Adam reached into his bag and pulled out a pouch. “I mentioned gifts, didn’t I?” Adam said, before slipping his hand into the pouch to reveal a number of Blue Dragon scales

The children gasped as they stared at the Dragon scales.

“Do you know what these are?” Adam asked.

“Scales,” Raygak said.

“Right, but scales of which creature?”

Raygak stared at Adam for a moment before looking at Jaygak. He recalled what Jurot had said not moments ago. “A Dragon?”

“You can’t be Raygak, you’re too smart,” Adam said, causing Jaygak to burst out with laughter.

“Adam! You can’t say that about my little brother!” Jaygak coughed, trying to stop herself from laughing by thumping her leg.

“I am smart!” Raygak said, his nostrils flaring angrily as he glared up at Adam.

“You are, you are,” Adam said, reaching up to pat his head.

Raygak continued to glare at him angrily.

“Since you’re so smart and managed to figure it out, I’ll give you an extra Blue Dragon scale.” Adam held out three Dragon scales for the boy.

“Three?” Raygak said, staring at the scales, each different sizes.

“Don’t you want them?”

Raygak held out his hand. “I do!”

Adam dropped the three Dragon scales. “That’s right. Everyone here gets two Dragon scales from me. This is from my share of the Dragon that was slain.”

“Did you slay a Dragon?” Raygak asked, staring at the scales as the other children accepted their Dragon scales from Adam.

“We all did,” Adam said. “Myself, Jurot, and your sisters.”

“My sister?” Raygak asked, staring up at her for a moment. “My sister slew a dragon?” he asked, his brow raised.

“You cheeky little boy,” Jaygak said, grabbing him and giving him a noogie again. “Why are you asking it like that?”

“You killed a Dragon?” Katool asked her sister, holding onto Kitool’s robes.

“I did,” she said, picking her sister up. “Shall I tell you the story?”

Katool nodded, cuddling up to her sister’s chest.

“Hold on,” Adam said. “Where are you all going?”

The children had gone to their siblings and cousins, but turned to face the Half Elf.

“Who said we only slew one Dragon?” Adam asked, bringing out another pouch, this one full of White Dragon scales. “Come on.”

They continued to give out all the gifts. Adam, and the other Iyrmen, had brought a large number of gifts for the children.

“Why did you bring back so many gifts?” Sonarot asked, staring at the huge pile of gifts.

“We didn’t,” Jurot said, motioning to the large pile which Adam was beside as he handed over all the gifts to the children, who were excitedly befuddled. “Those are all the gifts Adam brought.”

“All of those?”

There were the White Wolf pelts Adam had bought from the Merchant, the North Wolf pelts that they had slain, the Dusk Hawk feathers and the Auroch pelts too. Then there was also the small bits of pottery, little plates and cups, he had brought for the children, along with the strips of patterned cloth, and the full sheets of cloths too. There were also a few different objects Jurot had carved, from the Aurochs, to the Wolves, to the Dusk Hawks, and the Dragons, but Adam’s gifts had amounted to more than the entire group’s gifts combined.

Sonarot stared at Adam, who was happily giving away all the items to the children, whose arms were full of all kinds of gifts.

‘Multiple Dragon scales, and all the pelts from the creatures they slew…’ Sonarot sighed, wondering how she could explain this.

“I have heard that a few people have returned!” Elder Zijin shouted as he barged into the courtyard, seeing the mass of children surrounding the Half Elf, who was worming his way into their hearts with gifts.

“It’s good to see you Elder Zijin,” Adam said, waving a hand. “I’ve brought some gifts for the Jin children too.”

Elder Zijin smiled as he approached Adam, who dropped down a pile of cloth, several strips of patterned cloth, some pottery, Dragon Scales, feathers, and some strips of Wolf fur too.

“What’s all this?” he asked.

“Gifts, obviously,” Adam replied.

“How many children did you bring gifts for?” Elder Zijin asked.

“I’ve brought back lots of gifts for all the children here, plus Timojin’s sisters and cousins, and then I’ve brought more patterned cloths and pottery for other children, and some more Dragon scales for the children of other Iyrmen who have taken good care of me too.”

“You’ve brought so much?”

“Well, yeah,” Adam said. “I have some Iyrtax too.”

“Iyrtax?” Sonarot asked. “How could you talk about Iyrtax after what I said before?” She reached up to pinch his cheek.

“Yes, well…” Adam threw a look to the side. “I’ve also brought back a gift for you too.”

“A gift, for me?” Sonarot asked.

“Well, yeah…” Adam reached down into his pouch, only for his heart to start pounding. He threw a look at the children, who were each looking at the pile of gifts they had been gifted, and the the other members of Fate’s Golden, who were casually looking away, but were interested in Adam’s gift for Sonarot.

Adam held up the thin gold necklace up to her, only to turn as red as the ruby set within it. “I just thought it’d be bad if I didn’t at least buy you something as your Nephew.”

Sonarot smiled, wondering how much she should tease him, but she decided to hold out Lanarot up to Adam, who accepted the girl, before she took the necklace and hooked it around her neck.

‘What a wonderful little Nephew I have,’ she thought, beaming brightly at the Half Elf.

Elder Zijin closed his eyes shut tight.

He didn’t want to see Sonarot’s smugness of having claimed Adam for herself. ‘Damn it!’

