She sighed loudly. " I knew the time will come when you shall ask about your parents. I was prepared for it from a long time ago, even had prepared a story that should have convinced a kid's curiosity.
But you never asked me about it. My carefully created story remained untold and forgotten in a corner of my mind. I started feeling at ease seeing you grow up into such an extraordinary child and dedicate yourself to take care of everything around here.
"Now, my heart knows it. That carefully crafted story all those years ago cannot convince you anymore." She smiled sadly.
"You don't have to tell me about it grandma. I am happy to be with you. Let's end this topic here and forever." Alan smiled sweetly, kissed his grandma's cheeks and tried to get up and get back to reading. But his hand was held firmly by his grandmother.
"Please sit down my child. I will tell you everything." The old lady made him sit back again.
She took a deep breath and began to reveal the truth.....
"9 years, 8 months and 7 days ago was the day when I, out of necessity had to leave this place and went to a town nearly 250 miles from here called "Green Town". It was the one and only time I went out of this area after my husband's demise. And it was perhaps the best decision I took in my life, which lead me to you my child."
As an observant and smart child, Alan already had a strong belief that he was not the real grandson of this old lady. He had never seen anything other than a few belongings of his grandfather. Which was kept by his grandma in his fond memory. And she often hold those objects with love in her eyes while speaking about her husband.
Alan never found a trace of anything that belongs to his parents inside the hut. He had never heard his grandmother talk about them, even when she compared his skills. It was always his grandfather whom she compared him and never his parents. These things further solidified his theory about him not being his grandma's real flesh and blood.
Alan had arrived into that conclusion a long time ago. That was the main reason why he did not asked his grandmother about his parents.
Alan was still surprised to hear the truth. He was listening to each and every word with wrapped attention.
"It was an old friend of mine came calling to me that day. Even though I was reluctant to leave this place, I was unable to see my friend in such a sad state. In the end I went back with him to his town to help his wife recover from a rare case of poisoning."
"I know what you are thinking my dear. Why does someone make such a long and dangerous journey to find me to heal his wife, instead of finding someone from within the town itself. Or even get an experienced healer from Winden city, which is less than 100 miles from "Green town" and the route is also safer compared to traveling to this place!?"
Alan nodded his head sheepishly. The old lady gave him a knowing smile and continued....
"Let me tell you about myself and your grandfather first which will help you to understand why my old friend seeked my help at that time."
Alan nodded his head enthusiastically as he also wanted to know more about his grandparents. Their past, how they were like when they were young and why they came to this place to settle down.