"You two are back."
Aurora walked out from the house towards Aaron and Lilly, a gentle smile gracing her lips. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the small clearing in front of their humble dwelling.
"How are you doing, Mom?"
Aaron asked, his smile mirroring hers. In the six months since they had become a family, a genuine affection had blossomed between them. Aaron, with a protectiveness beyond his years, had taken it upon himself to ensure Aurora never had to lift a finger around the house. Lilly, though considered a sister, was expected to manage her own responsibilities.
"Why do you look so exhausted, Lilly?"
Aurora's gaze shifted, concern etching itself onto her features as she crouched down in front of Lilly.
"What happened to her, Aaron?"
"We encountered a Demon-Stage Monster in the forest, two of them, actually," Aaron explained, his tone matter-of-fact, though a hint of lingering adrenaline flickered in his eyes.
Aurora's face immediately grew serious, the warmth replaced by a guarded intensity.
"Are you alright?"
"Don't worry, Mom, nothing happened to us," Aaron reassured her quickly. "But it seems Lilly forgot the repellent spray, again." He directed a playful glare at Lilly, who responded with an exaggerated pout.
"Fufufufufu... Now Aaron, forgive your sister. She won't forget next time," Aurora said, her smile returning, softer now, tinged with amusement.
Aaron nodded, his stern expression melting away. Lilly, seizing the opportunity, threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.
"You forgive me, right?" she mumbled into his shoulder.
Aaron rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"Yes, come on now; let's prepare the food." He gently unwrapped Lilly's arms and took her hand, pulling her towards the house.
Aurora watched them go, her smile widening as she observed the dynamic between the two youngsters.
'I think it's time they know the truth and get their familiar.' The thought echoed in her mind, a decision long contemplated finally reaching its fruition.
'Are you sure, Master?'
A voice echoed softly within her.
'100%.' she affirmed internally, a sense of resolve settling within her.
__
[Night Time.]
The small family of three sat around the wooden dining table, the aroma of their simple evening meal filling the cozy space. The house windows were carefully sealed shut, heavy wooden shutters and thick curtains ensuring that not a single sliver of light escaped to betray their presence to the nocturnal creatures of the surrounding forest.
Once they had finished their dinner and the last morsel was savored, Aurora cleared her throat, her expression shifting to one of quiet determination.
"Take the dishes away, Lilly. And come back here, I want to answer the questions Aaron and you have been asking."
The two youngsters exchanged surprised glances. Aurora had always skillfully deflected their inquiries.
Aaron's persistent questions about his father's identity and the secrets of powerful magic, and Lilly's eager curiosity about when she would receive her Familiar – a concept entirely foreign to Aaron's past lives – had always been met with gentle redirections or vague promises of future explanations.
Lilly, her earlier playfulness now replaced with a keen anticipation, swiftly gathered the empty plates and utensils, carrying them to the small wash basin in the corner of the kitchen area. She returned to the table quickly, settling back into her seat, her eyes fixed on Aurora.
Aurora looked at both of them, her gaze lingering for a moment on each of their faces.
"What do you want to know first?" she asked, her voice calm.
Lilly and Aaron exchanged another look, a silent communication passing between them. Before Aaron could formulate his own question, Lilly spoke, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and affection.
"Your life, Mom. And how you came to meet Aaron's Father; we want to know everything."
"Ok, Lilly." Aurora took a deep breath, her hands resting on the table in front of her. The flickering lamplight cast dancing shadows on her face, highlighting the faint lines of worry and the enduring strength in her eyes.
"As you know, I'm the only daughter of the Elven race." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "My mother was of royal blood, while my father was not. However," she continued, her voice softening slightly:
"I wasn't the reigning king's biological daughter. My Mom had a deep and passionate love for an elf… my father. I know you might think of it as infidelity, but their love predated her arranged marriage to the king. Let's just say they were secret lovers. But the kingdom and the court demanded a king, and a powerful heir. Heartbroken, my mother felt she had no choice but to marry the king. Even after their marriage, however, she continued to see my father." She sighed, a hint of sadness coloring her tone. "Then, one fateful night, their love for each other resulted in my conception. No one knew how the king discovered my father's existence. He sent assassins to kill him, making it appear to be a tragic accident. My mother was devastated for a long time, but I, as a newborn, became a source of comfort for her."
