I winced, fingers pressing against my temple as I examined the bitemark marring my forearm. Golden eyes flared with concentrated mana as I pushed magical energy into the wound, watching with fascination and disgust as tendrils of dark miasma began writhing from the puncture marks like smoke from a dying fire.
"Ew. What's this? That looks absolutely disgusting." The words tumbled out with the kind of clinical detachment I'd perfected over years of poking at dangerous things. The miasma twisted and coiled, responding to my mana like some parasitic organism feeding off my magical reserves.
So this has been the source of my persistent headache. Fucking hell. What in the world was it exactly? The sensation felt oddly familiar, steadily draining my mana reserves but at a glacially slow pace. If I had to quantify it, imagine possessing 1024 gigabytes worth of magical energy, and this delightful little curse was siphoning away roughly 69 kilobytes per second.
Quick mental calculations suggested it would take approximately 180 days, give or take six months, to completely drain me dry. That was assuming, of course, that I didn't obliterate this revolting thing from existence first, and that my mana capacity didn't continue expanding at its current exponential rate.
"I'm going to kill that dog." The words escaped through gritted teeth as I fixed Subaru with a half-lidded glare that could have frozen the Flugel Tree solid. I wasn't particularly angry with her, mind you, but it had been her brilliant suggestion to encourage me to pet that bald demonic spawn masquerading as man's best friend.
"No, you're absolutely not going to kill that poor dog for that," Subaru shot back in what could only be described as a shout-whisper, her voice carefully modulated to avoid disturbing the children currently frolicking with the very creature in question. "We are not traumatizing these children, Fuyu-kun."
My response was a sigh that would have made any drama teacher proud. Without further ceremony, I scooped Subaru up in a classic princess carry, her startled squeal music to my ears as my faithful Capey responded to my unspoken command. The levitation cloak billowed dramatically as we ascended, carrying us both to the crown of the tallest tree in the immediate vicinity where a sturdy branch provided the perfect impromptu perch.
"Not that I don't particularly enjoy alone time with you—" Subaru began, but I silenced her with a gentle shush, my attention already focused on the more pressing matter at hand.
Concentrating, I pushed additional mana into the curse, watching with morbid fascination as it responded by attempting to drain even faster. The accelerated consumption had an unexpected side effect, however, causing the curse to become visible as black smoke began pouring from the bite marks like incense from a cursed altar.
"Oh fuck, you've been cursed." Subaru's voice had completely shed its previous playful tenor, replaced by sharp alertness as her happy-go-lucky expression evaporated like morning dew. "So you've been touched by a shaman."
"No, I've been bitten by that mangy mutt, that's precisely where this curse is emanating from." I shook my head with the patience of someone explaining basic arithmetic to a particularly slow student. I knew exactly who had been interacting with me throughout the day, and thanks to my ability to read The Colors, combined with the fact that this fuzzy, unpleasant sensation had begun the precise moment those canine teeth tried to break my skin, the culprit was embarrassingly obvious.
"I mean it can't possibly be..." Subaru's gaze drifted downward to where the children continued their innocent games, even Emilia having joined their circle to play with the very same puppy while Puck remained conspicuously absent. "That's actually a Walgram? How is that even... I mean it does bear a resemblance to the larger one from my previous encounter with that distinctive bald head."
Oh she means the previous loop.
"I mean, wasn't the bald head clue enough? Come on, Subaru, don't say such obviously dumb things." I delivered this with what internet culture had taught me to recognize as bombastic side-eye, the kind that could launch a thousand memes.
"I mean, just look at that pup," she protested, pointing toward the creature currently sprawled on its back, allowing Emilia to rub its belly as it produced pleasant sounds that sent the children into delighted giggles. "It appears so harmless, so genuinely cute, and it hasn't harmed any of the children at any point."
"Because it could very well be playing an extended game, or more likely, it's being controlled by someone else entirely. You should know better than anyone the concept of lures and bait from video games." My tone carried disappointment rather than anger, because she was allowing her emotions to override the caution that had kept us both breathing thus far.
