It was during her birthday when that incident occurred, she was turning two during that time.

Her parents, my daughter Anna and her husband brought her to my home, they inconspicuously said to me that they will be preparing a special surprise for her birthday, and that they don't want their daughter finding out, that's why they came here to ask for my help.

"Listen, so this is what we were planning to do for her birthday this time..." Grandma Priscilla's daughter smiled while whispering it to her.

Meanwhile Anna's husband gently patted their daughter's head as a show of affection, before handing their daughter over.

Anna then held her mother's hand with both of hers as a sign of respect and to flatter her, "Mama you're the only one we can trust with this, sorry for the trouble"

"I don't mind it, hohoho" Grandma Priscilla remarked.

Of course, who am I to refuse, Ada was such an adorable kid, delighted I quickly agreed to them.

"Bye mama! Take good care of her!" As Anna and her husband ran off into the distance while both of them waved back at me.

The moment I held her up high, I was happy, and throughout the day I made sure that my granddaughter was ready for her very special day.

I bathed her, I combed her hair and made her wear the clothes that I was planning to give to her as a present.

'Ahh whatever, she'll just be receiving it earlier than planned, I'll just prepare a new gift for my cute granddaughter' Grandma Priscilla thought while watching the mini-Ada play with the fidget spinner and the Rubik's cube toy by her bed.

I then spent the rest of the day feeding Ada the biscuits that I had stored and then proceeded to the squishing of her chubby cheeks.

"S-Shtop it Grashma..." Mini-Ada spoke in a sweet child tone of voice.

"I'm sorry, you were just too cute to resist, I could not help myself." Grandma Priscilla was tempted to keep on going even if the mini-Ada might get furious at her, because she was already imagining that her angry and pouting face might be something to look forward to seeing too, she just thought of how she wished that this moment would go on forever.

...

It then turned afternoon, and that is when I decided to check up on Ada's parents, I was getting worried since they didn't come when it was already way past the promised time.

So, I left the house and brought Ada along with me, because I did not want to leave her unattended.

Together we traveled to the opposite side of the village where my daughter's home is located, they just had to settle down there.

"Sheesh those two! who do they think they are to make an old lady like me walk this far?! Once I arrive there, I'll be sure to scold them thoroughly! I'll make them pay by eating all the foods that they prepared-"As Grandma Priscilla stomped on the ground and then shouted into nothingness, but she was interrupted by the feeling of a small thing poking her legs.

"Grandma, please carry me, I'm tired" Ada spoke in a dreary tone of voice, whom she could not hear because she was being really loud.

(Grandma Priscilla could not resist the charms of her granddaughter and quickly piggybacked ride the mini-Ada even though it hurt her back.)

***

They were both happily walking, joyously anticipating the surprise of a merry celebration awaiting them, but when they arrived there-

"What?!" Grandma Priscilla frowned.

Ada grabbed on her grandmother's shirt and worriedly said, "Gra-Grandma?"

There was nothing, no candles, no promised birthday cake, no food, no visitors, no nothing. There was only disappointment left for both of them.

The horse that the couple painstakingly took care of was gone, and when they hurriedly opened the door worried for them, they were both faced with the grim reality.

It was obvious what her daughter and her husband had done, the whole house had been ransacked clean of supplies.

Food, water, clothing and anything that one might need to camp outside while traveling, it was all gone, but there were no signs of struggle.

Did someone from their neighbors stole from them? Impossible, they knew everyone there.

Too early to jump to conclusions? but as stated earlier, there were no signs of struggle.

With that said, if you remove the near impossible plausibility, there was only one possibility left.

Rustle! Rustle!

However, even if what seems to be the most probable answer was staring them down at their faces, like a snake ready to bite them, Grandma Priscilla in disbelief still rushed inside to find any evidence, anything that might say otherwise.

Rustle! Rustle!

Meanwhile as her grandma checked the entire house, Ada was stuck at the front door, unable to enter.

She, with her eyes wide opened stared into nothingness, frozen, as if at her age she already completely understood what was going on, what her parents did to her.

They say that the eyes are the key to the one's heart, but with Ada's eyes it was completely obvious what she was feeling right now.

Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!

Till finally it turned dark, and Grandma Priscilla gave up on searching...

...

"Hey-hey let's just go inside..." As Grandma Priscilla knelt and gently touched Ada's face while smiling at her.

But even if the mosquitoes bit Ada, she was still listless, unresponsive to anything that her grandmother says.

So, Grandma Priscilla just grabbed Ada forcefully inside while hugging her, making sure that she feels her warmth, that she knows that she is still loved.

