“Jarot, my boy,” the older Jarot called out, pig up his greatson to embrace him tight.

  The boy tio shake and cry, tears falling down his face, snot beginning to fall. “Mommy!” The boy tio cry, calling out for a mother.

  “Jarot…” The older Iyrman tio hold him while the boy screeched and cried, causing his sister to cry too, followed closely by a cascade of other children beginning to cry in the distaarting with Inakan, who was not used to all these noises.

  “Jarot,” Vonda called, holding out a hand, and the boy reached out for her, his face still a mess. Vonda pulled him to her from his greatfather’s arms, the very Mad Dog who had sughtered so many people that the Order of Life’s Rose had to involve themselves. She wiped the boy’s face , and pulled him close to her chest, gently rog him from side to side.

  Little Jarot tio sniffle and sob, though he was no longer screeg and g. He sucked on his thumb while the other children were soothed by their parents.

  ‘You really are your sister’s brother,’ Adam thought, w how his son had caused more trouble than his sister.

  “I do not want mommy,” Jirot whimpered, her father having ed her face. “I want daddy.”

  “Why not both?” Adam asked, kissing her cheek.

  “I am daddy’s dohta.”

  “You’ll always be my daughter, my Jirot…” Adam held her clently brushing her cheek and her hair.

  “Daddy is my daddy…”

  “Always.”

  “Vonda is mommy?”

  “She be,” Adam said. “Just like how kako Katool has a mommy and daddy, right?”

  “Mmm.”

  “I want you to have a mommy and daddy too because you’ll be even happier, and that’s all I want, my baby.” Adam kissed her neck all over.

  “Daddy.” Jirot’s arms ed around Adam’s ned she pressed her cheek against her father’s neck.

  Adam rocked with her gently, gng towards Vonda for a moment. He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “Ray Vonda…” Adam paused for a long moment. “She watched you as you grew up. She took care of you. She even fed you. She alyed with you. She’s so nice, isn’t she?”

  “Mnnn.” The girl pouted. “No?”

  “Jirot, you smelly girl. You aly with Ray Vonda, I see you. How you say that. Are you lying to daddy?”

  “I not lying! I just joking, smelly boy!” Jirot stuck her thumb in her mouth, her arm still ed around her father’s strong neck.

  “ I hold you too, Jirot?” Vonda asked, still holding little Jarot close to her bosom. “Your brother is already here.”

  Jirot pouted, gng up towards her father, before she gave in and reached out to her brother. “Daddy is my daddy.”

  “That’s right,” Vonda said, holding the girl to her bosom, beside her twin brother.

  The older Jarot could feel the gaze of the other Iyrmen. He held onto the top of his knee, feeling the etal against his fiips. ‘What else should I have done? How many years will you make me wait so the Ray be my granddaughter?’

  Konarot pouted, embrag her father, with Kirot and Karot doing the same. Their father brushed their hair and rubbed their heads tenderly.

  “Ray Vonda is Life Puhreest, mommy?” Lanarot asked.

  “That is right.”

  Lanarot narrowed her eyes at the woman who was holding onto her nied nephew. She bit into her bread as she thought. “Is good?”

  “Yes.”

  “Papa will marry?”

  “Should I?” Adam asked, raising his brows.

  “Ray Vonda is stuhrong?”

  “I think so…”

  “I am not as strong as your brother, but I know Fate spells,” Vonda stated.

  Lanarot looked up towards her mother with a questioning look. The woman nodded, causing her daughter to nod her head, before she bit into another bit of bread.

  “Do you think Ray Vonda is good?”

  “Good.” Lanarot nodded once more, swallowing her bread.

  “That means Ray Vonda will be your sister.”

  Lanarot was midway through stig bread into her mouth when she gasped, her head snapping to her mother for firmation. “My kaka?”

  “Yes.”

  Lanarot’s head snapped back to her brother and apparently her new sister, her mouth f a tiny circle. “You are my kaka?”

  “If I marry your brother?”

  Lanarot blinked. “You will marry now?”

  “Well, we o talk a little before that…”

  “Papa always taking so long,” Lanarot said, sitting up, her incredulous eyes judging her brother harshly.

