For a several moments, father and daughter walk in silence following the story, the sound of young Tessa's steady breathing matching her expression of quiet contemplation. Her father looks down at her, a small smile on his face.
After a while, Tessa looks up at him in confusion.
"Daddy...did any other Nephilim have babies with elves? Couldn't some of the high elves be from one of those people? We can't all come from the First Queen, right?" (Tessa)
Her father widens his eyes in surprise at the insightful question...it's the first time she's ever asked it.
"Well, remember that this is just a fable, Little Scholar. We can't be sure how much is real. But there are no other stories about children born from a Nephilim and elf parent, just the First Queen. If she really was the only one, and if it's really Nephilim blood that makes a high elf, then perhaps we all really are her descendants." (Tessa's father)
She purses her lips, clearly displeased with the answer.
"But that makes no sense, Daddy. If it happened once, it should happen again eventually. How could there be no other Nephilim-elf babies?" (Tessa)
Her father chuckles and shrugs his shoulders.
"I don't know sweetheart...that's just the limits of what we know. However, if you really want me to guess, maybe it's because there wasn't enough time for it to happen again. Stories about the Nephilim say that, at some point, they all disappeared from our home world, long before our people moved to Azura. We don't know why or exactly when. But since it took several elven generations together for the First Queen to be born, maybe the Nephilim's disappearance happened only a few more generations after that, before another child like her could exist." (Tessa's father)
Tessa's eyes go wide in disbelief.
"The Nephilim disappeared!? What happened to them, Daddy!?" (Tessa)
He shakes his head.
"I don't know. That's all the stories tell us, and truthfully, very few elven scholars alive today even know those stories. Some scholars think that the Nephilim are just a myth created to explain where high elves come from, and to stress the power of learning and sharing knowledge. Others think that the Nephilim died out somehow. I've even heard theories that the Nephilim just...left. To another land, to another world...who knows." (Tessa's father)
She pulls on his sleeve, looking at him expectantly.
"What about you, Daddy? What do you think really happened to them?" (Tessa)
He raises his eyebrows at her, then thinks it over for a moment. Truthfully, the stories about them are too few, too old, and too...romanticized...for him to consider them evidence for speculation. But, they might be useful for something else...
He smiles at his daughter and responds in a curious tone.
"I'll tell you what, why don't you tell me what you think the most logical explanation is, and I'll tell you what I think of your answer?" (Tessa's father)
Without saying a word, the girl's face scrunches up in concentration, and her finger subconsciously presses into her chin while she contemplates her father's question. Eventually, she nods to herself.
"Making them up to explain high elves like you said is dumb, Daddy. Couldn't a god just create elves and high elves together? That's a simpler story. And you always say fables have a grain of truth, but making up an entire race is nothing but lies!
"I don't think people that strong can all die, either. If they did, why weren't their elf neighbors dying, too? So, I think they moved far away. Probably to another planet, or else the elves would have seen them again. If they could already fly across their cities, I bet they could fly to other planets just fine!" (Tessa)
An amused smile comes to her father's face. She's a little naive, assuming that all the information is either true or not, instead of exaggerated or partly true. However, she's at least doubting the things she reads, and she's doing an okay job of justifying her answers. He couldn't be more proud.
He squeezes her with a quick hug and peppers her cheeks with a number of affectionate kisses, causing the girl to giggle hysterically.
"Excellent job, Little Scholar, you make some very good points! Okay then, we'll say you're right, and the Nephilim set out amongst the stars. Why do you think they moved away?" (Tess's father)
Tessa slowly manages to stop giggling and gives her dad a confident smile.
"That's easy, Daddy! It's because their children were all grown up." (Tessa)
His expression becomes confused.
"What do you mean by that, sweetie?" (Tessa's father)
Her smile doesn't fade, and she just nods matter-of-factly.
"Well, the elves were kind of like me, and the Nephilim were like you, right? You take care of me, and you help me learn and answer my questions. But remember what you said? That it's your job to make me wise enough so I can be on my own. I bet the Nephilim left because they did their jobs." (Tessa)
He walks in stunned silence for several seconds, his daughter completely oblivious to how much those words have affected him. After a few moments, he gives her a loving smile, while she's still staring at him patiently.
"Well then, you've convinced me...the Nephilim are out there on another planet. But if they're good parents, they'll still check in on their children and visit the elves of Azura one day. That's very important for me to do, too, Tessa. So, even when you're all grown up and wise, you need to come back and visit me so that I can check on you. Okay, Little Scholar?" (Tessa's dad)
The girl smiles up at her father and pulls his shirt towards her in a feeble embrace.
"I promise, Daddy!" (Tessa)