Omen: 4, 16

Adam continued enchanting through the second week of nightval. His Omens dictated when he would take his breaks, though somehow today’s Omen was the worst since taking his children to the park. He had thought about using the Omens to make more money, but he decided against it, having already promised the Iyr to help them.

Upon feeling Sonarot’s heavy gaze that morning, Adam decided to shave so he could look presentable for that.

“Turot,” Fonasen called, reaching down to ruffle her nephew’s hair. “It has been some time.”

“Yes, aunt Fonasen,” Turot replied, going to greet the rest of his family.

“You are Unrivalled?” Fonasen asked, her eyes glued to Adam, noting the triplets at the periphery of her vision, each clung to their father tight.

“Adam Fateson, Nephew of the Rot family,” Adam replied, wincing at the name. He stared up at Fonasen, who looked so familiar to him, though he couldn’t quite place her.

“Fonasen,” she said.

“Mornuu,” the other woman said, greeting the Half Elf with a nod of her head.

Adam bowed his head towards her. “It’s always a pleasure to meet someone from the Nuu family. Jaknuu and Raknuu have treated me and my family well.”

The woman smiled. “It is an honour that you have not forgotten us.”

“Konarot, Kirot, Karot, you need to let daddy go,” Adam said, trying to doff his children. They dropped down, wordless as statues, and stared up at their father. Adam lifted his pouch and held it up. “Who wants Dragon scales?”

The children, who were chattering with Turot excitedly, quickly stopped, staring up at the Half Elf. They looked to Turot, who nodded his head, before they quickly swarmed the Half Elf, squeaking like little mice.

“Hmmmm,” Adam said, holding the pouch tight in his hand. “Turot, what is the etiquette for gifts from Cousin Adam?”

Turot inhaled deeply. “Queue up. Youngest to oldest. Be good and quiet.”

The children threw Turot a queer look, before looking back up at Adam, who was waiting expectantly. The oldest of the children, who was eight or nine, raised her hand and guided the children into their spots.

“Cousin Turot is truly wise enough to be Elder Peace,” Adam said, before reaching into his pouch. “I should reward you for your wisdom, so you get the first Dragon scale.”

Turot’s face beamed as he accepted the Dragon scale in hand, before Adam began to give out White Dragon scales to the children.

“Would you look at this?” Adam said, reaching down to his side, before holding up a second pouch. “I just so happen to have Blue Dragon scales too. What am I to do with them?”

The children squinted up at Adam. Adam had handed them two Dragon scales last year too, forcing them to queue up. He remembered the way they looked towards their parents for support. This time they just narrowed their eyes up at Adam with curiosity, wondering what he will do next.

“All you have to do is-,”

“Adam,” called Fonasen, causing him to jolt upright in shock for a moment.

“Yeah?”

“Come here,” she called, all the while rubbing the heads of the triplets gently as they clung to her.

‘How did she manage to do that?’ Adam thought, before he walked over to the woman. “Why are you pouting, my little babbies?” Adam asked, reaching down to pick them up. Konarot hugged the Half Elf tight, resting her head against his neck.

“You are handing Dragon scales to the children in front of your own?” Fonasen asked.

Adam winced, his heart sinking. He held his triplets tighter in his embrace, gently rocking them. “Your daddy is quite the idiot, isn’t he?” Adam’s mind flashed with images of himself handing out pieces of flesh from dead Humans. Dragon scales were extremely useful since they were difficult to harm, but to think that his children had to watch him hand out the scales, which they themselves possessed.

Konarot purred quietly and wrapped her arms around his neck, while Kirot and Karot held onto his arms, resting their heads against his shoulders.

“Thank you,” Adam said, bowing his head to Fonasen.

“It is difficult to raise such children,” Fonasen said. “Especially in the Iyr, where we praise those who kill Dragons and share their bodies.”

Adam inhaled deeply into his heavy lungs, which refused to accept most of the air. His chest tightened as he sat down, holding his children close. ‘Right.’ He rocked his triplets who clung against him.

“They are only Half Dragons, and so their scales are different,” Fonasen explained. “The scales of Half Dragons are not as tough as those which belong to Dragons, though are still be valued by others.”

“My precious little babies,” Adam whispered. “It’s going to be okay. Daddy will protect you. No one will be able to take your scales while I am alive. Uncle Jurot will look after you too, so don’t you ever worry.”

The Iyrmen children stood awkwardly, confused about what to do. They had listened intently to their words, and had watched carefully as the triplets clung to their father.

“If you wish to give them Dragon scales, I will do it,” Fonasen said. Adam handed the woman the pouch. “You had terms for the children to receive the scales?”

“I was going to ask them to introduce their younger siblings to me,” Adam said. He didn’t want to admit he was also going to ask them why they adored their younger siblings, finding the situation to be too awkward, and he wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for him to ask.

The children each introduced their siblings. Adam spotted Danagek right away, however, as the boy was the largest baby. Adam wasn’t sure if he was bigger than Gurot, but he was certainly a big boy.

“He is a chonky boy,” Turot said, examining the young baby.

Adam smiled. “That’s right.” He remained within the shared family estate, speaking of his tales. He sat away with the children, all to one side. The triplets remained near their father, sitting around him.

Fonasen handed the pouch back to him as he left. The triplets each hugged her leg before returning back to their father, who carried them out. ‘Iyrmen women are the scariest.’

