“Mia! Miiiiia!”
Mia’s eyes opened, slowly blinking as they would not focus. She felt sick, nauseous, dizzy, sleepy, and disoriented. She couldn’t see or speak, and every corner of her body ached, the slightest movements causing her immense discomfort and pain.
“Miiiia!”
“~~~~~”
As she came too, she heard what could only be Ria screaming her name and muffled voices. “W-where…” she started coughing, her throat dry. She fumbled about, feeling the soft ground beneath her as she tried to remember anything to orient herself “The evolution…” she pushed herself up, clutching her chest as pain shot through it “why…does it hurt…?”
Her vision started to clear, now able to make out her surroundings all she saw was white. She was confused, first thinking she was still in the white space but then she remembered her ice incasing her “urgh…my head…” she raised an arm, the ice walls crumbling around her and sending blinding light directly into her unshielded eyeballs, causing her to recoil in pain.
“Mia! H-holy-?! That’s freezing!! Wait, what?!”
Mia braced herself for a hug, but it never came, she peered through her fingers and saw a few people around her, notably her sister who had retreated away and was looking quite shocked “Ri-“ she started coughing.
Trevor whistled “that is quite the change.”
“Unexpected for a first evolution, must have been tough.” Dria spoke, attempting to get closer but recoiled “Her sister was right, that is an intense cold…”
“Hmph, nothing special.” Roy added.
“Hey Mia… you ok?” Ria spoke, worrying about her sister.
Mia recoiled when Trevor whistled “feel…horrible…” her head ached, her chest hurt, and her body screamed out, everything felt stiff like she was suffering from weakness, but way worse. Her cheeks puffed up as the nausea hit her, she collapsed to the ground, barely managing not to throw up, then it hit her, hunger. She didn’t throw up because she had nothing to throw up. “Hungry…thirsty… everything hurts.”
“I bet with that change.” Trevor smirked, throwing some jerky her way that landed in the snow besides her.
“…thanks…” she picked it up and chomped down on it “?!” an icy crunch, the meat had frozen completely. She frowned, too hungry to complain she continued to eat it.
“My teeth hurt looking at that…” Roy cringed, looking away.
“Yeah, can you uh, reign in that aura at all?” Trevor asked, looking a bit troubled “We can take it but your sister…”
One final crunch and Mia was finished, it wasn’t much but it helped “Aura?” she glanced around herself, stopping when she saw a very disturbing sight “Eh? My tail?!” she spun around in place, an action that she swiftly regrated as her head and chest throbbed in protest. She slowed, her tail… her tails swaying into view.
She now had two tails, bushy and colored a brilliant black with white tips. Her shaky hand grabbing ahold of them “I have… two?” she gave them a tug “yes…two” she watched them sway back and forth, having control over them like she had with her original, thankful that the fur on her original tail had grown out to match the new addition.
It was then she noticed that wasn’t all that changed “Am I…bigger?” she straightened herself out, sitting on her knees as she inspected herself. Not being able to tell, she slowly stood and compared herself to her sister “I am.” She smiled, it wasn’t by much, but now she looked more like her age. She was still on the short side, but she was just thankful she didn’t look like a six year old anymore.
“Your ears also match the tails.” Dria giggled, pointing to the top of Mia’s head.
“Eh?” she glanced up, flopping her ears down she saw it was true. Like her tails her ears were now topped off with white. She checked her hair just to be sure, but it was still all black.
“So, about that aura.” Trevor reminded her.
“Oh…right.” She glanced down at her feet, the ground frozen solid, it had gotten a lot more intense ‘hopefully it is like before’ she focused, trying to draw in the cold that surrounded her and to her surprise, she managed to quell it effortlessly.
“Mia!”
Now without the threat of freezing instantly, Ria ran in and charged her sister, tackling her to the ground “I was so worried! I tried to break that icy cage but it wouldn’t budge!”
“…Is it safe to break that?” Mia asked, gritting her teeth and bearing the pain.
“Trevor told me not to… after I tried.” She pulled her away from herself “You did get bigger, I am still the big sis though.” She smirked “Don’t try and evolve again and get any taller.” She huffed “Your shortness is your cute point.”