"Dammit..." The word escaped her lips like a prayer. "But I understand your point, but who exactly is the shaman that's been controlling this dog?"
My eyes flickered almost involuntarily toward Melli, the peculiar child whose emotional aura painted itself in suspicious shades of excitement, annoyance, and enjoyment that flickered through my enhanced perception like a kaleidoscope of potential guilt. But I held my tongue, forcing myself to maintain control.
That individual was still just a child. I refused to point accusatory fingers without absolute certainty of guilt, because I had no intention of condemning someone based solely on my Semblance. The same ability that had nearly catastrophically screwed me over just recently.
"How much time do we have, Subaru? Will anything particularly unpleasant happen soon?" My voice softened as guilt crept into my chest, because I understood how excruciating it must be for her to loop endlessly while nobody else retained those memories. All that character development, all those moments of growing closer, simply deleted from existence as if they had never occurred.
At least from everyone else's perspective. For her, she carried the weight of remembering what once was but would never happen again, because the butterfly effect was an absolute bastard.
"We have a few days," she confirmed with a nod. "Sometimes when we become too suspicious or overly aggressive around the village, the shaman panics and accelerates their timeline, first kidnaping children and letting loose horde of Walgram to devour whole village, after destroying barriers stones first, but if we maintain our cover and avoid causing unnecessary commotion, we typically have around five days maximum before events unfold regardless of our actions."
"Then we still have sufficient time... I believe. We need Beatrice's assistance. With this curse still actively draining me, I'm confident that a spirit of knowledge like her can identify its nature and potentially help us track down our mysterious shaman."
Subaru's expression grew uncomfortable, her features twisting as if she'd bitten into something particularly sour before finally releasing a resigned sigh. "Fine... I suppose we can explore this choice. This timeline has already become so thoroughly fucked beyond anything I previously knew, so why not listen to my darling for once?"
"Darling...?" I tilted my head in genuine confusion, the word hanging in the air between us like a question mark made manifest.
"I mean, you did sweep me away in your arms like some fairy tale princess... the sun is painting the horizon in brilliant orange hues... we're completely alone atop the tallest tree in the area... we're practically living out scenes from the cheesiest romance anime you could possibly imagine."
Now that she had drawn my attention to it, the romantic atmosphere was rather undeniable. The view stretched endlessly before us, and I was still maintaining my protective grip around her waist with perhaps more intensity than strictly necessary.
As if to prove this exact point, Subaru launched another of her surprise attacks, her lips finding mine with practiced precision as I nearly jerked backward in startled surprise before ultimately surrendering to the inevitable.
What most people failed to understand was that I possessed an extremely heightened sensitivity to foreign touch on any part of my skin.
In other words…I'm ticklish, a lot.
So I awkwardly attempted to reciprocate her kiss, trying to match her intensity with equal footing, but victory remained frustratingly elusive.
Her experience, her intimate knowledge of this kind of battlefield, and her superior techniques outclassed my fumbling attempts so thoroughly that I could do nothing but surrender completely to my fate, letting her lead this kiss while I tried not to embarrass myself further.
"Reeeeem." I groaned out in boredom, adjusting my grip on the leather grocery bags while she balanced a wooden crate filled with supplies for the mansion. The return journey from the village stretched endlessly before us, the afternoon sun blazing overhead like an angry eye determined to cook us alive.
Fortunately, my power, Trinity had been subtly coaxing clouds into position all day, providing blessed shade along our path, accompanied by the occasional merciful breeze that rustled through the wheat fields.
"Yes, young master," Rem replied in that perfectly measured tone of hers, her pale blue eyes fixed straight ahead on the dusty road. Her posture remained impeccable despite the weight of her burden, every step precise and purposeful.
"Are we there yet?" I asked for the fifth time in a row, because apparently my brain had regressed to that of a particularly persistent child.
