“You spoilt little baby,” Adam whispered, feeling her clutch at his hand. He laid beside his sister, and she closed her eyes to sleep. They were in a family estate off to one side, one full of napping babies, who slept under open aired tents which blocked out the sun. A handful of Iyrmen remained nearby, keeping an eye on the young children, and the Half Elf who was cuddling his sister.

‘So much to do,’ Adam thought, staring at his sleeping sister. ‘So little time…’ The Half Elf yawned, and decided to nap too.

Adam was rudely awoken by Lanarot slapping him and babbling. “You little cow.” Adam hoisted her up and kissed all over her face. “Quiet, Lanababy,” he whispered as she giggled. Adam quickly placed a hand over her mouth and crept out, though there were few babies remaining.

Lanarot rubbed her eyes, and Adam took her to splash her face awake, and to let her drink some water, before he changed her clothy. The Iyrmen nearby kept an eye on him, and one stepped up towards him.

“What are you doing?” an older Orcish Iyrman asked.

“Changing my sister,” Adam replied, carefully.

“You are her brother?”

“Yes.”

The Orcish Iyrman narrowed his eyes at the Half Elf.

“Lanarot, am I papa?” Adam asked.

Lanarot giggled in response.

“Right? Papa?”

“Papa,” the girl replied.

“See?”

Lanarot twitched as she saw the face of the Orcish Iyrman come into view, before she squirmed, trying to hide away from him.

“Wait, Lanababy, wait,” Adam said, trying to tie her clothy around her leg. Once he had done so, he let her stand, and she quickly grabbed his leg, staring up at the Orcish Iyrman while Adam packed away her dirty clothy.

The Orcish Iyrman could see the girl was hiding behind him, but that didn’t mean the Half Elf hadn’t charmed her magically, for she did not have their tattoo. “Who is your Elder?”

“Elder Zijin,” Adam replied, simply.

“Who are little Lanarot’s parents?”

“She is the daughter of Aunt Sonarot, and Surot, though I haven’t met him.”

“Who is the Rot Family Elder?”

“The Family Elder is Grand…” Adam paused. He wasn’t sure how to refer to her. “Grandaunt Mulrot.”

“The Family Head?”

“Aunt Sonarot.”

The Orcish Iyrman rubbed his chin, narrowing his eyes towards the Half Elf. It all sounded correct, and the Half Elf was wearing a similar attire to the girl, with the family symbol against his heart, but he wasn’t completely sure. This kind of relationship was new to him, someone who was a brother, and yet called the mother of his sister Aunt. “I will confirm the matter.”

“Sure,” Adam said, lifting his sister up, kissing her cheek. “Come on, Lanababy, let’s go find mama.”

“Mama,” the girl replied, before babbling quietly and pointing away.

Eventually they returned back to the estate where Jarot, Morkarai, and Strom were drinking and talking. The Orcish Iyrman threw a glance towards the two Guests, but returned back to his duty, looking at the one armed Iyrman.

Adam brought Lanarot to her grandfather, who picked her up. Jarot met the Orcish Iyrman’s eyes, and nodded, which allowed him to leave.

“Seems like I won’t be trusted with Lanarot for a while.” Adam sat with the trio.

“It is our way,” Jarot replied, simply. “Do not take offence.”

“Right, right,” Adam replied, reaching up to pinch Lanarot’s cheek. “This is all your fault. They think you’re too cute to be related to me.”

Lanarot babbled in response, reaching up to grab his wrists. She crawled to him again, standing on his lap as she played with him.

Strom looked down at the girl, who was so much bigger than before. He remembered how small she had been not long ago. He reached over to brush her hair to the side.

Lanarot looked up at him and smiled her toothy smile. Strom returned the smile, and brought up some snacks for her to eat. Lanarot pulled away for a moment, but she was eventually coaxed by the bread, and she ate it happily.

They continued to enjoy the festival, watching the wrestling, and eating the food the Iyrmen had made. Adam found some pizza, which he shared with his sister, before they finally returned to their own shared family estate. It had been cleared up of any mess the Iyrmen had made during the day.

“What’s all this?” Adam asked, handing his sister to Sonarot, before looking around at all the twigs and paper.

“We are to make lanterns,” Sonarot replied.

