The Author's POV

"A...Amanda?"

Natasha's voice shook, as she looked at the girl standing before her. She looked so much older than when she had last seen her.

She was fully grown up now.

Natasha couldn't really explain the emotions she was feeling right now. Thinking about how she had lost the chance to see her daughter grow up, she felt a deep sense of sadness. What mother didn't want to see their child grow up? ...She knew that this was inevitable, but she couldn't hide the sadness she felt when seeing her daughter.

However, seeing just how beautiful and healthy her daughter had turned out, she was more gratified than sad.

Placing both of her hands by the side of the capsule, Natasha tried to get out. But as she tried to lift her hands, she found it extremely hard to do so as she had trouble coordinating her brain with her hand movements.

"Wait up."

Maylin who noticed this, waved her hand and the capsule enveloping Natasha tore apart. A gentle white glow enveloped Natasha as she levitate in the air.

Waving her hand once again, Natasha slowly moved toward the ground.

As Natasha's feet touched the ground, she stumbled a couple of steps. Amanda did try to offer her a hand, but raising her hand, Natasha refused.

"Let me."

Taking two steps forward she was somehow able to stabilize her body.

Having stayed in a coma for over fifteen years, this sort of reaction was understandable. Her brain needed to get adjusted to her muscles once again.

"Haa..."

Taking a deep breath, Natasha finally stood straight. Then, staring at Amanda and getting a proper look at her, the smile on her face became extremely gentle.

"...You've grown up so well."

With a face mixed with many different emotions, Amanda lowered her head. A smile also blossomed on her face.

Seeing this, Natasha raised her hands and motioned her to come to her.

"Come here, let's get a better look at you."

Complying with her mother's wishes, Amanda slowly walked up to her mother who placed both of her hands on her cheeks and slowly started to pinch. Her next comments caused Amanda's face to turn red in embarrassment.

"Mhh, very soft and smooth, not bad, not bad."

Letting go of her cheeks, Natasha looked at her up and down and commented.

"You've also developed quite nicely in all other departments. Very good, very good. There must be a lot of boys chasing after you, eh?"

"...Uh?"

Natasha's sudden words caused Amanda to freeze on the spot. What in the world was happening? She had not expected her mom to be so bold!

"You must be around how old now?"

Without waiting for Amanda to speak, Natasha placed her hand on her chin and pondered.

"I left you when you were just about to turn five, so you should be around nineteen to twenty years old. Five years younger than me from back then."

Natasha's brows furrowed when she thought that far.

Amanda may have been her daughter, but she was only five years younger than her if you took into account the fact that she had been frozen for fifteen years of her life. Her mentality and personality were still that of her twenty-five-year-old self.

"You're around nineteen to twenty years old if I'm not guessing wrong?"

"Mhm, I'm twenty years old."

replied with a soft

so was able to somewhat adjust to her mother's personality. To be honest, she felt more like a sister to her

old...huh, I can't believe my daughter is so old

as she said those words, but it left as fast as it came as

how were you able to

world's circumstances. However, from what she recalled humanity wasn't on good terms with the elves. For what reason

Maylin perhaps tell her about her

"About that..."

cut in and quickly told Natasha about the

how

situation, Natasha covered her mouth

"Such thing happened?"

"Yes."

both of

over here made it to the round of eights of the

"She did?"

as she took another look at her daughter. Sensing the mana revolving around her, the surprise in her

" rank?"

the tender age of twenty, she was left stunned. Even she, who was supposed to be one of the most talented humans back then

which Amanda was progressing, Natasha didn't doubt that

make it so far in the tournament," Natasha said

progress far outpaced the level

suddenly

right, the curse. How were you able

had spent countless days trying to find a way to remove it. In the end, after going through countless books and papers, she was unable to find anything regarding the cure for the mind-breaker

to be taken hostage and used as a bargaining chip for her family, she was forced

I know gave it

Natasha off-guard as her eyes instantly

gave it

"Mhm."

"Is it a boy?"

seem to have noticed

"...Yes."

see. You are

room and seeing that there was no one else, she

is this

"...Eh?"

head as she looked at her mother

to know

saved me after all!" Natasha replied, her voice raising a couple of pitches. "If I didn't

"Oh."

a sudden look of understanding. She simply wanted to thank Ren. Before she

this so-called boy also in

"He is."

a small look of displeasure

not made it past the round

of displeasure didn't go unnoticed by Natasha who inwardly thought. 'Ah, I see, so he's weaker than my girl, moreover, Maylin seems to dislike him.

though she had been absent for over fifteen

was courting her daughter, she definitely wanted the best

get rid of the curse, she wasn't just going to hand her daughter to him

past the round of sixteen, but before she had the chance to do

"How is your dad?"

complexion pale at her question, Natasha's

something happen to your

mother. Seeing the worry in her eyes, Amanda closed her eyes

her out of spite, but because her mother had just woken up from

fact that fifteen years had passed, if she found out that her father had

the worried look on her mother's face, Amanda