"No, we are not." The blue-haired oni sighed, a barely perceptible crack in her professional facade as she quickened her pace. I matched her stride effortlessly—one of the more concerning side effects of my accumulated abilities. Between my Aura, the dragon blood coursing through my veins, and whatever other mutations the Celestial Grimoire had bestowed upon me, I hadn't felt genuine fatigue in days. The implications were starting to worry me.
Humans were not meant to have unlimited stamina.
"How did you manage to forget the distance when we traveled this exact route this morning?" she asked, exasperation creeping into her voice as she tilted her face toward the gentle breeze that seemed to follow us wherever we went.
I could practically see her thoughts crystallizing around the phenomenon, she remained convinced that this convenient weather was some sort of divine protection the world had granted me, rather than the result of active manipulation on my part.
Her emotions painted themselves in soft, curious amber whenever she glanced at the clouds above us, tinged with reverence and wonder.
I'd let her maintain that interpretation for as long as possible. As I always said, I'd do what I do and let people reach their own conclusions about the how and why of it all.
"I don't know, I was entirely focused on Emilia talking. She was being particularly chatty, and I didn't notice how long we walked," I admitted with a shrug. Could anyone really blame me? When Emilia felt comfortable around someone, she transformed into an absolute chatterbox, and she looked utterly adorable while doing it, those violet eyes lighting up as she rambled about everything from flower arrangements to the implications of spirit magic.
"Uh huh." Rem shot me a look that could have curdled milk, skepticism radiating from her in sharp spikes of yellow-green.
"What? She's fascinating. It's not my fault she captures so much of my attention when she gets going like that," I said, spreading my hands in a gesture of innocent helplessness.
"So I must be boring then. That's why time feels like it's slowing to a crawl for you now," Rem said, her voice dropping several degrees as she huffed, a cloud of wounded pride manifesting around her in muted grays and deep blues.
"Your words, not mine," I replied automatically, but paused mid-step as Capey suddenly unshackled herself from my shoulders and launched through the air like a fabric missile aimed directly at the unsuspecting maid.
"Ah!" Rem nearly dropped her supplies, juggling the crate with practiced grace while trying to maintain her balance. "This ridiculous cloak again," she squeaked as Capey wrapped herself around Rem's shoulders and began lifting her gently off the ground, the enchanted fabric rippling with what I could only describe as smug satisfaction.
"See? Capey likes you," I said, grinning at the adorable scene unfolding before me. Rem's emotional spectrum shifted into warmer hues, surprise mixing with reluctant fondness. "And for the record, I don't find you boring. Despite living in the same house for weeks now, we haven't actually spent much time together, just the two of us. We simply don't know each other the way I know the others."
It was true. I'd developed an easy rapport with Ram, even if we butted heads occasionally over my more unconventional approaches to problem-solving. My relationships with Emilia and Subaru were deepening naturally, and even Beatrice had warmed to me after all the earth literature I've corrupted her with and our character development moment.
But somehow, Rem and I had never found our rhythm. She remained professionally polite but distant, like a beautiful statue that spoke when spoken to.
"So why don't we fix that?" I said, watching as she began to float several feet off the ground, Capey supporting her weight effortlessly while Rem maintained perfect balance despite the unusual circumstances.
"What's happening?! Why am I flying?! Stop your stupid clothes! I'm perfectly fine on the ground beneath my feet." Rem said in almost panic as she kicked her feet in panic as she began to float upward slowly.
I closed my eyes briefly, reaching for one of my newer powers: Trinity, and felt the familiar surge of power as three spheres of pure white light materialized around my body, orbiting like miniature suns. The wind responded to my unspoken command, pushing me forward and upward until I was airborne, the currents catching me in perfect equilibrium.
Capey immediately interpreted this as a challenge, spiraling higher into the sky and dragging a increasingly vocal Rem along for the ride.
