The worst of Ada's and Philip's predictions came true, thus fighting the beasts at night and sleeping throughout the morning had become a daily routine for the two, after all they had no other choice if they wanted to maintain the secrecy of the current situation without the risk endangering the populace of their village.
In the following nights, they had encountered different types of beasts, from gigantic earthworms, a savage tiger, to a mountainous bear, and many more, that all came from all sorts of direction with the intent of breaking through them and ravaging their village.
However, it is not even a question, that every time they fought the beasts, the duo would always come out on top, because together they were unbeatable, as they were both prodigies that symbolized the unstoppable and the immovable or the unbreakable shield and the spear that always pierces. Combined, they both created a force that were beyond logic for this world, it was as if a single person wielded both the spear and the shield.
***
Few more uneventful years passed by them, and village's new generations childhood phase ended, most of them were sixteen years old now to be exact.
Throughout this time, both Ada and Philip had become even stronger, they've accumulated immeasurable experience by fighting those ferocious beasts, to the point that their past selves can't even hold a candle to what they've turned into. They've become monsters that were nearly similar in strength, if not stronger than those considered the up-and-coming geniuses from the various intellectual species that roams about in this world.
However, because of what Ada and Philip had been busy with doing together at night, they were also seen a lot together at day,
["Really? Couldn't you have phrased it better?] (Philip commentated)
Oh-Shut up! you two are gonna do it in the future anyways (The narrator narrated in retort to Phillip)
E-Ehem! Ehem! As such, the rumors that there is something going on between the two of them are bound to spread, especially to the children around their age, because they both basically neglected the factions that formed around them.
Then as that gossip spread, it eventually reached the ears of Ada's grandmother, because of that Ada had no choice but to introduce Philip to her, as Ada is the type of child who can never go up against her grandma's words. Although it might seem hypocritical of Ada, as she had already did just the opposite of that by sneaking out every night, but to her the situation called for it, after all nothing is absolute in this world, and again the value that she puts on her grandmother's words never changed, as she still treats it like her own and its essence remained the same. At least that's how she rationalized it-
"It is very nice to finally meet you, ma'am Priscilla" Philip spoke in the most respectful tone that he could utter and kowtowed in front of the old lady.
"It is very nice to meet you too boy, come on-stand up, there is no need for you to go that far to greet me" Ada's grandmother smiled and accepted his greeting with open arms.
"No, the pleasure's all mine ma'am" Philip again spoke in a very respectful tone while still lowering his head as he stood up.
Meanwhile Ada who was just watching the event unfold in the corner couldn't help but think 'W-Who are you?! Are you really the Philip that I know?!!'
Ada was dumbfounded, inwardly she was expressing a face of all of a sudden just seeing the grossest thing she could possibly imagine, she was cringing, as she was feeling creeped out by Philip's considerate traits that just magically appeared out nowhere.
However, as if that wasn't all Ada's grandmother remarked that "I'm glad that the friend of my granddaughter is such a kind boy, honestly why can't she be more like you?"
'Is he a magician? or is the sun going to fall today?? OR??? is this my last day on earth?!!' It was like Ada has been put in the situation when you first introduce your friends to your family who does the most devious and diabolical things, but all of a sudden, they do a complete a hundred and eighty degrees and start showing you sides that you have never ever seen before-
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Also, ma'am is a bit much, I'm feeling uncomfortable from it, it sounds really stiff" As Ada's grandmother wrapped her arm around Philip's shoulder, already acting close with him.
"T-Then how should I address you?" Philip smiled awkwardly and replied in a surprised tone while still retaining that serious but respectful demeanor.
Ada's grandmother thought for a while till she replied with, "Hmmm, Grandma should be fine, how about you? what should I call you?"
"Then Grandma, please just call me Philip" Philip spoke in a joyous tone, happy that he managed to immediately connect with the old lady.
"I see-I see, come Philip, let's talk things over the dining table, I know we have a lot to talk about, especially about my granddaughter." As Grandma Priscilla winked at Ada with a cheeky smile.