  “This time I’ll be quick.”

  “Hmmmm.” Lanarot narrowed her eyes further.

  ‘What’s with all the suspi? You punk! I’ll five you just this once since you’re so cute!’

  It was ter in the evening when Sonarot poured the pair a cup of tea where Adam and Jurot had sat to discuss Pam. The womahe cup, feeling its warmth.

  “Vonda…” Adam stared at the woman, suddenly feeling his heartbeat qui, his body flushing with warmth.

  “Yes, Adam?” Vonda replied, waiting ily.

  ‘Stop it, you idiot. This is important. Calm down.’ Adam inhaled deeply, taking in the st of the tea, feeling the vapours fill his lungs before he pced the cup down. He could feel the warmth of the cup against his hands. “I want you to uand before we tih this…”

  Vonda waited patiently as Adam gathered his thoughts.

  “You’ve been there with me sinearly the beginning. My first year within this nd. You’ve… seen a lot. You’ve heard a lot. I trust you, a lot. You… you were there when my children found me. Konarot, Kirot, Karot. Jirot, Jarot. Larot. You’ve seen how much I adore them. You know, y’know, that if somethio happen to them, they’d better hope the Iyr is going to protect them from me, because even Mother Soza won’t be able to save them from me.”

  Vonda raised her brows, muttering a prayer in front of Adam. “Mother, please send your warmth in this moment.”

  “Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is that… I’m their father. I would like… for you to be their mother.” Adam could feel his heart begin to beat quicker, and he inhaled again to try and calm himself. “Not their… you know, I’m not sure if that’s a cept in this nd, but…” Adam tapped the table with a finger gently, staring into her eyes. “You’re not adopting them. They’re going to be yours, just like they’re mihey won’t be your half children or whatever they call it, they’re going to be your children. If we, hopefully when we, have children, they’ll be exactly the same as the rest of our children in your mind a.”

  “I know, Adam.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I uood that was the case before I asked.”

  Adam exhaled, sipping his tea lightly, feeling it fill his heart. “Alright, cool. Cool, cool, cool.” Suddenly the embarrassment rushed deep within his soul. “So… how do you want to marry? Do you want to do it i Port? Here?”

  “The Iyr is fine.”

  “Great.” Adam gowards his Aunt. “ we even marry in the Iyr?”

  “If not the Iyr, the fort will be fine,” Sonarot assured.

  “Do, uh… Vonda. Do you want to… you know.” Adam cleared his throat. “You see how many children we will already have. Do you…” Adam could feel his Aunt’s presenearby, like a looming shadow. “I think my Aunt would like mrandchildren, you know?”

  Vonda flushed. “I would like some.”

  “Great, because six isn’t enough for me!”

  “You are a man of Death, and I am a woman of Life. I hope the children will accept Mother Soza within their heart as I have.”

  “They’ll worship Mother Soza, and Baktu too. They worship whoever they want, as long as I like them.”

  “I would like our children to have the birthing rites of Mother Soza.”

  “I don’t know what that means, but okay. I’ll, we have the rites of Mother Soza before we sider the rites of Baktu. I’d like both rites, as long as Baktu’s rites don’t harm children, or aim for them to die young, or whatever.”

  Vonda smiled. “I ot pin against your offer.”

  “Will you marry soon?” Sonarot asked.

  “When we marry?” Adam asked.

  “Will you marry alongside Jurot?”

  “That’s a good idea.” Adam raised his brows, a small smile appearing on his face. “That’s cute as hell.”

  “You may marry in the Front Iyr, so that you may isiders.”

  Adam shrugged his shoulders towards Vonda. “Sounds good to me.”

  “It sounds fio me too.”

  “Who do you want to invite?”

  “I would like to ihe Mother who raised me. Mother Florence. She… I sider her more of a mother than the Baroness.”

  “Sounds great. Wao send word to her?”

  “I have sent word.”

  Adam raised his brows. “You work quick.”

  “I have informed her the shields were plete, but that she should e swiftly before the year’s end, due to some important matters.”