Rem's initial scream dissolved into the wind as the air caught her skirt and her grip on the supply crate loosened precariously. "Winter! Put me down this instant!"
"I am putting you down," I called back, executing a lazy barrel roll just because I could. "It's just taking longer because gravity decided to take an extended lunch break."
"How are you even flying? I thought you could only manage it with that ridiculous cloak!" Rem shouted, only to receive an indignant flutter from Capey. Despite the cloak's obvious affection for Rem, which remained a mystery, it still possessed distinctly feline pride when it came to being insulted.
Capey spun lazily in response, her fabric edges dancing around Rem's hips like playfully teasing fingers. My three white orbs dimmed as I twisted mid-air, hovering above the treetops with all the smugness of a particularly self-satisfied sky god.
Rem floated beside me now, her cheeks flushed pink and her knuckles white where she gripped the supply crate. "This is completely inappropriate! What if someone sees us?"
"Nobody's looking up, Rem," I said, flipping upside down with dramatic flair. "They're all too busy staring at their feet. Sad lives. Terrible posture. Really, they're missing out on the whole sky situation."
She swatted at me halfheartedly, her eyes narrowed in mock annoyance, but I caught the telltale twitch at the corners of her mouth. There it was, a crack in that perfectly maintained maid facade. And beneath it, visible only to my enhanced perception, bloomed something beautiful.
Colors swirled around her heart like liquid silk, deep rose embarrassment, yes, but also bright golden excitement and the electric blue of pure adrenaline. Flight remained the deepest desire of every mortal soul, and Rem was no exception to this fundamental truth.
"This is not how I expected today to unfold," she admitted, her voice softer now, wonder creeping in around the edges.
"Neither did I," I said honestly, drifting closer until our flight paths intersected. "But here we are, defying physics and probably several laws of propriety."
The wind stilled around us. Capey hovered between us like a curtain waiting to be drawn, her fabric rippling with anticipation.
Rem's breath caught as I reached out, not with magic this time, but with my actual hand. My fingers found hers mid-air, warm skin meeting warm skin in the space between earth and heaven.
"Since we've established that we're going to be friends," I said, maintaining our aerial dance as Roswaal's mansion came into view far below us, visible only because of our considerable altitude, "I have something significant to ask you."
Rem's heartbeat had finally settled from its earlier adrenaline-fueled sprint, though I could still sense traces of reverence mixed with disbelief. Flying was considered such a rare art in this world, accessible only to the most skilled mages or those blessed with specific divine protections.
"What did you have in mind?" she asked, genuine curiosity coloring her voice.
"What's your favorite dinosaur?" I asked with the utmost seriousness, studying her face intently for her response.
"Dinosaur? What's that?" Confusion painted itself across her features in swirls of muddy brown and orange.
"Ah, right. Different world," I said, shaking my head at my own oversight. "Wrong cultural epoch entirely. Okay, let me try again: What's your favorite dragon?"
"I really don't have one," she said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I mean, aside from Volcanica, they're mostly just oversized lizards. Even the Earth Dragons are basically large reptiles with delusions of grandeur, so I've never really considered having a preference."
"What do you mean you don't have a favorite dragon?" I asked, betrayal seeping into my voice. I could forgive the dinosaur ignorance, this world's fossil record was decidedly lacking, but dragons? This realm practically overflowed with draconic diversity, from the serpentine creatures of ancient folktales to the magnificent Western dragons depicted in religious iconography. The four kingdoms each boasted their own varieties, with Vollachia alone building an entire military doctrine around either slaying or breeding the beasts.
"Everyone with a functioning soul has a favorite dragon," I declared solemnly, pressing my hand to my chest. "That's not opinion. That's scientific fact." The betrayal I felt was genuine—after all, my own preference leaned strongly toward the classic Western dragon archetype.
Though my favorite Dinosaur remained Therizinosaurus, let me paint you a picture: This lanky, feathered weirdo had scythe-like claws that could reach up to a meter long.
