The stars twinkled in the night sky. The various families had returned to their estates, with the Rot family speaking with Sonarot about Adam’s words.

As the Family Head, it was Sonarot’s responsibility to deal with issues that her family brought up, but it was typically Mulrot’s, the Family Elder’s, responsibility. However, since she had heard the words, she needed to deal with the matter.

There was a small problem, however.

“Is it not true?” Sonarot asked. “Adam and Jurot would be first. Father, sister and I, Jaygak, and Kitool, would be second. Then, thirdly, it would be Adam’s companions. Who else would take care of my grandchildren?”

Tirot remained quiet, her lips growing taut. Sonarot’s words were deep, and cut deeper than her axe. However, seeing the realisation on Sonarot’s face, the woman felt the relief wash over her. Sonarot was always reasonable, hence why Mirot gave the role of Family Head to her without a fight.

“Gorot, too, would be second,” Sonarot said. Gorot had been busy, taking the responsibility for work while Mirot was taking care of their child. “I am certain Adam misspoke when he did not mention brother.”

Tirot sighed. Dealing with someone like Sonarot, who was once going to be the Family Head of her own family, was not an easy task. “Not all of us agree with the Family Elder’s decision.”

“Does that matter?” Sonarot asked, dismissing the woman’s words. “Words are silver, actions are blood.”

Tirot retreated from the woman, taking her place near Gurot, who was sleeping soundly. She recalled the conversation she had with Fakrot, Sarot’s son, about Adam. She hadn’t met Adam properly, and knew very little about him, but he had already split the Rot family in half. Many of them liked him, he was strong, and that meant a lot in the Iyr, but he was also queer.

Fakrot had disagreed with his father, which itself was a shock, but what he had said shocked the elderly Rot members. Upon meeting Adam, Tirot wasn’t sure if Adam was quite as her cousin had made him out to be. He certainly didn’t behave more like an Iyrman than the elders.

Gurot stirred awake and began to cry. Tirot picked him up and gently rocked him to soothe him. Her thoughts fell away from Adam and to Gurot, who calmed down within her arms.

“You are so big, Gurot,” she whispered, staring down at the boy. Adam invaded her mind once more, but this time it was because of what Jarot, her uncle, had said about him when Gurot had been born.

What fortune Gurot has to be born in the time of my grandsons.

The expectations Jarot had placed on Adam were great, too great, many of them had thought. Though, with the news that Adam had defeated Lord Morkarai spreading through their family, she wondered if they had been too hasty.

Fakrot was right.

Adam, whatever madness he brought to the Iyr, was a great boon to the family, which they had refused. For what? Two Goblins? Once they were a part of the family, they would no longer be Goblins.

‘No,’ she thought. ‘It’s because of that, isn’t it?’

Goblins bred quickly and quite young in comparison to Iyrmen. There were rules to be followed, and if they had formally accepted the Goblins, it meant that the Rot family would need to deal with an issue that should have come much later. Then, what if their children had children within a decade of their birth?

The rules of the Iyr were clear, but they were not made with Goblins in mind.

‘Unless, there are those within my family who will not accept Goblins because they are Goblins?’ Tirot frowned.

Jaygak stared at the dark sky above, sighing. “I still can’t believe it. Adam, he really did it, didn’t he?”

“Yes,” Kitool replied, also staring at the stars from beside her. It had been something they had adopted from the Demons.

“He’s our age, but…” Jaygak shook her head. Hearing that Adam had defeated Lord Morkarai had been something which they hadn’t expected, even though it was Adam. “He’s strong.”

“Yes.”

Jaygak let out a long sigh. Kitool could hear the words in the sigh. The pair were so weak in comparison to Jurot and Adam. Kitool understood the difference between herself and Adam, but she also knew that Jurot was far stronger than herself. She was closer to Jaygak in terms of strength, though Jaygak herself believed Kitool to be closer to Jurot.

Jaygak sat up, huffing out. A sudden bout of annoyance filled her, before she hopped to her feet and marched her way to the group in the corner.

“What are you doing?” Adam asked while the Devilkin loomed over him.

