Chapter Two:

“Lady Thia of the House of Winters”

She had been expecting to feel a falling sensation. The type that you get when you dream of falling but jerking awake instead, that was the sensation that she had been expecting. Instead, it felt like the wind had been knocked out of her from a strong hit. Her feet tangled in the grass that she had been apparently standing in and downward she went, swift and hard. The mild daze that had filled her mind was sharply ripped away as she connected to the ground.

‘Oh gods...that hurt more than I had planned.' she thought as she let herself just lay there for a moment listening to the sudden chaos that sprang to life around her at her fall. In that moment she took the time to try and figure out her age and where she was. She didn’t feel tall, and her hand that gripped the ground felt small and as she began to try and push herself up, she couldn’t feel much weight.

She was pulled sharply into the moment when large hands suddenly lifted her, showing her exactly just how small she was, and the feel of warm liquid suddenly trailed down her face from her hair line.

“Lady Thia! Are you alright?! Can you hear me!?”

The woman’s voice was a shock to her as it drew her focus to the one speaking to her. “Nan..ny?” she couldn’t control the quiver in her voice as she stared up at the older woman that looked at her in worry and panic. She could still vividly remember this same face, much older as she screamed for mercy before she was hanged, shortly before she joined her. Her name was Elise, and she had been her caretaker all her life, the only one who had stayed by her side, and believed in her innocence.

“Oh, thank the Heavens, Lady Thia, you are alright.” Elise said as her trembling hands gently drew her small from close and into her comforting embrace. That’s right, she was Thia again. Suddenly she couldn’t control the tears that filled her eyes. Never had she truly cried as Thia, at least, not where anyone could see, but now, she no longer cared.

She sobbed aloud, in a mixture of pain of the wound on her head, and relief of seeing Elise alive and healthy again. In this moment she didn’t care how old she was or where she was, in this moment, she just wanted to cry. Her small hands gripped Elise’s front tightly as she buried her face into her apron, not even caring that her blood stained itself there.

The chaos that had erupted at her fall stilled as the young child’s cries echoed through the garden. She knew that it had to be a sight to see a child of a noble not only crying fully, but also having a blood smeared face that Elise was trying to coax her to relax enough to examine, but the amount of unhidden shock and surprise that they showed, seemed a bit excessive in her opinion.

After a long moment she relaxed and loosened her grip on Elise’s dress and allowed the older woman to draw her back slightly to see her face. “Oh, Lady Thia, you’re alright, that must have startled you. Does it hurt?” Elise’s voice was soft, and her gaze was tender as her fingers gently brushed her hair from her face to examine the small wound. This was a good chance, and Thia took it, allowing herself the guise of the young child that she obviously was now. With a quiet sniffle she closed her eyes and shook her head, scrunching her face up stubbornly.

“N-No... It...it doesn’t hurt...” she said, not even trying to withhold or alter her childlike tones that came from her sobs. Thia was surprised to hear the servants and maids in the distance whisper softly amongst themselves, but she could hear many of them express a cooing tone and sympathy that seemed exclusive for child when they tried to ‘act’ more mature than they were.

“Look at her, obviously the cut must hurt.”

“Oh, our little miss is trying to be so brave!”

“This is the first time I’ve seen her cry or heard of it.”

“Who would have thought that the little Miss Winter’s wasn’t as cold as she seems.”

“Oh dear, I hope the cut doesn’t scar, the Lord would be furious.”

“It doesn’t seem like it will, I've had cuts like that, and they didn’t scar on me, and I don’t have access to any ointments.”

“Oh my, how can a child be so precious even with tears?!”

“Wow, just her crying like a normal child...it makes her seem more human.”

The last one struck a chord with her. She remembered how often she had been told and had overheard the whispers of those around her about how she seemed nothing more than a porcelain doll, void of any emotion or feeling, yet perfect to observe. It had been one of the many ‘insults’ flung at her during her time of conviction, and it had been a reason that many had avoided her. Inwardly she smiled and thanked the servant that she couldn’t see at the moment for the spark that they had given in their words. That would be her first step and she could use it as her key to change the ending she had faced in this lifetime. She almost laughed quietly at how just a simple sentence, could be such a changing force and factor for her life.

“Milady are you alright?” the deeper male voice made her look up from where she had been staring at Elise tearfully as she allowed the small wound to be examined. The large knight that knelt beside her was known as Heindel and was Elise’s husband. Fresh tears began to spill from her eyes as she remembered his fate.

He had died before Elise had, and had died defending his wife during the downfall of House Winters. She had watched as Elise held his body and comforted her as they were left with his corpse in a cell. It was a fate that was not deserving of this kind man of honor.

“I... I am okay, Sir Heindel. I am sorry, for worrying everyone.” She said as she gripped Elise’s front still, trying to not wobble in her unstable standing position. When Heindel give a small smile, she blinked in surprise. She had no memories of the stoic knight smiling, and this simple act made her wonder how much she had missed before, how much, had been lost to her?

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“That is good Milady, and please, do not apologize to us, it is our blessing to be able to worry for you.” Heindel said, his gloved hand touched his uniformed chest as he dipped his head. It startled her when suddenly all the maids, attendants and servants started to speak their agreements of the knight’s statement. For a moment, she stared at all of them with wide eyes before she smiled brightly, making many of them gasp in awe of a sight that they had never seen before.

“Thank you, everyone, for always taking care of me!”

Later that evening

Thia stared at herself in the large mirror quietly, taking in her appearance and age. She had to be five years old at this moment judging by what Elise had said while helping her get ready for bed and tucking her in as well as how everyone had treated her throughout the day. She would have to remember to ask Elise what the date was tomorrow, but for now, in her first moments alone, she wanted to see herself. But it was obviously before her stepmother and stepsister had joined her family. If that had happened already, she would have had to listen to a scolding that would still be going on till now and likely a cane to her legs.

