25 Auntie?

My eyes were now dry of tears as I heard footsteps at the entrance of the alleyway. I turned my head to get ready for a fight but saw Tiana again. My body didn't shake since it had no energy left, I didn't cry since I had no tears left, I just felt her embrace me with a warm hug that put me to sleep.

…

"Are you awake?" I hear a familiar voice say.

I was back in my bedroom which had been fixed. The warm sheets were curled in my hands as I saw Tiana sitting on the chair at my desk. Cold sweat dripped down my neck… but surprisingly I felt slightly calm. My body wasn't reacting as badly as it used to.

"Do you know why your PTSD is so bad?" Tiana asks.

"H-how do you know?"

"It was pretty obvious with how you acted around me. Also, it was easy to find out it wasn't just me, that gave you such a bad reaction. All I had to do was go info diving into your school and classmates and it was pretty easy," Tiana says with a smile.

"T-then why is it so bad?" I ask.

"Because you have nobody to talk about it with. Nobody to vent your struggles on,"

"Why is Miss Tiana doing this for me? I know you used to be my mom's girlfriend, but you broke up, shouldn't it be in the past?" I ask.

"We did get to move on. Though I was disappointed, we just reverted to friends. Plus it seemed your mom was really happy with your dad… but well… my bad, I shouldn't bring it up," Tiana says with a frown.

"It's fine, I don't even know my dad's name," I say.

"Okay… Well, let me introduce myself, my name is Tiana April, the Primordial Brave of Ice. You can just call me Auntie though," Tiana says with a smile.

"M-my name is Lucy Amana and Ummm… nice to meet you,"

"Now that introductions are over… how about you vent to me your struggles. You should feel much better then,"

I bit my lip which drew blood but decided to give in.

"I've been bullied since elementary school. Emotional, physical, every type you can imagine. Even one of my bullies killed… mom… I couldn't retaliate since I was so weak and the ones that hurt the most were betrayals. Eventually, my body developed a kind of instinct where I know I'm going to be hurt or lose something by being close to them… it's just… THEY DESERVE TO DIE! ALL OF THEM WHO GAVE ME UP FOR THEIR SAFETY SHOULD JUST BURN IN HELL! NOT JUST THE ONES WHO GAVE UP THEIR SAFETY FOR ME BUT ALL OF THEM! ALL OF THOSE STUCK UP YOUNG MASTERS AND MISTRESSES SHOULD BURN IN FUCKING HELL! I COULDN'T EVEN TELL MOM SINCE SHE WAS STRESSED ABOUT WORK! IF I TOLD HER ABOUT MY STRUGGLES AT SCHOOL, SHE WOULD ONLY HAVE MORE STRESS PILED ON HER!" I shout, accidentally.

It seems Tiana expected this since she wasn't surprised at all. I started to cry and cry until I ran out of tears once more.

"Is that it, do you feel better now?" Tiana asks.

"No…"

No was the first thing that came to mind, but I didn't tell her that I felt a knot in my chest loosen slightly.

"That's fine, you can always rely on auntie when you need help," Tiana says with a smile.

"I don't need it,"

"W-why?!"

"I don't need it,"

"Come on… why not?"

"I don't need it,"

"Just call me auntie, auntie just once,"

She's so much different than how they described her.

"Auntie! Auntie! Auntie!" Tiana chanted.

"No," I smirked slightly.

"Oh- Did you just smile? I saw that!" Tiana teased.

"I didn't," I say, turning my head away from her.

"Are you sure~"

"Of course,"

She was trying to cheer me up. It seemed she realized something I didn't realize until just now, I was sad about talking about my mother's death. This woman tried to cheer me up and it was slightly working… only slightly.

"Can I sit next to you?" Tiana asks.

"No,"

"Why not?!"

"You like girls… you might try something on me,"

Tiana had a deadpan face as I finished my sentence. I was barely able to hold in a snicker that tried to creep its way out.

"You're underaged… there's no way I'll try anything on you. Plus, you're Marina's daughter so of course, I won't do it," Tiana says making a slightly disgusted face.

Why am I so calm now?

"You're wondering why you're so calm now?" Tiana says, reading my mind.

All I do is nod my head before Tiana explains,

"I slowed down your body. This not only slows down your aging process but your nervous system. All I did was slow down all the parts of your brain that produced negative emotions such as fear, disgust, anger, and more. I didn't slow down the positive emotions which are why you can only feel either no emotions or happy emotions now.

Of course, tampering with the brain and systems in your body is a dangerous procedure but I've been practicing for about 600 years now, so you should be fine," Tiana says.

My body is flowing with hot and cold blood, but it still can't go against Tiana's ice ability that slowed down my body.