And as it was already nighttime, they had to stay there without eating anything, there was not even a single lamp left to light, and Grandma Priscilla's worsening eyes did not help.

They had to walk through to the darkness without anyone guiding them, it would've been convenient if she had an affinity for fire, but she does not.

...

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When they reached the bed where the couple used to sleep, Grandma Priscilla cuddled her granddaughter whose eyes kept on staring into the distance no matter what she did.

She then gently caressed her granddaughter's hair, making sure that she guides her to sleep before she does.

They had no choice, even if they don't want to, they had to stay in that damned painful house.

***

"That eyes of her, when we opened that door were still ingrained into my memory, every time that I would see her face, it would crush my heart.

I've always blamed myself for what happened, where was I lacking? what did I do wrong while raising her? did I not love her enough? how could she just leave behind her daughter just like that?

Anyways Philip, it took Ada awhile to break out of that shell, the once bright and cheerful granddaughter that I once knew was gone.

She stayed inside our home most of the time just staring out of the window, she was gloomy even when she received probably the greatest news she could ever hear.

When all of a sudden, she was able to use magic that she did not awaken when she was one year old.

We asked the village chief on why this happened, as he was one of the most knowledgeable persons about this in the village, second to the surveyor that was not there when it happened.

It turned out, that Ada was just a late bloomer, I learned that kids who do not awaken their magic affinity at one year old are either very untalented or very talented.

Those cases happen every once in a while, and the reason for Ada's delayed awakening was basically her own body protecting her from the immense potential that she holds, that's why she awakened at four years old instead of one. However, the former was more common that the latter.

Thinking back on it, that is probably the reason why Ada was abandoned.

It took another month, but Ada all of a sudden changed and became energetic, she would now always go out to watch the other kids playing, while waving her hands goodbye at me every time.

Maybe it was because that was her last happy memory with her mom, but the similarities in how they did it was uncanny.

Nevertheless, the damage was already done, so she remained socially inept, the only way that she made friends was through challenging someone to a fight.

She learned how to do that because of one instance when one of the kids that she was watching decided to pick a fight with her, and that became the only way she could communicate.

Philip, I've seen the efforts she went through just to maintain her friendship with you.

Please take good care of her." As grandma Priscilla tapped Philip on his shoulder

"What are you talking about grandma? there's no way that was the case" Philip laughed awkwardly as he felt a little bit uncomfortable with Grandma Priscilla's words.

Grandma Priscilla all of a sudden talked sharply and became blunt towards Philip, "Then do you have any other explanation on why she acts that way towards you?"

"I guess not hahaha" However, Philip just passed it off by awkwardly agreeing to Grandma Priscilla, even though he knew of one explanation that would explain it, and that is the fact that they were subjugating the beasts outside the village every night.

So, he just kept his mouth shut, as revealing it now would be throwing away all the efforts that they put into keeping it a secret.

***

Everything went by normally, like a traveler slowly arriving safely at his destined place, but such an event should also be met with cautiousness, as one may not know when unknown misfortunes would strike them.

It is like a tranquil water where one may wish to stay with forever, however a single rupture could cause a disturbance strong enough to destroy the balance and harmony that has been well maintained.

And once that happens, one will need to fight to retain the calmness and peace that their hearts once held.

"Hey what is it?" Ada asked Philip while they were hopping from branches to branches of the trees around them.

"Nothing" Philip said as he looked away and thought that, 'Was I being too obvious?'

"Seriously! What is it?! Why have you been staring at me weirdly since weeks ago?!!" Ada replied in frustration.

***

And just like that, another month went by.

Oh, how I wish that things went as smoothly as usual, I should not have jinxed it.

I went to check up on Ada's home to help her grandma, as always.

Meanwhile during that time, Ada was at the outskirts of the village, as it was her turn that day to investigate the traces of the beasts around, because from our previous encounters, we noticed that the effectiveness of the amulet was getting a tiny bit shorter and weaker.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The moment I stepped foot near the garden, I immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Firstly, before I even arrived, I should've already seen Grandma Priscilla from afar, roaming about and waiting for me, but she nowhere to be seen when she was supposed to be awake already.

Secondly, although I was not focusing on my hearing due to my running, I could hear the faint sounds of coughing from the inside.

So, when I reached their home, I didn't even hesitate, I quickly opened the door and rushed into their bedroom where I heard those noises.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

"Oh? Phili-Cough!"

I saw Grandma Priscilla lying there, already littered with her own blood everywhere, it seemed like every time she would cough, blood would come out.

