“mhpf.”

Placing another piece of firewood into the fireplace, Mia sighed. She tilted her head into the hallway to see the closed door of her parent’s room, inside it something she was putting off, facing her mother. She had so much to say, so much to catch up on but the reality of the situation left her… conflicted.

Watching her mother die in front of her, spending multiple years with that fact, and now of all a sudden she was back to before she died…she wanted to run into the room and cry, overjoyed that she was alive, but it wasn’t that simple. The one thing Mia understood more than anything was that she was in the past, a day before disaster. If nothing was done history would repeat itself.

Yet here she was doing her morning chores instead of barging into her room and demanding answers. Even worse she was-

In the middle of her thoughts her mother’s door creaked open, quickly she loaded slot 2, finding herself standing outside next to the wood pile before she even had the chance to see her mother. Yes, even worse she was actively avoiding it. She sighed, picking up the same log she had picked up at least ten times by now and headed inside.

“Stupid, can’t avoid…” She berated herself, she was wasting time. She placed the log in the fireplace again, tilting her head to view the door “…Okay…” She gulped, pumping herself up. “Ask, why hide skills, status, and titles. Don’t let her avoid issue.” She nodded to herself, confirming her plan. “No time for reunion…to her it’s only been a day.”

Reaffirming what she knew, she waited, waited for when the door eventually started to open. “Stay calm, stay focused.” She breathed in “just get the answers.” She breathed out, she had to stay calm, she needed to stay calm, their lives were at stake. She watched her mother exit her room, coming down the hall towards her.

Stay calm.

Lisa yawned, pausing as she stretched upon noticing Mia was on the floor “Mia? Honey, what’s wrong?”

S-stay calm.

Mia watched with blurry eyes as her mother knelt down, wiping the tears streaming down her face “M-Mmm-“ She tried to speak but found herself choking on her own words, she felt herself shaking, the warm and gentle touch of her mother…

Stay…

Lisa pulled her daughter close “It’s ok… did you have a nightmare? What is wrong sweety?”

Sta- …ah screw it.

“MOM!” unable to restrain herself, Mia broke down. Crying into her mother’s chest, tears rolling down her face.

“W-woah, really… what happened?” Confused at this sudden outburst from her usually quite daughter all Lisa could do was stroke her hair, trying to comfort her daughter as best she can. “Sshh, its ok. I am here.”

Mia spent nearly and hour crying, her mother with her patting her head and tail the entire time. When she was finally done, she looked up at her mother who was exactly as she remembered. She sniffed, fighting back another onslaught of tears.

Lisa smiled “Are you better now?” She asked, wiping away the stray tears with her damp sleave.

Mia nodded.

“Good.” Lisa sighed in relief “Now really, what was that all about?” She pulled her in for a hug, embracing her “It’s fine now, I am here.” She whispered into her ear.

Wondering how exactly she was supposed to answer that, Mia went into silence. She couldn’t exactly tell her that she came from the future, she watched her die, and unless she does something history is just going to repeat itself. No, now that she calmed down, she should focus on what needed to be done. She opened her mouth to speak, but her stomach rumbled loudly in protest, prompting Lisa to giggle.

“Well, I see that worked up your appetite.” She smiled, gently picking up her daughter and poking her on the nose, causing Mia to flinch “I’ll make something special, so you’ll forget that nasty dream.”

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…Been awhile since I’ve had her home cooking…

Losing out to her hunger, Mia decided to wait till after breakfast. Which turned out to be worth it, as her mother wasn’t lying when she said she’d make it special. Ham, eggs, a slice of bacon… she didn’t even know they had bacon! All cooked to perfection as she greedily scarfed it all down while her mother watched, enjoying a much simpler meal.

She giggled, ruffling her daughter’s hair “Seriously… what got into you this morning, must have been a pretty bad dream.” She shook her head, looking out the window to check the time.

Mia wished it was a dream, she’d be naïve in thinking it was. She gulped down what was in her mouth, no more putting it off. “Mom.”

“Hrm?” Lisa turned away from the window “What is it?”

Mia got serious, putting down her fork and staring at her mother. “What is a status screen?” She saw her mother tense up for a moment.

