandfather killed a hydra, cousin Adam and cousin Jurot killed a hydra, and now I will kill a hydra!”

“Well, before that, it’s still the hydra’s turn, and it’s going to snap its head towards Turot who tried to intercept, as well as Raygak, who hurt it so badly last round.”

‘Would the hydra not attack one or two at most?’ Mirot thought, gently rocking with Murot against her, holding the little one against her bosom. The baby sucked against his dummy as he slept peacefully within his mother’s arms.

Once the game of warriors and wanderers was finished, they made their way to the nearby park. In the same way the Elder’s estate was within the cube of nine shared estates, the park was within the cube of the nine sets of shared estates, which made up one of the Iyr’s many urban centres.

Adam watched as the children played, noting the appearance of other Iyrmen who kept an eye on him. Thankfully, Mirot and Kaygak had come along to play with the children, while the others remained behind to watch over the youngest set of babies.

‘They’re playing well even without their aunt and siblings,’ Adam thought, watching his triplets as they played with the others, Asorot taking the role of remaining with them. ‘I can’t believe Jibaby complained so much to have me stay here and then she abandoned me for that old man…’ Adam sighed, though his lips formed a small smile.

‘I should probably get more XP this year. I’ve got a bit, but there’s so much to do. Hopefully, Elder Story will be back and the fort will get set up by the end of the year. If I let it take too long, the farmers and porters might go elsewhere considering they’re Experts now.’

The half elf yawned lightly, rubbing the side of his neck. ‘Should I drink more of that tea at night?’ He let out another long sigh, though the weight in his shoulders did not lighten. ‘Five adorable children, but no wife? I really should get married, at least so they can have a mother.’

A frown crept across Adam’s lips. ‘Half dragons are one thing, but goblins? Who the hell is going to get married to me when I have goblin children?’ Adam thought about how tiny the pair had been when he had first found them, covered in dirt and mud, their mother in the most terrible state. He covered his face with his hands, letting slip his frustrations into the darkness.

Konarot pat his head, causing him to pull back, and she twitched from the sudden movement. She blinked up towards her father, whose face was full of shock, before he smiled, lifting the girl up to smother her in his affection.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, daddy,” the girl replied, hugging her father tight.

“Good, good,” Adam held her close, before noting the expectant gazes of the younger pair of his triplets. “Come here, you little brats! Who gave you permission to be this cute?”

“Who gave you permission to grow?” Jarot asked, reaching up to pinch little Jarot’s nose.

Adam blinked, staring at the old man was holding his youngest son on his lap, teasing the boy. Little Jarot cackled like his elder sister, before he returned back to sucking against his thumb, his other hand clutching his greatfather’s shirt with the tightest of grips.

“I asked you to remain small and cute, but you are growing so quickly!” Jarot huffed once more.

“That’s what I’m saying,” Adam added, nodding his head. “How can they do this to us?”

“They believe themselves to be so cute.”

“Well, they are, but that’s beside the point.”

“It is beside the point,” the old man agreed.

Adam dropped opposite the old man, allowing him to greet the triplets, who enjoyed the way he rubbed their heads. Adam noted the old man’s missing leg, which had been taken by a terrible demon the previous year. “How are you feeling?”

“How can I not be well with such adorable greatchildren?”

“Does it hurt?” Adam asked, finally working up the courage to ask about his leg.

“When I travelled across the land they called me Mad Dog,” the old man replied. “If I say this wooden leg hurts me, they will call me Sad Pup.”

“Right…”

“It is difficult to walk with,” the old man eventually admitted. “Why must I walk all this way to see my greatchildren?” His eyes cut through Adam with an accusatory glare.

“I’ll bring them to you more often.”

“At least twice a week.”

“I’ll bring them once a week, but they should stay with you sometimes too.”

Jarot groaned, before noting the way his greatson stared at him while he sucked his thumb. “It is acceptable. It is unforgivable you have not done so before.”

“Don’t try to guilt trip me.”

“I will only forgive you if you bring me another child.”

“Don’t I have…” Adam paused. “No, I don’t think I can joke about something like that.” ‘How can there be such a thing as too many children?’

