"Good morning, or should I say goodnight?" I hear a voice asking me. Hadn't I slipped into a dream?

"Aren't I dreaming?" I ask.

"Yes, of course you are! You didn't happen to die in your sleep, don't worry." Alias tells me, appearing in front of me.

"Then how are we speaking?" I ask him.

"I decided to go to sleep too on that big comfy bed you were admiring." he tells me, shrugging his shoulders. "It seems that when we sleep at the same time, we are able to share a dreamscape."

"That's fascinating." I tell him.

I decide to look around for a moment before continuing the conversation. We are both sitting on beds that look exactly like our real world beds. I guess things are mimicked in the dream from real life. Does that mean I won't be able to fly?

In the center of the room is the rug that was in Alias's bedroom, and next to my bed is my nightstand. Something interesting that I notice is a fuzzy little kitten baby on the bed next to me. He is staring up at me with his bright eyes shining.

"Blizzie is here?" I ask Alias.

"Seems he has decided to become a full familiar to you. You should be honored." Alias responds.

"Yes. Honored!" I hear a little voice repeating Alias's last word.

"Blizzie can talk?!" I ask, startled.

"Yes! Blizzie talk. Blizzie happy to talk to Aria now! Aria happy Blizzie can talk?" he asks, walking over to me and putting his soft paws on my chest.

"Very happy Blizzie!" I say and pet his head. He bops it against my hand multiple times affectionately.

"Yay!" he responds, then comes closer to me, nuzzles against me, and curls up in my lap.

"How is this all happening. This doesn't feel anything like a normal dream."

"That's because it isn't." Alias tells me. "You had been thinking that you wanted to speak with me before you fell asleep, right?"

"Yes. I was thinking that it would be nice to be able to speak to you without having to die." I tell him honestly. "Seems like you found a way to make that happen. Did you know you were able to do this?" I ask him, curious.

"There are a great many things that I am learning alongside of you. I didn't expect to inherit this world. It is my first world after all." he informs me.

"I am honored to be learning it beside you." I tell him and flash him a smile.

"Do you like to smile? It seems that a smile is really comfortable for you." he tells me. I didn't know that it looked that way.

"Smiling used to be natural. I had a bright outlook on life, hopes and dreams. Friends even at one point in time. I lost all of that and learned how to fake a smile with the best of them. Today I started laughing and smiling again honestly. Do you think I will be able to again, once everything is over?" I ask.

"Everything doesn't have to be over to have genuine moments with someone. Even if everything seems like an unrepentant hellscape, there can be some moments of genuine joy and happiness. I am hoping you find that with the hidden route." he tells me, offering a smile of his own.

"I want to talk to you about the hidden route, but I have something that I want to ask before that, if that is okay?" I ask him.

"I will answer if I can." he tells me, and leans forward, listening intently.

"What happened to my mother and what was Aria's childhood like?"

"By your mother, you mean Aria's mother?" he asks me.

"Yes. I don't know how to learn of her, or of Aria's backstory. Do you happen to know it?" I ask him.

"Because I brought you into this body, it seemed I gained its backstory. Are you sure that you want to know?" he asks.

"I am living my life as Aria and trying to be the savior of this world. I need as much background and information as I can get. Tell me all that you can."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Okay. It may not be as in depth as you are wanting, but I hope it help." he says. I settle back to listen.

"Aria's story begins in the slums. She was born to a young unwed mother. Her mother wasn't even certain as to who the father was, or even when it was that she had gotten pregnant. As far as Aria was concerned she didn't have a father.

"Once Aria's mother gave birth, she was no longer able to live in her family home and had to make her own way in the world. Aria's mother, here after known as Lila, tried a couple different jobs to see what she could make a living doing. A window washer was too dangerous with a newborn, as was working in a bakery or the kitchens. Eventually she met a kind hearted group of women who gave her a place to live, as well as a job.

"Lila became a washerwoman. She was taught all the tricks and was happy doing the work. She loved the feel of the different temperatures of water, the different methods to scrub and rinse for the different fabrics. Eventually she began to experiment and created her own soaps. With her renowned beauty people thought that she was too good for the work, but Lila never agreed. She enjoyed her job, and the women that she worked with enjoyed both her and Aria.

"As Aria grew she wanted to help with the washing. Lila would send her on some small fetch missions at first. Go get stones of a certain size, pick certain flowers, gather up sand. Aria did all of these without hesitation and was happy for a job well done.

"Eventually, Aria made some friends with other street children. The two you need to know the names of were her best friends, Iris Ebony and Jason Elgrove."

I knew that Aria had been friends with them at one point in time, but becoming a princess changed her personality and she ended up turning her nose up at everyone she used to be friends with, not wanting to be reminded of her time on the streets. However, it is seeming that might not be how this story actually goes.

"Lila was very happy that Aria had made friends and gave her less responsibility so that she was able to be a kid. She knew that it was important to Aria's social growth and wellbeing and would send her off with a hug and a kiss and a promise to be home for mealtimes. And Aria never broke that promise with her mother. Their relationship was strong and good, and so Aria grew up with a strong and good heart.

"When not helping Lila, Aria would play games like kick the can and tag. She refused to play more dangerous games and would not give in to the peer pressure of learning to become a pickpocket. She said that she had a lot of pride in the work that her mother did and wanted to live an honest life.

