Mia, now nine years old and a formidable Rank 6 cultivator in the Ki Gathering Stage was growing nicely. Kai and Choi, her brothers, by sheer tenacity and not wanting to be left behind by their sister, are both Rank 6 body cultivators now.
Kai had found love in Mei and was now engaged, working as a full-time guard like his father. Their relationship had a tumultuous start, thanks to Mia's interference, but as they got to know each other, their fondness grew and they showed it, sometimes a little too much according to Mia. Besides that Mia adored having Mei as her older sister, enjoying the treats and attention she showered upon her.
Choi, on the other hand, worked as a guard in the scout unit. His days were spent surveying the surroundings of the town, ensuring that no powerful threats approached too close. Despite his mischievous nature, Choi had yet to find a romantic partner. An ill-conceived prank he played on his mother, Lin, where he showed up with a group of dozens of girls at their house had backfired, resulting in a stern punishment. Lin insisted that Choi find a wife outside of the town, and he carried the weight of his mistake with regret.
Mia's life was relatively ordinary, considering the circumstances. Her mothers, Marry and Lin, guided her through the essentials of being a woman in society. They taught her domestic skills like cleaning, cooking, and sewing, as well as the art of bargaining and local gossip. Mia embraced these teachings, cherishing the bond she shared with her mothers.
Her training, however, took an unconventional path. While Mia dedicated time to cultivation every day, she never received combat training like most people in her situation. Her father noticed that once Mia started to fight, she was unable to hold back, using as much power as she was able at that moment. A 5 year old Mia almost killed Dimitri, a man that even 4 years ago was stronger than he is now, made him unable to actually train her daughter or find someone who could take his place. He also cherished her as his little princess, making it harder to train his little girl to kill.
On a particular day, Mia ventured out with her mother, Marry, as a merchant caravan arrived in town. They hoped to find interesting items and treasures amidst the bustling stalls. Mia, accompanied by her loyal companion Onyx, a magnificent monster wolf she still believed to be a large dog, was excited about the prospect of new adventures.
As they reached the central square Marry started to talk with her daughter. “I hope that they have cute dresses for you here.” She said with passion in her eyes.
“Mother, I have too many dresses I can use already, if you count all the dresses that I can't use anymore I have too many clothes. Grandmother should actually visit for once instead of sending me clothes every chance she gets.” Mia says, a little annoyed. She had to buy a magic ring with a spell that shrank objects just so she had something to do with her older dresses that she was too big to use. Now they were all clothes for her dolls.
Hugging Mia, Marry continued. ”As your mother it's my duty to make sure you can be cute in any situation and you don't have a dress for everything yet.” Said Marry in a tone that ended this conversation. With that she moved towards the area with cloths and clothes leaving Mia to herself but still in field of vision.
Meanwhile, Mia dismounted Onyx and made her way to the area showcasing magical weapons, armors, and artifacts. She marveled at the diverse array of items but quickly realized that most were beyond her means, also, she lacked a secure storage solution since most high-end magical items tend to be on the more destructive side.
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As she navigated the stalls, one of the caravan guards approached Mia. “Hey girl, why don't you sell your beast? I am willing to pay a good price, you will be able to buy a lot of stuff.” The man said, putting his best business smile.
Sadly for him, Mia was having none of it.”Onyx is not for sale. He is my friend.” She said as she continued her tour.
A few minutes later the same guard came back with some other guards to try and convince Mia once again. “Come on girl, it's just a wolf. 2 Gold, how about it?” “Yeah, sell it to us, I will add another Gold if he well trained.” “Imagine what you can buy with all that money.” “Yeah, we can put a word with the sellers and they will give you a discount.” The guards, man or woman, continued to say to Mia. Over and over trying to make her change her mind while she was trying her best to ignore them.
“Enough! He is not for sale! Stop bullying me!” Mia screamed at the guards as she moved to the last stall of the area. For a moment the guards seem to have stopped and at that moment Mia takes notice of the aura emanating from the stall and Onyx starts to growl at it as well, informing Mia of some danger to her life.
The guards, now in a panic, drew their weapons and prepared spells. Mia's mother, witnessing the escalating tension, tried to position herself between the guards and her daughter. Mia struggled to articulate that Onyx only reacted this way when his life was threatened and posed no harm if left undisturbed. However, her words failed to coherently convey her message amidst the chaos and fear of having trained people ready to attack her since she was so close to Onyx.
To make matters worse, Onyx barked, ready to protect Mia. The guards, now convinced of imminent danger, lunged forward, hitting Mia's mother who was still trying to get to her daughter and shoving her to the ground prompting Onyx and Mia to react instinctively. They swiftly pushed the guards away as they ran towards Marry.
With the guards hostilely engaging Onyx, the battle ensued. Onyx displayed remarkable prowess, eliminating two guards with a single swipe of his claw. However, he sustained numerous injuries from the remaining guards' relentless attacks. Mia, desperately trying to help her mother and unable to communicate effectively, witnessed the relentless assault on her loyal companion.
Something inside Mia snapped—an indescribable rage and power surged through her. Her cultivation activated, causing an aura to envelop her, invisible to the naked eye. Gusts of wind erupted, flinging everyone near the cart away, momentarily aiding Onyx.
The guards, undeterred, seized whatever they could find from the cart to combat Mia and Onyx. In response, Mia summoned lightning with such force that those who attempted to cast spells were turned into charred remains. As the remaining guards rushed at her with makeshift weapons, Mia shaped and coated herself in metal using her mana. Employing the combat techniques she had observed her brothers and father practice, she systematically dismantled each weapon with precise kicks and punches.
Once disarmed, Mia unleashed her wrath upon the guards, delivering devastating blows that caused some to explode upon impact. As the last guard fell, Mia's fury began to subside, and a sense of dread enveloped her. She surveyed the aftermath, realizing the bloodshed she had caused. The onlookers gazed at her with a mix of fear and disbelief, treating her like a monster.
“Mom, Moom!” Mia started to shout as she looked around to try and find someone to help her but the moment she gazed upon her mother, she was devastated, her own mother had the same look as everyone else, she was seeing Mia as a monster, something that should be killed, something that shouldn't exist. Memories of what happened years ago with Mister Dimitri came back to her and seeing that no one in her family would be able to handle her as even her father had that same face once, she knew what to do.
Tears streamed down Mia's face as she mounted the injured Onyx, commanding him to flee the town and seek refuge in the forest. She felt incapable of remaining in a place where she was perceived as a menace. With a heavy heart, Mia and Onyx departed, leaving behind the town that once felt like home.