Imagine a giant murder-chicken with Edward Scissorhands arms, strutting through the forest like it just walked off a heavy metal album cover, but plot twist, it was probably herbivorous. Like, "Hey, I could gut you like a fish, but I just want that leaf."
I sighed deeply, trying to recalibrate my approach.
"Alright then, what about your favorite food? Favorite hobby? Music, arts, anything that makes your soul sing?"
Rem considered this for a long moment, her expression growing thoughtful. "I enjoy maintaining the mansion, training during my free time. That's really all there is."
And just like that, my soul withered a little.
If there was one thing I absolutely could not tolerate, it was encountering someone without a discernible personality. What did she mean she didn't have a favorite dragon? No hobbies beyond existing and working? I would genuinely rather be kidnapped, tied up, covered in oil, and subjected to prolonged foot tickling than attempt meaningful conversation with someone who had apparently never developed preferences about anything.
"Favorite magic, then? Favorite story? Anyone or anything you love besides work and your sister?" I tried once more, desperation creeping into my voice.
"I'm competent with wind and water magic," she replied matter-of-factly. "And I already have my sister and my duties. What more would I need?"
At that moment, I was convinced I could extract more engaging conversation from a brick wall. Her responses felt so surface-level, so utterly divorced from the philosophical, almost spiritual depth I'd been seeking.
Emilia had answered these questions beautifully, telling stories and dreams together like poetry. Subaru maintained a rotating collection of passionate obsessions, her favorite anime and manga was Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.
Ram, despite being weaponized sarcasm in humanoid form, could deliver lengthy monologues about tea preparation and customs of this world. Even Beatrice, who literally lived in a library closet had strong opinions about everything from literature to the proper way to read or write, how to manage books, and many other talents and hobbies.
Not to be cruel, but despite her obvious beauty and considerable strength, Rem struck me as fundamentally boring. Being an attractive maid shouldn't constitute someone's entire personality.
"Why are you looking at me with such pitying eyes?" she asked, confusion rippling around her in waves of pale yellow.
I shook my head slowly. "It's nothing, Rem. Really, it's nothing."
And for once, I didn't mean it sarcastically.
Because maybe it wasn't her fault. Maybe she'd never been given the opportunity to discover what she genuinely liked or loved.
Now I'm not that knowledgeable of Re:zero but I did hear twin maids had tragic backstories, so maybe it's not her fault and it's because my own expectations are too high.
My bad Rem, my bad.
Mission "Befriend Rem" was officially a go.
Right after I dealt with this curse situation and tracked down that shaman, of course.
After parting ways with Rem at the mansion's entrance, I was already sprinting through the polished marble hallways of Roswaal Manor, Capey streaming behind me like a rebellious battle standard snapping in an invisible wind. My destination remained fixed in my mind: Beatrice's perpetually shifting library that moved according to laws only she understood.
My thoughts, however, churned in restless circles like a dog chasing its own tail.
I desperately need a method to trace the shaman who had cursed me. Suspects? I have plenty of those cluttering up my mental filing system, but none that assembled into a coherent picture. Milde, the village elder and the only adult who had made direct physical contact with me during our visit, seemed like the most obvious culprit on paper.
Yet her emotional signature told a completely different story through the colors. Instead of malice, I saw exhaustion painted in muted grays and browns. Instead of scheming satisfaction, she radiated pure golden joy after Emilia and I had healed the entire village population this afternoon.
I combed through every detail of the morning's events like a detective examining a crime scene under a magnifying glass. The cursed dog, most likely a mabeast or witchbeast based on the fact that it cursed me directly, even after Aura blocked the physical damage, was the catalyst. But who had been positioned close enough to it for long enough to plant such specific magical contamination?
Only the children. Just the village kids who are taking care of and playing the beast, mistaking it for a normal mutt.
Which brings me to an uncomfortable possibility that made my stomach clench with dread.
