The Missing Stone

Dawn of Trust

After that meeting, everything started changing for the better. Mildred learns shortly afterwards that it's Annette's birthday on the ninth, and now she browses the market for a suitable gift. Mercedes had advised Mildred to look out for sweets and small pieces of jewelry. Mildred thinks that jewelry as a gift would last longer than a snack.

Even though the budget has loosened a little when Mildred started repairing weapons, it still doesn't leave a lot for extravagant spending, so she has her own method of payment.

Something shines out of the corner of her eye. She turns, a topaz hair clip slightly buried amongst the necklaces and bracelets at the vanity stall. Her coin bag jingles with the small amount of coins in it as she jogs over. A man with brown hair and amber eyes smiles at her.

"Hi there! Is there something I can get for you?" He asks, whipping out a piece of parchment. Mildred nods, pointing at the hair clip.

"That one, please," she says, holding the coin pouch open in front of her. The hair clip is expensive, so Mildred hands over all of her coins and asks if there is anything that she can fix in compensation. The merchant hands over the hair clip after she repairs multiple bags and a sword.

She tucks the hair clip away in her room until it's Annette's birthday. Mildred nearly runs into Gilbert on her way to the council room. "Apologies," he says, face forlorn. She frowns at his expression. She is aware that war can stack a lot of responsibilities onto people, and as such, stress. But Gilbert looks....sad.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Mildred inquiries, tilting her head at him. He sighs, shaking his head.

"It is trivial," he replies, shifting his arms around the stack of books and reports in his arms. Mildred takes some in an attempt to help, noticing a wooden doll tucked close in a pocket.

"Is that a doll?" She asks, and Gilbert sighs again, nodding.

"It is my gift for Annette, but I fear that this isn't enough." Mildred thinks of her own gift, and has an idea. She balances the books on one arm, reaching for the doll and then the hair clip in her pocket. She lifts a knee to assist in balancing the books, and precariously slides the hair clip into the doll's faux hair before returning it to its spot in Gilbert's pocket.

She sweeps away to the council room before he could retort, some nonsense about 'not deserving assistance'. The council room is full with excited chatter as Mildred carefully sets the books down at Gilbert's seat before moving over to Annette.

"Happy birthday," Mildred congratulates enthusiastically, the ginger girl giggling with a light blush.

"Thank you Mildred," Annette says before sipping her tea.

She's so cute.

Mildred's ears twitch at the sound of whispering, and she turns, finding no one behind her. She frowns in confusion before brushing it off as nothing.

I wish you could be like that, Mao.

Shut up.

Mildred whips around, hands on her daggers. She is so confused. She hears someone speaking, but where? And who?

Milly?

Can you hear us?

She's going insane. She has to be. Slipping out of the room for privacy, Mildred leans against the wall in the hallway, then nods her head yes.

A gasp. Then an excited squeal. Mildred breathes deeply to calm herself.

She can hear us! Mao she can hear us-

I KNOW that.

Mildred closes her eyes, then whispers, "Mao?"

Yes Mildred?

"Who are you?" An exasperated groan before another voice shushes them. A sigh.

I'm Mao, and I have purple hair.

Mildred blinks, the girl with shoulder-length violet hair from her dreams coming into mind. "And the other-"

Aelura! Remember...

Mildred gasps, vague memories flashing in her head before a spike of pain shoots through her skull. Her ears ring and Mildred presses the heels of her hands against her eyes, stifling a scream. The voices are quieter, faded.

"Mildred?"

She jumps, hands thrown in front of her in a panic. Black spots blog out her vision slightly, but she can make out the bright green of the professor's hair.

"I-I'm fine," she stutters, fully leaning against the wall to steady herself. He stares at her, not believing her. She holds firm, eyes pleading for him to believe. Eventually, he concedes, disappearing back into the council room.

Mildred slides down the wall in relief. Her head still hurts, and she distinctly remembers the resistance charm Mercie had given her is most likely still in Professor Hanneman's office. She pushes off the wall, ignoring the pulsing in her skull to the best of her ability and trudges to his office. Swiping the bracelet off the desk, she clips it on and the effect is almost instant.

"-ildred! Mildred!"

What? She thinks, collapsing into a chair in front of the desk. The voices are clearer, and much louder. She winces.

"Sorry," she hears Aelura say. A snort, most likely from Mao.

"You gave us a real scare back there," Mao says, and Mildred is still so confused. A chuckle. "Oh yeah this is going to be hard to explain..." Mao trails off when Aelura gasps.

"Mildred?" She asks, tone fluttery with nervous excitement. Yes? "You know that coat you dropped off at the convoy after the battle at Ailell?" A coat... what coat-

Oh. The tattered, shredded-to-pieces one? "Yes, that one," Mao speaks up. Mildred breathes for a moment, coming to terms with the fact that there are voices in her head and they're the same voices from her dreams. She suddenly relates with Dimitri.

After a moment Mildred leaves the room and heads down the stairs to the convoy, pushing past supply crates until she spots dark fabric in the back. She reaches for it and tugs, one of the sleeves getting caught on a stray piece of wood. Something clatters out of the coat. Mildred stops pulling for a moment, picking up the object. It's a small pocket watch by the looks of it, but she feels something is different.

A yawn. "Yay!" Aelura exclaims, "you're awake Chester!" Mildred blinks in confusion.

Chester?