Jarot stifled a chuckle at the thoughts on his grandson’s face, before little Jarot stopped sucking his thumb and shifted to look at his father. The boy waited for his father’s affection, before his greatfather pulled him in closer, distracting him.

‘The wooden leg is a bit awkward. Should I…’ “I need to go deal with the gem, so I’ll be back soon.”

Jirot’s head snapped from her grandmother to her father, her eyes piercing into Adam. “Working?”

Konarot stood up straighter as she stared at her father expectantly. “Working, daddy?”

“What? I’m not working! I just need to do this one thing, it’s not work at all!”

Jirot pointed towards her father, staring up at her grandmother for support, while Konarot did the same towards her greatfather.

“Are you working when you promised not to?” Jarot asked, his eyes narrowed towards the half elf.

“No, no. I just need to do something, it won’t take long.”

“What is it?”

“Something that’s very dangerous.”

“It is not work?”

“No.”

“If it is dangerous and it is not work then it must be fun,” Jarot reasoned. “Since your father is not going to work, he may go.”

“Not working?” Jirot asked, staring up at her greatfather to confirm.

“It is not working.”

Jirot huffed, crossing her arms as she stared up at her father. “Daddy working, is bad boy.” She wagged her finger up at her father.

“Daddy’s a very good boy.” Adam lifted the girl up and blew a raspberry against her neck, causing her to squeal and squirm, before he let her down, allowing his giggling daughter to retreat back to her babo. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay,” the old Jarot said.

“Okay,” Konarot said, though she remained focused on her father as he left, narrowing her eyes. She tilted her head upwards. ‘You must tell me if daddy is working.’

‘Okay,’ the bird replied, fluttering off to follow the half elf.

Jarot watched as the bird left, before glancing down towards his greatdaughter, who watched the bird fly away. “Konarot.”

“Babo?” The girl waited beside her greatfather expectantly.

“…” Jarot smiled. “You must bully your father more.”

Konarot pouted. “I not bully daddy.”

“Will you bully me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Babo.”

“I am your babo so you will not bully me?”

“My babo.” Konarot climbed up beside her greatfather.

“At first you wanted to fight me, and now you wish to cuddle me?” Jarot smiled wider. “Yes, you must be my greatdaughter.”

“Yes.”

Jarot felt the girl’s head against his arm, his hand still wrapped around his youngest greatson. He let out a joyful sigh. ‘I should bring Otkan a drink.’

“Is Adam working?” Jurot asked, stepping into the shared estate.

“No. He has gone to visit the Elder for something dangerous but not work.”

‘It must be that,’ Jurot thought.

“You can probably add studs to the bottom,” Adam informed the Elder within his estate. “I don’t actually remember how it was done, but that should help?”

Elder Zijin stared down at the doodle Adam had created. ‘The dwarves and gnomes would understand how to work the steel this way. Should I request Filliam to assist?’ “Thank you, Adam.”

“Since this should help some of the Iyrmen, I hope you’ll work on it for my children’s greatfather first.”

“Your grandfather?”

“Whose grandfather?” Adam retorted.

‘He must be feeling better if he’s joking again.’ “Will you place your strength into the gem?”

Adam glanced to the side, noting the nearby Iyrmen. He assumed they were at minimum at the level of Masters, though he wondered if they had also brought more Iyrmen nearby, just in case. ‘I probably shouldn’t think about how much the Iyr prepares.’

Mana: 25 -> 15

Health: 91 -> 50

Adam hissed out in pain, wincing as his mana filled the gem, and the fiery pain flooded through his arm and into the rest of his body. Whatever the gem was doing to him, it was dealing more damage than a Fireball, and he couldn’t resist the damage either. ‘Thankfully it didn’t reduce any of-,’

Adam’s thought cut off when he stared within the box where the gem had lain. In the moment between him wincing in pain and thinking about the pain, the gem had disappeared. No, it hadn’t quite disappeared, for where the gem once lay, something else had appeared.

The Iyrmen nearby grew tense, but staring down at what was within the silver box they had made to keep the gem’s magic from leaking, was something they hadn’t expected.

Adam met Elder Zijin’s gaze, the pair’s eyes filled with confusion. “I’m going to be honest, that was not what I expected.”