Hmmm... a disappointing number of responses so far. I'll give it another day before handing out too many specific clues. NGU, thank you for doing such a thorough breakdown. You're very close or partly correct in a couple of places.
I will make a couple of comments based on whats been said so far. There isn't much filler in this riddle. It is very hard, but most of the details aren't pointless. Also, the showing working as has been done is probably all anyone is gonna get at the moment, this is a VERY hard riddle, and there are a couple of leaps needed, but no one is near that stage yet.
I will say this, as I realized an extension of NGU's answer to one line is wrong but fits just as well as the actual answer...
"Life’s story told in a place to mend." Does not refer to Mideel.