Dinner was awkward, Mia fiddling with her food and lost in her thoughts. She was worried about what would come after and the outcome. She had the small reassurance that she could turn back time but… that seemed hollow.

If she told her sister about everything, the original timeline, the death of their mother, aunt, and village. The deadline of three years till the explosion happens in the capitol, and most importantly… her time magic. If she didn’t take any of that well, sure she could turn back time and reset it. But then she’d have to deal with the knowledge her sister would never be ok with it.

She glanced up from her food at her sister, Ria was looking around the bar. Mia followed her gaze, now noticing she wasn’t the only one to be on edge. Everyone was talking in hushed tones, the atmosphere feeling a bit…heavy?

“What’s going on?” Mia asked, jumping on this momentary distraction from her thoughts.

Ria perked up “Dunno.” She shrugged “something happened at one of the ports… I think.” She nodded over to the main bar, towards a man clutching his head.

The man was of large build, bulging muscles that were bruised and battered. He looked like he belonged at a hospital rather than a bar, the two men by his side seeming to be trying to convince him of that very thing “Him? What about him.”

“Dock worker, talked to him a few times.” Ria scanned the room, her eyes narrowing “The only, dock worker here tonight… and I’m not the only one that noticed.”

Mia looked around, not knowing any of the faces outside of vaguely recognizing a few that she was forced to interact with when Ria was showing her off to everyone “So?” Mia didn’t get it, maybe it was just a bad day? An accident? With the haunt so close she was sure stuff happened here all the time.

“Hrm.” Ria glanced around one more time “Too many people concerned…” she grumbled, then turned in her seat towards her sister “we should head into our rooms.” She stood, noting Mia barely ate “…you ok?” she swiveled around the table, putting a hand on Mia shoulder.

Mia nodded; she guessed this was it. She quickly gobbled up what she could.

“H-hey! Slow down.” Ria knelt beside her “we didn’t have to leave this instant if you weren’t done.”

“No.” Mia stopped, having quickly finished half “Lets go.” She jumped down form her chair, “Important, to tell.”

“…no need to sacrifice your food for it.” Ria sighed, giving up “big breakfast tomorrow, I guess.”

With that wrapped up, the two went to their room, Mia taking Ami’s advice and making a backup save with slot 3 at the door. Entering the room, Mia sat on the bed, nervously fiddling with her tail. “So…”

Ria sat down next to her, gently patting her head “It’s ok, I hope I showed you today your big sis can help. What ever you are worried about, It’s ok, I’m here.”

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“…” Mia looked down and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of her sister’s hand upon her head, focusing on the feeling to calm her down “…I don’t know where to start.” She said.

“Start with the easiest.”

“The easiest…” what would that even be? She peaked at Ria, who was smiling softly at her.

“I think an explanation on how you are so strong, despite being eight, would be a good place to start “ she chuckled “I have a pretty good idea, just not an explanation.”

“oh, um…” she looked away, slowly raising a hand towards Ria “hold my hand…please…”

Ria tilted her head “ok?” she grabbed ahold of it, assuming Mia just wanted comfort to calm her nerves.

[Saved to slot 2]

“I… am a hero.” Mia choked out “I get fifty points every time I level… It’s how I got strong fast.”

“Knew it.”

“Eh?” Mia napped her head towards Ria, seeing her nod to herself with her eyes closed, a satisfied look plastered on her face “You knew?”

“Well, guessed, wasn’t sure.” Ria waved her hand “Been adventuring for a while, especially with dad and my own… experience. It was either you were a hero or evolved and…” Ria eyed Mia’s tail “you don’t look evolved.”

Mia covered her shaved tail “How would you know…”

“Saw aunties.” Ria smirked “right before she sent me off to find you.” She then striked a small pose, hands on her hips and puffing out her chest, tail raised high “before making me a hero myself.”

Mia paused; she did what?

[Oooh, paradox.]

‘Shut it.’

“With you being so strong, and my experience with getting that boost, I knew you had to be one as well.” Ria tapped her chin, thinking a moment “but I still can’t pin on when you did it… had to be before the spider dungeon otherwise you would have died…did you meet someone before, and they made you a hero?” Ria peered threw one open eye at Mia “who or when did you become one?”

“…” Mia clenched the bridge of her nose “She did…what…” she couldn’t believe it, she didn’t want to believe it, but it made sense…only when it came to why she was so strong and fast. “I…” her aunt wanted Mia to become a hero because of her high magic, she said it was a requirement…didn’t she?

That was why she never made Ria a hero, so Ria was free to do what she wanted while Mia herself was stuck in a mental prison until Maria made up her damn mind and passed the torch, that is the way Mia saw it. But if she could just pass it on, no problem, to her sister then what was the fucking point?!

“Why…” Mia clutched her fist “Why did she make you the shrine maiden?!” she stood up on the bed, angerly looking at Ria.

“W-woah, Ria, calm down.” Ria raised both of her arms in front of her “Like I said, she did it so I could more easily find you…how’d you no what it was called?”

“But she was-!” Mia groaned, figuring it was the perfect time to do this “I know what it was called because I have it, I have the same title.” She paused “we, have the same title.”

“we…” Ria titled her head “but…auntie said only one person can have this title…so, no…” Ria looked concern, she tried to sit up “Mia, what is go-“

[Slot 2 loaded]

“-ing on…wait, what?” Ria stared at her hand, holding Mia’s hand like it had been before Mia stood up. “Eh? Did I pass out?” she let go of Mia’s hand, rubbing the back of her head “haha, sorry, you were saying?”

“Mn, didn’t pass out.” Mia said, staring at her “Why we share the same title. Went back in time.” Mia gulped; this was it “I have time magic.”

“Eh?” Ria blanked out for a full minute, before laughing “That’s not a go-“

[Slot 2 loaded]

“-od joke?!” Ria was holding Mia’s hand once again.

“I am not joking.” Mia simply said, watching as Ria let go of her hand and retreat a little.

Ria’s eyes begun to swim, struggling to understand the situation “I- you- when did…how?” she darted from left to right, trying to put it together in her head but nothing was connecting.

“Well. to start…” Mia sighed, and started telling Ria the full story, from the beginning. Not like she did the first time; she did not leave anything out.