“You are despicable, Adam,” Jaygak said. “How can you be so strong and keep these children to yourself?”

Adam smirked up at Jaygak before pulling Konarot closer, hugging his daughter. “I am utterly despicable.”

Konarot wasn’t sure what was happening but she cuddled up to her father.

Jaygak sat down and pulled Karot onto her lap, hugging him close. “Karot, how can he do this to me?” She rubbed his head gently, feeling the bumps where his horns were growing.

Karot looked up at his father, confused. However, seeing as Adam was smiling, he let Jaygak hold him. Konarot narrowed her eyes towards Jaygak, but she didn’t want to escape out of her father’s embrace.

“How can you defeat Lord Morkarai?” Jaygak complained, rocking with Karot on her lap. “You should have lost to make me feel better.”

Adam smirked. “Well… I can’t help being this strong, you know?”

Jaygak placed her cheek against Karot’s. “Karot, how can he do this to me?”

‘Is she copying me?’ Adam thought. He was certain she had drunk a little, but Jaygak normally wasn’t like this. Yet, the way she was acting, it filled his heart with something joyful. He wanted to tease her more.

“Jurot?” Adam called.

“Yes?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that, in a few seconds, I could become far more powerful, and could face Lord Morkarai slightly easier?” Adam asked.

“Yes,” Jurot replied, almost instantly.

Jaygak groaned, hugging Karot tighter. The boy, confused, smiled slightly, enjoying the attention he was getting. Kirot looked between her brother and sister, before pouting. She looked to Jurot and after a moment to deliberate, she climbed onto the Iyrman’s lap. She stared up at him expectantly, and Jurot wrapped an arm around her to hold her against him.

Kitool sat between them awkwardly, with no child to embrace. She looked to Jirot, who was being held by Vonda, then to Jarot, who was held by his greatfather who he was named after. She sighed.

“Still, everyone should realise that it wasn’t because I was strong that I beat Lord Morkarai, but that I possessed Phantom,” Adam said. ‘Should I make another weapon like Phantom?’

Konarot jerked as she stood up, before throwing her head over her shoulder. Strom approached the group, waving his hand towards the other Iyrmen, before he sat down with the group in the corner.

“Strom,” Adam greeted.

“Adam,” Strom replied, before reaching down to tickle Konarot’s cheek. The girl squirmed away from him and hid against her father’s chest. “Are you still afraid of me?”

Adam sighed, before rubbing his daughter’s head. “Are you enjoying yourself during the festival?”

“Yes,” the old man replied, smiling at the Half Elf.

“Did you enjoy the fight?” Adam asked. “Don’t tell me you didn’t see or something ridiculous like that.”

“It was a good fight,” Strom replied, simply. “How did you know?”

“You’re more predictable than you think.”

“So are you.”

Adam shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose I am.”

“You have brought the boy’s attention to you,” Strom said. He groaned quietly, realising he should be showing some respect. “The Prince will have his eyes on you.”

“Unfortunately for him, I don’t like men,” Adam joked.

“You don’t?” Strom replied, trying to feign shock. He chuckled quietly. “The first time we met you revealed that fact to me.”

“Did I?”

“Yes,” Strom said. “You were speaking with the girl, the Queen.”

“Entalia?” Adam replied, trying to recall their first meeting. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

“It’s good to see that you’re feeling better,” Strom said, his eyes falling to the little Goblin babe nearby. “It was hard to see you when you were always so down and dreary.”

Adam raised his brows at the man, who was still wasting away. “I don’t want to hear that from you.”

“You should show your best self to your children,” Strom said. “The reason why Konarot fears me is because she does not believe in you.”

Adam almost coughed in response, feeling the words cut deep into his heart. “Are you asking me to beat you up so that they’ll understand how strong I am?”

“If that’s what is required,” Strom replied, holding Adam’s eyes.

“I don’t feel like bullying a dying old man,” Adam eventually said.

Jaygak rubbed her cheek against Karot’s once more. “Do you see how he is bullying me? How can he say that in front of me? It’s not fair!”