Mia narrowed her eyes, then let out a light sigh, rolling them and shaking her head “Won’t promise anything.”
The two stood up, Ria assisting Mia as she stumbled a bit while attempting to stand “How long was I in there?” she asked, looking towards Trevor.
“Thirty minutes.” Trevor shrugged “we blew the horn already, just wrapping up over there and the camp.” he motioned to his left.
Following his gaze, her heart sank. Several guild employees were huddled together next to a pile of ash and metal, inspecting a small pile of items “Hiiro…” did they burn him? Wait, “where is the box?”
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“In my inventory.” Trevor said “looked dangerous and it was ticking.” He patted himself down, trying to shake away small patches of frost “we will take care of it though… I suspect you have an idea?”
“Ticking?” She then gulped “figures…you guys didn’t forget.” She sighed, while necessary to tell them about her powers at the time, she was not looking forward to the interrogation later “He was trying to open the portal with it, I think.” She pointed over to the broken circle, still haphazardly split in half. She felt a gaze on her, looking to her right she saw her sister staring down at her while smiling ear to ear. She leaned away from her “…what?”
Her grin widened further, looking away and answering her with a happy “nothing~”
“That Is very doubtful.” Trevor said, his view towards the shattered ground “that magic circle is beyond usable.”
“His skill would make it work, forcing it, just like he forced his way here.” Mia said, solemnly glancing at the pile of ashes “he tried it before but I didn’t stick around to see what he was bringing here, in case I got stuck.”
“There! Right there!” Roy stomped his way forward “I still don’t believe that!”
[Saved to slot 2] [Saved to slot 3]
He came up right in front of her “You still haven’t proved that! How do we know you were not just lying to get that last kill!” He complained “I have never heard of time travel, and neither has anyone else here!” he threw his arm back, motioning to everyone there who had varying degrees of confusion marked on their face.
“She could have gotten that exp anywhere.” Ria protested “why would she lie about that. Hiiro was her friend.”
“Saved me once.” Mia nodded.
“Like that matters!” Roy shouted, by now all eyes on him “maybe… you just knew about the box, a double agent, you did know a lot about the church, we sure yo- what are you doing?” He stopped his accusations, looking down at Mia’s outstretched hand.
“Can prove it now.” Mia shrugged “Couldn’t before because Hiiro was blocking me.” She extended it further, watching him recoil a bit “what? Scared?”
“…” He shot glares at the rest of the group “everyone watch! All expose this fraud.” He then snatched her hand “well? I am waiting.”
Mia shooed Ria off of her “Your strong, right?” Mia innocently asked. Saving while she held on to his hand.
[Mia…]
“I am one of the toughest people here, don’t get cocky just cause you evolved once.” He scoffed.
“Just making sure.” She smiled, then went to load-
[Mia, no.]
‘Why not? Would be a good test for Ria.’ Her smile turned into a smirk ‘besides, a bit of revenge for all the trouble he has caused…a small trip wouldn’t hurt.’
[It would, immensely. Arcane is still in the void. Dragging someone else there risks both of their lives.]
‘…’ she sighed ‘we are getting her out of there… and soon.’
“What? Give up? Can’t do it? Knew it, you were ly- really?” Roy glared at her, she had frozen his entire arm up to his shoulder “You are fucking dead kid.” He reached up to his inventory and started drawing his sword, when Mia loaded.
Mia smirked, watching his face initially twisted in anger go turn into one of confusion “See? Told you.” She said, struggling not to laugh.
“…” He withdrew his arm, staring at it and giving it a few flexes.
“Ooh, I recognize that look.” Ria laughed “having emotions like that just suddenly go POOF feels super weird, doesn’t it?”
He looked between the two, backing away from them without a word.
“…?” Trevor raised an eyebrow “You alright Roy?”
The other members of his party approached him “boss?”
He jerked away from them “I’m fine!” everyone was staring at him as he shifted back and forth “I-it’s fine! She can do it, ok!” he took a deep breath “She can…ok? Whatever.!” He retreated away from them, still within sight. His other party members following him.
[Hrm. I’d suggest loading before this. I don’t think he can mentally handle this knowledge.]
