The two siblings went out to eat, Ria treating her to the first meal she has had in a month. She pressed Mia for details during the meal, but Mia avoided it, not wanting to catch up in a public place.
She was also unsure just how much she should tell her, should she even mention the time powers? Her hero status? Ignoring those her adventure so far hadn’t been the most organized, in fact, it just hit her how much she had been moving around from place to place in such a short amount of time. Barely staying in one place for too long…not like it was her fault for most of them but…
It was only upon reaching this island she wanted to commit and train in, and she spent a month of that time in a coma.
She ate with that on her mind, trying to sort it all out in her head and with what details to tell and leave out, the whole thing… complicated… her silence not going unnoticed by her sister, who understandably let her younger sibling eat in peace.
“And this is it, the inn I’ve been staying at when they kicked me out of the hospital.” Ria lifted her sister up, presenting her to the tall grey tower of a building. She had carried Mia all the way here, much to her dismay.
The building was like all the others, with a sign and outdoor decorations the only clue in for what it was. It was also on the higher floors of the streets, with more above and around, the streets continuing to be a twisting mess of a maze.
“Far from the guild…” she looked down the street, the huge guild building not anywhere in sight, shielded from view.
“But cheap and affordable on my limited salary.” She stated proudly “plus, walking is good for you.”
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Mia fumbled in Ria’s grip, turning around to face her “Salary?” she asked, wondering what her sister did for work, back at the village she was never good at house chores, let alone anything that wasn’t hunting with dad. ‘No idea how that went either…’ for all she can remember, she just played with the other kids.
‘…maybe, memory is fuzzy.’
“Later, you are telling me what was going on first missy!” Ria spun her around again, laughing as she entered the building “Heeeey~! My sister finally woke up!”
What followed was a miniature self-contained personal nightmare as Ria had apparently befriended every regular on the first floor of the inn, which was a bar and diner. Mia was shown around like Ria’s personal trophy, introduced to enough people to make her head spin, forced to listen to endless questions about her height, the state of her tail, her age, how cute she was, all the while Ria happily conversing with them, still holding Mia tight.
Mia cursed her reduced stats, unable to shake herself free from her sister and the personal hell she was being put through. Eventually everything blurred, and Mia went limp, accepting her fate as she retreated inside herself. And while being in this state, weakened, and tossed around, she fainted.
“I’m sorry.”
Mia was placed atop a bed, looking down at her sister who was down on the floor, begging for forgiveness. “Hmpf.” Mia crossed her arms, not looking at her. Ria had talked with the people downstairs for 2 hours.
“Everyone just got excited for us, I didn’t notice! I’m sorry!” she got up and hugged Mia “Won’t happen again, I promise, ok?”
“…” Mia thought for a moment, then sighed “Fine…” she shook her away “Not that much again, don’t like it.”
“Got it! I promise.” Ria forced another hug onto Mia before jumping back, avoiding Mia’s swatting hands “Still… I guess without the brainwashing you are still don’t talk to people much.” Ria got up into Mia’s face, staring at her “wish they never did that…I don’t understand it that well, but you’d always start to get better and then…well…”
“No worrying, won’t happen again.” She’d make sure of it.
“Right.” Ria smiled a little, patting her sister on the head “Now!” She suddenly leaped onto the bed besides Mia “Explain, everything.”
‘Ah…’