The sight of the night sky above Alto transitions to an ornate, vaulted ceiling, the soft, flickering light of a bonfire replaced by sunlight pouring through massive windows, and the lush greenery of a forest gives way to the elegant atmosphere of a royal ballroom.
She stands away from anyone recognizable, dressed in a fine, silk dress, surrounded by innumerable eager-looking elves. It's quickly identifiable to her as the afternoon of the Royal Announcement, after "Nedonera's" party was introduced to the Elven Kingdom as saviors of the demon crisis.
She spent multiple hours of the afternoon celebration separated from Mizuki and company, entertaining the questions and greetings of excited elves who wanted to talk to the only elf ever known to gain an Elder Dragon's favor. She found most of the time tedious, but...there was one interaction of note.
True to her expectations, from amidst the crowd a handsome young elven man with black hair and extravagant clothes, only slightly older than her, steps forward with a complicated expression on his face. Seeing him, the Alto of her memory freezes, her eyes widening in shocked recognition. The young man nods at her politely, his voice hesitant.
"Alto...it's good to see you again." (Tegan)
Tegan, the young heir to the Stone Construction empire, her former would-be fiancé, and the man she technically blackmailed into helping her run away from home.
Despite Alto's best efforts to get herself under control, her voice is slightly flustered as she responds.
"Tegan...it...it has been some time..." (Alto)
At the same time, memory Alto is quickly realizing that the Silver family is just as likely to be here as the Stone family, and her eyes dart around the room nervously. After all, she was just introduced to every attendee of the Royal Announcement, undisguised and with her real first name.
Seeing her nervous reaction, and intuiting the reason for it, Tegan smiles reassuringly.
"I think they're not coming in here...the Silver family. I saw them outside during the announcements, and they bought passes to this prestigious little celebration, but it seemed like they gave them away after...well..." (Tegan)
He trails off awkwardly, but she understands what he means. As wealthy elves of repute, her parents naturally wouldn't miss a Royal Announcement or any of its privileged events near the royal family, like this ballroom celebration. However, after unexpectedly seeing her introduced on stage earlier, they must have decided to avoid attending this particular meet and greet event for some reason.
She nods at Tegan, her posture now more affable...relatively, at least.
"That is fine...thank you for telling me." (Alto)
A brief, awkward silence ensues between them, before Tegan clears his throat nervously.
"Ehem...well, you've obviously been...busy. Want to tell me what you've been up to?" (Tegan)
She nods, and proceeds to summarize the past eight decades of her life until the outreach trip. Tegan's eyes widen in surprise, his lips pursing thoughtfully.
"I see...that explains why I never heard news of you after you left. Honestly, some people thought you might have died. I can't help but notice, though...you left something rather obvious out. Maybe, how you became friends with an Elder Dragon?" (Tegan)
Her lip twitches in amusement, though she also feels a pang of melancholy at the reminder of her recent loss. Nevertheless, she recounts the events since embarking on the outreach trip. Of course, she leaves out anything implicating Mizuki's abilities.
When she's done, Tegan's wearing a horrified expression.
"I...I'm so sorry, Alto. After the announcement earlier, I should have realized you were part of that outreach group that got attacked...it only makes sense." (Tegan)
She shrugs dismissively.
"It is fine...you weren't obligated to know." (Alto)
He gives her a conflicted look, before something seems to dawn on him, and he shifts his gaze around the room...until it lands on Mizuki. He glances back at her, his expression skeptical.
"And now you're...traveling with one of them? You're okay with that, after what they did?" (Tegan)
Despite knowing that his words come from a place of concern, she can't help but feel a rush of protective indignation. Even the real Alto, spectating this memory, feels a lesser surge of displeasure at the comment. Her eyes narrow, her voice turning a touch colder.
"Mizuki is nothing like the humans...don't compare them. He's kind, intelligent, honest, and he'd do anything for the people he cares about...I won't let anyone speak ill of him." (Alto)
Tegan blinks, taken aback by the subtle hostility in her voice.
"S-Sorry...I...didn't know." (Tegan)
Realizing her potential overreaction, she nods apologetically.
"No...I am sorry as well. I know you meant well, I just...he's been treated horribly here since we arrived, even after everything he did for me and the others. He deserves better, and...I want the elves to know that, too." (Alto)
Tegan raises his eyebrow, throwing another studying glance at Mizuki.
"You two are close?" (Tegan)
Her lips twist into a soft smile, her eyes wandering thoughtfully.
"Yes. He's great company, and...my friend." (Alto)
Tegan gives her a curious look, his eyes studying her face in silence for several moments.
"You know, I consider myself rather charming company, and I don't remember you being so warm with me back then. I suppose he must be rather...special. " (Tegan)
There's a curious edge to his voice, a small, knowing smirk on his face as he watches for her response. Though this doesn't go unnoticed by her, she also can't quite interpret the reason for it, nor does she care. She just shrugs nonchalantly at him.
