Chapter Text
Based on the world-famous people she had as her parents, most expected some vague concept of greatness from Mio. She supposed it came with being the daughter of some of the greatest heroes the world had ever known.
Her Mum, Nia, was perhaps the greatest healer the world had ever seen, and a leading researcher of multiversal mechanics and Ether physics. Many said that if Nia applied herself to an area of research, she’d be able to become renowned in that field in just a few years.
Her Aunts, Pyra and Mythra, were known as the Aegis sisters. A sort of remnant of the Blade Framework, they had in times past served as part of its administration systems. And with the authority they wielded over that Framework, they both played a crucial role in ending it.
And her Pa, Rex? He was one of the last ‘Legendary Drivers’ from the Old World of Alrest, and had served two terms as Prime Minister of the fledgling nation of Elysia.
So, to say that most people expected great things from Mio would be quite an understatement. Most expected she’d grow up to become a world-renowned scientist, an influential politician, or perhaps a doctor who would save many lives. Of course, they expected the same of her half siblings, Tana and Lucas. But unlike her, those two did seem to be living up to the legacy their parents had set.
Like her mother Pyra, Tana had always been fond of cooking. And sure, becoming a world-renowned chef wasn’t quite as prestigious as a doctor or politician of the same notoriety. But when Tana ended up top of her class at culinary school, and had excelled academically in highschool to the point of graduating two years early? Nobody could say she wasn’t living up to her potential.
Lucas, on the other hand, took after Nia more than his own mother. While he’d never be quite as incredible of a Healing Art caster as his Aunt, his proficiency in combining Healing Arts with non-Ether medicine was enough to earn him multiple full-ride scholarships. Sure, he likely would have been able to attend a top university just by being the kid of Rex and Mythra. Nobody would’ve faulted him for taking things a bit easier with parents like that! But, having earned those scholarships on his own merit proved to the world that Lucas was able to live up to the legacy of his father and mother. And, as Mio would personally know, Lucas was quite proud of that fact.
And then there was Mio. A depressed shut-in from the age of 15, cursed by strange, otherworldly dreams she couldn’t comprehend. Really, all she had was her rather meager skill at playing the flute.
She didn’t even have someone to play any of the duets she’d written with! Being a social recluse kinda made finding a 'flute buddy' or whatever a bit tricky.
Mio reckoned then, that perhaps the reason her Mum had arranged for her to meet up with the son of some family acquaintance was to get her someone to play the flute with.
Apparently, she had had a lot in common with the guy.
Chronically depressed music nerd? Check.
Had like four friends total over the course of their entire life? Check.
Completely average at academics? Check.
Shut-in disappointment? Check, even if her parents would never word it like that.
Yet, despite how eerily similar they were to each other, the main thing that stuck out to Mio was the boy’s name.
Noah.
Where had she heard that name before?
Why did it feel so… warm?