"As she got a little older Aria would go with Jason and Iris to watch the knights train. Iris just watched and cheered, but Jason and Aria would pick up sticks and branches to try to mimic the knights. The knights thought it was hilarious at first, these young kids playing at being knights. However, the more the three would return, the less of a game it seemed to the knights. Although there were hardly any women in the history of the knighthood, they decided to mentor both Jason and Aria. They would take time out of their training to help improve the children's form, footwork, and the strength of their swings. One year for the festival of lights Jason and Aria were given training swords. Iris was given a wreath of flowers and a very well-made basket. All three children were happy. They thought that they would be best friends forever, and that nothing would ever change between them.

"During this time Lila kept improving with her skills. She became the best washerwoman in the alley, the street, and eventually the kingdom. People would travel a good distance to have their clothes cleaned. They said the way that she washed them, utilizing all the tools available, including magic, breathed new life into their clothes.

"Eventually word got around even to the castle. The queen has started becoming ill at this time and was having troubles with soiling her clothing. She was embarrassed by this and wanted a woman of integrity to help cover this. When she heard of Lila she disguised herself, took some soiled clothing, and made her way to were Lila was washing clothing. She patiently waited in line until she was able to speak with Lila. Lila greeted her brightly as did Aria, who happened to be there at the time. Aria had taken time away from playing to help her mother make some new jasmine and lotus soap. Don't ask me what made that soap special, I have no idea." Alias told me, seeing the questioning look on my face.

"The queen was immediately taken in by the smell of the soap and Lila's bright smile. Lila had no problem talking with the queen while she washed her clothing, and she didn't ask the queen about the stains on her clothing. Other washerwomen would ask where the stains had come from, claiming that it was to make sure they were using the best soap and tools for the job. The queen marveled at the fact that Lila didn't need to do this at all. She knew stains, and she knew soap and didn't need to know anything else.

"The next day the queen took more clothes, this time of varying different types of fabric. She watched Lila get the stains out, and the way that Aria was more than willing to help with anything that her mother needed. When Lila had seen the queen's clothing, she knew that care needed to be taken. She asked Aria not to go play and to help her. Aria smiled brightly and asked if she needed a special soap to be mixed up. This was the start of Aria's love of crafting and potions. She saw mixing soap as mixing potions, and even at a young age was better at it than her mother.

"Every few days the queen came, and every few days Aria and Lila would work on her clothing. This started an easy friendship between the women. After months had passed like this, Lila and Aria were invited to come live in the castle and work as the queen's personal washerwoman. Her laundress. Lila was thrilled, but nervous about such responsibility. It was then that the queen revealed herself. The queen had worried all this time that she would be rejected if Lila knew who she was.

"Lila accepted the queen's offer and the two moved into the castle, in the queen's wing. They stayed only a few rooms away from the queen herself. The queen claimed it was for them to be close at hand if their skills were needed. While that was partly true, it wasn't entirely true. Lila and the queen's relationship had deepened into something more. Aria knew about it and was just happy that her mom was still so loved.

"Aria thought that living in the castle would make it harder to see her friends. While it did prove to be a bit more difficult, Aria didn't mind. She would still find time to go out and play with Iris and Jason. She would still go and train with the knights. Lila encouraged this behavior and would tell Aria ahead of time the days that she would not be able to leave, as her mother needed her assistance.

"People in the castle were suspect about bringing in some street woman to care for the queen's clothing needs. However, they soon realized that they were wrong. Both Lila and Aria brought life and color to the castle. It didn't take long for the king to come make his way to meet Lila. He had decided to hold back his judgement until he had met her himself.

"The king loved her immediately. It wasn't the in love with her love from the beginning, but a deep affection. The queen knew about it and wasn't bothered, as she loved Lila as well. Also, the queen knew that she was dying and didn't want the king to be alone. The three had a deep and abiding love for one another. So deep that Lila was pregnant even before the queen's passing. The three all loved the baby, said it was their child.

"The queen didn't live much longer after Bennett was born. Before dying the queen blessed Lila as the new queen and celebrated the king's official union with her. Before then Lila was known to be not only the queen's laundress, but also the king's concubine. The castle was joyous when she became the new queen after the queen's passing.

"It was at this time that things really started to change for Aria."

Alias took a pause and summoned up a glass of water. He drank it down as I awaited the next part of the story.

"Aria's life had been going through slow but steady changes from the moment that she had been brought into the castle. Lila needed her more often, so she didn't go out and play as often. Many of her friends turned their back on her during this time, saying that she was no longer a street mouse, and so she couldn't fit in with them anymore. It hurt Aria, but she didn't argue with them. She knew that there was no point.

"Iris and Jason would still play with her though. They would walk around together, talk about their lives and go see the knights. The knights would ask about the days that Aria was away and she would explain that she had to stay home to help her mom. The knights would praise her, telling her that it is a noble trait to love and honor one's mother. This made Aria very happy to hear.

"The biggest change happened when Lila became queen. Aria was no longer helping with washing clothing, was no longer making new soaps. Instead, she was being dressed up like a porcelain doll. Instead of making soaps she was told that she could try to make perfumes instead. She did, but it simply wasn't as fun to her.

"She suddenly needed to get an education, learn royal manners, learn to dance. She had to learn so many new things that it made her head spin. At first the servants would look away when she went out of the castle to go play with Iris and Jason, but eventually she was told it had to stop. She had a lot of learning that she needed to catch up on. Playing with her friends and the knights had to stop until she was caught up on learning everything."