As I had explained to Subaru earlier during our conversation, the shaman might very well be disguising themselves as a child through illusion magic, transformation spells, or even more exotic techniques. Body switching, age regression, temporary shapeshifting, the magical possibilities were disturbingly extensive. Hell, for all I knew, they could be employing some variation of the possession techniques I'd read about in various manga and light novels.
It would suck if I had to face a being who snatched a little child's body like Orochimaru or something.
Melli stood out among the village children like a sore thumb. Her emotional signature had practically screamed 'Yo look at me, I'm suspicious as fuck,' when I'd analyzed her through my The colors, predatory satisfaction mixed with irritation painted her aura in sickly yellows and poisonous greens that no genuine child should possess.
But the fundamental problem with obvious answers was that they often served as carefully constructed traps. I wasn't here to chase obvious bait like some amateur; I am here to bite through the fishing hook and drag the entire angler into the depths.
Still, anxiety gnawed at my consciousness like a persistent parasite. My instincts are telling me that this could be another doomed timeline.
Because when Subaru had kissed me on that tree earlier this afternoon, her emotions had been complex conflicting feelings. Love, certainly, Lust, obviously, deep purple desire that sent heat coursing through my veins. But underneath those surface emotions lurked something else entirely.
Uncertainty. Guilt. Self-recrimination.
And what would make a time-looper feel such profound guilt? The most logical answer involved leaving someone they cared about trapped in a version of reality where all shared memories would be wiped clean by the next reset. Where progress and connection would crumble into nothing, leaving only echoes of what might have been.
So perhaps this timeline is already doomed to failure. Perhaps my interference, my insistence on taking Emilia to the village ahead of schedule, has disrupted Subaru's carefully accumulated knowledge and experience from previous loops. Maybe I had inadvertently thrown a wrench into whatever delicate plans she had been constructing.
But to hell with that defeatist thinking.
Even if waiting around for her to solve everything through Return by Death would be the easier path, I refused to take it. I couldn't stand idle when I possessed power of my own, real power that could make a tangible difference in the world.
I am the wielder of the Celestial Grimoire, that cosmic artifact embedded in my very soul. If I couldn't manage to solve one simple mystery, what was the point of having such capabilities in the first place?
So go ahead and enjoy your romantic evening with Emilia, Subaru. Smile at her terrible jokes. Laugh at her adorable behavior.
Have a wonderful date.
I will handle the dangerous investigations from here. I will ensure that you wouldn't have to experience death in the near future, that this timeline could continue without the brutal death that will haunt you for life.
And honestly, you should be grateful for the opportunity. According to your own words, it would have taken you weeks or months to work up the courage to ask Emilia on a proper date to see those flower fields you had mentioned. Now you could have that perfect romantic evening while I unraveled this mystery.
Determination ignited my blood like liquid fire, magic crackling through my veins as I flung open one random door after another. The Forbidden Library's entrance shifted locations according to Beatrice's whims, requiring a combination of persistence and luck to locate. I teleported from hallway to hallway using half elf magic, pursuing the moving doorway through the mansion's wards.
Then, suddenly, everything changed.
Familiar drumroll echoed inside my head as I can feel Celestial Grimoire waking up for another power.
You Rolled: Nel Tu! (Bleach) = 100CP
Hollows are curiously mutable creatures. Most are aware of the stages of growth the Menos can access but few know that Hollows can naturally adapt their forms in response to trauma too. After living through some terrible times, you kept the things you learned close. Likely after a cracking of your mask, you gained the ability to take on a child's form, either of your race or appearing human. This child form will slowly recover from any damage, even otherwise permanent marks like a damaged mask, but this can take numerous years if severe.
However, even those very familiar with you and your energy signature will fail to recognise you and most strangers, due to your fairly cute demeanour, will find it hard to just abandon you. A useful way to escape from danger and you can even offer your saviors a gift in return. In this child form, your spit and vomit have weak healing qualities, letting you speed up natural healing in others by covering them in the gross stuff.
