Mia took a few steps into the forest, looking back to see everyone watching her progress, her mother giving a slight wave. She was confused at how the previous events had led her to this situation, dressed in what was the most fine and clean dress she didn’t think her family even owned, barefoot with nothing but a sealed letter in hand walking down a dirt path. She’d just have to believe that going along with this would give her the answers she wanted.

She gave a wry smile towards the group, then turned her attention back to the path ahead and started walking. She took a few steps forward, passively looking through the dense forest when an odd sensation assaulted her. She stumbled a bit, placing her hand on her head, the fog clouding her thoughts vanishing as quickly as it appeared. “What was that…huh?” looking up from her stumble she saw she was no longer in the forest.

Instead, she was in a large cleared out area, with a small house at it’s center that Mia recognized as the shrine that was usually at the center of attention during festivals, the stalls surrounding it missing, leaving the whole area looking empty. She shook her head, more importantly, how did she get here so fast?

She looked behind her, expecting to still see some trace of the chief’s house and everyone still watching from the entrance, instead all she saw was a dark forest path with the imprints of small feet in the dirt. She then looked up, the sun high in the sky, just how long had she been walking?

“Well, that’s in poor taste…”

Mia jumped, quickly looking towards the voice she saw a woman laying down in front of the shrines entrance, she looked vaguely familiar…The women herself looked like an older version of her mother, long straight black hair that extended down past her waist, large fox ears atop her head, sharp blue eyes, and she was wearing a light blue dress. But perhaps the most notable difference between her and her mother was how bigger she was, it was huge, practically dominating her frame and swaying dramatically as she sat up.

Mia’s eyes were drawn to it, the huge, black, white tipped tail that swayed behind her, the thing was almost the same size as her! She was about to question the lady, but stopped, remembering what the chief said and instead slowly started walking towards her.

“Hrm? Seem committed today.” The women stretched “You must really want me to, oh? Had a purpose then?” The women noticed the letter in Mia’s hand, she extended her arm towards it and with a flick it flew towards her “Lets see, if that old fool really needed something he could at least wait till it’s noon…” She pouted, opening the letter she began reading.

Mia looked up towards the sky, it was past noon… Mia watched the lady read, after a certain point the women’s demeanor changed, she began rapidly looking between the letter and Mia, who tilted her head in response.

“AAAARGH!” The woman stood up, tearing the letter into two.

Surprised by this, Mia once again jumped, taking a step back.

“It’s too early for this!” she then pointed at Mia “Tell me you are lying; please tell me you are just playing a poorly planned prank!” She pleaded.

Mia felt something wash over her, but she did not notice anything different. She shook her head.

The women squinted, getting a look Mia recognized as similar to those who were using [Appraisal] then she let out a loud groan, storming into her house and leaving Mia standing there.

She wondered if she should follow, but hearing the clattering of plates, a few thuds, and all-around chaotic mess that the women was causing inside the house she decided against it. After a few moments the sounds stopped, and the lady returned to the entrance, plopping down with a large brown bottle in hand.

“So, the letter was serious.” She spat, uncorking the bottle and taking a swig “Well…” she paused while drinking, her eyes falling on Mia “[Common Language], [Dagger Arts], and [Ice Magic]. This is more than someone spilling the beans Riley…” She then went back to drinking.

“Um…” So she did use appraisal, but when Mia wanted to question her she stopped, the lady holding up a finger while she finished her drink.

“Aaaaaah~ today was such a lazy day to.” She leaned back “Then this gets dumped on me…” She took another swig “Though, I could understand if it was just a few skills you managed to train in secret.” She stood up, momentarily losing her balance as she stumbled over to Mia “What I don’t get is *that*” She knelt, her breathe reeking of alcohol as she leaned in and poked Mia’s chest.

Mia recoiled a bit “That?” she asked, confused she looked down but saw nothing but the ladies finger digging into her chest.

“Hrm…” The women’s eyes lost focus, straightening herself up she returned to her seat “Your title, [Shrine Maiden], belongs to me, only me, until I pass it on. You,” She pointed to Mia with the bottom of her bottle “Have some serious explaining to do.” She then raised the bottle, taking yet another swig “And not what ever half assed attempt you did with my sister, full story, no leaving anything out.”

Eh? Her sister? Wait…the dreams! No wonder she looks familiar, this was the person she couldn’t fully recall when ever she visited the family! “Wait, came for answers, why did-“

The girl let out a loud groan “It’s too early for this shit, you’ll get your answers after I find out why you have that title.”

Mia frowned “It’s noon.”

The women’s ears twitched, she raised the bottle like she was about to throw it, but apparently decided against it after looking at Mia “stupid kid…” She grumbled, lowering the bottle.

Seeing this, Mia decided to save, just in case. “Well… Don’t know why I have it anyways, Can’t I have some answers first?” She asked, there was too much she wanted to know, and not many answers she could give her for hers, at least not till [LOG] was fixed, she hoped.

The women stared at her with squinted eyes “Fine, “ she growled “We will do this one for one. “ She took another swig of her bottle, just how much did that bottle hold?

“Me first.”

“Mph!” The woman choked, spitting out her drink in a coughing fit “No! you are not first you little brat!” She stood up in protest.

“You saw my status, know more than me, only fair.” Mia said, then continued “Only want to know your name for first question.”

The women paused upon hearing this “Tsk,” She clicked her tongue and sitting down “You are perhaps the only one in the village who doesn’t know… Maria, Shrine maiden of the fox tribe.”