It was New Year's Day. There was a festival in town, but Mist didn't feel like going. Instead, she sat by the window with a cup of warm tea, softly humming to herself as she watched Winter almost magically melt into Spring.
She never really went to any of the celebrations that the rest of the townsfolk looked forward to each year. They just weren't fun to her. People always nagged her to go and when she refused, complained she wasn't social enough. But those people didn't have rivals. Those people didn't have enemies. Those people didn't have others whispering behind their back or spreading rumors about them.
But Mist did.
It started back in her childhood, the day her mother made her a doll out of cheap cloth and straw. Being poor, young Mist had never experienced the luxury of owning a doll before. Full of giddiness and pride, Mist had gone straight to Rosetta, her best friend, to show her the new toy. Rosetta had reacted gloomily, like she was forcing herself to tell Mist how happy she was for her.
Four days later, Rosetta had shown up at Mist's house on the edge of town to show off the three new store-bought dolls her father had gotten for her.
One week later, a stray cat had shown up at Mist's door. After much pleading and begging, Mist was allowed to keep the creature. Rosetta had found out and soon had a small Persian kitten of her own. She was never denied anything.
It was the same thing every time; Mist would accomplish something good, Rosetta would try her best to outdo her.
Mist tried her best to avoid Rosetta at all costs, but she was always there, always finding a way to be better than Mist. Of course, Rosetta would claim to no such thing, and complain to the rest of the townsfolk how petty Mist was, how Mist was the one to blame. That was not the case. That was never the case.
Mist leaned her head against the cold glass and sighed. She was fed up with Rosetta and her jealousy-ridden antics. But, it was a new year, and new years meant new beginnings. Maybe things would be different.
Finishing her tea, Mist rose up from her spot by the window. She planned on doing the dishes and taking walk. There was really nothing else to do.
Once outside, Mist was bewildered at what she saw. A young man dressed in various pieces of armor was collapsed on his back outside her house. As she got closer, she saw strange marking on the man's hand. Mist was taught a thing or two about magic, and recognized the markings as the effects of an amnesic curse.
Mist smiled. She could use this man to her advantage, give him the farm, create a hero,. There was no way Rosetta could top that. And who knows? Maybe something will spark between Mist and this mysterious man.
Finally, Mist thought, I'll finally do better than you.
She reached down and shook the man's shoulder. "Hello? Hello? Are you ok?"