I gasped as the information hit me like a tidal wave and immediately the entire world expanded to massive proportions around me.
Not because the hallway had grown larger, but because I had dramatically shrunk in size. My legs felt stubby and unsteady beneath me. My cheeks had become noticeably chubbier, soft with baby fat that hadn't existed moments before. My fingers appeared delicate and small, like a child's hands attempting to grasp objects meant for adults. I glanced down at my suddenly oversized clothing, then caught my reflection in a polished window set into the corridor wall.
A miniature version of myself stared back in wide-eyed wonder.
Golden eyes that seemed too large for my face, coat sleeves that dangled well past my tiny wrists, an overall appearance that suggested a seven-year-old child attempting to cosplay as their older sibling with dramatic flair and questionable success.
"Hell, no wait, heck," I corrected myself automatically, some deep instinct insisting on age-appropriate language, gotta stay pg. "I can feel my magical abilities being restricted. Not completely gone, just... operating in baby mode, I suppose."
This transformation would presumably wear off when I consciously chose to revert to my normal form. Probably. Hopefully. The mechanics remained somewhat unclear, but most temporary magical effects had built-in duration limits.
"Hehehe!" A genuine giggle bubbled up from my throat, pure joy erupting without any conscious control. I hadn't experienced this kind of unfiltered happiness since actual childhood, not counting the occasional brush with mortal danger or the discovery of new spells or powers, the courtesy of the Celestial Grimoire, of course.
"Even though I know I'm technically a teenager," I murmured while experimentally poking my rounded cheeks, "I also genuinely feel like I'm seven years old. Is my childhood personality taking the driver's seat while my teenage consciousness manages all the stored memories from the back seat?"
A moment of contemplation.
"Uwahhhh, that's so complicated and confusing!" I whined, flailing my oversized sleeves in theatrical distress.
I stumbled toward the nearest door and yanked it open with both tiny hands.
Jackpot. The library materialized before me.
Beatrice's forbidden sanctuary unfurled in all its mystical glory. The diminutive golden-haired spirit occupied her customary chair with a thick leather-bound volume balanced in her lap, but the instant her eyes found me—
She froze completely, like a deer caught in magical headlights.
Her violet eyes widened in shock as they locked with mine, confusion and recognition warring across her delicate features.
"You... who are you supposed to be? Those eyes... could you possibly be Winter?"
Perfect. The disguise was working exactly as advertised.
Even Beatrice, the ancient spirit of the Forbidden Library with her extensive magical knowledge and supernatural perception, couldn't immediately identify me. If this transformation could fool someone of her caliber, ordinary mortals wouldn't stand a chance of seeing through the illusion.
"Helloooooo~" I waved cheerfully, the gesture emerging naturally from my transformed state. My body seemed to have its own agenda when it came to expressing childlike enthusiasm, and I found myself powerless to resist the urge to be adorable.
But then my teenage vocabulary and emotional intelligence kicked into high gear, creating an interesting combination of childish delivery with sophisticated content.
