Adam rubbed his cheek against Lanarot’s. “I’m such an idiot, Lanababy.”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, earnestly.

“Jurot, seriously…” Adam held Lanarot up against him, embracing her tight as she cuddled with him, babbling quietly.

He had taken off his armour and had left it behind. Apparently, he could just do that, leave behind his priceless armour out and about. There were currently a number of children who were touching it and admiring it.

“What is the matter?” Sonarot asked.

“I’m too much of an idiot,” Adam said. “I’m so embarrassing.”

Sonarot placed a hand on his back, tapping his armour gently. “It is who you are, Adam.”

‘Et tu, Sonarot?’ Adam sighed. “It’s fine if I’m embarrassing, I’m strong enough to be a little embarrassing, but I realised today that it’s not just about me.”

Sonarot stared down at him, wondering if he had figured it out.

“I also…” Adam was going to make a joke about Lanarot, but he sighed. “I also represent the Rot family. I can’t be an embarrassment any more, because otherwise people will associate it with you.”

“There is no need to worry about the opinion of others,” Sonarot said. “Save for the Great Elders.”

“Don’t they think I’m an embarrassment too?”

“No, they believe you are a terrifying existence.”

Adam stared at her. He already knew that, but he didn’t want to hear it. “That stems partly from my jokes.”

“There are times to joke, and times where we must be serious. I believe that you do not mean any harm.”

“Yeah, but you’re also my Aunt, so of course you’d have my back.” Adam smiled slightly, brushing Lanarot’s hair. “That’s it. I’m going to show the Iyr that I’m really a terrifying existence.”

Sonarot squinted her eyes slightly at him. “Is that not against what you want?”

“If I know anything about the Iyr, and I dare not say that I know much about it,” Adam said, glancing around, but he had no chance of finding the secret spies within the Iyr, “it’s that you like it when people are straight forward. The less I hide, the more danger I’ll be in, no doubt, but the less threatening I’ll appear.”

“There is a wisdom in that.”

“It goes against one of my rules since I’ve come into this world, but that’s just how it is, I guess…” Adam sighed, kissing Lanarot’s cheek. She twitched and looked up at him, before grabbing his face and kissing his cheek, half spitting on his face.

Spell: Tricks

“Seriously, why are you always spitting all over me?” Adam asked, pinching her cheek gently.

“What is that rule?” Jurot asked, curious.

“When you come across an enemy, it is best that they either overestimate or underestimate your abilities,” Adam said. “If they know how strong you are, then it only means death.”

“Then why are you going to reveal yourself to the Iyr?” Sonarot asked.

“The Iyr is not my enemy,” Adam said.

Sonarot smiled.

“Well…” Adam picked up some food from a stall, some fried dough buns on a stick, offering a bite to his little sister. “If the Iyr is my enemy, then I’m not sure it matters whether they know my real strength or not. I won’t be able to do anything about it.”

Sonarot nodded her head. “There are only a handful of beings who have managed to escape the Iyr’s wrath.”

“I’m sure it’s because they are creatures of the sky or sea,” Adam said.

“Why is that?” Sonarot asked, her curiosity getting the best of him.

“What can escape the Iyr on land?”

The festival continued, with Adam taking Lanarot around to the various stalls, picking up all manner of delicious food. He had to crush some of the food so she was able to eat it, and remained near Sonarot so she could tell him off if he fed her anything she shouldn’t consume.

Jurot brought over three bottles of wine. “Granduncle Rajin had gifted some bottles to us.”

“What a wonderful gift,” Sonarot said, taking a bottle, before uncorking it and sniffing it. She winced.

“Who is Rajin?” Adam asked.

“Granduncle Rajin is Uncle Lojin’s father,” Jurot said. “He is the Family Elder.”

“Family Elder?” Adam asked.

“He holds the same role as mother Mulrot,” Sonarot said.

“Mulrot?” Adam asked.

“Grandaunt Mulrot,” Sonarot corrected. “She is our Family Elder.”

“Sorry,” Adam said. “Jarot’s wife?”

“Granduncle Jarot,” Sonarot corrected.

Adam scrunched up his face. “Do I have to call him Granduncle?”

“Yes,” Sonarot said. “It is a matter of respect.”

Adam continued to scrunch up his face. “So I can’t call him old geezer?”

“You may do that too,” she said. “It is a joke between the two of you, and father is…” Sonarot wondered how she should describe him.