When night basked the Iyr in darkness, Adam remained wide awake. He stared at the ceiling, gently rubbing his children’s backs. ‘That is really, weird, isn’t it? Giving out scales? They are really useful though…’ Adam thought about how mature his children were, already understanding that the Dragon scales were related to them. ‘Why do you have to be so smart?’

Adam continued to enchant throughout the week, thinking about how to raise the Half Dragon children. Though it would be difficult to not deal with Dragon scales from them on, he realised he would need to at least minimise his own dealings with such matters, especially in front of the children. He kept imagining how he would feel if his Dragon children were trading out human finger nails to other people, and quickly came to the conclusion that it was a bad thing.

Omen: 5, 13

Jirot smiled up at her father, making noises up towards him. Adam held her in his hands, holding up her head with one hand, and her body with the other. She squirmed within his hands before she stuck her hand into her mouth and sucked against it.

“You silly girl, who allowed you to be so cute?” Adam asked, nuzzling her nose, causing her to stare up at him in shock, before she smiled again. “Do you want to play with daddy today? Should I take you to the park?”

“I will come,” Jarot said, holding his greatson, who smiled up at his greatfather. He recognised the old man as the one who held him most.

Once they were at the park, they sat down against a blanket, laying the children down in their baskets. Adam helped his triplets wash their hands before he allowed them to pick up the sandwiched he had made for them, each taking the sandwiched full of fish.

“You said you would work five days and rest for two,” Jarot said, brushing Jirot’s hair beside him as she squirmed.

“I need to work hard so they can go to university,” Adam said.

“You wish to send them to the university?” Jarot asked.

“There’s a university?”

“Yes, there are many. There are universities in each region capital. The university in East Port is most impressive, but the university in the capital holds the most prestige. Many Nobles aim to study within the university from the ages of fifteen to eighteen.”

“Can commoners join the universities?” Adam asked.

“If they can pass a test designed to cause them to fail,” Jarot replied, simply. “The universities are funded by taxes, allowing the students to live as though they were still within their own homes, and for those who are not Nobles, they will study within the lower class.”

“So the rich take coin from the commoner’s purses to enrich themselves?”

“Are you surprised?”

Adam sighed. “I just expected this world to be less cliche.”

Jarot remained silent, seeing the disappointment on Adam’s face.

“Let me guess, there’s no discrimination within the universities as part of its rules, but I guess the faculty don’t actually keep to the rules?”

“That is what is rumoured.”

“There are groups which have formed within the universities, and those within the best group eventually go on to gain high ranking positions, and those who had any conflict with them find themselves ostracised, especially those who were talented commoners?”

“That is what is rumoured.”

“Even though they use the common man’s taxes to pay for their own luxurious lifestyles and education, I’m sure the Nobles aren’t thankful for such coin. No doubt they believe they are entitled to the money of their lessers.”

“Yes…” Jarot paused. “Have you been to the universities before?”

“No,” Adam replied. “It’s just rich people shi-, stuff.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I can’t send my kids to those universities.”

“It is still something good to strive for,” Jarot admitted. “They will learn much, and will form connections for the future.”

“Connections? They have connections to the Iyr and me, they don’t need any other connections.”

“The Iyr’s influence is greatest in the south and north, and it holds some influence to the east,” Jarot said. “Having a connection with any Noble holds great power regardless of which region they deal with.”

“Just one Noble?”

“Yes. Noble Authority. The land works on the law that a Noble’s word is supreme. If a Noble wishes to deal with someone under the employ of another Noble, they must ask for permission. Even the King must ask a Baron’s permission to execute one of their servants, unless their act was obviously treason.”

“Damn.”

“Your connection to the Iyr may not keep you safe against many of the Nobles, especially those in the regions which dislike we Iyrmen.”

Adam reached down to rub Konarot’s head. “Then I just have to become so powerful that they will think twice about trying to mess with my family.”

“No one will harm my greatchildren as long as I breathe,” Jarot said, reaching down to rub little Jarot’s head, the boy yawning.

‘Am I actually related to this old man?’ Adam thought. “Jarot?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For being their babo.”

“Yes?” Jarot replied, tilting his head slightly, unsure of what Adam was getting at.

“I can sleep peacefully at night because of you guys. You, Aunt, Jurot, and so on, you know? I know that if something does happen to me, maybe I meet some random old guy who can one shot me, that they’ll be okay.”

Jarot reached up to Adam’s head, squeezing it gently. “Do you think anyone will dare to kill my grandson while I still breathe?”

“Whose your grandson, you old geezer?” Adam replied, feeling how strong the man’s grip was, though he wasn’t pressing painfully hard.

Jarot let go of Adam’s head. “You are working too hard for the Iyr which refuses you, Adam.”

“I don’t work hard for the Iyr which refuses me, but the Aunt which has accepted me,” Adam replied, simply.

Jarot was sure that Adam was still in the process of being tested by the Iyr. It was ridiculous, as this boy was a Nephew of the Rot family, and had already done so much for the Iyr, and yet was still being suspected. He understood why the Iyr was still suspicious, but it still bothered his heart.

“I really do appreciate it all,” Adam said, reaching up to brush Karot’s hair to the side. “As much as the Iyr might not like me, I’m glad that I was accepted by you and my Aunt. I’m glad that you accepted Jarot and Jirot too.”

Jarot sighed, rubbing the babies stomachs gently, soothing them to sleep.