"Is that my absolutely glorious, elegant, intelligent, charming, kind, thoughtful, strong, courageous, creative, brilliant, gentle, humble, generous, passionate, wise, funny, loyal, dependable, graceful, radiant, calm, confident, warm, compassionate, witty, adventurous, respectful, sincere, magnetic, bold, articulate, empathetic, inspiring, honest, patient, powerful, attentive, uplifting, classy, friendly, reliable, ambitious, intuitive, talented, supportive, grounded, determined, charismatic, extraordinary, trustworthy, noble, dignified, perceptive, innovative, refined, considerate, balanced, open-minded, composed, imaginative, mindful, optimistic, virtuous, noble-hearted, well-spoken, quick-witted, deep, philosophical, fearless, affectionate, expressive, emotionally intelligent, resourceful, delightful, fascinating, sharp, selfless, driven, assertive, authentic, vibrant, playful, observant, skillful, generous-spirited, practical, comforting, brave, wise-hearted, enthusiastic, dependable, tactful, enduring, discreet, well-mannered, mature, tasteful, joyful, understanding, genuine, brilliant-minded, encouraging, well-rounded, dynamic, radiant-spirited, soulful, insightful, creative-souled, justice-minded, reliable-hearted, tender, uplifting-minded, persevering, devoted, angelic, down-to-earth, golden-hearted, gentle-spirited, clever, courageous-hearted, courteous, harmonious, loyal-minded, beautiful-souled, easygoing, sincere-hearted, respectful-minded, comforting-voiced, confident-minded, emotionally strong, respectful-souled, imaginative-hearted, protective, noble-minded, confident-souled, wise-eyed, loving, serene, magnetic-souled, expressive-eyed, brilliant-hearted, inspiring-minded, and absolutely unforgettable Beatrice that I spot before me?"
The effect was immediate and devastating. Her pale face erupted in brilliant crimson, the blush spreading from her cheeks down to her neck as she processed the relentless barrage of sincere compliments. The heavy tome in her hands snapped shut with a sound like thunder, magical energy crackling around her fingers as her composure completely shattered.
The onslaught of praise hadn't been calculated or manipulative, every word had emerged from my heart with complete honesty and zero emotional filters. If this had been purely my seven-year-old self speaking, I probably would have managed something like "you're really smart and pretty" before running out of vocabulary.
But with my teenage knowledge providing an extensive arsenal of descriptive language, I had deployed every single positive adjective I could access for maximum emotional impact.
See, I'm such a genius. I know so many words just to say you're awesome.
"Cease that ridiculous rambling at once, I suppose!" she barked, her usual haughty demeanor cracking as she stormed across the library floor. With surprising ease, she scooped me up in her arms like I was an actual child, holding me at eye level while her face continued burning with embarrassment. "Just because you appear to be a child doesn't mean you need to babble like one!"
Still, despite her protests, those rosy cheeks betrayed her true feelings. She began pinching my transformed cheeks with vindictive affection, her touch gentle despite the mock punishment.
"Wait just a moment," she muttered, her analytical mind finally catching up to the situation. "This isn't ordinary transformation magic. Something else entirely is at work here."
Her free hand began glowing with violet Yin energy as she attempted to probe my magical signature, but the diagnostic spell shattered harmlessly against my skin like glass striking diamond. Her eyes widened as recognition dawned.
"You truly are Winter, even though I guessed that, it's never hurt to be sure, I suppose," she said quietly, wonder creeping into her voice. "Those golden eyes of yours... and immunity to Yin magic,"
"Yup, that's definitely me," I confirmed with a bright grin, my cheeks still squished between her fingers. "But I need your help with something important. I think someone has placed a curse on me, and I need to track down whoever's responsible."
I extended my tiny hand toward her with complete sincerity.
Accomplishment:
Rise of the shota victim, good luck +100CP
Fly like a bird on your own +100CP
Roll: Nel Tu! (Bleach)
Hollows are curiously mutable creatures. Most are aware of the stages of growth the Menos can access but few know that Hollows can naturally adapt their forms in response to trauma too. After living through some terrible times, you kept the things you learned close. Likely after a cracking of your mask, you gained the ability to take on a child's form, either of your race or appearing human. This child form will slowly recover from any damage, even otherwise permanent marks like a damaged mask, but this can take numerous years if severe.
However, even those very familiar with you and your energy signature will fail to recognise you and most strangers, due to your fairly cute demeanour, will find it hard to just abandon you. A useful way to escape from danger and you can even offer your saviors a gift in return. In this child form, your spit and vomit have weak healing qualities, letting you speed up natural healing in others by covering them in the gross stuff.
Total: 200CP
@Darklord331 : Holy hell now that's the longest praise I've seen! Almost like the longest love confession in Rentaro 100 girlfriends made.