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As if on instinct, you retract your claws and clenched your hands into fists. Hulkette noticed this and moved to interpose herself between you and the Headmaster, but the masked figure raised a hand to stop her.
<span class="mu-r">“It is alright, child. I wish to speak with this one in private.”</span> the Headmaster said, their voice being heavily processed so as to conceal their identity.
Liberty and Hulkette were clearly troubled by this command, and they looked like they were about to object, until the Headmaster turned to face them.
Even without being able to see their face, you could tell that the Headmaster was getting impatient with them.
The girls seemed to sense this, and stepped back into the elevator.
<span class="mu-b">“Of course. Let us know if you need us for anything else.”</span> Liberty offered.
The Headmaster nodded, and waited for the door to close before they returned their attention to you. The two of you stood in silence for an entire minute, just staring at each other.
You were about to say something, when the Headmaster turned around and walked into the dining room. You followed her cautiously. This really was your old house. The same small furniture with a severe lack of throw-pillows. The same rice paper screens that you got in trouble for poking holes in. The same house plants that mom watered religiously.
It had been recreated with painstaking accuracy. Whoever this Headmaster was, they had to have been inside your house before. But who-
<span class="mu-r">“You’ve gotten taller.”</span> the Headmaster said, reaching up to remove their helmet with their back turned to you. It came off with a hiss, revealing the slender neck of a woman. She had dark hair held in place by countless golden pins.
<span class="mu-s">“You should’ve seen me a minute ago. I was twice as tall.”</span> you said, watching her as she slowly removed each pin, letting her shoulder length hair fall back into place.
<span class="mu-r">“I saw. I assume that was a gift from Khonshu?”</span>
That voice. It sounded like…but there was no way that-
The Headmaster turned to face you, and you nearly fell over out of shock. The woman smiled at you, and it was a smile that you missed every single day, with all your heart...
<span class="mu-r">“Hello, Cindy. It's good to see you again.”</span> your mother said.
You took a shaky step forward, your hands reaching up to pull the bandages away from your face. You felt like you couldn’t breathe.
<span class="mu-s">“Mom…?”</span>
You’ve dreamed of moments like this, imagined scenarios in which your parents miraculously survived the attack on your home. But even you knew those dreams were too good to be true.
You took a step back.
<span class="mu-s">“This has got to be some sort of trick. What are you, a Skinwalker? A Doppelganger? A Fetch? A Kitsune?”</span>
The thing that looked like your mother chuckled, the skin around her eyes wrinkling with genuine delight.
<span class="mu-r">“I'm your mother. This is no trick. You can run me through whatever tests you need to, I'm the real deal.”</span> she declared, spreading her arms wide.
(Cont.)
