Let’s roll the film back a little bit to this morning. We had just finished a conversation about a lot of things. I kind of laid bare some of my adventures and the future that awaited everyone. Meanwhile, she proceeded to demolish everything I once thought I knew about the world. As much as I would love to cover everything I learned from that now, it's quite honestly not the time to think about it. Well, that and I just don’t want to get too lost in thought while I stand here, or rather this dress is making me too self-conscious for something like that. Anyways I’m getting sidetracked. So, yeah jumping back right about. . . now.
“I think that's enough of that for now. As long as you didn’t jump back in time to prevent my death by giving me the daughter I always wanted, then it's fine. I don’t need to know too much or else time’s continuity might try and end everything anyways,” Teacher stated, closing off the previous matter and then starting the next, “I went through the trouble of preparing an identity for you just in case you didn’t have one handy. Considering the fact you don’t have one, then I assume you’ll be using mine?”
At the time I felt like I had just heard something absurd. I wonder if that would have worked? No, I shouldn’t get distracted. Upon realizing I had stopped paying attention I finally digested what Teacher said afterward. She had an identity prepared for me. Yeah, I didn’t really think what would happen, happen. So, I had zero things ready. I also don't really want everyone knowing I intentionally and accidentally turned myself into a little girl.
Without wasting another second I answered, “Yes, thank you very much. I’m really sorry that I’m taking advantage of your goodwill.”
“Well with the formalities out of the way. Please sign on the dotted line and I can add your new identity to the Maeia Cluster Union’s database,” Teacher said as she passed me a tablet with a bunch of 1 pt font legal jargon and a big dotted line underneath. Not thinking much of it, I signed like the moron I am. Man, I really am no better than those people who scroll to the end of a EULA just to hit accept. Regardless I sealed my fate anyways and scribbled a typical, non-legible signature. Teacher was unsettlingly happy when she informed me what had transpired, “Perfect from this moment on you will be Shana, my ten-year-old daughter who became estranged from me at birth.”
I struggled to process all of that as I responded. “Wait, isn't that name too close.. No, wait, what?”
“Now, now. It's time for you to get ready. After all, you need to make a good impression on all of your new onee-chans and onii-chans,” Teacher said brushing past all of my confusion.
At the time all I could really think was, ‘what the hell is an onee-chan and onii-chan’. It's her weird words that got me into this mess and I wasn’t all that happy for her to expand my lexicon. Just thinking about it ticks me off. I didn’t just sign an identity into existence. No that's not what I did. I validated everything was Shana and not Shane. DNA, energy signature, iris, fingerprint, everything. For as long as this body exists, anyone, a part of that union would see Shana as my real legal identity. Even if I managed to completely change my whole body again, as long as I am using my sage art 90% of the Maeia Realm can identify me as Shana with a single scan.
It really is over. That's checkmate on a game I didn’t even know I was playing. She probably used all 10 months thinking this is what I wanted but, also making sure she got paid what she wanted in return. Sure, she sees us like her kids and we definitely view her as a maternal figure. However, there was still a small amount of distance from it. At most, it was more of a master-disciple relationship, not a true parent-child one. Granted that's not the part that upsets me. I’m definitely angrier about how permanent this “temporary” identity is.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Yes, I think that now would be an appropriate time. Before that, I would like to introduce your new classmate and my daughter, Shana,” Teacher announced, signaling me to make my entrance.
This is absolutely demeaning. The once-great sage cowering like a kitten in front of his lifelong friends. Sure I could have swaggered on in like I owned the place but, I also couldn’t do that. The social anxiety that I thought I once conquered seems to have resurfaced tour de force. I could hear them whispering as I reached the podium. I couldn’t face them so my gaze was locked downwards. I definitely heard a couple of them call me cute.
Teacher continued her explanation, “Due to convoluted circumstances I assumed she passed away 10 years ago. However, about 11 months ago I had received intel from one of my contacts in the Dead Ring that they had found her. Since it was relatively safe I decided to send Shane to go get her. After completing the errand he decided to go out adventuring in the larger world.”
Dang, where did she come up with that story? She had way too much time for this. Well, I’m happy that she didn’t kill me off. As long as I solve the legal problems I can return once more as Shane after going through a “fortuitous encounter” or something. All in all, I can’t complain. If she really killed me off then I think I might have keeled over from despair. Before I could give a “proper introduction” one of them stood up.
Justin, grabbing everyone’s attention, began, “Don’t worry Teach. With a push of this button, I can know his exact coordinates then we can kidnap, err I mean drag, or rather invite. . . “
Teacher course-corrected his head into his desk before he could finish. Oh, man here we go. She can be a really kind person when you don’t aggravate her but when it comes to Justin and Aubrey her fuse is smaller than a strand of hair.
“So, you admit planting this bug was your doing,” Teacher spoke while pulling out a microchip the size of a fingernail before continuing, “I believe I’ve told you that if you did this again that you would be eradicated.”
She dragged him to the back and then proceeded to lock him to a cuff that had his name on it. IT was designed to stop him and only him from leaving. Obviously, she was going to dish out the rest of his punishment later. I would feel sorry for him if it wasn’t for the fact that he managed to bug me without me even being remotely aware of it. It probably happened before I came back in time but, the fact I didn’t even notice it scared me. My secret would have totally been out if Teacher didn’t notice. I’m sorry Justin but, your threat rating just went up 10 notches.
“Well with that out of the way. . . where was I? Oh, right! She’s a bit shy but, I hope you look after her,” Teacher finished her part before nudging me to do mine.
If this ship is gonna sink anyways I might as well be a good captain. Still, I couldn’t quite work up the nerve. My knees were still shaking quite a bit. Taking a deep breath I tried to speak, “I-I. . . I’m. My name is Shana, please don’t hate me.”
Damn it! I said what I was thinking. This has gotta be worse than that time I fell into a white dwarf. None of that came outright. I knew I had a bit of social disease in my last life but, I had assumed it got better after all that happened. How has it become so much worse?
Teacher seeing me on the verge of collapsing cut in, “Like I said I hope you guys will help her as she adjusts. I won’t be able to focus on teaching her as much as I would like, so I hope everyone will chip in where I’m lacking.”
I quietly took my old seat and tried to retreat into my mind. While everyone was speaking I couldn’t hear a lick of it. If I did I was afraid it might make me go crazy. Maybe I should just run away, yeah that sounds nice. I’ll run away and become a farmer. No more big epic battles or amazing sagas. Just a plain and simple farm life.
Little did I know that my current display of nursing my crumbling mind had only reinforced one thing in the minds of my peers, ‘I must protect this delicate wallflower!’