  “Does she know?”

  “She does not.”

  “You might want to tell her so she prepare the prifts for you, and she prepare to speak with me.”

  “Speak with you?”

  “She’s got to meet yroht?”

  Vonda smiled, flushing slightly redder.

  “Speaking of the wedding, we o figure out how much it’ll cost. We’ve got plenty of , but I o know how much I o tribute for the wedding.”

  “Weddings in the Iyr do not cost ,” Sonarot said.

  “Yeah, but, I’m not an Iyrman.”

  Sonarot remained quiet for a moment. “It will not cost you anything, Adam.”

  “I’m not stupid enough tue against an Iyrman.”

  “Do you have any more special requests for the wedding?” Adam asked, gng back towards Vonda.

  “I would like Mother Soza’s marriage rites.”

  Adam gnced over to Sonarot, who nodded. “Anything else?”

  “No.”

  “I should order ss for us. Do you want gold or silver?”

  “I do not mind.”

  “I’m not very good with the style, I pass by with my handsome looks. Aunt? What do you think?”

  “Gold will suit her well.”

  “Nice.” Adam slowly nodded. ‘I could have Konar it to us. Perhaps Jirot ? No, no, it has to be Konarot… Larot?’ “Oh. Uh…” Adam’s eyes slowly drew towards Vonda’s as his face began to heat up. “What… are we going to name our children?”

  “They may take the Rot family name,” Vonda said cautiously, still feeling Sonarot’s gaze against her, “but I would like to assist in naming them too.”

  Adam gowards Sonarot, who nodded. Adam sighed. “Well, it’s not like…” Adam paused, furrowing his brows. “Didn’t you give up your name?”

  “I did.”

  “So what’s your st name?”

  “I do not have one.”

  “Oh. I guess, teically I don’t have oher. I call myself Fateson because…” Adam exged a look with Sonarot. ‘I shouldn’t mention that before we’re married, just in case…’ “Anyway, it’s not my real sed name.”

  “What of Fate?” Vonda asked, far too eagerly. Within her heart, she had always felt there was something out there which had forced them together.

  “Adam Fate and Vonda Fate?” Adam felt a sudden rush of pride fill his heart, as well as the want to kill a hydra. “Yeah. Sounds good to me.” Adam’s lips twitched into a smile. “Konarot Fate? Kona Fate Rot? Sounds fiher way, holy. I’ve always liked three names.”

  Vonda smiled, sippiea slowly.

  “Do you want the children to grow up at Priests?”

  “It would be nice.”

  “I won’t stop them from being Priests, but if they want to be something else, that’s fioo. Are you fih Jirot being a Demon Lord?”

  “What?”

  “She wants to be a Demon Lord. Are you fih that?”

  “…” Vonda furrowed her brows. ‘What?’

  “I’m sure she doesn’t mean it literally, I’m sure she just means it… y’know, in the sehat she wants to be strong and be in charge of a bunch of people.”

  “What if she truly bees a Demon Lord?”

  “If she hurts people that don’t deserve it, I’ll step in.”

  “How will you disciplihe children?”

  “All manner of ways. Naughty step. Stern talking to. They’ll o write essays. That sort of thing.”

  “No hitting?”

  “No one is going to hit my kid without losing their hand, me included.”

  “Will you disciplihem? I fear I may not be suitable.”

  “You’ll have to cuddle them the most.”

  “Of course.”

  Sonarot watched as the pair flirted together over her grandchildren. She remaiill and silent, not wanting them to notice her as she ate this delicious dessert for her heart.

  “They’ll end up loving you the most,” Adam said.

  “Will they?”

  “They have to. If they end up lovihe most, they’ll end up as stupid as me.”

  “Jirot loves you the most.”

  “And she wants to be the Demon Lord!”

  “Ah.” Vonda smiled wider.

  Adam chuckled, sipping the tea. “Oh, yeah. Money.”

  “Money?”

  “Finances. We o figure that out. How much we’ll save, and for who and why, as well as how much of a dowry I o give you, and the amount I’ll o pay if we ever divorce.”

  “You have to think of such things?”