“What do you mean? I...” She looked conflicted, but apparently finding some resolve and continued “I do not know what you are talking about, Mia. Who told you such things?”

Mia had hoped that was true but… she’d have to force it. “You use magic, can read, can use status and level up…Why not tell me?”

Lisa was frozen in place, not speaking, nor looking away from her daughter in utter disbelief at what she was hearing out of nowhere.

Mia frowned, giving one more push “Magic is a skill, dad and sis hunt, they use skills to do so…Why-?”

“Who told you?” Lisa whispered to herself before standing “No… Doesn’t matter now.” She sighed, walking past Mia and down the hall, going into her room.

Mia blinked; she was not expecting that. She dropped down from her chair, trotting after her. She had left the door open and when Mia peered inside, she saw her mother rummaging through her closet, pulling out several clothes and throwing them half-hazard a crossed the floor “Mom?”

Lisa glanced over to her, shaking her head she went back to the closet, eventually finding what she was looking for. She pulled out a clean white dress and held it up towards Mia “Too small…It will have to do.”

Mia then found herself lifted, plopped standing on top of her mother’s bed stripped naked “Eh?” it happened so fast by the time she realized she was already wearing the white dress, her mother tightening it around her waist and lifting the ends and fastening them in place with red ribbons so it wouldn’t drag on the floor “What is…”

“Shh, I’m sorry… everything will be explained just, bear with it.” Her mother pleaded, taking a step back to inspect her work before lifting her up into her arms, kissing her on the forehead “It was supposed to be when you are older… I wish father was here…” She sighed, taking her daughter out of the house, leaving her coat behind.

Mia was then rushed through the village, the other wives of the village that would usually talk to Lisa would not approach her upon noticing Mia, going a step further and would even fetch their children if they were nearby and bring them close. The whole sight strange, all activity in the village coming to a halt when they noticed Mia “Mom, where?”

“Shh, don’t talk…they are just nervous.” Lisa patted her daughter on the head.

As they approached the village chief’s house Mia noticed the kids, Kyle and his group, halt their playing. Some of the smaller kids ducking into houses, others just staring blankly, Kyle himself seemed a bit angry. Mia looked for Roy amongst them, but assumed he was one of the ones that ducked into a house.

“Ah, Lisa to what do…I…oh… I see…” The village chief stood up from his usual spot, his tone changing once he noticed what Mia was wearing “Who told?” he asked, not removing his gaze from Mia. “And how much?”

Lisa shook her head “Don’t know and enough. I need to borrow a letter.”

The chief nodded, motioning to his door “It’s in the usual spot…I’ll handle the formalities.”

Nodding, Lisa put Mia down “Has she been in contact yet?”

“No, too early.” He looked towards the dirt path behind his house “It will be a surprise, that’s for sure.”

Lisa knelt, putting her hands on Mia’s shoulders “Listen Mia, the chief is going to explain a few things, listen carefully, OK?”

Mia looked between the two “What is…”

“I promise everything will be explained, ok? Just a bit more.”

Mia nodded, wondering just what was going on. Her mother stood, nodded to the chief, then went inside his house.

The chief sighed, shaking his head “Alright.” Mia brought her attention to him, and he continued “When she gets back she will hand you a letter, take that letter and present it to the person at the end of this path.” He then pointed to the dirt path behind him “It’s a long path but… It won’t feel like it.”

Mia crooked her head to the side “Long but not?”

Chief shook his head “You’ll see, just stick to the path. When you arrive present the letter, do not talk until she reads the letter. This is the one thing that is very important, okay? Absolutely do not talk until the letter is read and she gives you permission.”

Mia looked towards the door, just what is going on? Couldn’t they just tell me already? “O…ok.”

“Good.” It was at this time that Lisa exited the chief’s house, handing a sealed letter to Mia “Don’t open it.” The chief said, then without letting Mia talk to her mother pushed her towards the path “Stay on the path and it will not be long, remember, do not talk until the letter is read and you have permission.”

Mia looked back, seeing her mother who hesitantly waved, the whispering children and parents far in the distance watching, the village chief motioning for her to continue. She then faced the path ahead, well, she didn’t expect a simple talk with her mother to lead to a village wide show.

She took a deep breath, clutching the letter in her hand, she started walking down the dirt path, into the forest.