The city was alive with weekend bustle, streets lined with shop signs flashing neon colors. Mei clutched her tote bag nervously, walking alongside Hana as they made their way down the cosplay district—a hidden row of stores crammed with fabrics, props, wigs, and everything a fan could dream of.
"This place is heaven," Hana said, her eyes darting between shelves stacked with replica weapons and glowing LED accessories. "I could live here."
Mei laughed, though her voice wavered. "Heaven? More like a maze. If I don't find what I need, I'll cry."
They pushed through the crowd and ducked into a small, specialized shop. The air inside was thick with the smell of spray paint and faux leather. Behind the counter, a man in glasses nodded to them while sanding down a massive foam sword.
"Okay," Hana said, whipping out a checklist. "Lady Veyra requires: a scepter, boots, and… uh… some kind of dramatic cape accessory. Yes?"
Mei nodded. Her stomach fluttered. Each missing piece felt like a barrier standing between her and the convention.
---
They scoured the shop. Mei's eyes lit up when she found a long, ornate staff propped in the corner, its design eerily similar to the one Lady Veyra wielded in the source material.
She lifted it carefully, running her hand along the spiraled handle. "It's… perfect."
"Perfectly heavy," Hana grunted, trying to lift it herself. "Don't you dare faint under its weight during the con."
Mei giggled, hugging the staff close. "Worth it."
Next, they hunted down a pair of thigh-high boots, sleek and bold, the kind Mei had never dared to wear in real life. She hesitated, holding them against her leg.
"Try them," Hana insisted.
"Here? Now?"
"Yes. Confidence starts in the store."
Reluctantly, Mei slipped them on. She stood taller, her reflection in the store's mirror striking and strangely commanding.
Hana whistled. "Yep. Queen vibes unlocked."
---
The last item was trickier. The cape accessory had to be dramatic—flowing, intimidating, something that screamed Lady Veyra has arrived.
They browsed racks of cloaks until Mei's hand brushed against a long, shimmering piece of black fabric threaded with faint silver accents. When she draped it over her shoulders, it caught the shop's light, gleaming like night sky.
Her heart skipped. This was it.
Hana clapped her hands together. "And that's the finale! The queen is fully armed and fabulous."
---
At the counter, Mei paid with slightly trembling hands. The clerk carefully wrapped the staff, the boots, and the cape, handing them over like sacred treasures.
Stepping out into the busy street, Mei felt both lighter and heavier. The convention was only days away. She had her costume, her props, her friend at her side.
It was all real now.
Hana nudged her shoulder, grinning. "So, ready to rule the con?"
Mei swallowed, her lips curving into a small, determined smile. "Not yet… but I will be."