O, Frieren the Slayer (Part Two)
"You really don't need to worry about her age. It doesn't mean anything!"
(▽｀)
However, Annie let out a faintly mocking chuckle and waved her hand.
"She claims to be eighteen now, and a hundred years from now, she'll still claim to be eighteen. Just wait and see."
(▽`)
"But how many years she's actually lived, how much time she's experienced—I doubt even she remembers for sure."
╮(╯▽╰)╭
"Anyway, just don't think of her as a normal human."
(-)
As she spoke, Annie made a meaningful face at Frieren, hinting that Elaina wasn't as simple as she seemed, either.
As for the details, she couldn't be bothered to explain.
"..."
Frieren tilted her head and blinked. At first, she looked a little puzzled. But when her gaze fell thoughtfully on Annie's still-childish face—a face that sometimes revealed a wealth of experience far beyond her apparent age in the way she spoke or acted—she quickly understood.
So she followed up on Annie's words:
"So..."
"Elaina is actually like you, Annie?"
"She looks only eight, but you don't know how long she's really been alive?"
"You both have a way to keep this 'long-lived' appearance, or maybe even... live forever. That's why you have magic and knowledge beyond what ordinary people can imagine?"
Remembering what she'd seen in the library at the seaside estate where Annie lived, a look of understanding flashed through Frieren's eyes.
Even so, her tone remained rather calm. She was simply curious, as though discussing an interesting magical phenomenon. Though her question might have touched on a subject best left alone, she still wanted to know more.
"..."
(||￢▽￢)
Unfortunately, if Annie's face had looked cheerful before, it promptly fell the moment Frieren asked.
Then she glared fiercely at Frieren and snapped