Silence reigned in Kaili's private chamber. An austere, almost spartan space, reflecting the personality of its occupant. A bed of polished stone, a dark wooden chest where she kept her meager belongings, and an obsidian mirror, a gift from Aurora, which she rarely used. On the bed, folded with an unusual care for her, lay the dress that Sebastián had given her.
Kaili entered the chamber after a grueling training session. Her body, accustomed to battle, felt strangely light without the armor. Ignoring her weariness, she went to the chest and pulled out a training tunic, a simple and comfortable outfit. But before she could put it on, her eyes fell on the dress.
The garment seemed to radiate its own energy, drawing her in like a beacon in the dark. The iridescent petals shimmered under the dim light of the chamber, and the hand-sewn flowers seemed to whisper promises of a forgotten beauty.
"Nonsense," Kaili said aloud, trying to break the spell. "It's just a dress."
But her feet betrayed her. She approached the bed and, with a swift, almost violent movement, took the garment into her hands. The fabric felt soft and cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the hardness of the metal and leather she was used to.
With a sigh of resignation, as if accepting an inevitable defeat, Kaili went to the obsidian mirror. She shed her training clothes and, with mechanical movements, put on the dress.
The garment fit her body like a second skin. The vine corset, surprisingly comfortable, enhanced her curves and defined her waist. The skirt, made of layers of moss and petals, fell gracefully to her ankles, rustling with every movement. The "V"-shaped neckline revealed the skin of her chest, where the gold, silver, and red runes glowed with an unusual intensity, as if fueled by the energy of the garment itself.
Kaili looked at herself in the mirror and held her breath. The image that the obsidian reflected back was... strange. Unfamiliar. But undeniably beautiful.
The dress enhanced her slender and powerful figure. The colors, a mix of dark purple, emerald green, and deep blue, complemented her skin and made her eyes shine with a new light. The flowers, carefully arranged, seemed to have been created to adorn her body.
"Not bad," she admitted grudgingly, observing her reflection with a mixture of surprise and... vanity? A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Her hips, now accentuated by the shape of the dress, swayed subtly as she gave a little twirl, admiring the effect. Even her breasts, normally ignored under the armor, took on a new prominence thanks to the neckline.
"But it's still a dress," she reminded herself, frowning. "A useless garment. Unsuitable for a warrior."
However, she couldn't deny that she felt... different. Lighter. More... feminine? The word hit her like a sledgehammer. Feminine? She was Kaili, the Precursor Throne of the Plague, the Demon Queen's right hand. She had no time for such frivolities.
"This is ridiculous," she said, trying to convince herself. "I should be training, not admiring myself in a mirror."
But despite her words, she made no move to take off the dress. Instead, she stood there, watching her reflection, lost in a sea of conflicting emotions.
She remembered Sebastián's words: "I think you would look very beautiful in it." An unexpected warmth rose to her cheeks. Why did the words of a mere human matter so much to her?
"He's just an insect," she repeated, trying to extinguish the strange feeling stirring inside her. "It means nothing."
But deep down, Kaili knew it wasn't that simple. Sebastián's kindness, his patience, his genuine appreciation for beauty... all of that had created a crack in her armor, a crack that was now reflected in the dress she was wearing.
She imagined herself wearing the dress in Aurora's presence. What would her Queen say? Would she mock her? Reprimand her for her weakness? Or perhaps... would she approve?
And then, she thought of Sebastián. What would he think if he saw her like this, in the dress, in a moment of vulnerability? Would he see her as a warrior, or as something more?
The idea unsettled her, but at the same time, filled her with a strange anticipation.
"Enough," she finally said, looking away from the mirror. "This is a distraction. I have a duty to fulfill."
She turned, ready to take off the dress and return to her usual routine. But then, she saw it. In the reflection of the mirror, for a split second, she thought she saw a figure behind her. A tall, dark figure, with flaming eyes and a cruel smile.
Kaili turned around immediately, but there was no one there. The chamber was empty, except for her.
"It was just your imagination," she said, trying to calm her racing heart. "Focus, Kaili. You are a warrior. Don't let a simple dress unsettle you."
However, the image of the dark figure was burned into her mind. And as she finally took off the dress and put it back in the chest, Kaili couldn't help but wonder if the garment had awakened something more than just simple vanity.