A serendipitous union

After a lengthy explanation, my dad had fully drilled into my head the relationship between them.

It was a somewhat funny one by the way, after his proper and detailed explanation, I also then knew the uncle's name, Matthew.

My dad explained that he was once classmates with Aunty Gloria, in fact, friends.

But as time passed, he started developing romantic feelings towards her. However, the issue was that she only viewed him as a younger brother, rather than someone she could view in any romantic light.

Life continued its gentle unfolding, and despite a series of polite rejections, their bond remained remarkably resilient, with neither of them drifting apart or succumbing to expected awkwardness between them.

This created space for their relationship to flourish and deepen.

During his final year at university, he found himself growing increasingly close to her dorm mate, Felicia Taylor.

Aunty Gloria's subtle yet discerning matchmaking efforts brought them together, and they started a relationship which later bloomed into a marriage.

After a year, they all graduated, becoming esteemed mages in their world.

As the saying goes, 'twenty children can't play together for twenty years,' so they inevitably went their separate ways, diverging to pursue their respective career paths.

However, amidst this scattering, Felicia, my mother, found herself increasingly drawn to my father.

As they continued to spend more time together, they discovered new facets of each other's personalities, deepening their connection.

Before long, they took the final step, sealing their love with a lifelong commitment – tying the knot.

He further elaborated that they often met for casual meet-and-greets during that time. All of this unfolded within a two-year timeframe.

Meanwhile, my father had inherited a cozy cottage house and a sprawling poultry farm from his late father.

As a Mid-Level Mage of the Advanced stage, he had access to various lucrative opportunities.

However, he chose the most expedient path: taking on high-risk missions, such as hunting ferocious monsters, beasts, and eradicating rogue rebel groups, among others.

Before embarking on this perilous path, he made sure to tie the knot with my mother.

Together, they made a pact: he would take on high-risk missions for three years, amassing wealth and experience, and then they would settle down to build their family.

Aware that hunting offered more substantial profits in other continents, particularly in Thrakos, they temporarily relocated.

My mother, however, didn't join him on his hunting endeavours.

Instead, she decided to forego the illustrious privileges of a mage's life, opting for a humble existence, finding joy in the simple act of spinning yarn and weaving clothes.

He confessed that the initial three months were quite a challenge for them, as they had relocated from a continent with a relatively mild climate to Thrakos, where the temperature was unforgiving.

The contrast was stark, like comparing a gentle steam to scorching hot air.

However, as time passed, they gradually acclimated to the warm continent, its people, and began to form a few meaningful connections.

He was a member of the Head Branch of the Hunters' Union, a prestigious global network of hunters with extensive affiliations to influential companies and establishments worldwide.

It was within this organisation that he joined the esteemed Orbus Mercenary Group, led by your father, Uncle Matthew.

Over the course of three years, the group forged unbreakable bonds as they battled formidable foes, including monsters, rebel gangs, and malevolent forces.

Before departing, he had amassed substantial wealth, privileges, and connections to the upper echelons and major distribution channels globally.

Upon his return to his home continent, accompanied by his wife, my mother, they resumed their lives, picking up where they had left off. But this time, they had a newfound vision—to expand and redevelop.

Gradually, they began rebuilding and expanding their entrepreneurial endeavours, leveraging the wealth, connections, and experience they had garnered during their time in Thrakos.

As they continued to build and develop their existing resources and connections, they exhaustively explored every avenue to locate Aunty Gloria, but unfortunately, their efforts were in vain, it was like she disappeared into thin air.

After a year of searching, my dad made the decision to bring his younger brother abroad, to join him in growing the family business.

And after some time, my mother got pregnant, but her life was tragically cut short during childbirth.

So much changed after that, my dad, for a reason unknown to me, was always away.

Even when he came back home, he always buried himself in his study room.

I was too young to understand many things then, but one could argue he was more present and active in my infant life than in subsequent years, which found our intimacy fading with each day that passed.

Yes… That was what led to them finding me in a near-death state, his long periods of staying away. Thankfully for my stars that time, he came with a bigger star who hurriedly came to my aid, Aunty Gloria.

My father recounted how a fortuitous trip to Fallhaven, a continent away, led to a chance encounter with Aunty Gloria, the very person he had been searching for, whom he had been eager to reconnect with after all these years.

He was even more astonished to find Uncle Matthew also, and in a remarkable turn of events, the two were together, their serendipitous union, the icing on the cake.

Upon reuniting with them, my father decided to bring them back home with him.

Though he didn't delve into their circumstances, their willingness to leave their old life behind and start anew in our household hinted at a deeper story.

Upon their arrival, he formally introduced them to the staff, warmly welcoming them as the newest members of our family.

In a heartfelt moment, he took my hands into his, and promised to never ever leave me again.

Indeed, he kept his promise to me, never for once, stepping out to deal with things outside the continent, instead, delegating everything to his brother.

Uncle Matthew and my dad focused only on businesses in Filho, leaving only Aunty Gloria and I to go about 'our own businesses.'

She really came into my life at a point in time when I really needed a string of hope to redeem me from the drowning despair that wrecked my teenage heart.

I could as well say, her entry into my life on that fateful day, changed the trajectory of my journey, setting me on a new course.

Without Aunty Gloria, I would have been adrift in a stormy sea.

But she anchored me with her presence, and I was able to chart new courses, explore unimagined horizons, and turn my dreams into tangible experiences.

With Aunty Gloria as my trusted companion, my dad no longer worried about me venturing out of the house.

He was comfortable with me going shopping and experiencing new sights and sounds, knowing she was there to guide, support and protect me.

With Aunty Gloria by my side, I experienced many firsts: the pungent, metallic air of a mundane abattoir, the soothing sound of waves, and the vibrant chaos of a traditional market.

She taught me countless things, and I remain forever grateful and indebted to her.

Without her guidance, I'd be clueless, struggling to navigate everyday life. I was even unaware of something as simple as lip balm!

Her influence has been invaluable, and I shudder to think how lost I'd be without her wisdom and tutelage.

I can't even imagine how overwhelming my first menstrual flow would have been without Aunty Gloria's guidance.

Her teachings saved me from potential embarrassment and confusion.

Aunty Gloria's guidance enriched me with valuable insights, helping me grow into a confident lady, a compassionate person, and a skilled mage, even before my initiation.

With her expert mentorship, I learned to play the strings with skill, cook with flair, and dress with poise.

Her teachings instilled in me a sense of wisdom, nurturing my development and fostering personal growth.

Life unfolded with joyful simplicity, and those seven years with my new family of four—occasionally joined by my uncle, who would drop by sporadically, making our gatherings a lively quintet—were undoubtedly the most idyllic and cherished moments I had ever known.

But then, one fateful day,…