[ Fia laughs, a little louder now. She's still weirded out, but at least she's starting to accept it. Hard not to when it's staring at you right in the face, eh? ] Yes. That woman in the spar right there, young as she might be, is my mother. [ Apris, it still sounds so ridiculous, saying it out loud. ] Or will be my mother. Unless this world derails the flow of things and there'll be a timeline in which Cecilia Fermina does not end up with Albel Nox.

[ That statement actually makes her pause. Should she even let her mother know she's in the valley, too? What's that going to change? Will that endanger her existence? Gods, Ceci's always had a thing for strong men, too. What if she falls for one of the warriors here?

Fortunately — or not so fortunately? — Fia's prevented from hurting herself with a headache by a rustling noise from somewhere behind them. She's on her feet in no time, out of reflex more than anything, spinning to face whatever's come to join them. ]

Looks like we have company.