"I'm glad that it's you Philip tha-Cough! I would spend my last moment with-Cough! although I wish that Ada was here too-Cough! Cough! but I guess that is just asking for too much, I have sinned against he-Cough!" Grandma Priscilla said those words contentedly while she smiled at me.

"N-No! I should not be the one here with you-just give me a minute-No! Just give me half a minute and I'll grant your wish" I spoke in hurried and panicked tone.

But Grandma Priscilla just ignored my words as she was not aware of my abilities "What are you talking abou-Cough! Cough! Just stay here with me-"

WHOOOOOOOSH!!

(Grandma Priscilla eyes widened at what she just witnessed, but she immediately calmed down and decided to hang on, as she was already gasping for every breath of air that enters and exits her lungs just so she could extend her life for even a moment, breathing for her had become tedious.

She was already at her last straws, even so she decided to put her trust at Philip.)

I ran as fast as my legs could give, no I needed to be even faster this was not enough-

FWHOOOOOOOOOO-!!

In a span of twenty-five seconds, I circled the entire radius of the village, and there I found Ada.

"P-Philip?! Waahhhh!!" Ada could see a glance of Philip once again but could not react to his speed, he was faster than he had ever been befor.

-OOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!

In the next five seconds, I was almost flying, I just dashed into the air to arrive at Ada's home.

I sympathized with her, even if I was still a bit distant with her family, I placed myself in their situation, if it was me and my parents that were the ones on their deathbeds, I'd want them to spend their last moments with me.

I just didn't want to rob her of that.

...

CRASH!!!!

All of the lightweight objects around bedroom went flying, In the blink of an eye, we got there, for Grandma Priscilla it was like we teleported there.

Grandma's eyes brightened; it was like she had been reinvigorated, the coughing stop and for a second, she was able to lift her body up.

"G-Grandma! we need to get you healed quick!" Ada rushed to her grandma's bed and tried to quickly find the medicines that was stashed away.

"Stop Ada, it's okay now" Grandma Priscilla said in a melancholic tone as she held Ada's hand.

Ada shifted her attention to the guy that she trusts the most, the guy who she depended on the most, the one who she would place all of her faith if push comes into shove, "W-What are you saying Grandma! Philip! We can still do something right?! help me-please..."

However, Philip could not even look her in the eyes and say anything to her in reply, a silent gesture that even he couldn't do anything.

"I-Impossible!" Ada quickly realized what was up and tears started flowing from her eyes,

"NOO! Grandma I'm not ready yet! - Sob! Sob!"

"I trust you, you're ready now-Cough!" Grandma Priscilla gently caressed her hair for one last time, they then hugged each other for as long as they could.

Sob! Sob!

"Cough! Ada, can you lay me down now, I'm getting tired"

"O-Okay grandma..." Ada slowly laid her grandmother to rest.

Then as Grandma Priscilla's voice turned sluggish, and her eyes grew weary, she spoke her final words.

"A-Ada was I a good parent to you?"

Ada chuckled for a bit and said, "What are you talking about grandma, you were the best parent I could ask for, the only one in the world."

"I-I see" As Grandma Priscilla eyes lost its life, she moved her facial muscles one last time, and she died with the sweetest smile on her face.

Ada's tears started flowing again, like rain droplets it couldn't help but leave a stain on her grandma's clothes.

They say that before a star dies, it flickers the brightest for one last time, I can confidently say that Grandma Priscilla was definitely a star.

"A-Ada I'm here, if you want me to, I'll help you report this to the village chief, or if you can't I'll go there alone" Philip said in a compassionate voice.

Ada replied by hugging me tightly, in shock I remained still, I couldn't just leave her there and waited till she's ready to come out.

Sob! Sob!

...

The surveyor spoke in an enticing voice and said, "Ma'am Anna, as stated in the contract here, I'll pay you five hundred gold coins, if you just come with me to your village to nudge your daughter for a little bit, I'll give you another five hundred extra, if you can convince her to come to the capital to become a conqueror-Sounds like a fair deal, right?"

"Really? for just convincing her?! that useless kid has finally got some use Huh? Are you listening to this Raul? ahahaha!" Anna laughed maniacally.

"Yes-Yes! my Pookie-bear, honestly, the timing couldn't have been more perfect, we just lost some money gambling, looks like we're on a roll here! HAHAHAHA!"

"So, do we have a deal Mr. and Mrs.?" The surveyor asked.

"Of course! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Of course! HAHAHAHAHAHA"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The three of them laughed maniacally together.

...