“Grandfather is queer,” Jurot said.

“Oh?” Adam asked, before remembering that it just meant weird. “Like me?”

“Yes,” the pair replied.

“No wonder I like him so much,” Adam said, breaking another piece of food for Lanarot, who ate it off of his finger. “Don’t tell him I said that though.”

Sonarot smiled. “You must show your respect to Family Elders. They hold a powerful position in the family. Their position is, at times, greater than the Family Head.”

“What do they do exactly?” Adam asked.

“The Family Head takes care of the main family and it’s dealings, and the Family Elder does the same for the extended family. It is far more difficult to deal with the extended family, and typically it is the Family Head who becomes the Family Elder when they retire.”

“Now that I think about it, both the old geezer and Grandaunt have the same tattoo, but chances are they’re from different families, right?” Adam asked. “So why do they have the same tattoo?”

“Everyone who marries into a family becomes a member of that family, which means they must also use their weapons and take their symbol,” Sonarot said. “Adopting their weapons is optional, but almost every Iyrman does so.”

“Oh,” Adam said. “So who was from the Rot family before they married?”

“Father is from the Rot family, and mother was from the Fev family,” Sonarot said.

“How comes she’s the Family Elder and not your father?”

“Father…” Sonarot paused, wondering how much she should say. “He stepped down when he realised he was unable to hold to the responsibilities.”

Adam noted the sombre look in her eyes, and even noted Jurot’s face become stern. “He’s a lot wiser than I give him credit for.”

Sonarot smiled. “It is rare that for two generations it is the spouse of the original heir who takes the main role of the family. Though, during my generation, it seems that quite a large number of spouses have taken the main role. Shikan and Kitool have also stepped down from the main role.”

“Did Shikan step down because of his child?” Adam asked.

“You have heard?” Sonarot asked.

“Damokan came to me for help, and he told me that Anokan died.”

“She was quite strong, even for a Kan,” Sonarot said. “She died a good death.”

“I’m sure she did,” Adam replied. “It seems to have affected Damokan and Kalokan. They wanted me to help them become strong.”

Sonarot smiled. “And you said you would help them?”

“Am I that predictable?” Adam asked.

“When it comes to children, yes. Some even worry that you have ill intentions towards the children.”

Adam’s eyes darkened. “Which coward is saying that?”

Sonarot’s brows raised. She had never seen Adam like this before, and even Jurot, who had sipped some of the wine, paused to stare at Adam.

“There are many in the Iyr who still do not trust you, Adam,” Sonarot said. “Even if I have accepted you, some feel that you are too dangerous.”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “Elder Zijin told me about that too.”

“There are very few people who give out multiple Dragon scales to children. Elder Zijin has also taken note that the children around him seem to have taken a liking to you.”

“Really?” Adam asked, smiling slightly. “Well, I am a great older brother, aren’t I?”

“We of the Iyr cannot help but wonder why,” Sonarot admitted.

“Well the Jin family is close to the Kan family, and they often play together,” Adam said. “Since they’re our neighbours, I should treat them well.”

“Yes, but,” Elder Zijin said, stepping into the conversation, appearing out of nowhere, “there are some who believe that you are doing it to gain their trust.”

Adam held onto Lanarot’s head as he spun, taking a step away from the Elder. “What’s with you Iyrmen and trying to give me a heart attack?”

“I apologise, but it seemed you were talking about me,” Elder Zijin said. “I didn’t expect you to take my warning to heart, Adam.”

“How long have you been eavesdropping?” Adam asked.

“I have heard you since you faced the trio,” Elder Zijin said. “Including the disrespect you have shown Jarot.”

Adam glanced aside, shaking his head. “That’s between me and him.”

“Yes,” Elder Zijin said. “Though you should keep that within the safety of the estate. Word spreads quickly in the Iyr, especially about a young Half Elf who continues to disrespect our people and our home.”

Adam flushed red. “I’m working on it.”

Elder Zijin nodded. “There are many stories about you already spreading within the Iyr. Your battles against Jarot and Otkan, as well as your-“

Jurot spat out the wine, spraying it across the floor.

“Isn’t that my uncle’s wine?” Zijin asked.

“Adam fought against grandfather and Grandaunt?” Jurot asked, his voice full of shock, and his face twisted into surprise.

“You still have not told him?” Zijin asked.

“I’ll tell him another time,” Adam said.