Eve became huffy herself at the idea she may not have babies very long, then sobbed then stopped suddenly and simply accepted it. "I'll love them regardless, no need to be mopey. At least I got to carry these ones. I'll just ask Parcella to tell me about all the bad bits I get to miss out on."
"That was the quickest grief cycle ever. It's okay to be a bit disappointed."
"I am, I won't lie, but I just don't want them to feel pressured into not growing up at their own pace. If I can feel them, they might feel me and not understand so well. Now, let's get cleaned up and go out."
"Eve. Is there only two you're feeling..."
"I'm not sure, they all felt the same, it was hard to tell if there were two or not."
"Eve. Why say "all" and not both?"
"Okay, I'm pretty sure there were three." She then smiled from ear to ear, and kissed me several times, not just on the mouth. "You did a very good job. I get triplets, as my first time. Seems like your predecessor wanted you to share that experience, or Cosmael refused to be any less than a triplet."
"Well, I think we should go tell everyone, hopefully it won't interfere with Halsan's coronation plans too much."
"I don't care if it does, you gave me three babies, just give him something for the headache." She beamed incessantly.
We then got up and cleaned ourselves, then got dressed, I still couldn't use the technique Eve showed off despite her explanations. I don't care what she says, partially opening a dimensional gate across the surface of your body is not "easy when you think about it".
After getting dressed the old-fashioned way we headed off to see the others, who were still training after their most recent passing out from training their divinity.
"Not to interrupt, but we're having triplets." I said casually making Layaera and the deva pulse enough to knock Babylon dizzy.
The deva tackled me to the ground.
"First you steal our sister, then replace us."
"I stuck around to make sure Astrael was going to be alright and then you tell us this, how do you even know."
"Celesael, focus on her tummy more, I don't know how you detect life, but try. Astrael, I'm not replacing you two, we didn't even know until Eve felt their emotions."
They both got up and hugged Eve, then Celesael focused on her belly. "Yeah there are three. Two seem quite similar, the third must be Cosmael, looks like she is the biggest at the moment."
"They aren't responding to you, I guess they only care about what we say at the moment. Anyway, we are popping out. Celesael, promise you'll come back for the birth."
Celesael agreed, then we finished receiving congratulations and left.
We didn't bother walking, I just made a black gate and we walked into Byurik's office directly, nearly giving him a heart attack.
"What were you doing to react to us like that you dirty dog?"
"I don't know what a dog is, but jumping out of your skin is normal when the future king and queen of the land suddenly creates a gods knows what and appears in your office unannounced or invited."
"Well of course "gods know what" we made it, Byurk, are you feeling yourself?" I joked as his scales began to change tone with annoyance.
"Why don't you come in and meet my guests?"
We stepped through and looked back at the chairs, two figures were sitting there, one a black dragon kin, the other was some kind of canine animal person.
"jackal-man?" I asked abruptly, tilting my head. "Let me guess, Anubisian?"
"You said he wouldn't know what I was Byurik..." I slapped my head as he confirmed the cliched jackal reference. "...Nearly had my name as well. Jekyll and it is a pleasure Adam. I am the head of the adventurers guild."
Unwilling to admit I simply used cliches to guess, I made up a white lie about spying documents on Byurik's desk.
"He's lying, he guessed while referencing something from another era. He doesn't know that the master of the guild is a secret to battle corruption."
"No i did not..."
"It's not." Eve laughed behind me as she entered behind me.
I apologised humbly as the strangers both laughed.
"Lady Kuronovus was right, I like you." The dragon kin bellowed.
"What exactly has my little sister been saying to her children?"
The dragon kin introduced himself as Gyaran, apparently Kuronovus sent her chosen to join our group. The chosen were apparently the strongest of each branch of dragon kin, Gyaran had been ordered to stand by his progenitor's kin in her place.
"Sorry Kuronovus may have sent you, but our group is a family we don't take people on by reference alone. I even sent the lad that I liked to the others and the other was one the others chose to accept and I took a liking to."
"Yeah, Byurik already told me. I'm not fussed too much, I'm used to Kuronovus' whims. Say no and I'll just enjoy the food and drink 'til I get bored and move on. I'll definitely be here for the coronation though, she said I have to stay for that since Constivita refused to let her watch through Byurik's eyes after the wedding riot."
"That's right, you're from the branch of life. Byurik have you met Bell yet?"
"I have, Constivita insisted. She was less than happy when he didn't apologise after abandoning her."
"Why do I keep picking up other beings' abandoned children?"
"I don't know, what did you come here for anyway?"
I then remembered our purpose, I put the completed job cards on the table, along with proof of conquest. He asked about the remains of the Crystal dragon golem and Eve and I grimaced and filled him in.
"So that must have been what Kuronovus got all up in arms about. Can you tell her to keep it down next time, I felt my soul leave my body when she scolded me for taking so long to arrive." Gyaran laughed.
"Anyway, for the Crackling Jabber and Demented Dancing-bug, you are going to be a wealth man again, no one can beat those beasts alone normally. That's why the bounty is high, it has to interest an entire team who will split the winnings. Obviously the golem job was a fail, but you will get more than that job offered for proving they had the ability to nullify magic and destroying all of them."
"Indeed, I'd say one-thousand and five-hundred gold for that one alone, I'll give my stamp to it." Jekyll added.
"Why not kill the bandits though?" Byurik asked with no small amount of confusion. "You aren't the kind of man to let their crimes go unpunished without good reason."
"We are trying to avoid killing until our children are born. Don't want them picking up the trait and we don't know what could imprint on a fetal god."
"Weren't we keeping that secret?"
I didn't say anything, just pulled a face, then the congratulations started.
"Byurik, we will tell Leeson and Halsan now... I'm still not overly fond of humans at the moment though. Seeing one attempt to harm my daughter will take a while to put behind me."
"Of course, it's your news to share. Wait children? I know you have your ways, but can you really tell there is more than one?"
Eve explained the situation with Cosmael and how she could feel their emotions. She huffed about us having to tell the rest of the family though and revealed her own lingering dislike of being around humans.
"That reminds me, we still have to take Quatal back to my father. The population is so dense there."
With that we left to their amusement at our newly introverted personalities. We had told Gyaran to head to the house at dinner time with Byurik, who informed us that everyone on this side had kept that tradition going
When we got to the garrison, we kidnapped Leeson in the same way we had at the summit.
"Oh! Err, I need to go home, the babies asked for some nutrition. Feel free to have a drink with the men, or you can come and help me out after. I love you, see you at home."
After her sudden exit, I dragged Leeson to Halsan's alone and shared the news. We shared a couple of drinks, then I reiterated that it was a secret and returned when they said they were headed to the house for dinner.
I nearly headed straight back to Eve, then remembered I owed someone an apology.
Before I knew it I was at the Rein's business, apologising for my absence and for not stepping in with Fala before.
"Don't worry, she was always stubborn, at least she's doing something she loves. I just don't want her working herself to death before she has a chance to live."