The Past

"Ida, Ida, wake up dear, your tea is ready." her mother's gentle voice beckoned. "Mother... is that you?" Ida said, reaching into the air. "Indeed, who else would I be? Now come and give me a big hug!"

Ida's face lit up with a radiant smile as she eagerly embraced her mother. "Oh, Mom, I've missed you so much!" she exclaimed, giggling with uncontainable joy.

Then a voice rang in her head. "Get off of me you goof!" it said, echoing in her head. Then, Ida's eyes snapped open, and she was startled to feel a hand wrapping around her face and pushing her away. Thrusting away, Ida's body tumbled out of the bed in which she had been resting. Crashing onto the ground, a loud thud is produced on impact. "What the hell is your problem!" the young maid exclaimed. 

Ida was bewildered and didn't know what had just transpired. "Umm, where am I, who are you, and what was I doing?" she asked. The young maid sighed muttering some words to herself. "Oh right, I was told to be gentle with her..." The young maid then handed her some sliced apples. "Here, take some." Given the chance, Ida wasted no time and quickly seized a plethora of apple slices, devouring them in swift succession. She could feel the satisfying crunch and burst of flavor as she consumed all the apples at once effectively quelling her hunger, making her happiness increase. "Thwank you scho much..." Ida told the maid, still chewing. 

The maid sighed once again before pulling away the empty tray from Ida. "Alright, now to introduce myself. My name is Lavenda Swayar, I was adopted by the Swayar family and turned into a maid." 

Ida's heart sank upon hearing the name. "Swayar...?" 

"Yeah, Swayar, you're in the Swayar mansion. Gray said he found you in the forest and you suddenly passed out. He also said that you were a homeless person." 

Ida's gaze fell in dismay. "I don't know if I want to see Gray again..." 

"Well, he carried you five miles away from where you passed out just to help you recover, at least be thankful for that," Lavenda said, walking to the door. "Oh, right, I forgot to mention, don't worry about you being situated here, Gray had already spoken to his parents about letting you stay here." she then walked out of the room, carrying the tray with her.

Hearing those words, Ida was conflicted. "Gray... helped me?" The words from their first encounter with Gray still lingered in her mind. ("No, I honestly don't care about you.") Gray's voice said. Ida couldn't find a good reason why he would do that. He could've just left her for dead in that place she was in to be goblin brunch, but he went that far just to help her out. "But why would Gray do such a thing..." Still thinking about Gray's sudden shift in morality, the haunting visions of Ida's past flooded her mind—the disturbing images of Gray mercilessly slaughtering her mother in cold blood.

She snapped back from her visions. "But Gray is currently five years old right now, he isn't the same one in the past." She struggled to suppress her overwhelming emotions regarding the future version of Gray as an emotionless killer, attempting to focus on more positive thoughts. "I-I can probably change him for the better, I just need to get in contact with my mother and show her this." She took out the necklace that she wore the entire time. It was her mother's pendant, one that was passed down through generations. "She'll understand that I'm her daughter from the future if I show her this." 

Out of nowhere, the room's door opened, and coming in was a merry and gorgeous lady with blonde hair. "Oh my, how did Gray find such a cutie like you!" the woman said. She then started nuzzling her face against Ida's cheek while clutching her. Ida found it difficult to catch her breath, given the strength with which she was being held. Her aggressive way of showing affection disoriented Ida's negative thoughts—converting those thoughts into a desperation for survival. "Stop it, you're going to kill me!" Ida screamed. The woman had paused before letting her go. "Oh sorry, I just got carried away from how adorable you are!" she said, smiling. Ida had no response to this, her soul was nearly snatched away by that sudden attack of affection.

"My name is Ludia and I'm Gray's mother, nice to meet you, sweetie," she says with a bright gleam. Ida didn't like how overly friendly Ludia was, she was very reluctant to introduce herself back but had no choice but to do so in this situation. "My name is Ida... nice to meet you." Ida's voice was full of discomfort. Ludia noticing, sat with her on the ground. "Ida sweetie, do you miss your home? You seem to be very worried."

Ida's eyes connected with hers upon hearing that question. ("No, that's not true... I'm just worried about what Gray might do.")

"Yes, I've been gone from my home for a very long time so I'd want to go home by now." 

"Don't worry dear, we'll get you home. My family is one of the greatest around the world, we would be able to find your home for you!" Ludia spoke.

Ida's eyes glistened upon hearing this information. "That's great, do you know the Hanxi Dynasty then?!" Ludia thought about it for a while but didn't get much results. "Erm... Ida, are you sure this is a real place?" Ida's heart sank upon hearing the question.

Ida began nodding in rapid succession. "Yes, yes, it's real, please believe me, I want to go back home!" Ludia looked down at the desperation of the little girl, she seemed to need being there. Ludia's bright smile faded away. "Okay dear, calm down. Let's try asking someone else." Ludia scurried out of the room only to bring in two others moments later. 

"So honey, you wanted to ask me something?" Hansen said, smothering Ludia with many kisses. Ludia giggled a ton and began kissing him back. Ida looked away, disgusted at what they were doing. ("Yuck, kissing...")

Howard stood beside them and witnessed the uncomfortable sight. "Ahem, are you two love birds finished?" Ludia snapped out of the sudden burst of love and brought herself to a more serious note. "I forgot to ask you both but this is an important question." They both listened in, wondering what the question could be. "Do you guys know of a place called the Hanxi dynasty?" Ludia had questioned. Both stood and thought about it before coming up with their answers. "Hanxi dynasty? I have no clue what that place is. I do know of a Hyun dynasty but that's all." Howard also added to that. "Indeed, I also don't know of the location. Do you suppose that it's in a desolate area far from here?" he asked Hansen.

"No, that's impossible, I trade with other nations on a daily and know every possible trade route out there, I would know of it," Hansen answered. Ida grew anxious hearing that her home might have magically disappeared. Despite feeling desperate, she persisted in trying to convince them. "But they're one of the most prominent dynasties around, lasting for hundreds of years, it has to be real!" Ida told them. Ludia hugged her tightly and then spoke, "Oh dear, she must have hit her head hard in the forest and had gotten amnesia!" Hansen nodded "We'll, Gray did find her in a very sick state. Something must have happened in that forest to give her such an injury."

Ida couldn't fathom the non-existence of the Hanxi dynasty. ("The future can't affect the past... What happened?!") Gently wrapping her arms around Ida, Ludia closed her eyes and smiled. "I guess we'll have to adopt you then." Ida's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing those words. "E-Eh, what do you mean by adopting me?" she asked. "I mean, you have nowhere else to go, right? So, you'll be under our care!" Ludia exclaimed with a warm smile.

Ida could barely speak. "But, I didn't consent..." Interrupting mid-sentence, Hansen let out a huge exaggerated sigh. "Dear, did you really want to adopt her just because she's adorable?" Ludia nodded with a bright smile. Hansen then walked over to Ida and knelt down to eye her level. "Well then, welcome to the family, Ida."

"Wait, I said I didn't consent to this!" Ida screamed. Ludia pounced on Ida and began showering her face with kisses and affection. "Oh, sweet baby, welcome to our family!"

Howard turned to the door, saying, "Well, I'll make tea for our newest family member then."

Hansen smiled before saying, "Darling, don't leave me out of the fun as well!" Hansen then jumped in, showering Ida with love.

Ida having her face nuzzled against Ludia's cheek screamed out once again, "Stop, I didn't agree to this arrangement!" before being drowned out by the love and affection.