"...Auntie, why didn't you help us. If you are a Primordial Brave, you should have a lot of money, so why didn't you help us?" I ask.

Auntie makes a smug face of victory at me calling her Auntie before clearing her throat and answering my question.

"Your mom refused help. Even after 600 years, she continued to refuse any money that I tried to give her. She kept saying she had to work for it… In the end, I was only able to force onto her eternal youth because I said she could be with her family forever. I gave your dad eternal youth but of course it's not immortality. And you, I just gave it now," Auntie says, looking up at the ceiling almost reminiscing of old times.

"W-wait, 600 years. Mom lived for 600 years?"

"Yeah, didn't I just slow down your aging process, why can't I do it to others?" Auntie says.

"Then are the other Primordial Braves alive?"

"Of course, we old bags are still up and kicking ass. The frontlines are the only match for us now," Auntie says, pushing out her prideful chest.

"I keep hearing about the frontlines. What exactly are they?"

"It's the border between the dungeon paradise and earth. You probably haven't heard of this though, since the United Countries want to keep this a secret, to not cause any worry or uproar,"

"One last question, what is the dungeon paradise?"

"It's not even a paradise. We just call it a paradise since it houses millions of dungeons that haven't been cleared since the beginning. You know how the large families can keep dungeons without them letting go rampage… yeah, it uses the same method," Auntie says.

"I don't know the method… can you please explain," I say, fully serious.

"I thought you would've known by now since you killed that young master and all, oops-"

"Stalker,"

"That's your only reaction! Not how I now know about your secret abilities and stuff,"

I just shrug my shoulders, waiting for Auntie to explain the method.

"*sigh* whatever. So the dungeon paradise and farmable dungeons use the same method of creating a border around the dungeon and letting the monsters roam free like a farm. The paradise is just an upscaled farm where the monsters have gathered together and created a type of society,"

"Like humans?"

"Yes, we still don't know much about it since spies are very hard to slip in… Alright, if that's it I'll treat you to some dinner. Also, if you ever want me to release the slowing process of your body, just tell me and comply, though I might even have to reset it once in a while just like Adam," Auntie replies before getting out of my chair.

"Adam?"

"Oh, he's the Primordial Brave of Fire. His body is naturally hot on the inside so my ice sort of gets countered. If he wanted to dispel the ice to stop the age slowing process, he could do it instantly. Just don't worry about that old man,"

"...Are you not going to ask me about my abilities?" I say.

"You'll tell me when you're ready. They might be a strange combo, but I've seen strangers over my years so don't sweat it right now. It's getting late, but let's just have some bonding time!" Auntie says before leaving my room and going downstairs.

Seems the information about her cold demeanor is mostly a facade she puts on, maybe that's why my body reacted like how it did.

I smile subconsciously as I get out of my bed.

…

"Auntie, why are you here in New York? Shouldn't you be fighting on the front lines?" I ask Auntie while chewing on the expensive steak I ordered.

We were currently in a fancy restaurant that only has private rooms, so we weren't disturbed in the slightest as we enjoyed our fancy meal.

"Well, I came to lead a type of field trip to the front lines for your school. Of course, the information about it being on the front lines isn't going to be given, even to the teachers. Just the headmaster knows,"

"Isn't it dangerous?"

"Of course it is, it's just we're going to the very edge where you won't see the main battle that's been raging on for 100s of years," Auntie replies.

"I've never participated in a field trip," I mumble.

"Really! Well, I hope you participate this time,"

"It's not because I didn't want to, it's just we couldn't afford it. But now I easily can since I sold that power stone," I say through bites..

"I knew it, you are the "Q" person. It's just I don't want you entering dungeons unauthorized anymore," Auntie says firmly.

"You're not my mom,"

"I don't care. You-Are-Not-Go-Ing,"

"Why it's so fun and it helps me release stress,"

That was the quickest excuse I came up with. I need to keep entering dungeons so I can gain XP.

"No, and that's final,"

tsk

"Fucking grandma," I whisper.

"Oi, I know Marina didn't teach you that language. You better not curse around me next time otherwise you're getting a slap on the wrist,"

"That's abuse. Also, how could injure my fair maiden skin,"

I came off as annoyed but in reality, I felt nothing really. The power to freeze even emotions is amazing.

Auntie didn't reply but just looked at me with cold eyes. I had no choice but to comply because she seemed completely serious and I just got away from being hurt all the time. I'd rather not get hurt if I have the chance.

"I'll be coming to your school tomorrow to explain the trip to all the classes so once we're done, go straight to your apartment and go to sleep. I'm coincidentally staying in the same apartment complex so I'll see you to your room," Auntie says.

Coincidence my ass.