She paused again, her eyes momentarily losing focus as she seemed to revisit those distant memories.
"After two years of mourning, she slowly began to heal. Three years later, she gave birth to my two half-brothers. When I was just five years old, she was poisoned by someone." Her voice trembled slightly, and a faint shimmer of tears appeared in her eyes.
"After one agonizing month, she succumbed to the poison and died. I didn't realize then that her death would mark the beginning of my own personal nightmare. I was treated worse than a common servant within the palace. My half-brothers subjected me to constant torment – beatings, cruel insults, and they even attempted to sell me to a traveling merchant. Unable to endure the abuse any longer, I finally escaped from the castle. For three long years, I wandered, alone and forgotten. No one searched for me, no one seemed to miss me. When I turned fifteen, my life took an unexpected turn. I met your father." She looked at Aaron, a warm, loving smile illuminating her face.
"He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, his presence more captivating than even the most noble of elves. He took me in, offered me shelter, and began my training in… various arts." She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
"I lived with him for five wonderful years. Those were the happiest years of my life." She paused, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips, before continuing. "Then, we received news that a massive Monster tide was preparing to attack my kingdom. Despite the hatred I harbored for the people I was forced to call family, I couldn't stand by and watch my kingdom fall. So, I knew I had to go back." Her smile faded slightly.
"Your father didn't want me to leave. He held me tightly in his arms, kissed me for the very first time, a kiss filled with a depth of emotion I had never experienced before. And then," her voice softened, a hint of a blush rising on her cheeks:
"I heard the words I had longed to hear for so long. I think you both know what those words were." She glanced at Aaron and Lilly, a knowing smile in her eyes.
"Well," she continued, a slight chuckle escaping her lips.
"one thing led to another, and I ended up staying the night. The next morning, I left him quietly as he slept, got dressed, and set out to help my kingdom. After a brutal and bloody battle, we managed to fend off the monster raid. And then… I was recognized as the lost princess. To this day, I still don't understand how I became a 'lost' princess, considering they never made any effort to find me." Her mood visibly darkened at this point.
"When I returned to tell your father the good news, I found the entire mansion destroyed, burned to the ground. I found your father amidst the ruins, heavily wounded, barely clinging to life. He couldn't tell me what had happened or who was responsible. He only managed to say, his voice weak and fading, 'Protect My Son, because he'll carry on my legacy.' Confused and completely unaware that I was already pregnant with you, Aaron, I asked him what he meant. He didn't answer. He simply died in my arms…" She looked directly at Aaron, her eyes filled with a profound sadness.
"I buried your father with my own hands, and I took his sword with me."
She waved her hand, and a long, elegant sword materialized in the air before them, its polished surface reflecting the lamplight. It landed gently on the table with a soft thud.
"I returned to my kingdom and joined the military. I knew my half-brothers would still be hostile towards me, but I didn't let their animosity deter me. I trained relentlessly, driven by a burning desire to one day find the people who had murdered the man I loved… One month after my return to the palace, I saw a young girl, no older than fifteen, wandering the streets." She turned her gaze towards Lilly, a gentle warmth entering her eyes.
"Even though she possessed a remarkable gift," Aurora explained, "no one seemed to notice her, or perhaps they chose to ignore it. So, I took her in, offered her a home, and from that day forward, she has been like a daughter to me." She smiled at Lilly, who returned the affection with a bright grin.
"But the fleeting joy didn't last long. When I was eight months pregnant with Aaron, the Five Grand Priests from the five major Races experienced a shared vision, a terrifying prophecy. It foretold the birth of a child who would either plunge the world into unimaginable danger or, worse, utterly destroy it. After countless divinations and magical inquiries, the Elven Grand Priest identified me as the bearer of this 'Cursed Child.' The king, my half-father, declared that my child must be killed. Left with no other option, I had to flee. Lilly, sensing my distress and seeing that I was close to labor, insisted on coming with me. With no other option; I chose to run into this secluded forest, believing it to be the safest place to give birth to my child."
She looked at Aaron, her gaze filled with fierce protectiveness. "You will never be the one they label as the Cursed Child."
"What race was my father?" Aaron asked, his voice quiet but filled with a deep yearning for understanding.
Aurora looked at him, her expression a mixture of love and a hint of something unreadable.
"Your father… your father was not of any known race, Aaron. He was a…"