"Mizuki is special, and you are...pleasant, I suppose, but I've never found you charming." (Alto)
Tegan chuckles at the characterization, causing her to raise her eyebrows.
"What is so funny?" (Alto)
He shakes his head at her, a small grin on his face.
"Nothing. Just...remembering how I thought you were oblivious back then, because of how stubbornly you ignored my disinterest in our dates. I'm glad to see my judgement was valid after all." (Tegan)
Much like her past self, Alto can't help but internally frown at Tegan's comment now, puzzled by its intended implication. Alas, before the memory or her pondering can continue, she abruptly finds herself in a different environment, and she intuitively feels the restrictions on her words and actions lift once again.
An elegantly decorated but cozy room surrounds her, the only light and sound from a low, crackling fire in the background. She's curled up on a couch, her face buried in something warm and immensely comfortable, which she quickly realizes is a person. Glancing up in surprise, she sees that she's cuddled against Mizuki's chest, his emerald eyes looking down at her with both amusement and affection.
With her emotions still in turmoil from reliving Belle's death, she instinctively pulls him closer, reassuring herself of his presence. Feeling the change, Mizuki glances down at her in alarm.
"Alto? Is everything okay?" (Mizuki)
The question makes her pause. As far as she can tell, this is a memory from the night Mizuki received the Note. Back then, he'd asked her a similar question, and she'd expressed concern about all the changes in their lives following the nobles' meeting, and what it would mean for her relationship with him. Of course, he'd been quick to assuage her fears.
Now though, remembering her conversation with Ilina just before she fell asleep, she can't help but feel insecure again. Maybe it's the fresh memory of losing Belle, or of the crushing loneliness she felt through her early years, but she's especially aware right now of just how attached she is to him.
She glances up at him, her voice hesitant.
"Mizuki...when you get married to Ilina, things won't change, right?" (Alto)
Contrary to her expectations, he smirks at her knowingly, his concerned expression evaporating.
"Why would you ask him such a silly question? Of course things will change." (Mizuki)
Her eyes narrow, quickly realizing that she is not, in fact, speaking to Mizuki. Assuming she's currently dreaming, she supposes there's only one person she could be talking to...
She frowns.
"If you are supposed to be me now, then you know what I meant..." (Alto)
Mizuki smirks.
"And if you were being honest with yourself, you'd know that a proper inference doesn't change my answer. Your relationship with Mizuki is going to change." (Mizuki)
Despite the irony of it, she grips his shirt a little tighter, seeking comfort as she presses closer to him. After all, the visage is still Mizuki, even if the distasteful words aren't. Her voice grows quieter, yet somehow more insistent.
"You don't know that...Mizuki wouldn't deprioritize me because of his wives. He told me so himself, and he wouldn't lie." (Alto)
Mizuki rolls his eyes.
"Of course he wouldn't...I was talking about you. You're the one being affected by the shifts in his relationship with Ilina, the one changing your behavior." (Mizuki)
She blinks, her expression genuinely bewildered.
"Me? I have done no such thing." (Alto)
Mizuki chuckles, his chest rumbling slightly against her cheek.
"Oh really? Don't forget, I know how you felt when you spoke to Ilina earlier. I know those little doubts that plagued you. Then, there's all these altered, disjointed memories you're dreaming of...not hard to see that your psyche is in turmoil, letting its fear of abandonment run wild. Since when does Mizuki not visiting you, while you're busy and in an undisclosed location, make you so insecure?" (Mizuki)
She tenses, avoiding his smug, knowing gaze.
"I was...tired from my research, and stressed about my parents' potential involvement with the Note. Combined with the fact Belle's death was not that long ago, my subconscious concerns about abandonment are not surprising. This was the result of my strained mind...that's all." (Alto)
Mizuki shrugs amicably.
"Makes sense, I suppose. Although, it wasn't just an irrational fear of losing him, was it? You felt...something else, something unpleasant. Right after Ilina told you of Mizuki visiting her, of what they'd done, before you even considered the implications of him not stopping by to see you or heard Ilina's musings on how Mizuki is allegedly changing." (Mizuki)
Her expression becomes troubled, recalling the unpleasant sensation that he's describing. She frowns, frustrated by her inability to identify the strange reaction, then glares at Mizuki.
"Are you implying that you have some insight about this that I don't?" (Alto)
He gives her a disdainful look.
"Don't let my handsome appearance fool you...I'm still you, remember? I can't have an insight that you don't. I'm just the part of you bothered by this inner turmoil and these behavioral anomalies, trying to make sure the rest of you doesn't keep ignoring it." (Mizuki)
She gives him a mildly irritated look.
"I know that, of course. Why are you still keeping up this Mizuki appearance if I'm already openly having a discussion with myself?" (Alto)
He presses his lips together, his expression deadpan.
"Really?" (Mizuki)
She looks away, snuggling in closer to him with a reluctant sigh. Her voice lowers slightly.
"Fine...I suppose I prefer this..." (Alto)