Kitool and Jaygak, who spied the gift that he had bought for Sonarot, wondered if Adam was trying to seduce Sonarot.

Kitool could feel Jaygak’s gaze on her, so met the woman’s eyes, which seemed almost sad as she sighed. Kitool rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, I understand. The lack of horns.’

Adam focused his attention on Lanarot to try and hide his embarrassment as he tickled her cheeks. “How dare you grow up so cute and chubby without me?”

Lanarot giggled up at him.

“Aren’t you the cutest in the whole world?” Adam said, tickling her nose with his finger tip.

“No,” Jurot replied.

Adam’s forehead throbbed. “You what?”

“She isn’t the cutest in the whole world. The whole world is very big.”

Adam blinked at Jurot. “Jurot, when she was born I heard you say the same thing. That time, I let it go. However, this time, do you think I’ll let it go when you’re saying such stupid sh-“ Adam quickly censored himself, noting the children around, “stuff around me?”

“What?”

“Jurot, look at her.” Adam brought up Lanarot so she was in front of Jurot. “Our little sister is the cutest in the whole world.”

“No she isn’t,” Jurot said, looking at Lanarot’s giggling face.

Adam placed a hand on Jurot’s shoulder. “You know my story, Jurot. I brought you back to Sonarot alive for one reason or another, but do you really think I won’t beat your ass in front of Aunt?”

Sonarot’s eyebrows shot upwards, and they heard a cough from nearby as Jaygak held onto her mouth again, her eyes tearing up again as she tried not to cry from her laughter.

Kitool glared at the Devilkin for a moment. ‘Are you really going to laugh right now?’

“What?” Jurot replied, having not expected that Adam was going to threaten him.

“What do you mean what? You’re telling me that Lanarot isn’t the cutest in the whole world right in front of your own mother?”

“There are cuter children in the Iyr,” Jurot said. “You have only seen a few hundred, but there are many more children in the Iyr.”

Adam shook his head, trying to hide his face behind his hand. “What are you saying in front of your mother and sister? Jurot, do I need to teach you some manners?”

Jurot cracked his neck, wondering if the two really could fight. This entire time, Adam had refused to fight him, but it appeared that Adam was eager for a fight.

Elder Zijin glanced between the pair. ‘I am so glad I came.’

Jonn and Dunes stood nervously to one side, wondering what was happening. ‘If they fight, will we get into trouble too?’

‘This guy, seriously…’ Adam thought, staring at Jurot. He sighed. “Jurot. You are the son of Aunt Sonarot, right?”

“Yes,” Jurot replied, confidently. “I am Jurot, son of Surot and Sonarot.”

“Right, right. The moment you were born, you became an Iyrman, right?” Adam asked, trying to guide Jurot to the solution.

“Yes.”

“So, in the eyes of the world and the Iyr, you became an Iyrman the moment you were born, right?”

“Yes.”

“So the moment Lanarot was born, she was also given the title of Iyrman too, right?”

Sonarot smiled, understanding where Adam was going.

“Yes,” Jurot replied.

Adam nodded his head. “Alright, good, good. The moment you were born, you became the most precious being to your mother and father, isn’t that correct? Right, Aunt?” Adam glanced to Sonarot.

“Yes,” she said, pulling Jurot in for a hug, kissing his forehead.

Jurot’s lips twitched upwards.

“Eve though there are thousands, tens of thousands, of other Iyrmen, to your parents, you became the most precious being. The title you gained when you were born was The Most Precious Being, at least, to both your mother and father, right?”

Jurot nodded, since his mother had said that was true.

“So when Lanarot was born, she gained the same title of The Most Precious Being to her entire family, including you, myself, and Aunt right?”

Jurot narrowed his eyes, his brain trying to process the information. “Yes?”

“However, she is also our sister, isn’t that true?” Adam said, trying to form the justification in his own mind.

“It is true,” Jurot said. “She is my sister, and yours.”

“Right, right. Did you know that younger siblings also gain another title when they are born?” He stared at Jurot.

“No?”

“Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

“Cutest In The Whole World.”

Jurot furrowed his brows, taking in what Adam was saying.

“Do you understand?” Adam brushed Lanarot’s hair, before she squirmed and reached for her mother. Adam handed her over to Sonarot.

Jurot continued furrowing his brow.

“Cutest In The Whole World.”

“Cutest in the whole world.”

“No, no,” Adam said, sighing. “You need to say it like I did. Cutest In The Whole World.” Adam made sure to put emphases in each word.

"Cutest In The Whole World." Jurot’s heart throbbed, but he didn’t understand why.

"That's right,” Adam said, patting his shoulder. “The moment she was born, she became entrenched within our hearts.”

‘Entrenched within our hearts?’ Jurot thought.

“Did you know that every day we’ve spent apart that I’ve been worried for her? She’s my little sister so of course I’ll be worried for her. But, but, look how big and strong she has become while we’re gone!” Adam reached up to pinch her cheeks again. “Jurot, we’ve missed too many of her milestones. She can shuffle about, she can recognise her family, and she’s become so chubby. I bet she was almost crawl too!”

Jurot crossed his arms, his eyes squinting near shut as he tried to take in everything Adam was saying.

Adam stared at her little sister. He reached over and picked her out of her mother’s arms, unable to contain himself as he hugged her tight, rubbing his cheek against hers. “That’s it. I’m going to quit being an Adventurer!”

 

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And so the cringe begins.