  “I don’t want you to ever feel trapped with me. If you don't want to be married to me one day, I want you to know you leave.”

  “Marriage is eternal,” Vonda replied, pulling back slightly, her voice low.

  “Nothing is eternal.” Adam crossed his arms, swallowing his nerves. “I will be the best husband I , but that may not be good enough, or, it may be that is was not fated.”

  “…” Vonda’s eyes fell to the tea. “I uand.”

  “So, how much do you want?”

  “One gold.”

  Adam raised his brow. “One gold?”

  “One gold for the dowry and one gold in times of a divorce.”

  “I'll give you a thousand gold both times.”

  “It does not matter.”

  “Good, the’s make it ten thousand for the divorce, if you're that fident?”

  “Ohousand for each. It doesn’t matter to me, Adam. My gold is yold.”

  “And mine is yours. Though… I’m your boss and I have a business, so that’s pretty awkward.”

  “The business is not something I will sider as old.”

  “It’s not like I’ll skimp paying for anything. If you want something, just say it. I'll try to get it for you. You won't o spend a penny.”

  “I spend my own gold.”

  “Yeah, but I'll feel manly if you spend my money.” Adam covered his mouth with his fist, feeling a deep red wash across his face. ‘Damn.’

  Vonda smiled, and Sonarot tio breathe silently, wanting to eat up as much dessert as she could.

  Meanwhile, Jarot held onto the twins he adored so deeply.

  “Daddy is marry, but you ah still babo, okay?” Jirot said, pouting as she held her fihreateningly towards her greatfather.

  “I will always be yreatfather.”

  “I always yreatson, babo,” little Jarot said, cuddling his greatfather tight.

  “Yes, my boy.”

  While Konarot’s younger siblings were bullying their greatfather, she pouted towards her uncle.

  “Your father will return soon,” Jurot assured, brushing his nephew’s hair gently.

  “Daddy?”

  “Yes.”

  “No mommy?”

  “Vonda will be your mother soon.”

  “…” Konarot pouted, gng off to the side. ‘No.’

  As the stars shone down to guide the way for many travellers within the night, a pair of stargazing lovers stared up towards them.

  “Mara, the star is faihan before,” Lucy said, pointing to the star.

  “It is,” Mara firmed.

  “What does that mean?”

  “I do not know.”

  “Must not be important.”

  Mara inhaled deeply. ‘So Fate has beeed.’

  Another pair of stargazing lovers stared up towards the stars at the same time.

  “The Lamp is bright today,” Amira said, pointing up towards the sky.

  “Enduring love,” Dunes said, gng off to the side towards the young devilkin woman.

  “What are y to say, Dunes? We have to wait until marriage.”

  “I wasn’t saying that!” Dunes inhaled deeply. “Should you be so lucky!”

  Amira smiled, gng up towards the sky again. “The Dragon is rising.”

  “I trol my dragon just fine.”

  Amira reached over and punch Dunes’ arm. “Stop it.”

  “If you ot hahe horns, do not kick the goat,” Dunes joked.

  Amira clicked her teeth, her eyes remaining glued to the sky.

  “How you two flirt so openly uhe eyes of the Divine?” Korin asked as he trekked through the snow towards them.

  “Are you jealous you are still-,” Dunes raised his arms to defend himself from the snowball, chug as he wiped it off his arm.

  “Stargazing?”

  “Hah. Today feels like a good day.”

  “I feel that too,” Korin said, stig his hands in his pockets, staring up at the stars. “Dunes, Amira.”

  “Yes?” Dunes replied.

  “Mnn?” Amira grunted.

  “The Order is looking faint.”

  “The Order has looked faint for a few years now.”

  “No, no, look.” Korin pointed up. “The top of it, it’s fainter.”

  Dunes and Amira both squiowards the stars. The pair could see the first star within the sequence was faihan previous.

  “It is fainter…” Dunes whispered.

  “What does that mean?” Korin asked, with Amira throwing a look towards Duoo.

  “What else could it mean?” Duhrew back.

  Korin sighed. ‘It just had to be the day I thought about proposing.’

  The marriage arc begins!