276 A Personal Talk —–
“Ah~ Youth! So nice and cozy, isn’t it?” Giggled Arafunn.
“D-Don’t laugh at it!” I cried.
“So who is it?” He asked. “Oh, I bet Aquarina! You two are very close!”
“I-I am not thinking about anything! I-I would never try to think that way with Aquarina…” I said.
“But you did?” He wondered.
“Guh…”
“Well, you’re just a little child. You’re way too intelligent though, just by peeking into your mind, I can tell you’re incredibly mature…” He said. “However, to answer your question, I would say… It depends.”
“It depends?”
…..
“This world’s religions doesn’t punish anything of the sort. If you were worried about that. The Elves in particular are often asexual through most of their lives, only getting a partner to make a child very rarely.” Said Arafunn.
“A-Asexual?!”
“Don’t worry, it is a choice, but one we take because we live too long… Even amongst elves, romantic relationships end after a couple of decades, we get bored of the other at the end. Of course, short-lived races are also captivating to us, but they die very quickly, so when they go away it is very heartbroken…” He sighed with a sorrowful smile.
“Eh? They die… Ah…” I sighed.
“…I still remember the love of my life. I hope he is in heaven watching over me.” He said with a warm smile, seemingly, his eyes were filled with emotions.
Wait, did he said “he”? Oh…
“Do you believe in heaven, Arafunn?” I wondered.
“Of course, it is boring if you don’t. I dislike thinking that people just get swallowed by an endless void after dying, you know? Haha…” He giggled.
“Anyways, since he passed away that I decided to not seek more love, he’s still inside of my heart, and I doubt… I will be able to even replace it for all the centuries I will live.” He said.
“Oh… You must have loved him a lot.” I said.
“Yeah… Haha… Ahem! Anyways, I shouldn’t really be talking about that! Now, now, let’s get technical. TECHNICALLY, there is no country that discriminates against people that swing that way, the other, or both… HOWEVER! There are certain groups of people that will always pester you about that. As long as you grow stronger enough to stand on your own and defend the one you love… You can love whoever you want, Sylphy.” He said. “Of course, as long as it is consensual! So if you ever think about that with Aquarina… you must know if she also swings that way and reciprocates the feelings, hm? Don’t force people to love you.”
“I-I know that! I would never force anybody, and please stop naming Aquarina in this! T-This is just a thing I am thinking about personally, it doesn’t involve her!” I said angrily.
“Haha, you’re such an adorable little girl, Sylphy, you’re really like my brother’s daughter.” Said Arafunn.
“B-Brother’s daughter?” I asked. “W-Wait… you’re really…”
“I am not technically your uncle, more like grandpa? I am the youngest brother of your grandfather, the father of Sylphy. Yeah, I am part of your family, haha…” He laughed.
“W-Whaaat?!” I asked in shock, everyone suddenly looked at me with surprise.
“S-Sylphy? Is something going on?” Asked my mother confusedly.
“E-Erm, no… not at all, don’t worry about it, mommy!” I said while trying to pretend there was nothing wrong going on.
“Hahah, I told her through telepathy about being her grandpa’s little brother… I screwed up, she was supposed to know this later, wasn’t she?” Asked Arafunn.
“Ugh, idiot uncle!” Sighed my mother. “Just how stupid can you get?!”
“Mom, don’t treat like that your uncle!” I said.
“Well he’s just like two hundred years older, not that much.” Said my mother.
“Hahaha, don’t worry, Sylphy, this is our dynamic.” Said Arafunn.
“Isn’t he your uncle grandpa then?” Asked my father. “I knew about it but I have no idea why your mother was so much into keeping it a secret…”
“Isn’t it obvious? The moment she gets to know she’ll…” Muttered my mother, as I hugged my uncle grandpa.
“Uwah! S-Sylphy?!” He asked timidly.
“I finally found another family member! I am not letting you go away, Uncle Arafunn!” I said.
“Hahah, I see, so this is why you didn’t wanted to tell her.” Laughed Arafunn.
“She’ll overly clingy…” Sighed my mother.
“W-What? Clingy? I am not clingy! I am just happy I found another family member! Hey, Uncle, you gotta stick with us then! How about living with us in Atlanta?” I asked happily, filled with expectations.
“E-Erm, it would be better not to, Sylphy. I am free-hearted man, I cannot really stay in a place for way too long.” He said apologetically. “I might stay with you guys for a few months but that’s my limit.”
“Huh?! But…” I sighed.
“Come on, cheer up, Sylphy. We have barely met for a day, alright? We are long lived races, but even then, we have to appreciate every single day… That way, life doesn’t move so fast… It is the greatest battle we elves have…” He said.
“Uuuh… Okay…” I sighed.
I really felt quite surprised that Arafunn was my family, but I immediately felt happy about it. I’ve always dreamed about meeting the whole family, both from my mother and my father, as in my previous life I was never able to as my grandparents had all passed away… In fact, my previous life father was an orphan, so not even he knew who his parents were, meanwhile, my previous life mother’s parents perished out of a disease at a early age, leaving her at the age of 10 without anyone.
It was indeed a harsh life back then, but those two still built a beautiful house and… a beautiful family with me and my little sister. But since I reincarnated, I’ve always wanted to meet uncles, grandparents, cousins, and more. And Arafunn resulted to be the young brother of my grandpa! Isn’t that amazing by itself?
I just didn’t wanted to let him go now…
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