‘What? After all he did? Forget him. He’ll be fine once I go back to the start anyways.’ She gave him one final glance, seeing him staring at her while shaking, mumbling something while ignoring his friends ‘he wanted to find out, he found out.’
“He… doesn’t look too good.” Ria said “starting to look a bit pale.”
“…He’ll be fine.” Trevor sighed, he approached Mia and stuck out his hand “I’d also like to confirm, if you don’t mind.”
She glanced between him, and Roy “…you sure?” She took his hand, saving.
“No, but unfortunately it is my duty to confirm this.” He looked unsure, but determined to see this through “will make it easier to understand how you knew all that.” He wryly said.
“Oh, Mia, did you save?” Ria asked, seeing her nod in response Ria ran over to Dria and punched her in the abs, the resulting hard smack reverberated around the group, drawing everyone’s attention “I want some like these someday.” She said, staring enviously at the girls scaley abs.
“Excuse me, girl, what do you think you are doing?” Dria, the dragonnewt looked down at Ria, completely unharmed.
Mia loaded, her and Trevor instantly turning towards Ria in stark confusion.
“So, how was the sound? Figured he needed something to remember the save by.” She pointed back at Dria, who raised an eyebrow when Ria started laughing.
“…” Trevor let go of Mia’s hand “well then, that is an experience and puts things into perspective…” he shook his head while gripping it “Thirty minutes, then we move out… someone inform the other camp, don’t care who.” He said, walking away from the group.
“Taking it better than Roy.” Mia said, sitting down on the snow as Ria plopped right down besides her. She still had a bit of a headache and body pain, but it was becoming tolerable. She didn’t want to check her full status yet, she didn’t think her head would handle it, but she sure she could at least handle her stats.
* * *
Name: Mia Status: [Evolutionary Feedback]
Age: 8 Race: Laplace Fox
LVL: 1* Points: 0
HP: 5,000/5,000 MP: 145,500/145,500
Str: 502 (201)
Con: 500 (200)
Dex: 2,500 (1,000)
Int: 5,437 (2,175)
Mnd: 7,275 (2,910)
Lck: 1
* * *
‘2.5 times…’ her mana was insane. Especially in contrast with her HP. It was no wonder she felt sick and stiff. “Oh, I have a little star next to the level now… level one…” it felt weird being back at level one while having stats like this, but it felt good.
“A star huh?” Ria said “go through all of that and get a fancy star next to your level.” She chuckled.
“Yeah, feels weird.” Mia raised her hands to her face, they were slightly bigger like the rest of her body “still feels like my body but… it’s like something is clamping down on me.”
“Hoo, I’ll be right there with you soon.”
“Really?” Mia leaned back to look at her sister.
“Eighty-nine~” Ria smirked, raising a thumbs up “can’t wait to see what I’ll get If you ended up like this.” She grabbed ahold of one of Mia’s tails, stroking it gently “Oooh, smooth. Almost silky but with a tinge of roughness.” Ria nodded satisfyingly, feeling the texture of her tail.
“Hmn. Oh.” She almost forgot “Don’t pick one called Lupine Fox if you get it, sounds scary.”
“Hoho, insider knowledge~” she gripped Mia’s tail harder, causing her to yelp “You’ll have to tell me all about it later.” She then loosened her grip, done with her teasing “hm hm hm hm.” She hummed staring at Mia’s flustered expression as she yanked her tail free from her grasp “I don’t think it was just your body that changed.”
“…I might be part spirit now.” Mia said in a low voice.
“A what?!” Ria shouted, causing a few people in the group to look over. She waved them off, watching them return to their preparations before leaning closer to Mia “Not what I meant but this is more important, are you sure?”
Mia put a hand on her chest, still feeling a dull pain behind it “Yeah, well, maybe. Only looked at my stats.” She noticed a sparkle develop in Ria’s eyes “before you ask, will tell you later.” She sighed, watching Ria pout and turn away. Mia laid back in the snow, staring up at the sunless yet bright sky. between now and the walk back she did have enough time to check her status… and it was probably for the best she did that before they got back to the city… especially if the Gaia cult was attacking.
But her head…
She heavily sighed, deciding to work through it so she wouldn’t get caught off guard. Flipping through the new additions, she pulled up her status.