Chapter 41: Reunions
Chapter 41: Reunions
A brief silence erupted. Elias and the rest of the group were stunned. The dazed Alysa immediately snapped out of her dazed state and shouted in disbelief.
"W-hat are you saying?! Grandfather?!!"
"What? You don't want to?"
Harris gave an inquisitive look to Alysa, much to the latter's increasing fluster. He thought for a moment before he continued.
"I've thought about it, anyway. With the further increasing chaos of the world, it's no longer safe to keep you in this tiny village. It's not because I want you out, I want you here forever… but that's impossible, even I know it."
"It's for your own good, a talented artist like you should not be stuck in a tiny cage like this village. I promised my son and daughter-in-law to take care of you. I know you have a lot of dreams, so this is your opportunity!"
"As for me, I can still handle being along for a few more years. You don't have to worry about me, Alysa, think about your future and dreams first, alright? So go with them."
Alysa was stunned and couldn't muster a reply.
Near the two of them, Sebastian looked at Elias who was quiet and stayed quiet as well. This wasn't him to decide.
Thinking for a moment, Elias closed his eyes before shaking his head.
"With all due respect, this is not our decision to make, Sir Harris. I want to hear Alysa's decision before we should talk about it and consider this."
Harris was stunned before sighing in relief. He nudged his granddaughter beside him.
Beside him, Alysa was speechless but quickly recovered. She was grateful that she had a decision over this matter… but what exactly should she do?
Her grandfather was not wrong, she did have dreams. She wanted to go to the city and experience more things than to be stuck in the village.
After a while, Alysa made up her mind and nodded.
"I'll go with you, Sir. Elias to the city."
Hearing that, Elias nodded and looked at Harris with a smile.
"Since she agreed, then we'll take care of her well like how you take care of us. But take the cash as well. I know you're also worried about the cash getting stolen by others, but as long as you say the Sanchez's name, you will be safe."
'Sanchez isn't that…' Harris was stunned before quickly nodding. Inwardly, he sighed in relief that he gambled for his chances.
In truth, he was pessimistic about his chances but still did it anyway. They had no reason to take Alysa, who could just be a burden, but they might accept it to their gratitude.
It was not like he couldn't send Alysa to the city on his own, but with a backer behind her, she should be substantially safer.
With her granddaughter's naivety and inexperience, she would be prey to those crafty conniving people in the city… and he could not come with her to help her as he had duties to attend to.
That was why this was the perfect opportunity.
Of course, he didn't just make this decision on the spot. He was not stupid, what if Elias and the group were horrible people that would not help her daughter?
He had already considered this decision a month prior. By observing Elias and the rest for a month, he had come to a conclusion: they might not be good people, but they also might necessarily be bad people.
It was a risk he could take.
Elias' reward for their kindness solidified his decision, making him think that they have their own basic principles to follow and they were trustworthy.
Giving one last look to the village, Elias patted his subordinates' shoulders and looked at Alysa before leaving for the helicopter.
"Let's go. I'm sure the pilot is waiting for us."
Sebastian nodded and followed Elias and the group. The two men gave the suitcases to Harris and left, leaving the old village chief and his granddaughter alone.
After a few seconds, Harris sighed and patted her hair.
"If you can, make sure you return to the village once in a while. I know you always wanted to go to the city, I always see your curiosity towards things."
Alysa was silent before she nodded.
"Goodbye, grandfather."
The two didn't speak for a while before Alysa closed her eyes and left as well.
At the entrance of the helicopter, Elias waited until Alysa arrived. Before entering, he looked at Alysa and smiled knowingly.
"Fate sure is a funny person, isn't he?"
Alysa smiled quietly, her eyes flashing with sorrow before turning into resolution, following him inside the helicopter.
Afterwards, the men guarding the outside of the helicopter also came in and the helicopter promptly flew away.
***
Entering the helicopter, Elias wasn't prepared for the disbelief and shock of his lifetime.
In front of him, an adorable young girl around seven to eight years old stood with sparkling eyes.
The young girl had long black hair tied into a ponytail, pale white skin, and large dark beady eyes, she stared at him with overjoyed emotions.
It was as though time stopped for both of them, Elias stared at the girl with unconcealed shock and confusion.
As though time resumed, the young girl adorned in an emerald green dress suddenly rushed to him and hugged his leg.
"Big brother…!"
Elias staggered in surprise before immediately adjusting his body. Subconsciously, he patted the young girl's hair softly.
Behind him, Sebastian whispered to Alysa before going away and leaving both of them for their reunion.
'Is this… my sister?'
Elias didn't know what to say. He didn't expect his reunion with his supposed-to-be sister to be this early. This was out of his pictured scenarios and plans.
In fact, he was just going to prepare thinking about it in the helicopter. But that plan was immediately ruined by this unexpected scenario.
He had a gut feeling that this was an intentional arrangement by his Uncle Sanchez and he was sure of it. He knew the man meant no harm.
But regardless, now that they have already met and reunited, what should he say? What should he feel? What should he do?
Before this, he was sort of expecting to be mixed with emotions. He was right, but not entirely. He didn't feel any repulsion or indifference toward her sister, only love and care.
'She's not my sister.'
Elias reminded himself, but the feeling of love and care inside him didn't go away. While thinking, he gently patted his young sister's hair, caressing it.
'But… isn't it my responsibility now? Who's going to take care of her? How can she grow up properly?'
That was what he thought. In a way, it was his fault that Elias Vito Castellano had died. In a way, it was his fault that she was all alone. In a way, it was his fault that this world was experiencing tragedy.
Thinking about that, he felt some bitterness but there was no guilt in his heart. He was just flat-out angry at whoever transmigrated him here.
'No, it doesn't matter if she's my sister or not. I'll… keep her safe, at the very least, I'll treat her like my sister as long as I'm in this world.'
'But the sooner I'm gone…'
Elias thought as he resolutely decided. He looked down and saw his young sister's puzzled and saddened eyes.
"Brother Elias...?"
Looking at those eyes, he felt his heart be devastated. Elias bit his lip and sighed, slowly he put his hand on her cheek and kneeled.
"I'm here, my little sister, Clarissa."
Clarissa's eyes brightened.
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