Both of Finn’s parents were in their early twenties when they had him. Elizabeth was an orphan, and Joe’s parents disapproved of the relationship and disowned him. As such, the brand-new couple was forced to move villages and start their home from scratch while Elizabeth was still pregnant.
“When’s your anniversary?” Finn asked while tending to the garden. ‘Crap,’ he froze. ‘I shouldn’t even know what marriage is.’ It was a spur of the moment question, said after his mother reminded him of his upcoming birthday.
Predictably, both parents stayed silent. They did not even turn to look him in the eyes.
Elizabeth gathered laundry from a string and pretended not to hear anything. Joe stopped working on the patio and silently walked into the house.
‘Do they know!?’
The family’s home had grown within the past few years. They now had a shack full of tools, a small flock of birds, a decent sized garden, and even a barn with a cow. If there was one superpower Finn could learn from his parents, it was the power of super hard work.
“How’re the tomatoes?” asked Elizabeth while ruffling his hair. The boy was sweating and stiff. With her help, Finn had added gardening and chicken breeding to his arsenal of skills.
He slowly looked up and his jaw went slack. His mother’s figure basking in the sun, her long, green hair dangling in the wind... She was truly a stunning woman.
“Mom, do I resemble you?” His hair was green too, although slightly darker.
“You’re the best of both,” Elizabeth kissed his forehead. “I’m sure, one day, you’ll grow taller than your father.” The woman cupped her cheeks while thinking of the future. “And, your mustache will be wonderful.”
“Hell no.”
“What was that?”
Their chat was interrupted by Joe walking out. Right in the middle of the garden, between the rows of tomatoes and cucumbers, the man knelt on one knee and presented a small, silver ring. There was a tiny river stone on top and it could only mean one thing.
“My love,” said Joe, his hands shaking. “I know it’s been a long time coming, but...” he swallowed his spit, “will you marry me?”
Just like that they were engaged, and the wedding was scheduled for four weeks later. Since there was no church in the village, the ceremony took place inside of Joe’s patio. With straight walls and actual planks on top, it was truly his best work, and Finn could now understand why.
The entire village had gathered for the ceremony, almost 100 people, give or take. There were no chairs for any of them, and they all had to bring their own food.
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However, nobody cared. Everyone was poor around these parts. They couldn’t even afford a priest, so the village nun had to do the honors herself.
“Do you, Mystral Elizabeth, take Joe to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Andrew Joe, take Elizabeth to be your...”
“I do.”
It was short but sweet. The ceremony was lovely. And then, as expected, the wine barrels came in. Strangers pulled out makeshift instruments, and a party to end all parties ensued until dawn.
It was like nothing Finn had ever seen in this life, and maybe in his past one too. People held hands and danced in a circle so large it broke into the street and into the neighboring yards. Nobody had fences, so no damage was done. Right in the middle, the couple jumped, swung, and flowed with the music in ways and with moves the boy had never seen.
'Beautiful.’ But there was no time to watch them. This was a golden opportunity to network. Teenagers jumped into the circle with their partners while kids hopped around trying to imitate them.
However, these were just small fry. Finn’s eyes were glued to another: a lady in her thirties with brown hair and sharp features, wearing a long black robe.
‘If anyone knows how to read in this village, it has to be her,’ Martha Brown, the nun.
As soon as the dancing subsided and the nun sat down to eat, Finn bolted towards her and jumped into her lap.
“Miss Martha,” he smiled as innocently as possible while giving her a hug. “That was a lovely speech, the best speech I’ve ever heard.”
“Hmph, I don’t doubt it,” smirked the nun while ruffling his hair.
‘Why does everyone do that?’
“You’ll be quite the charmer, little elf. You take after your mother. Just stay close to the ladies and away from the nobles; and if you see a Lopez, run the other way.”
“Elf?” Finn’s jaw went slack.
“Do you know who the Lopez are, little Finn? They’re not very nice people, so...”
“They’re the nobles in charge of this area, total bastards, working my father to the bone. What was that about me being an elf?” The boy grabbed her robe.
Impressed by his speech for someone so small and slightly taken aback by his mouth, the nun started talking. It turned out his mother was a half elf banished from her village due to her mixed lineage. She fell in love with Joe, who in turn, was disowned, so they made their home here.
“Do elves have powers?” The boy’s eyes sparkled.
“Elves, yes. Half-breeds, no. You’re a quarter elf, so don’t even think about it. Be glad you don’t look like your father, and dye that hair when you’re older.”
While the nun chugged a cup of red wine, Finn felt like burrowing himself into the ground. All of his hopes were dashed once more. His glorious future was in peril.
“Can you at least read?” he whined in frustration.
“Of course I can.” Martha lowered her cup. “What about it?”
[Name: Andrew Finn.
Nickname: Achoo.
Age: Four years and nine months old.
Race: Quarter elf.
Abilities:
- Sleeping and pooping {master}
- Eating solid foods {Master}
- Walking and running {Master}
- Language: {Master}
- Gardening {Intermediate}
- Raising chickens {Intermediate}
- Clay construction: Miniature models {Master}. Full scale clay construction {beginner}
Racial discrimination: Unlocked.
Teacher: Unlocked.
Comments: None]