Adam watched the children play from his bench. A group of Iyrmen children had come up to the triplets, before the leader stopped them, approaching the triplets alone. After a moment of apprehension, and a nod from their father, the triplets went to play with the Iyrmen children, who were chatting happily about their stories.

“They are growing well,” Tonagek said, sitting beside Adam. He wore a breastplate, and carried at his side a longsword.

“Yeah,” Adam said. He fell silent for a moment, recalling Tonagek’s story. “Thank you again.”

Tonagek bowed his head, remaining silent for a long while. There was so much he wanted to speak with Adam about, but he wasn’t sure where to begin. “I am glad they are safe.”

“Yeah. Thank you again, again.”

“Is there a need for thanks between us?” Tonagek asked. “My sister has adopted you into the Rot family. We are no strangers.”

“I’m not the kind whose stingy with his gratitude,” Adam replied, smiling slightly. “If I was, then I wouldn’t deserve to be their father.”

“It will be difficult to raise them. They are Half Dragons, and part Elf. They will have the needs of Dragons, and they will be targeted because of it.”

“Yeah.”

“There is no need to raise them alone,” Tonagek said, quietly. “Sister will take good care of them, so you must not allow the world to press on you. There will be times when you will be unable to take care of them, and you should not be afraid to ask for support.”

“It’s a good thing I’m shameless,” Adam replied, smiling wider.

“Are you?”

“I’m not afraid to ask for the support of my Aunt and the others.”

“That is not true.”

Adam raised his brow to the Iyrman beside him. “What do you mean?”

Tonagek sighed, thinking past to his childhood. “It is difficult to hide one’s thoughts from my sister. She can read your face as though you were a story within the Iyr.”

“Is that why Jurot can see the relations between people?” Adam asked.

“He certainly is sister’s child.”

“He is Jurot, son of Surot.”

Tonagek bowed his head, though he knew that would soon change. “Did you enjoy the festival?”

“Yeah, I did. The Iyr’s festivals are always so great, what with all the entertainment and the food.” Adam chuckled quietly as his thought. “This festival was the first I didn’t work even once, I think.”

“I have heard that you are addicted to work.”

“Something like that.”

Tonagek looked out to the three children who had almost been his own. In another life he would be their father, and in another, he would have found them and handed them to the Iyr for his son would have still been alive.

“You must look after them well, Adam,” Tonagek said.

“I will.”

“You are like an Iyrman in many ways, and I hope you are also like an Iyrman when raising your children.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that exactly, but if you’re asking me to take good care of them and to prepare them for the future, isn’t that what it means to be a father? A parent?”

Tonagek bowed his head again, and remained silent as he fell into his thoughts again.

Konarot stumbled her way to her father, holding up her arms. He lifted her up, before the younger siblings also made their way, holding up their arms to be lifted. He lifted the pair up, allowing them to wrap themselves around him. Konarot peeked up towards Tonagek. She raised up her hand to reach for Tonagek, who held out a finger, which the girl clutched tightly. She purred like a kitten towards him, before letting go of the finger, and returning to her father’s chest to cuddle.

“That’s right,” Adam said, kissing her forehead. “This is nana’s brother and he helped you, so you better be thankful to him, okay?”

Konarot replied with a sweet, gentle purr, but she remained against her father’s chest where she felt most comfortable. Seeing Tonagek, who had helped them find their father, reminded her of the time they had been in the bandit’s captivity. Kirot looked to Tonagek, before resting her head against her father’s shoulder. Karot stared up at Tonagek, half hanging against his father.

“Where are your youngest?” Tonagek asked, careful with his words.

“They’re with their babo,” Adam replied, frowning slightly. “That old geezer, he won’t even let their father take them out to the park. Just because he beat me up, he thinks he can do anything he wants.”

Tonagek was used to Adam’s antics, though the pair had hardly ever met. Whenever he and his sister spoke, she always mentioned the enigma that was Adam, a being that couldn’t be understood through the lens of an Iyrman.

“You remind me of my sister’s father,” Tonagek admitted. “He was always a little queer, though he changed after the death of his children, especially his son.”

“Farot?”

Tonagek nodded. “It was no secret that he adored Farot the most. When sister married Surot, I met them often, and saw how close he was with Farot. Farot was special, for he was born with a weak body. He trained greater than most Iyrmen, but was weaker than most Iyrmen. Yet, he did not give up. I admired that about him. I was stronger than him, and yet I was envious of his grit, his fortitude.”

“Churot is growing up well too,” Adam said.

The mention of his nephew caused Tonagek to fall into thought for a moment. “His queerness increased after the death of his children. He fought with my father once. It was after I was married, but before my sister was married. I heard of his wildness in his youth, and I saw that wildness when he fought my father. My father was powerful for his age, but even he could not stand against the storm known as Jarot.”

Adam recalled falling under Jarot’s axe. He was an old man who was missing an arm, but when they fought, with Adam wielding a powerful blade at his side, the old man still completely beat him. Adam had managed to deal so much damage, and yet the old man had refused to fall. Rather than a storm, Adam couldn’t help but think the old man was a wall.

“I can only imagine the heights he could have reached if his son had not died back then. I still do not know what his plans were, but I’m sure that he would have become a Paragon. He may have become a Great Elder if he wished, for he was popular enough.”

“He was?”

“There were few who did not hear of Jarot,” Tonagek said, almost smiling. “He clashed with the Great Elders often. It was then that Chief Iromin, Elder Zijin, and the Elder Peace we know took their roles. If he wished, he could have taken the position of Elder Teacher, or perhaps…” Tonagek paused. “No, he could not have claimed the title of Elder Wrath.”

“You’re talking about Bavin?”

“Bovin.”

Adam sat up straighter, trying to remember who Bavin was. ‘Oh, right, the grandson, Lavin’s brother.’ “Yeah, Bovin.”

“Jarot was popular, but everyone in the Iyr knew that Bovin was better. He was one of the very few who won his title with a near unanimous vote.”

“Really? What was it?”

“Nine to one.”

Adam whistled, causing his children to squirm for a moment. He nuzzled against them to calm them down. “That’s a landslide if I’ve ever heard of one.”

“Losing his arm did very little to weaken him, but losing his son crippled him. I did not understand why, for he was still someone who possessed great strength. If he wished, he could have continued to do more. He could have taken the title of Family Elder, and pushed for more from the Rot family. No Iyrman would have been surprised if the Rot family would have taken at least one spot as a Great Elder.”

Adam smiled, about to joke, before realising what Tonagek was trying to say. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

Tonagek nodded his head slowly. “I can understand now. I understand why Jarot did not take his place as the Family Elder. I understand why he remained with Churot, trapped by his memories.”

“You’re the Gek Family Head, aren’t you?” Adam asked.

“I am.”

“Are you planning on dropping that title?” Adam asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Danagek is even bigger than Gurot,” Tonagek said. “My nephew may be large, but you should come and see my son.”

“Your son is bigger than Gurot?” Adam let out a scoff. “That’s a big boy.”

“He is. He is big, and he will become a great warrior. He is built for it. Perhaps he will become a Great Elder?”

“Gurot is quite a big boy, and he’ll become a great, strong warrior, but did you know about his older brother?”

“Turot?” Tonagek asked.

“Yes.”

“What of him?”

“He’s going to become Elder Peace.”