She was small, she had always been small as a child though, being born as premature infant could cause that. Her wavy black hair fell to her shoulders and loose at the moment. The ribbons that Elise had removed earlier had startled her and made her internally cringe and make a mental note to change out the maid that tended to her hair in the mornings. Large and sharp purple eyes stared back at her as she took in her small form and pale skin. She remembered how she would look when she grew up and knew that she could be a beauty if she chose. Most of it would depend on how what path she chose.

Quietly she began to look around the once familiar room, taking in the soft pastel blue and purple accents. She had maybe 2 years until her father brought in the woman that would be her stepmother and her half-sister. It was already past the point of changing that, not that she would have been able to.

After Thia’s mother, Lady Diana Winters, had passed away only a few months after her birth due to an unknown fever, Lord Winters had not returned to his home. He had put effort into avoiding his small daughter and the heir he had sent to boarding school in the country over at a small age. Rumors among the maids whispered it was because of how deeply Lord Winters had loved his wife, and that seeing young Thia who looked almost identical to her, was just too much for him. But she knew the truth.

Edmond Winters had, and even after her death, still hated his once wife. Thia knew that her mother had always believed that Edmond had loved her, just as she had. She had found her hidden journal early in life when exploring her mother’s room. It had once been a source of comfort in her life before, giving her the belief that the reason that her father was always so distant was because she reminded him of his long-gone wife. A frown creased her lips as she remembered exactly how she had learned that the lovely dream that her mother’s journal had given her had been shattered beyond repair.

She had been 15, just before her engagement had been announced when she had been ‘graced’ with hearing her father and the stepmother that he treasured so deeply speaking together in his study. That day she could remember how he had spoken of her, her mother and even her brother, his only heir with such distain. How he had expressed disgust that his long deceased wife had premade the arrangement for Thia's fiancé and if he had known of it sooner, he would have ensured it never would have happened.

She could remember his words and tone when he told his wife, how if he could, he would have cast her to the river after her birth, before the world knew she had survived Lady Diana’s hard pregnancy and early birth, but her mother’s survival had stopped that.

Thia shuddered, wrapping her small hand around herself as she moved away from the mirror to the window. She felt a mixture of disgust, anger, and sorrow. She had trusted her father, but it was all based on a lie. A part of her was glad though. Glad that she had returned, and that now she could make a change in her life here, and that her goal wouldn’t just be vengeance, but regaining a part of herself.

The night sky was clear as she took in the familiar gardens below and the mountains in the distance. A smile touched her lips as she examined the land before her. She knew what was going to happen, she wasn’t stupid, and knew that there would be changes when she herself made different movements, but she understood there would be points that would remain the same. Events that she could use. The first step would be contacting her brother. Bren Winters, heir of the House of Winters. He would be her greatest hidden asset.

In the past Thia and her eldest brother Bren were nowhere near close. He was five years older than she was and had been sent to a boarding school when she was barely a year old. By the time they had finally met in person though, her reputation had already been trashed by those who had plotted against her for her various positions. She could remember his look of pure disgust when they had finally met. She could still feel the sharp pain in her chest when she had realized that he would be no different than those that had been around her.

Her lip curled slightly, a part of her didn’t want to contact him, and play a doting sister, not after how he had treated her. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath, calming herself. She had to give him the benefit of the doubt in this. She didn’t know what lies he had been fed, nor for how long. She also didn’t know how he had been killed, just when. It would be a year after her stepmother would give birth to her youngest brother. A quiet laugh escaped her as she remembered her life before. “He really did just replace us, and wipe our existence from this world, didn’t he?” She said to the darkness softly.

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The Archdukedom of The House of Winters was second in power only to the Imperial Family, and was one of the five founding families within the Astrian Empire. Known as the Emperors Sword, the House of Winters stood at the head of the emperor’s military and military tactics. The other Houses were, The House of Summers, House of Autumns and House of Springs. The House of Summers was head of the Empire’s financial department. The House of Autumns was the head of the Empires agricultural department that helped manage the farmlands within the Empire. Lastly The House of Springs was tied to the Holy Temples, and the healing force within the Empire.

As she took count of what she remembered of the political status of her current world, the image of suddenly shifting shadows caused her to spin away from the window and try and see who or what had entered her room. A slight frown touched her lips as she couldn’t see anyone there and her gaze swept the empty room. It wasn’t until she saw the shadows wiggle again like shifting water that she remembered.

This world had Magic.

A wide grin spread across her face as she crouched before the shadows, her small fingers gently prodding and petting the shadows like one would pet a wiggling newborn puppy. She had almost forgotten the Powers that were both common and rare through this world. In the past she had hidden and downplayed her Powers for the sake of her Family and her Fiancé, under the impression that they would be disgusted with her. This time though, she had no intent of hiding her power.

Her gaze softened as she greeted the small shadows as they began to rise and rub against her fingers in greeting and affection. “You’ll be with me this time.” She promised softly. The moment of ease that she felt while enjoying the coolness of the shadows at her fingertips felt like it was chasing off the alertness that she had previously felt. Yawning she stood. “Tomorrow will be a long day my little friend.” She said softly as she climbed back into bed finally, satisfied with at least knowing and remembering her current situation. “Tomorrow is the day that we start putting everything in motion.” She mumbled sleepily as she snuggled the shadows that slid around her protectively.

The exhaustion of returning, mentally processing all the memories and adapting to a much younger body had taken its toll on her, and finally, for the first time in a long time, she fell into a deep sleep.