The three of them then shared a lively meal together, with Ada's anger meter reaching an all-time high because of all the teasing from her grandmother, and as if her own grandmother wasn't enough, Philip betrayed her too to poke fun at her.
Philip then noticed something that people wouldn't normally notice, because he had a better sense of taste, he noticed that the meal prepared here tasted a little different than the ones that Ada brought when they were sparring. So, as it hit his senses, it also immediately hit his brain-
Thus, in turn Philip remembered something that he forgot to do "Come to think of it, grandma I haven't thanked you yet for the meals that you cooked for Ada and me, so as a formal sign of sincerity-Thank you very much! It was really good!"
However, for Philip, Grandma Priscilla's reaction couldn't have been more surprising, at first, she smiled deviously, which she then covered her it with her hand, and then tried and brush it off by pretending that her smile was just her being genuinely happy at the compliment that she received-
"Ohohoho! I see but that wasn't just all me, Ada also helped me prepare that, so you can say that her cooking was just as good as mine too hahaha!" Grandma Priscilla knew exactly what was going on, as she had no memory of doing any cooking for them, and of course she didn't want to expose her granddaughter, so she mixed the truth with a lie to redirect the credit to her granddaughter.
Grandma Priscilla felt like a wingman or in this case a wingwoman, she hasn't felt this way in a long time since her youth, so she felt like she was back in time, she was rejuvenated.
Philip then responded in an uplifted tone of voice, "I-I see HAHAHA"
Meanwhile, Ada on the corner remained quiet, this time not out of anger but of embarrassment, as her cheeks started turning red.
Cough! Cough!
All of a sudden Grandma Priscilla started coughing, "My bad, I think I must've choked down on the potatoes and meat"
"How many times do I have to tell you Grandma? hold back on the hard foods for a little, especially the meat" Ada scolded her grandma like she was scolding a child who was being stubborn, as such, one can only think how many times such instances already happened in the past for Ada to act that way.
'But she never touched any of the meat and potatoes though?' Philip thought while finishing the meal in front of him.
...
Life continued on as usual, everyday Philip would come and visit Ada's house and help her Grandma Priscilla in doing tedious tasks, like carrying the water buckets from the well, picking the fruits for her stall, and farming, especially during the times when Ada was tired from all the beasts that they subjugated, Philip would be there when she was sleeping. With this simple gesture of kindness Philip became even closer with Ada's grandmother.
Philip particularly liked the farming part; he found a new sense of appreciation while doing it. He liked the hard work put into cultivating it, and the bliss that he would get from the fruits of his labor when it was time to harvest them, he considered himself thoroughly rewarded.
On the other hand, Grandma Priscilla would reciprocate this gesture of his by cooking meals for him. Oh! and she also knew how to deal with Philip, because he resembled the personality of his late husband, so she knew the type of man that he was becoming. In addition to that, Philip really enjoyed this as he can have two lunches every time he would come, one from his home and one from this very kind grandmother, and that's how they both got along really well.
...
Then as the days went by as usual, Philip became curious about something, it was something that he had always wondered about every time he would visit. And as he felt like he had become close enough to the two, it was probably the best time to ask them...
So, one day when Ada was sleeping, and Philip was helping her grandmother tend to their garden, he gathered the courage to ask her-
"I know that this might be insensitive of me, but may I ask you something grandma?" Philip asked as he was holding a shovel.
"What's the problem, why the sudden formal tone? Ask ahead Philp" Grandma Priscilla felt a bit uncomfortable with the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"Where are Ada's parents? A-Are they already dead?" Philip asked hesitantly.
"Her parents sigh... To put it simply they left her" As Grandma Priscilla let out her sigh, her facial expression didn't change much but somehow it still looked very sad.
"I-I'm sorry for souring the mood, there's no need to continue" Philip felt it, so he just wanted it to stop there.
"Forget it, I guess it is time for you to know"
...