“Lanterns?”

“It is a tradition within the Iyr. We make lanterns to be lit for the night, and at the end of the festival, they will be tossed into the fire.”

“Oh,” Adam said. “Cool.”

The papers were set out for all the Iyrmen, the children sitting with their parents as they began to paint the papers for the thin sheets of paper. Each child made a lantern, though they were all assisted by their older siblings and parents.

Sonarot took her daughter’s hand and placed it in the paint, before placing the tiny hand onto the paper, leaving a blue hand print. Lanarot stared down at the paper, which was now covered in paint, and she laughed. She slapped the paper with the paint with great glee. When she brought her blue hand to her mouth, her mother quickly grabbed the little hand.

“No, Lanarot, you cannot,” her mother warned.

Lanarot threw her head back in maniacal laughter, before she continued to slap the paint all across the papers. Sonarot set her beside Adam as she went to guide Asoyah.

“Someone’s having fun,” Adam said, brushing the girl’s hair with his clean hand, all the while tapping his painted fingers along the paper ahead of him.

“Obaba,” the girl said, bringing the paint to her mouth, but Adam quickly grabbed her hand and lifted her up.

“How did you manage to get it all across your face?” Adam asked, noting that her cheeks and forehead was covered in paint, as well as her hair. He had focused on her not eating any of the paint, so he didn’t care about her getting it all over the rest of her. “Did you have fun?”

Lanarot squealed in response, before Adam helped her wash up, deciding against using his magic since she could watch the blue paint swirl into the water. He kept her close to him, Lanarot up against his side and chest as he held her with one arm, while helping to make the lantern with his free hand.

“Look,” Adam said, motioning her to the lantern. “It’s our lantern, Lanababy.”

There were several pieces of paper, each painted by Sonarot, Adam, Lanarot, Jurot, and Asoyah. Turot had also managed to paint one for their lantern, and Adam, Jurot, and Asoyah had also painted something for the boy’s lantern lantern, with a single hand print from Lanarot too.

The other families had painted their own lanterns with their family colours, and soon they were all built together, and they each placed a small candle within the basket, lighting it once it was dark enough, and they placed the lanterns in their homes.

“What’s with the lanterns?” Adam asked once they were ready for bed. Lanarot was half sprawled against against Adam’s chest, gently swaying with each of his breaths.

“It is for the children,” Jurot said. “It is fun.”

“Is there a greater meaning behind it?”

“We find our own meaning in the lanterns.”

Adam threw his brother a look. The Iyrman was looking up towards the ceiling, deep in thought. “Our own meaning…” Adam looked down towards his sister, who was staring past him, in her own little world as she enjoyed the gentle swaying. “What do you think about the lanterns?”

“Oo?” Lanarot replied, before babbling a response.

“That’s surprisingly deep for a little girl.” Adam reached down to brush her hair gently.

“What do they mean to you?” Jurot asked.

Adam remained quiet for a long while, trying to think. “Lanterns guide. Lost souls, both living and dead. The lanterns will guide me, won’t they, Lanababy? They’ll guide me back to my chubby little cow.” Adam jiggled the girl’s cheek. “Oof. Who keeps feeding you all this bread?”

Lanarot babbled in response, climbing onto his chest, before staring down at him, an accusatory gaze within her little eyes.

“What do you mean it’s me?” Adam asked, reaching up to poke her cheeks. “I can’t believe you’d say it was me. That’s it, no more bread for you.”

Lanarot cackled quietly, before babbling again. She sat up on her knees, which dug against Adam’s sides.

“Mercy, Lanarot, mercy,” Adam groaned, lifting the girl up above him, before slowly placing her beside him. “Fine, fine. Since you’re so cute when you’re chubby, I’ll keep feeding you bread, okay?”

Lanarot babbled affirmatively towards Adam, all the while he showered her in affection.

Sonarot looked to Jurot, wondering how she could get him to behave in a similar manner to Adam with his younger sister. However, seeing that he was deep in thought, she decided to leave him be.

‘A guide for lost souls, both living and dead,’ Jurot thought. He closed his eyes, and thought about his father, who had still not returned. He was still alive, Jurot was sure of it. There was no way someone like his father would be dead. His father, who had always appeared to be so big.